THOMPSONVILLE, Mich. -- Crystal Community Ski Club (“CCSC”) is proud to announce the election of Matthew Clayson to President of the CCSC Board of Directors, effective November 16, 2022.  CCSC was established to develop and lead programming that removes barriers in getting kids involved in winter sports.  Last season, CCSC introduced 871 Michigan youth to winter sports through its Alpine, Nordic, Teen Leadership and Outreach programs.

“I am excited that Matt is at the helm of our Board as CCSC plans the next steps of its future,” says Hunter Steinkamp, CCSC Operations Manager. “Matt's experience in the nonprofit, legal, and business sectors as well as his passion for snowsports will certainly be of benefit to CCSC and the youth we serve." 

Matt, a third generation competitive skier whose family has roots in various ski clubs - both defunct and current - in Western Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, is father of two skiers, one who is an alpine racer in Crystal Community Ski Club’s “Race Academy” program. 

When not at Crystal Mountain or Northern Michigan, Matt is in Detroit where he is Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel of Detroit Trading Company, a leading automotive digital marketing agency. He’s been named to the TechWeek 100 Most Innovative Leaders in Tech and Entrepreneurship, and has been recognized by the German Marshall Fund, Crain’s Detroit Business, the AdCraft Club of Detroit, the American Institute of Architects and the BMW Foundation for his commitment to leadership, service and innovation.

Matt looks forward to establishing CCSC as a premier organization that connects youth and their families to winter sports and activities, instilling a lifetime love of winter in all Michigan residents.

“Michigan winters are the best. They connect us with each other, enable us to find beauty in the smallest things, and create memories that last a lifetime. And it is important that we ensure that Michigan youth, regardless of background, are able to enjoy everything that a good, cold and snowy Michigan winter can offer,” Matt says. 

“Crystal Community Ski Club Nordic and alpine programming at Crystal Mountain brings the joy of winter sports to more than 800 Michigan youth each year, in large part due to committed instructors, generous volunteers and strong community partnerships. I look forward to growing these existing partnerships and establishing new partnerships to ensure Crystal Community Ski Club is able to meaningfully connect even more youth to the awe of a good, cold, snowy Michigan winter.”

About CCSC: 
The Crystal Community Ski Club is a non-profit organization that operates at Crystal Mountain in Thompsonville, Michigan. Community means a lot of things to our club. From our student athletes and coaches, to parents and family members, to our local community and beyond - we’re passionate about helping kids develop a love of outdoor activities and create lasting friendships through our downhill, nordic and outreach ski and snowboarding programs. Our vision is to create a premier, sustainable family-centered snow sports club, partnering with Crystal Mountain, which offers affordable, certified instruction/coaching at all levels. CCSC relies on the generosity of our sponsors to fully serve our ski families; from equipment to scholarships, special programs and fees, our generous donors keep our program running!