RENO, Nev. (January 15, 2019) – The Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada (EDAWN) recently announced the appointment of seven new members to their Board of Trustees.  The Board provides leadership for carrying out EDAWN’s mission of adding quality jobs to the region by recruiting new companies, supporting the success of existing companies, and assisting newly forming companies, to diversify the economy and have a positive impact on the quality of life in Greater Reno-Sparks.

Joining the Board of Trustees are Lindsey Dal Porto, Randy Holleschau, Wally Murray, Lance Semenko, Ken Stark, Gene Wong and Naomi Duerr.

Lindsey Dal Porto is the Head of Talent for Bombora, the leading provider of B2B demographic, firmographic and Intent data, where she manages the hiring efforts across Bombora’ s four offices. She is a UC Berkeley graduate, speaks fluent Italian, is a blogger and an avid Spartan and triathlon athlete.

Randy Holleschau is the CEO of Elemental LED, a leading U.S. based engineering and technology company that creates, develops, manufactures, markets, and sells innovative, configured, and integrated LED lighting solutions. Randy is a serial entrepreneur who has executed successful business models that have ensured long-term revenue growth, profit, and sustainability through dozens of companies he has founded across multiple disciplines.

Wally Murray is the President & CEO of Greater Nevada Credit Union (GNCU) , a not-for-profit, full service financial institution headquartered in Carson City that has been helping Nevadans with their financial needs since 1949. He has spent over 28 years in a leadership capacity with GNCU, as well as volunteering in a variety of advocacy roles at both the state and national level.  Wally graduated with a BA from California State University, Sacramento.

Lance Semenko is the President of Q & D Construction, founded by Norm Dianda, in 1964. More than just a construction company, Q & D is a company of construction managers who understand that building is complex, with a large volume of very small details that require just as much attention and follow-through as the big details. Lance began at the company as project manager, working his way up to Chief Operating Officer in 2014 and being named President of the company in 2018.  A University of Nevada graduate, Lance has been very involved in the local community serving on numerous boards, as well as volunteering his time with youth sports.

Ken Stark is the founder of Stark & Associates Commercial Real Estate, established in 2004, and Stark Realty Homes and Land in 2006. Stark & Associates Commercial Real Estate specializes in representing buyers, sellers, landlords and tenants in the acquisition, leasing, and disposition of office, industrial, apartments, land, investments, and retail properties. Ken has been a Nevada realtor since 1992, and has been recognized with numerous awards.  Ken obtained his BBA at Boise State University and attended the Wharton School of Business Executive Institute.

Gene Wong is the Managing Director of the Mountain West Tech Accelerator, LLC. The purpose of the accelerator is to encourage and develop Nevada-based entrepreneurs.  Over the past 20 years Gene has been advisor, board member, co-founder and active angel investor in over 35 early stage companies, on both the East and West Coasts. He was a founding member of The Aslan Group, a national group of angel investors to early-stage companies in 1998. He is a graduate of the Columbia University Graduate School of Business, with an M.B.A. in Finance, and of Cornell University with a B.S. in Engineering Physics.

Naomi Duerr, is the Reno City Council Member for Ward 2.  She was first elected in November 2014 and was recently re-elected in November 2018.  She previously served the community as the Nevada State Water Planner, and the Director of the Truckee River Flood Management Project, as well as serving on several boards and commissions.

In addition, the 2019 EDAWN Executive Committee members are:

  • Chair:  Stuart Brady, Wells Fargo Bank
  • Vice-Chair:  Keith Burrowes, Sierra Integrated Systems
  • Treasurer:  Len Savage, Savage & Son
  • Secretary:  Amy Lessinger, RE/MAX Realty Affiliates
  • Past-Chair:  Leigh Goddard, McDonald Carano LLP

For a complete list of the EDAWN Board of Trustees, click here.

EDAWN also wishes to thank its outgoing board members for their years of service, support and leadership:

  • Chip Bowlby, Reno Land Inc.
  • Tom Fennell, Dickson Commercial Group
  • Mark Foree, Truckee Meadows Water Authority
  • Frank Lepori, Lepori Construction
  • Cam Sorenson, Nevada HR Team
  • Rob Armstrong, Bombora

“We appreciate the time and support of our departing board members and acknowledge that much of EDAWN’s success is due to their support and active engagement” said, Mike Kazmierski, CEO of EDAWN.    “We are excited to welcome our new board members and are so proud of the broad community representation and diversification we have on the board, which is increasingly important as we continue our efforts to grow and diversify the local economy.”

About EDAWN:

The Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada is a private/public partnership established in 1983. They are committed to adding quality jobs to the region by recruiting new companies, supporting the success of existing companies, and assisting newly forming companies, to diversify the economy and have a positive impact on the quality of life in Greater Reno-Sparks. For more information, www.edawn.org.

Contact:
Pamela Matteoni
Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada
Executive Assistant
775.829.3711 matteoni@edawn.org

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