More Than Just a “Business Owner”

“Business owner is true, but it is only one part of the story”

When voters look at the ballot this election season, they will see: Tim McCaffrey - Business Owner

And while that is true, it barely scratches the surface of who I am, where I came from, and why I care so deeply about this community.

I was recently told something important. That many people know pieces of my story, but not the whole story. And maybe that is my fault. I have never been someone who likes to stand on a stage and list accomplishments or talk about myself endlessly (not entirely true, I do like being on stage. But not to talk). I have always believed that getting things done matters more than getting recognized for doing them.

But as we move toward this election, I think it is important for people to understand that my life has always been rooted in service, community involvement, creativity, mentorship, and building things that help other people succeed. Not just businesses. Communities.

“Dodge Ridge taught me that families, businesses,
and communities succeed together.”

My journey really began at Dodge Ridge. At 23 years old, I started there as a snowboard instructor. Snowboarding was exploding in popularity at the time, especially among young people, but there was a major gap in the industry. Kids were being taught with programs designed for adults. There was no real structured snowboard education system specifically designed around how children actually learn.

“We were not just teaching kids to snowboard.
We were helping build confidence.”

By my second year, Paul Mundy, the legendary founder of Dodge Ridge’s nationally recognized Ski Wee program, approached me about creating the mountain’s first snowboard program designed specifically for children. At the time, we had no idea we were stepping into something that had never really been developed in California snowsports.

Paul brought decades of experience understanding children’s psychology and biomechanics. I brought the snowboarding background and my love for teaching. And we sought out the wisdom of Nic Fiore, a legend in the industry who spent more than 45 years running the ski school at Badger Pass in Yosemite. Together, the three of us built a five phase progression system for children 12 and under that moved young riders from beginner to advanced in a way that was safe, educational, confidence building, and fun.

Looking back, we were not just building a snowboard program. We were helping shape youth snowboarding education in California.

By my third year, I became one of only seven Level II certified professional snowboard instructors in California through the American Association of Snowboard Instructors. I traveled to other resorts sharing what we had built, helping mountains understand not only how to teach children more effectively, but how investing in families could strengthen the long term success of an entire resort.

Invited to Utah to train with the AASI Western Conference D-Team, Paul Mundy and I snowboarded one of the most elite mountains in the US, Snowbird, working on developing skills to train other instructors exactly how to be the best at what they do and bring the ideology of “Safety, Fun and Learning” (in that order) to Dodge Ridge.

And that is one of the greatest lessons Dodge Ridge ever taught me. District 3 works when families feel safe and welcome. Businesses succeed when communities succeed. And communities thrive when people invest in each other. And basically “If you build it, they will come”. We built it, and boy did they show up.

“Good marketing is not just selling a place.
It is telling the truth about why people love it.”

Eventually, Michael Ladinig, Dodge Ridge’s Marketing Director Guru, invited me to work alongside him in marketing and creative development for the resort. Dodge Ridge was booming during those years. The mountain was evolving. We launched annual fireworks shows, hosted national ski and snowboard competitions, developed terrain parks including one specifically for children, refurbished the lodge, celebrated Dodge’s 50th anniversary, and began planning what eventually became the Family Lodge. Together we worked to help tell the story of Dodge Ridge not just as “the closest snow to home,” but as the place where families came to have fun, learn, grow, and make memories together that last a lifetime.

And I still believe that today. Dodge Ridge is not just a ski resort. It is one of the economic and cultural anchors of our county. Tourism matters here. Small businesses matter here. Hospitality matters here. Recreation matters here. Supporting local business is not separate from supporting community. They are deeply connected. When local businesses thrive, families stay employed. Young people stay local. Events happen. Community organizations survive. Schools benefit. Nonprofits benefit. Literally, everyone benefits.

“I built my business by helping other people
and organizations tell their story clearly.”

Eventually, I left Dodge Ridge to start my own design and marketing business while raising my young family. That business took off quickly. I was fortunate to work with incredible clients, including the San Jose Sharks, designing private wine labels, and continuing to work with Dodge Ridge creating catalogs, brochures, photography, and marketing campaigns. I designed Reverb Communication’s logo, worked on the very first UV Skinz apparel designs, catalogs and website, and created branding, websites, brochures, and marketing materials for non-profits and businesses all across the Highway 108 corridor, California and the country.

“People were hungry for stories about their neighbors,
their schools, their businesses, and their community.”

