Ricky Gourrier has worked in what he calls the “big five” industries: entertainment, government, education, politics and nonprofit. But with each role, he struggled to genuinely strike joy.
“I first started to experience that joy while advocating for children in the Nevada Legislature, when I was serving as a lobbyist for Communities in Schools [CIS] Nevada,” Gourrier said.
Gourrier was able to work with critical stakeholders on behalf of CIS to ensure children living in poverty have support and access to resources—a life-changing benefit to the 60,000 CIS students impacted. It was the proudest moment of his career thus far.
It was also then that Gourrier had a chance run-in with Eddie Ableser, a former Arizona state senator and director at the Nevada Department of Education. This encounter led to the start of Tri-Strategies, its government relations and public affairs firm.
“The [more deeply] ingrained I became in politics and government, the more I realized it is my responsibility to help those in need,” Gourrier said.
Gourrier advocated for a bill created in honor of Carson Arreola, a 6-year-old Las Vegas boy who lost his life to leukemia three days after diagnosis. The bill was signed into law by Gov. Steve Sisolak and provides for continuing education to physicians on the symptoms of childhood cancer, educates parents on the importance of annual physical examinations for children and calls for the issuance of a Childhood Cancer Awareness license plate.
Gourrier has lent his pro bono talents to support a variety of causes including Awaken, which helps survivors of human trafficking, and Horse Power, Nevada’s wild horse protection group. He currently serves on the Salvation Army board of directors, the Native Son Spelling Bee executive committee and Nevada’s 21st Century Community Learning Centers advisory committee.