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.

Adrianne Todman is Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). She was previously confirmed by the Senate to serve as the Deputy Secretary of HUD in June, 2021. As Deputy Secretary, she served as the second highest ranking official at HUD, and executed both policy and operational priorities. This included providing guidance on department-wide initiatives to increase housing supply, improve disaster response and recovery efforts, steer climate and resiliency endeavors, and enhance customer access to HUD’s programs. Additionally, she oversaw HUD’s efforts to improve agency hiring and workforce engagement, and enhance the agency's risk assessments, IT investments and contracting protocols. Prior to joining HUD she served as the CEO of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) from 2017 to June 2021. During her tenure, she improved the association’s financial standing and business operations, created a member-centric culture, and advocated for funding and policies to preserve and develop affordable housing and help communities thrive. Before joining NAHRO, Acting Secretary Todman served as the Executive Director of the District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA). At DCHA, she implemented a national award-winning model to house veterans experiencing homelessness, increased homeownership opportunities by 50 percent for low- and moderate-income families served by DCHA, increased the number of affordable units available in neighborhoods experiencing rapid growth, and oversaw multiple redevelopment efforts. She prioritized repairs to units, services for youth, workforce development, and commissioned the first citywide needs assessment of public housing residents. Acting Secretary Todman previously served in several career positions at HUD. First, as a manager of HUD’s $500 million grant competition that focused on revitalizing distressed public housing sites, and also as a policy aide in the Office of the Secretary where she worked with staff across HUD’s programs. Her career in public service began in the office of then-Congressman Ron de Lugo, a long-serving member representing the U.S. Virgin Islands, where Todman was born and raised. Acting Secretary Todman believes that we have a responsibility to confront housing insecurity; increase and preserve the nation’s housing supply; eliminate housing discrimination; and support community resiliency, particularly following a natural disaster. She has focused on ensuring that HUD has the staff and tools it needs to administer and provide oversight over programs critical to supporting people and communities across the country.

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.

With 83 percent of the vote, Carolyn G. Goodman won her third term as mayor of the city of Las Vegas on April 2, 2019. She was first elected on July 6, 2011, and her husband of 50 years and 12-year, term-limited mayor, Oscar B. Goodman, administered the oath of office. It is the only known instance of a spouse succeeding a spouse as mayor in the United States. Mayor Carolyn Goodman was also handily re-elected in 2015.
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Among her priorities, Mayor Goodman has championed downtown development, improvement in inner-city schools, expansion of homeless resources, coordination among non-profit service providers, adoption of the Nevada film tax credit, and creation of the medical district and UNLV medical school. She represents the city on numerous boards and organizations, advocating for Las Vegas’ $44.9 billion tourism industry on the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance, the Southern Nevada Tourism Infrastructure Committee, the Southern Nevada Sports Committee and Transportation Safety Commission. Additionally, she holds national leadership roles as a member of the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM), serving on its Advisory Board and as vice-chair of its Jobs, Education and Workforce Committee, and as Chair of the Mayors’ Business Council. In June of 2013, she hosted the 81st annual gathering of the National Conference of Mayors in Las Vegas. The USCM honored her with the Mayors’ 2014 Large City Climate Protection Award.
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Carolyn is well known in the Las Vegas community for founding The Meadows School in 1984, Nevada’s first nonprofit, college preparatory school for pre-kindergarten through 12th grades. Carolyn planned and oversaw the entire day-to-day operations for 26 years while also raising her four children. During this time, Carolyn never had ownership of the school as it was incorporated as a 501[c][3] entity. Furthermore, during her 26 years in leadership, Carolyn never took a salary. She retired in June 2010.

Councilman 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.

Over the last 35 years, Cydney has been fortunate to provide a broad range of technical assistance, management coaching, and efficiency solutions working for some of the top consulting companies in the affordable housing arena. Her exceptional knowledge of HUD regulations has helped countless industry colleagues and agencies achieve stellar performance. By managing several large PHA's, she’s gained expertise in leading teams, policy development, customer service and internal and external community relations. She is also skilled at financial planning and budgeting, because money matters!After consulting for many years, in 2020, she opened Allecca Consulting, a full- service management consulting firm that helps the affordable housing industryperform at high levels. Allecca Consulting’s business model is compassion and compliance. Our goal is to incorporate compassion for the families we serve and ensure compliance in administering the federal dollars entrusted to them. Cydney is a graduate Howard University.

