May 10: A Good Pitch Can Make or Break a Company

Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/413096320115384

A carefully crafted presentation can make or break a company’s chance of early success in gaining financial backing, gaining early customers, and securing critical partnerships. Presentation content, slide layout, properly setting expectations, tempo, and pace of the presenter, they all play a role in helping to set the hook and getting funding to help sustain the business. Join Tahoe Silicon Mountain, a local network of entrepreneurs and professionals, on Monday, May 10th, for a panel presentation on how “Pitch Camp” made a difference for my company. 

Tahoe Silicon Mountain will have a panel discussion of former pitch camp attendees, who will share updates on their businesses and how pitch camp helped them succeed. In a normal year, the Sierra Small Business Development Center at Sierra Business Council and Tahoe Silicon Mountain sponsor Startup Weekend and a pitch camp where the camp enables early-stage businesses with a chance to create a pitch that can be used with early stage investors, donors, target customers, and potential partners.  

Please join us on Monday, May 10, at 5:00 PM online at bit.ly/YouTubeTSM. The event will be available on YouTube as a livestream and after the event. Livestream for this event starts at 5:00 PM on bit.ly/YouTubeTSM, or log onto YouTube and search for Tahoe Silicon Mountain. 

The audience will be able to submit questions during the presentation.

A Suggested donation of $5.00 will help TSM to defray the expenses of live streaming the event. Please donate at www.Tahoesiliconmountain.com

You can find us at TahoeSiliconMountain.com or sign up for email meeting announcements here: http://bit.ly/TSMEmail

April 12: Stop Throwing Your Marketing Money Out the Window

Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/121554536466941

Marketing and branding for any business is a key component to its success! But how do you know when your company’s marketing and branding dollars are being spent effectively, and you’re getting the impact you want?

Join Tahoe Silicon Mountain, a local network of entrepreneurs and professionals, on Monday, April 12th, to hear Bill M. West of Bareknuckle Brand Marketing share how he and his team have developed a demystifying approach to branding and marketing that brings serious punch to businesses. West’s presentation will help to bring clarity to branding and marketing and help companies get a better return on investment. Participants will leave with marketing-specific tips that can be easily implemented, and a list of 10 brand improvements they can make over lunch, and to learn how to stop throwing marketing money out the window.

 
In his presentation West will discuss:

• The intersection between strategy and creative marketing

• The distinction between branding and marketing, and how they wildly influence each other

• The good and bad of using marketing agencies

• How to make your marketing dollars have greater impact

• And audience-intriguing questions

Bill M. West is the Owner and Lead Eyebrow-Raiser of Bareknuckle Brand Marketing. West pulls from his background as a speech writer, ghostwriter, and university writing instructor to help entrepreneurs develop a rich, compelling, articulate brand and customer-seducing marketing. His work has been featured in media sources such as the New York Times, CNBC and Fox News, and financial websites such as E*TRADE.

Please join us on Monday, April 12, at 5:00 PM online at bit.ly/YouTubeTSM. The event will be available on YouTube as a livestream and after the event. Livestream for this event starts at 5:00 PM on bit.ly/YouTubeTSM, or log onto YouTube and search for Tahoe Silicon Mountain.

The audience will be able to submit questions during the presentation.

A Suggested donation of $5.00 will help TSM to defray the expenses of live streaming the event. Please donate at www.Tahoesiliconmountain.com

You can find us at TahoeSiliconMountain.com or sign up for email meeting announcements here: http://bit.ly/TSMEmail

October 12: Vanlife: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly of Do it Yourself.

RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/2540179779437333

Tahoe Silicon Mountain, a local network of entrepreneurs and professionals is pleased to have Nick Polinko present at the October 12th, virtual Mountain Minds Monday via livestream, using the Tahoe Silicon Mountain YouTube Channel to present on DIY Vanlife: Why you should or shouldn’t build your own camper van.

Over the last 10 years, the Vanlife Movement has gained significant popularity with outdoor enthusiasts seeking more off-the-grid and remote experiences. The biggest question when embarking on this lifestyle is whether or not to build your own rig. Polinko and his partner spent 18 months on the road traveling from San Francisco to Patagonia. After seeing a variety of approaches, they returned to custom build a 2019 Ford Transit Quigley 4x4. Polinko will break down the reasons to build your own van vs. buying a manufactured RV, and will discuss the different ways to tackle it on your own. At the end of this presentation, the viewer will have a good idea of the path they should take to get into the world of Vanlife. 

