With over 40 years of public and private management experience, Lewis Jordan has led housing authorities from the very large with 50,000 or more total units, medium-sized agencies with 10,000 plus units, to small agencies with 3,200 units. This unique array of experience has positioned him to work effectively with resident leaders, residents, staff, community partners and stakeholders to address not only housing issues but also strategies to develop underserved communities. As a former public housing resident, he understands both issues and opportunities residents encounter.
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Leading the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority, Lewis Jordan oversees the management of a $202M operating budget along with housing programs, comprehensive goods, and services for 17,000 residents. The Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority is one of the nation’s largest public housing authorities, providing the largest stock of affordable housing in Clark County. Mr. Jordan is a leader dedicated to purposeful integrated planning and collaborative efforts between agency staff, community partners, city, state, county, and legislative officials; working together to preserve and expand affordable housing. He strives to achieve deliberate, successful, and impactful outcomes through his efforts to strengthen landlord partnerships. Mr. Jordan oversees the planning and coordination of the agency’s nationwide Developers Conference, designed to inform and inspire partnerships for developing affordable homes for low and moderate income individuals and families.

Shondra Summers-Armstrong was elected to the Las Vegas City Council representing Ward 5 in November 2024. Before joining the City Council, she served two terms in the Nevada Legislature as the Assemblymember for District 6, representing parts of Las Vegas and North Las Vegas.

Long before holding elected office, Shondra was a committed community advocate. She volunteered on the West Las Vegas Plan Team and served as a commissioner for both the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority and the Southern Nevada Enterprise Community Board.

Shondra retired in 2022 after a 26-year career with the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC), where she most recently worked as a management analyst in the Streets and Highways Department. During her tenure at RTC, she was also a proud labor leader, serving as Chief Steward and Executive Board Member of SEIU Local 1107.

Originally from Northern California, Shondra has called Nevada home for 35 years and has lived in West Las Vegas for 26 of those years. She and her husband, Karl Armstrong, have been married for30 years and are the proud parents of three sons—Brandon, Dexter, and Kieran—and one granddaughter, Ella.

William T. Spencer serves as the Regional Administrator for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in Region 9, overseeing programs and initiatives across Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and the Pacific Islands. A retired Navy SEAL Master Chief with 14 overseas deployments, including eight combat tours, Spencer brings extensive leadership and operational experience to his role. After retiring from military service, he dedicated himself to supporting veterans and underserved communities, founding the American Warrior Association and launching programs to mentor at-risk youth. He holds a Master of Arts in Strategic Intelligence from American Military University and a Bachelor of Science in Management Communications from Southern Christian University. He is also the author of multiple books focused on leadership, resilience, and personal growth.

Former Clark County Commissioner Lawrence Weekly (89106) is currently Chief of Staff-Chief Diversity Officer for the College of Southern Nevada. Dr. Weekly has a proven lifetime record of leadership and commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. During his tenure as commissioner, he was widely regarded as a champion for education, workforce development, and social causes. He served as vice chairman of the Clark County Commission. He was also the first African American to chair the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority Board of Directors. He served as Chair of the Board of Trustees for University Medical Center of Southern Nevada, Western Regional Representative for the National Association of Black County Officials (NABCO) and served with the Nevada Association of Counties (NACO), the Clark County Liquor & Gaming Licensing Board, and the Local Law Enforcement Advisory Board that awards millions to valley wide programs dedicated to improving the quality of life for families in Clark County. His passion is the Senior Programs that began under his tenure as a county Commission. Dr. Weekly is a native Nevadan and graduate of Western High School. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Communication from Grambling State University, a Master of Public Administration and Ph.D. in Public Policy UNLV, where he teaches public policy. He is a life-time member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and a mentor for the Kappa League. He and his wife Kim have two children, Malik and Kenya.

As the Southern Nevada Outreach Director for Governor Joe Lombardo’s office, Sonny is more than a public servant; he’s a bridge of understanding and a champion of the people. His role encompasses a myriad of responsibilities, far beyond representing the Governor at official functions. Covering areas like Laughlin, Lincoln County, Boulder City, and Pahrump, Sonny immerses himself in the lives of local leaders. He listens to their challenges, dreams, and aspirations. He’s a vital connection between the state government and its citizens. His scope extends to various issue areas, including healthcare, small businesses, mental health, and housing. Furthermore, Sonny acts as a vigilant liaison to several state agencies, ensuring their concerns, issues, and progress are conveyed effectively.

Claytee D. White is the inaugural director of the Oral History Research Center for the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Libraries. She collects the history of Las Vegas and the surrounding area by gathering memories of events and experiences from longtime residents. Her projects include early health care in the city, history of the John S. Park Neighborhood, The Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project, and a study of musicians who played with some of the greats in the entertainment field.

As one of five founders of the Las Vegas Black Historical Society Inc., she chronicles the history of the Las Vegas black community that was established in 1905. Her published writings on the subject include a book chapter, encyclopedia entries, and several articles.

White received her bachelor's degree from California State University, Los Angeles, master's degree in history from University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and has completed work toward a doctorate at the College of William & Mary. White currently serves on the Board of Women of Diversity, the UNLV Presidential Debate Planning Committee, and the Historic Preservation Commission. White has also served on the Historic Preservation Commission for the city of Las Vegas, Nevada Humanities executive board, and is the past president of the Southwest Oral History Association.

Catherine Cortez Masto is the first woman from Nevada and the first Latina ever elected to the U.S. Senate. Born and raised in Las Vegas, Cortez Masto has spent her career fighting for Nevada families. As Nevada's Attorney General, Cortez Masto fought to protect seniors and combat drug crime, strengthened laws to end sex trafficking and violence against women, and took on the Big Banks in the wake of the financial crisis. In the Senate, Cortez Masto has taken her fight for working Nevadans to Washington, D.C. by working to expand middle class housing in Nevada and securing the first ever targeted fund from the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco to fund affordable housing construction in the state. Her priority is standing up for Nevada families, protecting Nevadans' access to health care, holding banks accountable when they harm workers and homeowners, defending Dreamers so they can continue to live in the only country they've ever called home, and growing Nevada's innovation and renewable energy economy while also prioritizing workers and union families. She is a member of four U.S. Senate Committees: the Committee on Finance; the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources; and the Committee on Indian Affairs. Cortez Masto earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Finance from the University of Nevada, Reno in 1986, and a J.D. from Gonzaga University School of Law in 1990. She resides in Las Vegas with her husband Paul.

Cedric Crear represents Ward 5. He won the March 27, 2018, special election to complete the council term that ended in 2019. He then won re-election to a full four-year term in the April 2019 election. Councilman Crear has a deep passion for the Las Vegas community and describes his style as one who “leads by example.”Councilman Crear earned a bachelor’s degree from Howard University in Washington, D.C., where he received a tennis scholarship. He was also captain of the team for three years and a two-time conference champion. Councilman Crear previously worked for Station Casinos as a marketing director, where he proved himself a capable leader while working at the company's most elite properties. Since then, he has gone on to found Crear Magnum, which provides full-service marketing, advertising and consulting solutions to regional and global businesses. Councilman Crear has served as president of the company since it was founded in 2010, and serves as president of Crear Outdoor Advertising.Crear served on the Board of Regents for the Nevada System of Higher Education. He was first elected in 2006, and was re-elected in 2012 as the representative for District 1 in Clark County. He served as chair of the Cultural Diversity and Title IX Compliance Committee and vice chair of the Business, Finance and Facilities and Investment committees.In 2015, Crear was appointed as a Las Vegas Planning Commissioner. He also served as a board member of The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, chairman of the Southern Nevada Chapter of the American Red Cross, and Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority.

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

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

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

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

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

Mayor Berkley was appointed and twice elected to the Nevada State Board of Regents, serving from 1990 to 1998.

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

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

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

North Las Vegas Mayor Pamela Goynes-Brown made history as Nevada’s first Black mayor in 2022. A lifelong educator and dedicated public servant, she previously served as Ward 2 Councilwoman and Mayor Pro Tempore. Mayor Goynes-Brown holds a master’s degree from Nova Southeastern University in elementary education, with an endorsement in educational leadership. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from Prairie View A & M University, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude.
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With 35 years in education and a passion for community service, she’s been recognized with numerous awards, most recently receiving the Mother of Achievement by the American Mothers, Inc. Nevada Chapter in 2024.

Joe Hardy, M.D., Mayor Boulder City
Native Nevadan, Reno
UNR graduate
Medical School UNR then Washington University, St Louis graduated 1976
Family medicine residency, Phoenix, Arizona
Active Duty USAF Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota
Boulder City since 1982
Married Jill, 1972
8 children
Former Nevada State Assembly 2002-2010; State Senate 2010-2022

Commissioner William McCurdy II was elected to the Clark County Commission in 2020 and sworn in for his first term on Jan. 4, 2021, and re-elected to his second term for 2025. He was selected by his peers to serve as vice-chairman of the Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 2, 2024.  Commissioner McCurdy previously served two terms (2016-2020) in the Nevada State Legislature as the representative for Assembly District 6.

During his tenure as Assemblyman, he was elected as the first African American and youngest chair of the Nevada State Democratic Party. Significant legislation introduced by McCurdy improved Education, Public Safety, Healthcare and Economic Development. While at the Legislature, he served as vice chairman of the Government Affairs Committee and was a member of the Commerce and Labor and Legislative Operations and Elections committees. Additionally, he served on the Homeland Security Commission.

Prior to his service in the Nevada Legislature, McCurdy was an organizer with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) where he elevated to state political director. He also was very engaged during his years at the College of Southern Nevada where he was elected student body president. While there he fought against tuition increases and worked to secure thousands of dollars in student scholarships to ensure education was within reach for many desiring to achieve their dreams.

McCurdy is a native Las Vegan, born in the very Commission District he now proudly represents. He holds an Associate’s degree from the College of Southern Nevada and a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. McCurdy is a proud husband to his wife, Susie McCurdy and father to their three children.

Michelle Romero was elected Mayor of Henderson in June 2022 and took the Oath of Office on January 3, 2023. She was elected at-large to the Henderson City Council in April 2019, representing Ward I.

Mayor Romero serves with her fellow council members as the legislative branch of the Henderson community, responsible for setting policies and making decisions for many aspects of local government for Nevada’s second largest City, recognized as one of the best places to live in America and one of the nation’s safest cities. In 2024, the City was honored with the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award—the highest honor given by the President of the United States for performance excellence. Henderson is only one of five cities (and the largest) to have ever earned this accolade.

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

Prior to her elected service, Mayor Romero served the City of Henderson for 25 years in several capacities, most recently as the Henderson Redevelopment Agency Manager from 2007 until 2016. In this role, Romero led a team of professionals who indelibly changed the face of the Downtown Henderson/Water Street District and other maturing areas of the city.

