Our Team
Get to know the Foundation Team
Sean Fannan, Founder
As the Founder of the Marcella Foundation, Sean has dedicated the majority of his career to the gaming industry, everything from making one of the most successful iPhone games of all time, Tap Tap Revenge to starting an advertising company for mobile games that reached hundreds of millions of users. He aspires to leverage his expertise in entrepreneurship and engineering to give back to the community where he grew up, and looks forward to partnering with people to help build a better community in the city of South Lake Tahoe.
Melissa Uppendahl, Executive Director
Melissa serves as the Executive Director of the Marcella Foundation, where she leads the organization’s work in food security, literacy, and youth mentorship. As the founding director, she has shaped the Foundation’s direction from day one by creating FeedTahoe, launching the Imagination Library countywide, and developing the Fannan Fellowship program. Melissa previously founded Lift Literature and worked in financial management of environmental restoration projects across Lake Tahoe. She holds a BA in Business Administration from St. Mary’s College and an MPA from CSU Chico. A mom of three boys, Melissa is passionate about big ideas and building the connections to make them happen - from helping every child learn to read to reducing hunger and inspiring young entrepreneurs.
Kele Song, Director of Strategy
Kele Song serves as the Director of Strategy at the Marcella Foundation, where she spearheads the development of the organization's strategic initiatives. With a background as a seasoned Product Manager in Silicon Valley, Kele brings a deep-seated passion for innovation and problem-solving to her role. Equipped with a bachelor's degree in journalism and communications, coupled with a master's degree in public policy, Kele possesses a formidable skill set in strategic planning. Her expertise ensures that the Foundation remains agile and effective in achieving its mission.
Lily Summerville, FeedTahoe Coordinator
Lily joins the Foundation with a passion for sustainability and community engagement, and is using that to guide FeedTahoe initiatives. After working as a California Climate Actions Corps Fellow in South Lake Tahoe focused on food waste diversion, she is transitioning to edible food recovery to help feed those in need. She graduated from the University of California, Davis with a BS in Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning, grounding her work approach in stewardship and advocacy. Lily is excited to couple climate expertise with relationship building and planning to help FeedTahoe grow and thrive.
Bob Fannan, Board Secretary
After camping here in the Tahoe area many times as a kid, Bob decided to move here in his late twenties. He worked at the casinos for many years, where he met his wife and started a family. Eventually, he went back to school to get his teaching credential and worked here in the Lake Tahoe Unified School District at the elementary level, before retiring in 2010.
Diane Fannan, Board Treasurer
Diane came to South Lake Tahoe in 1978 from Los Angeles. It was meant to be a short visit but she fell in love with Lake Tahoe and has never left. For the first twenty years, she worked at the casinos as a maitre'd in the cabaret showroom. She met her husband and they started a family. Her second career was at Barton Hospital, retiring in 2011.