Executive portraits and professional stories of leaders connecting Nevada to industries, institutions, and opportunities across the United States and around the world.
By Kim Dung Ho | Las Vegas, Nevada | November 2026
Nevada has become home to an influential community of business and institutional leaders whose careers, organizations, and professional responsibilities extend across the United States and around the world.
Beyond its international reputation for tourism, gaming, and entertainment, Southern Nevada is connected to major corporations, professional sports franchises, national financial institutions, healthcare systems, energy infrastructure, advanced technologies, manufacturing, and scientific research.
These connections are reflected in the people who lead businesses and institutions from Nevada, as well as those whose careers have taken them from the state into positions of national and international responsibility.
Some oversee global enterprises headquartered in Las Vegas. Others direct multistate operations, lead divisions of national organizations, develop international business ventures, or contribute expertise to industries with worldwide significance.
This editorial collection explores their professional journeys, leadership responsibilities, and contributions to the industries they serve.
Through original executive portraits and biographical profiles, it offers a perspective on the individuals connecting Nevada to the broader American and global economy.
Gaming, Hospitality & Global Entertainment
Nevada's gaming and hospitality industries have developed international connections through technology, resort development, corporate expansion, and professional expertise.
Executives working in these industries influence businesses and markets extending far beyond the Las Vegas Strip.
Hector Fernandez — Chief Executive Officer, IGT
Global Gaming Technology and Financial Technology
Hector Fernandez leads IGT, a global gaming technology company headquartered in Las Vegas.
He became CEO in December 2025, following the combination of IGT's gaming and digital businesses with Everi Holdings under Apollo-managed ownership. The combined enterprise provides gaming technology, digital entertainment, and financial technology solutions to customers across international markets.
Before joining IGT, Fernandez served as CEO of Aristocrat Gaming, overseeing its global land-based gaming business across more than 300 gaming jurisdictions.
His earlier career included senior executive positions with Deloitte, Procter & Gamble, Amgen, and Western Digital.
Fernandez holds an MBA in Finance and Marketing from the University of Southern California and a bachelor's degree in Economics from Claremont McKenna College.
Originally from Guatemala, he brings international experience and bilingual leadership to one of Las Vegas's most globally connected industries.
His career demonstrates how gaming has evolved into a technology-driven enterprise with operations, customers, and professional relationships extending far beyond Nevada.
Diana Bennett — Chairwoman and Co-founder, Paragon Gaming
International Gaming, Hospitality Development, and Philanthropy
Diana Bennett is Chairwoman and Co-founder of Paragon Gaming, a Las Vegas-based gaming development and management company with a history of projects in the United States and Canada.
A second-generation casino executive, Bennett grew up within Nevada's gaming industry and developed extensive experience in casino operations and hospitality management.
Her career included leadership responsibilities at Circus Circus Enterprises, where she participated in the development and operation of landmark Las Vegas properties, including Excalibur Hotel and Casino and Luxor Las Vegas.
She later co-founded Paragon Gaming with Scott Menke, helping expand the company's activities into international gaming development.
Paragon's portfolio has included gaming and hospitality properties in British Columbia, Alberta, Nevada, and other Western markets.
In 2017, Bennett was inducted into the American Gaming Hall of Fame in recognition of her contributions to the industry.
Beyond her business career, she serves as President of the Bennett Family Foundation, supporting organizations focused on education, healthcare, and the well-being of women and children.
Her professional legacy combines gaming entrepreneurship, international hospitality development, and sustained community philanthropy.
Elizabeth Blau — Founder and CEO, Blau + Associates
Global Hospitality, Restaurant Development, and Culinary Entrepreneurship
Elizabeth Blau is the Founder and CEO of Blau + Associates, a Las Vegas-based hospitality consulting and restaurant development firm with projects across the United States and internationally.