Polinko is a mechanical engineer, the former CEO of Rumpl, an outdoor blanket brand, and now the COO of Tahoe Modern, a staging and design firm based out of Truckee. Polinko’s first-hand experience of his time on the road can be heard on the podcast, Wheel Travel Far, or seen on Instagram @thelongcruise. 

Please join us on Monday, October 12, at 5:00 PM online at bit.ly/YouTubeTSM.  The event will be available on YouTube as a livestream and after the event. Livestream for this event starts at 5:00 PM on bit.ly/YouTubeTSM Or log onto YouTube and search for Tahoe Silicon Mountain. 

A Suggested donation of $5.00 will help TSM to defray the expenses of live streaming the event. Please donate at www.Tahoesiliconmountain.com

You can find us at TahoeSiliconMountain.com or sign up for email meeting announcements here: http://bit.ly/TSMEmail

August 10: Impact of Digital Disruption

RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/2485905061676589/

Tahoe Silicon Mountain, a local network of entrepreneurs and professionals, is pleased to host Terry Jones Innovator and Speaker who will present on the impact Digital Disruption is having on businesses and what you can do about it. Jones will present at the August 10th virtual Mountain Minds Monday via livestream, using the Tahoe Silicon Mountain YouTube Channel.

Jones will speak on how digital disruption is growing rapidly and the impact it is having on businesses. Jones will highlight the top 10 technical forces of disruption, and will discuss how to make disruption your catalyst, and innovation your superpower. He will speak on how business models and innovation are created from disruption, how startups are shedding old concepts to create new models, and how to “own the edge”. His fast-paced multi-media presentation style engages audiences and will make the virtual hour fly by.

Jones is managing principal of ON Inc, a consultancy he co-founded to help companies in transition to the digital economy. He is the author of ON Innovation, and Disruption OFF, and is a sought-after keynote speaker. Jones is also the founder of Travelocity, Founding Chairman of Kayak.com, and the former Chief Information Officer of Saber Inc. He also served as the Chairman of the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival and serves on several boards and as a special venture partner with General Catalyst Partners of Boston.

Please join us on Monday, August 10, at 5:00 PM online at bit.ly/YouTubeTSM. The event will be available on YouTube as a livestream and after the event. Livestream for this event starts at 5:00 PM at bit.ly/YouTubeTSM or log onto YouTube and search for Tahoe Silicon Mountain.

A suggested donation of $5.00 will help TSM to defray the expenses of livestreaming the event. Please donate at www.tahoesiliconmountain.com
You can find us at TahoeSiliconMountain.com or sign up for email meeting announcements here: http://bit.ly/TSMEmail

A big thank you to our Gold Sponsor Holland & Hart Foundation, and our Silver Sponsor MOBO Law, LLP.

July 13: Minds at Work: How to Keep EVERYONE From “Flipping Their Lid”

Tahoe Silicon Mountain, a local network of entrepreneurs and professionals, is pleased to host Marcia Ramstrom, who will present on Minds at Work: How to De-escalate Conflict and Keep EVERYONE From “Flipping Their Lid”, during the July 13th virtual Mountain Minds Monday via live stream using the Tahoe Silicon Mountain YouTube Channel.

Ramstrom will speak on how to cope with emotions during these tough times. Working under the current strained conditions created by dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic can put even the calmest person at risk of losing it. Understanding the brain under pressure and learning how to calm down the stress response system can help you and those you are working with, regulate the nervous system and remain calm. Knowing when it is beyond your ability to support yourself or others and where to turn for help can be life-saving. The presentation will explain the science behind our stress response system, and how to use nervous systems' relaxation mechanism to manage stress and other emotions.

During this pandemic, it is critical that you recognize what stress looks like, take steps to build your resilience, manage job stress, and know where to go if you need help. Whether you are going into work or working from home, the COVID-19 pandemic has probably changed the way you work. Fear and anxiety about this new disease and other strong emotions can be overwhelming, and workplace stress can lead to burnout, or worse. How you cope with these emotions and stress can affect your well-being, the well-being of the people you care about, your workplace, and your community

Ramstrom has been an educator and mental health clinician for over 30 years. She loves sharing information and resources helping community members increase their mental health literacy and make their lives easier and more enjoyable! Ramstrom received her B.A. from Chico State and her M.S. from University of La Verne.

