LVGEA Board of Directors

Lauri Perdue has spent over 25 years in higher education at multiple institutions. She is currently the National Workforce Director for the University of Phoenix. Lauri engages with companies, providing strategic thought partnership to create and maintain a dynamic program to encourage employers to recruit and hire University of Phoenix graduates. She explores and collaborates on initiatives that can provide career pathways for current students and over one million alumni. Lauri is dedicated to creating workforce solutions for organizations and communities.

During her career, Lauri has been responsible for delivering a quality education experience for ground and online students as well as workforce development and higher education consulting, providing leadership, mission execution, and oversight in campus operations. She successfully performs outreach and engagement with alumni and community leaders and works extensively with regional and national employers and HR leaders, as an educational consultant and workforce development leader. Lauri also served as an adjunct faculty member for 6 years.

Lauri stepped away from traditional education, to work with highly successful women and help them transform and gain insight and power to reach past their known potential. Lauri worked with a team to teach them how to achieve well-being and balance in their lives without risking or giving up their careers. Lauri is a passionate, collaborative leader that understands the power education has, in its various forms.

After graduating with her bachelor’s degree from University of Nevada-Reno, Lauri began her career in education with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Head Start program, specializing in early childhood education in Buffalo, NY.  After returning to Nevada, she completed her Master of Arts in Organizational Management at the University of Phoenix.

Lauri is actively engaged in community support, as Board Chair of Serving Our Kids Foundation, an organization addressing food insecurity for school aged children in Southern Nevada.

Brian serves as the Nevada Market Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Dignity Health St. Rose Dominican Hospitals and manages the financial operations of all business entities in the organization. This includes the three acute care hospital locations, a medical group with approximately fifty providers, and several large scale joint ventures in the Southern Nevada area.

Over the course of his career, Brian has managed strategic acquisitions and successful system conversions at several hospitals. Brian has also managed revenue cycle operations at various hospitals and assisted in negotiating financially beneficial contracts with major insurance providers.

Brian has a Master’s in Business Administration degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and a Bachelor’s of Science degree with an emphasis in Finance from California State University, Northridge. He is a member of the Healthcare Finance Management Association (HFMA) and Financial Executives International (FEI).

Brian serves on various community leadership boards in Nevada, including the Henderson Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Nevada Donor Network (NDN), American Lung Association (ALA), and Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA).

Clark Wood joined U.S. Bank in 2014. He most recently served as Market President for Las Vegas and oversaw both the Las Vegas commercial banking team and the Bank’s national gaming practice. He also served as head of their cross-functional Las Vegas market leadership committee and led the local advisory board. Clark came to U.S. Bank from Thunder Valley Casino Resort (owned and operated by the United Auburn Indian Community) where he had been vice president of finance and a member of their development corporation for the past three years. Prior to that, he served as the managing director for Wells Fargo’s gaming business, where he had been since 1999. He has nearly 30 years of experience in the gaming and financial sectors. Clark earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Nevada, Reno. He is a past member of the Nevada Society of CPAs, the UNLV Accounting Advisory Council and the UNLV College of Education Advisory Board. He was also past board chair of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Nevada.

Michael J. Bonner is Managing Shareholder of the Las Vegas Office and concentrates his practice in the areas of corporation finance, corporate governance, business transactions, securities and gaming.

He represents clients in corporate securities and other business transactions; including acting as lead counsel on mergers and acquisitions, public securities offerings, private placements and a variety of financing, acquisition and restructuring transactions for publicly held and privately held business entities. Mr. Bonner counsels publicly held companies on disclosure obligations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including the preparation of annual reports to stockholders, proxy statements, and annual and quarterly periodic reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Mr. Bonner acts as outside counsel to boards of directors and special committees of boards of directors of publicly held and privately held entities.

Outside of his robust legal practice, Michael has served on the boards of directors of several community and business organizations. In partnership with the University of Nevada (UNLV) William S. Boyd School of Law, Michael co-chairs Greenberg Traurig’s Summit for Corporate Governance, an annual forum for distinguished academics, business leaders, and legal practitioners to discuss hot topics and developments in corporate governance facing public companies.

Concentrations

Corporation finance
Corporate governance
Mergers & acquisitions
Securities
Gaming regulatory
Professional & Community Involvement

Member, UNLV Foundation Board of Trustees
2nd Vice Chair of the Board
Chair, Audit Committee
Finance Committee
Emeritus Board of Trustees, Past Board of Trustees and Past Chairman, Vegas Chamber
Board of Directors, Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance
Chair, Nominating and Governance Committee
Member, Dean’s Council, UNLV Boyd School of Law
Member, State Bar of Nevada
Executive Committee Member, Gaming Law Section, 2002-2017
Former Chairman, Business Law Committee, Corporations Sub-Committee
Former Vice-Chairman, Southern Nevada Disciplinary Board
Member, International Association of Gaming Advisors
Member, YPO Gold

Mike C. Verville, CPA, is a Partner at Eide Bailly LLP.

Mike works directly with his clientele in innovative and strategic ways to develop and tailor tax planning techniques that are specific to the needs of his clients. Mike provides tax, estate, and succession planning strategies and solutions for business owners and their families.

Mike has a Bachelor of Accountancy and a Master of Taxation from Brigham Young University.  He is a Certified Public Accountant and holds memberships in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Nevada Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Outside of work, Mike enjoys spending time with his family, reading, and outdoor activities like skiing, hunting, motor, and shooting sports.

Molly Kay Hamrick, President and COO of Coldwell Banker Premier Realty and Coldwell Banker Premier Commercial in Las Vegas, Nevada, is one of the most influential businesswomen in Southern Nevada. In 1998, Hamrick and her husband Bob acquired CBPR and have been instrumental in increasing gross sales from $265 million to more than $1.35 billion. As a principal leader for one of the highest ranked woman ­owned Coldwell Bankers in the United States, Hamrick is a seasoned veteran with over 34 years of experience and is nationally recognized as one of the leading women in her industry.

Hamrick was born and raised in Las Vegas, graduating magna cum laude from UNLV where she earned a business administration degree in marketing. She is the past chair for the Nevada REALTORS® Property Management Presidential Advisory Group where she worked closely with state leaders during the pandemic earning her the prestigious Nevada REALTORS® 2020 Achievement Award. Hamrick has been an active member in the Women’s Council of REALTORS® and was elected the local chapter President when she was just 26, the youngest in the organization’s history. She was appointed to WCR’s National Marketing Committee and the State Budget and Finance Committee and recognized as the WCR Member of the Year. In 2002, IN Business Las Vegas named Hamrick one of the “Most Influential Businesswomen in Southern Nevada,” as well as ranked her in their “Top 40 Under 40″ special report. IN Business Las Vegas also has had Hamrick listed as Who’s Who in Real Estate since 2007. In 2012, Hamrick was a recipient of the national Coldwell Banker Chandler Barton Spirit Award while being awarded both the ”Vegas Magazine Women to Watch Award” and “Las Vegas Business Press Women Who Mean Business Award” in 2013. UNLV named Hamrick their 2015 Alumnus of the Year – Lee Business School of Marketing and International Business and her company is listed among the country’s “Top 300 Power Brokers”.

Hamrick is as active in her community as in her businesses having served on the advisory committee for the Lied Institute for Real Estate Studies at UNLV, the Board of the Women’s Development Center and the Board of Directors for Bank of Las Vegas. She is presently chair and a founding trustee for the Board of Directors at Southern Hills Hospital and an active member of the LVGEA Board. She is a member of the UNLV Alumni Association and the exclusive Large Office Group consisting of the top Coldwell Banker broker-owners in the country. The Hamrick’s enjoy philanthropic endeavors and have contributed generously to many local charities.

Ivan Ferraz is a market executive and head of commercial banking for Nevada. Based in Las Vegas, he leads a team of bankers in Reno and Las Vegas focused on middle market and large corporate companies, both privately held and publicly traded, across a wide variety of industries. He has 25 years of commercial banking experience, 19 years with Wells Fargo.

Before his current position, Ivan joined Wells Fargo Bank in early 2005 as a senior relationship manager in the Arizona Middle Market Banking office. Subsequent to that, in 2016, he was the West region trade services manager. In 2017, he was the investor real estate leader for the Southwest region, responsible for helping real estate investors succeed by providing innovative ideas and smart financial solutions.

Ivan graduated from Universidade Estácio de Sá in Rio de Janeiro, with a bachelor’s degree in hotel management. In the U.S., he attended California State University, Los Angeles, and earned a bachelor of science degree in economics and international business. He went on to attend University of La Verne in California, where he graduated with an M.B.A. in finance and supply chain management.

Ivan stays active in his community and is a board member of Nevada Bankers Association and Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance. He is also a past board member of Partnership for Drug-Free Kids.

A Brazilian national, Ivan moved to the U.S. in 1992 and gained dual citizenship in 2002. In addition to English, he is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese.

Karen Haller is President and Chief Executive Officer of Southwest Gas Holdings, Incorporated (NYSE: SWX), a publicly traded company with over $4.7 billion market capitalization. Southwest Gas Holdings is an energy infrastructure holding company that conducts high-quality operations in regulated and unregulated businesses by providing clean and affordable natural gas services and building energy infrastructure.

As CEO, Karen leads a dynamic Company whose regulated subsidiaries provide reliable, affordable and sustainable energy for over 2 million natural gas utility customers throughout Arizona, California and Nevada (Southwest Gas Corporation) and operate an interstate natural gas pipeline providing transportation and underground storage services in Utah, Wyoming and Colorado (MountainWest Pipeline). Also in this role, Karen oversees the Company’s unregulated strategic infrastructure services company (Centuri), which partners with regulated utilities to build and maintain the energy network that powers millions of homes and businesses across the United States and Canada.

Karen is responsible for the strategic vision and the overall business operation of Southwest Gas and its subsidiaries, championing business models which provide value through growth and investment, and stewarding Company resources to support the sustainable energy transition. Karen takes pride in leading a diverse Company built on the values of safety, exceeding customers’ expectations, providing opportunity for employees, facilitating constructive relationships with regulators, and delivering returns for stockholders.

With more than 25 years at Southwest Gas, Karen has served in multiple leadership positions throughout her tenure, most recently serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Legal and Administrative Officer. Before joining Southwest Gas, Karen worked as a private practice lawyer.

Karen serves on the Board of Directors of the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada, the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance and the American Gas Association. She was recently appointed Nevada Governor-Elect Joe Lombardo’s Energy Working Committee Chair. Karen is a member of Arizona, California and Nevada State Bars and past Chair of the American Gas Association Legal Committee.

Karen received a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance with Honors from the University of Wyoming and her J.D. from Cornell Law School.

Denette Suddeth is regional president and head of Commercial Banking for PNC Bank in Nevada, including Northern and Southern Nevada regions. She is responsible for PNC’s overall market expansion driving a culture of teamwork, client advocacy and community engagement.Suddeth joined PNC in November 2021 bringing 25 years of banking experience to the regional president position, as well as deep ties across Nevada. Mostly recently, she served as CEO of Suddeth Inc., an executive coaching and business development firm thatshe founded following more than two decades in banking, including local market and regional leadership roles with CIT, Wells Fargo, and U.S. Bank. During her banking career, she has led diverse teams focused on public and privately held middle market companies, as well as gaming and the gaming equipment manufacturer industries. As a leader committed to diverse work cultures, Suddeth has been an active member of Women’s Leadership Councils and Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion committees.

Active in the community, she has extensive non-profit board service. Suddeth was recently elected aboard member of the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance and currently serves as chair of the Finance and Investment Committee and board member of United Way of SouthernNevada and is the past chairman of the organization.She is also Major Gifts Campaign chair for the capital campaign for Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada where she served in many capacities including past chairman of the board. In addition, she is a member of the Executive Women’s Council of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce. She is a past board member of Nevada Succeeds.

Suddeth earned a Bachelor of Science in managerial finance at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. She is also an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential holder from the International Coaching Federation (ICF), and a Certified Executive Coach. Suddeth is a graduate of Leadership Las Vegas and Pacific Coast Banking School.

Dr. DeRionne Pollard is the current president of Nevada State University(NSU), a four-year public comprehensive institution. NSU is one of the fastest-growing colleges in the country and is designated as a Minority Serving Institute (MSI), Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Institution (AANAPI). NSU also advances phenomenal teaching and superb student support to expand and diversify an educated workforce, thereby protecting social justice and economic mobility. Dr. Pollard began her tenure at NSC on Aug. 16, 2021.

Dr. Pollard is the first Black female president of any NSHE institution. She has held previous roles at the College of Lake County and served as president of both Montgomery College and Las Positas College.

Dr. Pollard is deeply connected to her community, having served on the American Association of Community Colleges’ 21st Century Commission on the Future of Community Colleges, the Commission on Academic, Student, and Community Development, and the Board of Directors. Dr. Pollard is a member of the Ascend Postsecondary Leadership Circle for Parents and the Center for First-generation Student Success Advisory Board for the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators. She also served on the boards of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, Universities at Shady Grove, and the Capital Area Food Bank.

Dr. Pollard was named one of Washington’s 100 Most Powerful Women by Washingtonian Magazine, won a 2017 Academic Leadership Award from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, and a Visionary Award from the Washington Area Women’s Foundation. She holds a bachelor’s and a master’s of arts in English from Iowa State University and a Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy studies in higher education from Loyola University Chicago.

Dr. Priest has been Campus President and Provost of Touro University Nevada since 2022.

The Silver State has been home to Dr. Priest for more than a decade, and his family roots in Nevada date back about one hundred years. His dad, James, grew up in the small town of Searchlight during the Great Depression, where he attended a one-room school with the older brothers of the late former U.S. Senator Harry Reid.

In his office, Dr. Priest proudly displays his dad’s 1943 diploma from Las Vegas High School. It’s a reminder of his familial origins and why he says he is “back where I belong.” “If my dad had not joined the Army during World War II, there’s a good chance he would have stayed here,” Dr. Priest added. “I have roots here, and my dad was always proud of where he came from.”

Dr. Priest followed in his father’s footsteps in serving our country. He was a physical therapist in the U.S. Army. That began his career as a practicing physical therapist and educational leader.

Wherever he has gone, helping people has always been the priority. “I want to help take care of people so they can live their best lives,” he said. “One of the reasons I love Touro so much is because we are creating means for our students and faculty to do more outreach. We’re helping people, no matter their circumstances, to live their best lives.”

Before arriving at Touro University Nevada in 2012 as Dean of the College of Health and Human Services, Dr. Priest served as Director of the Physical Therapy Program at Clarke University, a small Catholic School in Dubuque, Iowa.

Dr. Priest has served on several higher education accreditation teams that traveled internationally, has several peer-reviewed publications and presentations, and has been a practicing physical therapist for most of his career.

Dr. Priest has been married to his wife Carol for 38 years, and they have five children.

Andrew Ciarrocchi is Senior Vice President of Management and Operations for Howard Hughes-Summerlin® (HH).  In this capacity, Ciarrocchi oversees operating assets and teams for the Las Vegas and Hawaii regions. He also assists with the pre-development process representing the operations segment and various special projects focused on efficiencies and standardization.

In 2014, Ciarrocchi opened Downtown Summerlin®, the community’s acclaimed 400-acre urban core that has become one of Southern Nevada’s most popular destinations for fashion, dining, sports, and entertainment.  He oversaw the hiring of a top-notch management team and negotiated multi-million-dollar contracts for third-party contractors including security, janitorial, landscaping, valet, and concierge. Ciarrocchi partnered with leasing, development, and construction on all aspects of lease-up and property design to deliver a first-class shopping and dining environment.

He assisted with property development for HH Class-A office buildings– ONE and TWO Summerlin, 1700 Pavilion, Aristocrat Technologies buildings, and the recently opened One Merdian. Under Ciarrocchi’s tenure, the Downtown Summerlin area has blossomed to include three luxury apartment neighborhoods – Constellation®, Tanager, Tanager Echo, as well as two professional sports venues – City National Arena, practice facility for the National Hockey League’s Vegas Golden Knights, and Las Vegas Ballpark®, a 10,000-capacity minor league baseball stadium home to the Las Vegas Aviators®. Representing operations and leasing, Ciarrocchi is a key member of a cross-functional team to help launch future developments, including the new Whole Foods Market retail center at Downtown Summerlin opening in 2025.

Ciarrocchi has over 20 years of experience in retail and commercial property management. Prior to his appointment with HH, he served as a District Manager with Westfield Group where he led multiple development projects and oversaw operations for a nearly two-million-square-foot shopping destination with annual visitation of 15 million and annual sales that exceeded $500 million.

A graduate of Pepperdine University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, he is an active member of ICSC and achieved SCSM and CRX designations. Recently, as part of an industry expert task force, Ciarrocchi helped redefine all existing ICSC certifications into a comprehensive Certified Retail Real Estate Professional (CRRP) designation.

In the Las Vegas community, he has participated in the Vegas Chamber’s Access Las Vegas program. He is also active in Commercial Real Estate Development Association-NAIOP and SIOR in Southern Nevada. In 2024, Ciarrocchi was honored to join the executive board of Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance.

Brian Wolf was born and raised outside of Minneapolis Minnesota and graduated from North Dakota State University in 1998 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Minor in Business Administration. Brian relocated to Las Vegas, rejoining Caesars Palace HR team following graduation. Brian started his career at Manpower in July of 2000 as an Employment Operations Manager supporting a complex hiring ramp up for a major financial call center with newly established facilities in Henderson, NV. Following the nationally recognized success of the 3.5-year project, Brian transitioned into an Executive Recruiter role. In his current role as Brand Manager for Manpower and Manpower Professional, Brian leads a team of experienced recruiters and staffing specialists dedicated to identifying and delivering the best available talent across multiple verticals. His team excels in the recruitment and staffing for a wide variety of positions and industries.

Brian is a 19 year resident of Henderson, NV where he enjoys life in Southern Nevada with his wife and three young children. He is passionate about the role work plays in people’s lives and connecting talent with organizations that offer a great opportunity. Brian is regularly called upon by numerous news outlets and organizations to discuss the capabilities, availabilities, trends, and experience level of the Southern Nevada workforce. He is a proud member of the Las Vegas Executives Association and is a member of the IT Advisory Board for Asher College in Las Vegas.

Bryant Thornton is the Area President for Republic Services, Inc.’s Leading the Mountain West Area (Nevada, S. Utah, N. Arizona, Colorado, N. New Mexico, and S. Wyoming). In this role, Thornton has full P&L responsibility across all product and service offerings. His functional responsibilities include sales, pricing, finance, operations, safety, human resources, and business development.

Thornton’s journey in the waste management industry began in 1997 as a residential driver, a role that laid the foundation for his career. His dedication and hard work led to positions of increasing responsibility. After a successful tenure with Waste Management, Thornton brought his wealth of experience to Republic Services in 2009. Since then, he has consistently taken on roles with more responsibility, demonstrating his commitment to growth and excellence.

Thornton demonstrates an unwavering commitment to community service, with over 30 years of volunteer law enforcement experience as a Florida Highway Patrol Auxiliary State Trooper. His dedication to public welfare is further evident in his role as a Southern Nevada Red Cross Board of Directors member. Additionally, he serves on the Board of Directors for the Las Vegas Economic Alliance, the Vegas Chamber Board of Trustees, the Board of Directors with the Nevada Trucking Association, and a Volunteer Law Enforcement Alliance member. His extensive involvement reflects a profound dedication to civic leadership and public service.

Thornton holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Phoenix.

David Hirschfeld is Chief Investment Officer of Fiume Capital, a private investment firm focusing on media, entertainment, sports, and operationally intensive real estate. He is responsible for driving investment strategy, asset management, and day-to-day operations of the company. 

A strategic differentiating factor of Fiume Capital is the absence of passive investments. David plays a critical role in the operations of all companies in the Fiume Capital portfolio and holds a board position on all companies it has invested in at times serving on critical committees such as audit and compensation. Below is a list of these companies 

• 3Step Sports: Largest youth sports operator of clubs and events in the country, with over 3.5mm kids in the ecosystem, 2,000 clubs, and 2,000 events 
• Thrill One: world’s leading producer of action sports events and original content including MTV hit show ridiculousness 
• Kemper Sports: One of the nation’s largest Golf Course operators and managers with over 100 courses in its portfolio 
• FloSports: an OTT provider of niche sports content across 21 verticals 
• SPORTLOGiQ: a sports analytics company utilizing computer vision 
• Dojo Madness: a provider of analytics to esports athletes 
• Exited Investments
  • Moonbug: a digitally native children’s content media company (no longer on the board) 
  • The Action Network: a subscription app providing content and advice to sports bettors 
  • Hitco Entertainment: a music entertainment company which has generated over 7bn streams and hits such as Roses Remix 

David is a partner in CORE Advisory Partners a Las Vegas based full-service capital markets brokerage and strategic financial services firm. CORE Advisory Partners deeply believes in the long term growth potential for Las Vegas and is focused on providing institutional advice and capital to local developers to help propel that growth. In furtherance of this goal, David founded Sahara Investment Group a real estate lending company for Nevada based real estate investors. 

Prior to Fiume Capital, CORE, and Sahara, David served as Senior Vice President of Atalyst Financial Group where he led capital raising and M&A advisory and invested proprietary capital across the capital structure. Before that, David was Director of Investment and Strategy at Fertitta Entertainment where he managed corporate development and strategic initiatives, including working on the ~$10bn restructuring of Station Casinos Inc. David was with The Calida Group, a Las Vegas-based apartment developer. He began his career in investment banking at Valtus Capital Group focusing on M&A, capital raising, and debt restructuring within the real estate, gaming, sports, and entertainment industries. 

David grew up in New York City and graduated from Brown University with a degree in Business Economics and a focus in Japanese History. He and his wife Rachel are deeply committed to philanthropy and believe in donating time as well as capital. Their largest involvement in recent years has been with the Three Square food bank. He and Rachel have two young daughters Aria and Maya.

DeAndre Esteen works within the Henderson, NV campus, the largest Operations site in the US Consumer Bank, where he oversees the Citizenship and community agenda for Henderson colleagues. He is responsible for establishing and maintaining many of the external relationships with key community stakeholders, including various non-profit organizations and schools as well as supports colleagues in volunteer and fundraising efforts while seeking strategic partnerships. Furthermore, DeAndre works on internal communications, as well as works closely with Talent Acquisition on strategic opportunities for recruitment activities. He reports to Jayne Backhouse in COO and started his journey with Barclays in 2014.

Previously DeAndre worked as Life Skills Instructor, Job Development Coach and eventually Director of Development for the Shade Tree, an organization that provides shelter and programs for homeless and abused women, children and their pets. With a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Communications from Xavier University of Louisiana, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU), DeAndre has a strong background and passion for community activism, creating impactful programs that help those in need and developing informative written content.

DeAndre is heavily involved in Diversity Equity & Inclusion initiatives in Barclays, chairing the Henderson campus’ DE&I council. Additionally, he is an active member of BPRG and has led to the group’s involvement with Las Vegas’ annual Black History Month Festival.

Described by his peers as a public servient, DeAndre currently on the Henderson Chamber of Commerce Foundation Board and is a former Board Chair. He mentors and serves on the Advisory Board for Tech Impact, a Barclays Life-Skills partner with a focus on enhancing the employability skills for at-risk individuals and has twice received the organization’s “Volunteer Impact” award in 2017 and 2022. In 2021 he was recognized as Las Vegas Weekly’s “40 Under Forty” for his work in the community. DeAndre is also a proud “Girl Dad” and coaches youth flag-football for the Henderson Flag Football League.

Frank Martin founded Martin-Harris Construction (MHC) in 1976 with five associates, $5,000 and a vision of becoming a general contracting firm that could deliver the very best to its clients. The company is headquartered in Las Vegas with licenses in California, Colorado, NewMexico, Utah, Texas, Arizona, Idaho, Pennsylvania, Wyoming, Louisiana, South Carolina, Hawaii, Florida, Georgia, and Missouri.
Martin-Harris Construction is consistently ranked among Engineering News-Record’s Top 400 Contractors in the nation and as one of the Top 10 General Contractors in Nevada by Southwest Contractor Magazine. Some of

Frank’s industry and community involvement and recognition include:
•Serves on the Board of Directors of Opportunity Village, the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT), UNLV Foundation, CSN Foundation, as well as a lifetime board member of AGC.
•Member of Vistage, International Organization of CEO’s
•National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) Lifetime Achievement Award, 2015
•Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Southern Nevada has awarded Martin-Harris 29 Safe Site Awards in the last ten years.
•Top 50 of Who’s Who in Southern Nevada and Best CEO
•Lifetime member of the National Cutting Horse Association
•Past President of the Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Association (PCCHA), also served 3 years as treasurer.

Frank Martin moved to Las Vegas in 1961 and graduated from Rancho High School. He and his wife Bonnie have been married for 49 years and have two sons, Guy and Jerrad, and five grandchildren. Since 2001 they have hosted the annual “BBQ at the Bitterroot” benefiting Opportunity Village at their ranch. As a strong Christian, Frank believes in giving back to the community in helping to make Las Vegas a better place to live, work, and raise a family.

Glenn Christenson earned his undergraduate degree in business administration from Wittenberg University and earned his MBA in finance from Ohio State University. In addition to his advocacy work, Glenn has had an extensive career. He is a Certified Public Accountant and was previously a director of First American Financial Corporation and Nevada Community Bank. Later he became a partner at Deloitte Haskins & Sells (now Deloitte & Touche) from 1983 to 1989. From then until 2007, he held various top positions- including director, CFO, chief administration officer, executive vice president, and other management roles- at Station Casinos. And since 2004, Glenn has been managing director of Velstand Investments, LLC. Throughout the years, he has served in leadership for many various civic organizations like Kiwanis, Kidney Foundation, Nevada School of the Arts, Leadership Las Vegas, American Heart Association, the Boulder Dam Area Council of the Boy Scouts, and more. He also served as chairman of the Nevada Development Authority from 2009 to 2013, and continues to sit on the board of directors for the LVGEA.

Greg Gilbert helps public and private owners, developers, contractors, and engineers with project development, implementation, construction, and claims resolution. To serve his client’s ultimate goals, he carefully coordinates multiple legal, business, and political disciplines that are required for successful projects.

Strategic Business Advisor: Greg delivers strategic counsel to private and project owners on all aspects of construction and development. He is a founding partner of Holland and Hart’s Nevada offices and has served as the managing partner of the Las Vegas office from 2006 2013.

Litigation: Greg’s practice also includes business litigation, construction litigation, professional negligence defense, products liability defense, and liability defense, and insurance coverage in both state and federal courts.

Publications: “Concession Agreements: Critical Provisions That Require Higher Levels of Consideration,” The American College of Real Estate Lawyers, The ACREL Papers, Spring 2015, Spring 2015

Recognition: The Best Lawyers in America®, Construction Law, Real Estate Law, 2016 Martindale- Corporate America, Legal Elite Awards, Best for Project Development and Finance in Nevada, 2015

Professional and Civic Affiliations:

• Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance, Board of Directors
• TerraLex Construction Industry Practice Group, Member
• U.S. Green Building Council, Nevada Chapter, Member
• Clark County Bar Association, Member
• State Bar of Nevada, Member
• State Bar of California, Member
• American Bar Association, Member
  Construction Industry Section, Forum Committee
• Public Utility, Communications and Transportation Law Section, Railroads Committee

Jaime Cruz serves as Executive Director for Workforce Connections, Southern Nevada’s Local Workforce Development Board. Before his appointment as Executive Director in October 2017, Jaime served as Chief Strategy Officer for eight years and was instrumental in partnering with local libraries to expand the public workforce development system. Jaime understands firsthand the barriers many face when trying to improve their careers. As a young man who immigrated to the United States, Jaime initially worked as a dishwasher despite a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Escuela Nacional De Marina Mercante in Lima, Peru. By improving his command of the English language and capitalizing on the growth opportunities he was presented, Jaime was able to successfully return to the engineering field and later transition to the public sector.

