Weekly Update

April 15, 2026

The annual Employee Values Conference is happening April 21-22. This two-day event focuses entirely on employee development and growth. The City Hall, Las Vegas Civic Center and Goodman Plaza facilities will be active with events for all employees. Each day begins with interactive physical activities on the lawn, followed by ceremonies in City Council Chambers recognizing employee contributions to the organization and the community.

This year’s Values Conference will again highlight employee well-being and will feature engaging keynote speakers in City Council Chambers. Breakout sessions and other interactive activities will take place throughout City Hall, the Civic Center, and the Goodman Plaza lawn. This year’s keynote speakers are:

Connor Fields - This incredible presentation delves into the crucial powers of resilience, adaptability, overcoming failures, unwavering determination and perspective, empowering you to face challenges head-on. With compelling personal stories and hard-earned insights, Connor empowers attendees to be ready to answer the question “Now What?” every time. 

Nada Nassardeen - In this transformative talk, Nasserdeen, founder of "Rise Up For You" and a leader in human potential and leadership development, will help you break free from the limiting beliefs holding you — and your team — back. She will reveal how self-confidence is not a fixed trait, but a skill that can be cultivated, strengthened and applied for long-term success and influence.

Tara Saxon - This keynote explores financial well-being through the lens of identity, safety and decision-making rather than traditional budgeting mechanics. Using Saxon’s Reveal - Repair - Reclaim™ framework, the session helps participants recognize the patterns influencing them, begin reshaping those patterns, and step forward with greater clarity, confidence and self-trust in their financial lives.

Bo Bernhard – This UNLV professor explains how our "fun economy" is tourism + sports + entertainment. When we think of these three industries as one industry, its scale becomes mind-boggling. The fun economy is larger than pharma, larger than auto, larger than apparel, larger than agriculture. 

In addition to these amazing keynote speakers, we also have 15 other exciting speakers who will be leading breakout workshops and sessions throughout the day. Our vendor mall also returns outside Council Chambers. Tuesday, unique health and wellness-related services and resources are featured. Wednesday, nonprofit and philanthropic organizations that impact our community are featured, so that you can learn how to get involved in volunteering that interests you! 

The conference is open to all city employees with supervisor approval. More information will be offered on the employee portal in the "News" section as it becomes available. Session check-in will be easier than ever. Each session will have a unique QR code you can scan on your smartphone, or volunteers can assist you. All sessions count toward your annual training requirement. 

Don’t miss this opportunity to interact with your fellow city employees, build new connections, see old friends and learn how to continue to maintain a healthy mind and body, and build financial endurance.

9 Things To Know Before The Employee Values Conference

1. This is a free, two-day conference Tuesday, April 21, and Wednesday, April 22. Tell your supervisor and co-workers now you plan to attend and encourage them to watch with you. To obtain more information on the sessions to plan your days, go to the Tuesday schedule here/Wednesday schedule here and visit the employee portal “News.” Copies of each day’s schedule also will be available outside Council Chambers at City Hall and at remote viewing rooms.
   
   
2. THIS IS A LIVE VALUES CONFERENCE (in-person and live via WebEx/ Vimeo)! All keynote sessions April 21-22 will be presented by in-person speakers in Council Chambers at City Hall. Wellness vendors will have tables outside Council Chambers on Tuesday, and nonprofits and volunteer-driven associations will have tables there Wednesday. Park employee vehicles in the City Parkway Garage at 350 S. City Parkway. Over-sized vehicle and overflow parking will be in the fenced lots north of City Parkway Garage. See the map. City vehicles that are not over-sized can park in the 500 S. Main St. Garage using transponders or vehicle access badges for entry. Personal employee badges should never be scanned when using a city vehicle,  as doing so will trigger the $25 parking fee. If employees do not have a badge assigned to their city vehicle they should reach out to cardaccess@lasvegasnevada.gov and request one as soon as possible. 
   