Please join us on Monday, July 13, at 5:00 PM on line at bit.ly/YouTubeTSM. The event will be available on YouTube as a livestream and after the event. Livestream for this event starts at 5:00 PM on bit.ly/YouTubeTSM Or log into YouTube and search for Tahoe Silicon Mountain.

A Suggested donation of $5.00 will help TSM to defray the expenses of live streaming the event. Please donate at www.Tahoesiliconmountain.com
You can find us at TahoeSiliconMountain.com or sign up for email meeting announcements here: http://bit.ly/TSMEmail

A big thank you to our Gold Sponsor Holland and Hart, and our Silver Sponsor MOBO Law, LLP.

June 8: Virtual Mountain Minds Monday - Climate Change and How to Follow Through

RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/1463176077191868/

Tahoe Silicon Mountain, a local network of entrepreneurs and professionals, is pleased to host Dr. John Henry Beyer, who will present on Climate Change: its causes, the severity, and how to help mitigate the impact of climate change. Beyer will present during the June 8th virtual Mountain Minds Monday via live stream using the Tahoe Silicon Mountain YouTube Channel.

Beyer will explain the science behind global warming and climate change in a way that is engaging and understandable. By representing large datasets visually, explaining complex concepts in accessible language, and drawing on psychologists’ research on reactions to disturbing information, Beyer will offer us a path forward under what might otherwise feel like insurmountable challenges.

Beyer received his Ph.D. in Geophysics from UC Berkeley, which led to a management career in geophysical exploration of geothermal energy sources for power generation. Beyer has managed geothermal exploration projects in Japan, Indonesia, and the Azores.

More recently Beyer has been involved in research management, developing technologies to mitigate climate change. At the California Energy Commission Beyer managed research focused on increasing efficiency and reducing emissions from electricity generation systems. At Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory he managed research on the geologic storage of carbon dioxide to reduce the carbon dioxide build up in the atmosphere.

Please join us on Monday, June 8, at 5:00 PM on line at bit.ly/YouTubeTSM. The event will be available on YouTube as a livestream and after the event. Livestream for this event starts at 5:00 PM on bit.ly/YouTubeTSM Or log into YouTube and search for Tahoe Silicon Mountain.

A Suggested donation of $5.00 will help TSM to defray the expenses of live streaming the event. Please donate at www.Tahoesiliconmountain.com

You can find us at TahoeSiliconMountain.com or sign up for email meeting announcements here: http://bit.ly/TSMEmail

A big thank you to our Gold Sponsor Holland & Hart Foundation, and our Silver Sponsor MOBO Law, LLP.

April 13: Positive Business Shifts During the Stay at Home Order

RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/1580749942092199/

Virtual Meeting: bit.ly/YouTubeTSM

Tahoe Silicon Mountain, a local network of entrepreneurs and professionals, will host its April Mountain Minds Monday meeting on April 13, via livestream using the Tahoe Silicon Mountain YouTube Channel.

Please Join us at 5:00 PM for a presentation that will focus on Positive Business Shifts during the Stay at Home Order.

Several local businesses will join TSM for a discussion on how they have pivoted their businesses to adjust to the stay at home order. Each presenter will share their insights on the impact this sudden and major shift in the world has had on running a small business.

Please join us on Monday, April 13 at 5:00 PM online at bit.ly/YouTubeTSM

The event will be available on YouTube as a livestream and after the event. Livestream for this event starts at 5:00 PM on bit.ly/YouTubeTSM.

You can find us at TahoeSiliconMountain.com or sign up for email meeting announcements here: http://bit.ly/TSMEmail

March 9: Exploring the Depth of Chocolate

RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/619443942164427/

Volunteer and attend free! https://signup.com/go/ZqXeaVN

Tahoe Silicon Mountain, a local network of entrepreneurs and professionals, is pleased to welcome Krysta Bea Jackson who will present on the intricacies and creativity that go into making chocolate.

Jackson will take a deep look into chocolate, one of the world’s most interesting and tasty delicacies. She will discuss the best ingredients, the history, gender studies of chocolate, and the economics of the industry.

Jackson is the creator and owner of Sugar Love, founded in 2015, a company that prides itself on creating imaginative chocolates to always bring you something new to experience. Jackson is the lead organizer for Startup Weekend Reno and 1 Million Cups Reno and has been involved in multiple organizations promoting entrepreneurship in the region.

Jackson was awarded the 2016 Faculty Advisor Special Recognition Award from the Governor’s Cup. In 2018, she received the Swimming Upstream award from the Nevada Business magazine which recognizes women business owners. She likes to sum it up as, “I’m a nerd for business.”

