About Us

Aaron Hinson

Board Member

I grew up just outside of Baltimore and attended the University of Maryland.  After college I spent a few years managing restaurants in and around Washington, DC.  This was a very valuable experience as I feel if you can make it in hospitality, you can make it anywhere.  In 2005 I began my journey in the mortgage business. 

I’ve also always been a huge fan of live music and after my first visit to Red Rocks in 2009 I moved to Denver, CO.  While living in Denver I worked for several mortgage companies and fell in love with trips to the mountains for my new passion, snowboarding. 

In 2017 I found out that my Mother was very ill and went back to Baltimore to be with her.  After her passing I intended to go back to Denver but my entire perspective on life had changed.  I recalled visiting Lake Tahoe in 2013 to see Phish and how close the chair lift was to town.  I’ve always been one for adventure, and my heart told me my Mom wanted me to be bold, so I decided to take the jump and move to beautiful Lake Tahoe, which was the best decision I ever made. 

When I got to South Lake Tahoe, somewhat by chance I decided the best way to get involved in the community was to volunteer and give back.  I first became involved with SOS Outreach, then a CASA(Court Appointed Special Advocate), which led to teaching a “Life Skills” class at Mount Tallac, and various other local Non-Profits.  This helped me fall in love with my community and make it my home.  Its also when I learned the deep value in volunteering, something I had been blind to in my past life.

Since moving to Tahoe, I also started my own mortgage company, Luna Lending.  I’m personally very passionate about servicing our local community.  I’ve also opened offices in Denver and Frisco, CO as well as Florida, with more branches to come.  Luna is my Dog, we rescued each other shortly after moving to South Lake.  My motto is #lunalove and I try my best to live by that in everything I do. 
My current roles on the board for Encompass Youth as well as the Tahoe Regional Professionals are very rewarding and I’m grateful to be able apply my life experiences and passion of helping others in a valuable way.  I love our community in South Lake Tahoe and am dedicated to giving back to this wonderful community in any way that I can.

Karen Houser

Board President

My life in South Lake Tahoe began when I moved here upon graduating from college with my teaching credential, to spend a couple of years “getting skiing out of my system”, before pursuing a teaching career. That was in 1972, and my life took a much different course!
Although I did substitute teach for a couple of years, I have had the good fortune to explore several career and employment industries including hospitality, ski industry, grant writing, and nonprofit, as well as self-employed with my husband, Dan.
That career path paved the way to my most recent endeavor: Encompass Youth.: Just as the Pandemic was beginning to make its way into our world and our lives, I connected with several other community members as we explored the gaps for what was available to support Transitional Age Youth in our community. After several Zoom meetings, and reaching out in the community for input, we began our journey to become our 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Encompass Youth. I am proud of our community for quickly embracing and supporting our efforts, and look forward to the continued growth and impact expected. –
I enjoy the active life-style that Tahoe offers to be able to ski, golf, paddleboard, and bike. Both my husband and I enjoy our home, our garden, our dog…and traveling. At this point in our lives, we especially like our get-aways “glamping” in our travel trailer.

Kimberly Hunt

Board Secretary

I am a local attorney, born and raised in Lake Tahoe. My professional career has involved working with youth from all ages including those that Encompass Youth looks to serve. I am grateful to be part of this organization and see a community effort to help youth access a variety of services. In my spare time i enjoy spending time with my family, mountain biking and enjoying this beautiful place we live. 

Amy Jackson

Board Vice President

My name is Amy Jackson and I have lived in South Lake Tahoe for 23 years.  I primarily grew up in Los Angeles and spent my young adult years in San Diego prior to moving to Tahoe.  I have been married for 31 years and have two adult children and our dog, Fred. 

I have been working with at promise youth and their families  for the past 35 years.  I have been a social worker at a homeless shelter, a caseworker for a foster care agency, an advocate for teen parents, and the Alternative Education Counselor in South Lake Tahoe for the past 21 years.  The strength, loyalty, and resiliency of these young people inspire me to be a better person. 

My favorite thing to do is expose students to new opportunities whether it be academic, a hobby, a field trip or a mentor.  I am always reminding them that  “we are not our worst mistake”, a quote from my personal mentor, Father Greg Boyle. 

