Les Otten

Infobox Person
name = Leslie B. Otten


image_size = 250px
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birth_date = 1949
birth_place = New York City, New York
death_date =
death_place =
occupation = CEO
main interests =
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Les Otten (born 1949), was the CEO of the American Skiing Company. Since resigning as CEO in 2001, Otten has been involved in numerous other businesses and industries, including Major League Baseball's Boston Red Sox.

Early life and career

Otten graduated from Ithaca College School of Business in 1971, after which he worked for Killington and Sunday River ski resorts. In 1980 he purchased Sunday River, and his company, LBO Resort Enterprises, grew by acquiring Sugarbush, Attitash Bear Peak, and Cranmore

American Skiing Company

In 1995 he formed American Skiing Company by acquiring S-K-I, and this expanded his resorts to include Killington, Mount Snow, Haystack, Waterville Valley, and Sugarloaf/USA. He was forced to divest his interests in Waterville Valley and Cranmore but went on to buy Pico Peak in Vermont. [ [http://www.ithaca.edu/icq/1997v1/mainmtn.htm Winter 1997 ] ] [ [http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/American-Skiing-Company-Company-History.html American Skiing Company - Company History ] ]

Under Otten, American Skiing Company invested heavily in marketing and infrastructure. While these investments are credited with major turnaround and growth, they overleveraged the company. A later bailout by an investment firm ultimately caused him to leave day to day operations while remaining on the Board of Directors. Otten resigned this position on February 26, 2007, effective immediately, to pursue other options. Boston.com reported "I leave the board with mixed feelings," Otten said. "It's been a pleasure to serve and help guide the Company and I wish everyone well. I truly enjoyed my tenure with the board, but now it's time to look at other options."

Boston Red Sox and other ventures

From 2002 until 2007, Otten was vice chairman and minority partner of the Boston Red Sox American Major League Baseball franchise. In 2004, the Red Sox won their first World Series Championship since 1918 while Otten was part of the ownership group. [ [http://www.ithaca.edu/icq/2004v4/an/leaveit.htm ICQ 2004/4 ] ]

Les Otten is currently involved in a number of ventures including [http://www.mallnetworks.com Mall Networks] (provides online shopping for loyalty programs) and [http://www.p3proswing.com Sports Vision Technologies] (produces [http://www.p3proswing.com P3ProSwing] , a golf swing analyzer and golf simulator). He is current board chairman for The Jeremiah Cromwell Disabilities Center.

He started a new company, Maine Energy Systems, in May, 2008. The company is involved with sales and distribution of wood pellets and wood-pellet boilers. [http://www.mainebiz.biz/story.html?story_id=1141]

References