May 9: Tablet Command, Real Time Incident Response to Speak at Mountain Minds Monday

The Caldor and Dixie fires of the Summer of 2021, have made the residents of the Tahoe region keenly aware of the need for real time incident response. Many times, in an emergency situation the status is monitored by white boards at a command site.  Tablet Command is a real time digital tool for incident command which was used during the Caldor fire, the Dixie fire, and several other large fires over the past few seasons.  On Monday, May 9th, at 5pm please join Tahoe Silicon Mountain, a local network of entrepreneurs and professionals, to hear the story of Tablet Command. How it originated and has grown into a tool that is being used by multiple emergency response agencies in California. 

Will Pigeon and Andy Bozzo will present on how Tablet Command came to be and the advantages of using a digital system over pens and paper. They will review how the platform enables the command center to develop emergency response strategies based upon current maps, create check lists of critical tasks, and enables custom configuration depending upon the organization’s requirements.  

Please join us on Monday, May 9th, 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 Tablet Command.

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

Bios. 

ANDY BOZZO

Andy Bozzo has 24 years of experience in the fire service in California and in Washington State. He is currently a Fire Captain with a large Northern California Fire Department. Bozzo has a visionary mind and has provided many of the conceptual aspects that are foundational to Tablet Command. Bozzo is passionate about continuing to improve the Tablet Command solution, by using it in the field, learning from other users’ experience, while sharing his own. Prior to working in the fire service Bozzo was a teacher and attended USC before transferring and completing his BA at Middlebury College in Vermont.

WILL PIGEON

Will Pigeon began in the fire service in 1998 as a full-time firefighter while pursuing a degree in Information Systems from San Diego State University. He has worked in the San Diego region as a firefighter, paramedic, fire dispatcher, and flight rescue medic. He began his career with the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District in 2005, leaving at the end of 2020 as an Assistant Fire Chief. While at Contra Costa County Fire, Pigeon oversaw the Communications Division of the Fire District, including the 911 Center, Radio, Telecomm, and Information Technology. Pigeon is passionate about fire communications systems, computer networking, database, integration systems, computer programming, and bringing functional mobile technology to the fire service industry. He represents an unusual mix of fire service insight and technological expertise.

March 8: Trail Tech: The Yin and The Yang of e-Bikes

Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/218191146451367

You are out mountain biking or hiking on a local trail and suddenly a mountain bike zooms past. You think, Wow! That person is an awesome biker. Only later you discover that they were riding an e-bike and you can’t figure out whether to join them or ban them. E-bikes are here to stay and have made the outdoors accessible to many bikers, those who might otherwise not ride or enjoy the trails. E-biking is a controversial subject. In many cases the discussion boils down to should they be banned on the trail or accepted. Join Tahoe Silicon Mountain, a local network of entrepreneurs and professionals, on Monday, March 8th, to hear a panel discuss the technology, benefits, and some of the controversy surrounding mountain e-bikes. Aaron McCready, Tina Butler, and Andrew Buckley will be joining us as panelists. 

Aaron McCready lives in Truckee and manages Shokunin Product Design, a firm that consults on product design for bike and outdoor gear. He designs e-bikes for the company Specialized, and loves riding all types of bikes.

Tina Butler is a lifelong Californian and the Marketing Manager, Gazelle North America. She received her MBA from the Presidio School of Management and spent the majority of her post-grad career largely in e-commerce marketplaces before diving headfirst into the bike industry in 2019. COVID-19 and getting hit by a truck ended Tina's beach volleyball obsession, which was, for better or for worse, replaced by a biking obsession. Currently a mom to four bikes, Tina enjoys riding the roads and trails all over Santa Cruz County, and Placer County in the summertime.

Andrew Buckley has worked in the resort recreation business for the past 35 years and has been instrumental in finding solutions to many growth, operational and leadership issues. Andy has joined Select Contracts from Northstar, California where he was the Sr. Director-Skier Services. Andy spearheaded Northstar’s Bike Park growth strategy by building the terrain/events/teaching strategy tied to a detailed business plan that included the development of a dedicated summer park team applying disciplined use of capital. He believes that Resorts and communities may capitalize on the awe of the mountain experience by offering an exceptional array of four season recreation offerings, which allow true utility of the built and natural asset infrastructure. In his spare time you can find him pedaling a bike on classic Sierra Nevada single-track or sliding skis over the same terrain in winter time.

The panelists will discuss the technology of e-bikes and the yin and the yang e-bikes, some of the reasons for the popularity, as well as some of the negatives associated with mountain e-bikes and the challenges that both sides are facing. The panelists will be local, industry-experts on the topic of mountain biking and are knowledgeable on the impact that e-bikes are having on the industry.  

Please join us on Monday, March 8, 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

January 11: Donner Party’s Forlorn Hope Expedition

On December 16, 1846 fifteen members of the Donner Party left Donner Lake to bring back help for the friends and family left at the lake, making for a tragic part of Truckee’s history. Called Forlorn Hope, only seven survived the 33-day ordeal which covered almost 100 miles. These brave survivors spurred the four rescue parties that saved half of the Donner Party.

On December 16, 2020 four extreme athletes (Tim Twietmeyer, Jennifer Hemmen, Bob Crowley, and Elke Reimer) followed the trail of the Donner Party’s Forlorn Hope from Donner State Park to the Sacramento Valley near Wheatland. Join Tahoe Silicon Mountain, a local network of entrepreneurs and professionals, on Monday, January 11th, to hear the story of the team’s journey. Listen to the team’s thoughts on why they think the Forlorn Hope party made the decisions they did and the difficulties the team faced as they made the journey amidst the early snowfalls of the 2020-2021 season.

