Supporting the people and places of Tahoe
Our Staff

Claudia Andersen

CEO

As CEO, Claudia is responsible for the overall leadership of the Parasol Tahoe Community Foundation, including organizational strategy and oversight of its programs, operations, finances and investments.

Prior to joining the Community Foundation in 2006, Claudia had a long and diverse career in the for-profit sector. Her experience spans all areas of business, from large corporate management to leadership of a small privately held manufacturing company. But whatever her role, Claudia has always been interested in the people that make success possible. Therefore, moving into the nonprofit sector was an easy transition.

A graduate of Western Illinois University, Claudia left the cold Chicago winters for the sunshine of southern California, eventually settling in Marin County for over fifteen years. As a hiker and backpacker, it didn’t take long for the Sierras to beckon. She relocated with her husband to the mountains of Tahoe in 2001.

Cari Gutheil

CFO

As CFO, Cari maintains the financial integrity of the Parasol Tahoe Community Foundation by ensuring the financial records and investments are professionally managed within the policies and procedures developed by the Board of Directors.

Cari joined the Foundation in 2015 following a distinguished career at IGT in Reno where she served as the Manager of Treasury Operations, overseeing global cash management and investing. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Economics with a Concentration in Accounting from University of California at Santa Barbara and is a Certified Treasury Professional as well as a Certified Specialist in Planned Giving. Raised in Los Altos, California, Cari has been a part of the greater Tahoe community since 1997.

Natalie Erquiaga

Director of Communications & Outreach

As Director of Communications & Outreach, Natalie is responsible for making the good work of the Community Foundation visible and for creating compelling community engagement opportunities.

As a Nevada native, Natalie left the silver state to achieve her B.A. at The Master’s University in southern California but eventually returned to her home state where she has served in a variety of nonprofit organizations for the last 11 years. The mountains called her to Tahoe in 2016 where she developed connections to the community through her role at the Chamber of Commerce and her passion for animal rescue. Coming to the Community Foundation in 2021 was a perfect way for her to support many of the causes she cared about.

Natalie can usually be found exploring the desert with her family in their ATV, camping, hiking, or just enjoying local whiskey against a perfect Nevada sunset backdrop.

Mackenzie Little

Donor Services Director

As Donor Services Director, Mackenzie is responsible for delivering exceptional service for our donors and fund advisors as well as providing interesting philanthropic education and donor engagement opportunities.

Mackenzie joined the Community Foundation in 2021 from Monterey where she held a similar Community Foundation role. She earned a B.A. in Recording Arts from Chico State University and was engrained in her community through services focused on areas such as youth development, emergency response, and environmental protection and advocacy. Mackenzie is dedicated to bringing her many experiences in serving the community to her new home in Tahoe.

Like so many, she fell in love in Tahoe and in 2021 made the move to join her partner and our community. When she’s not at work, you can find Mackenzie on a run, learning to link turns on her snowboard, or knitting at home with one of her cats snuggling on her lap.

Laura Roche

Program Director

As Program Director, Laura is responsible for leading and managing all Community Foundation programs, initiatives, and discretionary grantmaking with the goal of creating a positive impact in the Tahoe community.

After getting her Bachelor of Arts from North Carolina State, Laura achieved her Master of Social Work with a concentration in community health and urban development from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Moving to Tahoe in 2019 with her partner, Laura brings her experience working in nonprofit organizations in Chicago to the Community Foundation.

The Tahoe lifestyle has been a perfect place for Laura and her family to enjoy their favorite activities which include hiking, paddleboarding, and lounging at the beach with their dog.

Miguel Santiago

DWR Center Building Manager

As DWR Center Building Manager, Miguel is responsible for the operations, maintenance, and safety of the Donald W. Reynolds Community Nonprofit Center.

In 2002, Miguel moved to Tahoe with his wife and has always been active in the community. While working at the local school district overseeing building maintenance and janitorial services, Miguel began working part-time with the Community Foundation in 2004. In 2012, Miguel began working full-time at the Community Foundation as the DWR Center Building Manager.

Miguel has a true heart for philanthropy and has volunteered in many capacities during his time in Tahoe, including providing food delivery, translation/paperwork assistance, and connecting families and individuals in need to organizations who can assist them.