Leah Kapernick
Global expertise with a mountain-town heart.
Leah’s experience across Fortune 500 corporations, government leadership, and mountain community service uniquely equips her to serve as Winter Park’s next Town Manager: fostering its ambitious future while preserving its heritage.
"The Right Fit"
Where Proven Skills Meet Mountain-Town Values
Where Proven Skills Meet Mountain-Town Values
The Town of Winter Park faces the unique challenge of selecting a Town Manager who can guide its next chapter of growth; someone ready to move at the pace of change while balancing progress with community values.
Proven experience and authentic mountain values: Leah is uniquely positioned to be that leader: ready to “unlock” Winter Park’s ambitious Master Plan with collaboration, trust, and vision.
Experience That Unlocks Growth
T-Mobile Corporate Headquarters in Bellevue, WA where Leah worked as a Senior Strategy Planning Manager on top C-Suite projects.
Multi-Faceted Strategic Leader
Leah brings 14+ years of experience managing complex, multi-million-dollar projects for global leaders like HBO, Amazon, Microsoft, T-Mobile, and more.
She is known for balancing speed, cost, stakeholder interests, and change management: skills directly applicable to Winter Park’s ambitious Master Plan.
She has also built governance frameworks that improve transparency, accountability, and cross-department collaboration: hallmarks of effective public leadership.
Drawing on experience in both the private sector and the Department of Defense, Leah excels at uniting diverse teams and aligning strategic vision for measurable community outcomes.
Government-to-Business Integrator
Selected by the U.S. Air Force to serve as a DoD Civilian leader, Leah oversaw a complex and heavily regulated $400M nuclear contract at Kirtland AFB. Her talents and skill were quickly recognized and she was promoted to the Commander’s Office to deliver a multi-year base infrastructure project where she was tasked with securing congressional budget approval while meeting regulatory, fiscal, and interagency requirements all within just eight months.
Touring Spaceport America, launch site of Virgin Galactic's rockets, with the US Air Force team.
During her DoD tenure, she also partnered with local community leaders and elected officials to create new solutions for on- and off-base childcare, housing, and small business development: strengthening policy implementation and demonstrating a deep understanding of government processes.
She balanced on-base critical infrastructure project planning with community and workforce support initiatives, demonstrating the ability to deliver results under public accountability while safeguarding resident well-being.
This experience directly mirrors Winter Park’s need to balance complex infrastructure priorities with the unique interests of government, businesses, residents, and visitors to achieve sustainable community outcomes.
Demonstrated Leader & Trusted Character
Leah holds a Secret Clearance (Top Secret pending), reflecting her integrity, trusted character, and ability to manage sensitive, high-stakes work with high-level officials.
In recognition of her ability to manage, transform, and deliver complex initiatives, she was recommended for advanced leadership training at the Air Force’s Squadron Officer School: a program designed to grow and refine her critical leadership skills for higher levels of responsibility.
Her rare blend of agility, strategic foresight, and technical expertise, along with her ability to advance work and teams within established structures and hierarchies, is increasingly vital in today’s rapidly advancing world and is not often found within traditional government talent pools.
Pictured with her team at the U.S. Air Force at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico.
Financial & Public Sector Acumen
Even as a Video Producer in Advertising, Leah had the unique role of stewarding public funds with transparent governance.
She produced award-winning advertising campaigns for the Washington State Lottery on lean budgets that drove measurable growth, audience reach, and state revenue.
Leah has led multi-million-dollar technical transformation projects at T-Mobile during the Sprint merger: blending fast-paced technical precision with operational excellence. She spearheaded savings of tens of millions of dollars through innovative vendor reengagement strategies: delivering substantial budgetary improvements while improving customer satisfaction.
Blending creativity with accountability: award-winning lottery ads built on transparency, efficiency, and measurable growth.
Inclusive Leadership for a Sustainable Future
Shining Stars Foundation Aspen Winter Games 2024.
Winter Park needs a Town Manager who can balance growth with a focus on inclusivity and community values that embrace all stages of life, diverse backgrounds, and varying abilities: qualities Leah has consistently demonstrated throughout her career and service.
Leah combines technical expertise, strategic foresight, and an inclusive, accessible, empathetic, and visible leadership style that resonates across all walks of the community: from families and frontline workers to business leaders and first responders.
As a Spanish speaker with a culturally adaptive approach, she builds bridges across diverse perspectives and ensures accessibility for all, including children and differently-abled individuals.
