Life in Focus
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From the Nevada high desert to Washington D.C., from tribal councils to rodeo arenas — a life lived fully.
Leader. Author. Servant. Exploring the intersection of faith, leadership, and what it means to live with an open heart — wherever in the world that leads.
About Lee
I've spent my life in service — to communities, to teams, to God, and to the idea that who we become is shaped not by our victories, but by our defeats.
"We aren't shaped by our victories, but by our defeats."
— Lee BonnerFrom the mountains of Nevada to the shores of Southeast Asia, my journey has taken some unexpected turns. I served as a Douglas County Commissioner, worked in Nevada state government, led worship in churches across cultures, earned my PADI certification in Bali's crystal waters, and now write and work from Thailand — all while working on a book about what it truly means to stay open.
That openness — what I call "the shape of a U" — is the thread that ties it all together. Community, faith, leadership, and the willingness to keep saying yes to the next chapter.
Writing & Reflection
Bali's lush culture was hard to leave. But frequent travel to India, a new business chapter, and the search for what comes next led me to the shores of Na Chom Thian — and a different kind of belonging.
From beachside warungs to Balinese wedding ceremonies, the people of Sanur reshaped how I understand openness and love.
If GE can build a locomotive in 45 days instead of six months, the State of Nevada can streamline a permitting process. Here's why lean thinking matters in public service.
From Nasi Goreng to Soto Ayam — how Indonesia's cuisine reflects its remarkable cultural mosaic, and what kecap manis has to do with American ketchup.
A road trip with my driver Gede, offerings of flowers and incense, and a reminder that faith flows in more places than we expect.
When I ran in 2010, the goal was simple: economic development, fiscal responsibility, and making Douglas County a place families could stay and thrive.
Career & Experience
I moved to Bali to retire — and John and Isaac pulled me back in. Working part-time alongside two of my closest friends, this role has been an unexpected gift: a chance to keep learning new technology, put it into practice daily, and do meaningful work without sacrificing the life I'd built abroad. As Chief of Staff, I oversee Integrated Health Monitoring and Compliance for a company helping businesses automate and connect their systems.
Retired from public service and moved to Bali on a business visa — a leap of faith mid-pandemic. Two years of immersion in Balinese culture, faith, community, and writing. Earned a PADI Open Water Diver certification in Nusa Penida. Began writing The Shape of U.
Began this statewide role in 2015 while still serving as Douglas County Commissioner, then continued full-time through 2021. Served as the bridge between the State of Nevada and its most geographically diverse stakeholders — 17 counties and 28 Native American tribes. Working directly with county commissioners, government leaders, and tribal chiefs, I helped them navigate complex transportation and infrastructure challenges, cut through bureaucracy, and move critical projects forward. Simultaneously served as Nevada's State Railroad Coordinator, rewriting the Nevada State Rail Plan from the ground up — earning recognition as one of the most uniquely structured state rail plans in the country.
The 2021 Nevada State Rail Plan represents a generational reimagining of how Nevada approaches rail infrastructure — departing entirely from the 2012 predecessor plan and establishing a bold, data-driven framework for freight and passenger rail investment over the next 40+ years. It sets state policy on freight rail, passenger rail, and commuter rail, and serves as the foundational document for federal and state transportation investment decisions across Nevada.
After deep analysis of 500+ shippers, the plan revealed that 70% of all trucks on Nevada roads are traveling to and from California — reframing Nevada's transportation challenge as a regional freight efficiency crisis uniquely solvable through rail. Every major strategic recommendation flows from this insight.
Key Contributions
"2021 Rail Plan Recommendations Strategies — LBonner" is publicly archived on the Nevada DOT website as a key summit deliverable.
View Full Plan at NDOT →Conducted undercover sting operations across Northern Nevada on behalf of the FDA — identifying and documenting violations, building cases, and working within law enforcement frameworks to protect public safety. A unique assignment that required deep discretion, strategic thinking, and the ability to operate in complex, ambiguous environments.