Dr. Mike R. Barton is currently the Clark County School District Chief of Staff, Equity, and Community Partnerships. Dr. Barton previously served as the College, Career, Equity, and School Choice Chief, Chief Academic Officer, Associate Superintendent for the Instruction Unit and the Academic Manager for Performance Zone 8. He also has building principal experience at high need schools in CCSD at elementary, middle, and high school levels.
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Prior to becoming a principal in the Clark County School District, he served as a classroom teacher, project facilitator with a focus on professional learning for teachers, and a dean of students all within local CCSD schools.

Dr. Barton has served as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and Nova Southeastern University teaching preparation courses to aspiring administrators. Dr. Barton trained to become a teacher at the University of Pittsburgh and graduated with his advanced degrees from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
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He has committed his work to ensuring that all students are provided a high-quality, rigorous education. Additionally, he believes that student success is driven by a collective commitment to high standards in all classrooms and schools within the Clark County School District.

As the founding executive dean for equity, inclusion and belonging at the Roseman University College of Medicine (RUCOM), the only private allopathic medical school in Nevada, Dr. Cheryl Brewster is charged with leveraging equity, and inclusion to advance the College’s vision and mission with the goal of ensuring a learning and work environment in which students, faculty and staff realize a sense of belonging.  With 20+ years of experience she has successfully designed & initiated results oriented DEI-focused processes, plans, programs workshops/trainings for senior leaders, managers, staff encouraging learning, reflection, awareness and understanding as well as community building across difference.

Dave Doyle is Eagle Quest's Director of Operations and has been with the agency since 2004. As Director, he oversees program operations; ensuring quality outcomes and unmatched customer service for the youth and families Eagle Quest serves. For over 6 years, Dave served as the Nevada Chapter Chair for the Family Focused Treatment Association (FFTA). Dave also proudly serves as the Chapter Chair of the Clark County Juvenile Justice Services, Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC). He is extremely passionate about legislative advocacy in areas pertaining to Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice. Dave enjoys the development of innovative programs and resources to better serve the needs of the community. Dave has been a Specialized Foster Care parent for the last 20 years in Clark County and helped to transition nearly 100 youth out of his home into a variety of independent living settings. He truly enjoys working with our youth and learning from them.

Cassandra Lewis-Walker, married to Mr. Calvin Walker a mother of two, and a grand mother of three, she has been active in the field of activities and recreation education development for more than 30+ years. Cassandra dedicates her time and efforts serving the community in all area, working currently at Doolittle Active Adult Senior Center, she conducts workshops and programs for seniors and is always seeking innovative services to enhance the lives of our precious senior and City of Las Vegas community.

Cassandra also has strong passion for her community; this is shown through her commitment to services.  She serves tirelessly in the community and is active in her church, currently serves as a youth Leader (Angel Dancer) and in 9:45 Celebration choir at Victory Baptist Missionary Church, NEBA Never Ever Be Alone Grief Foundation, the Nathan Adelson HospicesCommunity Advisory Panel, Black History Community (CLV),  TLOD Top Ladies of Distinction and various other committee.

Nothing is more important to her than her FAITH! Family and community! Cassandra often tells new grandparent you think you love you kids!!!! But wait until you grandchild arrives it’s an indescribable love!!! Strive every day to do the right thing when no one but God is looking!  For her dedication and commitment, Cassandra has been awarded several certificates of recognition.

Dr. Pat Spearman is the Nevada State Senate President Pro-Tempore, Chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor, Vice Chair of Growth and Infrastructure, and a member of the Revenue Committee. She holds several accredited degrees; a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Political Science from the Norfolk State University, Norfolk, VA; a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) from The Seminary of the Southwest; and a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) from Walden University.
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Her military education includes Department of Defense (DOD) Equal Opportunity Management Institute, Strategic Planning, and Command and General Staff College. Dr. Pat is an Ordained Minister, former Pastor, and serves on the Global Social Justice Ministry Team of The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries, Retired Lieutenant Colonel (U.S. Army), former part-time lecturer at the University of Louisville, and a State Senator representing Senate District 1 in Nevada.
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She is also a member of the Energy Task Force and Natural Resources and Infrastructure Committee for the National Conference of State Legislators. Her doctoral study, “Using Sustainable Development as a Competitive Strategy”, provided her the opportunity to gain professional and academic expertise to facilitate improvements in the renewable energy industry.