Please join us on Monday, March 9 at Alder Creek Cafe, located at 15275 Alder Creek Road in Tahoe Donner, Truckee. Registration begins at 5:30pm. Dinner will be available, and we use a pay-what-you-can model ($5 minimum). Before and after the presentation, there will be time for networking.

The event will also be available on YouTube as a livestream and after the event: bit.ly/YouTubeTSM

You can find us at TahoeSiliconMountain.com or sign up for email meeting announcements here: http://bit.ly/TSMEmail

February 10: The Five Mass Extinctions on Earth and the Start of Number Six

RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/473378713576092/

Volunteer and attend free! https://signup.com/go/ZqXeaVN

Tahoe Silicon Mountain, a local network of entrepreneurs and professionals, is pleased to welcome Dr. Montana Hodges who will present on mass extinctions and possible links to a sixth mass extinction.

Hodges will discuss the “Big 5” mass extinctions that have happened in the past, and how they have been tied to climate change. One of these major extinctions left a detailed fossil record almost in Truckee’s front yard along the western Sierra Nevada. Each of the extinctions wiped out more than half of all life on earth, sometimes almost all. Hodges will also present biological and climate data that supports the world is in or nearing a sixth mass extinction.

Hodges is a professor at Sierra College and Sierra Nevada College. Hodges received her Ph.D. from the University of Montana, Missoula, and is a paleontologist and Jurassic fossil expert, specializing in the impact of the environment on ecosystems during mass extinctions. When not teaching in The Tahoe Truckee area, Hodges’ works as a paleontologist at Denali National Park, enjoys researching mass extinctions, rescuing dogs, and teaching skiing.

Please join us on Monday, February 10th at Alder Creek Cafe, located at 15275 Alder Creek Road in Tahoe Donner, Truckee. Registration and networking begin at 5:30pm; dinner starts at 5:45pm; and formal introductions begin at 6:15pm. Dinner is available on a pay-what-you-can model ($5 minimum).

The event will also be available on YouTube as a livestream and after the event. Live stream for introductions starts at 6:15 PM with the presentation at 6:45 PM. bit.ly/YouTubeTSM
You can find us at TahoeSiliconMountain.com or sign up for email meeting announcements here: http://bit.ly/TSMEmail

January 13: New Location! Stress Management, A Skill Everyone Can Learn

Mountain Minds Monday new location: Alder Creek Cafe, 15275 Alder Creek Road

Volunteer and attend free! https://signup.com/go/ZqXeaVN

RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/2625744704314170/

Tahoe Silicon Mountain, a local network of entrepreneurs and professionals, is pleased to welcome Julia Arndt to speak on how to manage stress in life by rethinking our lifestyles in order to bring long-lasting transformations. 

Arndt will give us an overview of how stress impacts our lives and provide tips on how to manage daily stress to function at a high-performance level.

Julia Arndt is the proud owner of Blue Mountain Mindfulness. She is an international speaker, peak performance coach, and stress management trainer. Combining her extensive business background working for Google for over 7 years, her unique journey in reaching mindfulness, and her passion to inspire and motivate people, Julia is helping professionals in high-pressure environments prevent burnout and build a mindful lifestyle--one that delivers focus, high energy, and productivity.

Please join us on Monday, January 13th at Alder Creek Cafe, located at 15275 Alder Creek Road in Tahoe Donner, Truckee. Registration begins at 5:30pm. Dinner will be available, and we use a pay-what-you-can model ($5 minimum). Before and after the presentation, there will be time for networking.

The event will also be available on YouTube as a livestream and after the event: bit.ly/YouTubeTSM
You can find us at TahoeSiliconMountain.com or sign up for email meeting announcements here: http://bit.ly/TSMEmail

NEW LOCATION! December 9th: The Advances in Ski Technology

** NEW LOCATION **

Volunteer and attend free! https://signup.com/go/ZqXeaVN

RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/450556412270690/

Tahoe Silicon Mountain is MOVING Mountain Minds Monday to Alder Creek Cafe, located at 15275 Alder Creek Road in Tahoe Donner. Please join us on Monday December 9th for a lively discussion on the advances in ski technology.

Tahoe Silicon Mountain, a local network of entrepreneurs and professionals, is pleased to welcome three pathfinders of the ski industry, Lauren Okerman of Coalition Snow, Luke Jacobson of Moment Skis, and Phil Pugliese of Pugski, who will educate us on the advances in ski technology.