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

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

Married to her husband Ben Romero since 1986, Mayor Romero has four sons who were raised in Henderson and 11 grandchildren.

I was born in St George Utah to Elwin Whipple and Jean Waymire and raised in the Virgin Valley. I spent my youth roaming the valley on my bike, playing sports and generally having the ideal childhood. I attended the Virgin Valley schools where I was involved in sports, student government and other various school activities. My basketball team won  2 league championships and a state championship for our school. I was also involved in the Boys Scouts where I earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

Upon graduation I attended Southern Utah University on an academic scholarship. I soon learned that a desert rat like myself couldn’t survive in the cold of Cedar City so I left and eventually returned to school at Dixie State University where I earned an associates degree in 1999.

In 1998 I married my beautiful wife Brooke Crosby. We have four daughters and are looking forward to our 27th wedding anniversary this March.

When I was 15 years old I started working a summer job for Leavitt Landscaping and Pest Control. I worked for Leavitt until 2002 when I took over the pest control arm of the company, which I have been operating since.

My wife and I value education and have spent much of our lives spending our spare money trying to improve ours. I was able to return to school and earned a certification as a commercial helicopter pilot as well as a CFI. My wife returned to school and earned her degree in Psychology and our oldest daughter earned her degree in secondary education and is currently working as a high school teacher. And my second daughter is halfway to her engineering degree. My younger 2 daughters attend Virgin Valley schools and are having great success thanks to our wonderful local teachers.

Throughout the years I have volunteered as a coach for many different youth sports as well as a Boy Scout leader as well as the many hours in church services.

I look forward to this new challenge of being the Mayor of Mesquite and hope to have success in improving the lives of the citizens of our great city.

United States Senator Jacky Rosen is committed to working with both parties to deliver for Nevada’s hardworking families. She is fighting for all Nevadans by being an independent voice who brings people together to find commonsense, bipartisan solutions for our state. Senator Jacky Rosen works across the aisle to solve problems and achieve results for Nevada. Elected to the U.S. House in 2016 and then the U.S. Senate in 2018, Jacky is the second woman ever to serve Nevada in the U.S. Senate, alongside fellow Senator Catherine Cortez Masto. In the Senate, Jacky is working to improve the lives of all Nevadans and fighting for an economy that gives everyone the opportunity to succeed. And with rising prices stretching families’ budgets to the breaking point, Jacky is pushing to increase access to affordable housing in Nevada, cut taxes for the middle class, and lower costs for everyday essentials.

Currently, Ms. Mathur serves as Executive Director of the Elaine P. Wynn & Family Foundation and also operates her own business as a speaker, trainer and writer.

Ms. Mathur has served as an officer of NV Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NVE), a vertically-integrated statewide electric utility with 2,700 employees, serving as vice president of people resources and as vice president of employee and community engagement.

Previous to joining NV Energy, Ms. Mathur worked for 13 years in the gaming industry, most recently serving as an officer and senior vice president, corporate diversity and community affairs, for MGM MIRAGE, now MGM Resorts Int’l (NYSE: MGM).

During her tenure, MGM MIRAGE received numerous awards in her areas of responsibility, including being ranked among the "Top 50 Companies for Diversity" by DiversityInc magazine, one of the "Top Corporations in the U.S." for multicultural businesses by DiversityBusiness.com and as one of the “Most Admired Companies in America” by Fortune magazine. Additionally, under her leadership, the Company’s philanthropy program, including its centerpiece employee-directed foundation, set new standards for strategic philanthropy and employee engagement within the gaming industry.

Prior to joining the gaming industry in 1996, Ms. Mathur had been with the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce for six years, holding a variety of management positions, the last of which was Senior Vice President of Government Affairs. She has received appointments to statewide leadership positions by Nevada’s last four Governors:
- Governor Brian Sandoval (R) appointed her to the Common Core Steering Committee in 2013 and to the Board of Jobs for America’s Graduates in 2014
- Governor Jim Gibbons (R) appointed her to the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Task Force on Education Reform in 2010.
- Governor Kenny Guinn (R) appointed her to the Commission on Tourism in 2002.
- Governor Bob Miller (D) appointed her to the Welfare Reform Task Force in 1994.

As a champion and advocate for public education, Ms. Mathur has a long history of involvement with the Clark County School District having served on a lengthy list of committees and special task forces over the years, including the Superintendent’s Equity & Access Commission in 2019. She also works closely with the NV Department on Education in a variety of roles to advance education reform in Nevada, including an appointment in 2019 to serve on the Commission to Reform Nevada’s 52-year-old K-12 Education Funding Formula.

Ms. Mathur is a champion and advocate for children and public education. Despite numerous awards and recognition, the role of which she is proudest is as Mom to her three remarkable sons and one spectacular daughter.

Erik Hansen is Wynn Resort’s Chief Sustainability Officer. He oversees the Department for Corporate Energy & Sustainability which leads the development of the global sustainability strategy and energy procurement goals for the company as it continues to make monumental moves towards taking control of its energy future. Hansen leads the company’s efforts in influencing and implementing smart energy and environmental policies at the local, and state governmental levels for both Nevada and Massachusetts. His experience extends across all facets of environmental protection and government regulation, and his understanding of cutting-edge technologies are shaping the use of a new generation of renewable resources in the hospitality industry.