LuChana Turner was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. She grew up with a single mother and a sister who had special needs. During her early childhood, she witnessed the pain of others through mistreatment, neglect, and ignorance. Her sense of purpose motivated her to reach out to help the helpless, bring hope to the hopeless, demonstrate faith to the faithless, and show love to the unloved. She graduated from Valley High School in 1992 and went on to pursue a career as a manicurist/nail tech. Believing that her vocation was a way to help her through college, she obtained licensure and began working in various salons. By 1994, she was a mother of two small children and haunted by her dream to graduate from college, so she enrolled in a local community college. Throughout the years LuChana continued on her slow but steady path towards higher education. In 2000, she gave birth to twins and dedicated her life to training up her 4 children in the way they should go. Her professional career as a nail technician was elevated by obtaining training as a Provisional Instructor in 2002, Reflexology certification in 2004, and later licensed as an Instructor of Nail Technology in 2009. Ms. Turner’s academic career was enhanced by earning an Associate degree in Communication and General Studies from the College of Southern Nevada in 2014.

Ms. Turner’s lifetime goal and desire is to improve the quality of life and well-being of others by advocating, educating, and empowering distressed populations of people. She has been a substitute teacher for local charter schools in her community planting seeds of hope to inspire future generations. With this purpose in mind, she enrolled into University of Nevada Las Vegas in 2015 and majored in Human Services. During her time as a student, LuChana has worked as a student ambassador and administrative secretary (CSN 2004); interned with KCEP Power 88 public radio station (CSN 2014), Department of Juvenile Justice Services (UNLV 2018), UNLV Project Focus for intellectually disabled students (2019); volunteered as a judge for the Truancy Diversion Program (DDJS 2017-2019); and performed countless hours of community service and volunteer work. In the spring of 2019, LuChana’s dream that was deferred finally come true and graduated as UNLV REBEL!!!

Ms. Turner is very passionate about the community in which she lives and believes that effective communication is essential to building relationships of any kind. The study of communications has taught her how to appreciate cultural diversity and how to gather vital information to assist individuals, families, communities, and society at large. As a resourceful student, LuChana relied upon her creative abilities to generate ideas that lead desired outcomes and productivity. Her development of knowledge in research, technical skills, and artistic abilities has been acquired over the past 30 years. Ultimately, she believes by developing creative and innovative solutions for complex social, cultural, and behavioral issues within our society, will improve the well-being of individuals and assist those who are in need of basic services or life skills. As an educator, she is committed to changing the lives of the people she encounters in one way or another. Ms. Turner’s says it is her responsibility as a human servant to educate and empower fellow citizens and future generations by building relationships that promote safe, healthy, and productive communities.

Currently, she has the privilege of sitting in the position of Commissioner for the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority. In this role, Commissioner Turner advocates for the housing needs of residents and citizen of Southern Nevada; where she seeks to create and change policy that effects various populations of people. LuChana’s lifelong career as a manicurist made her realize that transforming individual’s lives happens by simply holding their hands.

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.

Tim Veenstra joined Nevada HAND in April 2020 as the Chief Operating Officer, bringing 20+ years of affordable housing experience to the organization. Tim recently served as Director of Asset Management at the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA), where he was responsible for the long-term performance of over 100,000 units, a loan portfolio of $1.2 billion, and rental assistance administration for 5,000 households. Prior to his tenure at IHDA, Tim spent 20 years working for the Chicago Housing Authority’s Plan for Transformation in a variety of positions, including Deputy Chief Housing Officer, leading a team of 77 employees that oversaw daily operations of 23,000 public housing units and contracts of $180 million annually with 1,050 contract employees. He also developed over 1,500 units of award-winning mixed-income housing, leading community-based working groups in a variety of diverse settings. Tim was a Graduate Fellow in the National Science Foundation’s Urban Poverty Program, where he studied trends in housing quality, material well-being, and educational outcomes, earning a Master of Arts degree in Human Development and Social Policy from Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Policy from the University of Chicago.

Arcelia Barajas serves as the Director of Neighborhood Services at the City of Las Vegas. She has over 15 years of experience working in the non-profit and government sectors in Las Vegas.  Arcelia has a passion to empower under-served individuals and communities by providing the tools and education they need to make positive transformations. She graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting, and a Master of Public Administration. Before working for the city of Las Vegas, Arcelia worked for the Clark County Department of Family Services and the American Lung Association.

