MARKETING
• The Public Relations Society of America’s Las Vegas Valley Chapter (PRSA-LVVC) recently announced its 2021 board of directors.
— President: Amy Bouchard, APR, PHR, corporate communications and talent acquisition manager, Speed Commerce and Sigma Commerce
— Past President/Assembly Delegate: Amanda Peters, communications manager, self-employed
— Vice President of Membership: Sarah Thornton, APR, president, Connected Communications
— Vice President of Programs: Dan McFadden, APR, Strategic Communications director, Sunrise Hospital
— Vice President of Communications: Leslie Mujica, MPA, executive director and CMO, Las Vegas Power Professionals
— Vice President of Finance: Keval Patel, CPA, The Calida Group Public Relations
— Student Society of America Liaison: Rina Foster, APR, founder and CEO, 84 Communications
The PRSA-LVVC board oversees the chapter’s mission to advance local communication professionals’ expertise and development through networking, accreditation, recognition and career resources. The board of directors is responsible for hosting monthly educational seminars, networking luncheons, an annual awards program called the Pinnacle Awards and the PRSA Western District Conference in Las Vegas later this year.
REAL ESTATE
• Alston Construction has named Matt Clafton as senior vice president and regional manager for Nevada, Oregon and Washington.
Previously, Clafton was the vice president and general manager for the Nevada region. He brings 28 years of construction expertise including 18 years with Alston Construction to his role. Clafton has been a part of many large-scale warehouse/distribution projects in Northern Nevada, including Petco’s first ever ground-up distribution center, Mary’s Gone Cracker’s new headquarters, Zazzle, Elemental LED, PODs, S&S Activewear, the largest tenant in a speculative space in state history and Northern Nevada’s first Amazon last-mile facility. Clafton also holds a leadership role for the Alston Construction Amazon team.
Clafton earned a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno. He is an active member and past president of the University of Nevada, Reno Alumni Council and ongoing supporter of the Nevada Football Alumni Association. In addition to his university involvement, Clafton serves on the board of directors for the Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation, a position that he has held for over 15 years.
• Cushman & Wakefield has announced the team of Amanda Eastwick, CCIM, and Makenna Backstrom have joined the firm’s office in Reno. Eastwick, a senior associate, brings more than 18 years of real estate industry experience and serves as team lead.
Backstrom brings over five years of experience and will serve as a junior broker to Eastwick. The tandem specialize in representing buyers and tenants within Northern Nevada’s industrial real estate market.
“We’re excited to welcome this team of highly talented professionals to our Reno office,” said Christina Roush, Cushman & Wakefield’s managing principal of Nevada. “Our Reno team has consistently been involved in many of the region’s most significant industrial transactions, including during and in response to the pandemic. This experienced, established team of Amanda Eastwick and Makenna Backstrom will enhance our Reno presence and help us continue to build on our growth and services in the Reno market.”
Eastwick and Backstrom are both native Nevadans, who have spent their whole careers working in Northern Nevada. They join Cushman & Wakefield from SVN International.
Eastwick most recently worked as a senior advisor at SVN the last seven years. Her career experience also includes working at boutique firm John Dermody Ventures, Reno Property Management and Silverado Homes, a Northern California/Northern Nevada builder. She holds a CCIM designation and was recently accepted within the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors as a member associate, working toward her designation. Eastwick also belongs to several different boards and local charities as an active member of her community.
Prior to Cushman & Wakefield, Backstrom was a brokerage coordinator at SVN supporting Eastwick. She also has worked for a local property management firm. Backstrom graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno with a Bachelor of Science Degree in marketing, and was also a member of the university’s College of Business Committee and completed a real estate internship with NAI Alliance as a collegiate.