Prior to his career at Workforce Connections, Jaime worked on sustainability initiatives for major hotel‐casino companies in Las Vegas. One of his last projects on the Las Vegas Strip was overseeing the planning and implementation of the energy management and building automation systems at MGM Resorts International’s CityCenter complex. At the time, CityCenter was the largest LEED Gold Certified complex in the world. Jaime is a Certified Energy Manager and Certified Sustainable Development Professional by the Association of Energy Engineers, as well as a Certified Public Manager by the State of Nevada. Jaime immigrated to the U.S. in 1987, became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1994 and has lived in Southern Nevada for thirty‐two years. Jaime’s proudest achievement are his two adult children, Samuel and Sofia.

Mayor Joe Hardy, M.D. has served the residents of Southern Nevada for more than 40 years. Mayor Hardy was sworn in as Mayor of Boulder City in November 2022. He previously served as a Boulder City Council Member from 1999-2002, and as a Nevada State Assemblyman from 2003-2010 and Nevada State Senator from 2011-2022.

Mayor Hardy attained the rank of Major in the U.S. Air Force. A native of Reno, NV, Mayor Hardy graduated from University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine for his bachelor’s degree, then finished his studies at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, School of Medicine, where he received his M.D. Mayor Hardy worked as a physician in Boulder City, winning Nevada Family Physician of the Year twice: in 1998 and in 2010.  He served as Chief of Internal Medicine and Family Practice, and Board of Directors, St. Rose Dominican Hospital, in Henderson and was Chief of Staff for Boulder City Hospital.  In December 2022, he retired from his role as Associate Dean of Clinical Education at Touro University Nevada’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, but plans to remain there in an Adjunct capacity.

His recognitions and awards include the Foundation for Recovery Steve Sigman Award, 2017; American Conservative Union Foundation Excellence Award, 2017; Health, Education, Advocacy and Leadership in Southern Nevada (HEALS) Award, 2014; University of Nevada, Reno; Medical School Preceptor; Harold Fickes Award, 2013; and the Nevada Rural Community Star.

Mayor Hardy’s affiliations include the Nevada Academy of Family Physicians, Past President; American Academy of Family Physicians; Clark County Medical Society; American Medical Society; American Legion, Post 31; Boy Scouts of America; Chambers of Commerce; Coalition for Improving and Expanding Nevada Health Care; Collegium Aesculapium; and Las Vegas HEALS Board of Directors.

Mayor Hardy’s extensive record of public service includes serving as a Member of the Regents Ad Hoc Committee for Higher Education/Health, 2003-2004; Publicity Chairman of the Walk for Development, Ayuda, and Meals on Wheels; Member of the Rapid Valley Water District Board of Directors, South Dakota; Vice President of the Parent Teacher Association, Rapid Valley Elementary School, South Dakota; Charter Member of the Boulder City Drug Abuse Council; Member of the Clark County Health District Board of Directors; Vice President of the Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition; Executive Committee Member of the Boulder City Community Education Advisory Board; Member of the Debt Management Commission, Clark County; Member, Nevada League of Cities Legislative Committee; French Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS); One World Ambassador Alliance, Humanitarian Project – El Salvador; Board of Directors for the LDS Family Services (Adoption Agency); and Sunday School Teacher.

Mayor Hardy and his wife, Jill Sweningsen Hardy, have eight children and 21 grandchildren. They reside in Boulder City.

John Cannito is the President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for The PENTA Building Group and affiliated companies.  He has been with PENTA since 2004 and is currently responsible for the strategic direction and overall operations at PENTA, All 5’s Construction, and S.J. Amoroso Construction.  He oversees all departments and has bottom-line accountability for company performance and culture.

John has been working in the commercial construction industry for over 28 years.  In 1992, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Lehigh University before continuing his education at the University of Arizona, where he graduated in 2004 with a Masters in Business & Administration (MBA).  Since joining PENTA in 2004, John has received numerous certifications, including Certified Construction Industry Financial Professional (CCIFP) and LEED AP.

John started his career in New York, New York as an engineer for an international engineering firm. In 1997, he moved to Phoenix, AZ to work as an engineer for a large General Contractor. In 2000, John became President of a construction consulting firm offering information systems, process efficiency, and general construction consulting services throughout the United States. Finally joining The PENTA Building Group in 2004, John has been on PENTA’s Executive Management Committee since its inception and has been a big part of the strategic growth and development of the organization.

Originally from Buffalo, New York, he currently lives in Las Vegas, NV, and is married to Lisa Cannito. They have four children together, Anna (19), Grace (17), Maddie (14), and Sarah (10).  John takes great pride in his local community involvement where he currently serves on three nonprofit boards: Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance (LVGEA), Opportunity Village, and Special Olympics of Nevada.

John Entsminger is the General Manager of the Las Vegas Valley Water District, which serves more than 410,000 customer accounts, and the Southern Nevada Water Authority, which is responsible for providing wholesale water to local agencies that collectively serve more than 2.3 million residents and 40 million annual visitors.

Entsminger was instrumental in the development of several groundbreaking regional and international water agreements. He has been appointed by Nevada’s governor to serve as the state’s lead negotiator on Colorado River matters.

Entsminger is President of the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, is a trustee of the Water Research Foundation and the Desert Research Institute Foundation, and a member of the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance.

Justin Carley is an accomplished and versatile attorney who thrives on new challenges. Throughout his career, he has proven to be a solutions-oriented team player, who leads by example, and achieves excellent results.

Born and raised in Rhode Island, Justin excelled as a student athlete eventually moving to Hawaii to attend the Hawaii Pacific University. He then transferred to and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Rhode Island College. In 2003, Justin relocated to Las Vegas for law school at the University of Nevada Las Vegas – William S. Boyd School of Law. Graduating Magna Cum Laude in 2006, and, having fallen in love with the city, he joined the Las Vegas office of the law firm of Snell & Wilmer. During his 13 years with the firm, Justin had a diverse practice concentrated in litigation, construction, real estate, and employment law. He led federal and state court litigation through trial and appeal, while also advising on transactional matters including contract negotiation and drafting, administrative and regulatory efforts, personnel matters, and other business management issues.

For his firm, Justin led the Nevada office’s construction litigation practice group, hiring committee, and attorney development committee. In his field, Justin was immersed in the southern Nevada legal community, voted a Top Southern Nevada Attorney for 9 consecutive years and a Mountain States Super Lawyer for 6 consecutive years. He is also Martindale Hubbell A/V Rated Preeminent, was voted one of The Best Lawyers in America® for Commercial Litigation (2018-2019) and made Vegas Inc.’s 40 Under 40 list in 2018.

In 2019, Justin took a leap of faith, left the law firm, and went in-house as Senior Assistant General Counsel for the Howard Hughes Corporation in its Honolulu, Hawaii office. In that new role, he provided strategic advising on real estate development projects and public-private partnerships in multiple jurisdictions. Immediately a key member of the team, Justin oversaw the legal side of construction projects from ground-breaking through completion, sales, and operations. He provided daily counseling on business operations including employment issues, retail leasing, tenant relations, and stadium and event management. Justin also played critical roles in deal-making, contract negotiation, crisis and litigation management, and political and public relations.

In 2022, Justin returned to Las Vegas and joined the Raiders as Senior Vice President and General Counsel where he will lead the legal and government affairs teams into the future.

Responsibilities:

Commissioner Jones serves in the following capacities:

• Chair – Regional Transportation Commission
• Chair – Regional Flood Control District Board of Directors
• Chair – Springs Preserve Board of Trustees
• Vice Chair – Clark County Redevelopment Agency
• Vice Chair – Clark County Water Reclamation District Board of Trustees
• Member – Southern Nevada Water Authority Board of Directors
• Member- Family & Juvenile Services Policy and Fiscal Affairs Board
• Member – Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition
• Member – Colorado River Commission
• Member – Nevada Association of Counties Board of Directors
• Member – ImpactNV- Nevada’s Sustainability Alliance

Accomplishments:

• Recognized as a “40 Under 40” by VEGAS INC (2013)
• Recognized as a “Top Lawyer” by VEGAS INC (2012)

Karlos R. LaSane II currently serves as Regional Vice President, Government Relations & Community Affairs for Caesars Entertainment Corporation. He represents the legislative interests of Caesars in Nevada and at the federal level in Washington, D.C., serving as a company liaison to leaders at the federal, state and local levels.

LaSane’s knowledge and understanding of government and his strong relationships with policy makers, has enabled him to influence positive change for Caesars, the industry and broader community.

A veteran of the gaming industry, LaSanehas repeatedly demonstrated his ability to quickly grasp policy issues and influence change in the communities where Caesars Entertainment operates.

Prior to joining Caesars Entertainment (formerly Harrah’s Entertainment), LaSane served as Assistant Vice President of Government & Community Affairs for Park Place Entertainment in Atlantic City, New Jersey and was then selected to run government affairs for the corporation’s western region.

LaSane currently serves on the Congressional Award Foundation National Board of Directors, U.S. Global Leadership Coalition Nevada Advisory Committee, Government Affairs Committees for the Nevada Gaming Resort Association & Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce, American Gaming Association’s Public Policy Committee & Diversity Taskforce, Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) of Southern Nevada Transportation Resource Advisory Committee, Resort Corridor Mobility Association Board of Directors, and corporate liaison to the Congressional Black Caucus and Congressional Hispanic Caucus for Caesars Entertainment.

