TAHOE, Calif. and#8212; A 17-member team of Tahoe leaders from across the business spectrum hit the road to learn from other California communities how to implement innovative solutions to overcome economic and environmental decline. Pathways to Prosperity Trekkers represent various sectors including tourism, health, recreation, public and private.

Pathways to Prosperity Trek 2012 is a Basin-wide leadership strategy and the team visited two communities, Livermore and Monterey, that faced similar challenges and implemented tourism and sustainability initiatives resulting in prosperity.

2012 Trekkers met with many individuals, who tackled similar challenges facing Lake Tahoe. Best practices reviewed included transportation, collaborative partnership models, tourism, hospitality, community visioning and economic development.

and#8220;Weand#8217;re meeting with local leaders and hearing firsthand about their challenges and successes as they redefined their struggling communities,and#8221; said Casey Blann of Vail Resorts. and#8220;Itand#8217;s a great opportunity and we look forward to bringing these best practice models back to Tahoe.and#8221;

The Trek is one of many collaborative efforts at Lake Tahoe to achieve environmental restoration and community revitalization goals. and#8220;Itand#8217;s very relevant to see how these communities have turned themselves around through collaborative partnership models of redevelopment because itand#8217;s so applicable to Lake Tahoe,and#8221; said B Gorman, CEO/President, TahoeChamber. For more information on collaborative efforts at Lake Tahoe, visit http://www.TahoeFuture.org, a joint initiative between the North and South Lake Tahoe Chambers of Commerce.

The Trek concluded in Sacramento with an introduction on the Senate Floor followed by a luncheon with legislative representatives and meetings at the Capital.

Trek participants include: Casey Blann, general manager, Kirkwood/Vail Resorts; John Chevalier, videographer, Tahoe Production House; Jessica Cunningham, communications, TahoeChamber.org; Jason Drew, scientist, Nichols Engineering; Claire Fortier, mayor, City of South Lake Tahoe; B Gorman, president/CEO, TahoeChamber.org; Lisa Granahan, economic vitality manager, Douglas County; Carl Hasty, district manager, Tahoe Transportation District; Sandy Evans Hall, CEO/executive director, North Lake Tahoe Resort Association; Jennifer Merchant, Tahoe area manager, Placer County; Joanne Marchetta, executive director, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency; Mitchell Mize, director of real estate, Edgewood Companies; Julie Regan, external affairs chief, TRPA; Chuck Scharer, president/CEO, Edgewood Companies; Monica Sciuto, director of public relations/marketing, Barton Health; Steve Teshara, principal, Sustainable Communities Advocates.