Tara Schoedinger, vice president and general manager of Northstar California Resort, has joined the Tahoe Fund Board of Directors. Schoedinger’s extensive leadership experience spans technology, public service, and mountain resort operations, and will help advance the nonprofit’s efforts to improve the Lake Tahoe environment for all to enjoy.

“Tara brings a unique perspective and diverse experience to our Board of Directors that is sure to be a tremendous asset to our efforts,” said John Jones, Tahoe Fund board chair. “As we continue to pursue new opportunities to improve the Tahoe environment, her contributions will be invaluable.”

A graduate of the University of Colorado Boulder with a degree in Business Information Systems, Schoedinger spent the first two decades of her career in IT, including with Vail Resorts. In 2010, she was elected Mayor of Jamestown, Colorado, and led the town’s recovery following the devastating 2013 Colorado floods. She returned to Vail Resorts in 2016 in a Chief of Staff capacity before being named Vice President and General Manager of Crested Butte Mountain Resort in 2021. During her tenure, she served on the board of the Crested Butte Land Trust, supporting conservation and public access efforts in the Gunnison Valley, as well as the board of the Crested Butte Center for the Arts.

Schoedinger was appointed Vice President and General Manager of Northstar California Resort in 2024, and currently serves on the Ski California executive committee. In her free time, Schoedinger and her husband ski, bike, camp, and enjoy spending time on the lake.

“I look forward to contributing to the Tahoe Fund’s efforts to improve Lake Tahoe for all to enjoy—both now and in the future,” said Schoedinger.

Learn more about our Board of Directors here.

Featuring the work of artist Anne-Sophie Gaudet, the mural celebrates outdoor recreation and inspires people to take care of Lake Tahoe

Visitors to Cascade Kitchens Food Hall & Bar will now be greeted by a new mural designed to encourage everyone to get outside and help take care of Lake Tahoe. The large-scale exterior piece, painted by artist Anne-Sophie Gaudet and commissioned by the Tahoe Fund, captures and celebrates the beauty and essence of Tahoe’s natural environment. 

The mural and bike racks were made possible by the generous support of Tahoe Fund donors, as part of the organization’s efforts to make it easier to get around, enjoy, and take care of Lake Tahoe. 

“This mural is such a wonderful example of what can happen when we invest in our community and give artists a place to shine,” said Deb Howard, Tahoe Fund board member and longtime South Lake Tahoe resident. “It brings color, creativity and a real sense of place to a building where our community gathers, and is a beautiful reminder that through the power of philanthropy, we can foster greater stewardship and pride in Tahoe while creating the connections and sense of community that make this place so special.”

After issuing a call for artists this spring and receiving over 20 submissions, the Tahoe Fund, Cascade Kitchens, and a panel of reviewers from the local art community selected Anne-Sophie Gaudet’s mural design. In her piece, A Tahoe Day, Gaudet plays off of the bike racks, turning them into a starting point of a winding bike trail that leads viewers into a vibrant Tahoe landscape, inviting viewers to explore the lake, forests, and mountains through the artwork. 

“As a muralist deeply inspired by nature, I was thrilled to design a mural for Cascade Kitchens that captures Tahoe’s outdoor identity while also highlighting the important conservation work of the Tahoe Fund,” said Gaudet. “I hope that this piece will move people to action — whether that’s riding a bike, snapping a photo with the mural, or taking better care of this very special place.” 

Gaudet taught visual art in Palo Alto for seven years before leaving the classroom to start a mural business. Based in the Bay Area, her work focuses on large-scale, nature-inspired designs that bring color and character to public and private spaces. She has created murals across California and beyond, including two in Canada and one in Gerlach, Nevada. Her art celebrates the beauty of the outdoors, often featuring desert landscapes and wildlife. Learn more at www.annesophiegaudet.com. 

Although this one-of-a-kind food hall and community gathering space has only been open for a year, it has quickly become a South Lake staple. With a variety of food, drinks, and entertainment, Cascade Kitchens is more than just a place to eat—it’s a space to gather, graze, and celebrate what makes Tahoe special. Join the Cascade Kitchens community for their first anniversary party on Sunday, September 6th. Learn more at cascadekitchenstahoe.com. 

Paint for the mural was generously supplied by Kelly Brothers Painting. 

Every donation will be matched up to $75,000!

