Our Staff

Sarah Obexer - Owner
Sarah was born and raised around the marina over 30 years ago.  While coming up to spend the summers with her grandparents, she started learning the business whether it be sorting mail with her grandmother, pumping gas, stocking shelves at the General Store, selling boat parts and accessories to management skills needed later in life to operate the family business. After getting a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resources, she started running the marina full time in spring of 1998.  Sarah’s smiling face and her recognizable red-hair are often seen all over the marina.  She may even be the one making your sandwich, ringing you up at the register, answering the phone or pumping your gas.  Stop her and say Hi!
Jacob Fields (Obexer) - Pier Staff
​ Jacob is Sarah’s oldest son and has been working at the marina for many years. You can find Jacob out on the pier helping pump gas, backing down trailers and keeping the ramp running smoothly or helping the yard crew. He has a strong passion for the community and a great appreciation for his long time family heritage here in Tahoe and on the West Shore. Jacob is attending Montana State University in Bozeman where he is studying hospitality management and business. He is very active in the outdoors and spends his free time with friends and family on the lake wake surfing and riding dirt bikes. In the Winter when he is not in class you will find him skiing Bridger Bowl with his friends! 
Kaleb Fields (Obexer) - Pier Staff
Darren Kramer - General Manager 
Darren is our General Manager who joined Obexer's the beginning of 2010. Darren grew up around boats in Annapolis, MD where he spent his summers on the Chesapeake Bay.  He has a 1970 38’ Chris Craft Commander “Widgeon” and also enjoys sailing his Pearson 31 “Galadriel” which he shares with our Head Mechanic, Trevor Dunn. Darren oversees all departments with our department heads and works directly with our yard, service, parts and mechanical staff on a daily basis in the high season.  He is a Licensed USCG Masters Captain and Yacht & Ship Salesperson.  He has a love for boats and just about anything on the water but his passion for mountains and the outdoors with skiing, biking, backpacking with his wife Cierra and dog Bridger have kept him in Tahoe for the long term. Working for a family owned and operated business has always been a dream of his and there is no better family to work for than Sarah’s. 
Joanne Kilburn - Office / Property Manager
​Joanne is our Office & Property Manager, overseeing the office operations and managing all our commercial and residential property rentals. She moved with her family from Southern California in the spring of 2010 after working in sales for a large transit bus manufacturer. Joanne is married to her husband Aaron, and they have one daughter, Kate. Raised in southwest Michigan, Joanne spent many happy days boating on Lake Michigan with her family, and now she loves working in the beautiful Homewood area at Lake Tahoe. Joanne has truly enjoyed being a part of the Obexer family for over 15 years, and she feels fortunate to connect with so many wonderful customers along the way. Recently, her daughter, Kate, has joined the team and is helping out in the office, bringing an extra level of support to our daily operations.

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Lindsay Chandler - Service Manager
Lindsay is our Service Manager. She started with the Boat Company in the spring of 2011 as a Pier Attendant.  Lindsay moved herself and her dog, Stella Blue, to Lake Tahoe in the Fall of 2010 from the small town of Quakertown, Pennsylvania. Prior to living in the basin, Lindsay had never been on a boat. Needless to say, one season as a pier attendant has solidified her love of the lake and all things boating! You can find Lindsay running around the yard with our mechanics, in the office scheduling your boat maintenance and on the pier training staff on all AIS Inspection protocols.  When she is not working, she enjoys being on her boat, Orange Miss, or traveling to go see live music.
Trevor Dunn - Head Mechanic
Jake Blazek - Lead Service Technician
Jake was born and raised in Iowa. He studied industrial maintenance and receive a degree in Applied Science. After college Jake built turbines along with other pieces of industrial equipment.  He moved to Tahoe in 2014 and started with Obexers as a Service Technician in 2018. Jake has been working on all types of mechanics from tractors to dirt bikes to boats and just about anything, since he was a kid. He loves dirt biking and camping and his love for boats is growing by the day.
