40 under 40: Lyndsay Bryant, Lake Tahoe Boat Rides
Tahoe Chamber | June 5, 2018 | 40 Under 40
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At an early age, camping with her family at Meeks Bay, Lyndsay Bryant knew she wanted to live in Lake Tahoe one day. As a teenager, she even thought about opening a waterski school somewhere in the community.
That entrepreneurial spirit and love for the area brought her back to the Tahoe community right after college, and she has since started multiple successful businesses, cofounded Tahoe Regional Young Professionals, and been named chair-elect of the Tahoe Chamber Board of Directors. Bryant joined the Chamber board in 2014 and will assume the duty of chair-elect on July 1.
Congratulations to Lyndsay Bryant, the latest honoree of our 40 under 40 series!
Can you tell us a little about your responsibilities and accomplishments in your current position?
My husband and I started our first business, Lake Tahoe Boat Rides, in 2006 and opened for our first season in the summer of 2007. I took my college graduation requirement as an opportunity to write our business plan and “the rest is history.” We have expanded this business in great ways over the last 11 years and are proud to be the top-rated boat tour company on TripAdvisor for the past three years. Our customers absolutely love our service.
However, even with this success, I am prouder of what I feel we have given to Lake Tahoe. We now contract with six licensed Captains and four crew members who love what they do. They provide an exceptional experience to our guests as well as our locals and their families. They come to us with a love of boating and Lake Tahoe that we empower further with additional knowledge both about our history and how best to “Keep Tahoe Blue.”
My current role at Lake Tahoe Boat Rides is to keep our Captains/crew, guests, and partners happy while providing an exceptional Lake Tahoe experience.
What has been your favorite professional moment in the last year?
Selling one of my businesses that I started and ran for the last nine years. It was a very tough decision to give this up, but I know the new owner will be amazing and it gives me the time and energy to focus on what is more important.
Do you have a professional/life mantra that you try to live by?
As cliché as they may sound, I believe “You Only Live Once” and “Work Hard, Play Hard” are great mantras to live by. Time with family and friends is something you won’t get back, so take advantage of it when you get those precious opportunities. Travel and experiences are also very important to me. I am constantly working to design my work around the life I want.
What was your first job?
My first real job (after neighborhood babysitting) was working at the Santa Clarita Soccer Center, an indoor soccer arena, as a scorekeeper. I moved up to kids’ trainer and supervisor after that.
Why choose Tahoe to make your home and career?
I knew I wanted to live in Lake Tahoe since I was very young. My family had been camping at Meeks Bay on the West Shore since well before I was born. Our two-week camping trips eventually turned to three and my desire to live here only grew. I even talked about starting a waterski school here when I was a teenager. At 18, I was given the awesome opportunity to work for Meeks Bay Marina, where I learned a ton about the boating industry in Lake Tahoe. It’s also where I met my husband to be, who, ironically, also wanted to start a boating business here. I hope every other obvious reason on why to make Tahoe my home is, well obvious.
Are you active in any volunteer roles or community groups?
About seven or eight years ago I was introduced to an incredible group of people who were looking for something more in the South Shore for our age group. These random brainstorming dinners turned into us founding the Tahoe Regional Young Professionals (TRYP). I was honored to serve in the Operating, Executive, and Finance Director roles of this organization over the years and am now a proud member.
I have also been an active Tahoe Chamber Board Member for the past three-and-a-half years and have just been elected Chair-Elect. The Tahoe Chamber is a dedicated advocate for South Shore businesses. The Chamber also puts on an intensive, educational program called Leadership Lake Tahoe of which I was a class member in 2011/2012. I have since been a Task Force member and Task Force Co-Chair for the last three classes. I have had many proud moments seeing past class members use the knowledge and resources they gained from the program to help add to our Lake Tahoe community.
In 2014, I also took part in the Group Study Exchange Program through Rotary International. This program sent four non-Rotarian professionals from different industries in our region to Sao Paulo, Brazil for a cultural exchange in our different professions. I hope to soon become a Rotarian to give back to and serve our community here as well as our international community.
What is your favorite thing to do outside of work?
Probably too many to list, but water skiing was my first Lake Tahoe love. Anything outdoors, especially with family, friends and, of course, my dogs.
Where are your favorite South Shore stomping grounds?
Well, it’s now summertime so that’s all I can think about. Ski Beach, Camp Richardson, Kiva Beach, Nevada Beach, pretty much anywhere on a boat on Lake Tahoe!
Get in touch with Lyndsay today:
Lake Tahoe Boat Rides
530-545-1223
Email Lyndsay