This unique combination of experience and approach equips her to guide Winter Park’s growth in a way that is sustainable, collaborative, and rooted in community values.
Building Winter Park Now - 2030+
Winter Park is entering a period of unprecedented growth: expanding terrain, redeveloping the base area, and adding major transit and housing projects. This rapid, multi-layered change requires more than routine administration.
Base Area Development Plan (PDP)
- Redevelopment into a walkable, vibrant village core.
- 3 new hotels, expanded lodging, dining, and retail.
- 1,500-space parking garage (3–4x current capacity).
- Creation of public gathering spaces.
Mountain Master Development Plan (USFS MDP)
- +700 acres skiable terrain (≈ 25% increase).
- Lift relocation/upgrades.
- New/modernized on-mountain dining facilities.
- Trail system improvements for flow and safety.
Connectivity & Transit
- Town Gondola for car-free resort access.
- Mountain Passenger Rail Service with Denver.
- Ski-Back Trail for direct skiable connection to town.
- Potential to remove thousands of peak car trips.
Trails, Open Space & Community Integration
- Expansion of pedestrian/bike trail networks.
- Protection and enhancement of Fraser River corridor.
- More accessible public plazas and green spaces.
- Deeper resident–visitor integration.
Overall Growth Impact
These strategic initiatives collectively promise a transformative impact on Winter Park's infrastructure, economy, and community character.
Winter Park Unlocked: A massive transformation in terrain, transit, and town connectivity.
Terrain: +25% skiable acreage.
Visitor Flow: Tens of thousands more guests/day capacity with lifts, gondola, and rail.
Parking/Access: 3-4x parking capacity coupled with car-free transit creates a new mobility model.
Economic Base: Hotels, retail, and dining expansions could generate millions in new annual revenue.
Community Identity: Resort and town become physically and economically interwoven as a year-round, sustainable destination.
A Broader Foundation for Modern Town Leadership
Leah’s professional foundation is reinforced by advanced credentials that go beyond traditional public administration. Her certifications bridge governance, strategy, innovation, and human-centered leadership: equipping her to deliver results in complex, multi-stakeholder environments.
Each credential reflects not only disciplined execution but also the agility, creativity, and resilience required to lead communities through today’s fast-paced and ever-evolving challenges.
MS in Strategic Communications (Columbia University): Leah has advanced, executive-level, cross-cultural training in strategy, critical thinking, and public engagement from a globally recognized institution. She is equipped to cut through complexity, build trust, and mobilize stakeholders in high-stakes, highly visible environments: going beyond what a traditional MPA alone provides.
PMI Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP): Leah has validated, hands-on expertise with agile approaches, proving she can adapt to fast-moving conditions, engage stakeholders, and deliver results iteratively. She is uniquely positioned to manage large-scale infrastructure and policy initiatives in communities facing rapid growth and change.
SAFe Program Consultant (SPC): Leah has specialized training to scale innovation across entire organizations, accelerating delivery and breaking down silos that often slow government progress. She is able to foster collaboration and agility in ways that bring more value to municipalities and their residents.
OKR Certified Coach (WorkBoard): Leah is certified to implement dynamic accountability frameworks that align executives, staff, and community partners around measurable outcomes. She ensures that progress is not only planned but transparently demonstrated: a significant differentiator from conventional static planning methods.
Certified ScrumMaster (CSM, Scrum Alliance): Leah has a strong foundation in Scrum principles (a method for leading teams through small, flexible steps) and servant leadership. She is able to guide teams through collaboration, adaptability, and accountability: leading not by command but by empowering people, a style well-suited to community-facing roles.
Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute (Google): Leah has science-based training in emotional intelligence and resilience, grounded in mindfulness and neuroscience. She is equipped to manage stress, lead with empathy, and foster healthier, more effective teams and communities: an area rarely addressed in traditional public administration.
The Right Fit for Winter Park’s Future
Ready to Serve Winter Park!
My career has been defined by turning ambitious plans into measurable results. As Town Manager, I will apply that same discipline to Winter Park’s Master Plan looking ahead 5, 10, 15 years: ensuring growth is pursued with vision, collaboration, and a commitment to community values.My goal is to channel both my corporate and government expertise into Winter Park’s most transformative initiatives, ensuring that every project advances both long-term prosperity and the town’s enduring mountain values.
Contact Information
Leah Kapernick612-998-1639leah.kapernick@gmail.com
