Carson City, NV May 16, 2019
Department of Business and Industry Director
Michael Brown has appointed Rickisha Hightower, Esq. as Interim Commissioner of
the Financial Institutions Division (FID).
The appointment comes after FID Commissioner George Burns announced his
resignation with an intent to retire from state service effective May 3. Burns served nearly 12 years as Nevada’s top
banking regulator.
Rickisha has served as FID deputy commissioner
since December 2018. Prior to that she was a deputy attorney general with the Office
of the Nevada Attorney General where her clients included the Nevada Mortgage
Lending Division and the FID. Before
relocating to Las Vegas in 2015, she was a private practice attorney in Florida
representing banks, mortgage servicers and brokers, and real estate investors.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science
from Albany State University in Alabany, Ga. and a juris doctor from Stetson
University College of Law in Gulfport Fla. Rickisha is licensed with the
Florida Bar and U.S. Middle District of Florida and is the recipient of the
Williams F. Blews Pro Bono Service and Public Service Fellow awards.
“I want
to extend my thanks to George for his years of service to the State of Nevada
and the Financial Institutions Division. We wish him all the best in his
retirement.” said Director Brown. “I appreciate Rickisha agreeing to serve as
in this interim role to oversee the important and ongoing work of regulating
Nevada’s financial institutions.”
A nation-wide recruitment will be opened to
fill the vacancy.
About
the Financial Institutions Division
The Financial Institutions Division, a division
of the Department of Business and Industry is mandated to maintain a financial
institutions system for the citizens of Nevada that is safe and sound, protects
consumers and defends the overall public interest. The Division also
promotes economic development through the efficient, effective and equitable
licensing, examination and supervision of depository, fiduciary, and
non-depository financial institutions.
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