Recognized for her role in transforming Las Vegas into a major culinary destination, Blau has spent decades developing restaurant concepts, hospitality experiences, and partnerships with prominent chefs and resort operators.
A graduate of Georgetown University, she earned a master's degree from Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration.
Her career includes working with renowned restaurateur Sirio Maccioni and collaborating with Steve Wynn on restaurant development at major Las Vegas resort properties.
At Wynn Las Vegas, she helped oversee the planning, development, and promotion of 22 restaurant concepts, contributing to the city's growing reputation for fine dining and chef-driven hospitality.
Through Blau + Associates, she has worked on restaurants and hospitality developments in Las Vegas, Vancouver, Dallas, and other markets.
Her projects include Honey Salt in Las Vegas and Vancouver, Buddy V's Ristorante in Las Vegas, and Crown Block at Reunion Tower in Dallas.
In January 2026, Blau was named a James Beard Award semifinalist for Outstanding Restaurateur, recognizing her continued contributions to the hospitality industry.
She has also received the Cornell Hospitality Innovator Award and the Culinary Institute of America's 2025 Augie Award.
Blau's career demonstrates how hospitality expertise developed in Las Vegas can influence restaurant concepts, guest experiences, and culinary businesses across international markets.
Paul Anderson — Senior Vice President of Industry and Government Affairs, Boyd Gaming
Gaming, Public Policy, and Corporate Affairs
Paul Anderson serves as Senior Vice President of Industry and Government Affairs for Boyd Gaming, a casino entertainment company operating across multiple states.
His responsibilities include overseeing government relations initiatives affecting the company's national operations.
Before joining Boyd Gaming in 2019, Anderson had an extensive career in Nevada government, business, and economic development.
He served in the Nevada State Assembly, including as Assembly Majority Leader and Chair of the Ways and Means Committee.
He subsequently became Executive Director of the Nevada Governor's Office of Economic Development.
Earlier in his career, Anderson established an information technology services company serving clients across the western United States.
His combination of legislative, entrepreneurial, and corporate experience provides a perspective on the relationship between public policy and private enterprise.
At Boyd Gaming, his work connects Nevada's gaming industry with regulatory and government affairs across multiple jurisdictions.
Professional Sports & National Business
The arrival and growth of major professional sports organizations have strengthened Nevada's connections to national media, corporate sponsorships, financial markets, and the broader entertainment economy.
Leadership within these organizations involves responsibilities reaching audiences, business partners, and institutions throughout the country.
Sandra Douglass Morgan — President, Las Vegas Raiders
Professional Sports and Corporate Leadership
Sandra Douglass Morgan became President of the Las Vegas Raiders in July 2022, making history as the first Black woman to serve as president of an NFL franchise.
A native Las Vegan, Morgan has more than two decades of experience spanning law, government regulation, gaming, and corporate leadership.
Before joining the Raiders, she served as Chairwoman of the Nevada Gaming Control Board, where she oversaw regulatory responsibilities involving one of the state's most prominent industries.
Her earlier positions included City Attorney for North Las Vegas and leadership roles within Nevada's gaming and hospitality sectors.
As president of the Raiders, Morgan oversees the franchise's business operations within the National Football League.
The Raiders operate on a national platform encompassing broadcasting, sponsorships, professional sports partnerships, and community engagement.
Morgan's journey from Nevada public service to NFL executive leadership illustrates how experience developed within state institutions can translate into responsibilities on a national stage.
Michael Crome — Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Las Vegas Raiders
Professional Sports Finance and Stadium Operations
Michael Crome serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Las Vegas Raiders, with financial leadership responsibilities involving the NFL franchise and Allegiant Stadium.
His role encompasses financial management, strategic planning, and organizational operations within a nationally recognized professional sports business.
Allegiant Stadium is an important venue for major sporting events, concerts, and entertainment productions, connecting Las Vegas to audiences and commercial partners throughout the country.
Crome earned a bachelor's degree in Accounting from the University of Akron and an MBA from the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business.
