Summer 2018
TRACKS
Supporting the business community of the greater Truckee area A Publication of the Truckee Chamber of Commerce
Chamber Annual Awards Dinner Set for October 12th
T
ruckee is known for our pioneering spirit – the vision, drive and passion to make something better for our future and the world … a fitting description of today’s Truckee entrepreneur. This year at the 2018 Truckee Chamber of Commerce Awards Dinner, we acknowledge and celebrate the Truckee business community and the pivotal role it plays in strengthening the economy. Announcing this year – new award categories! We will showcase Truckee’s innovators, visionaries, trailblazers, creatives and entrepreneurs – from existing businesses, small and large employers to those Rising Stars – businesses to watch! See back page for new award categories and how to submit your nominations.
This event is known for being the one time each year when the business community comes together to Celebrate Truckee’s Own …. to recognize and honor individuals and businesses raising the bar. Join us for the Truckee Chamber’s 65th Annual Awards Dinner as we Celebrate Truckee and how we
Save the Date! 65th Annual Dinner & Auction October 12, 2018 The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe Visit TruckeeAwards.com for more info and to purchase your ticket! READ ABOUT MORE ANNUAL AWARDS P. 24
Truckee Tomorrow Launches Three Business Speaks Project Teams
B Photos courtesy of RettingPhotography.com
Inside Tracks 2 New Members Galore! Read all about them! 4 $343.7M Tourism Dollars Brought to Nevada County’s Economy in 2017 6 Google National Trainer Returns September 20th
usiness Speaks is an initiative designed to bring businesses together to talk, collaborate and influence change. To date, we have held three series of meetings since the beginning of the year. In total, over 524 participants have engaged in robust conversation at 25 Business Speaks meetings over the course of 37.5 hours of meetings. “That we have heard from over 520 participants at the Business Speaks meetings is beyond our expectations,” said Lynn Saunders, president/CEO. “We are grateful to all the businesses that have come to these meetings and engaged in dynamic, thoughtful discussions on some of the issues facing the Truckee business community today and in the future. We are excited to start taking action and facilitate the Project Teams’ work on the three prioritized projects and share their progress at the September Business Speaks meetings.” READ ABOUT MORE TRUCKEE TOMORROW BUSINESS SPEAKS P. 12
Business Speaks Projects The January Business Speaks meetings focused on employee recruitment and retention issues with 55% of the participants having challenges in that area. Through facilitated discussions, and Investor input, three prioritized projects were indentified to address that issue. Project Teams have formed and are working on these projects: 1. Develop an Employer Co-op – designed to help employers find workers to fill jobs, connecting employers and employees 2. Growing Our Own – expanding upon existing programs and identify creative opportunities for jobs and training 3. Develop Truckee as an Entrepreneur Ecosystem – a long-term forward thinking approach to diversifying Truckee’s economy
MEET NEW MEMBERS 2018-19 Board of Directors Pam Hobday, Chair Pamela Hurt Associates John Manocchio, Vice-Chair Waddell & Reed Ted Owens, Chair-Elect Tahoe Forest Health System Tonya Beyer W&T Graphix Tally Meek Sierra Insurance Associates Aimee Schaller Tri Counties Bank Lisa Toutant ELTE Inc. Kelly Wallis Atelier
Professional Advisor Ravn Whitington Porter Simon
Chamber Staff Lynn Saunders President/CEO Colleen Dalton Brand Communications Director Ruth Geresy Director of Operations Manager, California Welcome Center Megan Hines Membership Services Manager Justin Swett Communications Manager
California Welcome Center Concierge Staff Marilyn Colquhoun Carla Embertson Victoria Myer Karen Snyder
TRUCKEE TRACKS
is the quarterly publication of the Truckee Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber reserves the right to edit submissions as necessary for space requirements. Send comments or submissions to info@truckee.com.
AdventureSmith Explorations
Adventure Risk Challenge (ARC)
AdventureSmith founder, Todd Smith, started out as a guide in Alaska and quickly realized the ability that small ships had in getting people to otherwise hard-to-reach destinations. Helping pioneer the concept of wilderness cruising that combines the comforts of a small ship with the adventure of kayaking, hiking and exploring remote wilderness areas ashore, he began AdventureSmith Explorations. Prioritizing matching guests with the top names in small ship cruising as well as the intimate, boutique ships that may not make the radar of most travelers, AdventureSmith soon became a global leader in small ship adventure cruise vacations. Truckee/Tahoe is the perfect place for the AdventureSmith team to have the ideal balance of showing people the world while at the same time loving being adventurous at home. The company dedicates efforts to small-footprint, sustainable travel and has launched a carbon-free cruising initiative. Learn more at adventuresmithexplorations.com or call 530583-1775.
Since 2004 Adventure Risk Challenge has supported youth in developing skills in literacy, leadership, and life. ARC’s mission is to empower underserved youth through integrated literacy and wilderness experiences.
CHAMBER CALENDAR
Our mission is to promote and develop local business and tourism, while improving the community's quality of life.
These businesses have recently made a commitment to our community and an investment in their future by joining the Truckee Chamber of Commerce. We encourage all our readers to do business with these new member businesses.
AUGUST Ambassador Committee TUESDAY, AUGUST 7 | 11:30AM The Lodge Good Morning Truckee TUESDAY, AUGUST 14 | 7:00-8:30AM Truckee Tahoe Airport Chamber Board Meeting WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21 | 2:30PM Truckee Chamber Admin. Offices Mixer THURSDAY, AUGUST 30 | 5:00-7:00PM Clair Tappaan Lodge
SEPTEMBER Ambassador Committee TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 | 11:30AM Rubicon Pizza Co.
ARC participants are selected based on: their need for an experience that bolsters their academic and leadership skills; their willingness to learn and challenge themselves; and their lack of access to READ ABOUT MORE NEW MEMBERS P. 10
TTBID Meeting WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 | 12:00 NOON Truckee Chamber Admin. Offices Good Morning Truckee TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 | 7:00-8:30AM Truckee Tahoe Airport Mixer THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 | 5:00-7:00PM Tahoe Sports Hub Chamber Board Meeting TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 | 2:30PM Truckee Chamber Admin. Offices Knowledge Bites THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20 | 9:30-11:30AM Truckee Tahoe Airport Business Speaks TUES, WED, THURS, SEPTEMBER 25-26-27 times & locations vary
Truckee Chamber of Commerce Downtown location: 10065 Donner Pass Rd. Administrative offices: 10183 Truckee Airport Rd. Truckee, CA 96161 530-587-8808 | 530-587-2439 (fax) info@truckee.com truckee.com
2 TRUCKEE TRACKS | Summer 2018
Board Meetings As a member of the Chamber of Commerce, you are encouraged to attend board meetings. Get involved in the leadership of our organization, offer your input, and let your directors know of your concerns, opinions, and ideas. Any business you wish to present to the board must be placed on the agenda by notifying the President / CEO ten (10) days prior to the meeting. Board meetings are held as noted in the Chamber Calendar. Agendas are available one week prior to the meeting and can be sent to you upon request.
Truckee.com
MIXERS!
Good food, good people, great raffle prizes. Bring your business card. See you there.
Haven’t been to a Mixer in awhile? We’ve got a great line-up of Chamber members opening their doors that would love to see you! Discover new businesses! Meet new people! Make some new connections in 2018!
August 30 | 5–7PM
HOSTED BY: Clair Tappaan Lodge WHERE: 19940 Donner Pass Road
September 13 | 5–7PM HOSTED BY: Tahoe Sports Hub
WHERE: 10095 West River Street
MEMBER RENEWALS
Precision Flooring Moves to New Location Precision Flooring is now located at 10026 Meadow Way (the old Hospice Thrift Shop location). Precision Flooring offers carpet, luxury vinyl, hardwood and area rugs for residential as well as commercial and rental properties. Their professional and knowledgeable staff will show you the right products that fit your budget, taste and lifestyle. They are excited to have more space to provide customers with a larger showroom and easy parking. Showroom hours are Monday through Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm, weekends by appointment. Drop by and see the new location and products! For more information visit precisionflooringtruckee.com or call 530-587-0102.
from 3/27/18 to 7/27/18
Thank you to the following members for renewing their commitment to the local economy and business community.
30+Years
Boreal Mountain Resort Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage McCarthy Sign Company
25+Year
Advanced Asphalt
20+Year
Eagle Ridge Snowmobile Tours North Tahoe Cruises
15+Years
Big Blue Adventure CDM Smith, Inc Chase International Coldwell Banker Residential & Brokerage - Carol Fromson JD HOSS Hardwood and Carpet Quality Automotive & Smog Sharp Real Estate Team Soroptimist International of Truckee Donner Zano's Family Italian & Pizzeria
Truckee.com
10+Year
American Cancer Society Bell Limo / Airport Mini-Bus Dennis E. Zirbel Architect High Sierra Taxi Home Concepts Kelly Brothers Painting Inc. League to Save Lake Tahoe Mt. Lincoln Construction POND Collective Rotary Club of Truckee Sierra State Parks Foundation Tahoe Treetop Adventure Parks Tahoe Truckee Brokers Truckee Tahoe Pet Lodge
5+Years
Bankers Network Corp. Bella Lago Aesthetics Certified Folder Display Service, Inc. Deden Painting East River Public Relations Leslie Heating & Hydronics Lorien Powers Studio Jewelry Molsby & Bordner, LLP Morgan's Lobster Shack & Fish Market Mountain Area Preservation (MAP)
North Tahoe Arts Sierra Pet Clinic Sierrascape Ski Butlers Sustainable Community Advocates Tahoe Expedition Academy Tahoe Oral Surgery and Implant Center The Andrews Law Firm, P. C Truckee Physical Therapy Truckee River Business Center at Martis Village
Old Trestle Distillery Pacific Union Real Estate Reno-Tahoe International Airport RMC - Resorts, Mountains & Cities Skydive Truckee Tahoe Tahoe Production House Tahoe University Tahoe Vistana Inn The Law Offices of Jo Ann Woodsum TrailRunner International Truckee Community Theater Truckee Laundry
2+Years
1+Years
A A Keith's Painting A Singletrack Mind Alpine Skills International Austin & Abrams Financial Planning Ameriprise Financial Services Bobby Jones Concrete Construction CHOICES Person Centered Services Definitive Technical Dickson Realty - Ally Carroll Dickson Realty - Chris Carroll Donner Party Mountain Runners Got Dogs? Lift
Alibi Ale Works GaryAir Air Taxi InnerRhythms Dance Theatre JVP Communications Little Truckee Ice Creamery Mountain Lion Aviation OFD Productions Stealth Tahoe Supporting Strategies | Reno-Tahoe Tahoe Exclusive Vacation Rentals Uber - Greg Salcido
Summer 2018 | TRUCKEE TRACKS 3
DESTINATION MARKETING UPDATE $343.7M Tourism Dollars Brought into Nevada County’s Economy in 2017 Tourism was instrumental to Nevada County’s financial success in 2017, with visitor spending reaching $343.7 million (up five percent from 2016), according to the Dean Runyan Associates report recently released by Visit California.