Rick Damian has worked for the City of North Las Vegas for over 17 years. He began his career at the city in the Planning Department in 2007. During the foreclosure crises, he was selected to administer the Neighborhood Stabilization Program foreclosure prevention programs in 2008. In 2010, Rick administered housing related grants for 8 years managing new construction, down payment assistance and housing rehab programs before becoming the Manager of the Housing and Neighborhood Services Division. Rick’s passion for affordable housing and community development began in 1993 after leaving the Army. He administered HUD’s Real Estate Asset Management (REAM) contracts in Texas and in Puerto Rico for 4 years. In 1997, Rick spent two years rounding out his experience in new home construction in Nevada. In 1999, Rick worked for the Longmont Colorado Housing Authority managing the Section 8 and Public Housing programs and was a part of constructing Longmont’s first Section 202 supportive housing facility for the elderly. In 2002, Rick then went on to work as a housing specialist for the City of Longmont where he administered the city’s Inclusionary Zoning program where mandatory unit set a sides created hundreds of affordable home for the community. In 2006, Rick returned to Nevada where he began a brief career with Nevada HAND managing their growing affordable housing rental inventory before joining the City of North Las Vegas. Rick has two beautiful daughters, loves traveling and is an automotive enthusiast.

Eric Novak has over 35 years’ experience in housing and human services policy and affordable housing finance. Since founding Praxis in 2004, he has assisted non-profit, for-profit, and government organizations to develop and finance over 110 affordable housing developments totaling over 13,200 units and $2.3 billion in financing. Mr. Novak also provides technical assistance to public housing authorities in the areas of strategic planning, portfolio assessment, mixed-finance and RAD development and Choice Neighborhoods applications and implementation. He has a master’s degree in city planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, with a concentration in real estate finance and housing and human service policy. Mr. Novak is a founding member and Treasurer of the Nevada Housing Coalition.

Andrew Roether, AICP, has been a City Planner in Southern Nevada since 2005 and has been with the City of Henderson for over a decade. Roether has worked in both the private and public sectors. During his career in Planning, he has worked as an Environmental Planning consultant drafting Environmental Impact Studies for renewable energy projects in the desert Southwest, as a Regional Planner for the federal grant funded Southern Nevada Strong Regional Planning effort, managed the Long Range Planning Division at the City of Henderson and has worked in Current Planning for both Clark County (NV) and in his current role as Current Planning Manager for the City of Henderson. Roether received a Bachelors of Political Science from Eastern Michigan University with a focus on Public Law and Government and a Masters in City and Regional Planning from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo with a focus on Land Use Planning. Away from work, Roether enjoys spending time with his wife Lisa and daughter Gabby, traveling to visit family and friends, and playing golf.

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.

Dagny Stapleton is Clark County’s Community Housing Administrator. In that role she oversees the County’s Community Housing Office which administers the County’s new Welcome Home and Community Housing Fund initiatives, along with the County’s existing affordable housing programs including HOME. Prior to joining Clark County in January of 2022, Dagny was the Executive Director of the Nevada Association of Counties (NACO) where she worked for eight years advocating for Nevada’s Counties at the State Legislature and supporting county governments and county elected officials across Nevada. In addition to her work in public policy and local government, Dagny’s background also includes community development and affordable housing. Dagny has a master’s degree in Land Use Planning and Policy from the University of Nevada, Reno, and received her undergraduate degree from Columbia University.

Dr. Mae Worthey-Thomas oversees the state’s housing programs including weatherization, tax credits, and Housing and Urban Development entitlement grants. Prior to this position, Dr. Worthey-Thomas served as the Housing Division’s Affordable Housing Advocate and was the first to hold the position which was created by the Nevada Legislature in 2017. As the Housing Advocate, Dr. Worthey-Thomas collaborated with stakeholders statewide to advocate for improvements in Nevada’s affordable housing landscape. Dr. Worthey-Thomas has worked in Nevada state government for 15 years, previously working for the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation. Additionally, she is a former marketing, public relations professional and former journalist. She holds a Bachelor’s in Communications from the University of Alabama, a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Nevada Las Vegas and a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from the University of LaVerne.

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.

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.

- BBC, British Broadcasting Corporation, Set Designer
- The Bay. The Hudson’s Bay Company. Architect, Designer
- The Andrew C. Dennis Company Ltd. Vancouver B.C. Canada. President. Architect. Designer.
- Planned Business Environments Los Angeles California President.
- Retired to San Diego area. Invented what eventually turned into GigaCrete.
- Las Vegas Nevada. Hired to work on the design of New York, New York Hotel Casino as conceptual Architect/designer.
- Hired to work on Sunset Station Morris and Brown Architects.
- Paul Steelman Architects. Vice President, Director of Design.
- 2003-2005 R&D on new cements and building materials technologies.
- 2005-Present. Founder, Inventor, GigaCrete Inc.