   
3. There are three ways to participate:
        a. Come to City Hall and hear the live talks in City Council Chambers. Sit with your co-workers, or old friends from other departments. Attend your choice of breakout sessions at City Hall in first-floor Training Rooms 1-2, 3 and 4, in the basement Training Room and in the Las Vegas Civic Center second-floor Then Café or Public Meeting Room, or the first-floor Goodman Training Room or Art Gallery.
        b. Three remote locations, the East and West service yards and the Water Pollution Control Facility, will have viewing areas to watch keynote speakers via Vimeo; check with your department for details. Breakout sessions will be available live via WebEx to any locations.
        c. Watch the morning keynote speeches from your desk via Vimeo and the breakout sessions via WebEx (with supervisor approval). Get the links before the keynotes/breakout sessions from the Values Conference entry on the employee portal News section. It will be posted there as soon as available. Afternoon keynote speeches may not be available on Vimeo.
   
   
4. The theme for this year’s Values Conference is “Well-Being In Motion: Balance, Brilliance & Belonging.” Wear your jeans and favorite sports team shirts! It’s casual dress, unless you need to be in uniform; uniformed employees should check with your supervisors.
   
   
5. Start the day at 7 a.m. on the Las Vegas Civic Center plaza lawn with Pilates on Tuesday and Qi Gong on Wednesday. There is also Zumba at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in City Hall Training Room 3 and Hip Hop Yoga Wednesday at 11:45 a.m. on the lawn. Dress accordingly if you plan to participate.
   
   
6. Pause and refresh during conference breaks and the lunch break at the four food trucks available. The City Hall second-floor outdoor patio is available for dining. There will be light refreshments in the City Hall NOW Cafe. Only water is allowed in Council Chambers.
   
   
7. Lunch is on your own. This would be a great time to explore the downtown restaurants, try out the food trucks on Goodman Way on the south side of City Hall -- or bring your own lunch and mingle with other employees in the second-floor NOW Café and patio. 
   
   
8. QR codes will be displayed to register your attendance by smartphone. Check-in by QR code at each session. Each session will have a unique QR code to scan with your phone, or volunteers at the sessions can assist you. Employees who can assist you to scan in at Council Chambers and breakout sessions will be in yellow shirts with city logos. The QR code will be accessible, even if you watch online from your desk. If you miss that opportunity before the session, please email valuesconference@lasvegasnevada.govafter the conference with a list of the sessions you attended. Staff will enter these into Oracle training records.
   
   
9. The conference sessions count toward your annual training requirement. To receive training credit for attending conference sessions, you will need to add this to your timecard for the days/hours you spent listening to conference. Code your timecard to reflect the Projects training code for your department, Task code 46V, and Options default code 000 for those days/hours you attend the conference.

Join Your Co-Workers To Celebrate The Winners Of The
Mayor's And City Manager's 2025 Awards

8 A.M. In Council Chambers Tuesday, April 21

Nominees and winners of the Mayor's Award for Community Excellence and the City Manager's Award for Organizational Excellence will be announced at this year’s Employee Values Conference opening Tuesday, April 21, at 8 a.m. in City Hall Council Chambers. Nominees will be acknowledged during the ceremony and selected winners will be called forward to receive their awards. Those who were nominated, but not selected as the final winner, will receive a certificate acknowledging their nomination. The first conference keynote speaker will be introduced immediately following the awards.

Please support your staff and co-workers by attending this event!

Employee Emergency Preparedness Training April 15

Are you prepared to leave your home on short notice? Attend the April 15 Emergency Preparedness Evacuation Training at City Hall, 11 a.m.-noon in the first-floor training rooms, to learn more, with your supervisor's permission.

City Hall Pressure Washing Scheduled For April 18

Civic Center Outdoor Plaza April 24

Pressure washing with disinfectant of outdoor downtown facilities is scheduled as follows:

• City Hall/Jimmy Johns Restaurant patio, Saturday, April 18
• Las Vegas Civic Center outdoor plaza Friday, April 24

Pressure washing with disinfectant will include all outdoor facilities, underground parking garages, outdoor patios and dining areas, trash receptacles, ADA ramps, handrails, light pole bases, walkways, planters and iron works.

