Community advocate named Tahoe Chamber Interim CEO

Veteran community advocate Steve Teshara has accepted the position of Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce. Chamber Board Chair Mike McLaughlin announced the Board’s appointment of Teshara in a statement released July 21.

“Our Board is extremely pleased Steve has agreed to step in to support the Chamber’s mission, membership, and community engagement while we seek a new CEO to move the organization into 2017 and beyond,” said McLaughlin. “Steve adds a unique blend of experiences and accomplishments to our dedicated Chamber staff.”

Teshara is the owner and principal of Sustainable Community Advocates, a consulting firm he launched in the spring of 2010 following 25 years of serving as the chief executive for a variety of community-based organizations on both the north and south shores. His experience includes seven years as CEO of the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association and Executive Director of the North Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce, headquartered in Tahoe City. Other organizations he has served as chief executive include the Tahoe-Sierra Preservation Council (1986-1991), Lake Tahoe Gaming Alliance (1991-2002), and the Tahoe Douglas Visitors Authority (1997-2002).

A 43-year resident of Tahoe, Teshara established the foundation for his career as a dedicated radio journalist specializing in local and regional news, first at K102-FM in Kings Beach, then at KTHO-AM in South Lake Tahoe. He was one of the original members of Sierra Business Council board of directors and received the Council’s first Vision 2020 Award in 1996. He served on the steering committee for the historic Lake Tahoe Presidential Forum in 1997 and has helped to coordinate local input for every annual Tahoe Summit since then. Teshara continues to provide effective leadership in the collaborative efforts to secure vital federal, state, regional, and local investments in forest health, watershed restoration, transportation, community mobility, and other projects consistent with the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program. He has supported the Chamber as its government affairs liaison since 2010.

As part of his on-going commitment to community service, Teshara is board member of the South Shore Transportation Management Association, Tahoe Transportation District, and California Association of Councils of Governments. He is also a member of the Lake Tahoe Federal Advisory Committee and the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency Advisory Planning Commission.

“I have always been motivated by service to the community,” said Teshara. “I enjoy working with people and organizations with the same commitment to community service. Tahoe Chamber is certainly one of those organizations.” McLaughlin said Teshara would continue to fill the role of Interim CEO until the Chamber Board selects its new CEO, expected later this year.