Use this Staff Directory to assist with any questions you may have or any additional information you may need.
Some of the Vegas Chamber team celebrating the launch of our new brand in January 2020.
Executive
Executive Office, Board of Trustees, public relations & press releases
Mary Beth Sewald President & CEO 702.586.3869 Cara Clarke Vice President, Communications 702.586.3832 Amanda Flues Communications Coordinator 702.581.3836 Jim Andres Vice President, Human Resources 702.586.3826 Lauren Stuart Executive Business Administrator 702.586.3869 Finance
Invoices, billing, accounts payable & receivables
David Kellerman Chief Operating Officer 702.586.3802 Lili Ruiz Staff Accountant 702.586.3894 Laura Cordova Sales Database Manager 702.586.3845 Business & Office Services
Reception, general business information. Partner referrals, publication sales
Joyce Chatman Manager, Business & Office Services 702.586.3855 Robin Fuller Business Services Specialist 702.586.3864 Jaye Villanyi-Welch Business Services Specialist 702.586.3819 Business Development & Member Engagement
Business development, member engagement & partnerships, events
Jose Valle Vice President, Member Development 702.586.3854 Deborah Makiri Director of Membership Development 702.586.3887 Sallie Doebler Vice President, Corporate Partnerships 702.586.3804 Art Goldberg Business Development Executive 702.586.3848 Lita Stein Business Development Executive 702.586.3852 Joe Green Business Development Executive 702.586.3822 Teresa Schempp Business Development Executive 702.586.3817 Business Development Executive II 702.586.3863 Monica Fluker Member Success Specialist 702.586.3844 Nick Schneider Member Success Specialist 702.908.7411 Events
Event planning & registration
Inbal Simhayoff Event Manager 702.586.3851 Chandler Faggiano Event Assistant Manager 702.586.3838 Robin Fuller Event Specialist 702.586.3864 Marketing
Strategic marketing, brand strategy, digital media & design
Joyce Goedeke Vice President, Marketing & Brand Strategy 702.586.3828 Government Affairs
Political & actions committees, public policy & advocacy, task forces, legislation, small business laws, elections & polling research
Paul J. Moradkhan Senior Vice President, Government Affairs 702.586.3816 David Dazlich Director, Government Affairs 702.586.3805 Dylan Keith Government Affairs Manager 702.586.3809 Erica Valdriz Political Affairs Manager 702.586.3846 Leadership Foundation of Greater Las Vegas
Cara Clarke Executive Director 702.586.3832 Lisa Gough Leadership Las Vegas Program Manager 702.586.3841 Chandler Faggiano Leadership Advance & Focus Las Vegas Program Manager 702.586.3825
Featured President's Club Members
Bret Holmes
Advanced Management Group
President
Advanced Management Group Nevada, LLC is a full-service real estate management company. With more than ten years of experience, including conventional, hotel, and weekly property management, Bret Holmes works with property owners to achieve optimal results. Holmes is president of the Nevada State Apartment Association and is a delegate for the National Apartment Association.
Edward Domanico
AET Environmental
Director of Environmental Affairs
Edward J. Domanico is Director of Environmental Affairs for AET Environmental, a leading and highly credentialed provider of environmental and industrial services, hazardous waste handling and remediation in Nevada. Responsible for strategic marketing policies, as well as expanding the company’s operating capability throughout the state and region, he brings more than 27 years of environmental experience to this role as an industry leader. AET provides environmental services to many of the Strip Properties. AET provides service to several Medical and Industrial facilities, as well as the Nevada Test Site.
Damon Schilling
American Medical Response
Manager
Damon Schilling is Manager of Government Affairs for AMR / MedicWest Las Vegas. A Las Vegas native, he began his career at Southwest Ambulance in 2003. He worked in the dispatch center while attending paramedic school, completing his internship in 2007. Since then, Damon has held various roles within the organization. Damon served as the Community Relations Coordinator for AMR and MedicWest prior to his current position. Damon will soon graduate from Nevada State College with a BA in Business Administration.
John Guedry
Bank of Nevada
CEO
John Guedry has more than 30 years of experience in financial services in Nevada. Prior to joining Bank of Nevada, he was CEO and President of Business Bank of Nevada until it was purchased by City National Bank where he remained as Executive Vice President.
Mike Bolognini
Cox Communications
Market Vice President
Mike Bolognini oversees all cable television and telecommunications operations for Cox Communications in Southern Nevada including its residential, commercial and hospitality industry products encompassing voice, video, and data services. He has been with the company since August 2009. Bolognini has more than three decades of experience in the telecommunications industry and has an extensive background in sales and executive sales management at industry leading organizations such as Verizon, AT&T, Fujitsu and Lucent. He sits on the boards of Las Vegas Philharmonic, Salvation Army, YMCA and Southwest Cable Communications Association.
Mike Murphy
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield
President and General Manager
Mike Murphy has been the President and General Manager of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nevada since 2006. In his role, he is responsible for overseeing all commercial group and individual business in Nevada. With more than half a million members in Nevada, Anthem is the second largest insurance company in the state. Anthem is a customer-focused company that is dedicated to providing its members with access to high-quality, affordable healthcare.
Tim Wong
Arcata Associates, Inc.
CEO and President
Tim Wong is CEO and President of Arcata Associates, Inc. a Las Vegas based technical services company. Arcata provides Hardware, Software and Systems Engineering, Information Technology (IT), Logistics, Multimedia, and Operations and Maintenance (O&M) services in support of the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and other government agencies. Arcata is a family-owned business that is celebrating 39 years in the Las Vegas Valley. Wong currently serves as the Treasurer of Nevada Public Radio, Board of Director of the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District’s Mesquite QALIC B, and is a member of the Cox Communications Community Advisory Board.
Robert Glaser
BNY Mellon Wealth Management
VP / Senior Director
Robert “Bob” Glaser is a Vice President and Senior Director and is responsible for providing comprehensive wealth management solutions to clients. Bob has over 30 years of financial services experience including in Private, Retail and Corporate banking groups; in the consulting practice of a Big-4 accounting firm; and as a Chief Financial Officer. Bob is a graduate of the University of Utah and the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at the University of Delaware. He also serves the community through Communities In Schools Nevada; Nevada Public Radio; Opportunity Village; and the Alexander Dawson School.
Ellen Schulhofer
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP
Managing Partner
Ellen Schulhofer is a shareholder in the firm’s Las Vegas office and has served as managing partner of the Las Vegas office since 2007. As a member of the firm’s executive committee and former co-managing partner of the firm, Ellen has gained extensive leadership and strategic counseling experience which, together with her calm and pragmatic approach, is invaluable to her business and corporate advisory practice. She leads the corporate group in Nevada, advising clients in a broad range of M&A, debt and equity financing, restructuring and other corporate transactions.
MaryKaye Cashman
Cashman Equipment Co.
Chief Executive Officer/Vice Chairwoman of the Board
Established in 1931, Cashman Equipment Co. is one of the oldest Caterpillar dealers in the United States. Before assuming full-time duties in 1995, MaryKaye Cashman was a registered nurse. She is a member of the Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee, the World Presidents’ Organization, the Committee of 200, the Nevada Development Authority, the Boys and Girls Clubs of Las Vegas, and serves on the Community Advisory board of St. Rose Hospitals.
Lisa Santwer
Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada
Director, Marketing & Public Relations
Lisa Santwer oversees marketing and communications for CCCN, which specializes in oncology, hematology, breast surgery and research. Santwer helped establish CCCN’s nonprofit, ORION Cancer Foundation, and serves on the Executive Committee of Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada. Her community activities include serving as co-chair for 2015 Leadership Las Vegas’ Health Day and advisory board for UNLV School of Health Sciences. Santwer is a graduate of Leadership Las Vegas and a 2012 Hall of Fame inductee into the Women’s Chamber of Commerce.
Chuck Ley
Cornerstone Merchant Services, Inc.
President/CEO
Chuck founded Cornerstone Merchant Services, an independently licensed merchant card processor, in 2004. By cultivating a culture of integrity and personal responsibility, Chuck led Cornerstone to become the largest credit card processor in Nevada within a few years. Since founding Cornerstone, Chuck has volunteered time to various non-profit organizations throughout the community. He currently sits as the acting President of Helping Hands of Vegas Valley, which he has been a part of since 2010.
Richard E. Bodager, CPA, MBA, FACMPE
Desert Radiologists
Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Bodager joined Desert Radiology in 2016 bringing over 20 years of senior level management experience from his roles as chief executive and chief financial officer for large medical practices, as well as from his involvement on several for-profit and not-for-profit boards. As Chief Executive Officer Mr. Bodager provides hands-on management of daily operations as well as oversees the company’s strategic development and long-term institutional goals. Mr. Bodager works closely with the senior management team and directs internal functions for the achievement of corporate objectives.
