LVGEA’s Annual Awards Program Celebrates Local Businesses and Individuals Advancing Regional Economic Development and Industry Diversification

Recognizing regional excellence in Innovation, Job Creation, Partnership, and Leadership

Avatar Image
Carolyn Kesser
• LVGEA News

LAS VEGAS– The Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance (LVGEA) hosted its 2023 Annual Awards Dinner on Thursday, October 19 at the Aria Resort & Casino. More than 600 attendees celebrated the region’s shared successes over the past year and honored the partners and leaders driving economic development throughout Southern Nevada.

“The economic growth our region has seen over the past year is thanks to the leadership and collaboration of our community of partners,” said Tina Quigley, LVGEA President & CEO. “This program is an opportunity to celebrate the new companies bringing high-quality career opportunities to local residents and recognize the achievements that are the driving force behind our region’s bright future.”

The theme of the event was The Colors Gala, with each of the colors in the organization’s logo representing one of LVGEA’s core values and award categories: red stands for leadership, blue is for innovation, green means job creation, and gold represents partnership. Guests were invited to attend dressed in their favorite core value color.

Each year, members of the LVGEA50 Board of Directors nominate organizations and individuals that embody LVGEA’s values of leadership, innovation, job creation, and partnership. The larger group of LVGEA investors then have an opportunity to vote for a winner from the nominees in each category.

LVGEA is excited to announce its 2023 award winners:

Innovation Award: Las Vegas Grand Prix, Inc. has launched a first-of-its-kind water conservation program implementing technologies that could make it possible to be the first net-zero water consumption race in Formula 1® history. Las Vegas Grand Prix, Inc., in partnership with Southern Nevada Water Authority, WaterStart and MGM Resorts International, is installing atmospheric water generators to capture and reuse excess humidity from cooling towers at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino ahead of the FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN SILVER LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX 2023 in November.

“Las Vegas Grand Prix, Inc. is dedicated to putting on a world-class event that exhilarates fans while also building a lasting, positive influence on our new home,” said Pilar Harris, Senior Director-CSR, Sustainability, and Government Relations with Las Vegas Grand Prix, Inc. “Mirroring the approach of Formula 1 worldwide, we strive to integrate technology into our sustainability efforts, with the hope of setting a new standard for events around the world and fostering a brighter future for Southern Nevada.”

Job Creation Award: Aircraft simulation software maker CAE recently cut the ribbon on the company’s first west coast training center in Clark County. The 50,000 square foot facility boasts seven state of the art flight simulators and will train more than 2,000 pilots per year. The company has already hired more than 100 employees at an impressive average hourly wage of more than $57.

“A high-technology company, with a focus on bringing the digital and physical worlds closer together to create a safer world, CAE is delighted to receive this LVGEA Job Creation Award,” said Ash Zare, Center Leader for CAE in Las Vegas. “In line with Nevada’s vision for an electric, innovative, and connected future, CAE has created more than 100 highly skilled and well-paying jobs here in Clark County.”

Partnership Award: The Nevada Grant Lab is a nonprofit organization that helps other nonprofits, local governments, and state agencies better access federal funding. Nevada Grant Lab has assisted LVGEA in several grant funding requests, including being a major partner during the region’s submittal of the Build Back Better Regional Challenge grant.

“There are many organizations and individuals in our community who are working hard every day to deliver on their mission. What we don’t always have in this community is a connectivity between us,” said Miles Dickson, President & CEO of the Nevada Grant Lab. “I think that’s something that makes Nevada Grant Lab really unique, is we provide that connective tissue. We can be the additional resource to fill in the gaps between organizations and between people.”

Leadership Award: Dr. DeRionne Pollard is the current president of Nevada State University, a four-year public institution that is one of the fastest growing colleges in the country. Dr. Pollard oversees almost 500 faculty members, and a student body of 7,200.

“This nomination is representative of a lot of hard work by not just me,” said Dr. Pollard. “Nevada State University exists because we have other people who are profoundly committed to this institution and wanted to see us evolve into this space. I’m grateful for the award and look forward to representing my institution well.”

For additional background information on LVGEA’s award winners, as well as a full list of all the nominees, check out the 2023 event program book.

Download photos of award winners here: