Irene Bustamante Adams, the Deputy Director & Chief Strategy Officer for Workforce Connections, stands out as a dynamic and transformational leader in Southern Nevada’s Local Workforce Development Board.  Her prestigious recognitions include Emerge America’s “National Trailblazer” award and the esteemed “Women Inspiring Nevada” award by Vegas Inc.

 

With an extensive career at MGM Resorts International, where she ascended from clerk to a corporate role over 18 years, Bustamante Adams has demonstrated resilience and excellence.  She played a key role in creating and executing national award-winning programs for the organization.  Her dedication to public service led her to represent District 42 in the Nevada Assembly from 2010 to 2018, where she ultimately served as Speaker Pro Tempore. 

 

Hailing from the farming community of Kerman, California, Bustamante Adams overcame humble beginnings by waking before dawn to work in agricultural fields alongside her siblings.  As the first in her family to attend and graduate college, she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business management from California State University, Fresno. In 2007, Bustamante Adams became the first Latina in Nevada history to earn an Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) degree from UNLV.

 

In 2025, Bustamante Adams added another significant achievement to her portfolio by securing a position on the Clark County School Board, a remarkable feat in the fifth-largest school district in the nation with over 300,000 students.  Her colleagues recognized her leadership, electing her as the President of the Board that same year.  In 2026, she was also selected by her peers to serve as President of the Nevada Association of School Boards, overseeing all 17 counties.

 

Her personal life is as fulfilling as her professional one—married to Army Sergeant Brad Adams, she is the proud mother of two daughters, Olivia and Alaina, and grandmother of two remarkable human beings.   Irene Bustamante Adams continues to inspire and impact both her community and family with her unwavering dedication and outstanding contributions.