Preview Las Vegas

2023 Preview Photo Gallery

FEATURED SPEAKERS

Mary Beth Sewald
President & CEO
Vegas Chamber

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.

In her role, Sewald represents the business community in a wide-range of capacities.  She currently serves on the board of directors for the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, where she serves on the Audit, Compensation and Marketing Committees.  She is also on the boards of Workforce Connections, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Committee of 100, Western Association of Chamber Executives, the Nevada Military Support Alliance, Hope for Prisoners National Advisory Council, City National Bank, US Bank, the UNLV Lee Business School Dean’s Advisory Board, the Leadership Foundation of Greater Las Vegas and of the National Championship Reno Air Races.   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 the economy.

Sewald is engaged on several policy initiatives at the local, regional, national and international levels, and works with the Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee and team to advocate on behalf of the business community.  Under her leadership, the Vegas Chamber was named as the World Trade Center Las Vegas Business Club to connect international visitors to the local business community.  And she worked with the Secretary of the US Department of Labor on Association Health Plans, helping businesses provide more affordable health insurance to their employees.

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 (NVBA) where she led the efforts of the NVBA to collaborate with government officials, represented Nevada’s broadcast industry to all constituencies, and assured the financial health of the Association.  She also 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 required to run a professional broadcast organization.

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 has graced the July 2019 cover of Nevada Business Infinity Magazine.

She is the host of the Vegas Chamber’s Like Nobody’s Business television show and is a 2017 graduate of the Leadership Las Vegas program.

Stefano Domenicali,
President & CEO,
Formula 1®

Stefano Domenicali began his role as President & Chief Executive Officer at Formula 1 in January 2021, following his departure as Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Automobili Lamborghini. Mr. Domenicali joins Formula 1 on the back of an illustrious career within the motoring industry, where he has had success within both motorsport and commercial roles.

After studying business administration at the University of Bologna he began his professional career in 1991 with Ferrari. At Ferrari he held various positions, including heading up the Direzione Sportiva F1 from 2004, before becoming Team Principal for the Formula 1 team in 2008, where he won a total of 14 titles in the F1 Constructors’ and Drivers’ Championships.

From 2009 to 2014, Domenicali represented Ferrari in the FIA World Motor Sport Council and recently stepped down as the president of the FIA. Single Seater Commission, before joining Formula 1. He was Vice President of New Business Initiatives at AUDI AG from November 2014 before taking over his most recent role as Chief Executive Officer in March 2016 at Lamborghini in Sant’Agata Bolognese.

Jeremy Aguero
Principal
Applied Analysis

Jeremy Aguero is a principal analyst with Applied Analysis and has been with the firm since its inception in 1997. His areas of expertise include economic analysis, operational model development and fiscal impact analysis. 
 
Jeremy attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where he graduated with honors in 1997. During his last year of undergraduate course work, Jeremy took a position as an intern/analyst with Coopers and Lybrand, LLC’s (now PricewaterhouseCoopers) Financial Advisory Services group. After spending eighteen months with Coopers, he left and began his tenure with Applied Analysis. 
 
Jeremy’s project history demonstrates a wide range of abilities. He has worked for clients in the private and public sectors, and undertaken projects of local, regional and national significance. 

Steve Hill
CEO/President
Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority (LVCVA)

Steve Hill is the Chief Executive Officer/President of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA), the destination marketing organization that promotes and attracts tourism, conventions, meetings and special events to Las Vegas and throughout Southern Nevada. The LVCVA also owns and operates the Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC).

Under Hill’s leadership, the LVCC recently completed construction of its $980 million expansion as well as is nearing completion of the Convention Center Loop, a first-of-its kind underground transportation system in partnership with Elon Musk’s The Boring Company. The convention center expansion adds 1.4 million additional square feet of exhibition and meeting space to the existing campus for a total of 4.6 million square feet throughout the entire facility.

