With the convergence of several significant downtown projects - The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, Discovery Children's Museum, Neon Museum, Mob Museum, the new Las Vegas City Hall Complex, and the relocation of Zappos.com - as well as ongoing investment in the area by independent business owners, 2012 has been called “The Year of Downtown.”

The Las Vegas Valley Chapter of the PRSA is honored to have Mayor Carolyn Goodman as guest speaker for our December 2012 luncheon. Mayor Goodman will be discussing the public affairs, communications, and promotional challenges regarding downtown Las Vegas investment and redevelopment during 2012.

About Carolyn G. Goodman

Winning 60 percent of the vote, Carolyn G. Goodman became mayor of the city of Las Vegas on July 6, 2011. Her husband of 50 years and then current mayor, Oscar B. Goodman, administered the oath of office. It is the only known instance of a wife succeeding her husband as mayor in the United States. Oscar Goodman was term limited after 12 years of service.

Carolyn is well known in the Las Vegas community for founding The Meadows School in 1984, Nevada’s first nonprofit, nonsectarian, independent, coeducational, college preparatory school for pre-kindergarten through grade 12. Carolyn planned and oversaw the entire day-to-day operations, created and orchestrated the curriculum development, supervised the budget, was responsible for hiring administration, faculty and staff, and managed the entire physical campus development endeavors for the non-profit organization. During her 26 years in leadership, Carolyn never took a salary. She resigned as president in June 2010, preparing for the next challenge in her life.

Recognized nationally by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and the National Association of Independent Schools in 2006 with the Seymour Preston Trustee Award for Leadership, Carolyn has devoted much of her life to volunteerism in the Las Vegas and more specifically to education. In 1989, the University of Nevada recognized Carolyn with the prestigious “Distinguished Nevadan” award and in 2006 bestowed upon her an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree (PhD). In 2009, nominated by members of her school, she became a Sarah D. Barder Fellow in The Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth and an Alumna of the Year in Education at UNLV.

Carolyn has served the people of Las Vegas by volunteerism and leadership in many community nonprofit boards, charities and service organizations. She has proven her deep commitment to the community and continues to be devoted to the highest quality of life for all southern Nevadans by her efforts and dedication.