Michael N. Feder
Dickinson Wright PLLC
Member Partner
Michael N. Feder is a member in Dickinson Wright PLLC’s Litigation Department. He has extensive experience representing and counseling clients in commercial and business litigation matters involving banking, contracts, copyright infringement, corporate law, employment law, entertainment and sports law, franchise law, fraud, gaming, patent infringement, real estate, RICO, trademark infringement, securities law, shareholder and partnership disputes, unfair competition, among other areas of law. Mr. Feder is also on the Board of Directors of the American Red Cross of Southern Nevada.
Fafie Moore
ERA Brokers Consolidated
Executive Vice President of Southern Nevada
A Realtor for over 35 years, 27 as a Broker-Owner, Fafie now serves as Executive Vice President for Southern Nevada for ERA Brokers Consolidated, a multistate brokerage with a 38 year history of accomplishment and leadership. Fafie was the 2008 Chairman of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce Board of Trustees. She is a 1995 graduate of Leadership Las Vegas. Fafie is the current President of the Chamber Insurance Benefit Board. Fafie has served on numerous community boards for business and non-profit organizations.
Greg Lee
Eureka Casino Resort
President
Gregory Lee is President of Rancho Mesquite Casino, LLC; a company that operates the Eureka Casino Resort, Mesquite, Nevada, a company he co-founded with his parents. Lee remains involved in the Lee family business, but focuses his energy on the development, marketing and leadership cultivation of the Mesquite operation. Lee serves on the Board of the Mesquite Resort Association, the Mesquite Health and Wellness Foundation and the Nevada Independent Gaming Operators Organization. Lee is a graduate of Harvard College and earned a J.D. from the University of Southern California.
Tyler Corder
Findlay Automotive Group
COO/CFO
Mr. Corder is a graduate of Montana State University. After college he joined GMAC in 1980 and was named Branch Manager in Las Vegas in 1992. He later joined the Findlay Automotive Group where he now serves as both COO and CFO. He is past Board President of Safe Nest and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. He has served on several boards including the Findlay Education Foundation, the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame Foundation, the Foundation for an Independent Tomorrow and the American Red Cross of Southern Nevada.
Michael Bonner
Greenberg Traurig
Shareholder
Michael J. Bonner is a member of the executive committee of the gaming law section of the State Bar of Nevada, the executive committee and board of trustees of the Nevada Development Authority, and is Past Chairman of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce Board of Trustees. Bonner is routinely listed as one of the “Leading Individual” Corporate/Mergers & Acquisitions attorneys in Nevada and was recognized in September 2009 as one of the top lawyers in Nevada in the Legal Elite edition of Nevada Business Magazine.
Victor Fuchs
Helix Electric
President
In 1987, Victor Fuchs began his career as a Project Manager at Helix Electric, one of the fastest growing full-service electrical contractors in the nation, and quickly rose to the ranks of President of the Las Vegas office. He acquired ownership of the Las Vegas company in 2001 where he is currently President and Managing Member. He is known for his generosity throughout the community and has a deep commitment to employee training and safety. The company has been the recipient of numerous local and national awards.
Heather Bressler
Henriksen Butler Nevada
President
As President of Henriksen Butler Nevada - Las Vegas, Heather Bressler leads her local team with broad product expertise, strong knowledge of industry trends, high-performance work environments and interior design, to deliver exceptional workspaces for her customers. Bressler is committed to helping clients create spaces where they can do their best work and impact the business results of their organization. She has more than 14 years’ experience in the furniture industry and a bachelor’s degree in design from the University of Kentucky.
Mike PeQueen
HighTower Las Vegas
Managing Director, Partner
Mike PeQueen, CFA, CFP is Managing Director, Partner of HighTower Las Vegas, one of the most experienced wealth management firms in the western United States. Previously, he served as Senior Vice-President and Senior Portfolio Manager at Merrill Lynch. Mike completed his undergraduate degree in Finance at UNLV and his Masters in Finance and Banking at Boston University. In addition, he holds the prestigious Chartered Financial Analyst and Certified Financial Planner designations.
Renato Ascoli
North America Gaming & Interactive of IGT PLC
Chief Executive Officer
Renato Ascoli, CEO of North America Gaming & Interactive of IGT PLC, is responsible for product development, manufacturing, marketing, and delivery for the company. Prior to 2015, he served as General Manager of GTECH S.p.A. and President of GTECH Products and Services. He also served as Head of Italian Operations. In 2006, he joined GTECH S.p.A. as director of the gaming division. Mr. Ascoli has led international marketing efforts for Fincentro Group - Armando Curcio Editore and was a consultant to Ambrosetti Group. He graduated from Bocconi University in Milan.
Justin Cohen
REQ
Executive Vice President
Justin Cohen is the EVP of REQ Las Vegas. With 15 years spent focused on growing Clients’ businesses, Justin possesses a unique collection of marketing and leadership skills. He is a 2015 Grad of Leadership LV, a Trustee of the Outside Las Vegas Foundation and a veteran Wish Granter for Make a Wish of Southern Nevada. Justin hails from Boston, attended Cornell University, and, when not spending time with his twins Parker and Reed or working, he can be found running in the mountains around Las Vegas.
Robert J. Maricich
International Market Centers
Chief Executive Officer
Robert Maricich is widely recognized as one of the home furnishings industry’s most innovative leaders. He was instrumental developing the strategy for the creation of International Market Centers, L.P. and for raising over $1 billion to fund the purchase of the International Home Furnishings Center, ShowPlace properties, and the Market Square properties in High Point, N.C. and merging them with World Market Center Las Vegas forming the world’s largest operator of premier showroom space. International Market Centers encompasses over 11.7 million square feet of world-class exhibition space.
Chris Way
KTNV-TV, Channel 13 Action News
VP/General Manager
Chris Way is VP/General Manager of KTNV-TV, 13 Actions News, and E.W. Scripps company. He oversees all business and operations activities of Las Vegas' ABC affiliate. Chris recently returned to Las Vegas after a short stint at KMTV-TV, the Scripps-owned CBS affiliate in Omaha, Nebraska, where he served as General Manager. Previously, he worked at KLAS-TV and is looking forward to re-engaging with business and community partners. Chris held volunteer roles with the United Way of Southern Nevada, the Nellis Support Team, and the Las-Vegas Clark County Library District Foundation.
Stephanie Kocher
Las Vegas Woman Magazine
Owner and President
Stephanie Kocher is the new owner and president of Las Vegas Woman Magazine. The publication has been in print for 18 years with a mission to educate, entertain and inspire. Stephanie brings a lifetime of marketing and publishing experience and has worked side-by-side with her mother, Ruth Lauber, who is the current vice-president of Las Vegas Woman Magazine. Between the both of them, there is over 60 years of magazine experience. Stephanie is also a member of the United Way's Tocqueville Society and Women's Leadership Council.
Mark E. Brown
Miracle Flights
Chief Executive Officer
Mark E. Brown currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of Miracle Flights. His past leadership includes CEO of Zen Entertainment, former VP of The Howard Hughes Corporation and Station Casinos, and as a partner and president of R&R Partners. Mark has an extensive background in nonprofit activities. He has chaired multiple organizations including YMCA of Southern Nevada. He also managed all philanthropic donations for both the Howard Hughes Corporation and Station Casinos.
JD Daniels
Mission Support and Test Services LLC
Division Manager, Emergency Services & Operation Support
Jim (JD) Daniels is the Division Manager for Emergency Services and Operation Support for Mission Support and Test Services LLC, the Management and Operating Contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration Nevada Site Office. He is responsible for managing the Emergency Response Organization that encompasses Fire & Rescue operations, Medical response, Command & Control operations and Emergency planning. Daniels holds a Bachelor’s degree of Business Management and a Master’s degree of Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix.
Mitch Fox
Nevada Broadcasters Association
President
Mitch Fox, long-time Nevada broadcaster has been selected as the President and CEO of the Nevada Broadcasters Association. Fox was selected after an extensive, nationwide search. He brings more than 30 years of broadcasting experience to the position including his first job at KABC-TV in Los Angeles, at KTNV-TV in Las Vegas as a general assignment reporter and as director of production and programming for Vegas PBS. He is most well-known as a debate moderator, legislative/political reporter and host of “Nevada Week in Review.” Fox was also communications director for the City of North Las Vegas and Nevada State Director for the Porter Group, a Washington DC-based lobbying firm.
Suzanne Domoracki
Nevada Drug Card
Program Developer
Suzanne Domoracki has 25 years of progressive sales and marketing experience directing the activities of regional supervisory and multi-market sales personnel. Prior to joining Nevada Drug Card, she held similar supervisory positions in the health and beauty industries and oversaw all sales activity in the Western U.S. for a nationally recognized manufacturer of point-of-care oral fluid drug testing devices. She is involved with several local clubs and organizations.
Audra Hamernik
Nevada HAND
President & CEO
Audra Hamernik is the new President and CEO of Nevada HAND. She brings more than 25 years of experience in real estate, financial services, social impact investing and lending, and community leadership. She was most recently the Executive Director of the Illinois Housing Development Authority. She has also served as Principal of A. Hamernik & Associates, Inc., and as Executive Director of Bluestem Housing Partners, a nonprofit housing developer. She earned her Master degree, as well as her Bachelor degree, in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Illinois.