The Nevada County tourism industry supported 3,670 jobs (six percent increase from 2016) and generated $12.5 million in local tax revenue last year (up 11 percent as compared to 2016). Learn more and get the facts at Truckee.com/tourism-impact.
DASHBOARD Q1
(July-Aug-Sept) 2017
YOY
% Change
Q2
YOY
Q3
YOY
Q4
YOY
2016 vs 2017
(Oct-Nov-Dec) 2017
% Change
(Jan-Feb-Mar) % Change (Apr-May-June) % Change 2016 vs 2017 2018 2017 vs 2018 2018 2017 vs 2018
117,000 75,000 233,398
+380% +287% +353%
90,319 59,924 228,805
+140% +180% +191%
79,338 53,314 237,784
+62% +71% +146%
122,141 85,452 364,127
+53% +71% +130%
10,407 2,683
— —
16,173 2,744
— —
17,564 2,829
+279% +14%
20,643 2,976
+174% +16%
34,983 1,902,277 1,150,223
+149% +151% +121%
40,443 2,239,243 1,299,488
+91% +167% +52%
46,251 2,652,100 1,676,900
+95% +178% +78%
49,344 2,213,900 1,368,500
+67% -4% +2%
1,138 65,120 43,495
+39% -25% +22%
1,219 93,483 50,852
+22% -36% -38%
1,297 98,907 61,036
+22% -47% -45%
1,370 120,686 74,503
+25% +13% +22%
Chamber Memberships Membership 101 Attendees Good Morning Truckee Attendees Knowledge Bites Attendees
640 22 222 —
-2% -21% +9% —
647 11 140 24
-1% -42% +3% +140%
655 25 194 64
-1.5% +108% +11% +88%
668 7 196 54
+2% -74% +26% +20%
Chamber Business Metrics Phone Calls Received Written Requests
1,155 542
-53% -37%
2,703 1,593
+23% +331%
2,595 346
+6% -19.5%
3,022 425
0% +40%
73,760
+7%
55,657
+14%
43,497
+9%
55,833
+6%
DIGITAL MARKETING METRICS Truckee.com Sessions Users Page Views Email Marketing Visit Truckee E-Newsletter (Recipients) Big Life Weekly E-Newsletter (Recipients) Visit Truckee - Social Media Followers/Fans Impressions Reach Truckee Chamber - Social Media Following/Fans Impressions Reach CHAMBER METRICS
CALIFORNIA WELCOME CENTER METRICS Visitors
Definition of Terms available at Truckee.com/mediakit. YOY means year-over-year percent change (up or down).
Truckee.com Key Metrics Comparing QE4 “Quarter Ending June 30, 2018” (also known as spring, or the shoulder season) to 2017, we earned a 53% increase in Sessions and 71% increase in Users. That equates to 85,452 people visiting the site during the shoulder season - a greater number than all peak summer months in 2017 combined. Comparing QE4 to QE3 2018 (winter), page views for the shoulder season totaled 364,127, a new Truckee.com record! These 4 TRUCKEE TRACKS | Summer 2018
significant gains we attribute to new testing in media buying, as well as to the new spring events Truckee Craw Thaw and the Sagan Fondo Gravel ride. Truckee Chamber of Commerce serves as the official Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) funded by the Truckee Tourism Business Improvement District (TTBID) and the Town of Truckee. Truckee.com
Destination Marketing continued Truckee Cultural District Embracing our designation as a Truckee Cultural District by the California Arts Council, visitors and locals attending Truckee Thursdays can meet different creative locals of many genres at the Base Camp for a Big Life booth. Featured artists are also highlighted on the Truckee.com blog. Also available at the booth is the new Truckee Cultural District free logo sticker. For more information about the Truckee Cultural District, visit TruckeeCulturalDistrict.com.
Truckee Arts Alliance (TAA) Truckee Arts Alliance (TAA) is the lead organization promoting arts, culture and history – and the Truckee Cultural District. Anyone who considers themselves a creator, artist, maker or historian in any way is encouraged to join the Truckee Arts Alliance (TAA). Meetings are held year-round (except summer) the first Thursday of the month at 6:00pm. The next meeting is August 13, 6:00pm at Atelier. For more information, contact info@TruckeeArtsAlliance.com. Information is also posted to the Truckee Arts Alliance Facebook page.
Town of Truckee Master Public Art Plan The Town of Truckee recently held a community workshop seeking input for the Town’s first Public Art Master Plan currently being developed by Town staff and community stakeholders with
support from Troy Corliss and the Truckee Arts Alliance. Public art enhances public spaces and expresses community character. Successful art plans are tailored to the place they are created for and are responsive to the context, much like the art that will ultimately result from the plan’s implementation. To stay informed, join TAA.
Tahoe Reno Golf Media Tour In June, Truckee welcomed the annual Tahoe Reno Golf Media Tour, resulting in over 24 journalists and bloggers from across the U.S. experiencing Truckee golf courses.
Visit Truckee E-Newsletter Remember to sign up for the Visit Truckee E-Newsletter and the minute it hits your inbox, grab the URL and send it to your own Truckee Visitor Email lists.
Truckee.com – Your Comprehensive Event Calendar Be sure to visit Truckee.com/events to find all summer and fall events to promote through your marketing channels. And of course, remember to upload your events for 2019 as soon as you have a date in mind – the sooner events are listed on Truckee.com, the less chance there is for multiple events taking place on the same date.
Truckee Tourism Business Improvement District (TTBID) Update Shuttle Service -- TTBID is a sponsor of the Historic Downtown shuttle service (provided by Town of Truckee during New Year’s week and every Truckee Thursdays) with a contribution of $30,000 in FY18-19, as well as FY19-20. After TTBID conducted statistical analysis of 2017 rider surveys, it was determined that an estimated 38% of users between summer and winter services were visitors. TTBID also offered a vacation giveaway contest for survey collection incentive this summer in order to increase the number of respondents. Ensuring our visitors, and locals, have a good experience getting to and from historic downtown is a valued contribution to Truckee’s destination reputation. Events -- The Truckee Craw Thaw and Sagan Fondo Gravel/Dirt events held in the shoulder season months of April and May brought visitors to Truckee. Survey feedback from Sagan Fondo showed high
intent to return to for the 2019 event, already sponsored by TTBID (dates to be finalized). Local feedback cited both events as “really great”! Venue Development – TTBID has partnered with the Truckee-Donner Recreation and Park District to fund a feasibility study for a Truckee Community Pavilion. The pavilion is intended to house a covered, regulation size ice rink seven months of the year, with a wide variety of uses the rest of the year that would provide an opportunity to program events that could bring visitors to the area in shoulder season months. TTBID Collections -- The third quarter for TTBID collections (QE3, Jan-Feb-March) came in at $194,943 vs. $223,059 budgeted by TTBID, mostly attributed to the late winter start. Summer is humming along strongly with a high pace of bookings.
Truckee Community Pavilion preliminary design look.
Learn more at Truckee.com/TTBID
COLLEEN DALTON, Brand Communication’s Director A 20-year brand and interactive marketing veteran, Colleen Dalton is the Brand Communications Director for the Truckee Chamber of Commerce. She holds a BS in Communications, an E-MBA in emerging technology, and Project Management Certification. She leads the strategic development and oversees the implementation of all marketing initiatives including visitation, economic, community, and Chamber. Truckee.com
Summer 2018 | TRUCKEE TRACKS 5
KNOWLEDGE BITES UPDATE 2nd Annual Digital Google National Trainer Returns How to Drive Business Growth Using Data – Marketing th Seminar Sells Out Set for September 20 The Truckee Chamber of Commerce recently hosted the second Annual Digital Marketing Seminar to a sold out, packed house. Based on feedback from our members, the focus this year was a deep dive into social media business strategies. Local social media experts Andria Gutierrez, Ideal Wild and Laura Visconti, GEOGRAPHY CREATIVE led an engaging and interactive session discussing best practices on topics such as Influencer marketing, how to integrate social media into a broader marketing directive and newer media, like Instagram Stories/Live.
Hear what members had to say about this event: “I love that the Truckee Chamber creates opportunities where we can further educate ourselves to better accommodate our local businesses. There is so much talent here in Truckee and I feel fortunate to have gotten to learn from these ladies. It’s wonderful to share ideas and strategies among community members and Chamber events are also great for networking!” -- Cass Walker, Communications Manager, Off Road Tahoe “I appreciate the Truckee Chamber hosting workshops like the Social Media Deep Dive so we can stay current with social media trends. It was outstanding! The presenters were engaging and knowledgeable, and we all learned some great tips!” -- Kelli Twomey, Coordinator of Parent & Community Relations, Tahoe Truckee Unified School District
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“Data makes your briefcase heavy… insights make you rich.” This powerful quote from Niall Fitzgerald, former chairman of Unilever resonates with a lot of business owners and is why we are excited to announce the return and next visit from Google National Trainer, Corissa Saint Laurent. How do you know what insights and data you should be focusing on as a business owner? Where are the tools and resources to help you accomplish your goals? Corissa will dig deep into these topics and much more. This Knowledge Bites will include a presentation called “How to Drive Business Growth Using Data”, an activity and Q&A. Whether you attended the first Google workshop with Corissa or not, this new information will be critical to growing your business. Corissa will address topics and walk through how to create, measure and utilize an effective Goal and Action Plan.
This Knowledge Bites Google Workshop will be held September 20, from 9:3011:30am at the Truckee Airport, 10356 Truckee Airport Road. Registration and networking begins at 9:00am, presentation at 9:30am. Reserve your spot by September 13th and the cost to attend is only $20 for Chamber members and $30 for nonmembers. After September 13th, cost is $30 for Chamber members and $40 for nonmembers. This event WILL sell out like the first Google presentation did, so early registration is highly encouraged. Find the event online at Truckee.com under What’s Happening, and use the registration link. For more information, contact the Truckee Chamber of Commerce at 530-412-7057 or e-mail Megan Hines at megan@truckee.com. The Knowledge Bites series is presented by the Truckee Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Sierra Business Council’s Small Business Development Center, and sponsor The Rice Team, Guild Mortgage Company. The venue sponsor is the Truckee Tahoe Airport District.