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Caleb Dick - Service Technician
Brett Oberacker - Harbor Master / Restoration Foreman
Brett, our longest tenured employee, is originally from the New England moved to the Westshore of Lake Tahoe in 2004. He started working at Obexer’s his first summer in Tahoe and has been with us ever since. Boats have been a part of his life since his childhood days on Cape Cod and they continue to be today. Whether he is out playing on them, launching them or refinishing and or rebuilding them, Brett’s talent and thirst for boating and being around the water run deep.  Having learned from many legendary boat builders around the lake, he has fallen into a passion of refinishing and rebuilding wooden boats during the winter months. Brett is your contact for wood boat restoration. Brett has grown a strong respect for the outdoors and nature along with a love of Lake Tahoe. Here at Obexer‘s Boat Company on the West shore, in the summer you can find Brett with his my amazing staff outside running forklifts performing everyday marina duties and having a good time making sure every day is a good day here on the lake. 
Matthew "Moe" Sweeney - Fiberglass Specialist / Yard Staff
Moe has been with Obexer’s since 2016.  He grew up in Iowa working with his hands at a young age and specializes in fiberglass and paint. He has worked in body shops over the years and has an amazing talent with custom painting on anything from boats, hot rods to motorcycles. During the summer you will see him in the yard operating equipment with the crew and in is off time he is out on his wooden boat cruising the lake and waterskiing or going on Harley rides. During the winter Moe takes his talents into the wood shop and works with Brett on all kinds of wooden boat restoration and repair projects. ​
Ethan Cairns - Warehouse Manager
Jessie Brewster - Assistant Harbor Master
Jessie is one of our Assistant Harbor Masters. She moved to Tahoe in 2000 from Moosehead Lake in Greenville, Maine. It was there that she found her love of boating and all winter activities, which made Tahoe a perfect fit! In 2012 Jessie joined our team after three years at the Tahoe Keys Marina. She is Forklift Certified, and also assists with managing and organizing the yard staff. As one of the only female forklift operators and Harbor Masters in Tahoe, she has a true passion for her job and the lake. We feel very fortunate to have Jessie on our team!
Clay Evans - Yard Staff
Gino Picardo - Parts Manager
Gino is our Parts Manager who joined the Obexer's Crew in the summer of 24'.  He is originally from the bay area and has been living in Truckee/Tahoe area since 2016.  He enjoys all the things Lake Tahoe has to offer.  He is an avid boater, wake surfer, mountain biker, snowboarder.  You will find Gino out on his boat during the summer or at Palisades Tahoe shredding his snowboard in the winter.  He enjoys helping our mechanics and customers get the parts they need to get out and enjoy Lake Tahoe.
Rachel Saalsaa - Retail Manager
Rachel is the retail purchaser for the showroom.  She grew up in Salt Lake City Utah, but moved to Tahoe in 2013 to follow her passion of snowboarding.  Although she moved here for the infamous Tahoe winters it was the summertime and incredible lake that has kept her here. Rachel loves spending time out on the water boating, wake surfing, tubing, or any fun water activity.  You can find Rachel up in the showroom selling all of our awesome Obexer’s wearable’s and boating toys. 
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Charli Haase - Parts / Retail Associate
Charli is from Elk Grove, CA, and grew up playing Soccer and boating with her family on the Delta and Sacramento River. After graduating from UC Santa Barbara in 2021, she wanted to experience being a ski bum for 1 winter season and decided to stay for a Summer as well. After enjoying a full year of the beautiful and everchanging weather, community, and unlimited activities Tahoe has to offer, she knew she wanted to stay here for good. From being forklift certified and working in the Boatyard, to helping the mechanics with boat parts in the Showroom, Charli is always smiling and providing a helpful hand in all operations at Obexer's. She has been such a great addition to our team and you will surely enjoy working with her. In her free time, you can catch Charli snowboarding at Alpine Meadows or wake surfing on Lake Tahoe with her friends.
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Aaron Kilburn - Lodge Manager / Tech Support... Jack of all trades
Aaron is skilled in many trades and enjoys a challenge. He truly is a jack-of-all-trades. In addition Aaron manages The Lodge At Obexer's right across the street from Obexer's Marina. During his tenure he managed and helped facilitate the a smooth transition of Obexer's General Store to its new proprietor Dockside Trading Company. He also provides executive assistance to our owner Sarah, which is vital to help keep her busy schedule managed. Aaron also handles posts to our social media accounts. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram, or any other place you may find our presence. Aaron previously was owner of AK Pool & Spa Service before moving with his family from Southern California in the winter of 2010. Aaron grew up in and around the Sierra from his youth enjoying trips to Yosemite as a child, and visiting family and friends in Tahoe. Aaron is married to our Office / Property Manager, Joanne, and they have one daughter, Kate.