When the Titanic struck a Schieveberg in Reno: A New Chapter in the RSCVA
What can we say about the Reno Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority (RSCVA) that hasn’t already been said; it is a hot mess and has been for years. Chairwoman Charlene Bybee told the Reno Gazette-Journal in June 2023, the RSCVA was the ‘titanic’ and that she is trying to steer it away from the iceberg. As widely reported, the RSCVA has recently decided to end the services of their CEO. The board, established in 1959, was supposed to promote the convention and tourism business. It seems to have devolved into a pay-to-play power group that parallels local political trends and is serving to self-aggrandize board members.
Charles Harris, the abandoned CEO, is departing on June 30, 2023. In a prophetic moment, Jessica Sferrazza called him out at the February 23, 2023, meeting as the board was discussing Harris’ new contract. Sferrazza wasn’t trying to be contentious, however pointed out she could not support delegating Harris’ new contract negotiation to a sub-committee, claiming Harris was one of the highest paid contracts in the state. Schieve then hopped on Sferrazza’s comments and wanted an attorney-client session at some point. Schieve was not supportive of Harris’s first contract, and due to a family tragedy, she wasn’t part of the negotiations. Schieve seems to have a track record of not getting along with the RSCVA CEO’s. Remember Phil DeLone, referring to Mayor Hillary Schieve with the “C” word behind her back multiple times, according to witnesses, reported in the Reno Gazette-Journal.
Our question, why not embrace Charles Harris based on his track record? In his final report to the board on June 15, 2023, Harris said, “On behalf of the staff {sic} to announce that we have been named one of the best destination marketing organizations in the county, for the second consecutive year, back to back years, by Smart Meetings Magazine, and as you can see, look at who we are referenced with Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia this is great work by the team to be able to have us be recognized by industry leaders as one of the best organizations around and I‘m very proud as I exit here that is in place.” We might remind our readers; these last two years of recognition were under Harris’s leadership.
Picon would also pause and note the bona fides of Schieve, Sferrazza, and Harris. First, compare their business acumen with Harris. While both blondes were satisfied with government elected “jobs”, Mr. Harris was moving and shaking in Southern California. He has been the Chief Marketing Officer in Anaheim, California. The place where we all go to see Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm, and a professional baseball team. They also have 42 miles of coastline in Orange County. He has also spent time in senior roles at professional baseball organizations. The Orange County budget is nine times the Washoe County budget. It is simply a much bigger ship to captain.
The private sector is where success is measured, and he clearly has serious successes. The blondes on the other hand, what have they done that doesn’t surround 12 years on the dole in politics? A small used clothing boutique and some consulting firm? I mean who are these elected officials to criticize Harris? Maybe Richard Jay can wow us with some stats to refute this assertion.
Image credit: Reno Gazette Journal
The Airport Authority
The RSCVA has a certain number of board appointments. The remaining seats on that board are appointed by Reno, Sparks and Washoe County according to law. Additionally, one of the seats on the RSCVA board comes from the Airport Authority board. It is like a farm team, where the RSCVA can elevate someone they want to the big leagues.
The RSCVA board recently received two names from the Reno Tahoe Airport Authority for elevation, Adam Kramer, and Richard Jay. RSCVA Chair Bybee swooped in to make a motion to accept Adam Kramer due to his entrepreneurial expertise. Bybee then got outplayed by Mayor Hillary Schieve who was worried about Kramer’s available time and so Schieve made her own motion to appoint her good pal, Richard Jay. The RSCVA’s attorney pointed out this new RSCVA board member will only be for one year (filling out the remaining term of Jessica Sferrazza).
We wonder if SWITCH has fallen out of favor since Adam left? Plenty of money was tossed around a few years ago, maybe Adam lost his stroke?
Rick Murdoch pointed out how ‘back in the day’ the RSCVA had someone from the banking industry on the board, which we do not recall, however we will give him the benefit of the doubt.