The trip culminates 7 years of research, both from written word and in-the-field surveys. Multiple trips were made to scout the route the team traveled. The key purpose of the team’s trip was to 1) Discover the lost trail of the Forlorn Hope, 2) Honor the members of the Forlorn Hope Party, and 3) Inspire others to combine history with sport. The team made the trip in 5 days, compared to the 33 days it took the Forlorn Hope party to make the trip. After successfully retracing the steps of the Forlorn Hope Party the team had these comments in their trip blog.

“We walked four across as we neared the end. We saw the small wooden sign hammered into the ground off in the distance, as the wagon road-and we, turned south. Each of us reached into our pocket to reveal the tribute cards we’d carried across the Sierra, over the pass, along the Yuba, in

the shadow of Devil’s Peak and Cisco Butte, by the fateful wrong turn, into the teeth of Burnett Canyon and the North Fork of the American River, up the hill so steep, across the river again, along the Bear River and now here, the place the seven Forlorn Hope survivors had been brought.

As we neared the spot where the adobe house once stood, we gently laid each card down at the base of the sign; reuniting the seventeen members of Forlorn Hope for the first time in 174 years. We felt relief too, our mission accomplished.”

For additional information on the trip, please visit the expeditions website www.forlornhope.org

Please join us on Monday, January 11h, 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 to the panelists 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

December 14: Restoring the Truckee River Watershed

Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/2452743958388812/

A key part of life in Truckee and Tahoe is the water. Lake Tahoe, the many surrounding smaller lakes, and the rivers, including the Truckee, all add to the quality of life in the Truckee-Tahoe region. But did you know that the Truckee River is considered polluted by the EPA? Join Tahoe Silicon Mountain, a local network of entrepreneurs and professionals, on Monday, December 14th, for a “River talk” with Sue Drake and Beth Christman of the Truckee River Watershed Council. 

The Watershed Council will present on how human impact has damaged the Truckee watershed, and how over the years the watershed council has been managing projects to help reverse the damage and protect the Truckee River for the future generations to come. They will also let the audience know how they can get involved. 

Drake is the Development Director for the Truckee River Watershed Council. Prior to working on protecting the Truckee River, Drake worked in ski resort management at Northstar California and as an environmental consultant and biologist focused on water quality and wildlife protection in the western states. Drake has a B.S. degree in Biological Sciences from University of Montana, Missoula.  

Christman is the Director of Restoration Programs for the Truckee River Watershed Council. She has

been restoring meadows and streams in the local area for over 20 years. Christman has a B.A. degree in Biology from U.C. Santa Cruz and a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Cornell University.

Please join us on Monday, December 14th, 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 to the panelists 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

www.truckeeriverwc.org

 

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

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

This month's Mountain Minds Monday is a Special Event!
(at a different location)

Tahoe Pitch Showcase

Date/Time: September 9
Time: 6-8pm (doors open at 5:30)
Location: Community Arts Center in Truckee
Cost: Pay What You Can

Buy tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/3rd-annual-tahoe-pitch-showcase-tickets-65191357104

Sierra Business Council (SBC) and Tahoe Silicon Mountain (TSM) are excited to 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 & ideas.

On September 9th 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 Kristin York and other 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. 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.

Kristin York is director of the Sierra Small Business Development Center, VP of Business Innovation at Sierra Business Council, and a Professor of Sustainable Urban Development and Implementation of Sustainable Business at Presidio Graduate School. Sierra Business Council pioneers innovative approaches and solutions to increase community vitality, economic prosperity, environmental quality, and social fairness in the Sierra Nevada.

Tahoe Silicon Mountain is the hub for entrepreneurs, aspiring entrepreneurs, small business owners, tech and other professionals who live, frequently visit, or own a second home in the Truckee-‐Tahoe region. Find out more here: http://www.tahoesiliconmountain.com/

Sponsor the Pitch Showcase for just $25: http://bit.ly/sponsor25

Our local Truckee/Tahoe/Reno entrepreneurs are coming together to sponsor our 3nd Annual Pitch Showcase. We've set the sponsorship level at just $25 per company, because it is our goal to have a show of force of how many startups we have.

Sponsors are encouraged to submit a logo to be displayed on an Entrepreneur Sponsors slide at the Pitch Showcase.

Don't be left out, commit to sponsoring today!
http://bit.ly/sponsor25

Please Get Your Tickets in Advance: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/3rd-annual-tahoe-pitch-showcase-tickets-65191357104

Supported by:  Town of Truckee, Truckee Chamber of Commerce, Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation, Nevada County Tech Connection, Plumas Bank, and MOBO Law.

August 12th: Unhustle and Shift Your Perspective

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

RSVP: https://www.facebook.com/events/2557845814265933/

Tahoe Silicon Mountain, a local network of entrepreneurs and professionals, is pleased to welcome Milena Regos who will discuss how to Unhustle. Unhustle is a new way of living. We slow life down, become mindful, take time for ourselves, connect with nature, claim back our lives, dream, create, and achieve bigger things. 

Regos will discuss how by unhustling, we can improve our mind body wellbeing, create extraordinary experiences and meaningful work, claim back our time, and shift our perspective to redefine success. Regos believes in living an Unhustled way of life. It’s a lifestyle design and human movement base upon the following four pillars:

● Mindbody wellbeing 
● Experiences 
● Digital wellbeing 
● Shift your perspective 

Regos is the Cofounder of the Unhustle, and works as an Entrepreneur, Lifestyle Designer, Marketer, and is a Certified Human Potential Coach.

Please join us at Mountain Minds Monday on Monday August 12 th 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