Beyond his executive responsibilities, he has participated in community organizations and educational initiatives in Southern Nevada.
His work demonstrates the financial and operational complexity supporting professional sports, where local facilities and organizations participate in national business and entertainment networks.
Healthcare Leadership & Regional Health Systems
Healthcare connects Nevada with national insurance networks, multistate hospital systems, medical research, and the delivery of essential services across communities.
Leaders in this field navigate complex relationships among healthcare providers, insurers, government programs, employees, and patients.
Eric Schmacker — President and CEO, Health Net
Healthcare Insurance and Hospital Administration
Eric Schmacker's career spans military service, hospital operations, managed healthcare, and executive leadership.
In August 2026, he was appointed President and CEO of Health Net, a California-based health plan and subsidiary of Centene Corporation.
Before this appointment, Schmacker served as President and CEO of SilverSummit Healthplan in Nevada, placing him among the executives helping guide the state's healthcare insurance industry.
His professional background includes 21 years of service in the U.S. Army, where he worked as a Black Hawk helicopter pilot and later as a Medical Service Corps officer.
He subsequently held executive leadership positions within Tenet Healthcare's Baptist Health System in Texas, including CEO of St. Luke's Baptist Hospital, CEO of Mission Trail Baptist Hospital, and COO of North Central Baptist Hospital.
Schmacker graduated from West Point with a degree in Systems Engineering, earned a Master of Healthcare Administration from Baylor University, and completed a Ph.D. in Health Services Research, Management, and Policy at the University of Florida.
His transition from SilverSummit in Nevada to Health Net in California illustrates how experience leading regional healthcare organizations can contribute to responsibilities across a larger healthcare system.
Mitch Cloward — President, Desert Region, Intermountain Health
Healthcare Systems, Hospital Operations, and Regional Healthcare Development
Mitch Cloward serves as President of Intermountain Health's Desert Region, overseeing healthcare operations across Southern Nevada and Southwest Utah.
Appointed to the regional position in July 2023, Cloward brought more than two decades of experience with Intermountain Health, including leadership roles in hospital administration, physician practice management, insurance, and healthcare operations.
His career began in healthcare as a hospital intensive care unit housekeeper. He subsequently advanced into management, eventually serving as President of St. George Regional Hospital before assuming responsibility for the broader Desert Region.
One of the major initiatives associated with his regional leadership is the development of Nevada's first standalone children's hospital, intended to expand access to specialized pediatric care for families in Southern Nevada.
Cloward holds a Master of Healthcare Administration from Texas Woman's University and has participated in educational and community organizations throughout the region.
His career illustrates how healthcare leadership across state boundaries can help connect hospital systems, medical professionals, and growing communities.
Energy, Infrastructure & Environmental Services
Nevada's economic growth depends on essential infrastructure that connects communities, businesses, and industries across the American West.
Electricity, natural gas, environmental services, and large-scale operations require leaders capable of managing complex systems, regulatory environments, and multistate organizations.
Justin Brown — President and CEO, Southwest Gas Holdings
Multistate Energy and Utility Infrastructure
Justin Brown became President and CEO of Southwest Gas Holdings and Southwest Gas Corporation in May 2026.
Southwest Gas provides natural gas service across Nevada, Arizona, and California, making the company an important part of the region's residential, commercial, and industrial infrastructure.
Brown joined Southwest Gas in 2004 and advanced through senior positions involving legal affairs, regulatory strategy, pricing, and executive management.
He served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel before becoming President of Southwest Gas Corporation in 2022.
His professional background also includes experience in public accounting, commercial litigation, and electric utility matters.
With more than two decades in the utility industry, Brown oversees an organization operating across multiple state regulatory environments.
His responsibilities connect Nevada to the broader energy needs of the American Southwest, where infrastructure investment, reliability, economic development, and population growth remain closely interconnected.
