CONGRATULATING LEN STEVENS

HON. DEAN HELLER

OF NEVADA

IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE

March 3, 2016

Mr. HELLER: Mr. President, today, I wish to congratulate Len Stevens on his retirement after serving as CEO of The Chamber for nearly 14 years. It gives me great pleasure to recognize his years of dedication to creating growth and success for northern Nevada’s business community.

Before joining The Chamber, Mr. Stevens served as a basketball coach for 34 years, guiding teams at both Washington State University and the University of Nevada, Reno successfully through numerous seasons. In 2002, he was chosen for the role of CEO at The Chamber, and he served the state of Nevada in this position for over a decade. As CEO, Mr. Stevens led The Chamber through challenging times, including the merger of chambers of commerce in Reno and Sparks. This merger, which was one of the largest and most complex mergers in northern Nevada history, led to creation of The Chamber in 2011. This incredible organization has helped businesses through times of economic downturn to stay on their feet and succeed. Through the incredible work of The Chamber, northern Nevada’s business community continues to thrive and maintain a high quality of life for residents. We are fortunate to have had someone like Mr. Stevens leading the way at this important establishment.

Throughout his tenure, Mr. Stevens served as a powerful voice, advocating for businesses across northern Nevada. His hard work brought greater attention to the needs of this community, and I am grateful for everything he has done to support it. Under his leadership, The Chamber saw consistent growth in membership, as well as additional opportunities for business leaders to come together. He also implemented new programs to helps residents, including the Young Entrepreneurs Academy, which is a year-long program that teaches middle school and high school students the mechanics of operating a business. His work for northern Nevada is invaluable.   

Mr. Stevens has demonstrated professionalism, commitment to excellence, and dedication to the highest standards during his tenure at The Chamber. I am both humbled and honored by his service and am proud to call him a fellow Nevadan. Today, I ask all of my colleagues to join me in congratulating Mr. Stevens on his retirement from The Chamber and in wishing him well in his future endeavors. I give my deepest appreciation for all that he has done for the Silver State.