Contacts

Ben Solomon 

Ben Solomon earned a BA in math at UC Berkeley where he lettered in gymnastics and an MA in math from UC Davis. He received an honorary Doctorate in Education from Sierra Nevada College (SNC). His teaching career included positions at UC Davis, the University of Victoria, LA State University, and SNC. Ben’s primary subject was mathematics, but he also taught literature and alternative energy and coached gymnastics. He was the CEO of SNC for 25 years holding the titles of Administrative Director (1970 – 1980), President (1980 – 1993 and 2003 -2005), and Chancellor (1993 -1994). During his tenure the College grew from 23 full time students and 3 converted buildings to several hundred students and an energy efficient campus with 5 buildings 2 utilizing passive solar heating and one which received a “Platinum” rating. Ben also owned and managed TranSierra Capital which was the highest ranked “fixed income” investment firm in the US from 1995 to 2003. He lives in Incline Village with his wife Margaret in a “net zero” house which incorporates devices patented by Ben. The 1,500 watt PV system produces enough surplus electricity to power their converted plug in Prius.

Jim Steinmann

Jim was raised in rural Wisconsin farm country, graduate of Purdue University with degrees in Engineering and Industrial Management in 1967, resident of Beverly Hills, California for 22 years, and relocated to the Brockway area on the North Shore of lake Tahoe with wife, Jan in 1990.

Employed by North American Aviation and Computer Science Corporation to plan and develop facilities for the military and space program systems including B-1, F-111, and Apollo and seven data centers around the world prior to starting his Facility Planning and Development Consulting firm in 1973. Recent projects include Convention Centers, Public Libraries, U.S. Embassy in Berlin, Germany, Courts in Kuwait, and buildings for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Military Intelligence Agencies, and a number of state and local government/office buildings.

Jim guided the design and construction of the Prim Library and The Tahoe Center for Environmental Sciences. He is now semi-retired with projects in San Diego and occasionally overseas. Jim and Jan enjoy skiing, the social life of the North Shore, and travel extensively.