Shelley Berkley has dedicated more than four decades to serving Nevada through public service, higher education, and healthcare. Elected Mayor of Las Vegas in 2024, she leads the city's efforts to strengthen economic development, public safety, and quality of life while working closely with businesses, educational institutions, and community partners.

Before becoming mayor, she served as senior vice president of the Touro University system and CEO and Senior Provost of Touro University Western Division. Earlier in her career, she represented Nevada in the U.S. House of Representatives for seven terms, where she advocated for healthcare, veterans, transportation, and small business. One of her most significant accomplishments was helping secure Southern Nevada's Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Mayor Berkley's public service began in the Nevada Legislature, where she authored landmark consumer protection legislation, including Nevada's Lemon Law. She later served on the Nevada Board of Regents, helping guide the state's higher education system.

Throughout her career, Mayor Berkley has remained committed to improving healthcare, expanding educational opportunities, and strengthening the Las Vegas community through public service and regional collaboration.

Pamela Goynes-Brown has dedicated her career to serving North Las Vegas through education, public service, and community leadership. Elected Mayor in 2022, she became the first Black mayor in Nevada's history after more than a decade serving as Ward 2 Councilwoman and two terms as Mayor Pro Tem.

A resident of North Las Vegas since 1964, Mayor Goynes-Brown spent 35 years with the Clark County School District, retiring as an assistant principal before entering elected office. Her background in education continues to shape her approach to leadership, with a focus on investing in people, strengthening neighborhoods, and creating opportunities for future generations.

As mayor, she works to support economic development, public safety, infrastructure, and responsible growth while collaborating with regional partners to help North Las Vegas continue its transformation into one of Southern Nevada's fastest-growing cities.

Mayor Goynes-Brown's leadership reflects a lifelong commitment to public service and a belief that strong communities are built through education, collaboration, and opportunity.

Michelle Romero has dedicated more than two decades to serving the Henderson community through local government and public service. As Mayor of Henderson, she leads one of Nevada's fastest-growing cities, focusing on economic development, public safety, infrastructure, and maintaining Henderson's high quality of life.

Before being elected mayor in 2022, Michelle served on the Henderson City Council, where she worked on initiatives supporting business growth, neighborhood revitalization, parks, public safety, and community services. Her leadership has emphasized long-term planning, fiscal responsibility, and thoughtful growth as Henderson continues to expand.

Michelle believes strong communities are built through collaboration. She works closely with businesses, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and regional partners to create opportunities that benefit residents while strengthening Southern Nevada's economy.

Her leadership reflects a commitment to public service, community partnerships, and building a city where future generations can live, work, and thrive.

Building partnerships that create opportunity

Jaime Cruz serves as Executive Director of Workforce Connections, Southern Nevada's Local Workforce Development Board. Since becoming Executive Director in 2017, he has led efforts to strengthen partnerships among employers, educators, workforce providers, and community organizations to help more Southern Nevadans access meaningful careers.

Jaime's own journey reflects the opportunities workforce development can create. After immigrating from Peru in 1987 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, he began his career in the United States as a dishwasher while learning English. Through persistence and continuous learning, he returned to engineering, led sustainability initiatives for major Las Vegas resort companies, and later transitioned to public service.

Before joining Workforce Connections, Jaime managed energy and sustainability projects for MGM Resorts International, including the planning and implementation of the energy management and building automation systems at CityCenter, which was the world's largest LEED Gold-certified complex at the time.

Throughout his career, Jaime has believed that economic opportunity begins with people. He builds partnerships that create opportunity, connecting employers, educators, workforce organizations, and community leaders to strengthen Southern Nevada's workforce and economy. His leadership reflects a belief that lasting solutions are achieved through collaboration, shared purpose, and investing in people.

Convening Leaders and Connecting Business at the Las Vegas Civic Center

Southern Nevada’s continued economic development depends on a strong talent pipeline aligned with the needs of local employers.

As President & CEO of the Vegas Chamber, and a board member of both Workforce Connections and Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance (LVGEA), Mary Beth Sewald helps ensure the voice of employers is part of conversations around workforce, education, and regional growth.

I recently photographed Mary Beth as part of “Building an Ecosystem that Responds to Employer Needs,” a Leadership Portrait Series project highlighting leaders working together to strengthen Southern Nevada’s workforce and economic future.

