Carson Chamber installs new chairman, board

New Carson City Chamber of Commerce Chairman Jeffrey Smeath wants his time in office to bring about changes in how the business world relates to education.

"My No. 1 goal is to try to put together a business and education committee to help get business and education working toward developing better students all around for the business industry," he said Friday.

Smeath, Slotworld executive vice president, has been involved with the chamber for five years. He believes the committee will come up with concrete ways to bridge business to education. One idea Smeath has is to bring business leaders into high schools and college classes.

He and four other officers were installed Friday night at the chamber's annual dinner in the Carson Nugget Convention Center. Officers include:

• First Vice Chairman Ronni Hannaman, owner of Best Foot Forward

• Second Vice Chairman Robert Crowell, of Crowell, Susich, Owen and Tackes, Ltd.

• Secretary Joe Lushina, of Edward Jones

• Treasurer Randall Long, of Lumos and Associates, Inc.

Long, who is the outgoing chairman, took over the treasurer's seat. Hannaman, a five-year veteran of the chamber, said she is excited about the coming year.

"I'm looking forward to working with Jeff Smeath, who'll be taking the chamber in a new direction with his focus on education," she said.

New or returning board of directors' members include:

• Betty Brogan, of State Agent and Transfer Syndicate Inc.

• Rick Chambers, of Heritage Bank

• John DiMambro, of the Nevada Appeal

• Steve Forester, of Casino Fandango

• Stephen Lincoln, of RE/MAX 1st Choice Realty

• Bill Miles, of Miles Brothers Construction Inc.

• Mary Pierczynski, Carson City School District superintendent

• David Rund, of Taiyo America Inc.

• Christina Slade, of Nevada's Job Connect Employment Security Division

• Kevin Stansbury, of the Carson-Tahoe Hospital

Pierczynski said it's important for the school district to be a part of the chamber because it's a connection with local business.

"We're educating a lot of young people who stay in the community and work," she said. "Many will go to (Western Nevada Community College) and stay in our community, or many will go on and get further training and come back to Carson to work."

Chamber Chief Executive Officer Larry Osborne said Friday's dinner also recognized four business members who made a substantial capital investment in the economy.

"They all invested several million into their projects," he said. "They will remain in our economy for some time to come."

The Carson City Fire Department was also given a special presentation on behalf of all agencies involved in fighting the Waterfall fire. Osborne called this "a small token of our respect." Carson City High School ROTC student Sarah Stadler gave a patriotic monologue. The program ended with speaker Ron Young, a prisoner of war during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Contact Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.