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Joe Hurley, Executive Director
The Bart J. Ruggiere Adaptive Sports Center is under the direction of Joe Hurley. Joe has been teaching people with disabilities for over 28 years. He came to Bromley in 1996 with the idea of starting an adaptive ski program. In 1997 he worked with the ski school and then was selected to be the Director of the Bart J. Ruggiere Adaptive Sports Center when it was formed in 2002. Joe was first certified with the Professional ski Instructors of America (PSIA) in 1999. He has since earned his PISA Level II Alpine and PSIA Level III Adaptive certifications. Joe is currently serving on PSIA’s adaptive Board of Education and is a clinic leader. He is continuing his certificate currently working on his Level III Alpine. In 2015, Joe was instrumental in expanding the Bart Adaptive Sports Center to The Hermitage Club, and in 2018 expanding to Stratton. He oversees both operations. Joe supervises between 65 and 75 volunteers on a year-round basis, coordinating and overseeing their winter and summer training and continues to teach in lessons when needed. He has led several of the volunteers to go on and have become certified instructors with PSIA-E in adaptive skiing and alpine certifications. During the summer, Joe loves to cycle and play golf. He also enjoys kayaking, hiking and spending time with his family. If you’re looking for Joe in the winter, you’ll likely find him on the snow or assisting the volunteers. In the summer, you need to look for him on the road or on a golf course. |
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Betsy Hurley, Senior Program Manager
Betsy Hurley was born and raised in Bennington, Vermont. She attended Springfield College and graduated in 2007, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Therapeutic Recreation. Betsy participates and has competed in many sports including Alpine Skiing in World Games in 2000 in Anchorage, Alaska winning a bronze medal for the USA. She was inducted into the New England Wheelchair Hall of Fame in 2007. Betsy has trained and earned her black belt in Chinese Gojo and Tekken Ryu Iron Hand style and also studied the Phoenix Martial Arts System since 2010. Betsy has been a volunteer, board member and very involved in the Bart Adaptive Sports Center since the beginning and is very excited to see the growth and expansion, spreading the ability to ski at a variety of mountains in Vermont. Betsy is a certified as Adaptive Level 1 Mono/ Bi instructor as well as a Children’s Specialist 1 instructor. |
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Rachel Bender CTRS, Operational & Development Manager
Rachel Bender was born and raised in Highland New York in the Hudson Valley. She attended the State University of New York College at Cortland. She graduated in 2022 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Therapeutic Recreation and shortly after got her Certification in Therapeutic Recreation. Rachel did her internship in Colorado at Steamboat doing adaptive skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing. Rachel has been doing outdoor recreational activities from a young age. She learned how to rock climb when she was six and has been doing it ever since. She also enjoys hiking and kayaking in the summer and skiing in the winter. Rachel first got experience with volunteering for adaptive sports in college at a rock climbing gym nearby and fell in love with it instantly. |