The most important thing I have learned is to stay true to my word with my students and show them that there are adults in this world they can trust to follow through and be honest with them even when it might be hard to hear.

Cheyanne Lane

Board Member

I am a long-time local who has worked with South Lake Tahoe’s unaccompanied minor and homeless young adult population for the past 17 years through Tahoe Youth and Family Services. I am passionate about helping underserved transition-aged youth thrive and become successful adults in our community. In addition to serving on the board for Encompass Youth, I sit on multiple boards and committees to ensure that the youth’s voice is heard in our community to better their lives and outcomes. I am an avid hiker, and you will find me spending my free time going on adventures with my two English Pointers, exploring this beautiful place we call home.

Mireya Ortega

Board Member

Dr. Mireya Ortega graduated Cum Laude with a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the UCLA School of Dentistry in 1987. After completing her post graduate residency, she became a full-time faculty member at UCLA teaching dentistry to first year through post graduate students. While there, Dr. Ortega also maintained a private practice in the UCLA faculty group practice and was the Director of the Venice Dental Center and the UCLA Mobile Clinics. Both programs provided dental care for the underserved.

In 1999 Dr. Ortega, her husband Ron and their cat Webster relocated to South Lake Tahoe where she began a new dental chapter in her private practice. Then in 2010, Dr. Ortega started the Young Tahoe Smiles program in South Lake Tahoe for children who do not have dental insurance.  

At present Dr. Ortega her husband and their two dogs, Munch and Kit reside in South Lake Tahoe enjoying all that the wonderful outdoor activities Tahoe has to offer. Dr. Ortega is looking forward to using her past dental teaching experiences to assist with the Encompass Youth dental needs.

She is a member of the American Dental Association, the California Dental Association, Sacramento Dental Society, and the Omicron Kappa Upsilon Honor Society.

Randy Peshon

Board Member

Randy, after a career of 42 years, retired as the Undersheriff for El Dorado County. During his career, he served in nearly all functions of law enforcement. Randy served for 10 years as an appointed California Judicial Council Collaborative Justice Courts Advisory Committee member and taught for the Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission Supervisory Leadership Institute.

During his career, Randy developed successful programs to address the causes of recidivism, including crisis intervention, homeless outreach, culinary arts for inmates, and mental health court. Randy was also responsible for designing and constructing the new headquarters for the Sheriff’s Office, which was completed ahead of schedule and under budget. Randy enjoyed coaching various Special Olympics teams in Lake Tahoe.

Randy has served on the Boards of three service organizations and was a Board member of the Boys and Girls Club of Lake Tahoe.

Randy has been the recipient of many awards for innovation and has been recognized by the El Dorado County Grand Jury for forward-thinking and progressive management.

Randy received his Master’s degree from the University of San Diego and his Bachelor’s degree from the University of California Berkeley. He is also a graduate of California’s Command College, the FBI National Academy, and earned an Executive Certificate in Public Policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Randy enjoys traveling, camping, and spending time with his two daughters and granddaughters.

Chris Proctor

Board Member

Chris Proctor, MPT, MBA, FACHE is the Director of Community Benefit and Business Development for Barton Health.  With the creation of this new division within the Barton Healthcare system he has been focusing on business development and community benefit strategies for Barton Health in order to better serve our community in areas of food insecurity, housing instability, social vulnerability, transportation, and healthcare disparity. 

Chris has worked in the medical field as a clinician and/or administrator for the last 25 years. 

After relocating from his home state of Indiana, Chris continued his physical therapy career in outpatient sports medicine and orthopedics in South Tahoe starting in 1997 by managing a local private practice before partnering with Drs. Terry Orr and Steve Bannar at the Tahoe Fracture Clinic in 2003. 

Chris joined Barton Health in 2009 with Drs. Orr and Bannar as a physical therapist leading the Sports Medicine Department and then gradually transitioned into his first leadership role as the Director of The Tahoe Center for Orthopedics in 2012.

He has worn many hats while working with Barton, including directing the orthopedic service line and ambulatory outpatient surgical center. His favorite project was creating the operational plan and recruiting the operational team for the Center for Orthopedics and Wellness from 2016 until it opened in 2018.

