Les Otten
Encyclopedia
Leslie B. "Les" Otten is the former CEO of the American Skiing Company
. Since resigning as Chief Executive Officer in 2001, Otten has been involved in numerous other businesses and industries, including Major League Baseball
's Boston Red Sox
.
, where he received his early education. He graduated high school from the Hun School of Princeton
in Princeton Township, New Jersey
in 1967. He was named an Alumnus of the Year in 1999. Otten received a B.S. in Business Administration from Ithaca College
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
in Vermont
in 1971. In 1973, at the age of 23, Otten was named ski operation manager of Sunday River in Newry
, Maine
. In 1980 Otten purchased Sunday River. In 1989, Otten was named Inc. Magazine Entrepreneur of the Year, Turnaround Category.
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.
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. The Boston Globe 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."
In 2009, Otten was inducted into the Maine Ski Hall of Fame
.
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.
, whose stated goal is to support a transition to the use of renewable energy for homes and businesses. The company originated from a series of informal seminars organized by Otten in 2007, where he assembled experts in various fields of energy to biweekly meetings. The meetings were broadly focused to allow for highly speculative thinking about Maine's economy and energy usage.
The group settled on a strategy that would involve the conversion of a significant proportion of the central home heating systems in Maine from oil to renewable fuel sources. The conversion to renewable fuels is expected to significantly cut long term heating costs in homes and businesses. The production of the fuel from Maine forests would also employ many Maine workers and keep the money spent on home heating in Maine.
To implement the solution, Otten, Dutch Dresser, and Bill Strauss formed Maine Energy Systems, LLC.
Automated wood pellet fired central home heating systems are very common in Western Europe. For example, 76% of the new homes constructed in Austria in 2006 were built with pellet fueled rather than oil fueled systems. Pellet fueled systems can run continually for months with no attention so that the owner only has to set the thermostat and enjoy a warm home, hot water, and a heating fuel bill reduced significantly over oil heat.
In January 2009, Maine Energy Systems was recognized by Senator Olympia Snowe
(R – ME) as a small business that is using technology and innovative thinking to help solve our nation's energy crisis and keep Mainers warm during the lengthy winter. Senator Snowe commented that Maine Energy Systems is at the vanguard of the "green" product revolution, creating a product that is beneficial to the environment, saves consumers money, and produces profits and jobs.
Otten is a past President of the Maine Pellet Fuels Association.
Otten is involved in several other businesses in Maine, including the Phoenix House and Well restaurant in Newry, Colony Development Company in Bethel and Sports Vision Technologies in Bethel and Portland. Sports Vision Technologies currently employees nearly a dozen people that live in Maine.
to chair the Governor's Wood-to-Energy Task Force which was charged with finding ways to reduce the state’s reliance on foreign oil and stimulate Maine’s economy by developing renewable sources of energy made in Maine, by Maine businesses, for Maine people. The initiative sought to capitalize on opportunities to convert public buildings to wood biomass heat; encourage homeowners to switch from oil heat to heat from renewable energy sources; and, promote Maine-grown alternative energy industries.
This Wood-to-Energy Task Force reported that Maine is the most heating oil dependent state in the country with 440,000 households consuming an average of 900 gallons of heating oil a year. At a July 2008 price of $4.64 a gallon that amounts to $4,100 per Maine household. The Task Force concluded that wood-to-energy can lower the cost of home heating approximately 25 to 50% of the cost of No. 2 heating oil
.
Otten was honored as the Cromwell Center Person of the Year for 2009.
Otten acted as first chairman of the Western Mountains Alliance.
, since the collection put together by his father, the former German steel magnate Albert Otten (in Germany: Albert Ottenheimer), is hosted there. Al Otten became owner of Albot Industries in New Jersey when he had to emigrate from Germany.
in the 2010 election
.
On October 19, 2009, Otten formally announced his candidacy for the Republican gubernatorial primary in the 2010 election. In his announcement speech, Otten emphasized the need for Maine to create jobs, lower taxes, prepare its students for the global economy and take control of its energy future.
