Staff

A 20-year resident of the North Lake Tahoe region, prior to joining the NTCA, Tony was the Director of Base Area Operations at Northstar California Resort. He served on both the Truckee North Tahoe Transportation Management Association (TNT/TMA) board and the NLTRA’s Capital Infrastructure and Transportation committees, and was involved in employee housing while at Northstar. Tony is responsible for leading the organization as it fosters a thriving local community and encourages responsible travel along with environmental stewardship.

As the NTCA’s Chief Operating Officer, Adam has oversight of business and community relations, events and marketing, promotions, communications and other shared responsibilities across the organization. He reports to NTCA president and CEO Tony Karwowski and has spent the entirety of his 40+ year career working in the travel, hospitality and ski industries. Most recently, he served as the Senior Director of Sales for Vail Resorts, overseeing the sales organization for all of the company’s mountain resorts outside of Colorado (including Northstar, Heavenly and Kirkwood). Adam served on the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association Board of Directors for over 10 years, seven of which were in leadership roles as Chair, Vice Chair and Secretary. He was also part of the team that initiated the formation of the North Lake Tahoe Tourism Business Improvement District (NLT-TBID).

Kimberly has held leadership roles for organizations including Bright Horizons, Child Development Inc. and Kids’ Country. She successfully helped transform the company culture at Kids’ Country, with the organization achieving “Best Place to Work” awards during her tenure. Kimberly works closely with local businesses and other community stakeholders to help our vibrant business community thrive while also serving as a passionate advocate for destination stewardship. She also has oversight of the NTCA Visitor Information Centers and staff, as well as regional event sponsorship, and business association contracts.

Francois’s passion for an active lifestyle, protecting the environment and giving back led him to a firefighting career with CalFire following a successful 15 year career managing high finance trading desks in New York and London. After several years on the front lines of some of California’s biggest wildfires, he joined Boreal Woodward’s leadership team as Finance Manager, supporting three resorts. Francois now oversees the financial operations and planning for the NTCA, including funding compliance oversight of the North Lake Tahoe Tourism Business Improvement District (NLT-TBID) and Transient Occupancy (TOT) funds, and the alignment of that spend within the marketing and stewardship goals of the NTCA.

With career experience in both the ski and hospitality industries (plus forays into the NBA and UC system), Kirstin has the understanding of tourism and guest behavior needed to help begin the work of evolving the stewardship of the Tahoe region. Passionate about preserving the culture, character, and community of Tahoe, she puts her experience with integrated marketing and communications to work on their behalf. Kirstin leads the development and execution of marketing campaigns designed to educate visitors and residents about destination stewardship, responsible travel and to encourage mid-week and off-peak season travel in support of a vibrant business community.

As the NTCA Grant Framework Manager, Tara develops critical collaborative relationships. She works to convene and participate with partners such as but not limited to, NTCA committees, NTCA Board of Directors, TBID members, Placer County staff and Board of Supervisors, and other key stakeholders such as federal, state, regional and local agencies and public. She is responsible for managing key funding strategies and opportunities to fulfill community projects in the NTCA’s Community Vitality and Economic Health Investment Program. She has a background in Sustainable Tourism and Conservation Biology. She loves to travel and has spent most of her life abroad.

Originally, from Sandnes Norway, Anne-Karin is a 31-year resident of North Lake Tahoe. She enjoys hiking, mountain biking, trail running, Nordic skiing, interior design, cooking and traveling. She has held various positions with the organization over the past 30 years and has a wealth of historical knowledge. Anne-Karin fell in love with Tahoe and its small-town community atmosphere, and the beautiful lake and fresh mountain air bear a resemblance to her home country of Norway.

As the Marketing and Sales Manager, Julie leads integrated marketing and communications across various channels, ensuring our messages resonate with local businesses and tourists while promoting economic health, community vitality, and environmental stewardship of the North Lake Tahoe region. With a strong focus on brand management and content strategy, she seeks to create meaningful connections with both the community and visitors while reflecting the mission and values of the organization.

Originally from Southern California, Joan is a 42-year resident of North Lake Tahoe, who enjoys kayaking, hiking, biking, tennis, skiing, snowshoeing, and vocal arts.

Her roles over time as a Board Member for Bear Creek HOA, Divot Creek HOA, and Mensa are examples of her dedication to community involvement. She volunteers with many local art, performance and philanthropic non-profit groups such as Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, Thunderbird Lake Tahoe, Trails & Vistas, Toccata and AAUW. In addition, Joan was a business owner in Truckee and Alpine Meadows. She has a business background in graphic design, advertising, and business administration.

Derek oversees the accounting, budgeting, and forecasting for NTCA ensuring accurate reporting of financial results. He brings over 20 years of accounting experience to NTCA. Prior to joining NTCA, he spent 11 years advising Tahoe residents on tax strategies and compliance with a local CPA firm. Derek started his accounting career within the ski and hospitality industry working in Colorado, New Zealand, and Alaska before moving to Lake Tahoe in 2009.

Kym, a self-described “Navy Brat”, was born in Spain, and has lived in Norfolk, VA, San Diego, Pacific Grove, Castro Valley, Davis & Tahoe (Donner Lake & Verdi). She has worked in many fields over the years including testing Central Valley soils for gas exploration at Chevron, ticket sales at Alpine Meadows Ski Resort, Director of Group Sales at the Monterey Bay Aquarium (and began their first behind-the-scenes tours), in lodging at Northstar California Resort and has been at the Visitor Center in Tahoe City since 1999. Kym calls her role at the Visitor Center her “dream job” because she helps make vacations special by recommending awesome North Lake Tahoe recreation sites, restaurants & lodging. When not working, you can find Kym mountain biking, paddleboarding, hiking the Tahoe Rim Trail or serving as a site steward monitoring archaeological sites in Nevada with the BLM and US Forest Service.

Patrick Yun is a content creator and marketing specialist driven by a passion for creative storytelling. Growing up in the small town of Leonia, New Jersey, he was captivated by the world around him from an early age, documenting the adventures of his friends with a camera in hand, whether it was biking through their hometown or skating their way to Central Park in Manhattan. After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Sciences, Patrick ventured into the ski industry in northern California, where he honed his skills in social media strategy and video creation, working with companies like Flylow Gear and RMU. Patrick then transitioned into destination management, joining the marketing team at NTCA. This opportunity allows him to blend his expertise in digital creation with his passion for showcasing the beauty and fostering stewardship of the North Tahoe region. He is dedicated to leveraging his skills in social media strategy and video production to make a meaningful impact by connecting with audiences, inspiring them, and improving engagement. He is honored to contribute to the growth and mission of the North Tahoe Community Alliance through compelling visual narratives.

Danny is an outdoor enthusiast and Lake Tahoe local, having called the North Lake Tahoe area home for nearly 20 years. He understands the needs and necessities of the area and is thrilled to be part of the team and contribute to continuing to make North Lake Tahoe a great place to live, work and play. Danny attended Incline High School and continued his studies at Sierra Nevada College. After graduation, Danny explored various career paths before finding his niche in accounting. With over six years of experience in this field, including roles with Incline Property Management and other small businesses, he brings a wealth of experience to this position. As the newest member of the accounting crew, Danny is excited to bring his expertise and knowledge to NTCA.