LaSane has served as a member of the New Jersey Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA), and New Jersey Development Authority (NJDA) for small businesses, minorities and women‐owned enterprises.

Keith E. Whitfield is an experienced university administrator and prolific scholar in the fields of psychology, health, and aging. President Whitfield joined UNLV in August 2020 after serving as provost, senior vice president of academic affairs, and professor of psychology at Wayne State University in Michigan. He previously served as vice provost for academic affairs at Duke University, where he was also a professor in the department of psychology and neuroscience and co-director of the university’s Center on Biobehavioral Health Disparities Research.

A student success-focused leader, Whitfield is proud to oversee the nation’s most diverse university for undergraduates and one that holds the highest recognition for both research and community engagement. In 2021 he introduced Top Tier 2.0, a strategic plan update that moves UNLV forward on its path to becoming a top public urban research university through focused growth in undergraduate and graduate student success, economic diversification, community engagement, and diversity, equity and inclusion. He has brought energy and innovation to a vibrant university through things like an interdisciplinary approach to faculty hiring and research and the first ever “digital president” to connect with and meet the needs of students.

An active administrator and researcher, Whitfield has authored or co-authored over 200 publications and has earned over $20 million in funding from agencies including the National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging, and the National Science Foundation. A psychologist and expert on the social, psychological, and cultural factors of cognition and healthy aging, Whitfield’s current research focuses on the relationship between stress and longevity in African American families.

He’s a member of the National Institute on Aging’s National Advisory Council on Aging, he sits on the board of directors for the American Foundation for Aging Research and the Coalition of Urban Serving Universities, and has served on committees for the National Academies of Sciences and Medicine and the National Institutes of Health.

Whitfield earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the College of Santa Fe, a Masters in psychology and a Ph.D. in lifespan developmental psychology from Texas Tech University, and completed postdoctoral training in quantitative genetics from the University of Colorado Boulder.

On October 3, 2016, Vegas Golden Knights Chairman and owner Bill Foley announced Kerry Bubolz as the first President and Chief Operating Officer of the Golden Knights. In his role, Bubolz oversees all business aspects of the franchise. Bubolz is in his sixth season with the Golden Knights after leading the organization to tremendously successful first five campaigns.

Since the Golden Knights began play during the 2017-18 NHL season, Bubolz has also worked with Foley in the expansion of his portfolio and the formation of the Foley Entertainment Group LLC. Among the additions to Foley’s properties are: the Premier League’s AFC Bournemouth, the American Hockey League’s Henderson Silver Knights, the Indoor Football League’s Vegas Knight Hawks, the National Basketball Association’s G League Ignite, City National Arena, Lifeguard Arena, The Dollar Loan Center, and the Vegas Golden Knights Foundation.

Bubolz was instrumental in negotiating the Golden Knights’ first television deal with AT&T SportsNet, broadcasting VGK games not only locally in Las Vegas but extending throughout the Western Rockies region through Nevada, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Montana and parts of California and Arizona. In only their second year, the Golden Knights ranked 3rd in the NHL’s U.S. markets with a 4.2 average household rating for the 2018-19 regular season.

The organization has also captured national attention with their best-in-class game presentation putting on a show for both Golden Knights fans, and NHL fans. Players across the league have taken notice of the incredible atmosphere at Golden Knights games, as T-Mobile Arena was voted “Best Atmosphere in the NHL” by the players in recent polls from the NHL Players’ Association. Bubolz’s steady leadership ultimately led to the organization winning the Sports Business Journal’s prestigious Sports Team of the Year Award for the 2017-2018 season, as well as the National Hockey League’s “Commissioner Award for Business Excellence” for the inaugural season. Under Bubolz, the Golden Knights have continued to earn recognition by winning the NHL Business Awards Stanley two times (2020, 2022) for the league’s best Game Presentation and once as the Social Media Club of the Year (2019).

Bubolz has also instilled a commitment to community outreach and service in the franchise through the organization’s various charitable initiatives. The Golden Knights Foundation serves as the primary charitable link between the team and the Las Vegas community, focusing on five pillars including: fighting hunger and homelessness in Las Vegas, securing the future of Las Vegas military, first responders and their families, and fostering physical, social and emotional growth of Las Vegas youth. The Golden Knights Foundation has been supported by the 51/49 raffle, auctions and events held throughout the year, and charitable donations. Bubolz’s commitment to community and growing the sport of hockey in Southern Nevada is evidenced by the team’s hockey development programs, including the “Golden Knights Hockey Academy” which reaches over 200,000 children in Clark County middle and elementary schools.

Prior to joining the Golden Knights, Bubolz spent 13 years with the National Basketball Association’s Cleveland Cavaliers. In 2013, he was named President, Business Operations where he oversaw ticketing and suite sales, corporate sponsorship revenue, broadcast, marketing, communications and community engagement for the franchise. In Bubolz’s time with the Cavaliers, the team won the Eastern Conference Championship three times and won the NBA championship in 2016. The Cavaliers were consistently recognized by the NBA during their annual Sales & Marketing awards ceremonies as a top performing team in all key business metrics.

In addition to overseeing Cavaliers business operations, Bubolz also served as President and Alternate Governor for all franchise property teams owned by the Cavaliers Operating Company, including the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League. In 2016, the Monsters won the Calder Cup and finished third in league average attendance with 8,596 fans per-game. He was also President and Chief Operating Officer of the Cleveland Lumberjacks of the International Hockey League from 1994 to 2000. 

The Tulsa, Oklahoma native also brings an abundance of National Hockey League experience to Las Vegas. He served as vice president of sales for the Carolina Hurricanes and the Dallas Stars prior to joining the Cavaliers.

Bubolz graduated from Oklahoma State University with a Bachelors’ Degree in marketing in 1989. He and his wife, Melissa, live in Summerlin and have two daughters, Madison and Emma.

Appointed as County Manager for Clark County effective Nov. 11, 2022, Kevin Schiller is responsible for the executive oversight of the nation’s 13th largest county which provides regional and municipal services to nearly 2.5 million residents and 45 million visitors annually.

In his capacity as county manager, Schiller is charged with carrying out the policies established by the seven-member Board of County Commissioners. He is responsible for the fiscal management of the county’s $6.5 billion budget and more than 10,000 employees across its 38 diverse and geographically dispersed departments including Harry Reid International Airport and University Medical Center.

Schiller joined the County on May 16, 2017 as a Deputy County Manager responsible for the departments of Family Services, Social Service and the Public Defender. He also was the County Manager’s representative to the office of the County Clerk. Prior to coming to Clark County, Schiller served more than 17 years in the role of Director of Washoe County’s Department of Social Services. During his tenure with Washoe County, he lead the integration of human services and created innovative programming to serve vulnerable children, adults and families.  He began his career as a social worker and juvenile probation officer for the State of Wyoming.

Schiller holds a bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Nevada, Reno.

Kim Sonerholm is President and Chief Executive Officer of UnitedHealthcare for Nevada, Utah, and Idaho with responsibilities across our commercial, individual and Medicaid businesses.  She has over 30 years of experience in the health care industry and has held many leadership roles across the health care continuum from network contracting to sales/account management.  Most of her career was spent in Las Vegas where she joined Sierra Health Services in 1993 and stayed on following the acquisition by UnitedHealthcare to continue to expand into roles in the larger organization.

Prior to accepting her current role, Kim was the CEO for UnitedHealthcare’s commercial business in Indiana and Kentucky where she spent four years based in Indianapolis working across providers and clients to enhance the care delivery experience by partnering to bring a more integrated solution to the market.

As CEO, she is responsible for strategic initiatives, sales, account management, clinical services, community relations, product management and finance for UnitedHealthcare’s products including Health Plan of Nevada (HPN), Sierra Health and Life (SHL) and UMR.

Kim is focused on bringing innovation and enterprise capabilities to enhance the experience of our consumers, clients, brokers, and providers, bringing her many years of experience across multiple markets to drive improved outcomes.

Outside of the office, Kim is married to her high school sweetheart, and they have two adult daughters. Her and her husband enjoy traveling, hiking, spending time with family, exploring new places to eat and spoiling their two senior dogs.

From two state‐of‐the‐art research campuses in Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada, Dr. Acharya leads over 500 scientists, engineers, and research support staff who rank among the top in the world in their specialties.

As a research professor in ecological engineering, Dr. Acharya has led pioneering work in Nevada to help local and state water managers address aquatic invasive species threatening both Lake Mead and Lake Tahoe. His 20‐plus years of environmental study have blended both traditional research on the health of rivers, lakes and wetlands, with applied research to better understand the impact of climate change on aquatic ecosystems across Nevada and throughout the world.

Dr. Acharya has published more than 100 peer‐reviewed papers and served as first‐author on many publications focused on water and ecosystem health. In addition to his research, he has also served as associate editor of the Journal of Water Resources Research and associate editor of the Journal of the American Water Resources Association.

He advises graduate students and postdocs as a faculty member in the Hydrologic Sciences Program at the University of Nevada, Reno; and the Water Resources Management Program at the University of Las Vegas; and serves as co‐director and a visiting professor at DRI’s Joint International Water Laboratory at Hohai University in Nanjing, China.