William is the founder and President of Geopolymer International. He has over 42 years experience in construction specializing in concrete, structural iron, and crane operations. In 2015, as a licensed contractor, he started a new company “out-of-the-box construction.” William’s focuses on sustainable materials and commits to bringing new technologies compliant with standard certifications and permitting requirements. Currently he is working with geopolymers, 3D concrete printing, and modular housing to achieve his goals.

Arnold Stalk, PhD is the Principal of Stalk Consulting, a Las Vegas-based full-service firm specializing in “Start-To-Finish” planning, urban design, redevelopment, governmental relations and entitlements, real estate acquisitions, property management and property financing consulting projects. Originally from Southern California, Arnold began his career in 1977 with a master’s degree in Architecture from Southern California Institute of Architecture (Sci-Arc) and holds a PHD.

For more than four decades, he has been responsible for dozens of notable residential, industrial and commercial projects throughout the United States, Haiti and China in both the public and private sector. As a Professor of Architecture, he has taught and lectured at California State University, Northridge; Southern California Institute of Architecture; University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA); University of Southern California (USC); California Polytechnic University, Pomona; and University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Previously a licensed general contractor in the State of California and currently a licensed Real Estate agent, Property Manager (Nv. License #s.47012 ) and has served as an Expert Witness in the State of Nevada.
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He also has provided development and project consulting services for clients such as Wynn Resorts, KB Home, Starbuck’s, Car Max, Lend Lease Corp; Central Church, The University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), REMAX Corporate Center, City of Las Vegas, Nevada and The Guilin Riverwalk Redevelopment project, Guilin, China to mention a few.
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During his career, he has served as a board member for numerous non-profit organizations and formed his own non-profit SHARE in 1994 that is dedicated to the development of supportive housing nand services for our United States Veterans, low-income families and seniors.
As the founder of Veterans Village, SHARE’s flagship project he has developed an innovative and unique approach to the creation of comprehensive housing with intensive support services. His work has been recognized by numerous prestigious organizations and has been awarded with many honors including honors from First Lady Michelle Obama at the 2016 State of The Union for the creation of housing homeless Veterans and the National Daily Points of Light Award from the White House, President George H.W. Bush and President. George W. Bush in 2007. Other awards include Community Associations Institute’s “Ordinary People, Extraordinary Measures” award, was a nominee for the Volunteer Service Humanitarian Award for the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, Volunteer Center of Southern Nevada, received Community Partners for Better Health-Veterans Village US Veteran Services Award and was nominated for the “CNN Heroes” program.

Paolo Tiramani is an American industrial designer and billionaire who has over 155 US and European patents and patent filings. He has provocative thoughts on technology and the future. Currently, he is CEO and majority shareholder of BOXABL, the technology startup creating a comprehensive building system for the $13 trillion global construction industry.

William McCurdy grew up in a family surrounded by a legacy of community activism, but after dropping out of school to support his family at an early age, his life could have gone in a very different direction. However, William instead worked to get into the College of Southern Nevada where he earned an Associate's degree and became Student Body President. He eventually joined the Service Employees International Union, Local 1107 (SEIU) as an organizer, working his way up to become the state Political Director. Then, at 27 years old, he was elected Chairman of the Nevada State Democratic Party, the party's first African American Chair and the youngest Chair in modern party history. As Chair of the party he went on to become the Vice President of western states while serving as a member of the Association of State Democratic Committees. Passionate about education, William earned his Bachelor's degree from the University of Nevada Las Vegas and is on track to law school, all while serving as an active State Assemblyman, board member of several nonprofit and advocacy organizations, and was elected to the Clark County Commission in 2020. He is the proud father of two sons.

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.

Dr. Lisa Morris Hibbler is a vanguard leader, deeply committed to fostering positive change and tackling the issues that impact underserved communities. Her profound grasp of the challenges faced by numerous individuals and families drives her lifelong dedication to enhancing their lives through educational initiatives and community development projects. Her efforts aim to uplift and empower those around her, ensuring they have the support needed to thrive.With an impressive tenure of nearly 27 years at the City of Las Vegas, Nevada, Dr. Morris Hibbler has proven herself as a dedicated public servant and a strategic executive. Her roles have included ICMA Credentialed Deputy City Manager and Chief Community Services Officer, where she specialized in social equity, workforce development, and enhancing community capacity. Her leadership and expertise have left a significant mark on the community she serves.Currently, Dr. Morris Hibbler holds several influential positions: Executive Director of the Shaquille O’Neal Foundation, and Professor of Practice at UNLV. She is also the Co-Founder of JBM Strategic Partners consulting firm. Recognized for her impactful contributions, she has received multiple accolades, including the 2024 African American Trailblazer Impact Award,2021 Women to Watch by Nevada Business Magazine, and a 2021 Women Inspiring Nevada Honoree by Vegas Inc. In addition to her professional achievements, she values her roles as a wife and mother, continuing to lead and inspire with unwavering commitment to community improvement.

