A Leader Shaping Nevada’s Economic Future

Some leaders leave a mark through titles, influence, or decades of service. Others leave a mark through the way they think, how they move through the world, how they contribute to their community, and how they elevate the people around them.

Hugh Anderson is the rare leader who does all three.

With more than 45 years of experience in financial services, Hugh has become one of Nevada’s most trusted voices in finance, economics, public policy, and community impact. As Managing Director of Hightower Las Vegas, a boutique wealth management firm and one of the largest investment advisory firms in Nevada, he guides individuals, families, and business owners through some of the most important financial decisions of their lives.

Beyond markets and portfolios, his work centers on something deeper: stewardship.

Hugh often repeats a simple philosophy that reflects the core of his leadership:

“Think with integrity, act with tenacity and always consider the impact of my actions on others.”

For him, true success is not just about professional achievement, but about “leaving a positive impact on everything and everyone I touch.” That mindset shows up in every board he serves on, every policy discussion he joins, and every interaction he has with the Southern Nevada community he has called home since 1984.

A Portrait Session with Purpose

When I photographed Hugh’s leadership portrait, I wanted to reflect more than seniority or status. His presence isn’t loud; it’s steady. Calm. Deliberate. He carries the kind of confidence that comes from decades of earned wisdom, not performance.

In the session, Hugh arrived as he is: deeply thoughtful, intentionally composed, and fully present. He listens first. He considers. He “thinks,” as his father taught him to do.

The portrait we created together needed to reflect that integrity and clarity. We shaped a clean, timeless composition: neutral tones, professional presence, and a subtle strength in his posture and gaze. 

That is the heart of my work as a leadership portrait and headshot photographer in Las Vegas: capturing the human truth of the individuals who are quietly shaping Nevada’s present and future.

From Long Island to Southern Nevada

Originally from Long Island, New York, Hugh moved to Southern Nevada in 1984, long before Las Vegas became the diversified economic force it is today. Over the years, he has grown into one of the state’s most respected business and finance leaders, not only because of his expertise, but because of his values.

He credits much of his success to the foundation he was given early in life:

He “started life the easy way,” with a wonderful family that instilled strong values and set him on a smooth path many others don’t have. Those values: integrity, humility, and clarity of thought, continue to guide how he makes decisions, how he leads teams, and how he serves his community.

Hightower Las Vegas: Guiding Clients Toward Clarity

As Managing Director and partner at Hightower Las Vegas, Hugh leads a comprehensive wealth management firm that serves clients across Nevada and beyond. The firm focuses on helping clients understand where they are today, where they want to be tomorrow, and what it will take to get there.

The approach is structured but personal:

• Develop a formal financial plan
• Create a clear, realistic vision for the future
• Outline choices so clients understand their options
• Explain the pros and cons of each path
• Build confidence through education and transparency

Hugh is known as an avid student of financial markets, the global economy, and geopolitics. He brings that depth of knowledge into every conversation, whether he is advising a business owner on a major transition, guiding a family through retirement planning, or explaining complex trends in his video series.

His leadership in the financial sector goes beyond managing portfolios. It is about helping people make informed decisions so they can move forward with confidence, even in uncertain times.

Service and Stewardship in Nevada

One of the most defining elements of Hugh Anderson’s career is his commitment to community service. Over the years, he has served on several key boards and committees that influence the direction of Nevada’s economy and quality of life, including:

• Vegas Chamber: Longest-serving trustee and chair of government affairs
• St. Rose Dominican Hospital: Board member
• Governor’s Workforce Development Board: Appointed member and past chair
• Workforce Connections: Local workforce board member, representing the voice of business

Through these roles, he sits at the intersection of business, workforce, healthcare, and public policy. He is often the person asking the necessary questions: How will this impact small business owners? Are we preparing Nevadans for the jobs we are trying to attract? Are our policies aligned with reality on the ground?

His leadership philosophy is grounded in humility and shared responsibility:

“Nothing is beneath me. I always admire the business owner who pitches in rather than supervises and directs. I never forget I am part of the team, no more important than any other member.”

That mindset is why so many organizations trust him with their most important conversations.

An Alternate Hue: Making Complexity Understandable

In addition to his work at Hightower Las Vegas and on multiple boards, Hugh also hosts a video series called “An Alternate Hue.” In it, he takes complex topics: energy policy, market cycles, global trends, and makes them relatable for everyday viewers.

We are living in a time of information overload and deep mistrust in institutions. Hugh’s response is to invite people to think more deeply, not less. He credits his father for this simple and powerful advice:

“Anytime I would ask a question, before offering an answer, he would say, ‘Think.’ That advice has served me well.”

Through “An Alternate Hue,” Hugh challenges viewers to look beyond the headlines, ask better questions, and use common sense when evaluating what they hear and read. It is another form of service, educating the community so they can make better decisions in their financial lives and as citizens.

Workforce, Talent, and Nevada’s Future

In his work with the Governor’s Workforce Development Board and Workforce Connections, Hugh has been a consistent voice for aligning workforce development with economic development.

He often points out a critical reality:

Nevada can attract new industries and build a more diversified economy, but if local residents are not prepared with the right skills, those high-quality jobs will be filled by people moving in from other states.

For Hugh, that is not acceptable. His focus is on:

• Ensuring Nevadans have access to training for in-demand careers
• Breaking down silos between state and local boards
• Encouraging collaboration between chambers, schools, and workforce agencies
• Making sure policy decisions reflect the needs of both employers and workers

He understands that there is not “one Nevada” economically. There is Northern Nevada, Southern Nevada, and the rural regions, each with its own challenges and opportunities. His leadership is about making sure no region is left behind as the state grows and evolves.

Community Involvement as a Core Responsibility

When asked how important community involvement is for a leader, Hugh’s answer is simple and direct: it is vital.

To him, leadership is not just about the success of a business or a career. It is about giving back and contributing to the broader community. Whether he is advocating for small businesses at the legislature, supporting workforce innovations, or serving on hospital and chamber boards, he approaches each role with the same intention: to leave things better than he found them.

Among his proudest contributions are:

• The family he and his wife, Denise, raised in Nevada: their two native Nevadan children
• His long, continuous service to the Vegas Chamber and its government affairs work
• His efforts to help protect and strengthen the economic engine that has powered Nevada for decades

Nevada Through Hugh’s Eyes

Although he is a transplant, Hugh speaks about Nevada with the gratitude of someone who chose this place and built a life here.

He loves how Nevadans “embrace everyone, whether native born or a transplant like me.” He sees Las Vegas and Nevada not just as a “second-chance town,” but as a first-chance town for those who truly want to build a better life, however they define it.

That perspective shapes his leadership. For Hugh, the work is not abstract. It is about neighbors, families, small businesses, and the next generation of Nevadans who deserve a strong, stable, and inclusive future.

A Leadership Portrait of Integrity

The leadership portrait we created together is a reflection of everything that defines Hugh Anderson:

• Clarity
• Integrity
• Steadiness
• Service
• Wisdom
• Humility

A leadership portrait should quietly communicate the character, values, and impact of the person in front of the camera.

In Hugh’s case, that impact stretches across boardrooms, classrooms, legislative halls, and countless one-on-one conversations with business owners and families who trust him with their future.

It was an honor to photograph him and to include his image and story as part of Nevada’s Leadership Through Portraiture, my ongoing project documenting the leaders who are shaping Southern Nevada and the state as a whole.