Dr. Acharya began his career at the Desert Research Institute (DRI) in 2006 as an assistant research professor in hydrology. During his tenure at DRI, he has secured over $20 million in external research grants and contracts and helped spearhead some of DRI’s largest international collaborations focused on water quality and management in China, Nepal, Indonesia, the United Arab Emirates and Thailand.

He previously served as the executive director of DRI’s Division of Hydrologic Sciences; senior director of the Center for Environmental Remediation and Monitoring, director of the Nevada Water Resources Research Institute; and Chief Technology Advisor for WaterStart – a Nevada Knowledge Fund‐supported venture focused on attracting water technology companies.

Prior to joining DRI, Dr. Acharya served five years combined as a postdoctoral and endowed research fellow at Arizona State University and the University of Louisville. He has a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, M.S. in Environmental Engineering, and Ph.D. in Biology and Environmental Sciences.

As the chief executive of the largest and broadest-based business association in Nevada, Mary Beth Sewald sets the vision for the Vegas Chamber and leads its strategy of supporting local businesses and pursuing initiatives to boost job growth, a healthy economy, and a vibrant community.

Sewald represents the business community in a wide range of capacities. She serves on the board of directors for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, where she is also on the Audit, Compensation and Marketing Committees. She also serves on the boards of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100, Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, Western Association of Chamber Executives, the Nevada Military Support Alliance, the UNLV Lee Business School Dean’s Advisory Board, Workforce Connections, the Leadership Foundation of Greater Las Vegas, the Hope for Prisoners Advisory Board, the University of Nevada Reno College of Business Sports Management Executive Board and the National Championship Air Races in Reno, NV.  She was appointed by former Governor Brian Sandoval to the Southern Nevada Sporting Events Committee, charged with making recommendations on how Las Vegas can maximize opportunities from professional sports to grow Nevada’s economy.

Sewald is engaged on several policy initiatives at the local, regional, national, international levels, and works with the Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee and team to advocate on behalf Nevada’s business community. Under her leadership, the Vegas Chamber was the first Chamber in the nation to form an Association Health Plan. Sewald worked directly with then Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor, Alexander Acosta, and created what became a national model of Association Health Plans, helping businesses provide more affordable health insurance to their employees. The Vegas Chamber was also the first in the nation to create an Association Retirement Plan, a first-of-its-kind, “Employ NV Business Hub” inside the Chamber, and the first to provide free, professional “Goals Coaching” programs open to all businesses through U.S. Bank. The Vegas Chamber was also named as the World Trade Center Las Vegas Business Club to connect international visitors to the local business community.

Sewald has successfully served as a strategic and visionary executive in both the private sector and non-profit association sectors. She is the former President & CEO of the Nevada Broadcasters Association and served as General Manager of the NBC affiliate, KRNV TV in Reno, NV, where she managed and developed a staff of 110 broadcast professionals across all disciplines.

Sewald was recognized as the first woman to be named Television General Manager in 2003 and was inducted into the Nevada Broadcaster’s Association Hall of Fame in 2009. She earned an Emmy Award for a documentary she executive-produced called “Meth Madness” at the NBC affiliate that is now KSNV-TV in Las Vegas. Most recently, she was honored with the Silver State Award for Excellence in Service, named one of Nevada Business Magazine’s 2019 Women to Watch and graced the July 2019 cover of Nevada Business Infinity Magazine.

Sewald is the host of the Vegas Chamber’s television show, “Like Nobody’s Business” and is a 2017 graduate of the Leadership Las Vegas program. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, scuba diving, riding motorcycles, playing piano, and is a single-engine rated private pilot.

Michelle Romero was elected Mayor of Henderson in June 2022 and assumed office in January 2023. She was elected at-large to the Henderson City Council in April 2019, representing Ward I.

Mayor Romero serves with her fellow council members as the legislative branch of the Henderson community, responsible for setting policies and making decisions for many aspects of local government for Nevada’s second largest city, recognized as one of the best places to live in America and one of the nation’s safest cities.

Mayor Romero represents the City of Henderson on the Board of Directors of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance, Civilian Military Council, as one of the Chief Local Elected Officials overseeing the Board of Workforce Connections and as the Council representative to the Henderson Audit Committee.

Prior to her elected service, Mayor Romero served the City of Henderson for 25 years in several capacities, most recently as the Henderson Redevelopment Agency Manager from 2007 until 2016. In this role, Romero lead a team of professionals who indelibly changed the face of the Downtown Henderson/Water Street District and other maturing areas of the city. Her responsibilities included managing all services and activities of the Redevelopment Agency and the five Redevelopment Areas, which include Downtown, Cornerstone, Tuscany, Eastside and Lakemoor.

As manager of the Redevelopment Agency, Councilwoman Romero oversaw the renaissance of the Water Street District, resulting in new housing and retail opportunities, jobs and entertainment venues. Additionally, she oversaw the creation of both the Eastside and Lakemoor Redevelopment Areas, the completion of infrastructure improvements in Tuscany, and the negotiation of Owner Participation Agreements for tax increment reimbursement for the Cadence, Union Village and Henderson Hospital projects, each of which is expected to bring thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in investment to the city. She serves on the Community Advisory Board for Henderson Hospital.

Mayor Romero worked with local businesses to form the Water Street District Business Association and brought the Super Run Car Show to Henderson in 2000, which annually generated millions in visitor spending in Henderson. She led the creation of the Farmers Market at the downtown events plaza in 1999, and managed the Agency’s creation of numerous financial assistance programs that have successfully encouraged business owners, residents and developers to reinvest in aging areas of Henderson. A native of Henderson, Romero graduated with a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Upper Iowa University and is the owner of Michelle Romero Consulting, which specializes in Redevelopment, Economic Development and Planning issues.

Married to her husband Ben Romero since 1986, Mayor Romero has four sons who were raised in Henderson and nine grandchildren.

Mike Janssen, originally from Queens, New York, began his career with the City of Las Vegas in 1997 as an entry-level Engineering Associate in Public Works. He has risen through the ranks and held numerous positions including Engineering Project Manager, Transportation Manager, Public Works Director, and Executive Director of Infrastructure. In July 2023, Mike was ratified as the new Las Vegas City Manager where he oversees 17 departments and over 3700 employees.

Mike received his undergraduate degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology in Civil Engineering Technology and he has a Master of Public Administration from UNLV. He has been a licensed Professional Civil Engineer since 1999.

Mike Olson is Founder and President of Olson Precast Company.

Since its founding in 1989, Olson has overseen each division’s operations. Olson Precast Company is the leading precast and cast-in-place concrete underground contractor in the region. The company currently serves three states in five markets including California, Nevada, and Arizona.

With a strong background in infrastructure, Mike brings more than 30 years of industry experience. He currently serves on the Nevada Contractor’s Association’s Board of Directors, Executive Committee and was Founder and Past Chairman. Mike sits on the advisory council for Mercy House, is a member of Leader with Young Life and President of the MVP Foundation.

Mike earned his bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University.

Mitch Cloward was born in Bountiful, Utah.  He started his career as a housekeeper in the Intensive Care Unit at McKay-Dee Hospital. Mitch serves as the Region President for Intermountain Health’s Desert Region. Prior to his role as Region President, he served as Market President – Desert South Utah and President of Intermountain St. George Regional Hospital.

Mitch joined Intermountain Health in October of 2002 as an operations director for Intermountain’s Medical Group. In 2006 he advanced to become hospital operations officer guiding surgical services, neurosciences, rehabilitation, lab and serving as on-site administrator of Dixie’s 400 East Campus. He became administrator for both campuses in 2017. In 2015, the St. George Chamber of Commerce recognized Mitch with the “Innovator of the Year” award. He has served in many community capacities, including trustee for Utah Technology University and board chair for the Dixie Applied Technology College.

Mitch holds a Master of Healthcare Administration from Texas Woman’s University. His career began as a financial analyst for the Kelsey-Seybold Clinic in Houston, where he rapidly advanced to administrator over physician practices. He directed finance for Great West Life and Annuity/One Health Plan and within a three-year period became their vice president of network development for the Dallas and Fort Worth areas. His diverse background has given him broad and deep experience in insurance, physician practice management and hospital operations. He and his wife, Jennifer, are the parents of five children, proud grandparents of Olive and Russell, and reside in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Mitch loves spending time with family, mountain biking, trail running, mogul skiing, going off road in his Jeep, and spending time at Bear Lake.

Nikki Fargas serves as the President of the 2x World Champions, the Las Vegas Aces since May 2021.

Prior to joining the Aces, Nikki Fargas led the LSU Women’s Basketball team to 6 NCAA tournament appearances, becoming the second winningest coach at LSU. Nikki is a founding member of the Black Student Athlete Association at LSU.

Actively involved, she serves on the board of the Kay Yow Cancer Fund, Advancement of Blacks in Sports, and the Women of Color Coaches Network.  She also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.

Dr. Renee Coffman is president and co-founder of the Nevada College of Pharmacy, now Roseman University of Health Sciences. She previous served as the University’s Executive Vice President for Quality Assurance and Intercampus Consistency and the Dean of its College of Pharmacy. Prior to establishing Roseman University, Dr. Coffman was a founding member of the pharmacy faculty at Western University of Health Sciences, where she also held the position of Facilitative Officer for Student Services. While at Western, Dr. Coffman and four colleagues received Honorable Mention for the AACP Innovations in Teaching Awards.

