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Karsten Heise Senior Director of Strategic Programs and Innovation, GOED Carson City Karsten Heise joined the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) in April 2012, initially as Technology Commercialization Director and then continued as Director of Strategic Programs. He leads Innovation-Based Economic Development (IBED) in Nevada. As part of IBED, he created and managed Nevada’s State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) Venture Capital Program. He also leads and oversees the ‘Nevada Knowledge Fund’ to spur commercialization at the state’s research institutions, foster Research & Development engagements with the private sector, and support local entrepreneurial ecosystems and individual startups. In addition, Karsten is deeply familiar with the European vocational training system, having completed his banking apprenticeship in Germany. This experience inspired the development of the ‘Learn and Earn Advanced career Pathway’ (LEAP) framework in Nevada, which progressed to become the standard template for developing career pathway models in the state. He is deeply passionate about continuously developing new workforce development approaches dealing with the consequences of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Email: kheise@goed.nv.gov
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Tammy Westergard MLS, Senior Workforce Development Professional, GOED Carson City
With a multiyear charter, she champions the use of 3D and virtual reality content to enhance labor market literacy. Tammy’s dedication lies in empowering individuals to secure better jobs with tangible wage growth, with a belief that libraries are great places for this work. Formerly the Nevada State Librarian, she holds positions with the American Library Association and the National Association of Certified Workforce Development Professionals and is an instructor at San Jose State University’s School of Information. Tammy is the 2023 President of the Nevada Library Association (NLA), was named NLA’s 2020 Librarian of the Year, and Library Journal named her an Agent of Change Mover and Shaker. Acknowledging her achievements, the University of Nevada, Reno Alumni Association included Tammy as one of five honorees in 2023 for professional excellence. She also contributes as an International Advisory Board Member of the Vaclav Havel Library Foundation.
Email: tawestergard@goed.nv.gov
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Jahairy Rivera Lead Career Navigator, GOED Las Vegas
10 years of experience working in the non-profit sector, with 5 of those years in workforce development in Southern Nevada. Jahairy has experience working directly with populations such as the homeless, dislocated workers, and returning citizens. She recognizes the important changes upskilling and meaningful work brings to households and communities. She understands the WIOA one-stop-operating-system programs and processes and can communicate how delivery of services to clients through local offices, regional centers, and libraries is achieved. She is currently the Lead Career Navigator with GOED and brings additional skills in integrating 3D and virtual reality content to advance labor market literacy.
Email: rivera.jahairy@gmail.com
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Mark Andersen 3D Content Publisher, Lifeliqe San Francisco, CA
Co-founder and President of Lifeliqe, a workforce tech startup delivering virtual field trips and training simulations in virtual reality (VR) to learners who are upskilling and reskilling. Lifeliqe was chosen as a key partner in the first-in-the-U.S. workforce development workforce recovery initiative in Nevada (“Project SANDI”). As such, Lifeliqe delivers training simulations in VR for priority industries, including healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and skilled trades. Lifeliqe is partnering with Nevada’s four Community Colleges in their certification programs. Previously, Mark was the Business School Chairman at Anglo-American University in Prague, where he taught for five years. For the past twenty-plus years, Mark has worked as a marketing leader for tech startups in Silicon Valley. Before getting his MBA from Northwestern University (Kellogg), Mark co-founded a successful startup, Gumby’s Pizza.
Email: mark@lifeliqe.com
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Iveta Acton Kališová Instructional Designer / 3D Content Publisher, Lifeliqe Brno, Czech Republic
With a life-long interest in architecture and interior design, after finishing a Masters in Furniture Engineering in 2013, Iveta’s career took an interesting turn towards education, where she has flourished ever since. Iveta’s experience with 3D modeling and lecturing, coupled with strong organizational skills, lent to her success in her first role as a Production Assistant at Corinth, an EdTech company creating 3D model libraries for K12 education. Over the course of a decade, at both Corinth and at Corinth’s sister company Lifeliqe, Iveta excelled in several roles in the Content and Production departments developing the company’s flagship products. These products included 3D educational models, lesson plans and curricula for K12 education along with Virtual Reality Fieldtrips and Workforce simulations for adults as a part of the SANDI project.
Email: iveta.kalisova@lifeliqe.com
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Michelle Rebaleati Virtual Reality Navigator, GOED Carson City
As an Electrical Engineering graduate from the University of Nevada, Reno, Michelle focuses her technical knowledge and skills on the creative world. She is an engineer, filmmaker, technical coordinator, virtual reality developer, and DJ. Michelle uses these diverse skills to enhance the community and brings focused attention to GOED on facilitating access to career VR content to advance labor market literacy. Michelle directed and edited the award-winning documentary "Walking with Reality" in 2017. The development of this story led her to the TEDxUniversityofNevada and TEDxAkademiaWSB stages in 2019.
Email: michellerebaleati@gmail.com
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Ansley Fender Grantcycle, CEO Bloomington, IN
Ansley is the Founder and CEO of Grantcycle, a grant management platform that reduces grant management time by 50% and links grant dollars spent to program impact. Grantcycle partners with Project SANDI to track and report outcomes to understand the cost of each phase of the program and which resources and interventions are most effective. Before founding Grantcycle, she was a grant and financial consultant for nonprofits, small businesses, and startups. She graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor of Science in Arts Management and completed three semesters toward a Masters of Public Affairs in Public Finance.
Email: ansley@grantcycle.com
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NcLab
NCLab is a leader in workforce development, providing self-paced, interactive training programs in high-demand fields such as data analytics, Python programming, and computational literacy. Designed for learners of all backgrounds, NCLab’s hands-on courses use gamified learning and automated feedback to build job-ready skills. As part of the Individual Career Mapping process, NCLab offers a Career Readiness Assessment to evaluate skills, identify strengths, and recommend personalized training paths. This assessment helps individuals and workforce agencies align learning with career goals, ensuring a direct pathway to in-demand jobs. Learn more at: nclab.com |
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ArborXR
ArborXR is a leading platform for managing VR and AR devices, empowering organizations to deliver immersive training experiences at scale. By streamlining content deployment and device management, ArborXR enhances career training programs with hands-on, interactive learning in virtual environments. As a partner in Nevada’s Individual Career Mapping process, ArborXR helps equip learners with cutting-edge skills through XR-based simulations, making career exploration and workforce development more engaging and effective. Learn more at: arborxr.com |
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Elia Keating-McEllisterm Summer Intern, University of California, Davis Davis, California
Third-year student in Political Science at UC Davis with a keen interest in delving into the complexities of politics and governance, particularly within the realm of higher education. My pursuit is centered on continuous learning and advancement, driving my enthusiasm to embrace fresh challenges where I can apply my abilities and make contributions. |
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Walker Mackenzie Summer Intern, University of Oregon, Eugene Eugene, OR
Walker MacKenzie is a psychology major at the University of Oregon with a minor in economics. He brings a robust customer service, technology, and sales background to his academic and extracurricular pursuits. Currently, Walker serves as the volunteer coordinator for Camp Kesem, a charity organization dedicated to supporting children impacted by a parent's cancer. His diverse skill set and compassionate nature make him an invaluable asset in both his professional and volunteer roles. Walker is passionate about using his knowledge and experience to make a positive impact on the lives of others. |