Originally serving as Director of Energy Procurement for Wynn Resorts since 2016, Hansen is responsible for developing the Company’s global sustainability goals and implementing vital systems that impact the operation of every part of each Wynn resort. He has been instrumental in instituting several large-scale sustainability and renewable energy projects that have moved Wynn Resorts into a leadership position in environmental and social stewardship.

Hansen has more than 20 years of experience, is a current Board Member of the Mystic River Watershed Association, the Nevada Governor’s Regional Transmission Coordination Task Force and previously served as a member of the Nevada Governor’s Committee on Energy Choice. He began his career in the energy industry at NV Energy where he spent more than 10 years in various capacities including power trading, transmission policy and contracts, business development, and project leadership. Before joining Wynn Resorts, Hansen served as Vice President at EnergySource, where he represented a broad base of Nevada’s largest energy customers across industries including municipalities, mining, gaming, data centers, utilities, and technology.

Hansen's exceptional leadership is perhaps best exemplified by the successful passage of Nevada’s Assembly Bill 528 and the creation of the Campus for Hope Foundation, a groundbreaking piece of legislation focused on homelessness prevention and assistance from the 83rd legislative session. This achievement underscores Hansen's strategic acumen, skillfully harmonizing a crucial social cause with Wynn Resorts' deeply ingrained values. By intricately intertwining social responsibility with corporate sustainability, Hansen not only showcases his remarkable capabilities but also amplifies the inherent synergy between business prosperity and purpose-driven endeavors.

Kim Jefferies is the founding CEO for Campus for Hope foundation in Las Vegas, Nevada. Kim is a dedicated nonprofit leader with more than 25 years of experience, most recently serving as CEO of Haven for Hope for 3 and a half years. Under her leadership, Haven achieved notable milestones, including being named Nonprofit of the Year (2023), attaining Trauma-Informed Care certification, opening Couple’s Rooms, a Living Room crisis intervention program, and specialty programming and beds for young adults in addition to securing significant funding, and publishing Haven’s model in the Community Mental Health journal. Haven also earned recognition as a Top Workplace (2023 & 2024) and achieved record client outcomes while operating over capacity. Previously, Kim led Brighton Center as CEO for over 15 years, fostering substantial growth and earning numerous accolades. A respected community leader, Kim has held roles with The Nonprofit Council, United Way, and Autism Lifeline Links, among others. She has received prestigious honors, including San Antonio Business Journal’s Top 40 Under 40 (2012), Woman of Impact (2020), and Top CEO (2021). In 2024, she was recognized as a Pillar for Citizenship and will be inducted into the San Antonio Women’s Hall of Fame in May of 2025.

Kim holds a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies, an M.S. in Nonprofit Leadership, and an Executive Certificate from Harvard’s Kennedy School. Certified in Balanced Scorecard, she has also contributed to global missions, assessing education for children with disabilities in Malawi. Kim and her husband, Cory, have two accomplished daughters and enjoy outdoor activities, from hiking to gardening, alongside family adventures in nature.

M.J. Maynard is the Chief Executive Officer of the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC), the only agency nationwide that is responsible for public transportation, traffic management, roadway and construction funding, and regional and transportation planning – all under one roof.

Recognizing that mobility shapes our communities and economies, M.J. proudly leads the RTC as connector of the region’s business sector, its more than 2.3 million residents and 40-plus million annual visitors. She is passionate about building and sustaining a transportation system with a robust roadway network and efficient public transit that connects the Las Vegas Valley, improves air quality, and creates economic opportunities for people and businesses. M.J. recognizes that deploying the latest transportation advancements is imperative to moving Southern Nevada forward. Her embrace of technology has made the RTC one of the most technologically advanced transportation agencies in the country - from self-driving cars to sustainable infrastructure planning and funding to the future of public transportation.

M.J. is a long-time Southern Nevada resident and proud graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Considered a national leader and trusted voice of the transportation industry, she serves on many national and local industry boards. Her 18 years of transportation experience and 25 years of hospitality experience help ensure that Southern Nevada continues to build a world-class, sustainable, and multi-modal transportation system to meet the region's ever-changing and ever-growing needs.

With 20+ years of economic development, commercial development, and strategic planning.  Shani Coleman is a professional with proven success in creating new opportunities to drive strategic growth throughout Southern Nevada.  As the current director of the Office of Community and Economic Development for Clark County, NV, Ms. Coleman applies her extensive skills and experience, along with her passion for the community she calls home, to build awareness of the opportunities that exist beyond The Las Vegas Strip.  This work drives new growth and investment throughout unincorporated Clark County, and helps shape a better, brighter future for residents and businesses alike.

During her tenure with Clark County re-established and expanded the Clark County Redevelopment Agency, established Clark County’s Innovation District, developed the award winning Technical & Economic Assistance Program (TEAP) for small business support, created Clark County’s first ever online learning platform for the Small Business Opportunity Program and implemented workforce development opportunities with the EMT Academy.

In addition to economic development, Ms. Coleman is skilled in local, regional and federal government relations, having served as the chief lobbyist for the city of Las Vegas.

Ms. Coleman holds a master’s degree in Public Administration and a Juris Doctor from the William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

David F. Damore is a Professor of Political Science and the Lincy Presidential Chair at UNLV where he serves as the executive director of The Lincy Institute and Brookings Mountain West. He also is a Nonresident Senior Fellow in the Brookings Institution’s Governance Study Program. An expert in electoral politics and applied public policy, Damore is the coauthor of three books and more than 50 journal articles, book chapters, and policy reports, and he regularly comments on Nevada politics and policy for local, national, and international media outlets.

