Welcome!
Brews and Economic Views brings together academia, government, business owners, and community organizations to discuss emerging technologies and trends in Nevada’s twelve economic sectors in an informal setting that fosters discussion, emceed by CBER’s Director, Andrew Woods.
Thank you to the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance for their generous support in our 2025 Brews and Economic Views events.
Save The Date!
The Economics of the Las Vegas Brand
Presented by
r
Monday, September 29, 2025
Location: The Assembly at UnCommons
5:30 – 7:30 pm
Location: The Assembly at UnCommons
8460 Rozita Lee Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89113
Event Panelists
Austin Brown
Vice President of Marketing, Las Vegas Grand Prix, Inc.
Austin Brown, a proud Las Vegas native, is the Vice President of Marketing for the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Inc., where he oversees all marketing for the annual race and has been instrumental in its success since joining in 2022. With a background in luxury resort marketing at MGM Resorts International and Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, Brown developed expertise in brand strategy, paid campaigns, and cross-functional leadership, managing multi-million-dollar budgets and launching high-profile activations, including ARIA and Vdara’s brand strategies. At the Grand Prix, he has led ticket sales campaigns, creative development for digital and traditional media, and global activations at Formula 1 races in Bahrain, the UK, and Monaco. A graduate of the University of San Diego with a BBA in Marketing, Brown is deeply committed to his hometown, balancing his career with family life and his passion for the Vegas Golden Knights, and remains a driving force behind the growth of the FORMULA 1 HEINEKEN LAS VEGAS GRAND PRIX.
Paul Smith
Vice President, Research and Insight, R&R Partners
Paul Smith is Vice President, Research and Insight for R&R Partners, where he leads important research projects on behalf of clients such as the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, Boeing, Las Vegas Raiders, Intermountain Health, NV Energy, the Southern Nevada Water Authority and many others. At R&R Partners, Paul specializes in market and industry analysis, competitive intelligence, as well as research and strategic planning to drive measurable outcomes that keep clients competitive and solve meaningful business problems. With a background in political campaigns, having worked for former Nevada Senator Harry Reid’s political organization across four election cycles, Paul has unique experience in helping clients navigate political and regulatory issues using research and data. A native Las Vegan whose parents both worked on the Las Vegas Strip, Paul is a local through and through. He is also a graduate of UNLV, earning a bachelor’s degree in political science.
Kim Spurgeon
Director, Film Nevada
Kim Spurgeon is the Director of the Film Nevada, a division of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, where she promotes the growth of the film industry in the state and advises senior leadership on industry-related policy. She also manages the state’s film tax incentive program and monitors the trends of these programs both domestically and internationally. In 2023, Kim was presented with the “Get $#it Done” award by Governor Lombardo for her exceptional work in state service. Prior to her role, Kim worked as a production manager on commercials, feature films and television shows, including “Behind the Candelabra,” “Now You See Me,” and “Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2.” During this time, she advanced her industry knowledge and built invaluable relationships with the crew members and vendors she now serves in her role at the Film Nevada. She earned a bachelor’s degree in communications with a concentration in film from Elon University.
Jay Vickers
Chief Operating Officer, UNLV’s Sports Innovation Institute
Jay Vickers, Chief Operating Officer of UNLV’s Sports Innovation Institute, brings over twenty years of senior leadership experience in management, fundraising, marketing, customer service, sports health, research, and community engagement. His strategic leadership has secured a $3.25 million appropriation for education and innovation initiatives, achieved NSHE-approved Institute status in record time, and created the first fully paid Super Bowl internship for 40 UNLV students in partnership with the NFL Foundation and United Way. A founding member of Game Changers United, the U.S. Soccer Federation Board for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging, he has worked to foster inclusivity within U.S. Soccer while also helping launch the Sports, Entertainment & Innovation Conference (SEICon). Through these efforts, Vickers continues to strengthen UNLV’s position as a global leader in sports innovation, aligning institutional and community objectives to drive growth and opportunity.
Season Pass
This exclusive pass includes:
- Access to all Brews & Economic Views events in 2025, featuring timely discussions and insights from industry experts.
- Exclusive CBER merchandise to show off their love for economics and learning.
- Two drink tickets at each event.
- A guest pass for one event of your choice, so you can share the experience with a friend or colleague, and two drink tickets.