Terry Shirey
Nevada State Bank
President and Chief Executive Officer
Terry A. Shirey serves as President and Chief Executive Officer for Nevada State Bank, a division of ZB, N.A. and Executive Vice President of Zions Bancorporation. Named President and CEO in January 2017, Shirey formerly served as Chief Financial Officer for six years before being named President and COO in September 2014. Shirey oversees all five banking lines of business – retail, real estate, small business, commercial, and private banking – as well as all bank operations in Nevada. Shirey holds a certified public accountant (CPA) certificate. He has more than 22 years of experience in the financial industry, with the past 14 spent managing finance and operations for major banks and bank holding companies. Shirey holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Wyoming. He currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce, as Vice-Chair of the College of Southern Nevada Foundation and is a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization.
Larry Singer
Newmark
Senior Managing Director
Larry Singer, a senior managing director at Newmark Knight Frank, is a 40-year veteran of commercial real estate and one of Southern Nevada’s top producing commercial brokers. His team has represented national and local clients including Cirque Du Soleil, Westcare Foundation, Southern Nevada Health District, Greenburg Traurig, Ainsworth Game Technology and Clark County. He is a member of the Las Vegas Metro Chamber Board of Trustees and has served as chairman of both the Lied Institute of Real Estate Studies at UNLV and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Nevada.
Paul Caudill
NV Energy
President and Chief Executive Officer
Paul Caudill was named president of NV Energy in December 2013. Most recently, Caudill was president of MidAmerican Solar, a division of MidAmerican Renewables LLC. Prior to joining MidAmerican in 2012, Caudill was CEO and president of Phoenix Solar U.S. He also served as vice president, global systems operations for SunPower Corporation. Caudill began his career in the energy industry with Bechtel Power Corporation in 1976. He has extensive experience in commissioning, start-up and outage management at generating facilities throughout the United States.
David Dahan
Orgill/Singer & Associates, Inc.
Chief Executive Officer
David Dahan brings more than two decades of insurance industry experience to Orgill/Singer. A 41-year resident and active supporter of his local community, Dahan serves on various community boards such as Las Ventanas Retirement Community, the Henderson Chamber of Commerce, the Nevada Restaurant Association and the governing board of North Vista Hospital. KLAV 1230 AM radio has recently given Dahan an opportunity to reveal his newest passion as host of Community Speaks – a conversation with local leaders.
Chet Opheikens
R & O Construction Inc
VP of Business Development
Chet Opheikens has been employed by R&O Construction for 23 years. Chet is VP of Business Development for R&O’s Las Vegas Regional Office. Chet builds and nurtures client relationships that generate qualified construction leads and manages the pre-construction services team. Chet is involved in many local organizations such as NAIOP, ICSC, NPFMA, LVMCC, Nellis AFB Honorary Commander and currently sits as Chairman of the Board of the Henderson Development Association.
Renee Coffman
Roseman University of Health Sciences
President
Since 2011, Renee Coffman has served as president of Roseman University of Health Sciences, a Henderson-based private, not-for-profit educational institution she co-founded in 1999. During her first four years as president, she has helped advance the university’s mission to positively impact the health, education, and wellness of the community through the establishment of a second campus in Southern Nevada, located in Summerlin, the expansion of medical research programs, and the founding of an allopathic College of Medicine.
Mark Haley
Smart City Networks
President
As the president of Smart City Networks, Mark Haley oversees the sales and operations teams and all strategic corporate initiatives. With over 30 years of experience in the convention industry, Mark has worked with many of the largest convention centers, stadiums, and arenas in North America. Mark has a unique perspective having worked as a facility manager and exclusive facility partner in a variety of roles. This perspective has led to speaking opportunities in the United States and abroad. He is a member of IAVM, AIPC, and IAEE.
Todd Sklamberg
Sunrise Health System
Chief Executive Officer
Todd Sklamberg is the Chief Executive Officer of the 700-bed hospital that is part of the Sunrise Health System in Las Vegas. Prior to that, Sklamberg served as the CEO of Sunrise Children’s Hospital and as Vice President of Strategic Operations and Facilities for St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Sklamberg has served the Las Vegas community on the Board of Trustees for the Sunrise Children’s Foundation, March of Dimes and Ronald McDonald House Charities, and currently is on the Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee.
Ted Wiens Jr.
Ted Wiens Tire & Auto Centers
President
Ted Wiens Tire & Auto Center was established in Las Vegas in 1948. President Ted Wiens Jr. is a past chairman of the Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce Board of Trustees, serves on the Government Affairs Committee and is a Prospector. He is also affiliated with the Boulder Dam Area Council Boy Scouts of America, Community Action Against Rape and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Nevada. Additionally, Wiens is involved with the Tire Industry Association of North America.
Kevin Orrock
The Howard Hughes Corporation
President Summerlin
The Howard Hughes Corporation, a publically held company, owns, manages and develops commercial, residential and mixed-use real estate. These assets include master planned communities in Maryland, Texas and Nevada; operating properties; and development opportunities in18 states. Kevin T. Orrock oversees all aspects of implementation of the Summerlin community, from planning and design to sales and marketing. Orrock began his career with Howard Hughes in 1974. He holds a BS in business administration from Wittenberg University and an MBA from UNLV.
Kara Kelley
Kelley Company
CEO
Kara Kelley is a proven CEO with expertise in business and political strategy as well as marketing, media relations and organizational leadership skills. As the former CEO of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, Kelley led the organization to become Nevada’s most influential business association. Kelley has built a reputation as a tireless advocate for business and free enterprise and was one of only 120 business leaders to be invited by President Barack Obama to participate in his 2009 Jobs Summit. As president of The Kelley Co., Kelley advises companies on branding, business strategy and organizational development.
Greg Korte
The Korte Company
President
With more than 32 years of experience in the construction industry, Greg Korte is President of The Korte Company’s Las Vegas Division. Greg is Board Chair of United Way of Southern Nevada, a member of the NAIOP Government Affairs Committee, Las Vegas Chapter of World Presidents’ Organization and the Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce. He has illustrated his commitment and dedication to the industry as well as to the community. Greg attributes his work ethic, motivation, and to “always do the right thing,” to his father – who founded the company 58 years ago.
John Cannito
The PENTA Building Group
Chief Operating Officer
With the firm since 2004, John Cannito is the Chief Operating Officer for The PENTA Building Group. He has worked in the commercial construction industry for over 24 years; 19 of those specific to Las Vegas. Boards he currently serves on include Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance (LVGEA), Opportunity Village Arc Board, and Junior Achievement. John is married to Lisa Cannito. They have four children together, Anna, Grace, Maddie, and Sarah.
Karla Perez
Valley Health System
Regional Vice President
Karla Perez serves as the Regional Vice President of Universal Health Services. In her current role, Karla provides oversight to the operations of Spring Valley, Summerlin, Desert Springs, Valley, and Centennial Hills Hospital Medical Centers in Las Vegas, and Northern Nevada Medical Center in Sparks, Nevada. Karla has worked in the Las Vegas community for over 30 years. She is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce.
Mike Wethington
Town Square Las Vegas
General Manager
Mike Wethington manages all daily operating functions for the center, which opened in November of 2007. He works closely with development, construction, marketing, leasing and individual retailers. Wethington has more than 27 years of retail management experience, including general manager positions at Galleria at Sunset in Henderson and Victoria Gardens in Southern California. He is a Certified Shopping Center Manager and holds a degree in finance and real estate from New Mexico State University.
Clark Wood
U.S. Bank
Market President
Clark Wood joined U.S. Bank in 2014 as Market President, overseeing commercial banking and the gaming division. Clark came from Thunder Valley Casino Resort where he had been VP of Finance and a member of their development corporation. 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 currently serving on the boards of the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance and United Way of Southern Nevada.
Rick Schmidt
Weststar Credit Union
President / CEO
A transplant to Las Vegas, Rick has been President/CEO of WestStar Credit Union since 2010. WestStar serves the gaming industry in Nevada. Under Rick’s leadership, the credit union has focused on outstanding service to its members and in giving back to the communities the credit union serves. WestStar has sponsored events to support local charities in Las Vegas and Reno. Rick and his wife have two boys, one a freshman at the University of Oregon and the other a junior in high school. His wife works in real estate.
Joe Asher
William Hill Race & Sports Book
CEO
Joe Asher has been the CEO of William Hill US since 2012. Asher has a long background in the gaming industry and a passion for the sports betting business. Previously, Asher was an attorney and held management positions at several racetracks. Asher attended the University of Delaware and graduated magna cum laude from Widener University School of Law. Asher also served as a judicial clerkship with the Supreme Court of Delaware and is admitted to the bar in Delaware and New York.