Tracy Larkin Thomason is the Director of the Nevada Department of Transportation with over 30 years of experience in transportation leadership, industry collaboration and strategic planning. She is a transportation innovator, applying her unique and diverse experiences in visionary leadership to advance a future transportation network that benefits all. She believes in “People, Partnerships and Technology”. The transportation network is to serve the people and enhance their quality of life.

This will be achieved by working with our many transportation partners and across sectors (law enforcement, first responders, education, health, etc. Technology can be a vital tool to help achieve success.

Tracy holds a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering and a master’s degree in business administration, both from the University of Nevada, Reno. She is a Certified Public Manager, a Professional Traffic Operations Engineer, and a Licensed Registered Professional Engineer in Nevada.

Serving the First Congressional District of Nevada, Congresswoman Dina Titus has built a strong record of achievement as both an educator and a public servant. As a professor, Dr. Titus taught American and Nevada government classes from 1979 through June 2011 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where she has professor emeritus status.

In 1988, Congresswoman Titus was elected to represent the people of District Seven in the Nevada State Senate, serving as the Democratic Minority Leader from 1993 to 2008. During her service in the Legislature, Congresswoman Titus was a champion for quality education and renewable energy development, and a strong advocate on behalf of Nevada’s children, seniors, and persons with disabilities.

Currently in her seventh term in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congresswoman Titus is the dean of Nevada’s Congressional delegation. She is a proud member of the House Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, Foreign Affairs, and Homeland Security. Dina serves as Ranking Member of a key Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee, where she works to help Nevada’s communities better respond to natural disasters, address the devastating impacts of climate change, and fight for infrastructure projects that will benefit the most vulnerable.

Congresswoman Titus grew up in the small town of Tifton, Georgia, with her parents, Joe and Betty Titus, and her younger sister, Dr. Rho Hudson, who is a professor of special education and founding faculty member of Nevada State College. Congresswoman Titus is a graduate of the College of William and Mary, holds a Master's degree from the University of Georgia, and earned her Doctorate at Florida State University. Congresswoman Titus has been married to Professor Thomas C. Wright for over 35 years.

Joselyn Cousins manages the Community Development Outreach Group at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, which partners with financial institutions, community-based organizations, and government agencies to address pressing community development needs impacting low-income neighborhoods and households. Joselyn also serves as the regional manager for Nevada.

Joselyn has an extensive background in community development in the private and public sectors. Prior to joining the San Francisco Fed, Joselyn was the vice president of community development for United Way of Southern Nevada where she directed and managed the community impact team in developing strategies to address local issues in the areas of education, financial stability, and health. She has many years of banking experience working as a Community Reinvestment Officer for both small and large financial institutions in Nevada. Joselyn earned her bachelor’s degree in administration from California State University, San Bernardino.

Dave Feriancek joined Stearns Bank in 2003 and is currently the Senior Vice President of National Lending with a focus on affordable housing.  Over his tenure with the bank he has helped finance more than 10,000+ affordable units.  In addition to his role in affordable housing he also helps with USDA loans, non-profit lending and assists with the Islamic lending division.  Outside of work he is currently the Board President of the Central Minnesota Habitat for Humanity chapter. 

Robert “Bob” Glaser is a Senior Client Strategist for BNY Mellon Wealth Management. In this role, he works directly with clients to address their investment and wealth management needs. Bob and his team take a comprehensive approach with a long-term perspective to best prepare clients for the future.

Bob joined the firm in 2010 and has more than 35 years of experience in the financial services industry. His previous experience includes serving as the state Manager of Nevada for City National Bank’s Private Bank operations where he led a team that worked with successful individuals, families, and their closely held businesses, advising clients on all aspects of wealth management.

Before his role at City National, Bob held a variety of leadership positions as a Chief Financial Officer for middle market companies; in Corporate and Retail banking groups in major regional banks; and in the consulting practice of a Big-4 accounting firm.

Bob received bachelor’s degrees from the University of Utah and earned a graduate degree in banking & finance from the Stonier Graduate School of Banking at the University of Delaware.

Bob is also very active in the community serving in a volunteer role with several non-profits including Director & Chairman, Opportunity Village; Former Director & Former Board Chair, Communities In Schools Nevada; Former Director, Treasurer & Chair of the Investment Committee, Nevada Public Radio; and Former Trustee, the Alexander Dawson School.

Bob is married with a son and a daughter and lives in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Taurean Gordon is the co-owner and CEO of Seneca Real Estate Services, a real estate consulting company dedicated to preparing communities for large infrastructure change. With clients ranging across public and private industries, Taurean has worked across some of the largest transportation, utilities, and affordable housing projects that have transformed communities across the country. Mr. Gordon entered this space as the COO of Overland, Pacific, & Cutler, one of the largest right of way and relocation companies on the west coast.

Prior to joining OPC, Taurean managed the growth and financial stability for multiple charter schools in the Southern California region through his work with ExED. As the head of finance for these schools, he was responsible for school growth, financial performance and maintaining relationships with various public agencies. Prior to entering the impactful education space, Taurean served as the Vice President of Ares Asset Management, a global asset management firm whose portfolio includes credit, private equity, and real estate as well as companies such as Neiman Marcus and Smart & Final. Here he lead the growth and integration of multiple M&A initiatives and was actively involved in doubling the firm to well over 1,000 employees. With his experience in international management consulting, Taurean also lead pivotal transitions of large companies across private equity, pharmaceuticals, entertainment, food and beverage, and real estate. Some notable companies include Carlyle Private Equity, Bristol Myers Squibb, AMC Networks, Pernod Ricard, WP Carey, and Related Real Estate.

