32 Facts About Les Otten

Leslie B "Les" Otten was born on 1949 and is the former CEO of the American Skiing Company.

Since resigning as its chief executive officer in 2001, Otten has been involved in numerous other businesses and industries, including the Major League Baseball's Boston Red Sox.

Les Otten was born in Teaneck, New Jersey, where he received his early education.

Les Otten graduated high school from the Hun School of Princeton in Princeton, New Jersey, in 1967 and was named an Alumnus of the Year in 1999.

Les Otten started his career at Killington Ski Resort in Vermont in 1971.

In 1973, at the age of 23, Les Otten was named ski operation manager of Sunday River in Newry, Maine.

In 1989, Les Otten was named Inc Magazine Entrepreneur of the Year, Turnaround Category.

Les Otten was forced to divest his interests in Waterville Valley and Cranmore but went on to buy Pico Peak in Vermont.

Les Otten resigned this position on February 26,2007, effective immediately, to pursue other options.

In 2009, Les Otten was inducted into the Maine Ski Hall of Fame.

From 2002 through 2007, Les Otten was vice chairman and minority partner of the Boston Red Sox American Major League Baseball franchise.

In 2004, the Red Sox won their first World Series Championship since 1918 while Les Otten was part of the ownership group.

Les Otten originated from a series of informal seminars organized by Otten in 2007, where he assembled experts in various fields of energy to biweekly meetings.

Les Otten was a former President of the Maine Pellet Fuels Association.

Les Otten is an early investor in the consultancy FutureMetrics, whose team work in the wood pellet manufacturing sector.

Les Otten is currently involved in a number of ventures including Cartera Commerce and Sports Vision Technologies.

Les Otten is current board chairman for the Cromwell Center for Disabilities Awareness in Portland, Maine.

Les Otten is involved in several other businesses in Maine, including the Phoenix House and Well restaurant in Newry, Colony Development Company in Bethel and Sports Vision Technologies in Bethel and Portland.

In 2008, Les Otten was asked by Maine Governor John Baldacci to chair the Governor's Wood-to-Energy Task Force which was charged with finding ways to reduce the state's reliance on foreign oil and stimulate Maine's economy by developing renewable sources of energy made in Maine, by Maine businesses, for Maine people.

Les Otten is currently serving as chairman of the Cromwell Center for Disabilities Awareness, an organization dedicated to ensuring that people with all types of disabilities are afforded the same dignity, inclusion, and respect that every person deserves as a birthright.

Les Otten was honored as the Cromwell Center Person of the Year for 2009.

In 1987, Les Otten was part of a group of civic-minded individuals from across western Maine who came together to form the Western Mountains Alliance in order to seek a sustainable development strategy for western Maine, a region struggling with long-term economic decline.

Les Otten acted as first chairman of the Western Mountains Alliance.

In 1990, Les Otten co-founded and served as the first chairman of the Economic Environmental Council of Maine, which merged with the Maine Chamber to become the Maine Chamber Alliance, where Les Otten served as the first chair of that organization.

Les Otten is past chairman and current Board of Trustees member of the Portland Museum of Art, since the collection put together by his father, the former German steel magnate Albert Les Otten, is hosted there.

Al Les Otten became owner of Albot Industries in New Jersey when he had to emigrate from Germany.

In 1988 Les Otten started Project Opportunity in Bethel by donating the initial grant and creating its goal of helping late bloomers.

Les Otten is a former candidate for Governor of Maine in the 2010 election.

On October 19,2009, Les Otten formally announced his candidacy for the Republican gubernatorial primary in the 2010 election.

On June 22,2009, after months of speculation, word broke that Les Otten will announce the formation of an exploratory committee for a potential bid for Governor of Maine on June 29.

Les Otten confirmed in 2020 that he would vote for Joe Biden, even though he is a Republican.

On February 28,2016, The Boston Globe reported that Les Otten had purchased part of the now-closed Balsams Resort in Dixville Notch, New Hampshire.