MEET THE TEAM
Most grand visions are nothing without a clear plan, resources, experience, and a proven ability to execute. On every front, the members of the team who have been assembled at Clear Creek are not only among the very best in their fields, but are also passionate about the vision of creating a club and community that will make a lasting contribution to all who call this special place home. And this year promises to be our most exciting year yet.
STEWARDS OF THE
PATH Ahead
The Clear Creek Tahoe development, management, and marketing team brings the experience necessary for the successful evolution of a nationally acclaimed private club community. Castle Hill Partners is a private investment firm based in Austin, Texas. Each principal has more than 30 years of experience in their respective area of expertise. Collectively, Castle Hill Partners has acquired and developed over 25,000 acres of commercial and residential land, over 10,000 units of multifamily housing, and more than 6 million square feet of office and industrial space. Their geographical focus is in the Continental U.S. and Hawaii.
HART HOWERTON
DEVELOPMENT ARCHITECTS
David Howerton is chairman of Hart Howerton, a team of strategists, planners, architects, landscape architects, and designers with a global practice headquartered in New York and San Francisco. The firm has had the opportunity to work on combined conservation and development projects in the most spectacular natural settings, historic towns, and vibrant, growing cities. Their long-term, broad-based, innovative outlook is linked to practical, time-sensitive business and conservation plans. Whole-system sustainability is an integral part of the practice.
BEN CRENSHAW
GOLF ARCHITECT
Ben Crenshaw’s approach is one of minimalism enhanced by an abiding appreciation of the game’s subtleties. It begins with the land — each hole nuanced to yield an arrangement where the whole is far greater than the sum of its parts. Together with Bill Coore, this passionate pursuit has produced two of the top three Golfweek Modern Courses, six of the top 50, and 11 of the top 100 — not the least of which is Clear Creek Tahoe.
BILL COORE
GOLF ARCHITECT
Admiration and respect for the classic golf courses of the “Golden Age of Architecture” is a shared philosophy that traditional, strategic golf is the most rewarding. Collaborating with Ben Crenshaw, the artistry of Bill Coore honors the classic work of Ross, Mackenzie, Macdonald, Maxwell, and Tillinghast. The glorious result is a course and experience that are timeless by design.
MILWARD BELL-BHATTI
GENERAL MANAGER, COO
Milward is a Certified Club Manager (CCM) through the Club Managers Association of America. His previous experience includes serving as General Manager at Shooting Star in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, a Tom Fazio-designed course ranked #1 in the state. Milward also served as General Manager at Glenwild Golf Club & Spa in Park City, Utah, co-developed by DMB Associates and Grayhawk and ranked as #1 in Utah. He started his career at Cherry Hills Country Club in Denver, Colorado. Milward and his family are thrilled to be living in Lake Tahoe and enjoy golf, skiing, hiking, and mountain biking.
GEORGIA CHASE
DIRECTOR OF SALES
Georgia Chase, a certified luxury home marketing specialist, has been part of Clear Creek Tahoe since 2017 when the developer decided to bring on a professional real estate company to sell homesites to the public. She brings a wealth of experience specializing in the marketing and sales of prestigious properties in the region from her work in the family-owned business, Chase International, which is recognized as the “leader in luxury real estate” in Northern Nevada. Prior to her professional real estate career, Georgia owned and operated a general contracting business with her husband of 37 years and bred championship Arabian horses on their ranch in Washington state over several decades.
CRAIG CIBULSKY
SALES EXECUTIVE
JILL KAUFMAN
SALES EXECUTIVE
Prior to joining the Clear Creek Sales Team in 2019, Jill led a top-producing real estate group in Southern California for 10 years. When out of the office, she loves experiencing all that Tahoe has to offer – skiing, hiking, paddle boarding, and most recently, learning to golf. Living on property allows Jill time to experience and enjoy the many Clear Creek amenities and socialize with all the members.
KEITH FRANKE
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
DAVID SMITH
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Dave Smith, Director of Development Clear Creek Tahoe, has a professional background in residential and commercial construction as well as project management. For the past 15 years, he has been building high end custom homes and commercial buildings in the Tahoe basin. He also has a been the project manager representing the owner on several commercial club buildings.
SHAWN BENSON
EXECUTIVE CHEF
BRANDON MILLER
DIRECTOR OF GOLF
MICHAEL GARIPAY
CFO
JENN TARGETT
DIRECTOR OF WELLNESS
Jenn Targett, Spa and Fitness Director, has developed our spa and fitness program for our clubhouse, which includes fitness activities and exciting excursions for the whole family. Her 20+ year fitness career includes world-class experience at Golden Door in California (ranked the #1 destination spa in the world) and the Carolina Country Club, a five-star Platinum Club, where she worked with the likes of Webb Simpson, Danny Glover, and Phil Jackson. An avid trail runner and outdoor enthusiast, Jenn has competed in numerous endurance adventure races and trail events. When not at work, she is in the mountains – hiking, rappelling, biking, running, and kayaking.
CHRIS FRANKE
ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER
Chris Franke was most recently the Clubhouse Manager at Columbine Country Club in Littleton, Colorado, overseeing the completion of a 56,000 sq. ft. Clubhouse that was named “Clubhouse of the Year” by Golf, Inc magazine. Chris is originally from Atlanta, Georgia where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech. He spent ten years at Cherry Hills Country Club as the Assistant Clubhouse Director, hosting three major golf championships during his tenure. Chris is also a Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers and is passionate about all things wine and whiskey!
MIKE CUNNIFF
DIRECTOR OF GREENS & GROUNDS
CHRISTOPHER APPLING
DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP
YAMI LOPEZ
DIRECTOR OF HOSPITALITY
KATE NOVAK
Director of Marketing and Communications
BRITT PIERCZYNSKI
DIRECTOR OF SECURITY
Britt started at Clear Creek Tahoe in 2019 after retiring from the Reno Police Department. She served in Patrol and Investigations in the Sex Crimes, Child Abuse, Family Crimes, and Fraud units, where she focused on Elder Crimes and achieved her accreditation as a Certified Fraud Examiner. During her watch at Reno PD, she was also the department’s Honor Guard lead; an instructor at the Northern Nevada Law Enforcement Academy; and the region’s forensic composite artist, utilized by several local law enforcement agencies. Britt is a native Nevadan who’s called Carson City and Reno home for over 40 years; some of her passions include camping, volleyball, art, travel, and cooking.