Senator Luján and Ms. Sewald will provide tribute remarks as U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto is honored with the 2024 Edward R. Roybal Award for Outstanding Public Service


WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) announced today that U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján and President and CEO of the Vegas Chamber of Commerce Mary Beth Sewald will provide tribute remarks as United States Senator from Nevada, the Honorable Catherine Cortez Masto, is presented with the 2024 Edward R. Roybal Award for Outstanding Public Service at the organization’s annual NALEO Edward R. Roybal Legacy Celebration, taking place in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, September 24, 2024.

Senator Luján has represented the state of New Mexico in the United States Senate since 2021. He grew up in Nambé, New Mexico, a rural community north of Santa Fe. Since being elected to Congress in 2008, he has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of his constituents. Before serving in Congress, Senator Luján was Chairman of the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission and, before that, also served as Director of Administrative Services and Chief Financial Officer of New Mexico’s Cultural Affairs Department. Senator Luján earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from New Mexico Highlands University.  

Ms. Sewald is the President and CEO of the Vegas Chamber of Commerce. In this role, she represents the Las Vegas business community in various capacities. She was recognized as the first woman to be named Television General Manager at KRNV in Reno, Nevada, in 2003 and was inducted into the Nevada Broadcaster’s Association Hall of Fame in 2009. In 2022, Nevada Business Magazine named her one of Nevada’s Most Respected Leaders. She was also honored with the Silver State Award for Excellence in Service and named one of Nevada Business Magazine’s 2019 Women to Watch. Ms. Sewald earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

“NALEO is thankful to have Senator Luján and President and CEO of the Vegas Chamber of Commerce, Mary Beth Sewald, join us as we honor United States Senator Catherine Cortez Masto and celebrate the legacy of our founder, the late Congressman Edward R. Roybal,” said NALEO CEO Arturo Vargas. “Senator Luján and Ms. Sewald’s leadership in their respective roles is admirable; we are thrilled for them to join us in one of our annual signature events.”

Established in 1996, the Edward R. Roybal Award for Outstanding Public Service is presented to individuals who have distinguished themselves as devoted public servants to the nation and the Latino community. The award pays tribute to the organization’s founder and President Emeritus, the late Congressman Edward R. Roybal.

For more information about the 2024 NALEO Edward R. Roybal Legacy Celebration, click here.

The event is by invitation only. Media interested in covering it can email media@naleo.org for

additional information.

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About NALEO
The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials is the non-partisan leadership organization of the nation’s more than 7,000 Latino elected and appointed officials.