Winners of Lake Tahoe Blue Ribbon Awards to be announced November 8

Over 80 local nominees will be celebrated during the 11th annual Blue Ribbon Awards on Thursday, Nov. 8 at MontBleu Resort starting at 5:30 p.m.

The public is invited to join the Tahoe Chamber in celebrating the businesses and individuals that make the South Shore a great community to live, work and play.

The Blue Ribbon Awards were created in 2007 by the Tahoe Chamber to honor excellence in business on the South Shore. This awards program recognizes businesses, organizations, and individuals for achievements, community contributions, and milestones. It is one of the largest business awards program on the South Shore bringing together over 200 local business leaders, entrepreneurs, organizations, and government officials. Each nomination is carefully considered by the Blue Ribbon Awards Task Force and after weighting each nomination against the award criteria; six award winners are chosen to receive one of the following honors; Experience Award, Customer Service Award, Public Agency Service Award, Entrepreneur Award, Tourism Award, Geotourism Award.

A new award category was introduced at last year’s decennial event; The Tallac Achievement Award will be awarded by popular vote to an exemplary business, recreation, or infrastructure project that revitalizes or enhances the economy and community of the South Shore. The three nominees to vote on are, the Champion Plaza project by the City of South Lake Tahoe, the recently opened Barton Wellness Center, and Lake Tahoe Community College’s new University Center. To weigh in on which project you think deserves this honor, visit TahoeChamber.org

2018 nominees:

Geotourism Award
Providing an authentic Tahoe experience

• Blue Sky Events
• Cruise Tahoe
• Lake Tahoe History Museum
• Rachid Photo
• South Tahoe Futbol Club
• Tahoe Rim Trail Association
• Take Care Tahoe

Tourism Award
Innovative program, promotion, or product for our visitors

• Beach Retreat & Lodge - Tiki Bar
• Edgewood Tahoe
• Getaway Reno/Tahoe
• Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel
• Lake Tahoe Yoga
• Round Hill Pines Beach Resort
• Tahoe Brew Fest/ The Boys and Girls Club
• Tahoe Sports
• The Shops at Heavenly Village
• Zephyr Cove Resort and Lake Tahoe Cruises

Experience Award
Businesses providing compelling and captivating experiences

• ADVANCE
• Black Bear Lodge
• Boathouse on the Pier
• Camp Richardson/Round Hill Pine
• Destination Tahoe Meetings & Events
• Lake Tahoe Epic Curling
• LimeBike
• Rock Tahoe Half Marathon
• South Lake Brewing Company
• Tahoe Brew Tours
• Tahoe Tails and Trails
• Tahoe Tastings
• The Loft Theatre-Lounge-Dining
• Zephyr Cove Resort

Entrepreneur Award
An innovative individual who assumed the risk of starting a new business

• Anthony and Mara Cavallaro / Glazed and Confused
• Caitlin Parker / Dragonfly Bagels
• Chris McNamara / Outdoor Gear Lab
• Corey Rich / Corey Rich Photography, Novus Select
• Dr. Neil Powell / Blue Lake Animal Care Center
• Jodi Schmidt / Tahoe Modern Makers
• Katy and Domi Charvarria / Verde
• Kyle McSparron / Blue Sky Electrical Solutions
• Luca Genasi / Lake Tahoe AleworX
• Marley Reel and Mike Miller / Rise Designs
• Phil Weidinger / Weidinger Public Relations
• Robin Bender / Revive Coffee and Wine

Customer Service Award
An individual who consistently provides quality service

• Anna Soto-Volapalensky / Montbleu Resort Casino & Spa
• Appollo Poth / Harrah's/Harveys
• Chris Oliver / Alpine Computers
• Dallas Burns / Getaway Reno Tahoe
• Diane Guth / Getaway Cafe
• Dr. Jason Casto / Casto Chiropractic
• Edwin Winslow / Tahoe Pourhouse
• Gary Lefler / All Seasons Plumbing and Heating
• Irma Salazar / Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority
• Jacquie Dunlop / Cold Water Brewery
• Joe and Cheryl Zarachoff / Affordable Business Services
• Joe Nady / Harrah's & Harveys Lake Tahoe
• Kimberly Templeton / Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Lake Tahoe
• Kristine Keesling / Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel
• Kyle McSparron / Blue Sky Electrical
• Lindsay Simon / A Balanced Life
• Lisa DeLeon / Destination Tahoe Meetings & Events
• Martin Jimenez / Lake Tahoe Soccer League
• Meghan Burk / Getaway Reno/ Tahoe
• Mike Umbdenstock / Tahoe Sports - Ski Run Boat Company
• Nancy Macias / Farmers Insurance Heatherton Agency
• Paula Peterson / South Tahoe Now
• Pete Loughlin / Lake Tahoe Television
• Scott Peters / MUN CPAS
• Shannon Schumacher / The Ridge Tahoe
• Shelly McMillin / L'Atelier Hair Studio
• Stacy Forsberg / Pete's Coffee at Raley's Y

Customer Service (Public Agency) Award
Quality service in the not so usual places (DMV, City, County, TRPA, etc.)

• Alyson Borawski / Tahoe Regional Planning Agency
• Dennis Zabaglo / Tahoe Regional Planning Agency
• Emily Abernathy / Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce
• Gary Garren / Fire Chief of Fallen Leaf Lake CSD
• Irma Salazar / Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority (Tahoe South)
• John Pickett / Tahoe Douglas Fire District
• Julie Regan / Tahoe Regional Planning Agency
• Kevin Fabino / City/Business Development
• Laura Barber / Live Violence Free
• Lisa Shafer / Lake Tahoe Community College
• Nicole Paulley-Davenport / ADVANCE
• Zuzana Russell and fellow clerks / El Dorado Superior Court Clerk

The Tallac Achievement Award – This award will be chosen by popular vote
An exemplary business, recreation, or infrastructure project that revitalizes or enhances the economy and community of the South Shore

• Champion Plaza (City of South Lake Tahoe)
• Barton Wellness Center
• University Center (Lake Tahoe Community College)

These three can be voted on HERE.

Tickets:

– Tickets are $60 for Tahoe Chamber members (includes champagne upon arrival + dinner and a glass of wine)

– Tickets are $80 for non-members (includes champagne upon arrival + dinner and a glass of wine)

– Sponsor a table for 10 guests at this year’s Blue Ribbon Awards Dinner for $540 or $720 for non-chamber members. Each sponsored table will have special sponsorship signage displaying your business name.

They can be purchased HERE.