Ryann Juden is the city manager of North Las Vegas
Q: What are you reading?
A: “Growing Fairly: The Republic of Pirates: Bring The True and Surprising Story of the Caribbean Pirates and the Man Who Brought them Down” by Colin Woodard; “How Ten Global Cities Take on Homelessness: Innovations that Work” by Misner-Gutierrez and Kelly; “How to Build Opportunity and Equity in Workforce Development” by Goldsmith and Coleman; and “In the Hands of the Lord: The Life of Dallin H. Oaks” by Richard E. Turley Jr. I am usually reading three or four books at the same time — depending on the day depends on what I pick up to read!
Q: What are your favorite restaurants?
A: Cafe Rio, Ella Em’s Soul Food and Pho Aimie — but with so many new restaurants coming to North Las Vegas, it is stiff competition!
Q: How do you decompress after a long week?
A: I love to read, spend time with my kids and do woodworking projects. There are not always easy answers for many of the difficult questions around City Hall and many projects can take a long time to complete. The best thing about working with wood is that there is a right answer — measure twice and cut once — and I can completely finish a project and stand back and look at what was accomplished. The finalization of a project is fulfilling.
Q: What do you like most about living or working in Las Vegas?
A: North Las Vegas is a welcoming community that embraces hard work and good ideas. Working with our team at City Hall to stabilize the city’s finances and restructure the city’s government to live within its means has been extremely professionally rewarding.
Q: What are the biggest challenges facing Southern Nevada?
A: Prior to the pandemic, we know where Southern Nevada ranked nationally in education outcomes, workforce readiness, infrastructure, etc. Now, we have an opportunity to use unprecedented federal funds to completely change our region’s future. We must have the courage to make strategic long-term, people-based investments that for too long have been unattractive to our credit-seeking officials who want a quick win and Twitter press release. Similar federal dollars flowed into the regions we compete against, and you better believe our competitors will make smart investments that will widen the gulf between us and them if we are not purposeful and intentional in our strategic choices.
