Strengthen Our Community

Mike Kazmierski is the Executive Director of Strengthen our Community (SoC), a non-profit that is committed to developing cooperative, caring solutions to regional needs. Mike has been a government, community, and non-profit organization leader for many years and is eager to address complex community challenges with innovative and collaborative solutions. 

Mike has led economic development non-profits over the past 25 years and was the President & CEO of the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada (EDAWN) from 2011-2023. Under his leadership, EDAWN's non-profit team successfully diversified the regional economy, earning recognition as one of the top economic development agencies in the country. Mike’s tenure saw the attraction of over 250 new companies to the region, leading to significant job growth and the transformation of the region into a burgeoning technology and advanced manufacturing hub.  

Kazmierski is a retired Army Colonel. He holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the U.S. Military Academy (West Point), a master’s degree in business administration, and a master’s degree in military arts & science. Mike is a Wisconsin native, and his wife, Margaret, is a former attorney, schoolteacher, and now a realtor for Dickson Realty.