LVGEA Team

Mitch Keenan grew up in Seattle, WA. After visiting Las Vegas as a teen, he decided on UNLV for his university experience. He quickly fell in love with the sunshine and everything UNLV had to offer. By his senior year, he met the love of his life in the Hospitality School, and the two have been together ever since.

Upon graduating with a Bachelor’s in Casino Management, Mitch was able to turn his Senior Year internship into a full-time opportunity. Quickly becoming a Casino Marketing Manager, it was a thrilling experience to be a part of a new property opening in Downtown Las Vegas. But, after getting married and starting a family, he wanted a change of pace

Throughout Mitch’s career, he has served major media organizations, worked for his Alma Mater UNLV, and most recently was a National Business Development Director partnering with higher education institutions, Non-Profits, and Healthcare groups all throughout the US. Mitch is excited to use his talents to serve the city and help contribute to the great work LVGEA is already accomplishing.

Mitch and his wife, Rebecca, now have two spunky daughters that keep them both very busy! They all enjoy cheering for the Raiders, Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Aviators, and taking advantage of our region’s beautiful parks and trails.

Heather Brown is a Las Vegas native who graduated from Western High School and UNLV and has dedicated her life to public service. Heather is President and Co-Founder of StartUp Vegas, a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to boost the startup culture and create an environment of entrepreneurship in Southern Nevada.

After graduating from UNLV, Heather found her voice in Washington, D.C., as the National Chief of Staff for the Young Democrats of America and then working for Democratic GAIN, a U.S.-based non-profit that focuses on building long-term sustainable infrastructure for progressives, as their Programs Director before starting her own firm. She focused on political and professional consulting for political parties, candidates, labor unions, allied organizations, and youth activist groups in Europe, South America, and the Middle East, most notably spending two years living in Brussels working for a European Political Party, running their training and grassroots outreach efforts.

Using her experience working across business sectors, programming, and membership-based outreach, Heather co-founded StartUp Vegas with the intention of helping diversify the Southern Nevada community. StartUp Vegas is focused on a bottom-up approach that will connect, educate, and promote a robust startup ecosystem by supporting founders/entrepreneurs, creating meaningful programming, and providing opportunities to access capital. Her public service continues today as an elected member of the Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education for a six-year term representing District 6, which covers the southern portion of Clark County.

Amy Respini joins LVGEA as Talent Liaison, as part of a partnership with Workforce Connections/EmployNV, where she has been a member of their Business Services Team since March 2022. Bringing her ability to develop professional relationships that bridge community partners, resources, and businesses, Amy facilitates an integrated public workforce development system that links financial incentives for hiring Nevadans and diverse talent to businesses in all industries and sizes.

Amy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Southern Oregon University and is certified in Mediation and Conflict Negotiation. With a diverse background in banking, corrections, education, and workforce development, she enjoys volunteering her time on committees that span across the Vegas Valley when she can be of help.

Outside of work, Amy enjoys trips to visit her adult children and the outdoors via motorcycle rides, Jeep trips, camping, hiking, rafting, and diving with her husband of 6 years. She is an active Auxiliary Member of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association and is frequently seen across the Vegas Valley at business networking events in her advocacy of the business resources offered by LVGEA. Amy truly exhibits her personal and professional philosophy that ‘We haven’t come this far, to only come this far.’

As an Economic Development Coordinator with LVGEA , Nicole supports the business development team’s attraction, retention, and expansion efforts by assisting with economic research, stakeholder engagement, project coordination, and administrative support.

Previously, Nicole worked for the Vegas Chamber as Grant Program Manager, where she assisted with the development, administration, and organizational operations of the EDGE program that’s powered by the Leadership Foundation. EDGE assists women and/or minority owned businesses that were impacted by Covid 19 navigate the difficult landscape of Las Vegas to create a strong & thriving small business community.

Nicole obtained her preliminary work experience at age 12, directing phone calls for her sister’s notary business. She previously acted as the Director of Technology and Agent Services for Keller Williams Realty and has functioned in a supervisory or managerial role for three small businesses that were women and/or minority owned.

Prior to moving to Las Vegas during the pandemic, Nicole attended the Cal State University of Fullerton and is still working to earn her B.A. in Women and Gender Studies with a minor in Psychology.