Northern Nevada Development Authority announces 2018 Pioneer Award winners

CARSON CITY — Northern Nevada Development Authority on Wednesday announced the winners of its annual Pioneer Awards. Showcasing the many success stories in the area, the Pioneer Awards highlight the strength and innovation of the Sierra Region economic ecosystem.

Winners will be honored and celebrated during the 4th Annual NNDA Pioneer Awards & Gala which recognizes individuals and business professionals whose outstanding contributions to economic development have supported the growth of Nevada’s Sierra Region. The gala is being held on November 8, 2018 at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe from 5:30 to 9 p.m.

Here are the 2018 Pioneer Awards winners:
Battleborn Award for Leadership in Sustainability: Edgewood Tahoe Resort (Stateline NV – EdgewoodTahoe.com). Edgewood Tahoe incorporates sustainability innovation, leadership, and business practices into its business model. Their extensive use of sustainable energy and land improvements demonstrates the organization’s dedication to the conservation of resources and protection of the environment.

Boundary Peak Award for Nonprofit of the Year: The Comstock Foundation for History and Culture (Virginia City, NV – ComstockFoundation.org). The preservation work of the historic and cultural resources within the Virginia City National Historic Landmark District repurposes historical industrial properties and public spaces for use and enjoyment by the general public.

Kit Carson Award for Entrepreneur of the Year: Quick Space (Sparks, NV – QuickSpaceNevada.com) Quick Space, with two full service locations in the Sierra Region, provides solutions to several industry sectors for infrastructure projects and special events throughout Northern Nevada. The 2018 Inc. 5000 recognizes Quick Space as one of the fastest growing private companies in the U.S.

Silver Forge Award for Manufacturer of the Year: Aquasyn, LLC (Carson City, NV – Aquasyn.com). Aquasyn focuses on providing customers worldwide with innovative fluid control solutions and associated components of uncompromising quality. The company is proud that all of its manufacturing materials, processes and services are performed or sourced in the U.S. Some of their products were included as part of the Smithsonian Institution’s “The Birth of Biotech” exhibit in Washington, D.C.

During the 2018 NNDA Pioneer Awards ceremonies, the Nevada Builders Alliance will present its annual Golden Hammer Award to Bently Heritage Estate Distillery (Minden, NV – BentleyHeritage.com). The Bently Heritage Estate Distillery project is expected to draw visitors from the Tahoe Basin and beyond, generating additional revenues for local retailers, restaurants, and lodging establishments.

NNDA’s Pioneer of the Year award honors an individual who both personally and professionally supports and has had a significant impact on the economic development and growth of the region.

The 2018 Pioneer of the Year is Aaron West, CEO of the Nevada Builders Alliance (NevadaBuilders.org). Aaron has done an outstanding job of representing Nevada’s construction industry and the critical role it plays in economic development. He has been an economic development trail-blazer, in support of his members, the Silver State’s construction industry, and the Sierra Region.

Aaron participated on the team of construction industry leaders who sought and successfully facilitated the passage of important industry reforms by the 2015 Nevada Legislature. He has worked with Western Nevada College to implement workforce education and training programs for our region’s rapidly growing construction industry. Under Aaron’s leadership, the Nevada Builders Alliance established its annual Golden Hammer Award. Presented alongside NNDA Pioneer Awards, the Golden Hammer Award recognizes the construction team whose project had the greatest impact on economic development for the Sierra Region.

When Nevada emerged from the Great Recession, NNDA was asked by the Governor’s Office of Economic Development to establish and pilot the Nevada Certified Sites program (NevadaCertifiedSites.com). NNDA’s Construction and Design Committee accepted the task, realizing that expanding the inventory of industrial space was essential for the Sierra Region’s economic ecosystem. Aaron was instrumental in making it the successful program it is today. As NNDA continues to administer the program, he is playing an ongoing key role in its refinement and expansion.

NNDA President & CEO, Robert “Rob” Hooper, said, “The NNDA Pioneer Award winners and our Pioneer of the Year are truly the All-Stars of the Sierra Region business community. They represent what is possible when there is a vibrant and resilient economic ecosystem supporting their efforts.” He continued, “Economic development is never ending. Its efforts are continuous and always needed, no matter the current economic cycle. For NNDA, this means a strategic focus which leverages and maximizes the upticks to minimize and mitigate the downturns. This helps to grow and strengthen the region’s economy so other All-Stars can emerge.”

The Pioneer Awards & Gala is attended by over 300 influential business leaders, executives, and management teams of companies from the Sierra Region and beyond. It is also NNDA’s annual fundraiser, and event sponsorships and ticket sales are used to support NNDA’s mission: To influence, facilitate, and support the ongoing growth and prosperity of the economic ecosystem of the region.

Please join us for the 2018 Pioneer Awards & Gala on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018 at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Tickets and sponsorships are available at PioneerAwards.com.