Deputy Director Marcel F. Schaerer


M Schaerer 2023Marcel Fernando Schaerer is the Department of Business and Industry's southern Nevada deputy director based in Las Vegas. He is responsible for managing the Las Vegas director's office and overseeing programs and initiatives to address the needs of businesses and consumers including small business advocacy and resources, access to capital, advocacy for minorities and consumer protection.

Marcel has led a team effort to create a statewide business support ecosystem by developing two interactive products for businesses and entrepreneurs - the Roadmap: Guide to Starting and Growing a Business in Nevada and the Nevada Business Support Ecosystem chart. Under his tenure, the department also launched the Shop Small Nevada campaign on Small Business Saturday and the Nevada Small Business Resource Fair in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration Nevada office.

With more than 30 years of experience in business management and operations, Marcel is passionate about creating solid collaborative partnerships. He proactively engages federal, state and local business support organization in coordinating services and programs, and to address community needs and service gaps.

Marcel offers expertise in a wide variety of approaches used in strategic planning, workplace training, management development and systems improvements. He and his wife Sylvia founded International Professional Development Services, a workforce consulting and training firm established in 1996. From 2009 to 2014, he worked at the Nevada Small Business Development Center as director of the Imagine 2020 Initiative and southern Nevada operations. Prior to that, he was the division director at the Center for Employment Training in Reno, Nevada. 

Marcel earned a bachelor's degree in Economics and Global Studies and a master's degree in Economics from the University of Nevada, Reno, and worked as an instructor of macro and microeconomics in the past.