PSIA Money Info.
CEO Unapproved Legal Expenses & Apparent Accountability Retribution
According to court documents and PSIA-W Board Minutes, PSIA-W CEO Marisa Cooper spent over $30,000 on outside legal fees (Holland & Hart LLP) without required board approval, violating the organization's $5,000 spending cap. The board retroactively approved the payment after services were rendered, then obscured the expense in financial filings. When Board Treasurer David Achey documented the irregularities, he was ordered to revise his report, later censured, removed from committees, and faced a one-year suspension recommendation. Achey is now a plaintiff in Moore et al. v. PSIA-AASI Western Division (Sacramento Superior Court). The disciplinary record became court evidence in the ongoing lawsuit.
Alleged Tax Form Misrepresentation
See the tax filing for FY25, (July ‘24 thru June ‘25) which includes the same misrepresentations on legal fees as the annual report. This was signed by CEO Marisa Cooper under penalty of perjury. The legal spend should be on line 11b, and it seems be buried in the un-itemized items on line 24e. (on page 11 of the tax doc)
The IRS instructions for 11b (clearly covered here when it was a legal fee to an outside law firm): "Line 11b. Legal fees. "Enter the total legal fees charged by outside firms and individuals. Don't include any penalties, fines, settlements, or judgments imposed against the organization as a result of legal proceedings. Report those expenses on line 24. Report any amounts for lobbying services provided by attorneys on line 11d."
Tax Forms Show National PSIA Mission Programming Much Less than 1/2 the Budget
This document summarizes federal tax filing data for the American Snowsports Education Association (PSIA-AASI). Salaries and overhead consistently consuming 65–75% of total expenses. Salaries alone represent 50–60% of expenses, with executive compensation at ~11% . Program services, including educational materials, national team support, and member communications, receive roughly 25–35% of the budget. Full details are available in Part IX of the organization's IRS Form 990 filings.