Taurean has a Bachelors in Business Administration from Morehouse College in Atlanta. With his wife and co-owner Tammy and 9-year-old son Camden, Taurean and his Tammy are dedicated to helping build sustainable communities with preservation at the heart of their services.

Jerrie E. Merritt serves as senior vice president and Community Development Manager for Bank of Nevada. Her banking career spans over 40 years. Jerrie’s responsibilities include development and coordination of all community development and acts as a liaison with state and local agencies, non- profit development groups, and other participants in community and economic development programs and projects. She works to strengthen existing client relationships and building strong community partnerships.

Jerrie has been recognized for her skillful leadership, stellar performance and undeniable contributions to the financial arena. A champion of education, she served on the UNLV Libraries Advisor Board, Communities in Schools board of directors and as a mentor for the Clark County School District.

With a spirit of excellence, she currently lends her experience to Workforce Connections as the Board Chair, Help of Southern Nevada as the Past Chair of the board of directors. Past Chair for the Urban Chamber of Commerce, President of the Hannah Brown Community Development Corporation, a member of the board of directors for United Way of Southern Nevada, Valley Hospital Medical Center, DreamSpring CDFI Inc.  Serves on the Governor’s Workforce Development Board, and the Small Business Development Center board.

No stranger to the community she loves, Ms.  Merritt is the past President for the Rape Crisis Center, Urban Financial Services Coalition and is passionately involved with numerous philanthropic and civic originations.

Merritt was awarded the Women of Distinction Award by the NAWBO and was featured as an Interesting Personality in the Inaugural Edition of Who’s Who In Black Las Vegas™ , chosen as a Woman to Watch  by Vegas Inc., Top 100 Women of Influence  and received the Silver State Award  for Female Executive of the Year.   She has been married for 52 years and has one son.

Nic Steele is the founder and executive director of Access Community Capital Inc., a Community Development Financial Institution providing affordable capital to small businesses located in Nevada.

In addition to reviewing over $30mm in loan requests and disbursing over $7mm in credit, Access CDFI has supported over 1,500 small businesses via loans and advisory services, contributing to the creation or retention of over 2,000 jobs. Additionally, Access CDFI administers several business accelerator programs for entrepreneurs, assists childcare providers purchase homes, and provides bridge financing for nonprofit organizations.

As an entrepreneur, Mr. Steele, knows firsthand how lack of access to affordable capital can adversely affect the trajectory of a business, stifling its growth potential. Prior to managing Access Community Capital, Mr. Steele was the visionary and founder of Eclipse Theaters, a luxury movie theater in Downtown Las Vegas. In 2016, Mr. Steele built the 72,000 sf facility as an upscale movie-dining experience in Las Vegas. Eclipse Theaters operated as much more than a luxury eight screen theater, hosting over 200 annual events, supporting over 120 nonprofits and community organizations. Mr. Steele is proud of having hosted President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, as well as other presidential candidates, celebrities, and dignitaries.

Prior to managing Eclipse Theaters, Mr. Steele was the Chief Financial Officer responsible for building/overseeing the finance and real estate groups for the Downtown Project, a $350 million investment group revitalizing Downtown Las Vegas, in coordination with Tony Hsieh’s relocation of Zappos headquarters. His finance background began a bit earlier as an Equity Derivatives Synthetic Finance Trader managing over $25B of balance sheet and inventory for a major wall street firm.

Nic Steele is most excited about his current role as both a lender and business advisor to entrepreneurs developing their own ideas into successful companies.  

Congresswoman Susie Lee was born to a working family of ten in Canton, Ohio. A product of the public education system, she attended Carnegie Mellon University where she used a combination of scholarships, loans, and part-time jobs to pay for her education.

Congresswoman Lee moved to Las Vegas in 1993, where she became an education non-profit leader. She worked to improve the education system, decrease school dropout rates, and provide after-school programming for Nevada students. Her career taught her how to take on tough problems, roll up her sleeves, and bring people together to find solutions for Nevada's problems.

In Congress, she is fighting to improve our education system, honor our promise to our veterans, and tackle rising health care costs. Congresswoman Lee believes in working across the aisle and bringing people together to solve problems, which is why she serves as Vice Chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus and has been ranked the #1 most bipartisan member of Congress among all U.S. Representatives, Senators, and governors. She now lives in Las Vegas with her two children.

Kathi Thomas addresses comprehensive community initiatives as the Director for the Office of Community Services for the City of Las Vegas. In this role Ms. Thomas oversees key projects addressing homelessness, affordable housing development, education, youth services, neighborhood revitalization, and services for special needs populations. Ms. Thomas has more than 25 years of experience implementing federal grants programs including Community Development Block Grants, Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS, Welfare-to-Work, and other special purpose programs for at-risk communities. She is often a convener of key stakeholders and has successfully addressed complex, longstanding problems through collaborative leadership approaches. Ms. Thomas has worked in both the not-for-profit and public sectors to enhance meaningful change in service delivery systems so that programs are efficient and effective. Ms. Thomas has been an adjunct instructor and frequent lecturer for higher education systems in Nevada and California. Her area of focus is leadership and management, with an emphasis on community engagement strategies. She has a Master’s in Public Administration and received her Bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California, Berkeley.

