Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development announces internal staff promotions

Three staff members from the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development have been promoted, Executive Director Paul Anderson announced Wednesday. The staffers are Matthew Moore, Melanie Sheldon and Mariah Heriman.

Moore takes over the GOED deputy director duties in the Carson City office from the departing Cory Hunt. Sheldon assumes the role of program manager in the Las Vegas office, including business development responsibilities from the departing Ryan Smith. And Heriman moves up to program management specialist and will serve as assistant to the executive director in the Las Vegas office.

“I can confidently say the state of Nevada is in good hands. All three individuals earned their new positions through dedicated service in support of GOED’s efforts to diversify the state’s economy and promote job creation,” said Anderson. “We are fortunate to have them on the team and I look forward to continuing to work together for the benefit of all Nevadans.”

Moore, an Army veteran of the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan, retired in 2017 as a colonel who last served as deputy commander and chief of staff for the Army’s National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif. In that role he supervised the execution of the installation budget, managed a civilian work force of over 450 employees, and directed the Army’s community engagement efforts throughout Southern California.

He earned a bachelor of science in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, a master of science in administration from Central Michigan University, and is a certified project management professional. Moore joined GOED in February as director of rural economic and community development.

Since joining GOED two years ago, Sheldon worked to administer Nevada’s incentives programs, supported company recruitment, and developed productive working relationships with Nevada’s regional development authorities.

Prior to GOED, she worked for the Australian Taxation Office, the Australian Federal Government’s equivalent of the IRS, as part of a project team focusing on the areas of micro, small and medium enterprise compliance, indirect tax, and small business assistance. Sheldon served in an administrative role for Ernst & Young’s Private Client Services team based in the company’s London headquarters and earned a degree in business management from RMIT University.

For the past year, Heriman supported GOED’s business development team, as well as the Nevada Institute For Autonomous Systems (NIAS) Board and management team. She is in the process of implementing GOED’s customer relationship management program. Prior to GOED Heriman worked as an executive assistant to a financial advisor and as a junior loan processor for CrossCountry Mortgage. While working full time, she recently graduated from the College of Southern Nevada with an associate’s degree in criminal justice and will continue her education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas this fall.

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 Governor Brian Sandoval 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. See www.diversifynevada.com for more information on the Governor’s Office of Economic Development.