Logo courtesy of Tahoe Truckee Leadership

NORTH LAKE TAHOE, CA (MPG) - This year, the North Lake Tahoe Truckee Leadership Program turned out 29 exceptional graduates representing a wide variety of industries, agencies, and organizations within the local community. Each participant who completed the award-winning program broadened their understanding of the region and its issues, challenges, and opportunities while developing and honing their leadership skills.

“Since 2004, the North Lake Tahoe Truckee Leadership Program has graduated over 500 local individuals who continue to challenge themselves, serve our community, and elevate the work of their employers,” said Kimberly Brown, North Tahoe Chamber executive director. “Over the past six months, the emerging leaders who participated in the 2026 program built and honed their leadership skills while finding new ways to give back, collaborate, and participate in civic engagement.”

This year’s program included the transformation of the class project component. Rather than developing hypothetical community projects, participants partnered directly with six local nonprofit organizations to work on real initiatives addressing current community needs. The new approach created immediate and meaningful impact, providing valuable support to Truckee Roundhouse, Friends of the Truckee Library, Tahoe Truckee School of Music, the Donner Summit Association, Kidzone Museum, and the Tahoe Truckee Workforce Housing Agency while allowing participants to experience firsthand the power of leadership in action.

Additionally, a sixth program day was added to connect participants with nonprofit leaders and showcase opportunities to serve on boards, committees, and volunteer initiatives throughout the region. This enhanced curriculum provided participants with a deeper understanding of how they can continue making an impact long after graduation.

“Our 2026 graduates join a growing network of leaders committed to making a positive difference in the North Lake Tahoe-Truckee community,” said Jessica Penman, Truckee Chamber president and CEO. “Their dedication and commitment to fully participating in the program demonstrated that leadership is most impactful when it moves beyond ideas and creates meaningful results that strengthen the region for everyone.”

Program leaders report the success of the program would not have been possible without the leadership and guidance of Autumn Lincoln, Kate Frankfurt, and Susan Giacobazzi, who helped facilitate the leadership development curriculum and inspired participants throughout their leadership journey. Special appreciation is also extended to the many community leaders, nonprofit professionals, and business executives, who generously shared their expertise and experiences. Their contributions helped participants gain a deeper understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing the North Lake Tahoe-Truckee region and reinforced the importance of collaborative leadership.

The North Lake Tahoe Truckee Leadership Program is a partnership between the North Tahoe Chamber and the Truckee Chamber of Commerce, with the Tahoe Truckee Community Foundation acting as fiscal sponsor managing the program’s financial administration and helping ensure its continued success.

Learn more about the North Lake Tahoe Truckee Leadership Program at tahoetruckeeleadership.com.