LVGEA doubling down on business development with team expansion

Regional economic development agency adds staff to extend agency’s industry attraction and expansion efforts

LAS VEGAS – Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance (LVGEA) welcomes four new hires: Senior Vice President of Entrepreneurial Development Heather Brown, Associate Vice President Business Development Mitch Keenan, Talent Liaison Amy Respini, and Executive Assistant and Board Liaison Katy Evilsizor.

“Each of these individuals have long-standing ties to the Greater Vegas community that will be critical as we double down on our business development and entrepreneurship efforts this year,” said LVGEA President & CEO Tina Quigley.

Heather Brown – As senior vice president of entrepreneurial development, Brown will support the organization’s initiatives that will now extend its work in building a tech entrepreneurship ecosystem in the Greater Vegas area.

Prior to joining the LVGEA, Brown was the president & co-founder of StartUp Vegas, a nonprofit focused on boosting the startup culture and creating an environment of entrepreneurship in Southern Nevada.  She was also recently elected to the Board of Regents for the Nevada System of Higher Education.

“LVGEA’s strong track record of economic development success, I believe, pairs well with my experience in the startup ecosystem and will be an asset to the organization,” said Brown. “I’m particularly passionate about continuing to build a strong foundation for entrepreneurship in the region, and I look forward to working towards that goal within LVGEA. Building a new vertical that focuses solely on the entrepreneurship space will bring new ideas and opportunities to the region.”

Mitch Keenan – As associate vice president of business development, Keenan will support the organization’s attraction, retention and expansion, and entrepreneurship activities.

Prior to joining LVGEA, Keenan served as a national business development director partnering with high education institutions, nonprofits, and healthcare groups through the U.S. Mitch graduated from UNLV with a bachelor’s degree in casino management.

“I am fortunate to join the LVGEA team and contribute to the great work already being done,” said Keenan. “This organization is striving to build a sustainable future for our region through strong partnerships, innovative thinking, and effective leadership. I look forward to collaborating with leaders across the valley and showcasing our great city to the world.”

Katy Evilsizor – as the executive assistant & board liaison, Evilsizor provides administrative support to the LVGEA executive team. Evilsizor brings more than 15 years of professional executive assistant experience positions and a proven track record of strong performance in high-volume, high-pressure environments, skillfully managing administrative duties.

“I jumped at the chance to work with Tina, the LVGEA team, and the LVGEA50 Board of Directors to play a part in the growth and diversification of the Greater Vegas economy,” said Evilsizor.

Amy Respini – as the talent liaison, Respini facilitates an integrated public workforce development system that links financial incentives for hiring Nevadans and diverse talent to businesses in all industries and sizes. Respini joins LVGEA through a partnership with Workforce Connections/EmployNV, where she has been a member of their Business Services team since March 2022.

Headshots for the LVGEA staff mentioned in this article are available, click here.

To learn more about the full LVGEA team, click here.

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