GOED TEAM
LEADERSHIP
TOM BURNS
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
LAS VEGAS
Executive Director
Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development
Governor Joe Lombardo appointed Tom Burns Nevada Governor’s of Economic
Development (GOED) Executive Director on January 30th , 2023.
Burns started his career by attaining his Certified Public Accountant designation with
Deloitte and was subsequently the Assistant Corporate Controller at United Gaming,
the predecessor of Light & Wonder. For more than 30 years he was an insurance
executive in Southern Nevada, specializing in commercial insurance surety.
Burns has served on numerous professional boards, including charitable organizations
and government-appointed committees. He served on the Government Affairs
Committees and Board of Trustees for numerous civic and trade group organizations
including: the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce where he also served as chair for
two years beginning in 2020. He was named to the Las Vegas Global Economic
Alliance Board in 2023.
A University of Nevada, Reno graduate, Burns enjoys spending time with his wife of
38 years, Shelly and his two children, JT and Megan.
DR. DORIAN STONEBARGER
DEPUTY DIRECTOR
LAS VEGAS
Director of Strategy and Public Policy
Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development
Dorian Stonebarger is the Director of Strategy and Public Policy for the Governor’s Office of Economic Development where she collaborates with local, state, and federal government agencies to further diversify and strengthen our economy. Prior to GOED, Dorian served as the Chief Policy Advisor to Las Vegas Mayor Pro Tem Brian Knudsen. During her tenure with the City of Las Vegas, she spearheaded the City’s first affordable housing ordinance and guided legislative efforts to create Transit Oriented Development (TOD). Dorian previously served as the Program Director for Three Square Food Bank, overseeing all childhood nutrition programs, the central kitchen, community engagement, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program efforts. She implemented Three Square’s school catering entity, created initiatives to combat childhood hunger, and assisted in the passage of legislation to ensure that Nevada’s most at-risk students have access to breakfast every morning. Dorian and her husband own two popular Arts District bars, ReBAR and Davy’s, and are opening a third downtown business called Arty’s Steakhouse in the Historic Commercial Center. Dorian holds a Doctorate in Public Policy, a Masters in Urban Leadership, and a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition, all from UNLV. She is a member of the Governor’s Council on Food Security, and a member and former board member of the Junior League of Las Vegas.
KARSTEN HEISE
SENIOR DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC PROGRAMS & INNOVATION
CARSON CITY
Senior Director of Strategic Programs & Innovation
Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development
Karsten Heise joined GOED in April 2012 as one of the “founding members of the agency” initially as Technology Commercialization Director and continued as Senior Director Strategic Programs & Innovation. He leads Innovation based Economic Development (IBED) drawing on his global experience.
Karsten is the inaugural recipient of the GOED Mike Skaggs Award for Excellence in Economic Development and recipient of the EDAWN-NCET Venture Catalyst of the Year 2022 and EDAWN Coin 2023.
Prior to joining GOED, Karsten spent five years in China working as a member of the senior management team at Asia Assets Limited, Beijing and as an external consultant to the Baron Group Beijing office. Before relocating to China, Karsten worked for more than a decade in the international equity divisions of London-based leading Wall Street investment banks Morgan Stanley, Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette (DLJ), and after DLJ’s acquisition in 2001 at Credit Suisse First Boston (CSFB). As a Vice President at CSFB, he specialized in alternative investment structures and international equities. His clients were entrepreneurs, ultra-high net worth individuals and family offices as well as insurance companies, pension funds, asset managers and banks. He oversaw $250M in clients’ assets under management in addition to an annual equity trading turnover of $150M.
His experience in structuring investment solutions and capital markets benefitted his leadership in the creation of both Nevada’s State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) state venture capital program Battle Born Growth Escalator in 2013 as well as at the 2015 Nevada Legislative Session the drafting and implementation of AB17. The bill authorized GOED to form a corporation for public benefit, Nevada Battle Born Growth Escalator, Inc., a state sponsored non-profit with 501(c)(3) status. Karsten remains the sole Nevada state government official with a background in SSBCI going back to the program’s inception. He architected the structure and led the application and implementation of Nevada’s new $112.9M SSBCI Program following its reauthorization as part of the American Rescue Plan Act and serves as Nevada’s SSBCI Program Manager.
Since its inception in 2013, Karsten has also been administering the Nevada Knowledge Fund for which he devised the underlying rationale including the Applied Research Center concept. The Knowledge Fund is totaling a cumulative $42.5M to date and spurs commercialization at Nevada research universities for laboratory-to-market initiatives resulting in R&D services to the private sector and/or the creation of spinout companies.
He has been instrumental in winning local and federal grants over the years, often in collaboration strategic partners, such as $13.8M US Department of Education ESF-RWP “Project SANDI”; Nevada Attorney General’s Office’s $6M to support the capitalization and the formation of a local CDFI, $4M for a talent retention program for UNR and UNLV science and engineering students, $1.5M for career mapping and training; EDA Build to Scale; EDA TechHub Designation; and NSF Engines Development Award of which he is a co-PI.
Karsten is an avid champion of libraries and their role in workforce and economic development. He represents GOED as a member of Nevada’s State Council on Libraries & Literacy and has been a regular presenter at national and international library-focused conferences.
