LVGEA names Bill Arent as new Chief Business Development Officer

LAS VEGAS– Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance (LVGEA), the regional economic development agency supporting the Greater Vegas area, named Bill Arent its Senior Vice President, Chief Business Development Officer.

“As LVGEA looks ahead to 2023 and beyond, we’re focused on attracting good-fit companies that will bring high-paying jobs to the region,” said Tina Quigley, president and CEO of LVGEA. “With more than 20 years experience leading economic development efforts in the region, Bill is the perfect fit to lead the next iteration of LVGEA’s business development efforts.”

In his role, Arent will lead the organization’s business development team, overseeing business attraction, expansion, and retention efforts for the entire Southern Nevada region. He will develop and execute the organization’s business development plan and serve as the chief liaison with regional, national, and international site selectors.

Arent previously served in multiple leadership roles at the City of Las Vegas Department of Economic and Urban Development, including Redevelopment Manager, Director, and Deputy Director. In those roles, Arent oversaw the city’s economic development, redevelopment, asset management, and parking services program. Arent led negotiations for numerous public-private partnerships, including the Zappos corporate headquarters relocation and expansion, Take Two Interactive’s business relocation, and the Expo at World Market Center Las Vegas.

“Thanks to Bill’s many years of leadership in economic development for the City of Las Vegas, he has developed robust relationships with the region’s stakeholders, local municipalities, and the business community,” said Betsy Fretwell, executive vice president of Strategy for Switch and chairwoman of the LVGEA50 Board of Directors. “We are confident Bill will leverage those relationships to improve the region’s economic competitiveness within the Southwestern US.”

“I am grateful for the opportunity to join the LVGEA team to help support its core mission – to growth the Greater Vegas regional economy,” said Arent. “Working together with our LVGEA50 Board of Directors and our community partners, LVGEA is well positioned to leverage our greatest strengths – leading infrastructure, low cost of business operations, and global business and telecom connectivity – to attract new business and industry to Southern Nevada.”

Arent holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). He is certified as an economic development finance professional by the National Development Council and as a certified economic developer by the International Economic Development Council.

Arent joins the LVGEA on Monday, November 7, 2022.

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