Anthony Kazee, RHDFP, has a background in construction project management and construction estimating. Anthony is responsible for overall real estate development and project management from site acquisition to project closeout, safety and health of the worksite, including controlling budgets, negotiating subcontracts, and providing day-to-day communication with the project team to ensure jobs remain on schedule and within budget. Anthony fosters an environment of teamwork and ensures that strategy is clearly defined while overseeing performance and maintaining morale. He has an excellent track record of strong working relationships with government, architects, engineers, lenders, residents, and community organizations resulting in successful project experiences. His strong communication and service skills enhance construction safety and development process.

Anthony has completed over Fifty rehabs and worked on numerous commercial projects as a developer, project engineer,  and construction estimator. Anthony earned his Bachelor of Science in Construction Science and Management from Tuskegee University. Anthony is an alumnus of LISC Milwaukee ACRE real estate program. Anthony also earned his certification as a Rental Housing Development Finance Professional from the National Development Council. Anthony also received the Rising Young Professional in Construction Award. Most recently Anthony was nominated Milwaukee 40 under 40 from Milwaukee Business Journal. Anthony is committed to community involvement and has participated in several community events. Anthony currently sits on the Harambee Neighborhood Improvement District, the Friends of Lakeshore Park board, and United Methodist Children Services.

Michelle Merced has lived in Southern Nevada since the 1990s and has over 20 years of experience in real estate. She joined Neighborhood Housing Services of Southern Nevada (NHSSN) in 2008, during the height of the Great Recession. Since then, she and her team have administered over $12 million in down payment assistance, helping more than 3,000 families purchase their first homes and educating over 10k families.

Michelle developed the FLIP Forward program to rehabilitate homes for low to moderate-income households and launched the Blight to Bright initiative to revitalize infill properties to address affordable housing shortages. Recently, NHSSN unveiled The Golden Rule, a 60-unit affordable apartment complex for seniors, with a second phase set for completion this fall.

Today, NHSSN owns and manages over 177 affordable housing units and partners with 30 local nonprofits to provide supportive services. The organization hosts up to four community events annually, offering resources and financial education. Inspired by her late father, NHSSN created the Winter Wonderland event during the pandemic, which provides contactless food resources to those in need. This year, Winter Wonderland 6.0 aims to serve over 600 families this December.

Michelle is proud to serve the vibrant community of Las Vegas, the place where her children were born. She believes, "Las Vegas is our Home and housing is the foundation for anyone to succeed!" Michelle is deeply committed to contributing to the growth and progress of her community.

Jess Molasky is the Principal and Chief Operating Officer of Ovation Development, a diversified real estate company and one of Southern Nevada’s leading developers of both market-rate and affordable multi-family housing. Since its founding in 1984 by his father, Alan Molasky, Ovation has developed over 40 multi-family communities valued at more than $1 billion, encompassing 12,000 units across the Las Vegas metropolitan area. Today, Ovation is a leader in affordable housing, with 13 projects totaling more than 1,900 units—and more in development.

As COO, Jess is responsible for the strategic growth and operational excellence of Ovation’s four core business units: real estate development, general contracting, property management, and asset management. Under his leadership, the company has refined its operational systems, expanded its development pipeline, and reinforced its commitment to creating high-quality, sustainable housing solutions. His work ensures that Ovation remains at the forefront of Nevada’s housing industry, balancing innovation with disciplined execution.

After earning his degree in geography, environmental science, and urban planning from UCLA in 2016, Jess worked for UCLA Capital Programs, where he helped develop three new LEED-certified dormitory buildings and two world-class athletic facilities for the 2028 Olympics. He also played a key role in launching an energy transparency initiative, leveraging data to track and improve power usage across student housing. This experience reinforced his passion for sustainable development and the power of data-driven decision-making.

Since joining Ovation in 2018, Jess has helped modernize the company’s operations while maintaining its commitment to "Building Places People Love." He has been instrumental in strengthening Ovation’s presence in the affordable housing sector, implementing scalable processes that enhance efficiency across its operating companies, and ensuring that each division—from construction to property management—is a leader in its field.

With deep roots in Las Vegas, Jess represents the third generation of his family’s legacy in shaping the city’s built environment. His grandfather, Irwin Molasky, played a pivotal role in the city's development, with contributions that include donating the land for UNLV, developing Sunrise Hospital (Las Vegas’ first private hospital), the city’s first condominium high-rise, Paradise Palms (Las Vegas’ first master-planned community), and the Desert Inn Golf Course. This legacy of innovation and transformative development continues at Ovation, as Jess leads the company into the future with a focus on long-term community impact and sustainable growth.

Frank Stafford has 30 years of experience in Public Housing at the former Housing Authority of the City and Las Vegas and the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority. He is knowledgeable in all aspects of the Development and Modernization of Public and Affordable Housing. He began his career in Public Housing in 1993 and has spent the last 29 years in the Development/Modernization Department as a Construction Inspector, Construction Manager, Acting Procurement Manager, Acting Development and Modernization Director and currently the Director of Development and Modernization. He has been responsible for numerous new construction and preservation construction projects totaling over 1,100 units preserved via comprehensive modernization, 400 newly construction units, and over 900 units demolished for new development at a cost exceeding $170 million. In addition, he has planned and overseen numerous Capital Improvement Projects and Site Improvement Projects to include landscape conversion projects, playgrounds, street, parking lot and curb replacement.

Jennifer Lazovich is a key member of the Firm’s land use, zoning and legislative affairs practice, where she represents clients before local governmental entities and the Nevada Legislature.

