Author: Mike Higdon

I love showing people what’s important in their city and helping them make better choices. I'm a multi-talented communicator and storyteller who can write, design, photograph, video, build websites and manage events. I've used these skills to build a thought leadership and influencer brand in Reno. I am an expert on Reno’s urban evolution and I've been called the king of the hipsters. I covered Reno life — downtown and Midtown development, change, millennial issues, poverty and culture — for the Reno Gazette Journal. from 2015 to 2018. Now I am the marketing manager for Nevada's first business improvement district, the Downtown Reno Partnership. Our goal is to enhance downtown with marketing, economic development and hospitality and social outreach ambassadors. Starting in 2013, I broke news on and analyzed major developments shaping Reno. I explained the origin of Reno's cultural touchstones, such as unearthing the never-before-known origin of the legendary Picon punch cocktail and telling the complete story of Reno's 95-year obsession with arches. I am also an expert on Lime bikes and 747s parked in the desert. In addition to telling stories, my expertise allows me to extend my brand to more than just news. I've organized panels on Reno's housing crisis, served on the mayor's Operation Downtown committee and given more Ignite Reno presentations than anyone else in the city. Today, I use all those skills to bring new life to Reno's urban core.

The Nevada Sagebrush news design

by  on  in Design

In college I worked at the Nevada Sagebrush, the student newspaper. I started out as A&E editor then moved into the Design Editor position. While there, I created a lot of really fun, uninhibited work. In each example below, I worked with photographers and writers to create the best design package. In many of the examples, such as Looking Inside Nevada Baseball, I chopped the baseball gear up, took the photos and laid out the section. With The Manliest Man Alive, I did the interview with Chuck Norris and used hand out art to create a two page story.

Reno Mo-Men Public Service Announcement

by  on  in Videos

In 2014, Josh Arias and I created the Reno Mo-Men, a Movember team in Reno, Nev. On Nov. 1, Josh set up his mobile barber station at Under the Rose Brewing Co. in partnership with Full Belly Deli to create a Shave the Date event. Afterward, I created this video to promote awareness for the team and help raise money. Also, it was an excuse to use my new camera.

Ultimately, by the end of Movember, the Reno Mo-Men had 46 members and raised $7,619!