Karen Bennett-Haron served as Judge in the Las Vegas Justice Court from 2002 to her retirement in 2022. She was the first Black woman to serve, as Judge, in Nevada’s judicial system. As a sitting Judge, Bennett-Haron initiated legislation that established community courts to reduce recidivism and create alternative sentencing options for low level non-violent offenders. She was also instrumental in the implementation of the Initial Appearance Court, to address delays in pre-trial detention. Additionally, Bennett-Haron co-authored “Beyond School- to-Prison Pipeline and Toward an Educational and Penal Realism”, Equity & Excellence in
Education, October 2014.

Prior to serving as Judge, Bennett-Haron was General Counsel of the Las Vegas Housing Authority (now known as the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority). Bennett-Haron is a native of Las Vegas and a graduate of Hampton University and the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University.

Esmeralda’s career with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department started as an eighteen-year-old Police Cadet. As a recent high school graduate from Desert Pines High School, Esmeralda started down the path of being a civil servant at a young age due to the community involvement of the LVMPD and the outreach at local schools. She worked her way up the ranks and is currently the Bureau Commander for the Bolden Area Command. Her strong work ethic and determination led her to maintain this career for over 21 years. 

She has wide-ranging police experience with law enforcement operations, investigations, and administration. She promoted to patrol sergeant in 2014, but quickly used her investigative background to be one of three sergeants within the Special Investigations Section. In 2016, Esmeralda was one of the recipients of one of the highest awards within LVMPD, the Medal of Valor. In 2017, she was selected as the Sergeant over the Office of Internal Oversight within the Internal Oversight and Constitutional Policing Bureau. Due to her background and her resolve to continue to work towards excellence, Esmeralda used her time there to gain further insight into Use of Force, Vehicle Pursuits, policy reviews, and participated in focus groups to continuously improve the LVMPD. In 2020, she was part of the committee that worked with community members to rewrite the Use of Force Policy for LVMPD. 

Esmeralda has her Associates of Applied Criminal Justice from the College of Southern Nevada and her bachelor’s degree in Strategic Communications from Liberty University. As a leader and mentor within LVMPD, Esmeralda believes in accomplishing the mission, but always considers the human aspect of this career field. As part of her daily routine, she considers both the people she works alongside and the members of her community.

Esmeralda is a leader and mentor to many within LVMPD. She has helped many promote within the commissioned and civilian ranks, and values the people around her. She also speaks at different conferences helping other law enforcement groups by presenting the 1 October after action and use of force reforms. Esmeralda has achieved many of her personal and professional milestones while serving her community as a member of  LVMPD. Esmeralda is originally from Orange, California, but moved to Las Vegas in 1994. She and her husband Mychal have three children, Timothy, Emma, and Isabelle. As a family they enjoy ice skating, spending time with friends and family, and family game nights.

Patricia "Patty" Charlton, interim chancellor of the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) Board of Regents, is a distinguished leader with over 28 years of experience in Nevada's higher education landscape. A product of NSHE herself, Charlton holds degrees from the College of Southern Nevada and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Her extensive career at CSN, including key leadership roles, culminated in her retirement with the title of Emeritus in 2022.

In 2023, Charlton assumed the role of acting vice chancellor for academic & student affairs before being appointed interim chancellor of the Nevada System of Higher Education in August 2023. Beyond her administrative roles, Charlton is actively involved in community service, serving on boards and committees for organizations like the United Way of Southern Nevada and the Clark County School District. Her commitment extends to various community causes, including educational initiatives, youth development, and community advisory roles.

Throughout her career, Charlton's significant contributions to higher education, coupled with her expertise in policy development, financial acumen, and dedication to transparency and communication, have established her as a respected leader in the higher education sector.