Knowledge Bites Announces New Sponsor for 2018 We are pleased to announce The Rice Team, Guild Mortgage Company as the sponsor of the 2018 Knowledge Bites series. A word from our sponsor: “How lucky are we that we get to live and play in such a special community? Of course we want to have a say in what happens to it! As long time locals and explorers of everything Truckee/Tahoe, we
are proud to be participating and sponsoring Knowledge Bites. Helping create a “big life” for our clients is our top priority which is why we were voted “Best Of Truckee/Tahoe” the last two years in a row. As a continually growing business, we have a hunger for knowledge and want to contribute to a community that means so much to us.” -- Katie Rice and The Rice Team, Guild Mortgage Company Truckee.com
RENEWING REWARDS | MEMBER PROFILES TROUT UNLIMITED
CASA BAEZA RESTAURANT & BAR
David Lass,
Cesar Santibañez,
Tu.org
CasaBaezaTruckee.com
California Field Director
How long have you been conducting business in Truckee? 11 years Who are your clientele? At Trout Unlimited, we serve people who love to fish and who care about conserving, protecting and restoring North America’s coldwater fisheries and their watersheds. What has been your most rewarding project? My most rewarding project was a restoration project completed in 2015 on the Little Truckee River that received a national award from the US Department of Agriculture. The real reward was catching more and bigger fish after we completed the project. What has been the greatest challenge overall to your business? The biggest challenge for any non-profit is sustaining mission critical funding to complete work that matters for the organization and its members. It really does take an army, and the pace and scale of TU’s work is dependent on how many people are willing to give to support our mission. What has been the most beneficial to your business? It always come down to people and relationships. It’s people and passion who help complete the due diligence that creates a new and exciting project. It’s people who help you seek the funding, navigate permitting and do the community outreach required to complete the project. As an organization, we catalogued 734,824 volunteer hours valued at $17,312,453 in 2017, so really everything we do is interdependent on people. What are your business goals? We have a vision that by the next generation, Trout Unlimited will ensure that robust populations of native and coldwater fish once again thrive within their North American range, so that our children can enjoy healthy fisheries. We are driven by our mission, and work to find solutions to problems rather than simply treating symptoms. Any tips or pointers for other small business owners in the region? Find landlords that give you a discount on rent! We all know that Truckee is expensive and not getting any cheaper. We are super thankful to Olof and Elizabeth Carmel for helping us with our new office spot on Church Street and wouldn’t have been able to complete the move without their support.
Truckee.com
Owner
How long have you been conducting business in Truckee? Casa Baeza has been in business for 27 years in total and I have been here for 5 years now. Who are your clientele? Locals! We feel so honored and fortunate to have a very loyal local clientele. We do get visitors all year round as well but our main business is from locals. We have started to implement new weekly deals and the locals are loving it. What has been your most rewarding project? Our new direction and vision in the restaurant has helped us create new food specials and events. These have been wonderfully received from our clientele and in a short time we have seen some great impacts. A few months ago we started an event called “Taco Tuesdays” and we offer this special all day long. We also offer a great happy hour on Monday-Thursday from 2-6pm. What has been the greatest challenge overall to your business? Working to make our kitchen better has been rewarding but has been a challenge as well. We serve better quality ingredients and have been trying new cooking techniques. We also make all of our salsas, guacamole and chips in house so we work long days and evenings in the kitchen to prepare food for that day and the upcoming day. What has been the most beneficial to your business? Building meaningful relationships with our customers. What means the most to me is to not only have everyone come and leave happy but I love when people come in and ask for me. I really believe in having a welcoming and friendly atmosphere and this is the most important thing to my team and me. What are your business goals? We have recently taken over the business from Andres Baeza and he was a great example of a business owner who cares about the restaurant and the people. We want to create our own legacy and history here. We are enjoying being creative and innovative and trying new events. We will continue to grow and learn and bring new fun events and specials to our community. Any tips or pointers for other small business owners in the region? A long time ago Andres told me the most important thing to running a successful business was consistency. Consistency in all business layers and consistency with your customers. He taught me that it is important to be reliable. One day we had a slow morning and an idea was raised whether to close for the afternoon. Andres was adamant we stay open to be reliable for our customers and by the end of the night, it had been a very busy day with great success. I’ll never forget that day and that lesson he taught me.
Summer 2018 | TRUCKEE TRACKS 7
GOOD MORNING TRUCKEE August 14th – Roads, Roundabouts, Trails and more! We all know there are two seasons up here…. winter and construction season and we are definitely in the latter right now. From the infrastructure/roadwork taking place downtown in conjunction with the Railyard, the Envision DPR project, Coburn’s Crossing, the CHP project, construction out by the airport, to the SR 89/Fanny Bridge Community Revitalization Project in Tahoe City – lots going on! The August 14th Good Morning Truckee presents three speakers to update the community on these projects and more. Presenting will be Dan Wilkins, Town of Truckee Public Works Director/Town Engineer will address the Truckee infrastructure projects underway. Cindy Gustafson, CEO of the North Lake Tahoe Chamber/CVB/Resort
Association will talk about programs underway in Tahoe City, in addition to updating the attendees on the general business climate in North Lake Tahoe. Peter Kraatz, Assistant Director of Public Works for Placer County will talk about the SR89/Fanny Bridge project, and a few other fun projects, as well as any correlations to when the Kings Beach Commercial Core Improvement Project took place in regard to roundabouts, and ensuring businesses stay open and accessible.
September 11th – Education Update There are so many educational opportunities in our region – from public, charter, private, higher education – the good work of many have created lots of options. The Tahoe Truckee Unified School District (TTUSD) continues to shine with its innovation and
awards. Superintendent Chief Learning Officer Rob Leri will provide an update on the school district’s accomplishments and what’s coming up this year with TTUSD’s educational programs. Dr. Kim Bateman, Dean of Sierra College, Tahoe Truckee Campus will highlight the higher education opportunities available right here in our backyard. There are many opportunities including career and technical educational, professional development, internships and more. Taylor Simmers, Co-Founder of Tahoe Expedition Academy (TEA) and Michael Kinnaman, Development Director will update the attendees on TEA, its mission, programs, and Martis Valley Campus. TEA started in 2011, focuses on real-world application, life skills and character as much as academic knowledge, providing students with the tools and expertise to thrive in the new economy.
ClickTahoe.com Offers Truckee/ Tahoe Stock Photos Looking for some great Truckee/Tahoe stock photos for business marketing, publication, website and personal use? The gallery of photos offered on the website ClickTahoe.com is vast including events, architecture, landmarks/statues, signs, food, downtown Truckee scenic and with people, ski resorts, nature, landscapes and sports.
Prints, canvas wraps, modern metal print, and download options are all available. They are always taking requests, so if you have a special shot in mind that you need and can’t find on their website, just send them a message through their website at ClickTahoe.com and they will try to accommodate.
2018/19 | Official Truckee Visitors Guide
TRUCKEE●COM NOW AVAILABLE
If you would like copies to have available for your guests at your place of business, contact the Chamber at 530-587-8808 or info@truckee.com. Special thanks to our cover photographers! Summer Cover: taken by Michelle Erskine of Erskine Photography (ErskinePhotography.com), features local business owners and long-time residents Shawn and Gina Pettigrove. Winter Cover: provided by Tahoe Expedition Academy (tahoeexpeditionacademy.org),features middle school students embarking on an overnight trip to Hutchinson Lodge.
8 TRUCKEE TRACKS | Summer 2018
Truckee.com
MEMBERS GET MORE LOVE!! The Truckee Chamber of Commerce is the largest, most connected business organization in Truckee. Founded in 1912 and incorporated in 1953, the Chamber is growing strongly with over 665 members. Studies show that Chamber members are viewed with higher credibility, integrity and staying power.
Hear what members are saying about the value of being a Truckee Chamber member:
Truckee.com
that Off Road Tahoe is presented to the public the
Truckee.com receives monthly averages of 16,000 sessions, 10,000 users, and 32,000 page views – making it a huge marketing opportunity for our members! Hundreds of Chamber members every month are successfully uploading their events, photos, news and jobs. Are you? Every Truckee business, non-profit and/ or group is invited to be listed on Truckee.com, however: ONLY CHAMBER MEMBERS receive access to create a FREE detailed webpage about your business!
ONLY CHAMBER MEMBERS will benefit from features that are critical for GOOGLE JUICE (aka search engine optimization). Attract Google search engine crawlers on a regular basis by uploading your events, photos, jobs, and news 24/7 using your secure Member dashboard. PROMOTE YOUR DEALS ON TRUCKEE.COM! Got a business deal or promotion? Post it on Truckee.com and tap into the power of your benefits! Check out this link for an easy step -by-step guide how to promote your deals on Truckee.com: Truckee.com/promoteyourdeal
“As a new business owner it is so important to me right way. Being able to create my own business profile featured on Truckee.com lets me share information and images from our backcountry tours in a way that I think helps people understand what we’re all about. The back‐end of the site is really user‐friendly and I like being able to update and edit my page whenever we need to.” ‐‐ Sean Field, Owner, Off Road Tahoe “I’m a proud new member of the Truckee Chamber and Investor in Truckee Tomorrow! I’m finding the business enhanced listing extremely easy to use. I'm also so excited to be an official ambassador to the Truckee community!” ‐‐ Kari Chalstrom, Real estate agent, Sierra Sotheby's International Realty
Renewing Members “Rewards”
Renewing members are thanked and listed in each issue of Truckee Tracks. In addition, the Chamber staff chooses two renewing members from the most recent list of renewals to feature in the “Renewing Rewards” section. These articles also appear on Truckee.com as a blog post.
Jobs on Truckee.com!
It may surprise you to know that over $2,000 a year is spent on search engine marketing and social media posts to drive traffic to the Truckee Jobs webpage on Truckee.com. Be sure and take advantage of this highly qualified traffic of job seekers looking for businesses that are aligned with the Truckee Chamber of Commerce. Many times we hear feedback that the Chamber site is considered higher quality and more reputable than sites such as Indeed, Craigslist, and others. Login to your dashboard and post “general” jobs you are always looking for, during the entire season.
New Member Digital Benefits New members are welcomed to the Chamber with digital benefits:
All new members get a Truckee.com blog post about your business. This post is a great way to get your business name out there and explain your overall business model and what you specialize in. This also creates very valuable Google “juice”, also known as SEO with a unique URL for your business, backed by the Truckee Chamber. All new members receive a post on the Truckee Chamber Facebook page. This “Welcome” message also points to your blog post on Truckee.com.
Member Referral Program
Know someone who might be interested in joining the Chamber? As a valued member of our organization, you can play an active role in helping the Chamber grow its membership by forwarding your referrals to our Membership Services Manager Megan Hines. By referring companies or organizations to the Chamber, you’re not only contributing to the vitality of our broader business community, but also to the continued success of your colleague’s business. To thank you, for each referral that results in a membership, the Chamber will reward you with $25 cash.
Thanks to the following members for their recent referrals: MEMBER
NEW MEMBER
JVP Communications, LLC .................................................... Dome Printing, Kim Ligman Sierra Sotheby's International Realty- Brinn Talbot ........ Rubicon Pizza Company Sierra Symmetry Pilates and Painless Running ............... Jack + Emmy Simply Worded......................................................................... Francine Tone & Associates, LLC
MEGAN HINES, Membership Services Manager Your connection to the Chamber! Megan assists and manages all Chamber member relations, helping you thrive through the many programs the Chamber offers. Megan has a BS in Marketing and worked for Coach Inc. in New York City where she developed innovative strategies and partnerships with other retailers to increase store sales. For assistance in utilizing any of the member benefits listed, email Megan@Truckee.com. Truckee.com
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New Members continued from page 2 meaningful and transformational experiences in the outdoors. ARC specializes in exceptional summer learning opportunities that are strengthened through academic-year programming and mentoring. Participants are inspired to become life-long learners, stewards of the environment, and leaders in their schools and community. Through ARC’s innovative integration of outdoor and academic education, deserving high school students learn valuable social skills and increase their self-esteem, which positively impacts their academic, personal, and professional pursuits. The heart of ARC’s outreach and programming takes place in the Central Valley and Sierra Nevada. To learn more visit www.adventureriskchallenge.org or call 559676-5096.
