With mural project canceled, Leadership Lake Tahoe gives back to the community

Leadership Lake Tahoe is a ten-month-long course held every two years on the South Shore of Lake Tahoe. It began in 2003 with a mission to identify and develop current and future leaders through a comprehensive program designed to increase knowledge and awareness of the issues and challenges facing our community. At the beginning, the program was sponsored by the Tahoe Douglas Chamber and South Lake Tahoe Chamber, they merged a few years later and became the Tahoe Chamber (or Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce).

Part of the program is for the class participants to work on a group project that will benefit the community and help develop a multitude of leadership skills. This year, the City of South Lake Tahoe partnered with Leadership Lake Tahoe to put in a mural along the boat ramp at El Dorado Beach. COVID-19 had other plans and the project had to be scrapped by the group.

The money they raised for the mural was donated this week for two South Lake Tahoe non-profits providing relief to community members impacted by COVID-10. Tahoe Magic and the Family Resource Center each received $1,750 from Leadership Lake Tahoe and the balance of their fundraising efforts went for scholarships for future leadership participants.

"While it was disappointing we couldn’t complete our initial project we thought there was no better way to give back to our community than to give to those organizations who are making it their mission to help South Lake Tahoe get through the pandemic," said Chris Fiore, co-chair of the community project with Shelly Thomsen. "We are proud to be leaders in this community and know that South Lake Tahoe will emerge stronger on the other side thanks to people who are committed to making a difference."

The 25 members of Leadership Lake Tahoe 2020:

Adrian Escobedo, USFS, Forest Civil Rights Officer
Amanda Gardner, Heavenly Mountain Resort, Sales Manager
Amber Nachreine,r Tahoe Restaurant Group, General Manager
Annie Handrick, Tahoe Chamber, Communications and Marketing Coordinator
Brent Goligoski, South Tahoe Public Utility District, Associate Engineer
Charles Rounds, Camp Richardson Resort Inc., Night Manager, Campgrounds Manager, Parking Manager
Chris Eckert, ARAMARK, Senior Sales & Marketing Manager
Chris Fiore, City of South Lake Tahoe, Communications Manager
Emma Heinemann, Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless, Program Manager
Faye-Marie Pekar, City of South Lake Tahoe, Engineering Technician
Jake Rodriguez, The Coachman Hotel, Assistant General Manager
Jennifer Guenther, Liberty Utilities Senior Manager, Energy Efficiency and Customer Solutions
Jennifer Self, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, Senior Planner
Jessica Albee, Live Violence Free, Fund Development Coordinator
Justine Anderson, Fromarc Insurance Agency, Inc,. Insurance Agent
Kyle McSparron, Blue Sky Electrical Solutions, Inc., Owner
Margaret Peart, Tahoe Resource Conservation District, Human Resources & Grant Coordinator
Mario Guerrero, Child Advocates of El Dorado County, Program Manager
Nicole Marsel, Boys & Girls Club of Lake Tahoe, Events & Fundraising Director
Rachel Carlson, Black Bear Lodge, Owner & Operator
Robin Blair, Bank of the West, Branch Manager
Ryan Carr, Barton Health, Performance Supervisor
Scott McCoubrey, Advance Industry, Program Coordinator
Shelly Thomsen, South Tahoe Public Utility District, Public Affairs and Conservation Manager
Tammy Chako, El Dorado County Health and Human Services Agency, Deputy Director, Child Welfare Services