Melissa Saavedra - VP of Biz Bite and Special Events

Melissa Saavedra serves as the Program Manager for the Lieutenant Governor’s Office of Small Business Advocacy (OSBA) as an advocate for small businesses in Northern Nevada. The OSBA, created by AB184, understands small businesses contribute to Nevada’s diverse economic landscape and provides support to them. Small businesses can contact the OSBA to receive direct, specialized assistance while accessing valuable resources. The OSBA also researches and collects data on the challenges small businesses face in order to recommend improvements to state and local government services.

She is an experienced business development professional and marketer. She is valued for not only her ability to come up with thoughtful visions, but also implementing them using unique and fresh ideas. Driven by her dedication, she takes pride in creating solutions and opportunities for her clients by crafting strategic plans.

In her previous role, she was the Associate Publisher and Senior Business Development Manager for the Northern Nevada Business Weekly. There, she spearheaded the only business-to-business newspaper in Nevada while executing profitable marketing tactics and forging enduring relationships with local organizations and agencies. Recognized projects include the Northern Nevada Book of Lists, Northern Nevada Guide | Local & Relocation, Sierra Nevada Powerful Women, and Northern Nevada Best in Business.

She pursued her International Business and Marketing degrees at the University of Nevada, Reno and continues to reside in Northern Nevada with her husband and two children.