Brandon Barkhuff — President and CEO, NV Energy
Electric Utilities and Regional Energy Infrastructure
Brandon Barkhuff leads NV Energy, the principal electricity provider serving communities throughout Nevada.
He became President and CEO in May 2025 after holding senior leadership positions involving legal affairs, compliance, customer service, and corporate operations.
A Las Vegas native, Barkhuff began his professional career in commercial litigation before joining NV Energy in 2011.
His subsequent responsibilities included environmental compliance, energy efficiency, customer programs, and organizational leadership.
NV Energy operates within Berkshire Hathaway Energy's broader portfolio of energy businesses.
Although its primary service territory is Nevada, the company's work intersects with regional electricity markets, transmission systems, renewable energy development, and the increasing power demands of technology-intensive industries.
Barkhuff's leadership connects essential Nevada infrastructure to the wider challenges facing energy providers throughout the western United States.
Bryant Thornton — Area President, Mountain West Area, Republic Services
Environmental Services and Multistate Operations
Bryant Thornton serves as Area President for Republic Services' Mountain West Area, with responsibilities covering Nevada and portions of Utah, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming.
Republic Services is one of the nation's major environmental services companies, providing waste collection, recycling, and related services to residential, commercial, and industrial customers.
Thornton has full profit-and-loss responsibility for his operating area, overseeing functions such as operations, finance, pricing, safety, human resources, and business development.
His career began in 1997 as a residential driver in the waste management industry.
Through successive management positions, he developed extensive operational experience before joining Republic Services in 2009.
Alongside his corporate responsibilities, Thornton participates in Southern Nevada's business and community organizations, including economic development and chamber leadership.
His career illustrates a form of executive leadership developed through direct industry experience, with responsibilities now extending across much of the Mountain West.
Manufacturing, Aerospace & Scientific Research
Beyond Nevada's established industries, leaders in advanced manufacturing, aerospace, and research connect the state to emerging technologies and international scientific networks.
Their work reflects the growing importance of specialized knowledge, innovation, and industrial capabilities in Nevada's economic development.
Tom Power — Chief Operating Officer, Star Gold Corp.; Former CEO, Sunshine Minting
Precious Metals, International Manufacturing, and Mining
Tom Power has spent more than three decades building a career in precious metals, minting, and industrial manufacturing.
He joined Sunshine Minting in 1997 after working for Johnson Matthey in Canada and acquired full ownership of the company in 2007.
As President and CEO, Power transformed Sunshine Minting from a regional supplier with approximately 30 employees into a multinational manufacturing enterprise serving major financial institutions, sovereign mints, and precious metals businesses.
The company developed operations in the United States and China, with its Henderson, Nevada facility becoming an important part of its international manufacturing network.
Following Sunshine Minting's acquisition by Gold.com in 2026, Power transitioned from the CEO position to serving as a special advisor to the company's executive team.
In October 2026, he was appointed Chief Operating Officer of Star Gold Corporation, bringing his manufacturing and precious metals experience to a Nevada-focused mining development company.
His career illustrates how an industrial business with roots in Southern Nevada can develop international operations and serve customers across global markets.
Blair Bigelow May — Co-founder and CEO, Selene Space Corporation
Aerospace, Space Technology, and Strategic Investment
Blair Bigelow May is an aerospace entrepreneur, investor, and strategic leader working at the intersection of commercial spaceflight, defense technology, and national space policy.
As Co-founder and CEO of Selene Space Corporation, May focuses on the development of next-generation space infrastructure, including commercial space stations and lunar surface systems.
Her career includes five years as Vice President of Corporate Strategy at Bigelow Aerospace, the Las Vegas-based company known for pioneering expandable space habitat technology.
During her tenure, she contributed to commercial and government space programs, strategic partnerships, and efforts to advance the commercial space economy.
May has also served on the board of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation, including as Chair of its Space Commerce Committee, participating in discussions surrounding commercial space policy and government-industry partnerships.
