San Diego Magazine recognizes Tamera Kohler with Pioneer Award

By Gary Warth

Nov. 5, 2026

In recognition of her years of leadership in helping solve homelessness in the region, San Diego Magazine has presented RTFH CEO Tamera Kohler with its 2026 Pioneer Award in the nonprofit category.

The recognition was part of the magazine’s annual Celebrating Women Summit held Nov. 4 at the Fairmont Grand Mar, where awards were presented in 15 categories.

“The recognition belongs to the whole region,” Kohler said. “The providers, cities, county, and people with lived experience who show up every day.”

Kohler said the work behind the recognition is shown in the progress made as more homeless people have moved into housing.

“In the 12 months ending September 2024, 14 people in our region became homeless for the first time for every 10 who moved into housing,” she said. “In the 12 months ending September 2025, for every person who fell into homelessness, one person moved into housing. Every day, people are moving off the streets and into housing.”

San Diego Magazine describes the Pioneer Award as a recognition of a person who “continues to carve a path to a brighter future. This is someone who is regarded as an expert in their industry and may be seen as a mentor.”

The magazine also presents a Rising Star Award in each category. The magazine describes the award as a recognition of a person who is regarded as an individual who is an up-and-comer in her industry and someone who is “actively trailblazing their way to a brighter future and setting the stage for those to follow.”

Earlier this year, Kohler wrote on LinkedIn that she was honored to be nominated for the recognition.

“What makes this recognition especially humbling is that I was nominated by my incredible team at the Regional Task Force on Homelessness,” she wrote. “Of all the opportunities I’ve been fortunate to experience, earning the respect, trust, and confidence of the people I have the privilege to lead and work with is one of the greatest honors.

“For more than two decades, I’ve had the privilege of working with remarkable partners to strengthen housing and homeless response systems, build new models for regional collaboration, and bring leaders together around solutions that improve lives. This work has never been about one person, and it’s never been about maintaining the status quo; it has been about helping create what comes next.

“It has always been about dedicated teammates, courageous partners, and communities willing to tackle complex challenges together. This pioneer nomination reflects what we have built together.”