Meet the Team
Bruce Breslow
Founder
Bruce is the Founder of Nevada Strategies, a Reno-based government consultancy and economic development group.
For four decades, Bruce has been helping Nevada businesses succeed – first in private sector real estate development, then in marketing, and most recently in various high-ranking government roles. Having worked at city, county and state levels of government, Bruce has a true insider’s understanding of how to connect business and government to achieve results.
Bruce’s resume includes nine years as mayor of Sparks, Nevada, during which time he conceived and developed two of Sparks’ most iconic public spaces – Victorian Square and the Sparks Marina. Bruce has served as a city planning commissioner, a member of the regional governing board, and as Chairman of the Board of the Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority, during which time he brought the National Bowling Stadium to Reno.
At the state level, Bruce served as Executive Director of the Nevada Agency for Nuclear Projects and Director of the Department of Motor Vehicles, during which time he created the world's first testing and registration program for autonomous vehicles. As Director of the Nevada Department of Business & Industry, Bruce oversaw 14 agencies, including Housing, Real Estate, Insurance, Financial Institutions, and Transportation Services. Most recently, Bruce served as Commissioner of the state’s Public Utilities Commission.
Bruce is a familiar face throughout Nevada, having worked as a nightly news anchor for 15 years, in addition to his high-profile government jobs. He is an eight-time Summer Olympic Commentator and was inducted into the Nevada Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 1998.
Jim R. Barbee
President & CEO
Jim came to Nevada four decades ago and is a graduate of Douglas High School. He completed his Bachelor’s and Master’s in Agriculture Science in California and returned to Nevada in the early 2000s to start a career working for the State of Nevada. With 20 years at the State Nevada serving both at the Department of Education in Career and Technical Education, and finally as the Director of Agriculture for Governor Sandoval, he took the leadership role of County Manager at Churchill County for seven years. In his time at the State, he developed policies in career education and funding, food safety, nutrition, environmental resources, production agriculture, mining, wildlife, and international trade. Jim served on the State Environment Commission, the FFA National Board of Directors, the State Land Use Planning Advisory Council, and Junior Livestock Show Board. He also chaired the Western United States Trade Association and the Western State Association of Departments of Agriculture.
In his time leading Churchill County as Manager, he developed an economic recreational tourism plan that led to the construction and implementation of the Rafter 3C Arena that directly had an economic impact of $15 million in 2024. Additionally working with the US Navy, Department of Defense, Nevada’s Congressional Legislatures, and Clark County Commissioners, he was able to establish Churchill County as an eligible entity of the federal Southern Nevada Land Management Act agreement. This action alone led to the 2025 cooperative agreement approval for $42 million in new recreational facilities at the 3C Event Complex and the Fallon North Maine Ball Fields.
Jim has been honored with the National FFA Honorary American Degree, the UNR College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Recourse Outstanding Agriculturist in 2016, the Nevada Cattlemen’s Presidents Award, and Chico State University College of Agriculture Distinguished Alumni for 2025.
Jim joined the Nevada Strategies team in 2025, where he continues to influence and advocate for industries, education, and economic development. He leverages decades of expertise and a steadfast commitment to foster growth, collaboration, and innovation to promote economic development in Nevada. Jim lives in Churchill County with his wife Heather and three children, Jack, Claire, and Jameson, on a small working farm where they raise Angus cattle, hay, and show pigs for junior livestock shows.