A licensed pharmacist in the state of Nevada, Dr. Coffman earned a Pharmacy degree from Ohio Northern University in 1987 and following graduation worked as a pharmacist in her hometown of Bucyrus, Ohio and in Piqua, Ohio. In 1995, Dr. Coffman earned a doctoral degree in Industrial and Physical Pharmacy from Purdue University, where she received the Kienle Award for Excellence in Teaching, the Jenkins-Knevel Award for Outstanding Graduate Research, and was awarded an AAPE-AFPE Association Fellowship in Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Dr. Coffman is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, American Pharmaceutical Association, American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists, The American Society of Health System Pharmacists, and the International Federation of Pharmacy, as well as Phi Kappa Phi and Rho Chi Honor Societies and the Phi Lambda Sigma Pharmacy Leadership Society.
Dr. Coffman has worked to support pharmacy, education, and improved health care through her work with the Southern Nevada Medical Industry Coalition, iDO (Improving Diabetes and Obesity in Southern Nevada), the Nevada State Board of Pharmacy Medication Error Discussion Group, and the Nevada State Board of Pharmacy Committee on Standards for Approval of Pharmacy Technician Training Programs.

Currently, Dr. Coffman serves on the Board of Directors of the Henderson Chamber of Commerce and Las Vegas HEALS, a coalition of medical and wellness industry professionals, organizations and institutions devoted to improving the access and delivery of healthcare in Southern Nevada.
In recognition of her community service in Southern Nevada, in 2008 she received the “Who’s Who in Healthcare” Award and the “Women of Distinction” Award, both sponsored by In Business Las Vegas, now VEGAS INC. In 2017, the publication recognized Dr. Coffman as one of 12 “Women to Watch” in business. In 2012, she was named a “Distinguished Alumnus” by Ohio Northern University. Additionally, Dr. Coffman was instrumental in successful legislative efforts permitting pharmacists to perform finger-stick blood glucose testing.

Education

BS Pharm, Ohio Northern University
PhD, Purdue University

Affiliations

American Pharmacists’ Association
American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society
Rho Chi Honor Society
Phi Lambda Sigma Pharmacy Leadership Society

Awards

Purdue University
Jenkins-Knevel Award for Outstanding Graduate Research, 1995
AAPS-AFPE Association Fellowship in Pharmaceutical Sciences, 1993-1995
Kienle Award for Excellence in Teaching, 1992

Western University of Health Sciences
AACP Innovations in Teaching Award, Honorable Mention (with M. Jafari-Fesharaki, S. Prabhu, H. Rosenberg, and K. Tallian), 1997

Roseman University of Health Sciences
Purdue University Distinguished Alumnus Award, 2021
In Business Las Vegas, Women Who Mean Business Award, 2015
Vegas Inc., Healthcare Headliners Education Award, 2014
Ohio Northern University Distinguished Alumnus Award, 2011
In Business Las Vegas, Who’s Who in Health Care Award, 2008
In Business Las Vegas, Women of Distinction Award, 2008, 2020

Teaching Subjects

Pharmacokinetics

Publications

L. Frick, J. Frick, S. Dey, and R. Coffman. “Student Stress in a three-Year Doctor of Pharmacy Program Utilizing a Mastery Learning Educational Model”. Am J. Pharm. Ed., 75(4), 64. (2011).

E. Jorvig, D. Zarley, and R. Coffman. “Student Perceptions of Biochemistry in the Pharmacy Curriculum”. Am. J. Pharm.Ed., 72(3), 7. (2008)

H. Rosenberg, R. Coffman, M. Fesharaki-Jafari, S. Prabhu, and K. Tallian. “New Approach to Teaching Basic Science Courses: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in the Block System of Curricular Design”. Am. J. Pharm. Ed., 62:76-82 (1998)

R. Coffman and D.O. Kildsig. “Effect of Urea and Nicotinamide on Riboflavin Solubility in Various Solvents”. J. Pharm. Sci., J. Pharm. Sci., 85:951-954 (1996).

R. Coffman and D.O. Kildsig. “Hydrotropic SolubilizationMechanistic Studies Using Nicotinamide and Riboflavin”. Pharm. Res., 13:1460-1463 (1996).

R. Coffman and D.O. Kildsig. “Self-Association of Nicotinamide in Aqueous Solution: Light-Scattering Monophotometry and Vapor Pressure Osmometry Studies”. J. Pharm. Sci., 85:848-853 (1996).

L. Frick, R. Coffman, S. Dey, and J. Frick, “Stress and Quality of Life in a Three-Year Block System Doctor of Pharmacy Program.” AACP Annual Meeting, Seattle Washington, July 2010.

S. Day, E. Jorvig, and R. Coffman, “Retention of Pharmacokinetic Concepts Among Preceptors from Institutional and Community Pharmacy Settings.” AACP Annual Meeting, Seattle, Washington, July 2010.

S. Dey, E. Jorvig, and R. Coffman, “Retention of Pharmacokinetic Concepts Among Pharmacy Students in a Three Year Block Curriculum.” AACP Annual Meeting, Boston, Massachusetts, July, 2009.

E. Jorvig, D. Zarley, R, Coffman, “Student perceptions of the biochemistry component of a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree program. American Chemical Society 236th National Meeting, Philadephia, PA, August, 2008.

A. Welder, I. Ijo, P. Oesterman, R. Coffman, “Medication Misuse Education of Pharmacy Students Enrolled in the Block Curriculum”. AACP Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, July, 2008.

E. Jorvig, D. Zarley, R. Coffman, “Student Perceptions of Biochemistry in the Pharmacy Curriculum”. AACP Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, July, 2008.

R. Coffman, C. Madison, “An Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience at a Regional Public Health District”. AACP Annual Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, July, 2008.

R. Coffman, D. Zarley, P. Oesterman, A. Stout. “Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences that Interface with Didactic Coursework.” Roundtable Discussion leader. AACP Annual Meeting, Orlando, Florida, July, 2007.

R. Coffman., D. Zarley, P. Oesterman, and H. Rosenberg. “Interfacing Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences with Didactic Coursework”. AACP Annual Meeting, San Diego, California, July, 2006.

A. Welder, R. Coffman. “Alcohol and Drug Addiction Education of Pharmacy Students Enrolled in the Block Curriculum”. AACP Annual Meeting, San Diego, California, July 2006.

A. Schwartz, R. Coffman, T. Wiser, M. DeYoung, T. Metzger. “Inculcation of Professionalism: The Nevada College of Pharmacy Experience”. AACP Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah, July 2004.

R. Coffman, A. Welder. “Incorporation of Animal Therapy into the Pharmacy School Curriculum: Animal Therapy as an Adjunct to Pharmacotherapy in Clinical Pharmacy Practice”. APhA Annual Meeting, Seattle, Washington, March 2004.

Rick Crawford is the Chairman and Founder of Green Valley Grocery, Crawford Oil, Inc., and Crawford Coin, Inc. He opened the first Green Valley Grocery Convenience Store in 1978 in Henderson, Nevada. Green Valley Grocery has groan to 70 locations in Southern Nevada. Rick has lived in Las Vegas since 1971. He was born in Winnipeg, Canada, raised in San Diego, California, and became a U.S. citizen in January 1971, the same year he moved to Las Vegas.

Rick is a Founder of The Smith Center for Performing Arts and has been active in several civic and charitable organizations including board leadership roles with the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance, past Chairman of Secret Witness of Southern Nevada, the Southern Nevada YMCA, and the Shell National Wholesale Council. He is currently Chairman of the Nevada Retail Network Self-Funded Group and has been Chairman since its founding 25 years ago.

Scott Muelrath has served as President and CEO of the Henderson Chamber of Commerce since 2011. Under his leadership and community focus, the HCC has expanded its valley-wide membership base by nearly 200% and grown its budget by 400%.

In 2018, Mr. Muelrath collaborated with local chambers and launched the most-successful chamber-led association health plan in the country (CCHPA) and was recognized by LVGEA’s Partnership Award for this accomplishment. A champion for redevelopment, he works with business owners and the City of Henderson to continue momentum around Downtown Henderson, as well as other projects in Southern Nevada, including supporting sports enterprises and facilities development.

He successfully adapted the model to new regulations in 2021 when small businesses really needed healthcare options. The HCC’s association health plans cover more than 420 businesses and approximately 9,000 lives – an invaluable service that is unmatched in the state of Nevada.

Necessitated by the pandemic, Mr. Muelrath led the HCC’s response by rapidly embracing virtual content, positioning the HCC as the source for critical information for businesses and the community. Working alongside other chambers and government agencies, his advocacy resulted in accessible economic relief assistance to countless small businesses and non-profits. The HCC is a regional leader in collaborative workforce development efforts to improve our workforce systems to support economic diversification, especially in advanced manufacturing.

Muelrath serves on the City of Henderson Mayor’s Economic Development Task Force, is the Secretary and Executive Board member for the Henderson Chamber of Commerce, on the executive board for the Henderson Chamber of Commerce Foundation (a separate 501c3 entity), on the Executive Board for the Henderson Development Association, a private sector economic development committee, and on the President’s Advisory Committee for Nevada State College.

In 2022, he was honored with the Urban Entrepreneurial Spirit Award of the Year by the Nevada District office of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and was named Non-Profit Executive of the Year for the 29th Silver State Awards.

As EVP/ Corporate Banking Manager at Nevada State Bank, Shannon is responsible for all aspects of Corporate Banking in Nevada. She joined Nevada State Bank in 2001, and has been a member of the Executive Management Committee since 2011. Petersen spent four years with the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco prior to joining Nevada State Bank. She is a graduate of UC Santa Cruz with a bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s degree in finance. She is also a graduate of Leadership Las Vegas, Class of 2011. She is currently on the Community and Economic Research Council Subcommittee of the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance (LVGEA).

