North Lake Tahoe locals, businesses honored at 61st chamber awards – Tahoe Daily Tribune

NORTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. — The North Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce honored local leaders and businesses March 26 at the 61st Annual Community Awards Dinner at the Resort at Squaw Creek.

The ceremony recognizes businesses and employees who provided outstanding service to visitors, customers, clients and the community throughout 2014.

Large Business of the Year was awarded to Tahoe Restaurant Collection of Garwoods, Caliente and Bar of America, owned by Tom Turner. The collection is consistently promoting North Lake Tahoe events such as tequila tastings, SnowFest! opening ceremonies, Kings Beach parade celebrations and Labor Day Fireworks shows.

Other winners are as follows:

Non-Profit Organization of the Year: North Lake Tahoe-Truckee Leadership Program, for providing an opportunity for emerging leaders to build leadership skills and become trained, informed, engaged and active community members. Together, Program Manager Karen Wilcuts, and Shannon Beets, Interim President of Sierra Nevada College, have increased the class size to 27 across the region.

Best Place to Work: Tahoe Donner Association, for showing an extraordinary commitment to its employees including an employee service incentive program where they chose two Employees of the Month as well as providing exceptional employees wooden nickels.

Hospitality Business Award: Sunnyside Restaurant & Lodge, for efforts to make North Lake Tahoe a welcoming place extend through its willingness to partner with non-profit organizations for fundraisers as well as the staff’s openness to mingle and greet patrons making sure each guest has a great experience from arrival to departure.

Hospitality Super Star Award: JJ Beaty, Fire Sign Café. Beaty has worked at Fire Sign on the West Shore for three years, bringing his strong work ethic with him. Beaty goes above and beyond during every shift providing support to the whole Fire Sign team.

Small Business of the Year: Andrew Laughlin, Tahoe City Kayak, for enriching North Lake Tahoe with great service, friendliness, helpfulness and a sense of community. Laughlin consistently provides support to the community while treating all of his staff with the upmost respect and he volunteers for various committees and community events.

Regional Marketing Award: North Tahoe Business Association & Chamber Collaborative, for promoting the message that Lake Tahoe is a beautiful community that is bigger than a single event or business. The Business Association & Chamber Collaborative created and grew effective social campaigns designed to promote visitation among all areas of North Lake Tahoe.

Public Servant Award: David Boesch, CEO of Placer County. Over the past year, Boesch and the Placer County CEO’s office funded a study to determine the economic initiatives that would have to take place in order to encourage private investment in the region. His leadership has led to county investment and stewardship of projects in the area that have the potential to renew economic vitality in the region.

Tourism Professional of the Year: Rachael Woods, Marketing Manager, Vail Resorts/Northstar, for achieving an extraordinary height of marketing awareness. At Northstar California, Woods played an integral part in marketing the snow that was available throughout the season. Efforts included posting video/photography daily for media as well as fun ideas for people to do off the mountain.

Citizen of the Year: Stacy Caldwell, Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation. Caldwell exemplifies leadership, qualities to assemble resources, and has acted as a catalyst for positive change in the community. Under Caldwell’s leadership, the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation completed the Community House in Kings Beach, introduced the T50 Giving Club, and created the Give Back Tahoe Giving Guide with the Sierra Sun. Caldwell also worked with Moonshine Ink and SBS Media House to develop a film about Food Innovations at 6,000 feet.

Distinguished Community Service: Wally Auerbach, Auerbach Engineering, who has made significant contributions over a period of many years. Auberbach has served as a North Lake Tahoe Chamber, CVB & Resort Association board member, chair, treasurer, and Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation board member.

This year, more 250 local business owners, community leaders and members were in attendance. In addition to celebrating winners, attendees participated in a silent auction with more than $20,000 in prizes.

Photo: Allie Stevens, left, and Korie Kromydas, with Sunnyside Restaurant & Lodge — Hospitality Business Award. Courtesy Rob Retting.

This article was submitted to the Sun on behalf of North Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce. Visit gotahoenorth.com/events to learn more.

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