Bassmaster Elite Series rookie Jonathan Kelley of Old Forge, Pa., will enjoy local support and a hometown title sponsor when he kicks off the 2022 season in Florida. Montage Mountain Ski Resort & Waterpark views its sponsorship of Kelley as a win for the entire community.
“It's great to see someone from our area doing so well and being passionate about something they work hard at,” said Montage Mountain Resort General Manager Mark Verrastro. “Jonathan is a perfect example; he's talented, grounded and dedicated and we're excited to see how well he's going to perform. Having someone like Jonathan representing our area on such a big stage is not only cool for him, but something special for our community too, and we're happy to be part of it.”
Kelley grew up skiing the slopes at Montage Mountain and made sure to hit the resort on breaks from South Carolina’s Coastal Carolina University, where he earned an MBA.
“My parents have been season pass holders since the mountain opened in 1984,” said Kelley. “My younger brother Jordan and I have been skiing at Montage Mountain since we were 3 years old. During my visits back from college, my friends and I would meet up to have our annual day on the slopes and then head to the Slocum Hollow Bar & Restaurant.
“(After qualifying for the Elites) I reached out to Charles Jefferson, owner of Montage Mountain Resorts, and his General Manager, Mark Verrastro, and presented my vision for partnering with Montage and the value we can collectively add by working together as a team.”
Kelley has also entered a sponsorship deal with X Zone Lures, joining a pro staff that includes fellow Elite Series competitors Brandon Palaniuk and Carl Jocumsen.
"As a young angler, growing up and being introduced to the Slammer, I’ve had the opportunity to see the X Zone brand grow over the years," he said. "I am honored, excited, and blessed to have the opportunity to grow with one of my childhood favorite brands and become part of the team. X Zone has created the best line of soft plastics with a variety of colors to meet any style or application needed from beginner to professional anglers."