Christy Morrison Luxury Real Estate | Oliver Luxury Real Estate Christy Morrison, a Truckee/North Tahoe resident since 1988, stands out as a leader in the Tahoe area Real Estate market. Her proactive business approach keeps her consistently ranked in the top 1% of local agents. With nearly $700 million in sales over the last 18 years, Christy knows exactly how to get the job done. Christy's ultimate mission is to bring buyers and sellers together in order for them to reach their investment, financial, and personal goals. By working closely with qualified buyers and other top producing Real Estate agents in the area, Christy is able to give your property the maximum amount of exposure. Your home will be featured on top real estate websites including Zillow, Trulia, Realtor, Google and Facebook. Christy and her team will create a customized marketing plan to target home buyers interested in the unique features your home has to offer. This helps generate demand so you can get top dollar for your home. For more information visit yourtahoetruckeerealestateexpert.com or call 530-582-6900.
direction of Maestro Joel Revzen, the Classical Tahoe Orchestra includes virtuoso musicians from the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Symphony and others. Family and community events through the Classical Tahoe Music Institute include Monday Movies in the Classical Tahoe Pavilion; two family concerts with a hands-on Music-Maker Faire; and free events including twice-weekly Community Sing!, and open orchestra rehearsals with “Inside Look” lunch discussions to explore the 2018 repertoire through guided conversations. High school students are encouraged to join the team through the Student Usher Program. The Music Institute is led by Truckee native Lindsay McIntosh (neé Hollingshead). McIntosh attended the Juilliard School on full scholarship and she is a historical oboist by trade, and the Deputy Director of Classical Tahoe. For more information visit classicaltahoe.org.
Dreamtown CrossFit Deerfield Community Church on Deerfield Pastor James Stark, is a biblical archeologist, and “New Pastor” in town who loves Truckee and pastoring in Truckee. Deerfield Community, offers service at 11:00am every Sunday. Their commitment is making disciples by raising momentous leaders, great communicators, master teachers, administrators and encouragers. Deerfield Community believes in their mission and feels that with all of the unfortunate situations and harsh statistics that can come with life and world there is hope and a way to life a happy and healthy life. Deerfield Community is committed to hiking cultural struggles of everyday living; economics, hobbies and health; making a difference in people’s lives; living life to the fullest; stepping up to give back; climbing and grinding - in season and out. Deerfield Community believes God is the answer. The Christian calling is “building value and hope into people.” For more information contact Deerfield Community at 530-5824045.
Classical Tahoe Classical Tahoe, now in their seventh season, brings together America’s leading classical and jazz musicians for a three week festival, July 27-August 12 on the campus of Sierra Nevada College in Incline Village. Under the
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school volunteering and involvement in youth sports programs. Kim has 25+ years’ experience in the commercial printing industry specializing in print management, advertising, sales, business development, and marketing strategy. She is extremely client-focused and skilled at taking a client’s vision and bringing it to life in print media. She has produced and distributed printed materials for clients with global reach and chances are you have seen some of her work. From her convenient location in Truckee and Dome’s print manufacturing facilities in Sacramento, she can serve the needs of clients locally and nationally with print distribution worldwide. You can connect with Kim by phone at 650-333-2694 or email KLigman@domeprinting.com and via LinkedIn. Additional information on Dome Printing can be found at domeprinting.com.
Dome Printing- Kim Ligman National Account Manager Kim Ligman moved to Truckee in 2016 with her husband and three boys where she’s quickly become integrated in the community through public
Dreamtown CrossFit, Truckee’s newest CrossFit gym, is built on camaraderie and encouragement to achieve fitness goals. Owned and operated by longtime Truckee locals, Jason and Andrea Berger, Dreamtown CrossFit was founded on the principles of integrity, perseverance, community and a passion for fitness.
Jason and Andrea are committed to providing a positive environment where members are inspired to be their best while supporting each other. Their facility is clean, organized and outfitted with high end equipment. Their coaches are attentive, knowledgeable and prepared to help you reach your goals. READ ABOUT MORE NEW MEMBERS P. 11
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New Members continued from page 10 Dreamtown CrossFit’s programming efficiently combines the most effective training methods of weightlifting, gymnastics and high intensity cardio to prepare you to be fit for life outside the gym. All workouts are adaptive to any fitness level, age and ability level. They can tailor any workout to an individual’s needs and limitations. All classes are open to new members. Try out your first month free. For more information visit dreamtowncrossfit.com or email wod@dreamtowncrossfit.com.
Engel & Völkers Truckee - Gina Jones With over twenty-four years of experience in the real estate industry spanning mortgage lending, real estate sales, and marketing, Gina Jones is a well-rounded, dynamic professional. In addition to previously owning and operating her own mortgage company, Gina has a sound background in facilitating construction financing and has acted as the owner/builder on several projects. Gina understands the value and importance of our local Contractors Association of Tahoe Truckee in which she is actively involved. Drawn to the quality, class and innovation of the Engel & Völkers advisors, Gina recognized the culture and core values of exclusivity, competence and passion to be a perfect match for her own high standards. Partnering with Engel & Völkers allows Gina to elevate the exceptional level of service her clients have come to know. She is extremely self-motivated, detail oriented, and possesses excellent people skills. She is adept at listening closely to her client’s needs and skillfully representing their best interests. For more information call Gina at 530-386-4986 or visit her website ginajones.evusa.com/en.
EXL Media Corp EXL Media has been in business since 1994 and offers full service media planning and placement agency covering full spectrum of media including digital (internet), TV, radio, out-of-home, print, and specialty media. Experience runs deep at EXL Media. Wendy Hummer and her staff use industry insights, powerful strategy and a commitment to full transparency to guide clients to their target audience. Their digital tacticians, TV experts, print specialists and strategists have
big brand experience and the knowledge to make campaigns instantly effective. EXL has worked for companies like CocaCola, Wells Fargo, Toyota and Intuit and local companies such as Truckee Chamber of Commerce, Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows, Reno Sparks Conventions and Visitors Authority, Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival to name a few and they deliver those big brand results with the warmth of a small agency approach. EXL Media’s vision keeps them pushing innovation that will drive the next wave of media change. For more information visit their website exlmedia.com or call 775-8320202.
Francine Tone & Associates LLC Francine’s passion for skiing brought her to Truckee, but she stays because she loves the region and all it offers. With Tahoe as her base, she became a full certified ski instructor, a ski school staff trainer, a podium-finishing SUP paddleboard racer and scuba divemaster. After nearly 30 years as an attorney, Francine Tone has turned her attention to helping business owners regain life-work balance in a fast-paced world. Her combined skills from law, business, athletic trainer and athlete have given her a unique ability to find and solve problems others miss. As a Performance Optimizer and Strategic Advisor, she helps business owners cut waste and hone actions that get results. Take a moment to read what others say about Francine at FrancineTone.com or check her out on LinkedIn. To connect with Francine, call her at 530-412-1122 or visit her website FrancineTone.com.
Golden Sierra Job Training Agency Golden Sierra Job Training Agency has been changing the lives of job seekers and improving business since 1983. Initially serving five counties, Golden Sierra refined their service area to Placer, El Dorado, and Alpine Counties. Over Golden Sierra’s 30 year history, the agency has invested more than $120 million in the region’s youth, adults,
dislocated workers, and businesses. These investments keep youth in school and improve their skills, assist job seekers with career transition and training, and reduce costs for small businesses. Golden Sierra Job Training Agency’s mission is to offer quality workforce investment services that provide both employers and individuals the opportunity to achieve and sustain economic prosperity. Golden Sierra, by virtue of its success in aligning services and preparing skilled workers, will help the counties they serve compete more effectively in the global economy and contribute to California’s shared strategy for shared prosperity. For more information visit goldensierra.com or contact Tammy Cornelison at Cornelison@goldensierra.com or 530-401-5921.
Incline Law Group Incline Law Group is committed to providing legal clarity. Their transparent approach to delivering legal services is designed to get beneath the surface of the matter in order to minimize surprises and maximize their clients’ outcomes. Founded in 1973 by John C. Rogers, Incline Law Group has earned a reputation for professionalism, discretion, honesty, diligence and positive results. The attorneys are licensed in Nevada and California and have been providing legal clarity in the areas of real estate/real property; entity formation and administration: corporations and LLCs; transactional law; civil litigation; family law; and estate planning for over 40 years to our Northern Nevada and California communities, including the Lake Tahoe Basin. Incline Law Group represents clients throughout Northern Nevada and Northern California including Carson City; Douglas County; El Dorado County; Nevada, Placer, Sierra and Washoe Counties. For more information visit inclinelawgroup.com.
Intero Real Estate Services John and Edith Miller share a personal and professional partnership that represents a powerful dynamic synergy of real estate and marketing expertise and experience. Both John and Edie distinguish themselves as industry veterans in the Gold Country and are READ ABOUT MORE NEW MEMBERS P. 14
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Summer 2018 | TRUCKEE TRACKS 11
TRUCKEE TOMORROW BUSINESS SPEAKS continued from page 1 Highlights of the three Business Speaks series of meetings to date include: January 23, 24 & 25, 2018 meetings: 263 business people engaged in conversation to identify challenges and solutions to employee retention & recruitment, with the overarching goal of ensuring Truckee maintains and grows a vibrant middle-class.
April 24, 25 & 26, 2018 meetings: 147 business people expanded upon the initial conversations in January and discussed the Growing Our Own and Develop Truckee as an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem projects. Additionally, attendees learned about the great work being done by the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District and from Sierra College on current internship programs, and were briefed on Mountain Housing Council progress.
June 19, 20 & 21, 2018 meetings: over 100 businesses came together to share ideas and provide input on the third project, develop an Employee Co-op. Businesses also heard from the Town of Truckee about short-term infrastructure projects such as roads, sidewalks, roundabouts and trails, and about Truckee’s infrastructure and service providers. Businesses had the opportunity to weigh in on longer-range infrastructure projects by providing input and ideas.
Mark your calendars for the next series of Business Speaks meetings to be held September 25, 26 & 27. All meeting dates, times and locations will be posted to the TruckeeTomorrow.org website, as well as meeting notes from all Business Speaks meetings.