Chef Jeff Henderson is an award-winning chef, New York Times bestselling author, philanthropist, television personality, and highly sought-after speaker. Known for his dynamic teachings and powerful story of personal transformation, Jeff illuminates audiences with proven, high-impact strategies that empower change, inspire fulfillment, and motivate others to live their best life.
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A California native, Jeff started his culinary career in the unlikeliest place: federal prison, where he discovered his untapped gift of cooking. After his release, he was hired as a dishwasher at a fine-dining restaurant in Beverly Hills and was quickly promoted to cook, working under the tutelage of his mentor, Chef Robert Gadsby. After leaving Chef Gadsby, Jeff went on to work at Coronado Island Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, Hotel Bel-Air, and L`Ermitage. In 2000, Jeff moved to Las Vegas and became the first African American Chef at Caesars Palace, The Hard Rock Hotel, and the Bellagio.
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In 2007, Harper Collins published Jeff's bestselling memoir Cooked, which led to an interview with Oprah Winfrey. Shortly after the interview aired, he made the New York Times Best Sellers list and Sony Pictures secured the rights to his story. Jeff left his post at Bellagio to promote his new book and star in a new docu-reality series on the Food Network, The Chef Jeff Project.
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In 2009, Jeff published his first cookbook, Chef Jeff Cooks with Simon & Schuster, followed by the America I AM Pass It Down Cookbook (Hay House/Smiley Books). In 2013, he published his first self-help book, If You Can See It, You Can Be It (Hay House/Smiley Books). In 2012, Jeff's
first cooking show, Beat The Chefs, premiered on the Game Show Network, followed by Family Style with Chef Jeff and Flip My Food.
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From incarcerated to world-renowned chef, Jeff's inspiring story of life transformation was featured on Oprah's Life Class, Good Morning America, Today Show, ABC World News Tonight, CNN, Fox News, and in major publications such as The New York Times, Newsweek, USA Today, People Magazine, the Washington Post, and many others.
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In 2020, Jeff founded The Chef Jeff Project, a nonprofit organization located in the heart of Las Vegas whose mission is to change lives through the power of food. The program offers culinary and leadership training for disadvantaged youth and adults to help prepare them for careers in the culinary and hospitality industry. Jeff resides with his wife, Stacy, and their five children in Las Vegas.

As Vice President of Investor Relations, Brooke manages investor recruitment and recognition efforts. In collaboration with Business Development teams she develops and implements the organization’s funding strategy in alignment with regional business attraction efforts. She specializes in relationship building, external relations, and strategic growth.   Brooke has always found passion in community building. Before joining the LVGEA team, she served as Director of Development for Housing for New Hope, where she secured partnerships with new businesses, individuals, and foundations. In prior positions at United Way and Habitat for Humanity, she had the pleasure of working with more than 400 companies, where she fostered relationships with local businesses, community partners, and national retailers to generate donations for the organization’s largest fundraising entity. She has also served on the board of the Urban Chamber of Commerce and was a member of United Way’s Young Philanthropist society.   Brooke graduated from Arizona State University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication/ Media Studies. When she’s not on the job, you can find Brooke trying out a new recipe, playing tennis, or traveling.

Dr. Ricardo Villalobos serves as the Chief Programs Officer for Workforce Connections, Southern Nevada’s Local Workforce Development Board, which oversees Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title I Adult, Dislocated Workers, and Youth Programs. In his role, he provides leadership and oversight for a variety of workforce development programs and initiatives aimed at connecting employers to a ready workforce.

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.

Jamie Giellis, founder/president of Centro, specializes in strategic and thoughtful (re)investment in neighborhoods. She works closely with community stakeholders and local governments to establish plans that address community needs and help emerging areas thrive economically, socially, and culturally. She also develop approaches to align public and private resources and supports the development of complex grant applications to Federal agencies to obtain and leverage funding for complex projects. Jamie has more than two decades of experience in this work. Notably, she has been working with the City of Las Vegas since 2018 supporting reinvestment in the Historic Westside, East Las Vegas, and the Las Vegas Arts District and has supported SNHRA in numerous grant applications. She’s served more than 60 communities across the U.S. as well as extensive work in Singapore and the UK.

Steve Aichroth currently serves as the Administrator for the Nevada Housing Division. He had previously served as the Administrator of the Manufactured Housing Division until the agency was merged with the Nevada Housing Division during the 2017 Legislative Session. After the merger, Steve served as the Deputy Administrator of the newly combined agencies. Prior to serving as the Manufactured Housing Division Administrator, he was the Chief of Administration at the Nevada Housing Division. Steve has also served as a Commissioner at the State of Nevada Commission for Common Interest Communities. Before entering public service, he spent the bulk of his career managing and running private sector business in Nevada. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Design from San Jose State University.

