Influential Leaders of Washoe County Join Together to Re-brand the Region During Plum100 Awards Show

Oct. 3, 2012 - PRLog -- National Release - The individuals chosen as the Plum100's most influential have successfully accomplished projects that move Washoe County forward and past the negative perceptions of the region.  Some of those projects include, the Terry Lee Wells Discovery Museum, Ronald McDonald House Charities, It’s My Community Store, Dolan Automotive Group's Re-build, and the MidTown Project.

Plum Influence Magazine released a special issue on September 6th of this year naming those that are selected and honored to represent the list of Reno/Tahoe’s one hundred most influential people.  

To be eligible for the awards, handed out on September 28th, nominees were assessed with the following criteria: what has the Honoree accomplished of influence in the past year,  how are they influencing others within and outside the region, are they helping brand our community by doing great things and how many people do they impact on a monthly basis?

Graham, who founded the magazine, re-brand initiative and produced the Plum100 awards show set out to celebrate the people of the community that are really making a difference and who have the potential to change the way Reno is viewed outside Washoe Country borders.  

“It’s time to make things happen in and for the Reno region,” Graham announced during the end of evening toast, “we can be the change we want to see or we can stay the same.  Personally, I am dedicated to moving forward and working with our most influential leaders to change the perception of Reno.”

The top honorees awarded were; Marty Ozer with the Ronald McDonald House, Wendy Calvin geology professor at the University of Nevada, Reno, Eren Ozmen Chairman and President of the Sierra Nevada Corporation, John Pinocchio owner of Pinocchio’s Bar and Grill, Chris Riche founder of the Terry Lee Wells Discovery Museum, Michael Hernandez our Reno Fire Chief, Camilla Downs author of D iz for Different, Toni Suttie founder of Integrity Casting, Pete Parker of NP Catalyst and the board member for the Reno-Tahoe Young Professionals Network and Grae Warren, Art Director of Reno Tahoe Tonight.

Hosted by radio personality Amy Mattingly, of 92.1 the Wolf and the University of Nevada's Reno Wolf Pack, Football announcer.  The event's production followed in red carpet style, with a variety of presenters and performers all in attendance.  Greenbrae Trophy provided awards for the event.  Total attendance for the inaugural event was 261 residents.

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More on the Awarded Honorees:

Artist and icon Grae Warren, Art Director for Reno Tahoe Tonight Magazine, oversees all visual aspects and style of the magazine. The publication showcases artists and our night life to over 30,000 people per month.  

Super hero, Reno Fire Chief, Michael Hernandez, has handled five major disasters in the last year, including the tragedy at the Reno Air Races, home- threatening fires across the region, and has personally saved sixty-four jobs.

Foodie and owner of Pinocchio's Bar and Grill, John Pinocchio, owns two successful restaurants, organizes the food vendors for the Reno Air Race Association, Reno Rodeo and other large functions attended by thousands of locals and tourists. Pinocchio has made an impact by raising over 4 million dollars for local breast cancer patients since May 2000, through his Moms on the Run events.

Community leader Pete Parker, of NP Catalyst, volunteers over 50 hours of his time per month to local events and charities.  Parker is known as the region's “chronic” volunteer. He also contributes his time to the Reno-Tahoe Young Professionals Network, where he mentors aspiring community leaders and guides funds and time of Reno’s major  businesses. Parker has branched out the past year, also working with philanthropists in other states such as Arizona.  

Charity driver , Marty Ozer is the Executive Director of Ronald McDonald House Charities Northern Nevada.  Ozer manages RMHC's five core programs: Reno Ronald McDonald House; Ronald McDonald Family Room; Ronald McDonald Care Mobile; the RMHC U.S. Scholarship Program; and the Travel-for-Treatment Program. In the last four years, Ozer has secured hundreds of thousands of dollars in foundation gifts, individual gifts, and corporate sponsorships for the organization. R.M.H.C.'s U.S. Scholarship Program is the, second largest higher education program, providing $750,000.00 to aspiring college students.

Extraordinary resident, Camilla Downs, author of D iz for Different, is a special needs coach and social media consultant who gives back by educating others.  Her book, has sold hundreds of copies and focuses on how to respond to adversity and achieve your happiness even when circumstances are less than perfect.

Risk-taker and visionary Chris Riche founded  the Terry Lee Wells Discovery Museum.  Riche wanted to give something back to Reno and so created a 62,000 sq. ft. hands-on children's discovery museum.  He personally worked on funding the project, building the team, and securing a two story downtown location on two acres. The project raised over $20 million and successfully opened with great success, with over 50,000 visitors in the first three months alone.

Business owner and industry expert ,Toni Suttie, founded Integrity Casting and completes over 13 casting projects per week with thousands of casting calls a year.  She has been keynote speaker at many industry conferences and mentors talent of all ages in our region.  One of the her mentorees is helping to cast the upcoming America's Got Talent season; Suttie works tirelessly to promote Reno's talent and is currently casting for a new MTV show.  

Beautiful mind , Wendy Calvin is the Head of the Geology department at the University of Nevada, Reno.  Wendy is the recipient of the Mackay Faculty Achievement Award, the College of Science Excellence in Research Award, a Graduate Student Association Outstanding Mentor Award, and an Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship.

Technology savvy business leader, Eren Ozmen, Chairman and President of the Sierra Nevada Corporation, employs over 2,100 people at six different businesses in 31 locations across 16 states. Sierra Nevada Corporation under her direction was recently awarded $212.5 million to develop NASA's commercial space travel program.  Sierra Nevada Corporation is listed as one of the Nation's top ten fastest-growing private companies. Ozmen, has an MBA from the University of Nevada, Reno.