Gone Boarding Coming to Truckee High School
This fall, Truckee High School will launch an exciting new program – Gone Boarding, a cross-curricular design class where students make boards from concept to reality. The program will engage, inspire and ultimately empower students to actively pursue their passions in the 21st century. Gone Boarding offers a unique projectbased, experiential learning experience for students to work together in small groups to design, construct, and learn to ride all types of boards including surfboards, snowboards, skateboards, stand-up paddleboards, and wake surfboards. The program encompasses technical skills such as science, drafting, engineering, and math, as well as business skills from program partners such as Burton and Vans. In Gone Boarding, students learn valuable life skills they will take with them in the future, including problem-solving, time management, and collaboration. For more information visit ttusd.org or ths.ttusd.org. 12 TRUCKEE TRACKS | Summer 2018
Project Team Meetings Filmed by TTCTV The Truckee Chamber has partnered with TTCTV (Truckee Tahoe Community Television) to film some of the Business Speaks Project Team meetings in order to share with the community this exciting work underway. “TTCTV is happy to be working with the Chamber on this program as our
mission is to foster community awareness and communication through local programming,” said Rory O’Farrell, General Manager. The first video that will be available is for the Growing Our Own project and will be available on TruckeeTomorrow.org soon.
Region’s Leading Industries to be Showcased in Creative Pecha Kucha Presentation Sierra College presents Career Kaleidoscope: A Pecha Kucha Presentation showcasing the Tahoe Truckee region’s leading industries. Pecha Kucha, the art of precise presentations, is growing in popularity and now held in over 1,000 cities around the world. It is a fun, relaxed, creative format to share ideas, works, thoughts – anything! It’s a simple presentation format where you show 20 images, each for 20 seconds. The images advance automatically and the presenter talk along to the images. The Career Kaleidoscope will feature “Tahoe Truckee Tribes” – presenters from eight leading industries that have been given fun titles: Creators, Helpers, Satisfiers,
Catalysts, Traders, Innovators, Healers, and Conveners. Sierra College Photography interns will be paired with industry mentors and tasked with showcasing the multiple stories found within each leading industry in our region. The presentations include both visual and oral storytelling and will serve as a platform for greater collaboration and communication. Mark your calendars for what promises to be a fun, exciting evening happening Friday December 7th at 6:00pm. For more details contact Dr. Kim Bateman at kbateman@sierracollege.edu; or Dr. Todd Wold at twold@ttusd.org. Truckee.com
Truckee River Cohousing Project Closes Land Deal On July 15, a group of full-time Truckee residents gathered to celebrate the purchase of a unique 7.9-acre industrial redevelopment property on West River Street and the future site of their cohousing neighborhood, a community designed and financed by local residents. The Truckee Cohousing group, comprised of approximately 20 member families, has been meeting regularly since mid-2017 and recently formed as Truckee River Commons, LLC. Cohousing is an international model based on the idea of creating an intentional community of private homes designed by its future residents. Fully equipped dwellings
complete with all the expected amenities surround a shared common house and green space. The common house with its large kitchen and dining area, creates an excellent place to gather for shared meals and special events. The working title of the development is Truckee River Village. In addition to the cohousing neighborhood, the group’s vision includes creating a public plaza, park and trail, and replacing the non-conforming industrial uses with housing above ground floor commercial. The plan is aligned with the Town of Truckee’s Downtown River Revitalization Plan adopted in 2005.
Project lead Jan Holan is collaborating with local businesses and entrepreneurs to further develop the vision of the future commercial uses. Some examples of uses considered are a riverfront café, collaborative health and wellness center, coworking space, adventure center, and child care. Regular site tours and meetings are being held for potential homebuyers and investors to find out more about cohousing and plans to make our river a more accessible feature of our town. For more information, dates and times of site tours and info sessions, visit truckeecohousing.com.
Community Solutions
7 Things Employers Can Do to Help with Employee Housing Businesses throughout the North Lake Tahoe-Truckee Region are struggling with attracting and retaining employees because of the housing crisis in the area. The Mountain Housing Council of Tahoe Truckee, a collaboration of 28 regional stakeholders, powered by the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation, is inspired by the creativity and problem solving displayed by many local employers stepping up to find housing for their employees. Below are seven things employers can do to help with housing. Master Lease Business owners and employers have begun implementing master lease programs. Establishing relationships with either individual property owners, or a property management business, those employers lease properties and then sub-lease to their employees. By taking on fiscal responsibility and guaranteeing that the homes will be well maintained, employers can secure housing that may not have otherwise been part of the long-term rental market. This solution requires dedicated staff time, community-minded property owners, a contract and regular communication between all parties. Two examples of this are Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows and Tahoe Donner. Mortgage Assistance Businesses with employees interested in purchasing a home can act as a silent second on a mortgage for employees that otherwise don’t have the financial wherewithal needed. Katie Rice with Guild Mortgage has been a resource for the Mountain Housing Council on this subject, and can be contacted at guildmortgage.com/get-started/officer/?officer=katierice. Leveraging Existing Reserve Funds for Loans Some businesses are leveraging their reserve funds to offer loans to employees or helping with the first and last month rent and deposits often required in rental agreements. Often, the return on investment is higher from the loan than a typical reserve fund investment, creating a win-win situation. Donald Terry, Director of Real Estate Development for NeighborWorks, presented on this to the Mountain Housing Council. See his presentation by visiting: mountainhousingcouncil.files.wordpress.com/2017/10/neighborworksmountain-housing-council-pp.pptx Truckee.com
Build or Buy Employers with the capital are building or buying housing for their employees. Quality Automotive and Smog added housing to their new location; Andrew Laughlin of Tahoe City Kayaks bought an apartment building; and Dave Wilderotter of Tahoe Dave’s bought property in Truckee and Sugar Bowl purchased a lodge for employee housing. Watch to learn more about those efforts here: youtube.com/ watch?v=5f9byozpiXA&t=121s Pay Higher Wages Average rent in the Tahoe-Truckee region for a bedroom is approximately $700-$1,000 per person (not including utilities) per month. To “afford” this rent (per HUD definition of not paying more than 30% of your income on housing), a full-time employee needs to make a minimum of $15-21 per hour in order to live in the Tahoe-Truckee region. Assist with Security Deposits Often getting into rentals is a challenge with steep security deposits. Consider paying security deposits with a monthly payback contract via paychecks. Make Connections Many established business owners and managers in the region have developed relationships that can be used to find housing. Simply connecting a friend that has a rental unit, mother-in-law unit or room for rent with an employee can go a long way. Watch here for some ideas: youtube.com/watch?v=J-_QPOziiQg Have you created your own employee housing solutions? The Mountain Housing Council would like to hear about it. Contact them with your story or with any questions about potential housing solutions by visiting their website at Mountainhousingcouncil.org. Summer 2018 | TRUCKEE TRACKS 13
New Members continued from page 11 committed to successful results and redefining personal service. John R Miller has worked as a realtor and developer in Nevada, Placer and Yuba counties for nearly 30 years. He is now the owner and broker of record for the Nevada County franchise offices of Intero Real Estate Services. Intero ownership represents a wealth of diverse knowledge and dedication to providing the best tools, training and support for all 40 of the professionals working with the company. The overall goal is to provide a superior consumer experience for all of their clients and give back to the community while doing it. As a company, they have raised over $50,000 for local non-profits benefiting the children in the foothills. For more information visit interorealestate.com/ agents/25851-John-R-Miller or call John at 530-615-4321.
Erica and her team receive shipments regularly and now offer online shopping from their website. For more information stop by the children’s boutique at 10191 Donner Pass Road, visit the website jackandemmy.com or check out their social media Instagram handle jackandemmytruckee or facebook @jackandemmytruckee.
Kitchen Collab Kitchen Collab, Tahoe/Truckee’s only commissary kitchen, is now open. Their building includes shared office space, a 2000 sq. ft. kitchen facility, a conference/ private dining room, and a large drive bay that can transform into event space.
Jack + Emmy Inspired by her children, a passion for fashion and life in the casual, California-cool Tahoe region, Erica Farrell opened Jack + Emmy – named for her two children – in historic downtown Truckee.
Jack + Emmy brings comfortable, stylish and well-made children's clothing and accessories to Truckee and little ones everywhere. The Jack + Emmy aesthetic is modern and whimsical. Children's clothes that fit your daily life. Jack + Emmy carry brands such as Pink Chicken New York, the original Salt Water Sandal, Sweet Bamboo, Ice Cream Castles, Wild Wawa and many more. 14 TRUCKEE TRACKS | Summer 2018
While working for five years as Chef at Drunken Monkey and one year at FiftyFifty Brewing Company, Founder Alex Tolger began to pursue the idea of creating a commissary kitchen space for local culinarians to launch, legitimize and grow their burgeoning businesses. By providing state-of-the-art kitchen space, help with licensing and insurance, and educational classes such as ServSafe, they can strengthen our local food community and remove the barriers that prevent people from growing their business in Tahoe/Truckee. Kitchen Collab is now seeking culinary members and accepting reservations for events. Visit them at kitchencollab.co or drop a note at info@kitchencollab.co for details. To follow their social find their IG: @kitchen.collab and FB: Kitchen Collab.
MasterCorp can help you develop a career path to accomplish your goals as a hospitality services professional. Whether your goal is to be the best housekeeper on staff or to move up in management, they will provide you with the mentoring and training to help you get there. MasterCorp is proud of their company culture and have a passion for cleanliness, process, people and progress. To learn more about the job opportunities MasterCorp makes possible visit their website applymc.com.
Melba & Hazel Melba & Hazel is the best source for fresh gourmet dog treats in the Lake Tahoe region. Owner Joel Scott White started making dog treats because one of their dogs, Melba, is allergic to many of the ingredients typically used in dog food and dog treats. Each of their four products start with raw meat, poultry or fish that was intended for consumption by humans, which is then dehydrated. There are no preservatives, additives, fillers, sugars or artificial sweeteners. Here are some details about their ingredients: Crispy Pork Sticks are 100% TriTip Pork Sirloin; Crispy Fish Strips are 100% Skinless Freshwater Tilapia; Crispy Chicken Sticks are 100% Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast; and their Crispy Turkey Strips are 100% Lean Ground Turkey. Melba & Hazel’s Premium Homemade Dog Treats are available online at MelbaAndHazel.com, as well as at several Farmers Markets and select retailers. Shipping by second business day Priority Mail is free on all orders. To reach them by phone call 415-613-4004.
Mountain Forge Mountain Forge is a family owned operated blacksmith shop in Truckee and
MasterCorp Drawing from 35 years in the hospitality industry, MasterCorp is a premier provider of hospitality services. MasterCorp’s mission is to consistently set the standard for the hospitality services industry as they are growing in many areas of the country and are currently hiring for The Ritz Carlton, Lake Tahoe location. READ ABOUT MORE NEW MEMBERS P. 16
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North Lake Tahoe-Truckee Leadership Program Celebrates 15th Year
The North Lake Tahoe-Truckee Leadership Program recently completed its 15th year with a graduation celebration held at the North Tahoe Event Center. The program creates an opportunity for future leaders to broaden their understanding of the region and its issues, challenges and opportunities, while honing and developing their leadership skills. Since 2004, the program has graduated over 320 individuals. As part of the five-month program, participants work on Action Plans designed to enhance some aspect of local community life. These Action Plans are intended to provide the framework to allow for real-world changes in the community. Through interviews, surveys and research, teams develop a program rationale, needs
assessment, budget, timeline, promotional plan and identify possible community stakeholders and collaborations. The results of these projects were presented during the final day workshop. This year the projects included: ESOPs (Employee Stock Option Plan), Typsy Taxi, History Echoes, CTE (Career and Technical Education) Outreach, Pop on TART, and Food Heroes. Following the presentations, Truckee Town Council member Morgan Goodwin provided a motivational talk to the graduates. The Leadership Program is facilitated by Shannon Beets of Sierra Nevada College. Shannon, and the partnership with Sierra Nevada College, brings a high level of expertise and instruction to the program. Sponsors and location hosts of the 2018 Leadership Program included Rotary Club of Truckee, North Tahoe Event Center (NTPUD), Truckee Tahoe Airport, Tahoe City PUD, Town of Truckee and Sierra Nevada College. Scholarships were generously funded by the Rotary Club of Tahoe City, Kiwanis Club of North Lake Tahoe, Sustainable Community Advocates, Soroptimist International of Truckee Donner, and Vail Resorts EchoPromise. The Truckee Chamber of Commerce is proud to be one of the founding partners of this highly regarded program, along with North Lake Tahoe Chamber/CVB/Resort Association, and the North Tahoe Business Association. Facilitation partner is Sierra Nevada College, fiscal partner is the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation.
