Building community in The Canyons
Pati Sawyer Boex, lifestyle director at The Canyons.
Pati Sawyer Boex’s long-time love of event planning ultimately led to her dream job as the lifestyle director at The Canyons.
Growing up on Long Island in a family of eight, Pati was intent on experiencing all that was beyond New York. She attended University of Scranton, working in public relations and marketing for the college’s athletic department.
After graduating with a degree in communications, Pati backpacked through Europe before finding work at Club Med in the Bahamas, the West Indies and Mexico.
A friend’s wedding in Vail led to her employment as an activities director at a hotel there, which she called a “great transition.”
“I got my (future) husband’s parents drunk at an event that I ran there and they set us up on a blind date, and that’s how I got to Denver,” Pati recalled.
Pati and Steve have been married for 24 years and live with their two daughters and dog, Scooby Doo. Micala (21) and Annika (19), both were recruited to play NCAA Division 1 soccer at Northern Arizona University.
Pati said planning community events is her passion, with the primary goal of encouraging families to unplug and spend time together. “I absolutely thrive on meeting people and trying to find a common connection,” she said. “It’s all about the community coming together and doing it together.”
For her role in The Canyons, Pati plans a wide variety of events and activities, ensuring that she includes all age groups. “I was given free reign to go ahead and build activities and event programming, from families to kids to people who don’t have kids yet,” Pati said. “And from empty nesters to people over 65. I’m trying to make everyone happy.”
Some of her favorite past events include bounce house palooza to celebrate the end of the school year, maker’s market, and a St. Patrick’s Day party, complete with Irish dancers, bagpipers and pints of Guinness.
Pati is always willing to participate in the activities, even donning costumes if necessary. “If I can get people to laugh with me, then maybe they would join me and not be afraid,” she said.
In her free time, Pati enjoys cheering on her daughters’ soccer games, watching hockey and reading a good murder mystery.
Pati has no plans to slow down, with a variety of activities and events on the horizon. “If I hear ‘no,’ I don’t take ‘no’ for an answer,” Pati said.
Pati, Steve, Micala, and Annika Boex in Cancun earlier this year.
Pati and Steve Boex on Long Island this summer.
By Rachel Morris; photos courtesy of Pati Sawyer Boex
