Terrence Thornton is the executive director for Special Olympics Nevada, a statewide nonprofit organization that offers free year-round training and competition programs for 3,253 athletes, who compete in more than 60 competitions in 10 sports annually. Special Olympics Nevada promotes inclusion through Unified Sports and leadership training, bringing together athletes with and without intellectual disabilities to play as teammates. In his role, Thornton is leading efforts to expand the organization’s financial base; further enhance inclusive programming for people with intellectual disabilities; as well as establish Special Olympics Nevada as an independent chapter (its programs are currently operating under the charter of Special Olympics Northern California). With this goal in mind, Thornton is actively building an advisory Board to help drive the strategic efforts of the organization.
Q: What are you currently reading?
A: “A New Normal: Learning to Deal with Grief and Loss” by Darlene Cross.
Q: What is your favorite restaurant or place to take clients?
A: Tommy Bahamas or Bonefish Grill (in Town Square)
Q: How do you decompress after a hard week?
A: Lounging on the sofa and exploring new comedies or documentaries on Netflix
Q: What do you like most about living and/or working in Las Vegas?
A: Everything! As a Las Vegas native, it’s exciting to see how my city keeps evolving. From our burgeoning sports industry, entertainment, fine dining and natural amenities; we truly are a top-notch city!
Q: What is the biggest challenge facing Las Vegas in the next five years?
A: Limited modes of transportation and infrastructure. I fear we will lose our competitive edge if we don’t solve this issue in the near-term.