Paolo Tiramani
500 Group
CEO
Paolo Tiramani is CEO of 500 Group, an intellectual property investment and development company with diverse holding in traditional, digital and intellectual assets. 500 Group focuses on new technologies which can be protected by patents. In 2017 500 Group moved operations to Nevada for its superior tax and business climate. 500 Group investments in Nevada include: The Paolo Tiramani Foundation; Supercar System, a powersports recreational product operated out of its 20,000 sq ft facility at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway; and Boxabl, a revolutionary construction technology slated for factory production in Apex or similar.
Michael Silberling
Affinity Gaming
CEO
Mr. Silberling joined the Affinity team in 2014 after holding a senior leadership position at Caesars Entertainment Corporation, formerly known as Harrah’s Entertainment Inc., with more than two decades’ experience and a proven track record in the gaming industry. He recently concluded an assignment in the U.K. as President of International Operations where his hands on leadership style resulted in the successful turnaround of more than 12 properties in seven countries. Mr. Silberling graduated with a BA in Economics from Dartmouth College and an MBA from UCLA’s Anderson School of Management.
Eugene Bassett
Dignity Health - St Rose Dominican Hospitals
Interim President/CEO
His oversight encompasses Dignity Health’s multi-site, multi-area healthcare service offerings in Nevada, including acute-care hospital operations, physician relationships, ambulatory and outpatient service delivery systems and healthcare philanthropy. Mr. Bassett has more than 35 years of experience in managing complex hospital operations, ranging from clinical departments to multi-hospital systems. He has held multiple leadership roles in health care with a variety of organizations, including Dignity Health’s Mercy Hospital in Bakersfield.
Allen Oakley
Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino
National Sales Manager
With more than 14 years in the LV hotel sales industry, Allen Oakley serves as National Sales Manager at the Golden Nugget. Prior to this role, he was Director of Community Development at the American Cancer Society, Exec Director at Baskow DMC, Ravella Lake Las Vegas and Caesars Entertainment. He is a U.S. Navy Veteran having served tours in the Persian Gulf and Japan. He served on the maintenance team with the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration team, the Blue Angels. His leadership will ensure that the Golden Nugget performs above expectations.
Lisa Howfield
KLAS TV Channel 8
VP/General Manager
Lisa Howfield is the Vice-President and General Manager of KLAS-TV 8. She joined the CBS affiliate in August 2015 and has 23+ years of local television broadcast experience. Howfield serves on the board of Nevada Broadcasters Association, Core Academy and the Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce. Broadcasting & Cable awarded Howfield “2008 General Manager of the Year” and she co-authored college textbook “Managing Electronic Media.” Lisa moved to Las Vegas at 6 months. She graduated from Bonanza High School and earned her B.A. degree in Business Communications from Pepperdine University.
Susan Cartwright
Scientific Games
Vice President of Corporate Communications
Susan Cartwright joined Scientific Games as Vice President of Corporate Communications in January 2016. She leads Scientific Games’ global external and internal communications, as well as the Company’s corporate social responsibility program. Ms. Cartwright focuses on developing and executing the Company’s global communications strategy and tactics, corporate branding, executive thought leadership, web initiatives and merger communications. Prior to Scientific Games, Ms. Cartwright served as Vice President of Corporate Communications for IGT and held a number of senior-management positions in marketing, advertising, communications, and operations with leading global communications and advertising agencies.
Rick Myers
Thomas & Mack Development Group
President
Rick Myers is President of Thomas & Mack Development Group, a commercial development company with projects throughout the Las Vegas Valley. Thomas & Mack performs third party real estate services, and is currently managing the development of the Metro Police Department’s new headquarters campus. Mr. Myers is a past president of the Southern Nevada Chapter of NAIOP and longtime member of the Board of Directors. Prior to joining Thomas & Mack, Rick worked for The Howard Hughes Corporation and Marnell Properties. He graduated from the University of Southern California.
Kerry Bubolz
Vegas Golden Knights
President
Kerry Bubolz joined the Vegas Golden Knights as the franchise’s President on November 1, 2016. Bubolz oversees all of the business ventures for Las Vegas’ first major league professional sports franchise. Prior to the Golden Knights, Bubolz spent 13 years with the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers and Quicken Loans Arena organization. Since 2013, Bubolz was the franchise’s president of business operations. Prior to his tenure in Cleveland, Bubolz enjoyed successful runs with multiple teams in various leagues around the country. He is a graduate of Oklahoma State University.
Sean Gleason
Professional Bull Riders (PBR)
CEO
Since 2015 Sean Gleason has been CEO of Professional Bull Riders (PBR), one of America’s fastest-growing sports, also competing in four additional countries. Previously, he spent 15 years as a senior executive overseeing nearly every aspect of the sport. Prior to joining PBR in 2001, Gleason oversaw the marketing and business development for all sports projects at Sierra Sports. He served as executive or supervising producer of six Grammy-nominated video and record projects and six multi-platinum video projects while with Miramar Productions, Inc. Sean graduated from Western Washington University.
Tim Bremer
Deloitte
Managing Partner
Tim Bremer has been selected to serve as the new managing partner of Deloitte’s Nevada practice. Tim has extensive experience serving publicly held companies. During his 25 year career in public accounting, Tim has served SEC registrants as well as some of the firm’s most prestigious clients in the consumer and industrial products industry segment, and was also the managing partner of Deloitte’s Audit and Enterprise Risk Services practice for the aerospace and defense industry for seven years. Tim is also an avid golfer, and he and his wife Randi live in Henderson.
Daniel Holmes
RubinBrown
Partner and Gaming Services National Practice Leader
Daniel Holmes is a Partner and Gaming Services National Practice Leader for RubinBrown, a full service accounting firm dedicated to serving its clients, team members and surrounding community both inside and outside the workplace. For RubinBrown, Daniel is responsible for overseeing client service teams, the continued expansion of the gaming practice and assisting clients in implementing more efficient regulatory compliance programs, through an in-depth understand of internal controls and financial reporting standards. Daniel graduated with a BS in Business Administration and an MBA from Rockhurst University’s Helzberg School of Management.
Dr. Shannon Orsak
Elite Medical Center
Partner
Dr. Shannon Orsak and his partners are proud to bring VIP style healthcare to the Vegas strip. Our 22 patient bed hospital will specialize in urgent and emergency medicine. Dr Orsak has great success with this style of medical care and started the very first free standing emergency room in Texas in 2007. As a physician for 23 years, he understands the need for personalized, quality healthcare. Elite Medical Center is sure to treat each guest as a VIP while getting patients back to work, vacation and everyday life.
Paul Stowell
City National Bank
Chief Market Strategist, Senior Vice President and Nevada Marketing and PR Manager
Paul Stowell is chief market strategist, senior VP and Nevada marketing and PR manager for City National Bank in Nevada and Orange County. He has a bachelors in broadcast journalism from BYU and was recognized in 2013 as “Business Person of the Year” by Nevada’s Future Business Leaders of America. Stowell is an advisory board member of Touro University Nevada, an HSB advisory council member for West Career and Technical Academy, and a counselor for the Boy Scouts of America. In addition, he continues to serve several other non-profit organizations.
Shameer Tharani
Manpower
Market Vice President
Shameer Tharani is Market Vice President of Manpower Inc. of Southern Nevada, a Fortune 500 global leader in staffing and workforce solutions. Shameer has spent the past 15 years growing and leading Manpower teams throughout North America. He is a highly qualified business leader who leverages strong interpersonal skills, leadership and creativity to achieve business objectives. Passionate about putting people to work, Shameer currently leads the Manpower Las Vegas team, providing strategic guidance, developing client relationships and collaborating with community partners.
Dick Tomasso
Mesquite Gaming
VP of Security & Government Affairs
Dick serves as VP of Security & Government Affairs for Mesquite Gaming, LLC which owns and operates the Casablanca Resort & Casino and the Virgin River Casino in Mesquite, Nevada. Following his retirement as a special agent of the FBI, he became Director of Security for Michael Gaughan's Coast Casinos and subsequently for Boyd Gaming. Currently, he maintains a strong liaison with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and with the Nevada Gaming Enforcement Division. He also serves as a member of the Nevada Corporate Security Vice Presidents Group
Lisa de Marigny
Omni Limousine
Chief Executive Officer
Lisa de Marigny leads a team passionate about luxury and innovation. Omni is known for premier service and pristine chauffeured fleet of black sedans, SUVs, limousines, and mini coaches. The team opened Tango Car, the first app-based on-demand transportation service for passengers traveling in wheelchairs. Lisa’s desire to provide mobility to the paratransit community made Tango a fitting name for this unique startup. She grew up in the transportation business while earning a B.S. Organizational Leadership from Penn State University, she is a 2012 graduate of Leadership Las Vegas.
