Board of Directors

What Does Board Membership Look Like?

At Tahoe Youth & Family Services are looking for Board members who are passionate about our mission and have the time to be active participants. Board meetings are held monthly; one month in South Lake Tahoe, CA, and the next month in Gardnerville, NV. If you are interested in Board membership please contact the Executive Director, Brian Conway at bconway@tahoeyouth.org or by calling (530) 541-2445 or (775) 782-4202.

Responsibilities of the Board

Hire the executive director, E.D.
Determine compensation for the executive director
Evaluates the E.D. annually
Terminates the E.D.
Approve all policies
Ensures the organization is fiscally sound
Gives financially
Participates on committees
Fundraises
Board Members follow Good Governance

DeAnna ”De” ImelliI

Board President

Hello, I am DeAnna ”De” ImelliI came to Douglas County in 1988 when I married my husband, Les. I have a stepson Joe, a daughter Felicia and a son Nate. I was born and raised in Montana and received a Combined Sciences degree at Carroll College in Helena, MT, before moving to Nevada.

Children, and teaching have always been my first love. Before marrying my husband, I was a substitute teacher for several years. This is when I decided teaching was in my blood. However, God had a different idea I was blessed to be a stay at home mom, until our kids were in middle school. I worked as a financial planning administrative assistant for 10 years and then in 2010 I became employed at St. Gall Catholic Church. I have worked in several different positions at St. Gall, I am currently the director of Faith Formation for parents and children K-12, and as an assistant funeral coordinator. I am so blessed to be working at a job that I love.

I know how important it is for children to be raised in healthy, stable and strong families. This can only happen when adults and children have easy access to mental health services and addiction recovery services when they need them. It wasn’t until I received an invitation to possibly join the Board, that I really knew the depth of what Tahoe Youth and Family Services offered. I must admit that I had wrongly assumed that it was only active in the Tahoe basin. As I read the vision and mission of the organization, I realized that it closely aligned with my hopes for our future. Through strong, healthy families we can become a strong, healthy society. Everyone needs some sort of assistance to reach their potential. It is important to have services readily available to help those who struggle through life. TYFS has been providing those services. I am excited for the opportunity to be a part of the organization and to help TYFS continue down this path and be the best it can be.

Rod Smith

Vice President

Rod has many years of diversified experience within the educational field. His experiences span a wide range from counseling to classroom teaching to educational administration. The focus of his background has primarily revolved around special education and educational administration. He has participated in leadership positions at the school site level, school district level, county schools’ level and at the State level for both California and Nevada. Among his experiences are writing and directing grant programs, designing, and motivating behavioral program for children, guest presentations and lectures to public and private agencies and university classes, serving on various boards of directors and committees, creating, and managing community-based programs in the private sector and maintaining a private behavioral consulting service. He has taught several graduate classes at different colleges and universities for over twenty years. Rod and his lovely wife, Pat, have called Gardnerville, Nevada their home for over 30 years. They live in Sheridan Acres.

After his retirement he wanted to give something back to his local community. Hopefully as a board member of “The Tahoe Youth and Family Services” he will be able to accomplish his goal.

Courtney Moore

Secretary

I have been a resident of Douglas County for over 20 years. As a member of this community who lives here, works here and is raising my family here, I am passionate about services that assist our youth and the families that reside here. I am also a huge advocate for mental health and substance abuse support and education as I have been personally touched by both in my life. Being a member of the Tahoe Youth & Family Services board allows me to give back to my community through volunteerism, growth and education of much needed resources and services.

Judy Breza

Treasurer

I am a 40+ year resident of South Lake Tahoe. Having raised 3 children here, I know first-hand the importance of accessible mental health services to our local youth. I am a retired community college finance/business services professional and have volunteered with several local youth organizations such as Special Olympics and Buddy Werner Youth Ski Organization. I look forward to providing my time, energy and resources toward the future success of TYFS.

Michael Millward

Board Member

Michael G. Millward is an attorney and owner of Millward Law, Ltd., practicing in the Carson Valley. Michael and his family made the Carson Valley their home in 2008 after accepting a clerkship in Minden with District Court Judge David Gamble. Michael received a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from Idaho State University in of 2005, and his Juris Doctorate from Gonzaga University in May of 2008. Michael’s practice includes Elder Law, Estate Planning, Probate, Guardianship, Property Law, as well as Bankruptcy and Debt Negotiation. Michael has a strong desire to help support the development of the next generation in the Carson Valley and South Lake Tahoe area at the most critical portion of their lives. He sees his membership on the Board of Tahoe Youth and Family Services and his way best contributing his knowledge and expertise to support the organization in meeting its goals.

David Stevenson

Board Member

David Stevenson’s family moved to South Lake Tahoe in 1977. He went to Meyer’s Elementary, South Tahoe Middle School, and graduated from South Tahoe High School in 1990. He graduated from Sacramento State University in 1994 with a BS in Criminal Justice. He put himself through a police academy in 1994 and was hired by the South Lake Tahoe Police Department in 1995. He has worked various assignments at the Police Department including, patrol, detectives, field training officer, SWAT, Sergeant, Lieutenant, and was selected Chief of Police in August of 2020.

David married his wife in 2001 (Who he has known since he was 5 years old) and moved to Douglas County where he still lives with his three children.

David learned about the services offered by Tahoe Youth and Family Services through his work and used them as an important community resource for many years. David appreciates the service and dedication TYFS provides to area youth and families and is honored to be on the board.

Amber Nuzum

Board Member

Amber is a resident of the Carson Valley where she grew up and graduated from Douglas High School in 1993. After living in Las Vegas and California for several years, she returned to the Valley in 2014 where she is now a licensed Realtor with Coldwell Banker in Minden.

Amber has two grown children and is a Stepmom to two younger children. Amber has a vested interest in the youth of our communities. Her personal experiences in using the services of Tahoe Youth & Family Services are how she first became acquainted with the organization. It is also how she came to be invited to join the board in 2021.

Her hope and goal in becoming a part of this organization is to broaden awareness in what services Tahoe Youth & Family Services provides to children and families. Along with that she hopes to raise funds to support the success of Tahoe Youth & Family Services and the families and children it serves.