My family moved around a lot when I was growing up, but I have been around – and fished – Lake Tahoe most of my life. I began working as a deckhand for Captain West Mueller out of South Shore on his charter boat the Uno Mas when I was 13, became a Coast Guard Licensed Captain 6 years later, and started my company Nor-Cal Charters the following year. Since the company began in 2013 with one boat that can accommodate 6 people, it has grown to a fleet of 3 boats accommodating 20 people, with a great staff.
“My inspiration has always been to be the best, show my friends that I care about them and always make the world a better place. It sounds like a poster, but it really is what gets me out of bed every day.”
In late 2015 I acquired a local sporting goods store. At its height, the Sportsman was a full service 4 season outfitter in the heart of South Lake Tahoe. Over time, the business changed ownership and struggled – when I took it over it was reduced to less than $2000 in inventory, a website, and a phone number. It is my goal to build it back up to be a full service outfitter like it was in the 1990’s when the Mueller family owned it.
I came to SNC to advance my skills as a business owner, and also pursue a career in public education. I am working towards attaining a Nevada Teaching Credential so I can inspire young students around the Tahoe Basin with my passion for mathematics and economics.
In the future, I see myself still owning the charter boats on Lake Tahoe and being the very best at catching fish and wining fishing derbies. I also see myself as a teacher who can show high school students the importance of economics and math. In ten years I look forward going out on the lake with all my SNC friends to the watch the sunrise, talk about our time at Sierra Nevada College, and find out all that they have accomplished since.