Karl Nickoley
Frequency Pictures
Executive Producer
Karl Nickoley started Frequency Pictures in Hollywood, CA in 2011. Frequency is an award-winning production company that produces national and regional commercials, brand films, training series, social media campaigns and feature films. In 2017, Frequency expanded to Las Vegas producing campaigns for Visit Las Vegas and The Grand Canyon. Karl has over a decade of experience producing campaigns for major brands like Geico, AT&T, Ford including equity raises for internationally distributed feature films. An honors graduate of The Los Angeles Film School, he is certified in Film Finance from Pepperdine University.
Nick Groat
Safe Life Defense
President
Nick Groat is the President of Safe Life Defense, a Las Vegas based company known for award-winning body armor. Safe Life Defense armor offers unparalleled protection and is favored by Police, EMS, Security, and civilians all over the United States. Safe Life Defense has revolutionized the body armor industry effectively using social marketing and eliminating barriers to ownership through easy online ordering. A lifelong entrepreneur, Groat is known for being an action driven businessman, fearlessly taking risks, quickly adopting new technology, and redefining the future of personal protection.
Seth Schorr
Downtown Grand Las Vegas
Chairman
Seth Schorr is Chairman of Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino. The casino resort is the embodiment of Schorr’s vision of a downtown Las Vegas hospitality experience. Since 1991, he served the Wynn Resorts team, developing the international marketing department in Macau. He and his partner, Jeffrey Fine, co-founded Fifth Street Gaming. Schorr developed the first fully integrated eSports program. He is a graduate of the Univ. of Pennsylvania, a YPO member, sits on numerous boards and was appointed by Gov. Sandoval to serve on Nevada State Board of Museums & History.
Chase Rankin
Las Vegas Review-Journal
Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Chase Rankin is the Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Nevada’s largest and most widely read news and information source in Nevada, northern Arizona and southern Utah. He leads sales and marketing initiatives of the Review-Journal’s strong portfolio of print and digital niche products, including Desert Deals, Sunday Select, LUXURY Magazine, Highlander Magazine, and El Tiempo to name a few.
Ersen Engin
Turkish Airlines
General Manager
Ersen Engin grew up on Turkey’s west coast in the town of Canakkale. As a boy he dreamt of being involved in the aviation industry as a pilot, but ultimately ended up in the industry’s, management side. Ersen began his career with Turkish Airlines 22 years working his way up from a part-time position while attending Marmara University. He moved with his family in 2015 to Los Angeles to become the General Manager of the Los Angeles office. Prior to this Engin was General Manager in Manchester, England.
Edward Bevilacqua
Novum-U
Director of Education
Edward Bevilacqua is Director of Education at Novum-U, a business that helps prisoners become capitalists. Novum-U has five locations, including 3 in Southern NV and Reno. 1,000+ people will gain valuable employment skills in 2019. He was a white House prison reform advisor. A graduate of Santa Clara University, he also has a law degree from Thomas Jefferson School of Law. Edward is a proud father of six children.
Allison Wax
Coldwell Banker Premier Realty
Director of Business Development and Client Services
Originally from California, Allison Wax began her Real Estate career by supporting the needs of companies moving their most valuable asset, their employees, in and out of the Las Vegas Valley. As Director of Business Development and Client Services at Coldwell Banker Premier Realty, Allison builds valuable relationships with corporations, assisting them with different real estate needs to include general real estate, corporate moves and affinity programs. She is thrilled to be part of a growing, dynamic and ethical company that is a leader in the real estate industry
Monica Pappas
Fingerprinting Express
Owner
Monica Pappas, Owner of Fingerprinting Express, specializes in startups in underdeveloped industries and thrives being a disruptor in industries she grows. Monica franchised Fingerprinting Express and has four stores throughout the state of Nevada. Monica has dedicated her adult professional and personal life to protect children, seniors, the disabled, aged out foster care kids and homeless youth. Monica founded Community Lifters, a Grassroots Volunteer Group that encourages volunteerism and has thousands of volunteer hours. Monica is also on the Citizen Advisory Board for St Jude’s Ranch For Children.
Brian Formisano
Wells Fargo Bank
Region Bank President - Nevada Southern
Brian Formisano, Region Bank President – Nevada Southern for Wells Fargo, is responsible for setting direction and leading all aspects of the branch banking network, including small business and affluent business. He provides business leadership for the planning and execution of all activities within the region and alignment between regional initiatives and overall Regional Banking initiatives. He ensures all elements of risk management, compliance accountability and talent management programs are followed. He represents Wells Fargo in all aspects of federal, state, and community leadership as well as the development within the market.
Chris Takas
Structure Exhibits
Vice President of Sales & Marketing
Chris Takas serves as the Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Structure Exhibits and is a sponsor member of the Corporate Event Marketing Association. Chris provides oversight and direction to continue Structure’s rapid national growth while expanding our product portfolio to remain ahead of industry trends. Chris has worked in the Las Vegas community for over 15 years.
Dave Sarro
Promo Direct
President & CEO
Promo Direct was founded in 1991 by President & CEO, Dave Sarro, with the main goal of assisting organizations by improving brand visibility through promotional products and apparel. Dave is responsible for the vision of Promo Direct and the overall execution of company initiatives. The company has always strived to provide a premium shopping experience, accompanied by smart marketing solutions. Promo Direct has won numerous national awards over the years and is considered a leader within the promotional products industry.
Todd Koren
Absolute Exhibits
CEO
Todd Koren is the CEO and founder of Absolute Exhibits headquartered in Orange County California. He led the company expansion to Las Vegas, where he now resides, Munich Germany, Orlando, and most recently to Bucharest, Romania. While in college at Chapman University, he owned and operated an import/export business called Global Provisions, sending food to the Samoas and receiving fresh products in return. Today, he uses his business to assist philanthropically from a Toy Drive for 9/11, to providing resources for Haiti, and many other projects. He advises CEOs of fast-growing companies through his leadership role with RJB Partners LLC.
Diego Trujillo
Las Vegas HEALS
CEO
Born and raised in Las Vegas, Diego started in healthcare as a Chaplain in hospice. After moving into marketing, he worked to create Vegas Healthcare which currently has more than nine thousand members and was created to help expedite and improve patient care in the valley. Having taken the role as CEO of Las Vegas HEALS, he is positioned to bridge the gap between leadership and workers in healthcare in order to improve utilization and move healthcare forward in Southern Nevada. Las Vegas HEALS engages large healthcare providers in conversations to bring community solutions to healthcare problems.
Steve Heroux
Victory Selling
CEO & Founder
For more than twenty years, Steve Heroux has been committed to changing the way we look at sales. Heroux is the CEO & Founder of Victory Selling, and he’s a leading authority in providing cutting-edge strategies on selling in today's marketplace. Whether it's empowering you to become the best sales professional you can be, inspiring your sales team to maximize their full potential, or sharing his extremely powerful system of selling, he can transform your entire outlook on sales in less time than you think.
Lori Calderon
Resorts World Las Vegas
Executive Director of Talent Acquisition & Community Engagement
Lori Calderon is the Executive Director of Talent Acquisition & Community Engagement at Resorts World Las Vegas, where she oversees the property’s recruitment efforts. Additionally, Lori works to identify and facilitate relationships with community partners in support of the resort’s corporate social responsibility (CSR), volunteerism and philanthropic efforts. Lori has more than 27 years of valuable recruitment expertise in Las Vegas, having previously managed employment procedures for MGM Resorts International, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas and more.
Ken Winans
Winans Investments- Capital Management
President & Founder
Kenneth Grant Winans is a top-ranked investment manager, a renowned author of four award-winning books and a philanthropist for education. Over 35 years, he has conducted landmark investment research and designed innovative investment strategies. He has documented “track records” as a market strategist and a portfolio manager. Winans also writes a column for Forbes.com. He started Winans Investments in 1992 and has received the highest “5 Star” performance rating given by global research firm, Morningstar ® for its three blended strategies for 3, 5, and 10-year timeframes.
Lucas D. Taylor
Alignment Healthcare
Director, Network Performance
Lucas D. Taylor is director of network performance for Alignment Healthcare, which is now offering award-winning health and prescription drug coverage to Medicare-eligible Clark County residents through Alignment Health Plan. In this role, Taylor is responsible for provider engagement, performance management, and market operations in Nevada. In his four years with Alignment, Taylor has worked in finance, utilization management, clinical operations, and business development. A Las Vegas resident, Taylor has an MBA from the University of Notre Dame and a degree in biochemistry from the University of California, San Diego.
Gene Yoo
Resecurity, Inc.
CEO
Gene Yoo is the CEO of Resecurity, Inc., a leading provider of cyber security solutions to protect enterprise ecosystem. This platform is built on data-driven risk intelligence providing the who, what, where and how to be protected against cyber-attacks. Yoo has over 30 years of experience in cybersecurity for some of the world’s largest brand names such as Warner Bros., Sony, Computer Science Corporation, Coca-Cola Enterprise, Capgemini, and Symantec. Yoo served in an advisory role to Phantom (acquired by Splunk), Protectwise (acquired by Verizon), Elastica (acquired by Blue Coat) and Vorstack (acquired by ServiceNow).