He began his career with a German apprenticeship in banking, which makes him familiar with the European vocational training system and whose experience has been driving his workforce development initiatives at GOED. Karsten speaks German and Mandarin Chinese and completed his university education in the United Kingdom with a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Buckingham, a Master of Science, M.Sc., in International Business & Finance from the University of Reading, and a Master of Philosophy, M.Phil., in Modern Chinese Studies, Chinese Economy from the University of Cambridge – Wolfson College. He is also an alumnus of the Investment Management Evening Program at London Business School and completed graduate research studies at Peking University as well as Mandarin language studies at the National University of Singapore.
Karsten is a first-generation immigrant and became a naturalized US citizen in 2017. He believes that the American Dream is very much alive and dedicates his public service to his fellow citizens achieving their own.
ALEX BACCHUS
NORTHERN REGIONAL DIRECTOR
CARSON CITY
LEANNDRA DIOSSA
DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION
CARSON CITY
Director of Administration
Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development
Leanndra Diossa is a seasoned professional with a diverse background in labor economics, state legislative and local budget procedures, and agency administration. Currently serving as the Director of Administration for the Governor’s Office of Economic Development in Carson City, Nevada, Leanndra is instrumental in overseeing fiscal management and administrative operations at GOED. Leanndra also serves as GOED’s representative board member on the Nevada Clean Energy Fund and is the GOED liaison to the Nevada Indian Commission.
Prior to her current role, Leanndra served as a Management and Budget Analyst in the Office of Management and Budget for the City of Miami Beach, Florida, contributing to preparation and maintenance of operating and capital budgets. She also brings experience as a Budgetary Program Analyst for the Legislative Counsel Bureau in the State of Nevada, where she reviewed budgetary proposals, made recommendations to legislators, and testified before legislative committees. Leanndra’s extensive career includes roles as an economist supervising a team at the Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation and a research economist at the University of Nevada, Reno, where she developed an algorithm for medical fraud detection. With a Master’s in Economics and a strong commitment to community service, Leanndra Diossa stands out as a dedicated professional with a proven track record in economic analysis and state and local budget development.
CARLI SMITH
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
CARSON CITY, NV
STEPHEN WOOD
DIRECTOR OF STRATEGY AND PUBLIC POLICY
CARSON CITY
MICHELLE SIBLEY
DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
CARSON CITY
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
MELANIE SHELDON
SENIOR DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
LAS VEGAS
ALEX BACCHUS
NORTHERN REGIONAL DIRECTOR
CARSON CITY
KRISTEN SPENCER
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
LAS VEGAS
STEVE SCHEETZ
RESEARCH MANAGER
INNOVATION, TECHNOLOGY, AND STRATEGIC PROGRAMS
KARSTEN HEISE
SENIOR DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC PROGRAMS & INNOVATION
CARSON CITY
TAMMY WESTERGARD
SENIOR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT LIBRARIAN-IN-RESIDENCE
CARSON CITY
KYEEMA PEART
DIRECTOR, OFFICE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP
CARSON CITY
SHAQUILLE CRUZ
ENTREPRENEURSHIP COORDINATOR
LAS VEGAS
Strategy and Public Policy
STEPHEN WOOD
DIRECTOR OF STRATEGY AND PUBLIC POLICY
CARSON CITY
NATHAN BOUVET
STRATEGIC PROJECT MANAGER
LAS VEGAS
COMMUNICATIONS
CARLI SMITH
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
CARSON CITY
EVAN HADDAD
PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER
CARSON CITY
WORKFORCE & HEALTHCARE DEVELOPMENT
ELAINE SILVERSTONE
DIRECTOR OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
LAS VEGAS
VANCE FARROW
HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY SPECIALIST
LAS VEGAS
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
AMANDA FLOCCHINI
International Business Development Director
LAS VEGAS
AUDREY SUMMERS
International Business Development Coordinator
LAS VEGAS
RURAL COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
SHARI DAVIS
DIRECTOR, RURAL ECONOMIC & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
CARSON CITY
JESSICA SANDERS
PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR, CDBG
CARSON CITY
SARAH LILLY-CLARK
PROGRAM SPECIALIST, CDBG
CARSON CITY
SUZETTE MANZARES
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
CARSON CITY
FILM NEVADA
KIM SPURGEON
DIRECTOR
LAS VEGAS
DANETTE TULL
DEPUTY DIRECTOR
LAS VEGAS
KRISTIE HOLLIDAY
OPERATIONS COORDINATOR
LAS VEGAS
Ashley Thompson
INCENTIVE PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Las Vegas
NEVADA APEX ACCELERATOR
JOAN RUEBEN
DIRECTOR
LAS VEGAS
NATHAN JACKSON
DEPUTY DIRECTOR
LAS VEGAS
JOHN RICE
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS ADVISOR
LAS VEGAS
JEREMIAH MESQUITA
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS ADVISOR
LAS VEGAS
JIM HAMOY
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS ADVISOR & ESB COORDINATOR
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
BRUCE CONEY
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS ADVISOR
CARSON CITY
ADMINISTRATIVE & FISCAL OFFICE
LEANNDRA DIOSSA
DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION
CARSON CITY
MATTHEW THRASHER
FISCAL MANAGER
CARSON CITY
DESTINEY DOUGLASS
FISCAL TECHNICIAN
CARSON CITY
SHERRY LLOYD
PROGRAM COMPLIANCE OFFICER
CARSON CITY
DANNY MILLER
ISO & TECHNICAL SUPPORT SPECIALIST
CARSON CITY
MASON WEBER
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
CARSON CITY
SUSAN SKAGGS
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
LAS VEGAS
HUMAN RESOURCES, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
MICHELLE SIBLEY
DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
CARSON CITY