Roger and Lana Buehrer have supported United Way of Southern Nevada since they arrived in 1983, but their participation reaches back another 10 years when they lived in Northwestern Ohio. The Buehrers left Sylvania, Ohio, with two little boys, Aaron and Nick, to begin a marvelous adventure in Las Vegas.
“After 30 years of actively participating in this community and its vision of the future, we continue to believe in ‘paying it forward,’” said Roger.
The couple also instilled this philosophy in their sons. Both Aaron (36), who lives in Nampa, Idaho, and works for T-Mobile and Nick (33), who lives in Las Vegas and works for Southwest Gas Corporation, participate in United Way giving.
Roger and Lana’s financial support, which has included membership in “Gold Knight” and “Templar” societies for more than 10 years, has been augmented over the years by participation as volunteers and board members.
“We believe that the only way Las Vegas can continue to grow in a healthy manner is by supporting those agencies that help meet the issues that challenge our community,” said Roger. “Support should not just be financial, but should also include volunteering time and energy.”
Roger continues to serve on the boards of directors for the Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada and the East Valley Family Services, where he is board treasurer. In addition, Roger serves on the Bus Shelter and Bench Advisory Committee for the Regional Transportation Committee and teaches public relations part time for the UNLV Continuing Education program. Lana serves as a member of the Community Action Board for the Women’s Research Institute of Nevada.
“Roger and I encourage everyone to become engaged in our Las Vegas community,” Lana added. “There are many challenges, and to mitigate these challenges is by participating in those special agencies, especially United Way agencies, that focus on making Las Vegas a better place to live.”
Organizations that have been part of the Buehrer’s volunteer lives include the Southern Nevada Chapter of the American Red Cross, Communities in Schools of Southern Nevada, Family and Child Treatment Center, the local National Public Radio station (KNPR), Vegas Public Broadcasting Station (KLVX), Nevada Area Health Education Center (AHEC), Nevada Arts Advocates, and Planned Parenthood of Southern Nevada. The Buehrers also donate to Heifer International, the National Museum of the American Indian, the Southern Poverty Law Center, the United Methodist Committee on Relief, and the University United Methodist Church (UUMC).
Lana is a member of the Las Vegas Literary Society, which provides scholarships to high school students, and the “Bookies,” UUMC book club that participates in various charitable activities throughout the year. Roger, in his spare time, sings tenor with the Silver Statesmen Barbershop Chorus and is active in two quartets.
Roger earned a B.S. in Journalism from Bowling Green State University (BGSU) in Bowling Green, Ohio, and an M.A. from American University in Washington, D.C. He is an Accredited Public Relations professional and was elected to the Public Relations Society of America College of Fellows in 2002. He had worked in the public information departments of both the Las Vegas Valley Water District and Southwest Gas Corporation but retired in 2012. Lana has a B.S. in English from BGSU and an M.B.A. from the University of Phoenix. She is certified as both a Project Management Professional and a Facilities Management Professional. Lana was the facilities’ services manager for National Security Technologies (NSTec), the prime contractor to the Department of Energy for the Nevada National Security Site until her retirement in 2012.