The annual Take Your Child To Work Day is scheduled for Thursday, April 23, 8 a.m.-2 p.m., in various locations throughout the city. See the current schedule for fun activities here. Fill out the registration form for the options desired throughout the day for you and your child/children here no later than Friday, April 17. Note that some of the options have limited space and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

To attend events at City Hall April 23, park employee vehicles in the City Parkway Garage at 350 S. City Parkway. Over-sized vehicle and overflow parking will be in the fenced lots north of City Parkway Garage. See the map. City vehicles that are not over-sized can park in the 500 S. Main St. Garage using transponders or vehicle access badges for entry. Personal employee badges should never be scanned when using a city vehicle, as doing so will trigger the $25 parking fee. If employees do not have a badge assigned to their city vehicle they should reach out to cardaccess@lasvegasnevada.gov and request one as soon as possible. 

Upcoming Events

Don't Park There Please! Monday, April 27, from approximately 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., First Street from Bonneville to Clark Avenue/ Goodman Way will be closed to all traffic. Cars will not be allowed to park on the street that morning. The street needs to be clear while the Harmonic Ascension sculpture is installed in Goodman Plaza.

Team Vegas is in second place this week with 61 points; Clark County is ahead with 66 points. Team NNSS has 49.5 points for third place. 

We need five men and 8 more women to compete in the Walk Race at Kellogg Zaher Sports Complex April 23; check in at 4:45 p.m., race begins at 5:30 p.m.  The race is 2.4 miles of walking as fast as you can (no running or jogging allowed). This is an individual event and each walker can score points for our team just by participating. Compete in your own age bracket and gender. Two competitors are needed in each age bracket to fill our team. Please contact Christine Wittwer (cwittwer@lasvegasnevada.gov) to sign up. Here are the age brackets for the walk/race:

Male and female swimmers in all age groups are needed for the 4 p.m. Sunday, April 19, competition at Municipal Pool. Your participation can earn points for the team! Contact Sean Simoneau at 702-229-2541 (ssimoneau@lasvegasnevada.gov) or Denzel Barbaran at ext. 2490 (jbabaran@lasvegasnevada.gov) for more information and to participate.

The Bike Race team needs riders! Please contact Ian Rynex at 702-229-6895 or irynex@lasvegasnevada.gov to participate. The race is April 22 at 5:30 p.m.

Female players are needed for the basketball team! Please contact Mike Hijar at mhijar@lasvegasnevada.gov for information and to participate. Basketball team will compete at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 30, at Doolittle Community Center.

2026 Corporate Challenge Bocce Champions (from left) Josh Nolan, Marco Velotta, Rachel Lewison, Michael Jiang.

Questions or Want In? Jen Winder (Monday–Thursday) jwinder@lasvegasnevada.gov. Jordyne Duncan (Wednesday–Saturday) jduncan@lasvegasnevada.gov.   Let's fill these team rosters! Be sure to visit the Corporate Challenge webpage and check out the full event schedule.

COME CHEER ON THE TEAM THIS WEEK!

Tennis - Wednesday, April 15, 5:20 p.m. at Darling Tennis Center, 7901 W. Washington Ave.

5K Race - Saturday, April 18, 7:30 a.m. at Kellogg Zaher Sports Complex, 7901 W. Washington Ave.

Outdoor Volleyball - Saturday, April 18, 1 p.m. at Centennial Hills Park Sand Volleyball Courts, 7101 N. Buffalo Drive.

Swimming - Sunday, April 19, 4 p.m. at Municipal Pool, 431 E. Bonanza Road.

Corporate Challenge is open to retirees as well as current employees, so please share this information with any retirees who might be interested.

Earn bonus points for the city team by volunteering to help with Corporate Challenge, or with any outside agency for the Charity Challenge, or by donating blood by May 14. Every contribution helps us win. Contact Jordyne Duncan for more information and the volunteer form.

Let’s make this another unforgettable Corporate Challenge season — see you at the start line!

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