Chris and his wife, Christina, have two sons (Cole and Quinn) who were born and raised in South Lake Tahoe and are currently in college.  Chris enjoys all the outdoor recreational activities that are available in Tahoe but is especially passionate about playing hockey at our local rink.

Shane Reynolds

Board Member

Shane is a dedicated leader deeply committed to student-centered decision-making, with a background in educational leadership and an unwavering determination to cultivate growth in the students he serves. His mission is to establish an inclusive and nurturing environment for all students, specializing building programs for students affected by the carceral system.

Throughout his career, Shane has consistently exhibited an unshakeable belief in prioritizing students above all else. Every decision he makes is underpinned by a commitment to the best interests of students and the team he serves. As an educational leader, Shane emphasizes understanding and addressing each student’s unique needs, aspirations, and well-being, empowering them to access their full potential.

His unwavering dedication to fostering success in others has driven initiatives at the state level to create educational opportunities for currently and formerly incarcerated/detained populations in Northern California.

Shane has a BA degree in Psychology from Western Colorado University and a Masters in Outdoor Education Leadership focusing on Equitable Program Implementation from Prescott College. His career in Higher Education began in 2015 as a program director and adjunct faculty member in the California Community College system.

Shane’s experiences within the prison system made him acutely aware of the pressing need to reduce recidivism and enhance access to essential services for many Californians. This unwavering commitment led him to Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC), where he has had the privilege of serving as the founding Director of the Rising Scholars program and as a Workforce Faculty member.

Shane says, “My time at LTCC stands out as the most fulfilling chapter of my professional journey, and it’s been a rewarding experience to play a critical role in expanding educational access for justice-impacted students. I look forward to collaborating with the South Lake Tahoe community to expand services for Juvenile students.”

Shane’s core passion lies in fostering relationships and enhancing access to education – he loves building sustainable programs that serve the community and the state. He is committed to lifelong learning and eager to grow as a leader with an equity-focused approach, ultimately serving Encompass Youth and expanding its services that impact the South Lake Tahoe community.

Brian Richart

Board Member

Chief Probation Officer Brian Richart began serving the County of El Dorado in 2013. Prior to his appointment, Chief Richart held the position of Probation Chief of Staff in the county of Alameda and served a thirteen-year career with the County of Shasta, including four years as Chief Probation Officer. Chief Richart is a member of the Chief Probation Officers of California (CPOC) where he has held the positions of President, Vice President, Secretary, Sacramento Regional Chair, and committee chair. He is a member of CPOC’s President’s Round Table, Legislative Committee, Juvenile Services Committee, and Executive Steering Committee. Chief Richart was recently re-appointed by the Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court to the Family and Juvenile Law Advisory Committee of the California Judicial Council. In 2023 he was appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom to the Board of State and Community Corrections. Chief Richart is a member of the Robert F. Kennedy National Resource Center for Juvenile Justice Practice Network, a Fellow at the Center for Juvenile Justice at Georgetown University and a contributing member of the American Probation and Parole Association. He has participated in many state and national initiatives to improve practices and outcomes in the fields of juvenile and criminal justice and child welfare. Chief Richart advocates for the safety of all communities through the evolution of health, well-being, and accountability for all those probation serves.

Sarah Smith

Board Treasurer

When I’m not spending my time with Encompass Youth, I work full time at a non-profit called PATH. PATH focuses on Global Health Equity, established in 1977, PATH’s mission has been to advance health equity through innovation and partnerships. I’ve been in multiple roles with PATH including finance, data analytics and procurement, I’m thankful that my experience can positively contribute to Encompass Youth.  I’ve always enjoyed a challenge and absorbing as much knowledge as I can while contributing to the success of the organizations I’m involved with. When I’m not working, I spend a lot of time with my family and dogs. My partner, Kirby, and I  moved from Seattle, Washington to South Lake Tahoe, California over two years ago and love the outdoors and the accessibility that Tahoe provides. Although we are still avid Seattle fans (Go Hawks) we have fallen in love with the Tahoe area and want nothing more than to give back to our community. Encompass Youth is an amazing organization that not only, sheds light on the needs of our most venerable but takes action to change the course of lives. I’m excited to continue my growth with Encompass Youth and witness first hand this organizations amazing contribution to the community.