Only the city and county elected members of the board can vote on this board vacancy and those members are Bybee, Schieve, and Commissioner Alexis Hill. Let us not forget, Alexis Hill all but shoved Jeanne Herman in front of an iceberg when she dared to ask for appointment to the RSCVA board. Instead, Chair Hill unilaterally anointed herself. Never mind, Jeanne Herman has nine years of experience on the commission. These board seats offer all sorts of graft, between travel and meals and political paybacks, the RSCVA has become a powerful board to sit on. Picon will be paying close attention to the junkets and giveaways as well as the awarded contracts.
Alexis Hill noted that Richard Jay was in the RSCVA audience at the meeting, and then asked him to address the board. Clearly this was set-up in advance, as we have sources who have attended these meetings in person and via Zoom and none recall seeing or hearing from Jay. Picon knows Jay is a follower of ours, we appreciate the support!
Richard Jay credit: Reno-Tahoe Chapter American Marketing Association
As for the vote, Hill dumped her support for Chair Bybee and leaned into her old boss from the City of Reno, Mayor Schieve. With Hill and Schieve, Richard Jay was selected to the board. Picon wonders why Alexis Hill did not support her fellow April birthday girl, Chair Bybee? We know that when Hill’s commissioner mentor, Bob Lucey, wanted his pal from Switch, Adam Kramer on the board, she obliged. Yet now she did not vote for the very guy she voted for last year.
The Porter Group is highly involved in politics in Northern Nevada. When Adam Kramer was with SWITCH, Bob Lucey helped him get on the Airport Authority. The Porter Group later held a big celebration for Bob Lucey’s loss to local businessman, Mike Clark. The Porter Group has received hundreds of thousands of Washoe County tax dollars to influence politics. From Facebook.
Our thoughts on this are –
Hill would have ‘allowed’ Herman to have been on the RSCVA board, but something happened between their discussions and the rumor is Schieve reached out to her and suggested Hill take the seat. We think you all know Commissioner Jeanne Herman would not have voted the way Schieve might suggest.
Maybe the reason why Hill had to be on the RSCVA board is because Schieve was losing Sferrazza and had to have Hill’s vote to get who she wanted from the Airport Authority to replace Sferrazza. Remember only the three elected board members can vote and Schieve knew Hill would vote as it was ‘recommended’. Hill voted against her own prior Washoe County appointed Airport Trustee Kramer.
Schieve has reportedly been making comments about hiring the new CEO from ‘local talent’. What ‘local talent’ who does Schieve have in mind. Could Bob Lucey be looking for a new gig?
On the RSCVA it is all about controlling the votes, and in hiring a new CEO Schieve will need to have five votes, and she just got them. It is believed she has Murdoch, the new Nevada Resort Association Member who is from the J Resort, Mr. East (we need to remember Jacobs Entertainment have been major supporters of Mayor Schieve), Alexis Hill, and now Richard Jay. It is a nine-member board and Schieve clearly influences four of the votes. Despite Mrs. Bybee and her wholesome desire for consensus, it appears a majority is all Ms. Scheive seeks.
We also found it odd that the two individuals were nominated by the Nevada Resort Association (NRA) from Gold Dust West Casino, and the new J Resort, both owned by Jacobs Entertainment. Apparently neither casino had ever had an individual on the RSCVA. How odd the NRA would only nominate employees from one owner, again cementing the belief that Schieve really appears to have consolidated power.
One very sad fact of the meeting was Hill didn’t even leave Bybee the dignity of her board nominee, when she then requested that Bybee change her vote to Richard Jay and make it ‘unanimous’. Maybe the accusations of ‘unilateral’ governance have Hill seeking consensus absent dissent. The next time readers hear Hill claiming to support seniors, a side-eye may be appropriate as her track record clearly puts her at odds with her fellow senior board members. And Chair Bybee, we are fairly certain Hill and Schieve just sunk your ship.