Business in Nevada

Kris Holt, Executive Director and Founder, Nevada Business Connections

Phone/Fax: 775-882-8306 / Cell: 775-771-5747 / Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

As executive director of Nevada Business Connections (NBC), northern Nevada's only private business development and expansion organization, Kris Holt engages in economic development and diversification activities in Carson, Douglas, Lyon, Storey, and Washoe counties. With a proven track record in business recruitment and economic development, a newspaper columnist and guest speaker, Holt frequently conducts business recruitment missions throughout the western United States. NBC has over 200 dues paying members.

Kris formerly headed the Northern Nevada Development Authority (NNDA), a public-private economic development organization with over 300 members. During the 14 years of his leadership, NNDA assisted with the recruitment of over 214 new business relocations and 96 existing company expansions. Kris was instrumental in creating approximately 5,000 new primary jobs for Nevada's capital region.

Born:     January 3, 1956 in San Jose, CA

Spouse:  Michelle Morelli

Children: Andy and Jessica

Education:

• Campbell High School, Campbell, CA, 1974
• AA, McHenry County College, Crystal Lake, IL, 1976
• BS, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, 1978
• Graduate, School of Bank Marketing Management

University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, 1983
University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 1985

Career History:

• Founder and Executive Director, Nevada Business Connections (NBC), Carson City, NV, 2008 – Present (nevadabusinessconnections.com)
• Commercial Real Estate Agent, Grubb-Ellis and Coldwell Banker, Reno, NV, 2002 - 2008
• Executive Director, Northern Nevada Development Authority (NNDA), Carson City, NV, 1988 - 2002
• Senior Marketing Analyst, First Interstate Bank of Nevada, Reno, NV, 1986 - 1988
• Assistant Vice-President, Director of Marketing Services, American National Bank, Bakersfield, CA, 1984 - 1986
• Marketing Director, Mid-State Bank, Arroyo Grande, CA, 1981 - 1984
• Account Executive, KZOZ/KKAL Radio, San Luis Obispo, CA, 1979 - 1981
• Account Executive, Smith Advertising, Capitola, CA, 1978 - 1979
• Positions in college and high school: cement laborer, photo-lab technician, radio announcer, sales clerk and wedding photographer

Outside Activities:

• Advisory Board, Nevada State Small Business Development Center, UNR, 1993 - Present
• Board of Trustees, Western Nevada College Foundation
• Member Chambers of Commerce: Carson City, Carson Valley, Dayton, Silver Springs, Sparks, and Virginia City
• Past Member, Advisory Board, Irwin Union Bank
• Past Member, Board of Directors, Nevada Works
• Past Member, Board of Directors, Health Smart
• Past President, Nevada Economic Development Association
• Former Member, Advisory Board, Comstock Magazine
• Former Board Member, Rotary Club, Bakersfield, CA
• Former Board Member, Exchange Club, Arroyo Grande, CA
• Former Board Member, Jaycees, Santa Cruz, CA

Key Achievements:

• Leading 62 business recruitment missions to California, Arizona, Oregon, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Minnesota, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin.
• Resulting in a partial business recruitment / expansion results list:

• Ultimately creating over 5,000 new primary jobs and the majority of new manufacturing firms and investment for the capital region.
• NNDA accomplishments included growing membership (public – private) from 110 to over 300. Increased budget from $78k to $310k. Reported to a 20 member board of directors, the Nevada State Commission on Economic Development, and the 4 county governments (Carson, Douglas, Lyon and Storey).
• Expansion Management Magazine Economic Developer of the Year 1994.