Sierra College to Offer Workshop on 21st Century Professional Skills Enhancement Based on feedback received through surveys and discussions at Business Speaks, Sierra College Tahoe-Truckee will be offering a new customer service / professional skills course this fall. This interactive workshop series taught by Kim Bateman, Ph.D. will stimulate collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, and communication. Businesses are encouraged to enroll multiple employees in this course designed to enhance professional skills for success in the 21st century workplace. The workshop dates are September 14, 28, and October 5th. They will run from 9:00am to noon. Cost is $40 per person. Register today, as based on demand this workshop may fill quickly! For more details an online registration, visit sierracommunityed.org. Truckee.com
Leadership Program Class of 2018 Alexandra Stevens Amy Warren Aparna Reddy Ashley Cooper Chelsea Walterscheid Dylan Crosby Francisco Gonzalez Jessica Grunst Jill McClendon JT Chevallier Karey Dodge
Katie Korpi Kayla Woods Kellen Babb Kelly Finnen Kelly Hobstetter Kendall Galka Kylee Bigelow Lauren Sully Liesl Hepburn Linnea Whitney Lisa Nigon
Megan Hines Melanie Conti Michael Montalbano Nikki Caravelli Robert Dearwester Samantha Nieland Sherina Kreul Sue Drake Vanessa Vindel
Summer 2018 | TRUCKEE TRACKS 15
New Members continued from page 14 this year they are celebrating a very big milestone… 50 years in business! Hans Standteiner opened a small blacksmith shop on the banks of the Truckee River in the late 1960s. His sons, Anton “Toni” and Hansi, have since taken over the business and built a state-of-the-art workshop of their own construction and design. Toni and Hansi use age old techniques from the Standteiner’s native Austria and seasoned machinery exclusive to their shop. They make everything by hand, including many of the tools they need to craft their unique clients’ designs. Every product they create is an original design crafted as high-quality functional art that will never be duplicated. Their smiths can achieve a wide variety of styles, designs, textures and finishes. Learn more at mtnforge.com or call 530550-0511.
specialize in getting guests off the main roads, away from the crowds and into the backcountry for an exhilarating adventure. They guide, you drive – in private, top-of-theline Can-Am Commander 1000 cc side-bysides, with up to seven guests in your party. All guides are Wilderness First Responders and environmental stewards of the land and are prepared with cold water, coffee and trail snacks as they lead guests to the most aweinspiring, least traveled areas in North Lake Tahoe.
Mountain Lion Home Management & Concierge Mountain Lion Home Management & Concierge, a high-end property management company, is now serving luxury homeowners in the TruckeeTahoe area. Launched in June by Russell Kobayashi and Charles Slusher, these Truckee entrepreneurs aim to fill a need to provide the highest level of service in home management. They pride themselves on handling every detail of home ownership and vacation planning. Kobayashi and Slusher believe they have built a reputation on commitment to their clients and their homes, prioritizing detailoriented care, rapid response times, confidentiality and service with a personal touch. Kobayashi and Slusher say the truth is that you need personal concierge service from someone that knows your name, knows your needs and is available on your schedule. Clientele can expect a wide variety of services done from basic housekeeping to lifestyle and transportation— just to name a few. For more information and to view everything else Mountain Lion Home offers visit mountainlionhome.com.
Off Road Tahoe Off Road Tahoe is North Lake Tahoe’s only full-service, guided off road adventure tour company permitted by the US Forest Service to operate in the Tahoe National Forest. Tours 16 TRUCKEE TRACKS | Summer 2018
Expect plenty of throttle therapy and stunning scenic views as you spend the day conquering Tahoe’s rugged terrain. A day with Off Road Tahoe will leave you feeling accomplished, with plenty of pictures and stories for your friends back home. For more information visit offroadtahoe.com or call 530562-6385.
PKH Nursing Care Paula Henrikson of PKH Nursing Care promotes health, safety, and wellness for patients in the Truckee North Tahoe area. Henrikson is an RN, CEO, certified in gerontology, and an assessment coordinator. PKH Nursing Care helps supplement oneon-one registered nursing needs of local residents, and of visitors. From a simple need such as medication management, complex monitoring of long-term medical conditions, or in-home nursing, support is available by Paula Henrikson. Henrikson is a nurturer of the elderly who offers a calm and sensible approach. Henrikson’s method is based on the belief in concepts of healthy living, prevention and wellness of the whole person. Henrikson’s experience working in both acute and long-term care has equipped her to provide nursing care to adults of all ages, as well as the end of life care. To learn more,
contact Paula at pkhenrikson@gmail.com or call 530-386-4632.
Reno News & Review (RN&R) Reno News & Review, and sales manager Emily Litt’s mission is to publish great newspapers that are successful and enduring. RN&R strives to create a quality work environment that encourages employees to grow professionally while respecting personal welfare, to have a positive impact on the local communities and make them better places to live. The Reno News & Review can be found in red boxes or racks at most major entertainment venues and shopping malls. The publication is available at many locations such as bookstores, coffee shops, music stores and convenience stores as well. To learn more about sales opportunities with RN&R visit their website newsreview.com/ reno/home or contact Sales Manager Emily Litt at 775-324-4440.
Sierra Symmetry Pilates and Painless Running Sierra Symmetry has a full staff of PMA Certified Pilates instructors and is owned and operated by Hillary MacLean, a Certified Pilates instructor and Running Coach. Hillary was a competitive gymnast through high school, snowboarder and wakeboarder through college, and after having her second child, directed her active nature to trail running. Although a successful trail runner placing well in races, she started experiencing pain as a result of her active lifestyle. Upon researching how to minimize pain while not sacrificing her love of running, she came across Pilates. Efficient movement has reduced pain associated with old injuries and shaved time off of PRs. Hillary now has three children and is motivated to share her love of exercise and running with those young and old. She believes everyone can benefit from efficient movement. For more information visit sierrasymmetry.com or contact Hillary at 510883-4172.
Sierra Color Studio Photographer and Truckee local Esteban Peralta has been taking photos since high school but recently decided to make a career READ ABOUT MORE NEW MEMBERS P. 20
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MEMBERS IN THE NEWS Alpine Mounting/ tahoeposters.com To Close Doors After 25 years and thousands of Boxmounts, Alpine Mounting/ tahoeposters.com will be closing its doors in the fall of 2018. All tahoeposters.com Boxmounted posters are on sale to Chamber members for 40% off the listed price. To see the selection, go to tahoeposters.com.
Visit them at 10095 West River Street, across from the train station, or call 530-582 -4790 to order at this special price – be sure to mention that you are a Chamber member. Also ask about discounts on unmounted posters, custom mounting, any of their equipment, tools, or fixtures. Fred Zabell would like to thank all the businesses he’s worked with over the years and encourages you to take advantage of this bargain of their wonderful collection of Boxmounted Lake Tahoe posters while they last.
Trokay - New Streets of Truckee CD
The title track on the new Richard Blair, Streets of Truckee CD is named Trokay which means “It’s ok, everything is alright”. The story tells how a well-intended, misunderstanding between pioneers and a Paiute medicine chief led to the eventual name of our town and the river. Other songs on the CD include: celebrating famous ladies of Truckee like Carrie Pryor and Lola Montez; the famous Turkey Truck wreck of 1955 on Old Hwy. 40
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where locals gathered up free frozen Thanksgiving turkeys scattered in the snow; Moses Schallenberger for whom the ridge on the south shore above Donner Lake was named, who spent the winter guarding five wagons that couldn’t make it over the summit two years before the Donner Party; saloon owner and luckiest poker player in the West, Poker Pete; and the adventures of the young Pony Express riders that rode past the South Shore of Lake Tahoe. All songs were recorded in Richard Blair’s studio in Russell Valley. To listen or purchase CDs online, visit TruckeeBlair.com by going to Sound Cloud link to the music. CDs are also available for purchase at the California Welcome Center downtown in the train depot and at ArtTruckee. Be sure to save the dates for the 2018 Streets of Truckee shows at Cottonwood: Sunday, October 28; Sunday, November 11; Sunday, November 25; and Wednesday, December 5.
Plumas Bancorp Ranked 4th Best Performing Community Bank in the Nation Plumas Bancorp (NASDAQ:PLBC), the holding company for Plumas Bank, was recently awarded the prestigious Community Bankers Cup by Raymond James & Associates for operating one of the top performing community banks in the country. Raymond James evaluated 272 publicly traded community banks with assets between $500 million and $10 billion on six financial performance metrics focused on asset quality, deposit composition, profitability, expense control and returns. The top 10% performing banks were awarded the Raymond James & Associates’ Community Bankers Cup. “We’re thrilled to announce that of the 272 community banks across the United States analyzed for the awards, Plumas Bancorp made the top 10% thus earning the Banker’s Cup. But even more exciting is that out of the 28 chosen for the award, Plumas Bancorp ranked fifth overall,” commented Andrew J. Ryback, Director, President and Chief Executive Officer. Ryback continued, “One of the key takeaways from the analyses that we are most proud of was Plumas Bancorp’s five-year stock performance. With our stock price increasing by over 600%, we significantly outperformed all the other Cup winners. We are exceptionally proud of this performance and will continue to focus on building longterm shareholder value.”
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MEMBERS IN THE NEWS Generous Gift from Local Residents Will Benefit the Humane Society Local Truckee residents Rick and Nancy Holliday, founders and owners of Holliday Development, have donated an apartment in downtown Truckee to the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe (HSTT). The house, to be called the Holliday House, will be rented to HSTT for $1 per year. In turn, Tahoe Getaways will manage the rental pro bono, with all proceeds going to the Humane Society. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to give back to our community in this way. The property is such an amazing spot, and
really captures what is special about Truckee,” said Amber Kennedy, director of sales and marketing at Tahoe Getaways. “We’re helping to generate contributions for a great cause, while delivering an exceptional experience to guests of the Holliday House.” HSTT envisions the Holliday House will be the start of a program set to grow and sustain their efforts for years to come. This generous gift will help them provide essential community services. Beyond providing for strays and unwanted pets,
HSTT works to ensure every pet adopted is free of preventable communicable diseases and fully vaccinated before introduction into the general pet population.