Hill owned Silver State Materials from 1987 until its purchase by CalPortland in 2008 where he served as Senior Vice President until 2011. He was then appointed director of the newly established Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) by Governor Brian Sandoval where during his tenure he lured numerous businesses to the state, including Tesla, Apple, and HyperloopOne.

Hill also serves on the Board of Directors for the U.S. Travel Association, the national advocacy association that represents the travel and tourism industry. Hill also serves as chair of the Las Vegas Stadium Authority, overseeing the construction of the nearly $2 billion Allegiant Stadium, home of the Las Vegas Raiders.

Sibley Scoles
Journalist, In-game host Las Vegas Raiders, Host, Raiders: Talk of the Nation on NBC

Sibley Scoles is currently in her 2nd season with the Las Vegas Raiders. Returning as the  In-game host and now Host of Raiders: Talk of the Nation airing on KSNV 3, NBC Las Vegas.

She was previously an on-air correspondent for Access Hollywood as well as Co-Host of Access Hollywood Weekend Edition and had her own weekly segment, Sibley Spotlight, which showcased artists on the rise in the music industry.

She served as an On-Air correspondent at E! News, covering Hollywood’s biggest red carpets and awards shows. She was also co-host of E! Live From the Red Carpet. Sibley is fresh off from hosting the two hour live stream for the NFL Pro Bowl Red Carpet in Las Vegas, featuring Russell Wilson and some of the NFL’s Select Pro Bowl Athletes. As well as hosting the pink carpet and main stages of the NFL Draft in Las Vegas.

Her first love of music brought her to Los Angeles where she began working with top music producers whose credits include Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Jessie J and Lana Del Rey. During this time, Sibley toured the UK with Taio Cruz, filling in for Ke$ha. Soon after, she wrote and recorded the radio hit, “Donuts,” which was featured in Stella McCartney’s Fashion Week Soundtrack as well as licensed for Stella McCartney’s Children’s Line. Before joining E! News and Access Hollywood, she was signed as the first female host for Sean “Diddy” Combs’ music television show, Revolt TV.

Sibley recently started her production company and already has a McDonald’s commercial under her belt, this time behind the scenes as a talent producer. Sibley continues to expand her resume and build new chapters in her growing career.

Lucas Watson
President
MSG Sphere

As President, MSG Sphere at Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. (MSG Entertainment), Lucas Watson leads the strategy and execution of all business aspects of MSG Sphere, the Company’s planned venues that will combine cutting-edge technology with multi-sensory storytelling to deliver immersive experiences at an unprecedented scale. The first MSG Sphere – MSG Sphere at The Venetian – is currently under construction in Las Vegas and is scheduled to open in the second half of 2023.

In his role, Mr. Watson drives MSG Sphere’s commercial strategy, including go-to-market planning and bookings, which will feature a wide range of bespoke ‘only in Sphere’ immersive attractions, concert residencies, and marquee events. He also works closely with his colleagues across MSG Entertainment on various aspects of MSG Sphere development, including technology, content, sponsorship, and hospitality to build the business. Mr. Watson also oversees global development of the MSG Sphere brand, which includes selectively extending the MSG Sphere network to other markets.

Mr. Watson is a leader with over 25 years of experience accelerating growth in a variety of industries across sales, marketing, technology, and digital business. Prior to joining MSG Entertainment in 2022, he served as Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations at Cruise, where he was responsible for leading development of the commercial strategy and go-to-market operations plan for the self-driving car technology company. Earlier in his time at Cruise, Mr. Watson was the Chief Marketing Officer, where he helped shape the development of the Cruise brand.

Before joining Cruise, Mr. Watson served as Executive Vice President, Global Chief Marketing and Sales Officer at Intuit, the makers of QuickBooks and TurboTax. In this role he focused on driving growth through market penetration, cross selling of products and services and customer acquisition. Mr. Watson joined Intuit from Google, where as Vice President, Global Brand Solutions, he led the commercialization of YouTube and Google’s products for brand advertisers.