On June 22, 2009, after months of speculation, word broke that Otten will announce the formation of an exploratory committee for a potential bid for Governor of Maine on June 29. Otten is running as a Republican. The campaign was criticized by the Maine Democratic Party
for allegedly copying President Barack Obama
's famous "O" insignia and website layout from the 2008 presidential election
cycle. A statement from Otten's website claims that it was actually the Obama campaign who first "copied" the logo from the new Pepsi
logo. This claim was too refuted, as the Obama "O" was first used months before Pepsi revamped their logo.
Counting among his campaign staff is Christian Potholm, a Maine political consultant that helped Democrat Governor John Baldacci
defeat Republican candidate Chandler Woodcock in 2006. Potholm is Professor of Government at Bowdoin College
who has authored several books on Maine politics including, Maine: The Dynamics of Political Change, This Splendid Game: Maine Campaigns and Elections, 1940–2002 and An Insider's Guide to Maine Politics:1946-1996.
William J. Ryan, Chairman, President and CEO of TD Banknorth Group, Inc. served as Treasurer of the Exploratory Committee for Otten’s potential bid for Governor of Maine in 2010. After the official announcement of the formal campaign, Bruce Chalmers, President of Chalmers Insurance Group in Bridgton, Maine took over as Campaign Treasurer.
American Skiing Company
American Skiing Company was one of the largest operators of alpine ski, snowboard and golf resorts in the United States. Its resorts included Sunday River and Sugarloaf, in Maine and The Canyons in Utah....
. Since resigning as Chief Executive Officer in 2001, Otten has been involved in numerous other businesses and industries, including Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
's Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
.
Early life and career
Otten was born in Teaneck, New JerseyTeaneck, New Jersey
Teaneck is a township in Bergen County, New Jersey, and a suburb in the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 39,776, making it the second-most populous among the 70 municipalities in Bergen County....
, where he received his early education. He graduated high school from the Hun School of Princeton
Hun School of Princeton
The Hun School of Princeton is a private, coeducational, secondary boarding school located in Princeton Township, New Jersey, United States. The school has a Princeton, New Jersey mailing address. The school serves students from grades 6 through high school. Currently, the headmaster is Jonathan...
in Princeton Township, New Jersey
Princeton Township, New Jersey
Also Princeton Borough is an independent municipality completely surrounded by the township.Princeton North is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Princeton Township....
in 1967. He was named an Alumnus of the Year in 1999. Otten received a B.S. in Business Administration from Ithaca College
Ithaca College
Ithaca College is a private college located on the South Hill of Ithaca, New York. The school was founded by William Egbert in 1892 as a conservatory of music. The college has a strong liberal arts core, but also offers several pre-professional programs and some graduate programs. The college is...
in 1971, after which he worked for Killington
Killington Ski Resort
Killington Mountain Resort & Ski Area is a ski resort near Killington, Vermont. It is the largest ski area in the Eastern United States, and has the largest vertical in New England as well at 3050 feet.-History:In 1954, Perry H...
and Sunday River ski resorts. In 1980 he purchased Sunday River, and his company, LBO Resort Enterprises, grew by acquiring Sugarbush
Sugarbush Resort
Sugarbush Resort is a ski resort located in the Mad River Valley in Warren, Vermont. It is one of the largest ski resorts in New England. The resort encompasses more than 4000 acres total, 578 acres skiable, 53 miles of trails, and 16 ski lifts...
, Attitash Bear Peak
Attitash
For the lake in Amesbury and Merrimac, Massachusetts, see Lake Attitash.Attitash is a ski area located on U.S. Route 302 in Bartlett, New Hampshire near North Conway. It is operated by Peak Resorts. Located in the heart of the White Mountains, Attitash is home to two mountains, Attitash and Bear...
, and Cranmore
Cranmore Mountain Resort
Cranmore Mountain Resort is located in North Conway, New Hampshire. Currently, it is one of New Hampshire's most successful ski resorts.It was founded in 1937 by a group of businessmen, led by Harvey Dow Gibson a native son of North Conway and president of the Manufacturers Trust Company, who...
