Our Team

Bill moved to Zephyr Cove with his wife in 2013, having been a part-time resident since 1997. Prior to that, Bill resided in the Bay Area where he spent 15 years as a financial and business development executive with several public Silicon Valley technology companies. He started his career in Chicago as a CPA and financial executive with Ernst & Young. He also serves as Treasurer and Board Supervisor at the Nevada Tahoe Conservation District and is a long-time member of Rotary International. Retired now, he has four grown children and enjoys spending time with his wife, his 2 dogs and his grandchildren and playing music with his local band, Off Piste.

Gloria Stearns is the Placer County Economic Development and Housing Director. This newly merged division will better integrate business and housing needs through creative programs and advocacy. This division includes the Placer Tahoe Film Office, which facilitates memorable commercials, as well as feature films. Gloria previously was with the City of Seaside on the Monterey peninsula, where she worked in Economic and Community Development, as well as the Housing Department. Seaside had development and preservation opportunities on the former Fort Ord lands and a successful downtown revitalization which was embraced by the community. Prior to that, she spent most of her career in Milwaukee. As the Director of a nonprofit dedicated to creating jobs and housing in the most disadvantaged area of the city, she generated significant investment, which helped establish a stronger community. She worked in both community and economic development throughout that region. Prior to that, Ms. Stearns had a long career in IT and managed large projects across North America. She is excited about the many opportunities in Placer County and appreciates the people who have been working hard to move projects forward.

Jason Jurss is the owner of Happy Tiers Café & Bakery in Incline Village. His wife Andrea began making cakes out of her home in 2016 and through a global pandemic, wildfires & many bureaucratic obstacles they have built a successful and growing business in North Lake Tahoe which has become a staple of the community!

“Andrea’s job is to make wonderful things that are delicious and beautiful, my job is to make Andrea and her team successful!” -Jason Jurss

If you ask him, he will tell you that he is just a farm boy and bartender! Raised on his grandma Lucyann’s honeybee farm in Osteen, Florida he is a product of youth defined by hard work, independence and industrialism. “My career in the hospitality industry began, as soon as I could drive out of the woods, at age 16”, he says jokingly. Years of dedication in the highly competitive hospitality industry in Central Florida, learning, practicing and applying fundamentals of success eventually lead to him becoming an operating partner in businesses in which he could call himself an owner. Having worked in every position from dishwasher to regional manager, then partner & sole owner he is truly an expert in his hospitality industry.

One of his current missions is to help others by communicating what can be done for startups to overcome obstacles that are synonymous with entrepreneurialism in any market & also specifically in Tahoe. “Every market is unique, having benefits and challenges that may greatly differ from markets that are familiar to you. Learning to adapt, adjust and stay on the course are easy things to say, but the HOW is much more difficult to identify,” he says.

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Jesse W. Walker is a Principal at Wells Barnett Associates, LLC, a consulting company that specializes in land use planning and economics, which is based in Lake Tahoe and serves clients throughout the states of California and Nevada. Mr. Walker has over 20 years of experience in land use consulting, providing strategic advice to clients on various aspects of land use and development, including planning/ permitting of development projects, feasibility studies, infrastructure funding plans, economic/ fiscal impact reports, and various other technical studies. Mr. Walker holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from U.C. Berkeley with a major in Interdisciplinary Studies (focusing on Management and Innovation) and a minor in City and Regional Planning. Mr. Walker also obtained an MBA from California State University Sacramento with a concentration in Urban Land Development.

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Karen is the Housing Program Manager at the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, where she has worked since 2006 in transportation and land use planning. She is an avid bicycle commuter and transit rider and loves hiking and biking on Tahoe’s amazing trails with her family and friends.

Kimberly Templeton joins the Tahoe Prosperity Center Board of Directors with a profound personal and professional commitment to the economic health and community vitality of the Lake Tahoe Basin and Northern Nevada. As the Director of Catering & Event Sales at Edgewood Tahoe Resort, Kimberly has been instrumental in the resorts project management of some of the region’s most significant economic drivers, including the American Century Championship.