Served communities across Lake Tahoe and Carson Valley through a period of economic challenge and recovery. Oversaw 702+ county programs, introduced priority-based budgeting, secured $1.3M in federal airport funding, balanced a $3M shortfall, and helped attract 50+ new businesses to the region — all without raising taxes. Concurrently served as Director of Communications for the Northern Nevada Development Authority (2012–2014) and as Government & Tribal Liaison / State Railroad Coordinator for the State of Nevada beginning in 2015.
Served concurrently with the Douglas County Commissioner role as Director of Communications for NNDA — the economic development arm of a five-county region in Northern Nevada. Led communications strategy, stakeholder engagement, and public outreach to attract businesses, support workforce development, and position the region for sustainable economic growth. The NNDA's work during this period earned a NADO Innovation Award in 2012, recognizing breakthrough regional economic development strategies.
Began my professional career in public relations at CNN — one of the world's most recognized news organizations. This role sharpened my ability to communicate clearly under pressure, craft compelling narratives, and understand how information shapes public perception. Skills I've drawn on in every leadership role since.
Served as a pastor and worship leader. Brought GE's culture of operational excellence into business and public-sector environments. These years forged a conviction that strong process, genuine community, and living with purpose are not mutually exclusive.
Technology & Business
Long before public service, my foundation was built in the technology sector — learning how enterprise systems work, how data drives decisions, and how the best companies use process discipline to scale. That experience never left me. It shows up in everything from how I led Douglas County to how I run operations at Concurrent today.
Cut my teeth in the enterprise technology world at BellSouth Business Systems, one of the country's leading telecom and business technology providers. Here I learned how to listen to what businesses actually needed — not just what they asked for — and translate complex technology solutions into real outcomes. It was a master class in building relationships, understanding infrastructure, and the art of consultative selling in a fast-moving industry.
GE Energy was a transformative chapter — one that instilled a deep belief in process excellence that I've carried into every role since. Working within GE's culture of Six Sigma and operational discipline, I learned how world-class organizations eliminate waste, accelerate timelines, and build systems that scale. The legendary story of GE reducing locomotive production from six months to 45 days is more than folklore — it's a framework I've applied to government, nonprofits, and startups alike. GE sharpened my instinct for finding the 30% of any process that can be cut without sacrificing quality.
GolfStat came to me at a critical and sensitive moment — the company's founder and principal had passed away, and the organization needed steady hands to keep it running and find a path forward. Brought in as a contractor, my role was to stabilize operations, lead a rebranding effort, and leverage the existing legacy technology platform to ensure GolfStat could continue honoring its most important commitment: providing the NCAA with official golf statistics and national rankings for college players across the country. It was a mission-driven engagement that required equal parts operational discipline, empathy, and strategic clarity — keeping something meaningful alive and pointing it toward the future.
I moved to Bali in 2021 to retire — and I meant it. But John and Isaac, two of the sharpest minds I've known for 28+ years, had other plans. They drew me out of retirement on a part-time basis to help build something meaningful, and I haven't looked back since. What started as a gentle re-entry became one of the most energizing chapters of my career. As Chief of Staff, I oversee Integrated Health Monitoring (IHM) and Compliance for a company that helps businesses connect their systems and move faster through enterprise integration and automation. What keeps me here isn't obligation — it's the fact that this work gives me energy. Every day I'm learning new technology, putting that learning into practice, and staying sharp in ways retirement never could have offered. The GE discipline, the telecom instincts, the data mindset: it all shows up here, every day.
A "U" shape is open at the top — vulnerable, receptive, willing to receive whatever comes. This book is about that posture: choosing to live in a way that creates space for connection, growth, and the people God places in your path.
Drawing on stories from Nevada courtrooms, Balinese temples, Indian business trips, and beachside warungs, The Shape of U is a guide to living strong and fearless — shaped by defeat more than victory, and richer for it.
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From the Nevada high desert to Washington D.C., from tribal councils to rodeo arenas — a life lived fully.
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Whether you want to talk leadership, faith, the book, or just swap notes on life in Southeast Asia — I'd love to hear from you.