Nick Pucci
Cubicall LLC
Co-Founder and Principal
After working in open office plans for years, Nick Pucci, co-founder and principal of Cubicall, utilized his experience directing marketing campaigns for global brands and started a company that manufactures modular phone booths and meeting rooms for modern offices. After appearing on ABC’s Shark Tank and receiving offers from two sharks, Cubicall recently expanded its product portfolio to include medical isolation and exam pods that help address the COVID-19 response. Originally based out of Los Angeles, Cubicall and Pucci moved its operations to Las Vegas in early 2020.
Eric Schmacker
SilverSummit Healthplan
Plan President, CEO
Eric Schmacker is the President & CEO of SilverSummit Healthplan, a subsidiary of Centene Corporation. He joined SilverSummit in 2019 and represents the plan in Business Development and Strategy, Operations, Medical Management, Provider Relations, Member Services, Network Management and Claims. Schmacker, a 21-year US Army veteran and Blackhawk pilot, has over 25 years of leadership experience in healthcare and hospital administration. His passion is guiding SilverSummit in “Transforming the health of the community, one person at a time.”
Hanna Olivas
Brave & Beautiful Blood Cancer Foundation
Founder
Hanna Olivas is the founder of a local Las Vegas charity, the Brave & Beautiful Blood Cancer Foundation. Her journey started in 2017 when she was first diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. She was given a 5-year prognosis and was told her cancer is incurable. To continue treatment, Hanna was forced to seek help outside of Nevada. With the frustration of being outsourced, Hanna realized what she had to do to make a change for other Nevadans and along with this inspiration, founded the Brave & Beautiful Blood Cancer Foundation.
Gina Maceo
America First Credit Union
Business Development
With 15 Years of Financial and Sales/Marketing Experience and 10 years specifically in the Credit Union space, Gina Maceo joined America First Credit Union five years ago when she moved to Nevada. Hailing from New England where she earned her B.S in Business and Marketing from Worcester State University in Massachusetts, Maceo enjoys helping businesses and their employees gain access to hundreds of benefits offered by America First Credit Union. She is an exemplary Vegas Chamber Ambassador, a graduate of Leadership Advance, and a proud Customer Service Excellence Award recipient.
Eddie Burkhart
Friday Health Plans
Director of Sales
Eddie Burkhart is Director of Sales, Nevada for Friday Health Plans. Active in the health insurance industry for more than 27 years, he joined Friday Health Plans in mid-2020 in preparation for the company’s launch to Nevada. Burkhart represents Friday Health Plans throughout Nevada for its individual and family health plans, both on and off the healthcare marketplace, as well as Friday’s small group plans. Their focus is on entrepreneurs, gig workers, contractors, freelancers, service industry workers, early retirees and small business owners – people who make their own decisions about health insurance.”
Ed Gregory
In Color Studios
Founder
Ed Gregory founded IN COLOR STUDIOS in 2015 when he moved to Las Vegas from England. IN COLOR STUDIOS is in its 5th year of rapid growth delivering creative solutions to companies both in Vegas and around the globe. The company was founded to help put Vegas on the global map as a creative city, recently moving into their new 7,000sqft production studio. The company has produced video and photography for the Goo Goo Dolls, Blue Man Group and Wrangler Jeans. Gregory has a degree in contemporary theater and performed as a Blue Man.
Bree Rothman
Haven Road Interiors
Owner
Bree Rothman’s began her career in Interior Design when she took her first course in high school. Since then, she has designed events in Seattle, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. She has spent nearly 20 years working for 4 and 5-star, design-oriented properties, including gorgeous hotels. Ms. Rothman currently designs furniture for famous properties on the Las Vegas Strip. A graduate of the Interior Design Institute in San Francisco, and a member of the Design Society of America and Certified Interior Decorators International, she specializes in luxury Residential Interior Design and commercial projects.
Aisha Ali
Sikara Medspa
Co-Owner
A passion for excellence in patient care, safety and results, Aisha Ali is co-owner of Sikara Medspa, a state-of-the-art medspa located in Summerlin, Nevada. Sikara Medspa was created to help explore the possibilities of exquisite beauty and vitality while offering a leading range of best-in-class aesthetic technologies tailored to each customer’s needs by their team of medical experts. Ali graduated from Pepperdine University with a Bachelor of Arts in business administration, then worked for The Global Private Client Division of Merrill Lynch in Pasadena, California.
Stacy Watkins
Lexicon Bank
President
As Lexicon Bank president, Stacy Watkins is responsible for connecting banking and investment resources to companies, small businesses, and individuals in Southern Nevada. With almost three decades in the business, Stacy has end-to-end banking industry experience at some of Nevada’s leading financial institutions. Stacy obtained her dual bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from the University of Phoenix, and a Business of Banking certificate from the Pacific Coast Banking School. In her free time, she is an active leader in the community, dedicated to furthering Las Vegas’ economic mobility and financial literacy.
Ray Edwards
pūrtec inc.
Founder & CEO
A serial entrepreneur with over a decade working in the tech industry, Ray Edwards is an American inventor, designer and the chairman of pūrtec inc. headquartered in Tivoli Village. He envisions a world where technology could mimic mother nature to activate healthier indoor environments. pūrnetIQ is the world’s first cybernetic purification technology. Prior to pūrtec, he served on the founding team of Derek Jeter’s The Players Tribune athlete-owned media platform where he was responsible for strategic finance, M&A strategy and business development. His passion is building pathways for other entrepreneurs with culture-impacting ideas.
Becky Stonebarger
The Beacon Center – Las Vegas
Owner & Founder
Becky Stonebarger is the Owner and Founder of The Beacon Center – Las Vegas, a Meeting and Life Event venue. Originally from the St. Louis area, she has made Las Vegas home. She is a retired Business Strategist and has operated several successful businesses prior to The Beacon Center. Her 30+ years of entrepreneurship and a dedication to excellent customer service has made her successful. She graduated from the College of Southern Nevada with a focus in Casino Management, is active with several non-profits and has a passion to help other small business owners succeed.
Joe Halton
Medical Solutions, LLC
Chief Revenue Officer
With profound experience in sales management and marketing, Joe not only helped found Medical Solutions Ventures with Mubarak Shah, he constructed the customer acquisition and retention systems which it is built upon. Prior to his role as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), he lead the sales development team at Namely where he boosted overall company revenue from 47m to 100m thanks to his unique blend of traditional and technology focused sales strategies. Joe brings a specialized outlook on sales and revenue operations by approaching the medical industry with untraditional yet extremely successful sales methods.
Grant M. Leingang
BLVCK DIVMOND
President & CEO
Grant Michael Leingang is President and CEO for BLVCK DIVMOND in Las Vegas. He has been a digital entrepreneur since the age of 15 and holds a true passion for technology. BLVCK DIVMOND focuses on developing organizations, businesses, and foundations. Their work passion is simple and derived from a belief that BLVCK DIVMOND's company operations will be a different experience. Leingang has created assets for many high-end brands like CORE Hydration. He has been known to utilize software and deliver original entrepreneurial visions using creative cost-effective methods that result in a positive ROI.
Beth Campbell
Campbell House
CEO & Founder
Beth Campbell is an award-winning architect and visionary leader in the industry. With nearly 30 years of global design experience, she just launched her own company, Campbell House. The firm is a full-service interior design studio, focused on high-engagement design solutions for hospitality, entertainment, food and beverage, and corporate workplace. Most recently, Beth served as CEO of Wilson Associates, a top global interior design firm. Prior to Wilson, Beth was EVP and head of design for Westfield Corporation and spent 16 years at Gensler as a managing partner and global account director.
Jennifer Davis
SkyOak Capital Inc.
Founder & CEO
Jennifer Davis is the Founder & CEO of SkyOak Capital Inc, a Registered Investment Advisor, and a Portfolio Manager to two Las Vegas based hedge funds. Jennifer was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and started her career as a wealth advisor in Silicon Valley in 1990. Jennifer is married to Derek Davis, her best friend and business partner. She has two boys, Jake and Max whom they adopted from Russia in 2003 at age 11 and 6. Jennifer loves dogs, golf, travel, & hiking.
Rick Shaw
Awareity
Founder
Rick Shaw, a Prevention Specialist, author, and trusted advisor to organizations and communities worldwide, founded Awareity in 2004 and First Preventers in 2019. Since 1999, Rick has been researching post-incident reports to identify the profile of thousands of failed prevention efforts exposing a profile of dangerous gaps, silos, and disconnects that conventional status quo practices have created. Using the unique research, Rick identified the 6 Stages of Preventing as well as the first of its kind First Preventers Program and Community-wide Prevention Platform tools to eliminate these dangerous gaps.
