Ron Knecht, MS, JD & PE  

Ron Knecht, a Nevada Policy Research Institute Senior Policy Fellow, is an economist, financial and policy analyst, Professional Mechanical Engineer (registered in California), and law school graduate, with a 49-year career in entrepreneurial small business and public service. Also, a founder, executive or director for 12 firms, charities, community-service and public-interest groups.

As Nevada State Controller in 2015-19, he cut office spending 13% and wrote Nevada’s first four Controller’s Annual Reports, which won awards. He led a team that developed an alternative state budget in 2015 that would have obviated a tax increase.

On the Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education, he chaired the Budget & Finance and Audit Committees and was very active on the Investment & Major Projects Committee. He’s also been a college teacher and Nevada Legislator.

In previous jobs in Nevada, California and Illinois, he testified extensively as an expert witness on many subjects and served in management.