Bike Truckee Has a New Fleet of Electric Bikes Bike Truckee has a new fleet of electric bikes – they are now offering electric mountain bikes by Bulls and electric path and commute bikes from Izip. The fleet of comfort road electric bikes have powerful mid-drive motors to flatten out the steepest of hills. The Bulls bikes can travel over 40 miles of single tract trail. They have four power levels so you can get a workout and get the extra boost for the killer
climbs in Truckee/Tahoe. These bikes round out their full selection of bikes including performance mountain bikes, comfort bikes, kids bikes, child carrier trailers, tag-along children’s bikes, and tandems. To check it out, head to Bike Truckee at 10200 Donner Pass Road, open daily 9am5pm or visit their website at truckeebikerentals.com.
Family Resource Center’s Family Room Graduation Thirty local families recently celebrated completion of another successful year of the Family Resource Center’s Family Room with a graduation ceremony. More than 200 children and their caregivers participated in the Family Room program at Truckee Elementary during the 2017-18 school year. The Family Room is a bilingual program (Spanish and English) dedicated to the development of literacy and school readiness in families with children under three years old. Activities include a mix of reading, music, crafts and access to a free lending library of English and Spanish children’s books. First 5 California reports that 90% of a child’s brain develops in the first five years of life. At the Family Room, parents and caregivers receive support and education about the crucial role they play as their child’s first teacher. Program staff encourage parents to talk, read and sing with their children every day to promote brain development, while building school readiness in children through the exposure to a classroom experience. Since 2011, more than 1,300 parents and 1,500 children have participated in the free Family Room. The 2017-18 program year 18 TRUCKEE TRACKS | Summer 2018
received generous support from the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District, the Lahontan Community Foundation Fund held at the Parasol Tahoe Community Foundation, First 5 Nevada County, Vail EpicPromise, Soroptimist International of Truckee Donner, Walton’s Grizzly Lodge and donations from individual community members. Family Room teachers will hold Summer Reading programs for parents and young children in five neighborhoods. For more information, visit truckeefrc.org or call 530-587-2513.
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Town of Truckee 25th Anniversary Celebration Save the Date! Town of Truckee 25th Anniversary September 8, 2018 Donner Lake, West End Beach Opens at 9:00 a.m. Town Photo to be taken at 11:00am. Free BBQ following the photo Live Music Festivities will end at 3:00pm
On September 8, 2018, Truckee community members are invited to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Town of Truckee’s incorporation and 155 years since establishment with a major town picnic at Donner Lake West End Beach. As a community with great pride in the “Truckee Way”, so too shall the 25th Anniversary Celebration be held in this spirit and welcomes all residents. Come be a part of Truckee’s history where a new town community photo will be taken just as was done in 1900 and 2000. From safer roads to control of our community destiny, there are many reasons to celebrate this occasion. In just the past five years, we have seen the expansion of our
beloved Legacy Trail, the Mini- Mousehole pedestrian underpass opening and new bike lanes throughout town. High quality developments such as the Public Service Center have fostered successful collaborations with the U.S. Forest Service and the Humane Society of Truckee Tahoe. Greater access to Truckee’s historic district has come as a result of downtown streetscape improvements. The Town of Truckee’s incorporation has also meant dedicated law enforcement to protect our community and snow removal during snow events. The 25th Anniversary Picnic will offer free food, local musicians Richard Blair - The Streets of Truckee, and the Berm Brothers as well as a new town community photo. Keep it green and ride your bike with the free bike valet or use free bus transportation from Truckee neighborhoods to West End Beach. Come together as a community for a celebration that embraces our sense of place, incredible environment and quality of life. All attendees must register to attend at 25thanniversarytruckee.eventbrite.com to assure receipt of commemorative pin, barbecue lunch and electronic link to photo. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact kathy@justimaginemktg.com. All volunteers will receive a commemorative tshirt.
Be sure to visit the Truckee Base Camp for a Big Life booth for free giveaways!
Thank You Sponsors: FiftyFifty Brewing; Mountain Hardware & Sports/Truckee Rents; Rotary Club of Truckee; Truckee-Tahoe Lumber Company; Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation; Craig Price Inc.; Mountain Arts Collective; Pamela Hurt Associates; Placer Title Company; Raley’s; Richards Family; Town of Truckee Mayor Carolyn Wallace Dee; Truckee Core Values Fund; Truckee Chamber of Commerce; Western Nevada Supply; Aegis Insurance Markets; Acumen Engineering; Balance Hydrologics, Inc.; bigtruck®; Cabona’s; Christy Morrison–Oliver Luxury Real Estate; Humane Society of Truckee Tahoe; John Manocchio, Waddell & Reed, Inc.; KTKE 101.5; Mt. Lincoln Construction, Inc.; Soaring Ranch; Tahoe Forest Health System; Truckee River Watershed Council; Truckee River Winery; Tahoe Truckee Brokers.
Town of Truckee Provides Free Bus Service The Town of Truckee now provides free to the rider bus service on the Truckee TART local fixed route, operating throughout Truckee Monday -Saturday between 9:00am to 5:00pm. The Truckee TART Dial-a-Ride also provides free to the passenger bus service for ADA certified passengers. Additionally, the Truckee Thursdays shuttles are being offered again this year as a way for attendees to forget the parking hassles and leave the car behind. For schedules and additional information, visit TahoeTruckeeTransit.com or call 530-550-1212. Truckee.com
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New Members continued from page 16 out of his passion. Esteban feels the business name Sierra Color Studio appropriate as he lives in the Sierra Mountains and most of his photos are taken here. Esteban started out primarily photographing local landscape venues but has recently grown to incorporate and add more skills to his list of specialties. Some of his specialties include family portraits, senior portraits, landscapes, pet portraits and real estate photography. Esteban also produces 3D tours for clients that they can put on their Google map listing, their website and has recently received his license to work with drones. For more information and to receive a quote from Esteban contact him at 530-448-9420 or visit his website sierracolorstudio.com.
Sierra Valley Farms Sierra Valley Farms is a 65-acre certified organic farm and nursery situated on the middle fork of the Feather River in the majestic Sierra Valley. The farm, located at 5,000 feet elevation in Beckwourth has one of the most unique growing climates in the West.
Stella at the Cedar House Sport Hotel Stella is all about community and bringing people together. They believe that no great meal should be eaten alone, but instead, shared amongst family and friends as you unwind and exchange stories from the day. This is dinner as it should be. A repast with soul, heart and nourishment. Stella highlights a focused menu shaped by creative imagination that combines familiarity with innovation. Served in a relaxed and refined setting at the Cedar House Sport Hotel, Stella delivers an intimate dining experience showcasing new approaches to traditional and exotic flavors in conjunction with what defines Truckee and North Lake Tahoe…..its people. Stella welcomes family and friends with two offerings: Stella Weeknights, and their weekend Evening at Stella dinner parties. Reservations are made directly through the Cedar House website cedarhousesporthotel.com/stella or call 530582-5655. They look forward to welcoming you to their table.
The Town Church - Pastor Luke Lewis The Town Church is a community church in Truckee and they are passionate about two things: Jesus Christ and the people of Truckee/North Lake Tahoe. Pastor Luke Lewis is seeking to help both spiritually and physically. Yearly they organize a back-toschool backpack drive and also partner with Project MANA to donate turkeys for families at Thanksgiving. Your help in meeting local needs is welcomed. Whether you're new to church and investigating Jesus Christ or have been a longtime Christian, they would love to have you. There are no strangers here — the moment you walk in you are family! The Town Church meets at The Glenshire Clubhouse in Truckee each Sunday morning at 10:00am. You can expect church to last about an hour. Childcare provided every Sunday for children five and under. To find out more, visit their website at townchurchtruckee.com.
Tiffany Connolly, Writer The Law Office of Brooke Barnum-Roberts
The family farm is owned and operated by Gary Romano, and his dad Louis Romano. Sierra Valley Farms diverse operation includes growing and production of a wide range of cool-season vegetables and some fruits, micro greens, herbs, hops, and value-added condiments. The farm hosts an “on-farm” farmers market, restaurant CSA’s, “Dinners in the Barn”, ''Blues Concert'' summer series and “Wine With A View” events. Sierra Valley Farms markets most of their products by way of Farmers Markets in the Reno/Tahoe area, and hosts the only On-farm Certified Farmers Market in California. The farm products are very popular in the community markets and also popular is the unique CSA program just for restaurants.
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California labor and employment laws are constantly changing. Make sure your policies and practices are compliant. As the old saying goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” The Law Office of Brooke Barnum-Roberts represents local California small businesses in all labor and employment matters. Whether you need to defend an employee lawsuit or are looking for the right person to conduct a workplace harassment prevention training, Brooke and her team are up to the task. They bring extensive experience and professionalism to every case and customize their support to your individual needs and concerns. Brooke has extensive experience advising HR departments both as an in-house attorney for a large public agency in the Bay Area, and as an associate in a bustling boutique labor and employment law firm. She is a savvy litigator who has successfully taken many cases to verdict before juries and judges. To contact Brooke reach her at 530-536-0390 or to learn more visit her website truckeelegal.com.
Tiffany Connolly is a writer and editor focused on crafting compelling copy for businesses. Her work includes creating content that drives traffic to websites, putting together company newsletters and emails, writing and editing press releases, grants, proposals, blogs, and other professional materials. Originally from Redondo Beach, Tiffany has called Truckee home since 2009. She was an educator for 10 years and worked in various aspects within the educational field. She recently left the field of education to pursue her love of writing and to help businesses create and maintain a professional image by ensuring their written documents are succinct, informative, and engaging. She has been working with many local Truckee businesses and looks forward to adding more to her list of clientele. She also assists students with research writing, creates and updates resumes, and has experience in editing exemplars in the medical field. For more information on Tiffany’s services visit her website at tiffanyconnolly.com or e-mail tiffanyrayconnolly@gmail.com.
READ ABOUT MORE NEW MEMBERS P. 22
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MEMBERS IN THE NEWS Quality Automotive and Smog Moves to New Location and Launches Loyalty Program Quality Automotive and Smog has moved into their new location at 11500 Donner Pass Road, Unit D in the Meadow Park area. They celebrated and showcased their new location with a Truckee Chamber Mixer recently. In addition to their new location, they are also unveiling the new ServicePlus 5% dividends earned program. “We want our customers to see the value in regular servicing with a trusted neighbor” says Bill Greeno, owner of Quality Automotive and Smog. “Always trying to find the best discount and shopping around for service does a real disservice to your vehicle” says
Greeno who encourages sticking with one shop that will get to know you. That’s why this “Locals Favorite” shop is now rewarding customers a 5% dividend. With every visit from a basic oil service to manufacturer service and even smog checks, customers earn a 5% dividend to use on a future service. For the most loyal customers that could turn out to be a good reward as dividends cumulate. For more information about specials, services or the ServicePlus dividends earned program, visit the website at QualityAutomotiveandSmog.com.