A resident of Carson City, Kimberly’s passion for the area is reflected in her extensive history of regional service. She brings a deep commitment to advocacy and philanthropic leadership, having held roles with the Reno Tahoe Territory, the South Lake Tahoe Chamber of Commerce, and Tahoe Youth & Family Services. Her excellence in community engagement and regional social responsibility has earned her numerous accolades, and she specializes in brand expansion and fostering joint ventures that strengthen the regional economy.

Kimberly’s approach to board service is rooted in the belief that a prosperous Tahoe depends on strong public-private partnerships and strategic, sustainable growth. She brings a wealth of experience in business development to the TPC, along with a career-long dedication to mentoring and regional advocacy. For Kimberly, serving on the Board is an opportunity to ensure that the communities surrounding Lake Tahoe remain vibrant, resilient, and inclusive for generations to come by fostering sustainable economic synergies that benefit the entire Tahoe Basin.

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Laura joined Lake Tahoe Community College in May 2020, where she is a member of the Senior Leadership Team focused on advancing college goals through securing grants and establishing strategic relationships with policymakers. Prior to joining LTCC, Laura spent nearly two decades working in California policy and politics, including as vice chancellor for the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, chief consultant for the Assembly Committee on Higher Education, chief of the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education, and for various California legislators. Laura has been a full-time resident of South Lake Tahoe, along with her son and their rescue dog, since 2019.

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As one of the West’s most respected community leaders and one of the real estate industry’s most accomplished real estate broker and developer, Roger K. Rempfer DMD is the epitome of excellence. He has a notable career in the medical field where his accomplishments are as immeasurable as the positive impact he has left in his trail. Among his commendations are his U.S Congressional recognition as a health care model and leader, lecturer within the medical and business fields, and author of peer-praised Periodontal publications; just as inspirational are his entrepreneurial spirit and passion for real estate and development. Notable projects include the design, financing, and building of commercial property, expansive single-family home developments, and the prestigious Stanislaus Surgical Hospital which he served as board member and President for 22 years. “My true success always started by giving back to my community and my clients to which it is my honor to serve.” Roger also has a profound procession of awards for his involvement with Tahoe Prosperity Center, Tahoe Regional Arts Foundation, American Heart Association, and Rotary – which he finds to be the most honorable and lasting legacy to his time spent in community service. When time allows, he recharges his quest to serve all as an adventure-bound sports enthusiast throughout North America. A legacy in the real estate industry, and a forever friend to all, Roger can be contacted through Chase International’s Reno, NV office.

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Dr. Todd Cutler currently serves as the Superintendent of the Lake Tahoe Unified School District. He began his education career teaching and coaching at both the middle school and high school levels. He started his school administration career in 1998 and has served in an array of positions. He has been a Dean of Students, Assistant Principal, and Principal. School Improvement Analyst, Administrative Coach, Deputy Superintendent, as well as Superintendent. Dr. Cutler attended New Mexico State University where received his B.S. degree in Secondary Education from NMSU. Todd went on to earn his Master’s in Education Administration from the University of Phoenix and lastly earned his Doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Cutler has served on a number of boards and committees connected to the education industry. The following are a few of the most recent: California Collaborative for Educational Excellence Advisory Committee Member (current), North Valley Schools Insurance Group Board Member (2017 – 2020), and Align Capital Region Board Member (2018 – 2019).

Moroles-O’Neil holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from Saint Mary’s College of California. A fifth-generation Sacramento native, she moved to Gardnerville with her wife in January 2020. They enjoy spending time with family and friends, exploring the outdoors, and experiencing all that Douglas County has to offer with their two dogs, Bogey and Nitro. She continues to teach golf in her spare time and participates in charity tournaments.