About Us
The quality and quantity of the Reno-Tahoe leadership community is strong as indicated by the bid and management teams put together for (1) hosting the 1960 Winter Olympic Games, (2) the Olympic bids put together in the late 1980's, (3) the leadership group for the 1989 International Special Olympics Winter Games and (4) the leadership of the numerous other events and activities held throughout the region.
In all of these cases, the most senior and influential elements of the community have come together to accomplish their objectives in an effective way. It is clear that this can also be the case for the Reno-Tahoe Olympic bid and for all other sports tourism and sports development activities.
For all International Olympic bids, the candidate from each bidding country is a partner in their bid effort at the international level with their national Olympic committee – in the United States the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC). While in recent months the USOC has faced a number of leadership and governance issues and challenges, these have had only domestic impacts. With the newly seated USOC Board of Directors and the revamping of the USOC governance structure, the USOC remains the most dominant and influential national Olympic Committee in the world. Obviously, the USOC has a vested interest in the hosting of the maximum number of Olympic Games in the U.S. and would support a strong bid from any region that could win on the international level.
It is also critical, however, that the bid effort be well staffed at the earliest time with full-time experienced sport and business administrators who can help develop and manage all of the necessary elements of the bid process. For most serious bid cities, this has meant a bid staff of 4-6 people during the earliest domestic period, increasing to 8-10 staff just prior to the domestic award and, perhaps, more at the international level. To have less staff is counter-productive to the effort.
The Reno-Tahoe Winter Games Coalition is led by and an Executive Council of 22 regional leaders with additional support provided by over 75 Advisory Council members. Day-to-day operations are spearheaded by Jim Vanden Heuvel, the organization's Chief Executive Officer.
Board of Directors
Brian Krolicki - Chair - Lt. Governor State of Nevada
Mike Benjamin - CEO, Benjamin Enterprises, Las Vegas
Blaise Carrig - Chief Operating Officer, Heavenly and Vail Resorts, Stateline, Nevada
Bob Cashell - Mayor, City of Reno
Patrick Kaler- Executive Director, Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority, South Lake Tahoe, California
Steve Woodbury- Deputy Executive Director, Nevada Commission on Tourism
Jack Fisher - General Manager, Boomtown Casino, Reno
Marty Giudici - President, American Ready-Mix
Jim Hartley - CH2MHILL, Sacramento
Leland Hernandez - CEO, OSO Construction, Reno
Keith Lee - Attorney at Law & Lobbyist, Reno
Tim Maland - Executive Director, Nevada Commission on Tourism
Michael Pennington - Reno Sparks Chamber of Commerce
Jim Simon - Truckee Attorney and Community Leader, Truckee, California
Larry Young – Principal, Ward Young Architects, Truckee, California
David Youngberg - Vice President, 1 st National Bank of Nevada, Reno
Harry York - Retired Executive Director, Reno Sparks Chamber of Commerce
John Albrecht - Reno Tahoe International Airport
Gregory Peek - ERGS, Inc.
Tim Leslie - State of California Assembly and Senate, Retired.
Steve Trounday - Navegante Group.
Lesley Pittman - Station Casinos
Nicholas Butler - U.S. Bank
Ted Gaines - California Assembly
David Snyder - Placer County
Jon Killoran – Chief Executive Officer, RTWGC
Supporters & Advisory Council
Honorary Chair- Former Governor Kenny Guinn Governor of Nevada
Richard Smith - Nevada Capital Insurance
Tiffany Frisch - Rose Glenn
Wanita Paul - Tessco Technologies
Dr. Charles Bullock - University of Nevada
Chris Ault - University of Nevada
Krys Bart - Reno Tahoe International Airport
Dick Reynolds - Wachovia Securities
Cliff Young - Attorney at Law
Ralph Witsell - RSCVA
Jody Churich - Powder Ski Corporation
Wink Kobayashi - K-S Land Development
Norman Stoller - K-S Land Development
Kirk Turner - Washoe County School District
Bob Davis - NBC: Emmy-winning Producer
Franz Weber - Franz Weber, Inc.
Bill Hudson - Sugar Bowl
Jim Webster - Webster & Associates
Laura Ryan - Best Western Truckee Inn
Grizz Gotschall - Tahoe Truckee Airport District
Terry Bell - Sky Tavern Junior Ski Program
Peter Draper - Squaw Valley Sports Adventure Center
Tamara McKinney - Olympian
Daron Rahlves - Olympian
Shannon Bahrke - Olympian
Jay Parmer - American Strategies
Buzz Harris - Associated General Contractors
Seth Sheck - Access Pass & Design
Richard Gammick - Washoe County District Attorney
Cynthia Potter - CH2MHILL
Loren Chilson - Fehr & Peers Transportation Consultants
Richard Odynski - RSCVA
George Pimpl - Reno Forklift
Alvin Kramer - Carson City Treasurer
Jim Mitchell - Camrac Studios
Knud Svendsen - RSCVA
David Roundtree - CH2MHill
Keith Hackett - University of Nevada Athletics
