Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority CEO Steve Hill Shares Insights Through Swearingen Leadership Series
Tuesday, November 25, 2025
Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority President and CEO Steve Hill (ME, 1981) shared lessons learned during a fireside chat on October 27 as part of the Swearingen Leadership Series.
Mechanical engineering alumnus Steve Hill shared professional insights with students, faculty, and staff on October 27 as part of the Swearingen Leadership Series. Hill, a 1981 graduate, spoke with Rose-Hulman President Robert A. Coons in a fireside chat, discussing Hill's journey to becoming president and chief executive officer of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. Hill shared leadership lessons learned throughout his career, which has included expanding the Las Vegas Convention Center, negotiating The Boring Company's first commercial transportation system, and serving as chair of the Las Vegas Stadium Authority to oversee Allegiant Stadium — home of the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders.
"I'm surprised by my own career," Hill laughed. "It's the best job in Nevada, and I'm not sure I should confine it to Nevada."
As the audience dined on a lunch provided by Bon Appetit, Hill spoke about his path from engineering to economic development, noting that he gambled on himself when he moved from Dayton, Ohio, to Las Vegas at age 28. At the time, the two cities were nearly the same size.
Hill sought commercial construction bids in Vegas, but found vendors refused to sell him concrete due to his age and lack of experience. When someone finally took a chance on him, he landed a job working on the foundation of the Mirage Hotel, one of the first megaresorts in Vegas and the city's first major construction project in 15 years.
"I tried to reach out to others with more experience," Hill said, addressing a student question about dealing with doubt, especially in those early years.
As he began to prove his skill and competence, Hill was appointed by the governor of Nevada to lead the state's economic development, during which period he played a key part in bringing Tesla's first gigafactory to Reno. The factory nearly doubled the number of engineers living in northern Nevada.
"Engineering plays such a big role in innovation that drives the economy forward," Hill said.
He was quick to note that, while his accomplishments are extensive and impressive, it was the people around him who made it all possible, and learning to lead productively took concerted effort.
"A big part of leadership is understanding who you are and how you relate to others. I didn't realize that in a clear way until my mid-30s," Hill said.
Gazing at the audience of students on the cusps of their careers and remembering how it felt in their positions, Hill advised, "Don't spend much time working for the wrong person or with the wrong people…When you start wondering, you're probably not (with the right people)."
He continued, "Achieving things and achieving them in a way that makes you proud matters. Our goal is not to make the MGM more money. It's to make the quality of life in Las Vegas better."
In service of that goal, Hill, with resort partners and community leaders, has helped secure marquee events for the city, including Super Bowl LVIII, the 2027 College Football Playoff National Championship, the 2028 NCAA Final Four, 2025 and 2026 WrestleMania, and the annual Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, helping solidify Las Vegas' position as the sports and entertainment capital of the world.
The Swearingen Leadership Series brings speakers to campus to encourage development of future leaders in science, engineering, and mathematics to solve complex problems. It was established through support from John Swearingen, a 1981 Rose-Hulman chemical engineering alumnus, and his wife, Anne. Previous speakers have included science communicator Hank Green, Eli Lilly executive Dedric Day, 3M corporate scientist Jayshree Seth, entrepreneur Kristen Hadeed, and biotech leader Nina Tandon.
"I'm surprised by my own career," Hill laughed. "It's the best job in Nevada, and I'm not sure I should confine it to Nevada."
As the audience dined on a lunch provided by Bon Appetit, Hill spoke about his path from engineering to economic development, noting that he gambled on himself when he moved from Dayton, Ohio, to Las Vegas at age 28. At the time, the two cities were nearly the same size.
Hill sought commercial construction bids in Vegas, but found vendors refused to sell him concrete due to his age and lack of experience. When someone finally took a chance on him, he landed a job working on the foundation of the Mirage Hotel, one of the first megaresorts in Vegas and the city's first major construction project in 15 years.
"I tried to reach out to others with more experience," Hill said, addressing a student question about dealing with doubt, especially in those early years.
As he began to prove his skill and competence, Hill was appointed by the governor of Nevada to lead the state's economic development, during which period he played a key part in bringing Tesla's first gigafactory to Reno. The factory nearly doubled the number of engineers living in northern Nevada.
"Engineering plays such a big role in innovation that drives the economy forward," Hill said.
He was quick to note that, while his accomplishments are extensive and impressive, it was the people around him who made it all possible, and learning to lead productively took concerted effort.
"A big part of leadership is understanding who you are and how you relate to others. I didn't realize that in a clear way until my mid-30s," Hill said.
Gazing at the audience of students on the cusps of their careers and remembering how it felt in their positions, Hill advised, "Don't spend much time working for the wrong person or with the wrong people…When you start wondering, you're probably not (with the right people)."
He continued, "Achieving things and achieving them in a way that makes you proud matters. Our goal is not to make the MGM more money. It's to make the quality of life in Las Vegas better."
In service of that goal, Hill, with resort partners and community leaders, has helped secure marquee events for the city, including Super Bowl LVIII, the 2027 College Football Playoff National Championship, the 2028 NCAA Final Four, 2025 and 2026 WrestleMania, and the annual Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, helping solidify Las Vegas' position as the sports and entertainment capital of the world.
The Swearingen Leadership Series brings speakers to campus to encourage development of future leaders in science, engineering, and mathematics to solve complex problems. It was established through support from John Swearingen, a 1981 Rose-Hulman chemical engineering alumnus, and his wife, Anne. Previous speakers have included science communicator Hank Green, Eli Lilly executive Dedric Day, 3M corporate scientist Jayshree Seth, entrepreneur Kristen Hadeed, and biotech leader Nina Tandon.