Our CEO Dr. Rony Delgarde Joined Rep. Dina Titus, Lt. Gen. Jody J. Daniels, and Nevada Leaders to Highlight U.S. Global Leadership
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LAS VEGAS, Nev. – July 7, 2026 – Business, military, academic, nonprofit, and civic leaders gathered today at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas for the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition’s (USGLC) policy forum, “When America Leads, Nevada Wins,” to discuss how American diplomacy, development, and international partnerships strengthen national security while creating economic opportunities for Nevada businesses and communities. The forum brought together approximately 30 regional leaders representing government, higher education, economic development, veterans’ organizations, business, and nonprofit sectors to examine Nevada’s growing role in an increasingly interconnected world.
The event featured U.S. Representative Dina Titus (NV-01), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Lieutenant General Jody J. Daniels (Ret.), former Chief of Army Reserve and former Commanding General of the U.S. Army Reserve Command; Jim Richardson, National Outreach Director for the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition; and China Gum, Western Outreach Director for the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition. Opening remarks and introductions were delivered by Dr. Rony Delgarde, Founder and CEO of Global Paint for Charity and a member of the USGLC Nevada Advisory Committee.
“Today’s conversation demonstrated that America’s leadership extends far beyond diplomacy alone,” said Dr. Delgarde. “When America leads with innovation, partnerships, and compassion, Nevada wins through stronger businesses, greater economic opportunity, enhanced security, and expanded global engagement.”
Drawing from his own journey as an immigrant, educator, entrepreneur, and humanitarian, Dr. Delgarde reflected on how the United States transformed his life and enabled him to create Global Paint for Charity, an organization that has now served communities in more than 44 countries and 25 U.S. cities, positively impacting more than 15 million people while diverting millions of gallons of reusable paint from landfills through a circular economy model.
“I came to America with only five dollars in my pocket,” Delgarde told attendees. “America gave me the opportunity not only to pursue higher education but to build an organization centered on four pillars: Paint, Planet, People, and Purpose. Through those opportunities, we’ve been able to transform communities around the world while creating environmental and economic value here at home.”
Throughout the discussion, speakers emphasized that diplomacy, international development, and strategic partnerships remain essential complements to military strength. Jim Richardson highlighted the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition’s bipartisan mission of bringing together business, military, faith, academic, and civic leaders to advocate for strategic investments that strengthen America’s influence abroad while benefiting communities at home. He noted that international affairs programs represent a very small portion of the federal budget but help prevent conflict, combat disease, strengthen alliances, and create opportunities for American businesses.
Representative Titus discussed how her work on the House Foreign Affairs Committee supports American diplomacy, democratic institutions, humanitarian assistance, and international partnerships. The conversation explored current geopolitical challenges, including Ukraine, the Middle East, global health, and the importance of maintaining an effective diplomatic workforce capable of responding to emerging international crises.
Lieutenant General Daniels offered perspectives drawn from more than four decades of military service, including deployments in Iraq, Kosovo, and Africa. She emphasized that diplomacy, humanitarian assistance, coalition building, and civilian partnerships frequently reduce instability before military intervention becomes necessary. Her remarks highlighted how military operations often depend upon cooperation with civilian agencies, international organizations, allied governments, and humanitarian partners to rebuild communities, restore healthcare systems, reopen schools, and strengthen local institutions following conflict.
The forum also focused on Nevada’s unique position within the global economy. As one of America’s premier tourism destinations, Las Vegas welcomes millions of international visitors annually while supporting thousands of businesses that depend upon global travel, foreign investment, and international trade. Speakers noted that stable diplomatic relationships contribute directly to Nevada’s tourism industry, convention business, higher education, advanced manufacturing, logistics, and economic development efforts.
Beyond tourism, Nevada continues to expand its role in technology, clean energy, advanced manufacturing, mining, aerospace, and logistics. Strategic international engagement creates new export opportunities, strengthens supply chains, attracts foreign direct investment, and helps position Nevada businesses to compete successfully in global markets.
Dr. Delgarde connected these broader themes to his own work in environmental sustainability, explaining how international partnerships allow organizations such as Global Paint for Charity to reduce waste while improving housing, schools, healthcare facilities, and disaster recovery efforts throughout the world.
“When we help communities recover after disasters, renovate schools, and rehabilitate neighborhoods, we’re not simply providing humanitarian assistance,” Delgarde said. “We are restoring dignity, creating opportunity, and demonstrating how innovation and partnership can improve lives.”
Participants represented a broad cross-section of Nevada leadership, including the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development, UNLV, the College of Southern Nevada, the City of North Las Vegas, veteran organizations, international affairs leaders, hospitality executives, business leaders, and nonprofit organizations. The diversity of attendees reflected the bipartisan and cross-sector nature of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition’s work.
The forum concluded with an interactive discussion on America’s future role in global leadership, emphasizing that diplomacy, development, and defense are mutually reinforcing pillars of national security. Speakers encouraged continued bipartisan collaboration to ensure that the United States remains a trusted global partner while creating economic growth and opportunity for communities across Nevada.
“As Nevada continues to grow as an international destination for tourism, business, innovation, education, and investment, events like today demonstrate that our future prosperity is closely connected to thoughtful global engagement,” said Dr. Delgarde. “When America leads with purpose and partnership, Nevada is well positioned to lead alongside it.”
About the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition
The U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC) is a bipartisan coalition of more than 500 businesses and nonprofit organizations, together with national security experts, veterans, faith leaders, and local leaders who advocate for strategic investments in diplomacy and international development as essential components of U.S. national security and economic competitiveness.
About Global Paint for Charity
Global Paint for Charity is the nation’s first nonprofit organization dedicated to recovering and redistributing surplus paint through a circular economy model. Founded by Dr. Rony Delgarde, the organization has made a significant impact by removing over 320,000 tons of paint from landfills and redistributing more than 5 million gallons to artists and nonprofit organizations globally. Our efforts have transformed over 8,000 schools, underprivileged family homes, and community spaces across 45 countries, improving the lives of more than 15 million people. Through our work, we’ve beautified local urban areas, enhanced mental health, supported beautiful mural projects, boosted property values, and contributed to economic growth in disadvantaged regions. Additionally, GPC has played a vital role in disaster relief, helping rebuild homes and schools in communities affected by natural disasters and post-war rehabilitation.
Media Resources
Event Photo Gallery
High-resolution photographs from the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition’s “When America Leads, Nevada Wins” forum are available at:
U.S. Global Leadership Coalition: https://www.flickr.com/photos/usglc/albums/72177720334584361/
CEO of Global Paint for Charity: https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipOvk4kY-x6AkRcXJ89qPLE9UGEOOOYZKJ2ZlNLT
Members of the media are welcome to use these photographs for editorial coverage of the event. Please credit Global Paint for Charity and the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition where appropriate.
