New Tahoe Chamber CEO brings passion for business and economic development

"I'm looking for opportunities to build strategic relationships and leverage resources, and not duplicating what we already have," Craig A. Schmidt said after being on the job for five days at the Tahoe Chamber. "That is what excites me about the South Shore."

Schmidt is the new Chief Executive Officer for the Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce, a job vacant since July 1, 2016 when "B" Gorman left to develop her coaching business.

He wasn't looking for a job when contacted by recruiters. Schmidt said he was very happy in Mammoth Lakes where he was Executive Director of their Chamber of Commerce. When he first arrived in the mountain ski town to the south there was a defunct chamber, a challenge he was up to after having the top job in chambers of commerce in Hood River, Ore., Healdsburg and Morro Bay. Schmidt was able to build the Mammoth Lakes Chamber from the ground up , one with no members, and bring their membership up to 200 when he left there at the end of January.

"When I was contacted by the Tahoe Chamber they touched on all of my passions with the opportunity to come to Tahoe," said Schmidt. "I'll be able to work in my focus areas with more resources and more possibilities for me to grow."

As the Chamber CEO, Schmidt sees his main focuses as economic business development and workforce development. He said he won't be involved in tourism since that job is covered by Lake Tahoe Visitor's Authority, the group of folks that share his office building. He does see his job as being related to tourism in teaching people about local businesses.

His Board of Directors gave him a list of people to meet in his first 100 days, and since I was on that list we spent time discussing his plans for the Chamber and how he sees his role in the community.

"I'm now focused on relationship building," said Schmidt. "I'm looking forward to meeting the leaders at LTCC (Lake Tahoe Community College) to promote programs to fill our employment gaps." He said he is also excited by whats being done at Tahoe Mountain Lab.

He is also happy there is a great staff at the Tahoe Chamber.

Even though the Tahoe Chamber covers two states and two counties he sees no boundaries. "I don't see a line painted on the road," Schmidt said. "The economy doesn't see boundaries either. Our strength is in working together and I'll work on things that need mending. I'll be making solid connections with economic people in both states, both counties."

"I can't wait to connect," he said while discussing the opportunities ahead of him. "I have a passion for what I do."

Schmidt earned degrees in environmental science and geology from the University of Toledo. After college he hiked the Appalachian Trail for six months and covered 2000 miles. Once experiencing mountains and the outdoor life he knew he couldn't go back to Cleveland and headed to Oregon, an area that had a lot of what he was looking for.

In Hood River he started a sports club and joined their chamber, soon becoming an ambassador, then to their merchants committee and soon their board president. After three years in that position their chamber's executive director retired after 26 years in the position. Schmidt applied and was hired, and his passion for what a chamber could do for businesses and the community grew.

He is also a graduate of the Institute of Organizational Management at the University of Colorado and the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma.

Schmidt has also been a Rotarian for 30 years and he's already looking to join one of the local clubs.

After two back surgeries, Schmidt doesn't do anymore skiing but his other two favorite recreational activities are plentiful in Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada: hiking and fly fishing. He has two grown sons, one grandson and another grandchild on the way.

Look for him in the South Shore as he gets to know his new community.

"There is lots to do!" said Schmidt.