FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 2, 2025
CARSON CITY, Nev. — The Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) is thrilled to announce that Melanie Sheldon, GOED’s senior director of business development, was named Trailblazing Woman of the Year at the 2025 Fastmarkets Voltas Awards in Las Vegas.
The award, which celebrates an exceptional woman who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and impact within her industry, recognized Sheldon for spearheading Nevada’s rise as a leader in battery supply chain development.
“With so many inspiring and accomplished women on the shortlist, I’m honored to have been selected for this award,” said Sheldon. “Serving the people of Nevada and working to diversify our state’s economy have been highlights of my career, and it’s incredibly rewarding to be recognized for doing so.”
Since joining GOED in 2016, Sheldon has worked to administer Nevada’s incentive programs and support company expansions, recruitment, and workforce development programs. Thanks to her strategic leadership, Sheldon has played a part in helping over 120 companies move to Nevada, which has resulted in over 16,000 jobs and $11.4 billion investment in the state.
“Melanie always represents the best of Nevada and has clearly positioned our state as a leader in lithium and battery technology,” said GOED Executive Director Tom Burns. “I’m proud to see her get this recognition.”
Prior to GOED, Sheldon worked for the Australian Taxation Office, the Australian Federal Government’s equivalent of the IRS as part of a project team focusing on the areas of micro, small and medium enterprise compliance, indirect tax, and small business assistance. She started her career in a support role for Ernst & young’s private client services team at the company’s London headquarters.
“I’m passionate about economic development because it’s the foundation of resilient communities and shared prosperity,” said Sheldon. “To me, economic development isn’t just about growth. It’s about creating meaningful opportunities and enabling local regions to thrive on their own terms.”
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About the Governor’s Office of Economic Development
Created during the 2011 session of the Nevada Legislature, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development is the result of a collaborative effort between the Nevada Legislature and the Governor’s Office to restructure economic development in the state. GOED’s role is to promote a robust, diversified and prosperous economy in Nevada, to stimulate business expansion and retention, encourage entrepreneurial enterprise, attract new businesses and facilitate community development.