Mayor Shelley Berkley was elected by the people of Las Vegas in November 2024. Prior to taking office as mayor, she served as senior vice president of the Touro University system. Before this, she held the positions of CEO and senior provost at Touro University Western Division for a period of eight-and-a-half years.

Prior to joining Touro, Mayor Berkley served the state of Nevada in the United States House of Representatives from 1999 to 2013. She was the first woman to serve the district and held the position for seven terms.

During her 14 years in Congress, Mayor Berkley served on the Transportation Committee, Small Business Committee, Veterans Affairs Committee, Foreign Affairs Committee and the Ways and Means Committee (healthcare subcommittee).

Among her proudest accomplishments during her time in Congress was building the new Veterans Administration medical complex in Southern Nevada to provide quality healthcare to the veterans in our community. She was a vocal supporter of providing more funding for graduate medical education (residencies), and a vocal advocate of reforming our nation’s healthcare system.

Mayor Berkley began her career in public service in 1983 as an assemblywoman in the Nevada State Legislature. She worked to strengthen consumer protection laws and to crack down on drunk driving. She created the Senior Law Project and wrote the Lemon Law, which protects new car owners from defective vehicles. Both programs continue to this day. Mayor Berkley was appointed and twice elected to the Nevada State Board of Regents, serving from 1990 to 1998.

Prior to serving in Congress, Mayor Berkley was a practicing attorney. She was an attorney for the Nevada State Commerce Department, in-house counsel for Southwest Gas Corporation and vice president for government and legal affairs for the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas.

Mayor Berkley is married to Dr. Larry Lehrner, a kidney specialist, and she is the proud mother of two sons, two stepchildren and four grandchildren.

Raised in Las Vegas, Mayor Berkley attended John C. Fremont Junior High School and Valley High School. She was the first person in her family to go to college. She graduated from UNLV in 1973 where she was student body president.

Having dedicated nearly three decades of public service to the City of Henderson, Stephanie Garcia-Vause is a seasoned leader with a proven track record of successful community development and strategic planning.

Stephanie Garcia-Vause was named City Manager for the City of Henderson in December 2024 and officially took on her responsibilities as City Manager/CEO on January 22, 2025. She served as an Assistant City Manager from March 2018 through January 2025. Over the last several years, she has involved herself in several major achievements that have enhanced our community including the redevelopment of Water Street District, receiving the Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award, and attracting the Las Vegas Raiders and Haas Automation to West Henderson. Stephanie has overseen development-related departments, Communications, and the Department of Performance and Innovation. She also established the Office of Education as a result of community feedback and the 2019 Strategic Planning session with Mayor and Council. Most recently, her focus has shifted to public safety departments and Finance. Prior to that, she spent nearly a decade as Director of the City’s Community Development and Services Department—ensuring high-quality development and service standards and progressive long-term City planning.

Her long-tenured leadership is expansive, and her experience and accolades are many. Stephanie’s efforts range from securing significant public lands funding for parks and trails, securing a $3.5 million sustainable communities grant for Southern Nevada, legislative involvement, and planning expertise such as developing the College Area Plan to set the stage for development of Nevada State University. She played a crucial role in West Henderson’s expansion, from working with property owners to annex into the City, developing the first land use plan for West Henderson, and lobbying Congress for the LTA (Limited Transition Area) legislation, which set the foundation for attracting companies like Haas Automation to support economic diversification in the City.

Stephanie is a Fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners, a past Chair of the Southern Section of the Nevada American Planning Association (APA), a past Chair of the Nevada Urban Land Institute (ULI) District Council, and Chair of the Nevada ULI District Council Governance Committee. She was recently re-appointed by the Secretary of the Interior to the Bureau of Land Management’s Mojave-Southern Great Basin Recreation Advisory Committee, having served two terms since 2015 as Vice Chair and Chair. She is currently a member of the St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School Advisory Council and PTO, as well as a member of the Henderson Libraries Foundation. She previously served on the Board of Directors for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada and HopeLink.

When not working or volunteering, Stephanie loves to bake, read a good mystery novel, watch college football (rooting for the Cal Bears even though they usually lose) and spend time with her husband and two daughters—especially at their favorite vacation spot in La Jolla.

Stephen G. Westerman is Vice President of Cox Business, the commercial services division of Cox Communications. In this role, he leads a large, diverse team of professionals in driving sales, sales support and enhanced end-to-end customer experiences across all business segments including small and medium business, large enterprise and hospitality customers, and carrier and wholesale services in Southern Nevada. In close partnership with his leadership team, Westerman is focused on accelerating the company’s business and growth strategies and demonstrated profitable revenue and margin contribution. Since joining the Las Vegas team in November 2021, Westerman has deepened and expanded relationships within the business community, including local municipalities to provide technological and smart community solutions across the region. In addition, Westerman is partnering with Cox’s New Growth and Development organization to bring new innovation to Southern Nevada including edge computing, managed private networks, smart community applications, and advanced hospital solutions.

Westerman previously held the position of Senior Director of Business Process for Cox Business in Atlanta where he led Cox Business’ transformational efforts across people, processes, and technology aimed at improving customer experience and operational efficiencies across the enterprise. Joining Cox in 2007 as the Director of Competitive Intelligence and Business Development in Oklahoma, Westerman held several key strategic leadership roles within Cox.

Prior to joining Cox, Steve served in customer-facing sales and sales leadership positions at MCI, Sprint and AT&T serving all commercial customer segments from small businesses to global accounts.

In early 2021, Westerman was elected to the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance Board of Directors and is actively engaged in economic expansion and diversification efforts throughout the Southern Nevada region.

A veteran of the technology industry with more than 25 years of experience leading sales, marketing, operations, and transformation teams, Westerman has been recognized for building successful high-performing teams, cultivating the Cox culture, and fostering business process, open communication, empowerment and teamwork across the company.

Westerman holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Oklahoma. A native of Oklahoma, he and his wife, Lora have five grown children.

As President of MGM Resorts Operations, Steve Zanella oversees regional operations, future operations tied to domestic growth, and certain global growth initiatives. Additionally, he leads Sports Partnerships, Citywide Event Strategy, and the ongoing relationship with Marriott International. Mr. Zanella is an accomplished industry veteran who has held several leadership positions at MGM Resorts.

Previously, Mr. Zanella served as Chief Commercial Officer, where he oversaw Sports & Sponsorships, Brand Marketing, Direct Marketing, Group Sales, Revenue Management, Social Media, Loyalty and Commercial Strategy. Prior to that, he held the position of President & COO of CityCenter, where he managed daily operations and provided strategic direction for the ultra-luxury resorts.

A veteran of the hospitality industry with more than 30 years of experience, he joined MGM Resorts in 1991 as a participant in the Management Associate Program, which is a hands-on training curriculum for college graduates. In his tenure with the company, Mr. Zanella has also served as President & Chief Operating Officer of MGM Grand Detroit, Senior Vice President of Marketing for MGM Grand Las Vegas, Vice President of Slots at Beau Rivage, Director of Slot Marketing and Player Development also at Beau Rivage, and Domestic Marketing Administrator for Table Games Marketing at The Mirage. Mr. Zanella received his bachelor’s degree in Hotel Administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. In 2014 he earned a Master in Business Administration degree from the University of Michigan’s Stephen M. Ross School of Business.

Governor Joe Lombardo appointed Tom Burns Nevada Governor’s of Economic Development (GOED) Executive Director on January 30^th, 2023.

Burns started his career by attaining his Certified Public Accountant designation with Deloitte and was subsequently the Assistant Corporate Controller at United Gaming, the predecessor of Bally Gaming Technologies.

In 1991, Burns joined Cragin & Pike. He became a shareholder in 1998 and served as President from 2010 to 2022.

Burns has served on numerous professional boards, including charitable organizations and government-appointed committees. He served on the Government Affairs Committees and Board of Trustees for the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce where he also served as chair for two years beginning in 2020. He was named to the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance Board in 2023.

A University of Nevada, Reno graduate, Burns enjoys spending time with his wife of 34 years, Shelly and his two children, JT and Megan.

Born and raised in southern Nevada, Tony joined NV Energy (NVE), in 2007 as Senior Vice President for Government and Community Relations. Since then, Tony has overseen several departments within the NVE structure including regulatory operations, government and community relations, communications, economic development and major accounts, environment, and the philanthropic departments.

Before joining NVE, Tony practiced law representing a diverse portfolio of energy and other clients.  Prior to the private practice of law, Tony served in state and federal government positions including as a legislative counsel for then U.S. Senator Richard Bryan, in Washington D.C., as an attorney for the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada, and as Executive Assistant for the then Governor of Nevada, Bob Miller.

Tony earned his juris doctorate degree from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University and his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Weston Adams has been the President and CEO of Western States Contracting, a large civil infrastructure services company, since 2010. He is also the President of Prometheus Development Group, a leader in land and infrastructure development in Nevada.

As a native Las Vegan, Weston has a vested interest in the growth of the Las Vegas Valley. Weston has a BS in Finance from the University of Nevada Las Vegas. He is an active member of the Las Vegas chapters of the Young Presidents Organization and Tiger 21.

Weston has been married to his beautiful wife, Shelley, for 21 years and together they have three wonderful children.