With over twenty years of experience in the area of zoning, land use planning and government affairs, Jennifer provides counsel to large casino-resorts, residential (single family and multi family), industrial and commercial developers, as well as educational institutions and other prominent businesses in Nevada. She regularly appears before county and municipal commissions, councils and boards on planning, zoning and building matters where she is recognized as a talented and dedicated attorney. Over the years, she has negotiated numerous development agreements and land use entitlements for Nevada’s top master-planned communities, industrial and commercial developers, immersive entertainment projects and gaming companies. Jennifer also has substantial experience with franchise agreements, including representation of Southern Nevada’s solid waste franchisee and experience with affordable housing projects.

Jennifer represents multiple clients during every legislative session. Her experience includes the drafting, amending and advocacy of legislation and amendments covering land use, water and property rights, cannabis, health care issues, gaming, technology companies and business matters.

Prior to joining the Firm, Jennifer worked on the hill in Washington, D.C. and as an intern in the elections division of the Nevada Secretary of State’s Office. While in law school, Jennifer gained trial experience in the juvenile division of the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office.

Larry Blackman is Former President Of The Blackman Group, A Business ConsultingCo . Helping People Move From Consumers/Owners In Their Own Neighborhoods. He’s a Former College Athlete, Chairman Of American Heart Association African -American Task Force In State Of Nevada, and a Current Member of the Board of Commissioner for SNRHA.

Kerry Bubolz is President and Chief Executive Office of the NHL 2023 Stanley Cup Champion Vegas Golden Knights. He oversees all business aspects of the franchise. In addition, he worked with owner Bill Foley on the formation and expansion of the Foley Entertainment Group LLC, including the following properties: the Premier League’s AFC Bournemouth, the American Hockey League’s Henderson Silver Knights, the Indoor Football League’s Vegas Knight Hawks, a New Zealand-based expansion franchise in the A-Leagues, City National Arena, America First Center, Lee’s Family Forum, and the Vegas Golden Knights Foundation. His leadership has resulted in numerous awards: “Best Atmosphere in the NHL” for T-Mobile Arena, the home of the Golden Knights; Sports Business Journal’s prestigious Sports Team of the Year Award; the NHL’s “Commissioner Award for Business Excellence;” the NHL Business Awards Stanley for the league's best Game Presentation (three times) and as the Social Media Club of the Year; and the Information Display and Entertainment Association (IDEA) award for Best Hockey Production and Best Overall Production, the latter highlighting Vegas’ game entertainment as the best in all of sports. Prior to joining the Golden Knights, Bubolz spent 13 years with the National Basketball Association’s Cleveland Cavaliers including a stint as President, Business Operations. The Cavaliers were consistently recognized by the NBA during their annual Sales & Marketing awards ceremonies as a top performing team in all key business metrics. He has also worked in management roles with the Carolina Hurricanes (NHL), the Dallas Stars (NHL), and the Cleveland Lumberjacks (IHL). Both he and the Golden Knight franchise are deeply involved in community activities. Bubolz earned his BS degree in marketing from Oklahoma State University in 1989.

Theodore Parker, III received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the Citadel in 1988 and his Juris Doctorate from the University of South Carolina in 1991. Thereafter, he began his Nevada legal career with the law firm of Beckley, Singleton, et al. While at Beckley Singleton, Mr. Parker primarily defended clients in the areas of civil litigation on behalf of numerous insurance companies, common carriers, tour and charter bus companies, hotel and gaming companies and product manufacturers. To expand his areas of practice and client base, he joined the law firm of Kolesar & Latham where he primarily handled business litigation, banking, real estate, governmental law and municipal financing and administrative law.

In 1995 he founded PARKER, NELSON & ASSOCIATES and has continued to represent several insurance companies, product manufacturers, construction companies, governmental and quasi governmental agencies, medical physicians and facilities, common carriers, banking and mortgage companies, and real estate and construction companies. From 1995 to the present, Mr. Parker has increased his client base and while doing so, has achieved tremendous results in the Nevada District Courts, the Nevada Supreme Court, the Nevada Federal District Court and before the Ninth Circuit. Mr. Parker has also been admitted to the United States Supreme Court.

Mr. Parker’s range of legal experience is as diverse as the client base that he has developed throughout the years. A listing of several of Mr. Parker’s clients can be found as a part of the firm’s resume. Mr. Parker’s areas of practice include administrative law, banking law, business litigation, corporate law and structuring, construction contract and defect, employment and labor law, insurance defense, municipal law, medical malpractice, personal injury, premises liability, products liability, real estate law and regulatory compliance.

Mr. Parker has tried many cases in the State and Federal District Courts of Nevada. Routinely, he represents clients in mediations, arbitrations and administrative proceedings before State and Federal agencies, including the Nevada State Employment Security Division, the National Labor Relations Board, Nevada Labor Commission and the Nevada State Contractors Board. He has successfully argued before the Nevada Supreme Court and the United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on many occasions and has several published opinions.

His affiliations include: the South Carolina State Bar; Nevada State Bar; Clark County Bar; American Bar Association; National Bar Association; National Association of Bond Lawyers, the Defense Research Institute (“DRI”), a colleague of the Nevada Law Foundation and a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America. Mr. Parker has been designated as a Super Lawyer in the Mountain States Super Lawyer Magazine, as well as in their Corporate Counsel Edition.

Finally Mr. Parker is an AV-Rated Lawyer by Martindale Hubbell which is the highest rating available to any individual attorney.