[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 35 (Thursday, March 3, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S1275]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO LEN STEVENS

 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 yearlong 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.

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