The panel will enlighten the audience on the changes in ski technology and the challenges of working in the ski manufacturing industry over the past several years, and what the future of skis may look like.

Lauren Okerman is the Creative Director and Co-Founder of Coalition Snow, a local women-owned and operated ski and snowboard company. She’ll speak to the ways Coalition Snow has been pushing the boundaries and changing the dialogue in the industry since 2014.

Luke Jacobson is the CEO of Moment Skis, the biggest little ski company in Sparks, NV. Prior to his tenure as CEO, he held an engineering role for Moment, a company who hand makes their skis in Nevada. He’ll be able to speak to the technical innovation of the Indie brand since 2003.

Phil Pugliese is the owner of Pugski.com, and is a fully certified self-proclaimed gear guru. He pairs his early experience in ski shops with extensive experience as a ski reviewer and as a ski tester, which has prepared him to give a longitudinal perspective on how the technology of the heritage brands have changed.

Please join us at Mountain Minds Monday on December 9th from 6-8pm at the Alder Creek Café in Tahoe Donner located at 15275 Alder Creek Road, Truckee. Registration begins at 5:30pm. Dinner will be available, and we use a pay-what-you-can model ($5 minimum). Before and after the presentation, there will be time for networking.

The event will also be available on YouTube as a livestream and after the event: bit.ly/YouTubeTSM

You can find us at TahoeSiliconMountain.com or sign up for email meeting announcements here: http://bit.ly/TSMEmail

November 11th: How Olympians Reduce Injury and Improve Peak Performance

Volunteer and attend free! https://signup.com/go/ZqXeaVN

RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/1347320408774880/

Tahoe Silicon Mountain, a local network of entrepreneurs and professionals, is pleased to welcome Dr. Barry Triestman D.C. to discuss how to benefit from medical technology used at the U.S. Olympic Center to help with injuries and obtain peak performance.

Triestman will share his experience working with athletes at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO, and will educate the audience on the care and technology used to keep the USA’s Olympic hopefuls in tip-top condition and injury free. He will also encourage the audience to employ these techniques in their daily routine to reduce injury and improve their performance.

Dr. Barry Triestman D.C. is a local Truckee Healer and Chiropractor with 30 years of experience. He is master certified in the Active Release Techniques as a “Gold Standard” in soft tissue treatment. Triestman has volunteered at the Olympic Training Center in the Sports Medicine Clinic in Colorado Springs, CO to help hone his skills as a healer.

Please join us at Mountain Minds Monday on November 11th from 6-8pm at Pizza on the Hill, in Tahoe Donner located at 11509 Northwoods Blvd., Truckee. Dinner will be available, and we use a pay-what-you-can model ($5 minimum). Before and after the presentation, there will be time for networking.

The event will also be available on YouTube as a livestream and after the event: bit.ly/YouTubeTSM

You can find us at TahoeSiliconMountain.com or sign up for email meeting announcements here: http://bit.ly/TSMEmail

October 14th: Unlocking The Mystery Of Coffee

Volunteer and attend free: https://signup.com/go/ZqXeaVN

RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/553624378512500/ 

Tahoe Silicon Mountain, a local network of entrepreneurs and professionals, is pleased to welcome a panel of experts, Scott Coleman, David Wilson and Gale Klenk, who will enlighten Tahoe Silicon Mountain on the “Mystery of Coffee”.

The Esteemed Panel will educate the audience on the never-ending mystery that is called coffee, from the sourcing and picking of the bean through the roasting process, to the delivery of the final product. They will also discuss how they provide opportunity for coffee producers who otherwise might not have access to the USA market. The format will be a panel discussion with a period of prepared questions, and then time for questions from the audience.

Klenk is the founder of Sierra Pacific Coffee Roasters and head roaster for Sierra Pacific Coffee Roasters and Twisted Tree Coffee Roasters, Wilson is the director of coffee at Coffeebar, and Coleman is the co-owner Glory Cloud Coffee.

Please join us at Mountain Minds Monday on October 14th from 6-8pm at Pizza on the Hill, in Tahoe Donner located at 11509 Northwoods Blvd., Truckee. Dinner will be available, and we use a pay-what-you-can model ($5 minimum). Before and after the presentation, there will be time for networking.

The event will also be available on YouTube as a livestream and after the event: bit.ly/YouTubeTSM

You can find us at TahoeSiliconMountain.com or sign up for email meeting announcements here: http://bit.ly/TSMEmail