40 under 40: Matt Palacio, GetSkiTickets.com
Tahoe Chamber | August 28, 2018 | 40 Under 40
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It’s only fitting that Matt Palacio works in the ski industry as the Regional Director for Sales at GetSkiTickets.com. As a child during his family’s annual winter trip to the South Shore, Matt would be the first person awake and dressed for sledding and the last person in the car to end the trip.
Matt has lived in Tahoe for a decade now, building his professional career in the industry while being involved in the community in numerous ways. Matt serves on the Tahoe Regional Young Professionals’ Civic Engagement Committee, is a member of the South Lake Tahoe Lodging Association, and has helped at the Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless.
Matt is joined by his wife, Jenna Palacio, as the Chamber’s 40 under 40 honorees this week. Congratulations, Matt!
Can you tell us a little about your responsibilities and accomplishments in your current position?
I’m responsible for acquiring new resorts for our namesake website, GetSkiTickets.com, as well as finding resorts that want to use our software to power their e-store. We power Sierra-at-Tahoe’s e-store, and that’s how I found out about this company. I have many resorts in the pipeline currently and my biggest accomplishments so far with this new company has been streamlining our sales processes and coming up with creative ways to get resorts to work with us.
What has been your favorite professional moment in the last year?
I’d have to say going to the industry conferences and meeting resorts from all over the continent, as well as seeing old colleagues from Tahoe in new roles. The ski industry is small and if you get “hooked” it’s hard to leave!
Do you have a professional/life mantra that you live by?
Work hard, play harder. I love to excel at my job, but I live for playtime and am always looking to create new experiences. Life isn’t about what you own, it’s about what you experience.
What was your first job?
My first job was as a paperboy, but my first “clock-in” job was working at D’s Giant Burgers in Rodeo, Calif. I was the waiter, cashier, fry cook, milkshake maker and dishwasher. Basically, I did everything but work the grill. It was great—I got a free burger, free fries and a free shake with every meal.
Why choose Tahoe to make your home and career?
That’s easy, just look around! I came to South Lake almost every winter with my mom’s extended family. We stayed in Pioneer Village and I was the first cousin awake and dressed to go sledding on every trip, and the last in the car at the end of the day. I loved snow from an early age and I finally got to go snowboarding when I was 21. I knew I wanted snowboarding to be a huge part of my life and the rest is history. I had no idea Tahoe was so great in the summer and that’s what keeps me here.
Are you active in any volunteer roles or community groups?
Not as much as I used to be—we have a baby on the way and that’s made me cut way back. My biggest contributions right now are with the Tahoe Regional Young Professionals (TRYP) Civic Engagement Committee and the South Lake Tahoe Lodging Association (SLTLA). With TRYP, we put on the Tahoe Town Hall series where we highlight important community issues and host candidate forums. I love getting people together to learn more about our hometown. I helped a little last year with the Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless and will be involved again this winter. I’m the associate member on the SLTLA board, which is a powerful organization that supports a strong business economy. We hold monthly meetings open to the public with guest speakers addressing topics that affect our community. Once Big Baby Palacio is born and we have a routine, I’m sure to get back into the fray!
What is your favorite thing to do outside of work?
Oh man, do we have time to list everything? Snowboarding, of course. Anything outside, really. My close friends know that I really like to work on my house and create with my hands. My dad and my maternal grandpa gave me great genes and in another life, I think I’d be an engineer.
Where are your favorite South Shore stomping grounds?
The Y area since it’s close to our house. I love South Lake Brewing Company. We were close to opening a tap house in 2014 before I ran for city council and I’m so pumped I can walk to this brewery. Plus, my beer nerd friends from out of town think it’s a top brewery, so I have local pride. Verde is amazing, too. So many great places are at the Y now, it makes living here amazing.
Get in touch with Matt today:
Email Matt
GetSkiTickets.com