Bustamante Adams, Irene, 1968-

Irene Bustamante Adams believes in the reinvention of oneself as the path to the future. And since coming to Nevada in 1990 she has proven that anything is possible.

She was born and raised in rural California where she worked the fields alongside her family members growing up. Her mother is a native of New Mexico, with family that dates back six generations; her father was born in Mexico.

Inspired by her mother’s own fortitude and the encouragement of a high school teacher, Irene applied for a scholarship to California State University, Fresno, and earned a Bachelor of Science in business. This success made her the first in her family to do so. Years later, she received an Executive Master Business Administration degree at UNLV.

Making Las Vegas home began in the early 1990s. She worked her way up from clerk to corporate levels with MGM. She would work for MGM for eighteen years. Between the years of 2010 to 2018, Irene would also be a member of the Nevada Assembly from the 42nd district. It was an historic era for Latinas elected to the Assembly.

It was not her last “reinvention.” At the time of this oral history interview, Irene is the Deputy Director and Chief Strategy Officer of Workforce Connections.