Nancy Brune, Ph.D. currently serves on the Las Vegas City Council (Ward 6) and is a research professor at Desert Research Institute. Previously, she founded and led the Guinn Center, Nevada’s only bipartisan policy center, where she researched issues of housing, education, workforce development, economic development, and tax policy. A social entrepreneur and policy expert, Nancy has authored over 100 publications and was a regular contributor to The Nevada Independent.  Nancy received her Ph.D. from Yale University and her Master’s in Public Policy and Bachelor’s degree from Harvard University. Nancy serves on the Southern Nevada Housing Authority, the Southern Nevada Health District, and the Nevada Commission on School Funding.

During his 16 years as a public school teacher, Scott always worked very closely with administrators, parents and students. He created a workforce council with the purpose of bringing in community stakeholders. This council worked on the problems plaguing the workforce pipeline, then set out to overcome those obstacles in order to open the pipeline to fulfilling careers.

Scott has actively built relationships during his time on the Nevada State Senate with education stakeholders from businesses, to nonprofits, to parents and community members. Scott is very familiar with education reform efforts and has working relationships with many of the education reform think tanks who are actively promoting the charter school movement.

Hilary Lopez, Ph.D., is the Executive Director for the City of Reno Housing Authority (RHA), in Reno, Nevada. In this role, Dr. Lopez oversees RHA’s public and affordable housing, rental assistance vouchers, and resident service programs. Prior to joining RHA in 2022, Dr. Lopez worked as the Senior Associate at Praxis Consulting Group assisting clients to structure and assemble public and private financing for affordable housing developments. She has successfully closed financing on projects utilizing 4% and 9% low income housing tax credits, tax-exempt bonds, Federal Home Loan Bank affordable housing program funds, HOME Investment Partnerships program funds, state and national housing trust funds, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s rental assistance demonstration program, and conventional sources. Additionally, Hilary previously served as the Chief of Housing Programs for the State of Nevada housing division. In this role, Dr. Lopez administered the state’s low income housing tax credit program and served as lead underwriter for multi-family projects. Her team was responsible for regulatory compliance of over 25,000 units located in assisted properties throughout Nevada. She holds a master’s degree in applied economics from the University of Nevada, Reno, and a doctorate in geography, with a concentration in urban geography and planning, from the University of Denver.

Maurice Page is the Executive Director of the Nevada Housing Coalition. Maurice is a solutions-oriented  and visionary leader, with an undying passion for community service and civic engagement. 

Maurice brings with him 20 years of invaluable experience and a deep understanding of both the  challenges and opportunities within the housing and homelessness sectors, having dedicated 14 years to  transformative work in these areas. His extensive experience includes overseeing multifaceted programs  funded by federal, state, local, and foundational grants with annual budgets exceeding $2.5 million. He  has a proven track record in fostering collaborations with public agencies and various stakeholders to  instigate systems change aimed at preventing and eradicating homelessness.

Maurice’s hands-on experience encompasses managing a spectrum of housing solutions and programs  sanctioned by the Department of Housing and Urban Development Continuum of Care. These include  permanent supportive housing, rapid rehousing, transitional housing, and emergency sheltering, all  aimed at providing relief to vulnerable individuals and families grappling with homelessness. Maurice is not only a seasoned professional in his field but also a well-rounded academic. He holds a  Bachelor of Science in Business Management – Entrepreneurship and a Master’s degree in Adult  Education and Leadership.

Maurice’s dedication and lifelong commitment to serving communities illustrate his unwavering belief in  the transformative power of civic engagement and community service.

Marcie is the Regional Public Housing Director for Regions IX & X, where she is responsible for the management and oversight of six (6) Field Offices that work in partnership with local Public Housing Agencies located throughout the region. She began her career at HUD in 2014 as the Director of the Los Angeles Office of Public Housing, where she had the opportunity to partner with Public Housing Agencies to advance HUD’s mission to provide decent, safe, and sanitary housing for families in Southern California.
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Prior to HUD, Marcie enjoyed a long career at the Housing Authority of the County of Los Angeles. During her time at HACoLA, now known as the Los Angeles County Development Authority (LACDA), she achieved numerous management roles in its Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher programs. Marcie is a founding member of the California Association of Housing Authorities (CAHA), where she served as Vice President, in addition to various leadership roles within the Southern California chapter. Marcie also was a Board member of the Pacific Southwest Regional Chapter of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) and served on the NAHRO National Board of Governors.

Born and raised in East Los Angeles, Marcie holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Chicano Studies from the University of California, Berkeley, and a master’s degree in Sociology from the University of California, Santa Barbara.