Annette Logan-Parker
Cure 4 the Kids Foundation
President, CEO, Co-Founder
Annette is President, CEO, and co-founder of Cure 4 the Kids Foundation. She has worked in health care for more than 30 years and has been involved with nonprofits since 1985. Her visionary leadership has shaped and strengthened the foundation, and its clinic, enabling it to serve an increasing number of patients with diverse needs. She led the charge in the foundation receiving The Joint Commission Gold Seal of Approval® Accreditation. As a health care provider, she was troubled by our health care delivery system and answered her calling to ensure that kids receive the care they need.
Bill Wadley
Capstone Christian Academy
Chrishena Stanley
STK Property Group
President/Broker
Skillful, savvy Atlanta real estate broker Chrishena Stanley of STK Property Group, is excited to bring her energy and expertise to Las Vegas. For over 15 years, Stanley has built a reputation in Atlanta for her drive, determination, and commitment to her clients. She knows how to get the inside scoop on a market and make the impossible possible, regardless of the city she is in. Stanley credits her success to always going the extra mile, and that is why her company's motto is "There is no traffic on the extra mile."
Dan Kearney
Audacy Las Vegas
Senior Vice President / Market Manager
Dan Kearney is Senior VP and Market Manager for Audacy Las Vegas, overseeing operations, growth and revenue of the cluster’s six radio stations: KMXB (MIX 94.1) KLUC (98.5 FM) KXTE (ALT 107.5 FM), KXQQ (Q100.5 FM) KXNT (News/Talk 840 AM) and CBS Sports Radio 1140 AM as well as the Audacy App and other digital & data products. He joined Entercom Radio (now Audacy) upon the merger of CBS Radio in 2017 and consistency produces noteworthy revenue and ratings growth. He holds a BS in Radio-Television from So. Illinois University-Carbondale.
Doug Beckley
The Beckley Group
Founder
Doug Beckley is a management consultant, business advisor and CEO coach. A native Las Vegan, Doug founded The Beckley Group in 2000. The Beckley Group has created success and boosted profitability for numerous well-known Southern Nevada organizations from a variety of industries. Doug has been the owner of several prosperous businesses including the most successful multi-center UPS Store franchise in Nevada, and the famous Pioneer Club casino. Active in the community, Doug served as Chair of the Nevada Community Foundation and President of the Las Vegas Executives Association.
Jamie Shea
DraftKings
Vice President, Sportsbook Operations
Jamie Shea is Vice President of Sportsbook Operations at DraftKings, a digital sports entertainment and gaming company with products that range across daily fantasy, regulated gaming and digital media. Based out of DraftKings’ Las Vegas office, Shea leads digital sports betting initiatives and growth strategies. Prior to DraftKings, Shea was employed by IGT where she managed North American business priorities. Shea previously held leadership positions in sports betting and gaming with several of America’s largest casino operators including Caesars Entertainment Corporation, The Hard Rock Casino and The Venetian.
Joseph Travaglio
SouthShore Country Club
General Manager/COO
SouthShore General Manager/COO Joseph Travaglio's 35 plus years experience with several premier clubs includes Medinah Country Club, host for the Ryder Cup, U.S. Open and other major tournaments. He is thrilled to be part of the team and inner family at SouthShore Country Club. Southshore Country Club has a number of accolades such as #3 in Nevada - Golfweek's Best Private Courses and #4 in Nevada - Golf Digest's Best Courses. As one of Nevada's top Private Clubs, it offers a lifestyle to suit all interest, tennis, health & fitness, dining and private beach to Lake Las Vegas.
Kelvin M. Keith
JSX
Director, Business Development
Kelvin Keith oversees strategic partnerships and business development at JSX. With over 20 years of experience in the transportation and technology sectors, Keith combines his entrepreneur spirit and excellent relationship building skills to launch innovative solutions that outperform expectations. At JSX his mission is to develop the strategic partnerships that help Customers realize the Joyful, Simple, Xperience of flying again. The sky’s the limit on what can be accomplished together. Keith graduated from Pepperdine University with a MBA in Finance and Texas A&M with a B.S. in Ocean Transportation.
Lyndsay Soprano
Bound-by Marketing
Owner
Lyndsay Soprano, owner of Bound-by Marketing, is an award-winning Virtual CMO who helps grow small to large companies with smoldering results. With a talent for building relationships, Lyndsay launched her boutique marketing agency over 20 years ago — and she’s been making brands sizzle ever since. Soprano offers personalized consulting services and loves to impact marketing growth in ways that leverage resources efficiently. Whether it’s creating marketing materials for a charity gala or socializing a nationally syndicated radio show, she oversees the entire breadth of your business from creative design to total brand management.
Geoff Nathanson
MonarCX
Vice President
Geoff Nathanson is the Vice-President at MonarCX and previously held leadership roles at LA Studios and Prudential. He has worked at CBS, NBC and Fox. MonarCX is a full-service Customer eXperience agency. Based in Las Vegas, the agency focuses on listening to clients, creating solutions and exceeding expectations to produce a modern Customer eXperience that supports client goals and maximizes value. MonarCX is the agency of record for Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner brand and specializes in Media placement. From Ideation to Creative to Production to Delivery, MonarCX elevates the game. www.monarcx.com
Shaundell Newsome
Sumnu Marketing
Founder
Shaundell Newsome is the Founder of Sumnu Marketing and two-time SBA Award winner. He started his first company as a Graphic Designer in 1982 as a teenager during the birth of Hip Hop while attending the H.S. of Graphic Communication Arts. After a decade in the United States Air Force, Newsome joined Station Casinos for several years prior to launching Sumnu. He is widely recognized as a small business advocate and marketing expert. Shaundell’s book, the Twelve Steps of Marketing, A Perfect Guide to Branding is treasured by small business owners.
Shelley Woodrow
Marquis Group LLC/Professional EOS Implementer
MBA Founder
Shelley grew up in a family of entrepreneurs learning from them to work hard, run businesses and help people. She spent 26 years in media, sales, and sales leadership working with business leaders, leadership teams and organizations to help them grow, develop, and thrive. Her love of coaching led her to Vistage Worldwide leading the team of “CEO Connectors” to connect CEO prospects to the right Vistage Chair and Peer Group. Finally, she became a Professional EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) Implementer. She is a member of NAWBO and President-Elect of Las Vegas Won Rotary.
Sarah Lomas
Reviv & Heliix Health Passport
President & CEO
Sarah Lomas is the Chief Executive Officer and President of REVIV, global market leader in nutritional solutions. REVIV has scaled under Lomas’ leadership from one flagship clinic in 2013, to 90 clinics operating in 47 countries. Her mission is to change peoples’ lives by making available products and services that would historically only be accessible to the wealthier community. She has launched the HELIIX Health Passport which will allow businesses to thrive once again and is currently pioneering technology to ensure advanced nutritional genomics is accessible and embedded throughout the global food and beverage sector.
Sam Mirejovsky & Ash Watkins
Sam & Ash, LLP
Partners
Sam Mirejovsky and Ash Watkins are personal injury veterans who have seen first-hand the difference a great lawyer makes. Together they have built a new kind of law firm from the ground up — one that is centered on getting injured people back on their feet. Accident victims deserve a team that leaves attorney egos at the door and devotes itself to doing What’s Right for you. Sam & Ash will deliver the care and justice you deserve by truly understanding your unique circumstances and getting you the best results possible.
Sharni R. Gaskins
Market Resolution
Founder/CEO
Ms. Gaskins is an Australian born entrepreneur based in Las Vegas, Nevada. With over 17 years’ experience in the Corporate Marketing and Business Development arena specifically targeting the sourcing for a wide array of market verticals for the Corporate World, she conceptualizes the industry needs creating unique and strategic solutions. Ms. Gaskins successfully developed her own company called Market Resolution as a proud diversity supplier specializing in consumer retail development spanning 17 countries with extreme focus on North America and the South Pacific.
James York and Jay Blood
Valley Bank of Nevada
President and CEO
James York and Jay Blood are the co-founders of Valley Bank of Nevada. James is the President and CEO of the bank and Jay is the EVP and Chief Credit Officer. Both executives are graduates of UNLV and, as such, are passionate about serving the local community. During the Covid crisis, James and Jay led Valley Bank of Nevada through providing Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loans to over 300 businesses in the community, saving an estimated 4,000 local jobs. The bank has recently opened a loan production office (LPO) in Summerlin, making it the third location valley-wide.
Rob Scalise
villiv
Owner/CEO
Rob Scalise is the founder of villiv, with experience consulting from Fortune 500 companies to business chambers. Businesses don’t perform, the people within them do. Accounting may be the language of business, but human behavior is the heart, soul, and brain. villiv combines their mastery of applied behavior science with business insights to help their clients align human performance with business goals. villiv isn’t just a performance analysis company, they are a brand that promises hard work, ingenuity, trust, and a dedication to being a positive force in this world.
Joe Haber
JOECOOL Brands
CEO
What do entrepreneurship, technology, telecommunications, finance, marketing and branding all have in common? They are the cornerstones upon which Joe Haber draws his expertise and ability to run a wholesale national marketing and distribution company for his flagship product JOECOOL – gourmet CBD-infused coffee. Mr. Haber has spent the last two years strategizing and preparing for a national launch this summer of JOECOOL. Joe is also the Founder of the League of Giving Foundation, a non-profit organization since 2005, dedicated to serving Las Vegas community causes.