Ski industry career
Otten started his career at Killington Ski ResortKillington Ski Resort
Killington Mountain Resort & Ski Area is a ski resort near Killington, Vermont. It is the largest ski area in the Eastern United States, and has the largest vertical in New England as well at 3050 feet.-History:In 1954, Perry H...
in Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
in 1971. In 1973, at the age of 23, Otten was named ski operation manager of Sunday River in Newry
Newry
Newry is a city in Northern Ireland. The River Clanrye, which runs through the city, formed the historic border between County Armagh and County Down. It is from Belfast and from Dublin. Newry had a population of 27,433 at the 2001 Census, while Newry and Mourne Council Area had a population...
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
. In 1980 Otten purchased Sunday River. In 1989, Otten was named Inc. Magazine Entrepreneur of the Year, Turnaround Category.
In 1995 he formed American Skiing Company
American Skiing Company
American Skiing Company was one of the largest operators of alpine ski, snowboard and golf resorts in the United States. Its resorts included Sunday River and Sugarloaf, in Maine and The Canyons in Utah....
by acquiring S-K-I, and this expanded his resorts to include Killington, Mount Snow
Mount Snow
Mount Snow is a mountain and ski area in southern Vermont located in the Green Mountains. It is Vermont's closest big mountain to many Northeast metropolitan areas. It was cohost of the first Extreme Games in 1995 and host of the Winter X-Games in 2000 and 2001...
, Haystack, Waterville Valley
Waterville Valley Resort
Waterville Valley is a ski resort in the White Mountain National Forest of New Hampshire. The resort's motto is "Altitude without the Attitude". Built on Mount Tecumseh, with a summit elevation of above sea level, the ski trails extend to a high point on the south ridge of the mountain at ,...
, and Sugarloaf/USA
Sugarloaf/USA
Sugarloaf is a ski area and resort located on Sugarloaf Mountain in Carrabassett Valley, western Maine. It is the largest ski resort in the State of Maine, in terms of number of trails , skiable acreage , and snowmaking percentage ; its continuous vertical drop of is the second longest in New...
. He was forced to divest his interests in Waterville Valley and Cranmore but went on to buy Pico Peak
Pico Peak
Pico Peak is a mountain located in Rutland County, Vermont. It is the northernmost summit of the Coolidge Range in the Green Mountains, and the second highest after Killington Peak....
in Vermont.
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. The Boston Globe 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."
In 2009, Otten was inducted into the Maine Ski Hall of Fame
Maine Ski Hall of Fame
The Maine Ski Hall of Fame was established in 2003 to honor persons who have substantially advanced the sport of skiing and the ski industry, with special reference to the State of Maine...
.
Boston Red Sox
From 2002 through 2007, Otten was vice chairman and minority partner of the Boston Red SoxBoston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
franchise. In 2004, the Red Sox won their first World Series Championship since 1918 while Otten was part of the ownership group.
Maine Energy Systems
In 2008, Otten and two other partners started Maine Energy SystemsMaine Energy Systems
Maine Energy Systems Maine Energy Systems was founded in the summer of 2008 by Les Otten and others to aid in the transition to alternative energy in the northeastern United States. The company currently delivers wood pellets in bulk and sells fully automated wood pellet boilers for hydronic heating...
, whose stated goal is to support a transition to the use of renewable energy for homes and businesses. The company originated from a series of informal seminars organized by Otten in 2007, where he assembled experts in various fields of energy to biweekly meetings. The meetings were broadly focused to allow for highly speculative thinking about Maine's economy and energy usage.
The group settled on a strategy that would involve the conversion of a significant proportion of the central home heating systems in Maine from oil to renewable fuel sources. The conversion to renewable fuels is expected to significantly cut long term heating costs in homes and businesses. The production of the fuel from Maine forests would also employ many Maine workers and keep the money spent on home heating in Maine.
To implement the solution, Otten, Dutch Dresser, and Bill Strauss formed Maine Energy Systems, LLC.
Automated wood pellet fired central home heating systems are very common in Western Europe. For example, 76% of the new homes constructed in Austria in 2006 were built with pellet fueled rather than oil fueled systems. Pellet fueled systems can run continually for months with no attention so that the owner only has to set the thermostat and enjoy a warm home, hot water, and a heating fuel bill reduced significantly over oil heat.
