Our Organization
1Team 1Dream is a nonprofit dedicated to sparking economic resilience in Lake County. Founded in 2018 after devastating wildfires, our mission has always been to give entrepreneurs the support, education, and funding they need to succeed.
From 2020 to 2024, our flagship Hands Up Lake County Small Business Competition awarded over $450,000 to entrepreneurs who transformed their ideas into thriving businesses.
In 2025, we’re launching a bold new initiative: Lake County Taste Makers, a food and beverage business competition designed to uplift local chefs, bakers, farmers, and food and beverage innovators. By focusing on food and beverage – a universal language of community, we aim to strengthen Lake County’s economy one plate at a time.
The Board
Maryann Schmid
Founder, Vice-chair, & Treasurer
Olga Martin Steele
Co-founder & Chair
Helena Welsh
Board Director
Monica Rosenthal
Secretary
Ben Alexander
Secretary
Laura Falteisek
Board Director
Scott York
Board Director
Priya Dias
Board Director
Where Flavor Fuels the Future
In Lake County, food is more than what fills a plate; it’s what fills a community with hope, creativity, and resilience. Every chef who fires up a stove, every food truck that opens its window, every small-batch maker who dares to dream is helping write a new story for our local economy.
By championing these culinary innovators, we’re building more than businesses. We’re cultivating a hub of flavor, opportunity, and connection where every bite brings Lake County closer to a thriving future.
The Future We’re Cooking Up
We dream of a Lake County where food is more than a meal, it’s a movement. A place where bold flavors put us on the map, where small food businesses thrive, and where every kitchen, farm, and food truck strengthens our economy.
Every workshop, competition, and dollar we invest is more than support; it’s a seed. Together, those seeds grow into a sustainable future where Lake County is celebrated for resilience, creativity, and taste.