The RSCVA is governed by a nine-member board of directors representing a variety of business and community groups in Washoe County. The groups represented include: gaming, general business, and air service. The cities of Reno and Sparks and Incline Village are also represented as well as the Washoe County Commission.
Chair Charlene Bybee was first elected to the Sparks City Council in 2014. In 2019 she retired from American Airlines after 42 years as a Flight Attendant. She has served the community for more than 40 years, including as President of the Junior League of Reno, United Way, PTA, Safe & Healthy Schools Commission, EDAWN and Chair of the Sparks Redevelopment Agency. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Nevada, Reno where she was a student athlete.
Elected Mayor of the City of Reno in 2014, Ms. Schieve was elected RSCVA Board Chair in July 2020. A proponent of the local arts community, Mayor Schieve is the first woman in more than 25 years to Chair the United States Conference of Mayors Standing Committee on Tourism, Arts, Parks, Entertainment and Sports; a position she’s held since 2017. Born and raised in Reno, Mayor Schieve attended Reno High School and Arizona State University and has received various community accolades, including the “Entrepreneur of the Year” award, “Twenty Under 40” recognition, and the NV Energy Women of Achievement award.
Stephen Ascuaga is the Corporate Director of Business Development for Peppermill Casinos Inc. and has been involved in Northern Nevada tourism and gaming for over 30 years. Born and raised in the Reno Tahoe area, Mr. Ascuaga is a graduate of the University of San Diego. Having served on numerous boards over the years, Stephen currently sits on the boards of the Nevada Department of Transportation, the Regional Air Service Corporation and the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada.
Elected in 2020, Alexis Hill is the Chair of the Washoe County Commission and represents District 1, which includes portions of the Truckee Meadows and extends the eastern Sierra to Incline Village and Crystal Bay. With a career encompassing planning and public policy with the City of Reno and the City of Sparks, Commissioner Hill takes pride in working with various non-profit organizations and is passionate about conservation, government accountability and creating an equitable environment for all Northern Nevada residents.
Andy Chapman is the President & CEO of Travel North Tahoe Nevada and has worked in the Lake Tahoe tourism industry for more than 25 years. Currently the chair of the Regional Air Service Corporation, Mr. Chapman also sits on Visit California’s advertising and brand content committees, as well as the Destinations Management Association West board of directors, and is the past chair of the California Travel and Tourism Commission’s Rural Tourism Advocacy Council and the High Sierra Visitor Council.
Rick Murdock is the Vice President of Governmental Affairs at Caesars Entertainment’s THE ROW in downtown Reno. With four decades of hospitality and gaming industry experience, Murdock has twice served as Chair of the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority Board and is a current Board Member of the Regional Air Service Corporation, the Capital Projects Surcharge Advisory Committee for downtown Reno, the Downtown Reno Partnership and Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center.
John East is the Chief Operating Officer for Jacobs Entertainment and has more than 30 years of gaming industry experience. During his 17-year tenure with Jacobs Entertainment, Mr. East has served as General Manager for the Lodge Casino, Vice President of Colorado Operations, and Vice President of Western Division Operations for Colorado and Nevada. Mr. East began his career in Reno Tahoe in 1987, working in varying departments at Harvey’s Lake Tahoe.
Richard L. Jay is the Senior Vice President and Investment Officer for a major brokerage firm, serving more than 36 years in community leadership roles in the Reno Tahoe region. Mr. Jay serves on the City of Reno Financial Advisory Board and is an active member of the Reno+Sparks Chamber of Commerce, Sparks Rotary, and the Great Basin Youth Soccer League. Appointed by the City of Reno, Richard currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority.
Eddie Ableser, Ph.D. is the CEO of Tri-Strategies, a multi-state public affairs firm helping businesses, organizations and associations advance their cause throughout Nevada. After serving for over 10 years in the Arizona State Senate and State House of Representatives, Mr. Ableser served as the inaugural Director of the Office for a Safe and Respectful Learning Environment within the Nevada Department of Education, and later as the Administrator for the Division of Aging and Disability Services within the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services.