People: Samantha Tabarez named outreach and development director of the Reno Rodeo Foundation

The Reno Rodeo Foundation has announced the appointment of Samantha Tabarez as its new outreach and development director.

With over 15 years of nonprofit fundraising and volunteer management experience, Tabarez brings a wealth of knowledge and insight to the organization.

During her time as an undergraduate at the University of California, Davis, Tabarez majored in communications and Spanish. In addition to her educational pursuits, Tabarez was a member of the track and field team. After her collegiate endeavors, she worked as a purchasing manager and administrative assistant for Technicolor Creative Services.

Eventually, her passion for making a difference in people’s lives led her to the nonprofit sector.

Her career in this domain began at the American Heart Association in San Francisco, where she solicited funds and handled the overall logistics for the Heart Walk.

Tabarez then joined the Advancement Department of a K-12 independent Catholic school in San Francisco. She successfully managed teams of dedicated employees and volunteers, spearheading event planning and execution.

Additionally, she developed and managed both the alumni association and parent association and played an integral role in producing printed magazines and annual reports.

In 2019, Tabarez and her family relocated to Reno where she joined the University of Nevada, Reno’s Advancement Department as a member of the events team. There, she worked with key stakeholders to develop and execute approximately 50 annual events.

In 2021, Tabarez worked independently as a constituent relations consultant, lending her expertise to multiple nonprofits, and empowering them to achieve their advancement initiatives.

Now, in her role as outreach and development director, Tabarez will help further the organization's mission to build and leverage community partnerships that fund scholarships and support children with extraordinary needs across 14 Northern Nevada counties.