Regional growth happens when employers, workforce development, education, and economic development stay aligned.
Thank you, Mary Beth, for your leadership and continued support of meaningful regional collaboration.

At the Intersection of Justice, Education, Leadership, and Legacy

A lifelong Las Vegas resident, Judge Harmony Letizia has dedicated her career to serving Southern Nevada through justice, education, and community leadership. She earned a degree in Political Science from the University of Arizona before receiving her Juris Doctor, with a concentration in Litigation, from Cooley Law School.

Before joining the bench, Judge Letizia served as a Chief Deputy Public Defender for Clark County and was recognized by Nevada Business Magazine as one of Nevada's Legal Elite Top 25 Government Attorneys.

Elected Justice of the Peace in 2016, she oversees criminal matters and leads the Veterans Treatment Court, a nationally recognized specialty court that helps veterans address challenges related to their military service through treatment, accountability, and community support.

Beyond the courtroom, Judge Letizia serves on several judicial leadership committees and is Chair of The Meadows School Board, helping guide one of Southern Nevada's leading independent schools. Her work reflects a commitment to justice, education, and strengthening the community she has called home her entire life.

Chris Sewell leads the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR), overseeing the state's workforce system, unemployment insurance, vocational rehabilitation, labor market information, and employment services. His leadership focuses on helping Nevadans prepare for meaningful careers while supporting employers across the state.

Before joining DETR, Chris built a career in law enforcement and public service. That experience shaped his practical approach to leadership and reinforced his belief that strong teams, trusted partnerships, and continuous learning are essential to solving complex challenges.

Under Chris's leadership, DETR has strengthened collaboration with Nevada's local workforce boards, educational institutions, and employers to better connect workforce training with industry needs. He believes Nevada's future depends on preparing people for careers in advanced manufacturing, technology, logistics, healthcare, and other growing industries while expanding opportunities through industry-recognized credentials and lifelong learning.

Chris often encourages young people to stay curious, continue learning, seek mentors, and never be afraid to change direction. His leadership reflects a commitment to helping individuals build better careers while strengthening Nevada's workforce and economy.

Building Community Through Business Leadership

Scott Muelrath has spent more than two decades helping strengthen Southern Nevada's business community. As President and CEO of the Henderson Chamber of Commerce, he has guided one of the region's fastest-growing chambers, expanding membership from approximately 600 to more than 2,200 businesses while supporting workforce development, economic opportunity, and small business growth.

Before joining the chamber, Scott worked in commercial real estate and helped manage major development projects, including the Galleria at Sunset, Las Vegas City Hall, and Town Square. The Great Recession gave him firsthand experience working alongside hundreds of businesses during one of the region's most challenging economic periods.

Under Scott's leadership, the Henderson Chamber launched initiatives including Nevada's longest-running chamber business incubator and helped pioneer the Clark County Health Plan Association, providing thousands of small businesses and their employees access to affordable healthcare.

Looking ahead, Scott sees Henderson's future driven by advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and continued economic diversification. Throughout his career, he has remained focused on helping businesses succeed by building strong partnerships and investing in the long-term growth of Southern Nevada.

Scott's work reflects a long-standing commitment to strengthening Southern Nevada's business community through collaboration, economic development, and support for entrepreneurs.

Leading Healthcare with Compassion

Mitch Cloward leads Intermountain Health across Nevada and Southern Utah, helping guide one of Southern Nevada's most significant healthcare initiatives: Nevada's first standalone comprehensive children's hospital.

His healthcare journey began far from the executive office. While attending college, Mitch worked as a hospital housekeeper in a trauma intensive care unit. The experience taught him that every role matters and that people working behind the scenes deserve to be seen and valued. Before leaving that job, he made two promises to himself: to become a hospital CEO and to never forget the people whose work often goes unnoticed.

Over the next three decades, Mitch built experience across healthcare operations, physician groups, insurance, and hospital leadership before becoming Regional President.

Today, he is focused on expanding healthcare access, strengthening the workforce pipeline, and building specialized pediatric care so Nevada families no longer need to leave the state for treatment. He believes the future of healthcare depends on strong partnerships between providers, educators, and workforce organizations.

