FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Evan Haddad
Public Information Officer
ehaddad@goed.nv.gov 775.684.9973
June 5, 2025
CARSON CITY, Nev. — The Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) has appointed Melissa Saavedra as director of its Office of Entrepreneurship.
Saavedra is the former deputy director of the Nevada Lieutenant Governor’s Office of Small Business Advocacy (OSBA), where she led efforts to support small businesses across Nevada. Appointed by former Lieutenant Governor Lisa Cano Burkhead as program manager when OSBA launched in 2022, Saavedra was promoted to deputy director within nine months under the leadership of Lieutenant Governor Stavros Anthony.
During her three-year tenure in that role, Saavedra served as the primary point of contact for Northern Nevada’s small business community, helping hundreds of small businesses navigate challenges related to licensing and regulations. She remains a passionate advocate for entrepreneurship and economic growth, which will inform her leadership in her new position at the Office of Entrepreneurship.
“Advancing entrepreneurship has been a consistent focus throughout my career, and I’m proud to join GOED in a role that allows me to contribute to Nevada’s dynamic business environment,” said Saavedra. “With its strong ecosystem and spirit of innovation, Nevada continues to be an ideal place for entrepreneurs to start and grow their businesses.”
“We are honored to have Melissa Saavedra leading our Office of Entrepreneurship in its next phase of development,” said Karsten Heise, senior director of strategic programs and innovation for GOED. “Melissa uniquely commands the respect and highest regard within the state’s entrepreneurial communities and is the perfect leader of the Office to help channel Nevadans’ pioneering ethos into thriving small businesses and startups.”
In addition to her work with OSBA, Saavedra has over a decade of experience in publishing and media. She previously served as associate publisher and senior business development manager for the Northern Nevada Business Weekly, leading Nevada’s only business-to-business newspaper while building strong partnerships with regional organizations and agencies.
The Office of Entrepreneurship, which was founded in July 2023 when Governor Joe Lombardo signed AB77, strengthens policies and programs supporting the growth of entrepreneurship. The office works closely with stakeholders to advance entrepreneurial opportunities and reduce barriers to business growth so that all Nevadans can realize their right to start a business.
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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.