This summer, the Tahoe Fund is teaming up with the California Tahoe Conservancy to support major accessibility improvements at Waterman’s Landing beach in Carnelian Bay. Thanks to the generosity of a Tahoe Fund donor, every donation to the campaign will be matched up to $75,000 to help make this popular recreation site a more accessible place for all people to enjoy Lake Tahoe. 

“Everyone deserves the chance to experience the magic of Lake Tahoe, and now you can help make this a reality for so many, especially those with mobility challenges,” said Amy Berry, CEO of the Tahoe Fund. “This amazing matching opportunity means that your donation will go twice as far to transform this beloved beach into an accessible hub for summer activities.” 

Patton Landing Beach, often referred to as Waterman’s Landing, is one of the most visited beaches on Tahoe’s North Shore. It’s a popular spot for swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, and is home to adaptive paddling programs run by the Tahoe Waterman Foundation. As part of this project, the California Tahoe Conservancy will be installing a new boardwalk and picnic area, and making upgrades to the facilities. 

“Not enough opportunities exist at Lake Tahoe for people with disabilities to access the water and experience paddling on the Lake,” said Jason Vasques, executive director of the Conservancy. “With the Tahoe Waterman Foundation running adaptive paddling programs from this beach, we know that the improvements we make are going to directly benefit this community and make it easier and safer for everyone to enjoy time out on Lake Tahoe.” 

In addition to doubling every donation, the Tahoe Fund is also offering a limited number of engraved bears for a $25,000 donation, and every gift of $1,000 or more will be recognized on site.

Rendering of proposed bear plaques at Waterman’s Landing

Donate today at tahoefund.org/watermanslanding.

Tom Baxter, Chris McNamara, and Tom Seeliger bring extensive professional experience and deep passion for Lake Tahoe to the board

The Tahoe Fund welcomes Tom Baxter, Chris McNamara, and Tom Seeliger to its Board of Directors. Each of the three bring valuable professional experience plus deep connections to the Tahoe region that will help advance the efforts of the organization to improve the Lake Tahoe environment for all to enjoy.

“I’m pleased to welcome Tom, Chris, and Tom to the Tahoe Fund Board of Directors and excited about the invaluable experience and leadership each brings to our efforts,” said John Jones, Tahoe Fund board chair. “All three have strong histories of supporting the Lake Tahoe environment that will be beneficial as we continue to pursue opportunities aligned with our mission.”

An attorney who specialized in finance and was a partner at O’Melveny & Myers in Los Angeles and New York for 30+ years, Tom Baxter formed several nonprofit organizations for clients and friends. A resident of Glenbrook, Nevada, Baxter’s appreciation for the Sierra and the Tahoe region was fostered through summer visits to his grandparents’ cabin on Upper Echo Lake, built by his grandfather in the 1920s. A lifelong outdoor enthusiast, he has hiked the entirety of the John Muir Trail, climbed the California 14ers, worked summers in Alaska, and taken mountaineering trips to Mexico, Peru and Europe.

“A dedicated trail advocate and outdoor entrepreneur based in Zephyr Cove, Nevada, Chris McNamara has taken a hands-on approach to transformational local infrastructure. His leadership helped bring the Ski Run Boulevard revitalization and Ski Run Park to life in South Lake Tahoe, and he and his wife helped establish the Tahoe Fund’s Trail Endowment to create a sustainable funding model for the long-term care of the region’s extensive trail network. McNamara is the co-founder and Editor-in-Chief of GearLab, the founder of SuperTopo guidebooks, and the President of Orogenesis Collective, which supports a 5,000-mile trail from Cabo to Canada. An accomplished climber, he is a former world-record-holding big wall climber with over 80 ascents of El Capitan, a pioneering wingsuit BASE jumper with a dozen first descents in the U.S. and Baffin Island, and the founder of the American Safe Climbing Association.

Tom Seeliger is a sixth-generation Northern Nevadan who grew up in a multi-generational family business rooted in the Basin and was raised with a deep appreciation for Lake Tahoe’s community lifestyle and natural beauty. Over the course of his career, Seeliger has worked as a geologist, environmental engineer, and in finance for over 25 years. He served as a director of Edgewood Companies for 12 years, as well as an advisory board member and shareholder. His outdoor pursuits include backcountry skiing, mountain biking, flying and traveling—interests he shares with his sons whenever possible.