Through Selene Ventures, a Las Vegas-based investment firm she co-founded, she supports businesses working in aerospace, defense, and other strategically important technologies.
Her professional work extends into national aerospace policy. In 2026, she submitted testimony to the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation concerning NASA leadership and the future of American space infrastructure.
May's career reflects Nevada's connection to an industry whose ambitions extend well beyond Earth, combining entrepreneurship, emerging technology, investment, and the development of commercial space capabilities.
Dr. Kumud Acharya — President, Desert Research Institute
Environmental Science and International Research
Dr. Kumud Acharya serves as President of the Desert Research Institute (DRI), a Nevada-based scientific research institution with national and international collaborations.
He became DRI's permanent president in September 2020 after serving as interim president.
Under his leadership, the institute supports more than 600 scientists, engineers, students, and research professionals working across atmospheric science, hydrology, environmental research, and ecosystem studies.
Acharya is an ecological engineer whose research has addressed water quality, aquatic ecosystems, environmental restoration, and invasive species.
He has published more than 100 peer-reviewed scientific papers.
His leadership priorities include research involving drought, wildfire, extreme weather, climate modeling, and STEM education.
In 2024, DRI conducted more than $65 million in sponsored research.
Acharya's work represents a form of international influence based on scientific knowledge.
Research developed in Nevada can contribute to understanding water resources, climate challenges, and environmental conditions affecting communities throughout the world.
Finance, Investment & Business Development
Nevada's connections to the national economy are also reflected in banking, real estate development, and businesses that have expanded across multiple states.
These leaders contribute to the financing, development, and operation of enterprises that connect Nevada with broader commercial markets.
Ivan Ferraz — Head of Nevada Commercial Banking, Wells Fargo
Commercial Banking and Financial Services
Ivan Ferraz is a Senior Vice President and the Nevada commercial banking market executive for Wells Fargo.
Based in Las Vegas, he leads banking teams serving middle-market businesses and large corporate clients throughout Nevada.
Ferraz has more than 25 years of experience in commercial banking, including approximately two decades with Wells Fargo.
His professional background includes corporate banking relationships, trade services, investor real estate, and commercial finance.
In 2025, he was elected Chair of the Nevada Bankers Association's Board of Directors for the 2025–2026 term.
Although his direct responsibilities are concentrated in Nevada, Ferraz operates within Wells Fargo's national financial network.
His work connects Nevada businesses with commercial banking capabilities, financing resources, and institutional relationships that extend beyond the state.
Commercial banking leadership plays an important role in helping companies expand, invest, and navigate changing economic conditions.
Jose Bustamante — President, Nevada Region, Howard Hughes Communities
Real Estate Development and Master-Planned Communities
Jose Bustamante became President of the Nevada Region for Howard Hughes in December 2024, assuming responsibility for the company's operations in Summerlin.
Summerlin is a master-planned community encompassing approximately 22,500 acres in the Las Vegas Valley.
Bustamante's responsibilities have included real estate strategy, master planning, development, construction, property management, finance, and marketing.
Before joining Howard Hughes, he held senior executive positions with Irvine Company and Lincoln Property Company.
His professional experience includes large-scale residential, commercial, office, life-science, and mixed-use developments in Northern California.
Bustamante also served as a U.S. Army Military Intelligence Officer before entering real estate.
He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and earned a master's degree in Real Estate Development from Columbia University.
His career connects Nevada's long-term urban development with experience gained in other major U.S. real estate markets.
The development of master-planned communities requires decisions extending across decades, involving infrastructure, housing, commercial investment, and the changing needs of residents and businesses.
Tyler Corder — Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, Findlay Automotive Group
Automotive Retail, Multistate Business Operations, and Civic Leadership
Tyler Corder serves as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Findlay Automotive Group, one of Nevada's longstanding family-owned automotive businesses.
