Welcome to the Vail Symposium
The Vail Symposium is has thrived since 1971 in the Vail Valley.
Learn about our history here.
Learn more about our amazing Team, Donors and Sponsors below:
OUR STAFF
Our incredible staff makes the Vail Symposium what it is.

Kris Sabel-Executive Director
Kris Sabel began as the Vail Symposium Executive Director on September 1, 2016. Most recently Sabel served as the Executive Director for the Vilar Performing Arts Center for 15 years. Originally from Port Washington, Wisc., Sabel completed his education with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Stephens College in Columbia, Mo. and a Master of Arts from the University of Missouri. He has resided locally since August of 1999.
He first became familiar with the Vail Symposium when the Symposium hosted the Festival of Words, the Toronto Film Festival, a program with Ayaan Hirsi Ali and others at the VPAC. He has also worked with the Symposium to moderate discussions on select arts programs.
Sabel’s wife, Ruth Johnson, is the President and CEO of Roundup River Ranch.
Email Kris at ksabel@vailsymposium.org
Rebecca Zweig – Programming Manager
Rebecca Zweig joined Vail Symposium as programming manager in April 2022.
Since 2003, Zweig served as the President/CEO/Founder of Business-Smart Solutions, Inc., leading various multi-year instructional and educational projects. Working with national magazines like Inc. and Fast Company, Zweig created and developed new products and program offerings, driving revenue, attendance and sponsorship while building new communities. Prior to starting Business-Smart Solutions, Zweig was the Director of Executive Education at University of Colorado at Denver Business School, Director of Special Events and Public Relations for the Brooklyn Historical Society and Conference Director for the Fulcrum Information Services in New York. Zweig also served on the board of Watermark, a female membership group in Silicon Valley and on the board of the University of Colorado at Denver’s Business School.
Zweig holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and has completed training as a business coach. She lives in Eagle-Vail and enjoys being with family, loves the arts and visiting bookstores, volunteering and going on daily hikes in the mountains.
Email Becky at rzweig@vailsymposium.org


Arzu Basyildiz- Manager of Business Operations
Arzu is a long time resident of the Vail Valley. She loves volunteering throughout the Vail Valley and joined Vail Symposium team in September 2017.
Before joining the Vail Symposium team, she worked at Vail Jazz; she also works part-time at Vail Resorts. She and her husband own a small retail shop in Edwards, Nomadic Collection, where she was the buyer and store manager for more than 15 years. She also managed a bank branch for seven years when she was living in Turkey. She has Economics and Interior designs degrees and is also a professional interpreter for legal needs.
Email Arzu at arzu@vailsymposium.org
Katie Coakley-Marketing Manager
Katie Coakley joined the Vail Symposium as the marketing manager in June 2017.
Katie has worked in the Vail area for more than 14 years. She began as an Account Supervisor with Peeples Ink PR, working with businesses and organizations like Park Hyatt Beaver Creek, Vail International Dance Festival and Vail Summer. In 2011, she started Katydid PR, providing communications services for events and organizations in addition to providing contracting and consulting work for other public relations firms.
She is also a freelance journalist, contributing to local publications like the Vail Daily and Vail Valley Magazine as well as state-wide and national editorial outlets.
Katie received a BA in English with a secondary education certificate from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta and taught high school English for several years before moving to Colorado.
Contact Katie at kcoakley@vailsymposium.org

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dale Mosier-Chairman
Dale Mosier became the Chairman of the Vail Symposium Board of Directors on July 1, 2016. He assumed the role from Rohn Robbins. Mosier himself has been an integral part of the Symposium. First as a program volunteer, then board member, then as chairman of the Program Committee, he is credited with bringing some of the most high-caliber speakers and programs to the Symposium.
Originally from Dallas, Pennsylvania, Dale retired from the field of engineering before entering the Peace Corps as a volunteer alongside his wife, Jeanne, for two years in rural South Africa and three years in Lolongwe, Malawi, where Dale served as the Malawi Country Director. He then spent a year in Washington DC training new country directors.
Dale has always been interested in current events and hot button issues and he views it as the Vail Symposium’s role in this community to bring such issues to the forefront of discussion. He also believes in a diverse program schedule including stimulating discussion on art, adventure and more.
BOARD MEMBERS

Garry Gilman
Board Member

Andy Kaufman
Board Member

Kathy Kimmel
Board Member
Laurie Kleisinger
Board Member

Rob LeVine
TREASURER

William Mimeles
BOARD MEMBER

Pat Montgomery
BOARD MEMBER

Karen Nold
BOARD MEMBER
Lorry Prentis
BOARD MEMBER

Mary Pat Rapp
BOARD MEMBER

James C. Ruh
BOARD MEMBER
ADVISORY COUNCIL
Dr. Eben Alexander
COUNCILLOR
Pam Bard
COUNCILLOR
Richard Bard
COUNCILLOR
Jack Eck
COUNCILLOR
Judson Haims
COUNCILLOR
Richard Mah
COUNCILLOR
Jamie Metzl
COUNCILLOR
Ralph White
COUNCILLOR
Thomas Wright
COUNCILLOR
PROGRAM COMMITTEE

Dale Mosier
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Cathie Bennett
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Greg Dobbs
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Gary Gilman
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Kat Haber
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Michael Hazard
COMMITTEE MEMBER

Kathy Kimmel
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Dr. Robert Lipnick
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Rebecca Matlon
COMMITTEE MEMBER
George Nimmo
COMMITTEE MEMBER

Mary Pat Rapp
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Kathryn Regjo
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Wendy Rudolph
COMMITTEE MEMBER
DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Kathy Kimmel
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Laurie Kleisinger
COMMITTEE MEMBER
William Mimeles
COMMITTEE MEMBER
Jim Ruh
COMMITTEE MEMBER
HONORARY BOARD
Ebby Pinson
Karen Morter
CHAIR EMERITUS
Terry Minger
Priscilla O’Neil
Give to the Vail Symposium
Your support means EVERYTHING to us
As Vail Symposium continues to grow and change, we need your help more than ever. We’ll continue providing thought-provoking, educational programming to the Vail Valley but we’re also expanding our digital presence by filming all of our programs. Every donation is important: Please consider donating today.