In January 2009, Maine Energy Systems was recognized by Senator Olympia Snowe
Olympia Snowe
Olympia Jean Snowe , née Bouchles, is the senior United States Senator from Maine and a member of the Republican Party. Snowe has become widely known for her ability to influence the outcome of close votes, including whether to end filibusters. She and her fellow Senator from Maine, Susan Collins,...
(R – ME) as a small business that is using technology and innovative thinking to help solve our nation's energy crisis and keep Mainers warm during the lengthy winter. Senator Snowe commented that Maine Energy Systems is at the vanguard of the "green" product revolution, creating a product that is beneficial to the environment, saves consumers money, and produces profits and jobs.
Otten is a past President of the Maine Pellet Fuels Association.
FutureMetrics
Les Otten is a partner in the consultancy FutureMetrics, which operates in the northeastern US in the biomass thermal renewable energy sector.Other ventures
Les Otten is currently involved in a number of ventures including Cartera Commerce (provides online shopping for loyalty programs) and Sports Vision Technologies (produces P3ProSwing, a golf swing analyzer and golf simulator). He is current board chairman for the Cromwell Center for Disabilities Awareness in Portland, Maine. The Center provides disabilities awareness education in schools, for prospective educators, and in workplaces.Otten is involved in several other businesses in Maine, including the Phoenix House and Well restaurant in Newry, Colony Development Company in Bethel and Sports Vision Technologies in Bethel and Portland. Sports Vision Technologies currently employees nearly a dozen people that live in Maine.
Governor's Wood-to-Energy Task Force
In 2008, Otten was asked by Maine Governor John BaldacciJohn Baldacci
John Elias Baldacci is an American politician who served as the 73rd Governor of the U.S. state of Maine from 2003 until 2011. A Democrat, he also served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003....
to chair the Governor's Wood-to-Energy Task Force which was charged with finding ways to reduce the state’s reliance on foreign oil and stimulate Maine’s economy by developing renewable sources of energy made in Maine, by Maine businesses, for Maine people. The initiative sought to capitalize on opportunities to convert public buildings to wood biomass heat; encourage homeowners to switch from oil heat to heat from renewable energy sources; and, promote Maine-grown alternative energy industries.
This Wood-to-Energy Task Force reported that Maine is the most heating oil dependent state in the country with 440,000 households consuming an average of 900 gallons of heating oil a year. At a July 2008 price of $4.64 a gallon that amounts to $4,100 per Maine household. The Task Force concluded that wood-to-energy can lower the cost of home heating approximately 25 to 50% of the cost of No. 2 heating oil
Heating oil
Heating oil, or oil heat, is a low viscosity, flammable liquid petroleum product used as a fuel for furnaces or boilers in buildings. Home heating oil is often abbreviated as HHO...
.
Maine Handicapped Skiing
Otten founded Maine Handicapped Skiing with Omar D. “Chip” Crothers, M.D. to ensure access to and participation in the recreational sports that are integral to a well-rounded life for every person. Maine Handicapped Skiing is the largest year-round adaptive recreation program east of the Mississippi for adults and children with physical disabilities. From Veterans No Boundaries to children with cerebral palsy, Maine Handicapped Skiing helps a wide spectrum of Mainers.Cromwell Center for Disabilities Awareness
Otten is currently serving as chairman of the Cromwell Center for Disabilities Awareness, an organization dedicated to ensuring that people with all types of disabilities are afforded the same dignity, inclusion, and respect that every person deserves as a birthright.Otten was honored as the Cromwell Center Person of the Year for 2009.
Western Mountains Alliance
In 1987, Otten was part of a group of civic-minded individuals from across western Maine who came together to form the Western Mountains Alliance in order to seek a sustainable development strategy for western Maine, a region struggling with long-term economic decline.Otten acted as first chairman of the Western Mountains Alliance.
