Jan Leonard

In the unheralded industry of chairlift design and construction, Jan Leonard, born in 1946, was a superstar.

Jan’s first visit to a ski area in 1970 inspired the newly-minted civil engineer and budding bridge-builder to redirect his career to designing and manufacturing chairlifts and gondolas. With a legacy of more than 800 lifts throughout the United States, Canada, Argentina, and China bearing his imprint, skiers and snowboarders the world over are indebted to Jan’s efforts.

After working at the Hall Ski Lift Co. and Thiokol, Jan and Mark Ballantyne co-founded CTEC (Cable Transportation Engineering Corporation) in 1976. Jan’s expertise and leadership enabled CTEC to grow into the leading lift manufacturer in North America. Jan’s talents allowed him to skillfully navigate industry mergers and in 2002 Jan became the president of Doppelmayr CTEC.

In 2008 Jan became a founding member and principal at Skytrac, offering lift engineering, modifications, and construction services, and in 2010, creating a new American-manufactured lift. 

For more than 45 years Jan willingly gave his time and expertise to numerous industry committees and organizations, including the National Ski Areas Association, ANSI, and the Intermountain Ski Areas Association – all in the name of making ski lifts safer and more efficient. Jan Leonard: a lift engineer without equal.