Shannon Chambers selected as Nevada labor commissioner

Department of Business and Industry Director Bruce Breslow on Monday announced the appointment of Shannon Chambers as Nevada labor commissioner.

She succeeds previous commissioner Thoran Towler, who left to become general counsel for the Nevada Association of Realtors. She will work out of Carson City and officially assume the role Dec. 29, officials said in a statement.

Chambers has 15 years of combined legal and administrative experience in public sector employment. She has extensive knowledge of state government and the legislative process, the statement said.

She most recently served as the chief financial officer of the Department of Business and Industry. Previously, she was deputy director of administration for the Department. In both roles, her duties included budget development and administration, and personnel management for 13 divisions and the director’s office. Prior to that, she worked at the Nevada Legislative Counsel Bureau.

“I am very excited and grateful for the appointment and the opportunity to work toward improving operations at the Office of the Labor Commissioner,” Chambers said in a separate email statement.

In the statement, officials noted Chambers’ legal experience includes working as a senior staff attorney and deputy attorney general for the state of California representing various agencies, boards, and commissions in administrative, state, and federal courts, and presiding over hearings and committees. She has also served as an administrative law judge presiding over and issuing decisions in personnel cases.

She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Nevada Reno and a law degree from Pepperdine University.

The Office of the Labor Commissioner is a division of the Department of Business and Industry. The Labor Commissioner strives to ensure that all workers are treated fairly under the law by investigating complaints of non-payment of wages, State minimum wage, overtime, and prevailing wage disputes. The office also monitors youth employment standards, including work hours and safe, nonhazardous working conditions.