Quality Automotive and Smog was named the 2017 Small Business of the Year by the Truckee Chamber of Commerce.
bigtruck® is B Corp Certified “By becoming a Benefit Corporation, we are elevating our mission goals to sustain the people and places that sustain us through social, governance and environmental best practices,” says Bill Sinoff, General Manager. “We are thrilled to be a Certified B Corporation® and look forward to being a part of the global movement that is redefining what it means to be successful in the business world.” Who are B Corporations? The B Corp community is made up of over 2,400 companies in 50+ countries and 130 industries with 1 unifying goal: to redefine success in business. To meet the Certified B Corps, visit the directory at bcorporation.net/community/find-a-b-corp. What is a B Corp? B Corp is to business what Fair Trade certification is to coffee or USDA Organic certification is to milk. Certified B Corporations are part of a community working toward not only being the best in the world, but also being the best for the world.
Learn More To learn more about B Corp and bigtruck’s certification, visit their B Corp page at bcorporation.net/community/bigtruck®.
Why did bigtruck® become B Corp Certified? We believe that a company’s success should be measured on much more than just annual revenue. Becoming a Certified B Corp is an important milestone in bigtruck’s evolution. It is a highly transparent way to be held accountable to our long-term commitments to our community, employees, customers and the environment.
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Member Spotlight Living the Dream – Russell Hamby, Owner of Pacos
Cycling and skiing have always been a part of Russell Hamby’s life. It just makes sense that he's now running the premiere bicycle
and nordic ski shop in the Sierra Nevada, Pacos. From the day Russell started working in a bike shop, at the age of 10, to his years racing as part of the Ofoto/Sierra Nevada Professional Cycling Team, his passion rolls deep. After racing everywhere from Paris to Georgia and back to California, Russell came to Tahoe with his wife Keri to enjoy mountain life and to live a dream. Starting work at Pacos 12 years ago, Russell loves the mountain culture in Truckee, the people, and being able to share his passion with all his friends and clients at Pacos. His favorite
Truckee day includes taking his bike out to the trails to keep his ride stoke flowing, family time in Tahoe Donner, and running Pacos. Through each seasonal cycle, Russell enjoys pedaling and glissading throughout Truckee's beautiful mountain backdrop. Drop by and say hi to Russell and the team at Pacos in the Tri Counties Bank Plaza at 12047 Donner Pass Road, or check them out at pacosxc.com.
New Members continued from page 20 Truckee River Cohousing Truckee River Cohousing is a group of local families creating their dream homes in an environmentally-conscious neighborhood with a strong sense of community. Their site is located on West River Street along the Truckee River, just 1/2 mile from downtown Truckee in the new Truckee River Rebirth zone.
Cohousing is an intentional community of private homes clustered around shared space. Each attached or single family home has traditional amenities, including a private kitchen. Shared spaces typically feature a common house, with a larger kitchen and dining area, laundry and recreational spaces. Shared outdoor space may include parking, walkways, open space and gardens. Neighbors share resources while maintaining independent lifestyles.
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To learn about joining the limited number of founding Truckee households visit TruckeeCohousing.com or email truckeecohousing@gmail.com for more information.
Truckee Surgery Center Truckee Surgery Center is an ambulatory surgery center that has been serving the Tahoe-Truckee and surrounding area since 2003. Ambulatory surgery centers are also known as outpatient or same day surgery centers. Personalized care begins the moment you enter and continues until you leave. This increased level of individual attention minimizes stress often associated with surgery. The standard of care required by Medicare and surgical governing bodies is strictly adhered to. Truckee Surgery Center is Medicare certified. The staff at Truckee Surgery Center strives to provide the highest quality of care and employs systems to monitor and improve this quality on a continuous basis. Truckee Surgery Center is a member of the California Ambulatory Surgery Association and the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association. For more information visit their website truckeesurgerycenter.com or call the office at 530-550-2940.
Vacation Rental Assistance Tahoe born and founded in 2008, Vacation Rental Assistance (VRA) is vacation home service company on a mission. Started by Caleb Fry while attending Lake Tahoe Community College, VRA has emerged as the premier solution for Truckee Tahoe’s homeowners, managers, and listing agents. VRA has distinguished itself locally and beyond by innovating a unique model for the Rent-By-Owner (RBO) industry, specializing in property care and 24/7 response for active vacation home rentals. The company’s core disciplines are housekeeping, hot tub service, 24/7 response, maintenance and repairs, and property control. VRA Care is the flagship program and the result of over a decade of best practice innovation. It is the complete hospitality service companion to RBO, manager, and listing agent’s marketing effort. Caleb and the VRA team are deeply committed to their staff, clients, and community and driven to create positive impact. For those interested in learning more or partnering with VRA, visit vacationrentalassistance.com, call 855872-8246, or email sales@vratahoe.com.
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Truckee 4th of July Parade A Huge Success The crowds came out in huge numbers once again to enjoy the Truckee 4th of July parade. The parade is a favorite hometown tradition and classic small town Americana. It brings thousands of people to Truckee every year to enjoy the 4th of July festivities including the parade, pancake breakfast, Firecracker Mile, and fireworks and activities at the West End Beach. They are a significant and important economic stimulus for Truckee and our businesses. The parade is produced by the Truckee Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Town of Truckee with logistical support provided by Big Blue Adventure, LLC. Parade entries were judged in five different categories: Commercial, Open, Non-Profit, and Classic Auto, Youth Group, and Best of Show. Entries are judged on organization of entry, public’s response, quality of preparation, and effort involved.
Congratulations to this year’s parade winners: BEST IN SHOW: The Auto & Tire Doctor
NON-PROFIT: Truckee Donner Railroad Society
COMMERCIAL: Tahoe Donner Association
CLASSIC AUTO: Reno Mustang Car Club
OPEN: Hoopin’ Hooligans
YOUTH GROUP: Civil Air Patrol
Special Thanks to:
Sponsor Thanks!
The Truckee Chamber of Commerce would like to thank the many businesses who stepped up to support this celebration of our nation’s birthday – a Truckee tradition and popular community celebration.
Statue of Liberty Sponsors
Mark Tanner Construction, Inc.
Rotary Club of Truckee
Mountain Home Center
Truckee Tahoe Airport District
Precision Flooring
Martis Camp Club
Tahoe Donner Association
Tahoe Forest Health System
Tahoe Exclusive Vacation Rentals
Lahontan Golf Club
The Treehouse
Quality Automotive
Truckee Tahoe Pet Lodge
Uncle Sam Sponsors Auburn Ski Club Moody’s
Firecracker & Sparkler Sponsors
Soroptimist International of Truckee Donner
Cabona’s
Tahoe Mountain Sports
Cruise Planners – Carla Embertson
Truckee Downtown Merchants Association Truckee Hotel
Patriotic & Red, White & Blue Sponsors
Cottonwood Restaurant
Don Geresy Construction Loon’s Lemons Morgan’s Lobster Shack Mountain Arts Collective Tahoe Oil & Spice
Master of Ceremonies Jim Simon and Ravn Whitington of Porter Simon Law Offices
Truckee Volunteers in Police Service (VIPs) Truckee Public Works Dept.
Alison Bermant, Attorney at Law
Judges: Mike & Sandy Horn; John Manocchio, Vice-Chair Chamber Board; Sherilyn Laughlin, Asst. Governor for Rotary District 5190
Big Blue Adventure, LLC
Bar of America
Crux Events
Burger Me!
Truckee Donner Railroad Society
TTCTV (Tahoe Truckee Community Television)
Care Flight (REMSA)
Truckee Optimist Club
Downtown Truckee 76 – Circle K Market + Donner Gate Chevron
Truckee Variety
Grand Marshalls: Mayor Carolyn Wallace Dee and Truckee’s first Mayor Kathleen Eagan Town of Truckee Police Department
101.5FM Truckee Tahoe Radio Auburn Ski Club— Firecracker Mile Run
Elder Group Tahoe Real Estate – Engel & Volkers
Tahoe Oral Surgery and Implant Center
Waddell & Reed – John Manocchio White Buffalo
Photos courtesy of ClickTahoe.com
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PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE Change Service Requested 10065 Donner Pass Road Truckee, CA 96161 530-587-8808 truckee.com
Awards Dinner continued from page 1 all make Truckee Our Base Camp for a Big Life. This popular event sold out last year – don’t miss out! To reserve your spot, head to TruckeeAwards.com today!
Seeking 2018 Annual Awards Nominations Announcing this year – new award categories! We will showcase Truckee’s innovators, visionaries, trailblazers, creatives and entrepreneurs – from existing businesses, small and large employers to those Rising Stars – businesses to watch! Award categories this year include: Truckee Innovator Award Truckee Entrepreneur Award Truckee Business Stewardship Award Truckee Creative Award Truckee Rising Star Award Truckee Large Business of the Year Truckee Small Business of the Year Watch your Tuesday Big Life Weekly email for a link to submit your nominations through Survey Monkey. Deadline for nominations is August 27th.
SPONSORSHIPS
Interested in having your business featured at the biggest night for the business community? Join us as a sponsor! Big Life, Gold & Silver sponsorships are being offered to raise your company’s prominence at the event and in pre-event promotion. For more information contact Megan Hines at 530-412-7057 or megan@truckee.com. 24 TRUCKEE TRACKS | Summer 2018
PA I D KINGS BEACH, CA PERMIT #1
Tahoe Pitch Camp and Showcase Returns Sierra Business Council (SBC) and Tahoe Silicon Mountain (TSM) announce the return of Tahoe Pitch Camp and Tahoe Pitch Showcase, a series of workshops culminating in a showcase for Tahoe/Truckee entrepreneurs, startups, and founders to present to the community their innovative companies and ideas. On September 24th at 6pm at the Community Arts Center in Truckee, entrepreneurs will present their pitch deck for the chance to win prizes and receive feedback from an expert panel of judges, as well as the audience of community members. Tahoe Pitch Camp, a series of workshops delivered by Sierra Business Council, is designed for entrepreneurs to hone their skills, learn about successful pitch techniques, and craft a winning pitch. Taught by SBC’s seasoned mentors in collaboration with Tahoe Silicon Mountain, participants will hone their presentation skills and information into a five minute presentation, referred to as a pitch, identifying their value proposition and their organization’s capital needs. The Showcase will feature the finalists of the entrepreneurs from the Pitch Camp. Entrepreneurs at any stage, startups, founders, and established businesses are all welcome to apply for Tahoe Pitch Camp and Showcase. The series, held at SBC’s office in Truckee, will begin on August 29th and continue on September 5th and 12th from 6-8pm. In addition to the classes, entrepreneurs are encouraged to take advantage of free one-on-one consulting with SBC’s Sierra Small Business Development Center staff. SBC is currently accepting sign-ups for the Pitch Camp. For more information and to apply please visit sierrasbdc.com/index.php/events-‐ calendar/ To attend the pitch showcase, RSVP here: http://bit.ly/ tahoepitchshowcase.
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