Rod Slifer, the first-ever realtor in Vail, has become a major force in Vail’s evolution from ski area to mega-resort. He arrived in Vail in 1962 and has been an invaluable part of the community ever since. In 1989, he merged Slifer & Company with Harry Frampton, former president of Vail Associates and senior partner in East West Partners, and Mark Smith, managing broker, to form Slifer Smith & Frampton. Today, Slifer Smith & Frampton is the Vail Valley’s largest and most prolific real estate brokerage.
Slifer has served as a member of the Vail Town Council for 16 years and the mayor of Vail for 11 years. He is a founding director of Alpine Banks of Colorado, director of Colorado Open Lands, vice chair of Vail Valley Foundation and is one of the founders of the University of Colorado Real Estate Center and Real Estate Foundation. Slifer was also an early member of Eagle County and Vail Planning Commissions and Recreation District. In recognition of his dedication to the Vail Valley, Slifer has been named Vail Business Person of the Year and one of Vail’s 10 most influential citizens.
Slifer, a Colorado native, holds a bachelor’s degree in business from the University of Colorado.