Maine Chamber Alliance
In 1990, Otten co-founded and served as the first chairman of the Economic Environmental Council of Maine, which merged with the Maine Chamber to become the Maine Chamber Alliance, where Otten also served as the first chair of that organization. The goal of these organizations was to create an environment where the needs of the paper industry could find middle ground with the environmental concerns of Maine citizens.Portland Museum of Art
Otten is past chairman and current Board of Trustees member of the Portland Museum of ArtPortland Museum of Art
The Portland Museum of Art is an art museum in Portland, Maine. Founded as the Portland Society of Art in 1882, it is located in the downtown area known as The Arts District, and is the largest and oldest public art institution in the U.S...
, since the collection put together by his father, the former German steel magnate Albert Otten (in Germany: Albert Ottenheimer), is hosted there. Al Otten became owner of Albot Industries in New Jersey when he had to emigrate from Germany.
Project Opportunity
In 1988 Otten started Project Opportunity in Bethel by donating the initial grant and creating its goal of helping late bloomers. Project Opportunity is a unique Grant and Scholarship Program benefitting Telstar Regional High School students. From the generous donations Project Opportunity has received, students have been able to attend colleges throughout the United States as well experience educational trips throughout the World.2010 Maine Gubernatorial Republican Primary
Otten is a former candidate for Governor of MaineGovernor of Maine
The governor of Maine is the chief executive of the State of Maine. Before Maine was admitted to the Union in 1820, Maine was part of Massachusetts and the governor of Massachusetts was chief executive....
in the 2010 election
Maine gubernatorial election, 2010
The 2010 Maine gubernatorial election took place on November 2, 2010. Incumbent Democratic Governor John Baldacci was term-limited and unable to seek re-election. Primary elections took place on June 8, 2010...
.
On October 19, 2009, Otten formally announced his candidacy for the Republican gubernatorial primary in the 2010 election. In his announcement speech, Otten emphasized the need for Maine to create jobs, lower taxes, prepare its students for the global economy and take control of its energy future.
On June 22, 2009, after months of speculation, word broke that Otten will announce the formation of an exploratory committee for a potential bid for Governor of Maine on June 29. Otten is running as a Republican. The campaign was criticized by the Maine Democratic Party
Maine Democratic Party
The Maine Democratic Party is the local branch of the United States Democratic Party in the state of Maine.-Current Democratic officeholders:The Maine Democratic Party is the minority party in both the Maine Senate and Maine House of Representatives. The party, however, holds both of the state's U.S...
for allegedly copying President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
's famous "O" insignia and website layout from the 2008 presidential election
United States presidential election, 2008
The United States presidential election of 2008 was the 56th quadrennial presidential election. It was held on November 4, 2008. Democrat Barack Obama, then the junior United States Senator from Illinois, defeated Republican John McCain, the senior U.S. Senator from Arizona. Obama received 365...
cycle. A statement from Otten's website claims that it was actually the Obama campaign who first "copied" the logo from the new Pepsi
Pepsi
Pepsi is a carbonated soft drink that is produced and manufactured by PepsiCo...
logo. This claim was too refuted, as the Obama "O" was first used months before Pepsi revamped their logo.
Counting among his campaign staff is Christian Potholm, a Maine political consultant that helped Democrat Governor John Baldacci
John Baldacci
John Elias Baldacci is an American politician who served as the 73rd Governor of the U.S. state of Maine from 2003 until 2011. A Democrat, he also served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003....
defeat Republican candidate Chandler Woodcock in 2006. Potholm is Professor of Government at Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College
Bowdoin College , founded in 1794, is an elite private liberal arts college located in the coastal Maine town of Brunswick, Maine. As of 2011, U.S. News and World Report ranks Bowdoin 6th among liberal arts colleges in the United States. At times, it was ranked as high as 4th in the country. It is...
who has authored several books on Maine politics including, Maine: The Dynamics of Political Change, This Splendid Game: Maine Campaigns and Elections, 1940–2002 and An Insider's Guide to Maine Politics:1946-1996.
William J. Ryan, Chairman, President and CEO of TD Banknorth Group, Inc. served as Treasurer of the Exploratory Committee for Otten’s potential bid for Governor of Maine in 2010. After the official announcement of the formal campaign, Bruce Chalmers, President of Chalmers Insurance Group in Bridgton, Maine took over as Campaign Treasurer.