Gena Lofton
Lofton Sports
Founder
Gena Lofton, Founder of Lofton Sports, a Luxury Sports and Entertainment Experience company which owns 60 VIP and Club Stadium Seat Licenses (SSLs) for the LA Rams and LA Chargers and two Luxury Suites. Lofton also owns NFL designed accommodations adjacent to SOFI Stadium. One may purchase tickets at Lofton Sports and/or reserve Your 5-Star Luxury Accommodations at Lofton Sports Units, both combined providing a unique Luxury sports & Entertainment experience.
June Zhu
ChargerGoGo, Inc.
CEO
June Zhu has over 15 years of business development and marketing experience in both established international companies (such as P&G, Yves Rocher, and Shunya Martech) and tech startups. She’s also a serial entrepreneur. Prior to ChargerGoGo, she was the co-founder and CEO of Nutopia.io, an entertainment blockchain platform based in LA and Beijing.
Kimberly Daniels
Mercantile Logistics & International Trade, Inc.
President and CEO
Kim Daniels, President and CEO, has been involved in international trade since 2007, working for a construction supplier in Las Vegas. In 2013, she earned her Customs Broker License and opened Mercantile Logistics as a Customs Brokerage House. She helps businesses with clearing Customs, International Trade planning, and navigating the freight process.
Ricky Navar
Peak Performance Partners
President
Ricky has over 20 years experience in sales and training of entrepreneurs. He started his career in Texas as co-owner of three businesses with his brothers. Later, he partnered with Excel Telecommunications to expand his portfolio and created the largest business team in El Paso. In 2012, he moved to Las Vegas where he joined Wyndham Vacation Resorts. He achieved “Presenter of the Year” five years in a row and trained other sales representatives. He was formerly President of Nevada Business Magazine and now serves as President of Peak Performance Partners.
Alex Slocum
Game On Players, LLC
CEO
Alex Slocum has been disrupting big businesses for over 3 decades with his innovative and revolutionary designs, development and successful deployment of projects. His trailblazing track record encompasses his out of the box visionary abilities combined with his technical and analytical planning skills. This trifecta creates massive shifts in the industry and spectacular outcomes for his clients., Slocum is now embarking on his greatest adventure yet… Game On Players and the GOPX Token - the FIRST patent pending cryptocurrency which will revolutionize the crypto space creating a new, global self-consuming ecosystem and a true fusion economy.
Amy-Marie Merrell
The Cupcake Girls
Executive Director
Amy-Marie Merrell (she/her/hers) is the Executive Director of The Cupcake Girls. Merrell brings with her over 14 years’ experience with domestic violence survivors, as well as in the prevention and aftercare of domestic sex trafficking. She truly believes linking arms with others as they work to achieve their goals in their timing is the most beautiful form of advocacy she’s ever found and considers her role with The Cupcake Girls her life’s work. When not in the office, you can find her exploring the outdoors with her family.
Andrea Davis
Viticus Group
CEO
Andrea Davis has worked in Vegas healthcare for nearly 25 years, most recently holding COO/CEO roles at local hospitals. Currently she is the CEO of Viticus Group (VG). VG is a 93-year-old 501(c)(3) that hosts one of the largest annual conferences in the Veterinary Industry and is the largest hands-on animal and human education and training facility in the world. Davis has been in Vegas since 1980. She attended Bishop Gorman High School, received her BS from OSU, and MPA from UNLV. She and her husband Danny have two amazing teenagers.
Donovan Campbell
Pacific Lending
Branch Manager
Donovan Campbell has been in the mortgage industry since 2015. After graduating from Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Campbell got right to work in the mortgage business. He started out doing quality control for a small brokerage but has been able to quickly work his way up the ladder. He now runs the first Branch for Pacific Lending out of Las Vegas, Nevada. As a mortgage professional Campbell values honesty, integrity, and helping others. He is here to serve you at all times with any and every mortgage need you may have.
Krisanne Cunningham
Rice Reuther Sullivan & Carroll
Managing Partner
Krisanne Cunningham has a broad-based transactional experience spanning 20 years and includes mergers and acquisitions, business law, corporate governance, securities, tax planning and non-profit organizations. Cunningham was named a Mountain States Super Lawyer for Mergers & Acquisitions and is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. She graduated from the University of Virginia School of Law and received an L.L.M. degree in Taxation from Georgetown Law Center. Krisanne is currently the Chair of the Tax Section of the Nevada Bar and on the Board of Directors of the Nellis Support Team.
Rony S. Delgarde
Global Paint for Charity
Founder & CEO
Rony Delgarde is the founder & CEO of Global Paint for Charity (GPC) - the world’s first sustainable paint waste management organization and largest exporter of recycled paint. The environmental aspects of his work are significant. His efforts bring hope, colors, and happiness to millions in 45 countries, with goals to serve 55 countries worldwide and 45 cities in the USA by 2025. Delgarde has been recognized for his humanitarian work including the recipient of the 2017 Energy Globe Award, and the Metro Atlanta Chamber E3 Award.
Shawn Barrack
Art Houz Theater
Director of Operations
As Director of Operations, Shawn Barrack brings agile athleticism to the world of entertainment. His career in F&B started at 23 years old, when after retiring from from professional baseball he became a food runner for Chef Emeril at Lagasse’s Stadium. While honing his chops working the backline “nitty-gritty” alongside cooks and staff, he discovered the joy of interacting with guests and developed a passion for the craft of hospitality. His winning personality scored a home run with regulars and those returning each year for March Madness, making him a perfect fit for front-of-house where he worked his way up the ranks to General Manager. In 2015, Shawn joined Darden Restaurants where he was provided the opportunity to expand his knowledge around wine, spirits, and beer. Earning certifications from Cicerone and the Court of Master Sommelier, and acquiring a Master of WhiskeyTM accreditation from abroad, he became a major league player in the field of hospitality management. Following a second stint at Lagasse’s Stadium, he collaborated with Professional Sports Catering, powered by Levy to open; T-Mobile Arena, home of Vegas Golden Knights; The Las Vegas Ballpark, named Winner of 2019 MiLB Triple-A Best of Ballparks, and; Allegiant Stadium, home to NFL’s Las Vegas Raiders. In 2020, Shawn partnered with Art Houz Theaters to play an integral role in its early development. Today, the big hitter who began his 20-year career in baseball at three years old embodies the tenacity and competitive spirit of Downtown Las Vegas and its finest entertainment venue. Personal Note: Shawn and his wife Alyssa currently reside in Summerlin and welcomed their first child in early winter of 2021.
Stefan Gastager
Hofbrauhaus Las Vegas
President
Stefan Gastager President, Hofbrauhaus Las Vegas Stefan Gastager visited Las Vegas in 2000 and decided to introduce high-quality Bavarian food, premium beer and coziness – “Gemütlichkeit” – to the country at a location that would appeal to tourists and locals. Partners Klaus Gastager, Franz Krondorfer and Anton Sinzger spent three years making Hofbrauhaus Las Vegas a reality. They have created an authentic replica of the Munich Hofbrauhaus that was originally commissioned in 1589 by King William V.
Rogelio and Andrica Love
Team Love Agency, Inc.
Co-Owners
Rogelio and Andrica Love have more than 15 years as business owners and more than 5 years’ experience as Financial Professionals. They have a passion for helping families, individuals, and businesses become financially secure. They teach and empower people from all backgrounds in financial literary and strategy building to better prepare them for the future. Their business products include a variety of insurance and financial products. For more than 30 years, their family’s non-profit has been assisting a school, church, and manor, now working to assist battered women and children with their housing needs.
Teresa DiLoreto
Nevada Military Support Alliance
Managing Partner
Teresa DiLoreto has been executive director of the Nevada Military Support Alliance (NMSA) since its creation in 2010. Under DiLoreto’s leadership, the NMSA has raised more than $7 million for military and veterans’ projects to include resource centers at the University of Nevada, Reno, Truckee Meadows Community College, Great Basin College and three adaptive homes for severely injured disabled veterans. She serves on the City of Reno Building Enterprise Fund. DiLoreto is a life director and past president of Builders Association of Northern Nevada and is a Board Trustee of the Vegas Chamber.
Stacey Lockhart
HopeLink of Southern Nevada
Executive Director
Stacey Lockhart serves as the executive director with HopeLink of So. Nevada, a nonprofit with a mission of preventing homelessness, preserving families, and providing hope. Since joining HopeLink in 2019, the organization has experienced 525% growth in operating revenue, staff and four additional locations in Southern Nevada. In 2020-21 HopeLink served over 10,000 individuals, provided over 75,000 services, and more than $6M in COVID relief to assist with homeless prevention of those households impacted by the shutdown. Prior to HopeLink, Lockhart served as the executive director of The Shade Tree.