But one of the projects I am proudest of had nothing to do with design and marketing. It was about building community. A man named Mike Ashland approached me one day with an idea. Mike was newer to the area, but he deeply loved this community and wanted to create something that celebrated it. So we sat down together and started brainstorming.

What stories should we tell? Who would write for us? Could we spotlight local people? Could we make something positive, local, creative, and community driven?

That was the birth of the Twain Harte Times.

Printed through the Union Democrat, operating out of a tiny office, supported entirely by local advertising and local contributors, the paper exploded in popularity. It grew from a circulation of a few hundred to several thousand in what felt like overnight. And the reason it worked was simple. People were hungry for connection that was free of partisanship and bad news. They wanted stories about their neighbors. Their events. Their schools. Their businesses. Their community.

When Mike eventually moved on, the paper emerged as the Sierra Mountain Times. I was eventually asked to take it over, and once again we built something special with many of the same contributors and a new generation of local creatives.

“Losing everything changed my life,
but it also changed my understanding of service.”

Then came 2008. The economic collapse hit our area hard.

Lots of businesses struggled. Advertising disappeared almost overnight. I kept paying my employees even after I stopped paying myself. I tried to keep the paper alive as long as possible because I believed it mattered to them and the community.

At 36 years old, I suffered a heart attack. The doctor said I need to switch gears. Eventually, I closed the business and I walked away from my home, at the time, it was absolutely devastating.

But looking back now, it changed my life for the better. Because after losing everything, I realized I wanted to do something more directly connected to helping people.

“Prevention matters. Mentorship matters.
Giving young people hope matters.”

That led me to The Center for a Nonviolent Community.

I saw an ad looking for someone willing to work with at risk youth, help build self esteem, and become a positive role model for young people. I immediately knew I wanted to do it and I was hired on the spot.

Over the next two years, my coworker and I developed youth workshops that eventually became celebrated statewide programs focused on responsibility, creativity, confidence, teamwork, motivation, and completion. We spent full semesters working directly with middle school students helping them develop self worth and direction.

The programs became so successful they were presented at conferences and adopted by other counties. During that time, I also led programs like Cross the Line, Challenge Day, Operation Respect, and Boys Council through the One Circle Foundation. I had the opportunity to work closely alongside incredible people like Laura Sunday at CNVC, now with First 5, Mark Dyken, whose work with Resiliency Village continues to positively impact countless lives in Tuolumne County, Margi Bulken who at the time was our County Schools Superintendent, and Bob White with the YES Partnership. Those years changed me profoundly. They taught me that prevention matters, mentorship matters, community support matters, giving young people hope matters. And they reinforced something I still believe deeply today.

Strong communities are built through service. Not politicking. Not ego… Service.

“I was never doing these things for recognition.
I did them because I love this community.”

Over the years, I continued giving back in every way I could. Through the non-profit the California Association of Boutique and Breakfast Inns, where I eventually served as Vice Chair helping guide the organization through a major rebrand into what is now Boutique Hotels of California.

Through the Twain Harte Homeowners Board. Where we spend our time doing nothing but making Twain Harte a more beautiful, fun and enriching place to live and visit.

Through the Strawberry Music Festival Family Programs, where I now help coordinate over 50 volunteers, run multiple stages, workshops, performances, and activities that serve thousands of attendees twice a year.

Through partnerships with civic engagement nonprofits focused on encouraging democratic participation and community involvement.

Through support for Soroptimist events, Columbia College Foundation fundraisers, Rock In Road Fundraisers, Summerville Boosters, Sierra Waldorf Fundraisers, scholarship programs, logo redesign work, community projects, and countless local organizations over the years.

The truth is, I probably cannot even remember every project anymore. But that is kind of the point. I was never doing these things for recognition. I did them because I love this community.

“District 3 is not just where I live.
It is part of who I am.”

I believe our future depends on continuing to invest in each other, support local business, strengthen community organizations, mentor young people, protect families, and create a county where people feel connected to something bigger than themselves.

That is the kind of leadership I believe in. Leadership rooted in service. Leadership rooted in participation. Leadership rooted in community.

“It Would be my honor.”

I will continue serving this county and I would be honored to serve as your District 3 Supervisor. Election Day is Tuesday, June 2nd. Ballots must be postmarked by June 2nd or returned to an official ballot drop box by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. You can also vote in person on June 2nd at your assigned polling location.

Please make a plan, return your ballot, and make your voice heard.