Prior to Google, Mr. Watson spent more than 15 years at Procter & Gamble, holding a variety of sales, marketing, and digital business roles within the company’s 75 brands across 200 countries. In his last role, as Marketing Director, Global Digital Business Strategy, Mr. Watson played a key role helping P&G adapt its brand-building approach for a digital age.

Mr. Watson currently serves on the Board of Directors of W.W. Grainger, a Fortune 500 company in the industrial supply space. He also serves on the Board of Directors of First Tee – Silicon Valley, a nonprofit organization that develops and empowers youth through golf. Mr. Watson received an MBA from Boston College’s Carroll School of Management and his BA in economics and math from Hamilton College. He is based in MSG Entertainment’s Burbank, CA location.

Keynote Speakers for the Water Panel

Patricia (Pat) Mulroy
Water Panel Moderator

A leader in the international water community for more that 30 years, Pat Mulroy serves as a Senior Fellow for Climate Adaptation and Environmental Policy and Practitioner in Residence for the Saltman Center for Conflict Resolution at the UNLV Boyd School of Law.  Pat also owns Sustainable Strategies, a consulting firm with corporate and public sector clients, for whom she negotiates water agreements and assists in the planning and scoping of needed facilities.

Between 1989 and 2014, Pat Mulroy served as General Manager of the Las Vegas Valley Water District, the largest municipal purveyor in Southern Nevada and also the General Manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA), the regional agency responsible for acquiring, treating and delivering water to all jurisdictions in Southern Nevada.  Mulroy was a principal architect of the SNWA, helping to guide Southern Nevada through an unprecedented period of growth and one of the worst droughts in the history of the Colorado River.  Beginning in 1995, she also served as a negotiator for the State of Nevada on all interstate and international issues for the Colorado River; in 2007 she became the State’s lead negotiator.

During her long tenure leading Southern Nevada’s water resource management efforts, Mulroy was exceptionally active in regional and national water issues.   She negotiated numerous trailblazing agreements with Nevada’s neighbors in the Colorado River Basin and with the country of Mexico.  Her reach in the water community extends far beyond the desert Southwest.  She currently serves as a member emeritus of the Water Research Foundation Board of Trustees.  She previously was on the board of the National Water Resources Association and the original Chairperson of the Western Urban Water Coalition.  She served as President of the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies and belonged to the board of directors of the Colorado River Water Users Association.

Pat also possesses deep understanding of gaming regulation and complex international corporate structures having been appointed by Nevada’s governor to serve on the Nevada Gaming Commission. Subsequently, Pat joined the Board of Wynn Resorts in 2016 and the Boards of Bowman Consulting and Ledger 8760 in 2021.

A resident of Southern Nevada for more than four decades, Mulroy is equally active in the community.  She currently serves on the board of the International Women’s Forum, Keep Memory Alive Foundation, the board of Catholic Charities and the Diocesan Finance Committee.  Previously, she served on the Board of Regents for Bishop Gorman High School and the Nevada Public Radio Board of Directors.  Her honors include the National Jewish Medical and Research Center’s Humanitarian Award, the University and Community College System of Nevada Board of Regents’ Distinguished Nevadan Award and the Education Hero Award from the Public Education Foundation.

Bruce Babbitt
Attorney General of Arizona from 1975 to 1978 and Governor of Arizona from 1978 to 1987
Secretary of the Interior from 1993 to 2001

As Governor, Mr. Babbit negotiated and signed the Arizona Groundwater Management Act of 1980 which remains the most comprehensive groundwater regulatory system in the nation. Mr. Babbit also negotiated and signed the Arizona Environmental Quality Act of 1986 to regulate surface water and groundwater aquifers. Established the Arizona Department of Water Resources and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. Mr Babbit also successfully facilitated the Orme Dam settlement and implemented Plan 6 to restructure Central Arizona Project storage and delivery systems.

As Secretary of the Interior, Mr. Babbit established the 2001 Colorado River Interim Surplus Guidelines; Facilitated the Quantification Settlement Agreement (QSA) to bring California into compliance with Surplus Guidelines; Adopted the off stream storage rule that established a procedural framework for interstate water banking with Nevada.

