Alumnus John Emery '86 uses business skills for snow sports venture

John Emery came to Virginia Tech in 1982 to be an engineer. I started off at engineering for about a month. Probably a typical story of a lot of people, but I just very quickly figured out that my brain migrated more towards business kind of things, the engineering kinds of things and wound up in accounting. The decision led to what he calls a transformative experience giving him the foundational business skills needed to propel his career. It's just a great platform to build basic business skills and understanding of cash flow and the way businesses work. That has benefited me throughout my entire career. From a blue collar background to a job in accounting and quickly moving to operations and development, John helped build the brand Great Wolf Lodge, indoor water parts, focused on clean, safe, family fun. The experience led him to indoor snow sports and the creation of Alpine X. With development underway in Northern Virginia, Alpine X aims to deliver snow sports like skiing, tubing, snowboarding, and other family activities in major markets, making them more accessible geographically and financially. The Alpine model is developed to be for the entire community to experience. So we didn't want it to be exclusive in any way, shape or form, particularly economically. John says it's about effort, attitude, and putting in the time. Tech is kind of really where my eyes were opened and that you can kind of the old, you know, American story. You can kind of accomplish whatever you set your mind to. And Tech was a big part for me of kind of figuring out how to make that work for myself. As a leader, he gives credit to his team, but with a unique approach. I don't differentiate my personal life from my work life quite as much, maybe as some people would. I don't just value them as company builders. I value them as really, really super super close friends and confidants, and people that can turn to me, you know, if things are going on. It's a message John shares with Hokies when he comes to campus to work with Pamplin students. Education isn't just about learning facts. It's growing your own confidence in what you can do. And for me, maybe that's why Tech was so transformational.