Founded in Las Vegas in 1961, Findlay Automotive has expanded from a single dealership into a regional automotive enterprise operating dozens of dealerships across the western United States.
The group's current footprint includes Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Idaho, and Washington.
Corder joined Findlay Automotive in 1994 as Chief Financial Officer and became Chief Operating Officer in 1996.
Before joining Findlay, he spent approximately 14 years with General Motors Acceptance Corporation, including serving as its Las Vegas branch manager.
He graduated from Montana State University with a degree in Business Management and later pursued graduate business studies at UNLV.
Beyond his corporate responsibilities, Corder serves as 2026 Chairman of the Vegas Chamber Board of Trustees, connecting his private-sector leadership with the region's business community.
His community involvement includes leadership and support for SafeNest, the American Red Cross, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and the Foundation for an Independent Tomorrow.
Corder has also supported workforce development programs, including automotive training initiatives designed to create career pathways for Southern Nevadans.
His career demonstrates how a business headquartered in Las Vegas can expand across multiple states while maintaining strong connections to its local community.
Philanthropy, Education & Community Leadership
Influence can also extend beyond corporate operations through philanthropy, education, the arts, and relationships with organizations serving communities across the country and internationally.
These contributions demonstrate how individuals connected to Nevada can participate in broader networks of social and cultural development.
Christy Molasky — Philanthropist and Co-founder, Alan and Christy Molasky Charitable Foundation
Philanthropy, Education, Performing Arts, and Community Leadership
Christy Molasky is a Las Vegas philanthropist, business graduate, and performing artist whose career and community involvement span education, healthcare, the arts, and charitable giving.
A graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, with a degree in Finance, Molasky helped revive the university's student chapter of the Financial Management Association, serving as its president and connecting students with business professionals.
She also pursued graduate business education and developed a career in music, performing in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, New Orleans, and internationally, including in Asia.
Together with her husband, Alan Molasky, she established the Alan and Christy Molasky Charitable Foundation, supporting organizations focused on education, healthcare, human services, and community well-being.
The foundation's 2024 financial filings reported approximately $484,500 in charitable grants, supporting organizations including the American Red Cross, Nathan Adelson Hospice Foundation, SafeNest, Three Square, and Conservation International Foundation.
Education and support for military veterans have been particular interests. Through the Molasky family's philanthropy, Christy has supported scholarship opportunities for student veterans at Touro University Nevada.
Her interest in music and the performing arts has also informed her community involvement, including charitable performances and support for arts education.
Molasky's professional and philanthropic activities connect Southern Nevada with broader networks of charitable organizations, education, and the performing arts.
Her work reflects the role private philanthropy can play in strengthening communities and supporting opportunities for future generations.
Nevada Leadership in a National and Global Economy
The leaders featured in this collection represent diverse industries, professional backgrounds, and forms of influence.
Their careers illustrate how Nevada participates in a larger economic landscape through international gaming, professional sports, healthcare, energy, financial services, manufacturing, hospitality, real estate development, emerging technologies, and scientific research.
Some have built businesses that expanded far beyond Nevada. Others have brought national and international experience to leadership positions within the state. Many contribute to organizations whose operations, partnerships, and decisions extend across regional and international boundaries.
Together, their stories reveal an important dimension of Nevada's evolving identity: a state connected to industries, institutions, and opportunities reaching well beyond its geographic borders.
As industries evolve and leaders take on new responsibilities, this collection will continue to document the people whose professional journeys illustrate those connections.
Through my executive portrait and editorial work, including the Nevada Leadership Archive, I have had the opportunity to photograph these individuals and preserve a visual record of their leadership at different moments in their careers.
Their portraits and stories form part of a growing collection documenting the people, institutions, and professional networks shaping Nevada's place in the wider world.
Photography and editorial by Kim Dung Ho, a Las Vegas-based photographer specializing in executive portraits, corporate photography, and leadership storytelling.
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