Thomas Buschatzke
Director
Arizona Department of Water Resources

Tom Buschatzke was appointed Director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources in January 2015. He is responsible for the implementation of ADWR’s mission: to safeguard the health, safety, and
economic welfare of the public by protecting, conserving, and enhancing Arizona’s water supplies in a bold thoughtful and innovative manner. Prior to this appointment he served as the Assistant Director of the Department’s Water Planning Division for three and one-half years. He possesses over forty years of experience in water management in Arizona.

Mr. Buschatzke serves as Arizona’s principal negotiator on Colorado River, is the Chairman of the Arizona Water Banking Authority and Co-Chair of the Drought Inter-Agency Coordinating Council and represents the State in Indian water right negotiations. He is also a member of the Water infrastructure Finance Authority. He has testified before Congress more than 10 times in drought oversight hearings and tribal water rights settlements. He is a member of the US-Mexico Water Treaty, Minute 323 Minute

Oversight Group and is the US Co-Chair for the Sea of Cortez Desalination Work Group. He had a twenty-three year tenure with the City of Phoenix, in which he served as the Water Resources Management Advisor and was responsible for policy development and management of the City’s water resources, working with the City’s executive staff, City Manager, Mayor, and members of the City Council. He was a Hydrologist with the City’s Law Department from 1988-2002, where he assisted City management and attorneys on issues relating to the City’s water rights, water use, water supply, the Endangered Species Act and NEPA compliance.

In addition, he was on the Board of Directors of the Western Urban Water Coalition serving as Chair of
their Endangered Species Act Committee. While working for Phoenix, he was a Commissioner on the
Arizona Water Banking Authority and the Arizona Water Protection Fund. He was also a member of
several statewide planning initiatives including serving as Co-Chair of the Statewide Water Resources
Development Commission, the Governor’s Blue-Ribbon Panel on Water Sustainability where he served
as Co-Chair of the Regulatory and Permitting Group and was an active participant in the Statewide
Water Advisory Group and Governor’s Drought Task Force.

He has served on the External Advisory Committees of the University of Arizona’s Water Sustainability
Program and Water Resources Research Center and the Decision Center for A Desert City at Arizona
State University.

Mr. Buschatzke’s career in Arizona began with a 1982 Arizona Department of Water Resources
internship in the Phoenix Active Management Area and he ultimately became a Program Manager in the Adjudications Division. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from the State University of New York at Cortland.

John Entsminger
General Manager
Las Vegas Valley Water District and Southern Nevada Water Authority

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, Vice Chair of the Water Research Foundation, a trustee of the Desert Research Institute Foundation, and a member of the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance Board of Directors.

Jeffrey Kightlinger
General Manager 
Pasadena Water and Power

Jeffrey Kightlinger is currently serving as the interim general manager of Pasadena Water and Power, which provides safe and reliable water and power to approximately 150,000 residents in the City of Pasadena. Mr. Kightlinger oversees a department of 440 full-time employees with an annual budget of $272 million.

Prior to joining Pasadena in 2022, Mr. Kightlinger was the chief executive officer of The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) from 2006 to 2021, and was the longest-serving CEO in the history of the agency. As CEO, he oversaw MWD’s $1.8 billion annual budget and 1,800 employees. He was also responsible for MWD’s daily water and power operations, and negotiated strategic agreements on the Colorado River, the 50-year renewal of Hoover Dam hydroelectric power, and on the operations of the State Water Project. Before becoming CEO, Mr. Kightlinger was MWD’s chief legal officer and a known expert on water law and the law of the Colorado River.

Mr. Kightlinger has an undergraduate degree from the University of California at Berkeley and a law degree from Santa Clara University. He has served on a number of boards, including the Coro Foundation, the USC Price School of Public Policy, the UCLA Sustainability Advisory Board, the Climate Action Reserve, the California Foundation on the Environment and the Economy, the Los Angeles Economic Development Council, and the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, among others.

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