Throughout his career, Mitch has led with a simple belief: healthcare is about people. Technology and medicine save lives, but compassion, encouragement, and human connection remain at the heart of healing.

Sandra Douglass Morgan serves as President of the Las Vegas Raiders, leading one of the NFL's most recognized franchises while helping strengthen its connection to Southern Nevada.

A Las Vegas native, Sandra earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Nevada, Reno and her law degree from the William S. Boyd School of Law at UNLV. Throughout her career, she has held leadership roles across public service, private practice, gaming regulation, and professional sports, including serving as Chair of the Nevada Gaming Control Board.

As President of the Raiders, Sandra has focused on building a strong organizational culture, modernizing operations, and deepening the team's commitment to the community. She believes lasting success comes from investing in people, creating opportunities for employees to thrive, and ensuring the Raiders are an active partner in Southern Nevada.

Sandra often encourages young leaders to believe in themselves, embrace new challenges, and build a reputation through integrity, preparation, and how they treat others. She believes leadership is rooted in relationships, service, and creating opportunities for others to succeed.

Jhone Ebert serves as Superintendent of the Clark County School District, the fifth-largest school district in the United States. A lifelong educator, she has dedicated more than three decades to expanding opportunities for students and preparing them for success beyond graduation.

Her career began as a mathematics teacher before advancing through leadership roles in curriculum, technology, innovation, and school administration. She later served as Nevada's Superintendent of Public Instruction before returning to Southern Nevada to lead Clark County School District.

Jhone believes every student should graduate ready to build a career, a life, and a future. Under her leadership, CCSD continues to expand career and technical education, dual-credit opportunities, magnet programs, and partnerships with higher education, employers, and workforce organizations to better connect learning with real-world opportunities.

A strong advocate for collaboration, Jhone works closely with business, education, government, and community partners to strengthen Southern Nevada's talent pipeline. Her leadership reflects a belief that preparing the next generation is a shared responsibility, and that the success of students is essential to the future of Nevada. 

Hector Fernandez leads IGT, one of the world's leading gaming technology companies. As CEO, he is guiding the company's transformation with a focus on culture, innovation, disciplined execution, and long-term growth.

Born in Guatemala and raised in Southern California, Hector built his career in the gaming industry through a combination of analytical thinking, curiosity, and a willingness to embrace new challenges. Before joining IGT, he held executive leadership roles at Aristocrat and other global gaming companies.

When he became CEO of IGT, Hector introduced a simple leadership framework centered on culture, capabilities, content, commercialization, and cash flow. He believes that organizations succeed when people understand a clear vision, work toward shared goals, and execute consistently.

Hector also sees technology as a tool to amplify human potential. While embracing artificial intelligence and innovation, he believes lasting success still depends on creativity, collaboration, and people working together to solve meaningful problems.

Beyond business, Hector serves on the board of the Alzheimer's Association and is committed to improving education, healthcare, and quality of life in Nevada. His leadership reflects a belief that success is built through purpose, resilience, and investing in people.

Peter Guzman has spent more than a decade leading the Latin Chamber of Commerce while helping strengthen Southern Nevada's small business community through advocacy, partnerships, and public policy. As President of the Latin Chamber, he has helped transform the organization into one of Nevada's most influential business voices, representing entrepreneurs while expanding its role in workforce development, education, and economic growth.

A lifelong Las Vegas resident, Peter grew up on the city's east side after his family immigrated from Cuba. Before leading one of Nevada's largest chambers of commerce, he built a successful career in real estate, completing more than $700 million in sales.

Peter's path to chamber leadership began as a volunteer and board member under the mentorship of Otto Merida, the chamber's longtime president. Today, he often credits Otto for opening doors for generations of Hispanic business leaders and believes every leader has a responsibility to create opportunities for those who follow.

Under Peter's leadership, the Latin Chamber has expanded its influence statewide while remaining focused on its core mission: helping small businesses succeed. He also serves on numerous community boards, including Workforce Connections and the Public Education Foundation, where he works to strengthen connections between education, workforce development, and economic opportunity.

Peter is known for moving ideas into action. He believes collaboration is essential, but only when it leads to results. His approach is grounded in a simple principle: focus on policy over politics, solve real problems, and create opportunities that help businesses, families, and communities thrive.