No Laughing Matter with Cuba Pete

About our guest … Alex De Castroverde is a Las Vegas personal injury attorney and the owner of De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers along with his brother, Orlando. Their father, Waldo De Castroverde, was born in Havana, Cuba, and was a paratrooper in the Bay of Pigs invasion. Waldo moved to Reno, Nevada, in 1978, along with his wife Vivian De Castroverde (also born in Cuba) and their four children. After attending law school at night—while he dealt blackjack during the day—Waldo became one of the first attorneys in Nevada to open a law office with the focus of representing the Hispanic Community. In 2005, De Castroverde Accident & Injury Lawyers was formed as a branch of the Law Office of Waldo De Castroverde. The firm has grown from three attorneys to over 20 attorneys and a total team of over 100 employees. The firm now has offices in Las Vegas, Summerlin, Henderson, Reno, Oakland, CA and plans on expanding across the United Sates. The firm concentrates on personal injury, immigration, and criminal defense. In 1995, Mr. De Castroverde received his undergraduate degree from the University of Nevada, Reno. He received his J.D. from Nova Southeastern University in 1999. Mr. De Castroverde is active in the Southern Nevada community, currently serving on the Board of Directors for Cristo Rey St. Viator Las Vegas College Preparatory and the Kenny Guinn Center for Policy Priorities. He is also on the Advisory Council for the Nevada Independent and serves as a committee member for the Las Vegas Bowl Committee. Mr. De Castroverde is happily married to his wife Cathy of over 14 years, and they have three daughters.

Get ready for an enlightening episode of No Laughing Matter with Cuba Pete as we

welcome our esteemed guest, Commissioner William O'Neil McCurdy II.

Commissioner McCurdy will take us on a journey through his upbringing, offering

valuable insights into the experiences and influences that shaped his path. From

there, he'll share his experience from his time with the Service Employees

International Union (SEIU), providing a firsthand perspective on labor advocacy and

the fight for workers' rights. Commissioner McCurdy will also delve into the

importance of civic engagement, drawing from his own experiences to highlight the

power of community involvement and activism.

Join us for an engaging conversation that explores Commissioner McCurdy's life, his

passion for social justice, and the crucial role of civic participation in shaping a better

future for all. This is an episode you won't want to miss!

Join us in our latest episode as we dive into the crucial intersection of mental health and medical education with the inspiring Trinh Dang. Trinh brings a wealth of experience as a mental health advocacy.

About our guest … Vance Farrow is an industry specialist employed by the Governor's Office of Economic Development. He is in charge of growth, hiring, and retention in the development sector. Prior to assuming his current position with G.O.E.D., Mr. Farrow served as the head of the Bureau of Cancer and Chronic Illness for the Columbia Development of Health district. Mr. Farrow was named executive commissioner of the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education when he was giving a speech about Nevada's Broadband Medical Education. Vance Farrow is a driven man who yet possesses compassion as a leader for public health professionals. Every demanding opportunity will find Vance Farrow ready.

About our guest … Dr. Lasky joined the Cure the Kids Foundation in 2017. He attended medical school at the University of Illinois in Chicago and did his pediatric residency at the University of Chicago. He completed his Pediatric Hematology Oncology fellowship at UCLA in 2006 and was director of the Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Program at UCLA until 2009 when he moved to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance, CA, and was named Chief of the Division of Pediatric Hematology Oncology. While there, Dr. Lasky became involved with a number of clinical trials for patients with bleeding disorders (including hemophilia and von Willebrand disease) as well as sickle cell anemia. While continuing to have research interests in pediatric brain tumors and immunology, he also is interested in running and developing clinical trials for patients with bleeding disorders and sickle cell anemia. Dr. Lasky is a member of several professional societies including the Children’s Oncology Group, Society for Neuro-Oncology, the American Society of Hematology, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. He enjoys watching sports, reading, music, and outdoor activities with his family. In September of 2022, Dr. Lasky is now the Medical Director at Cure 4 The Kids (C4K).

About our guest … Kelvin Watson Named American Library Association Medal of Excellence Award Winner has brought innovative, award-winning leadership to Nevada’s largest library system. Overseeing 25 branches run by 600+ employees with a collection of 3.2 million items. His deep experience in fundraising, technology, program development,and demonstration of success in addressing the digital divide, has brought a new era to this library system. Kelvin joined the Library District from his role as the director of the Broward County Libraries Division, where he managed through 38 locations in the Ft. Lauderdale, Florida region. He brought transformative change through ambitious and groundbreaking initiatives, such as streamlining access to resources, introducing new technology, and developing new collaborative partnerships. He was named the 2021 winner of the Margaret E. Monroe Library Adult Services Award, sponsored by Novelist, for his dedication to implementing new and innovative ways to meet customers – both existing and new – “where they are,” with initiatives targeting non-traditional library users.

We're thrilled to share the exciting news that Dr. Stowe Shoemaker, PhD, will be the featured guest on the upcoming episode of the No Laughing Matter with Cuba Pete podcast.

Join Joe and Stowe as they delve into Stowe's remarkable journey, explore the intersection of hospitality and healthcare, and discuss his latest book, "Hospitable Healthcare: Just What the Patient Ordered," released in September 2023.

We sincerely appreciate your continued support, and we can't wait to bring you another outstanding episode! Get ready for an engaging and insightful conversation!

About our guest … Dr.Matthew Thacker is the Program Director for the Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency in Henderson, Nevada. After earning his bachelor's degree in Biology with a concentration in Integrative Physiology from UNLV, he attended UNLV’s School of Dental Medicine and received his Doctorate in Dental Medicine (DMD) degree in 2018. After graduating from dental school, Dr.Thacker served in the U.S. Navy as a Fleet Marine Force dental officer for 4 years aboard the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in 29 Palms, California. He continues to serve the community as a volunteer dentist for the Special Olympics, Give Kids a Smile, UNLV’s Sgt Ferrin Memorial Veteran’s Clinic, Adopt-a-Vet, Project Homeless, and Roseman University’s Empower. He is passionate about providing a broad scope of evidence-based dental care to the Las Vegas Valley community and is dedicated to training the next generation of dentists to be skilled, compassionate, and service-based healthcare providers.

Dr.Thacker is a member of the American Dental Education Association, Nevada Dental Association, Southern Nevada Dental Society, and is a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry. Dr.Thacker and his wife, Dr.Angelica Jane Bustos-Thacker are natives to Las Vegas and currently live in Summerlin with their two dogs, Puka and Boba. On his free time, Dr.Thacker enjoys playing ice hockey, graphic design, computer coding, traveling, and is an avid woodworker.

Twitter:

@DrJoeGreer 

@Rosemanmedicine

Instagram:

@rucomdiversity

About our guest … Dr. DeRionne Pollard is the current president of Nevada State University (NSU). She was appointed by the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) Board of Regents in April to lead NSU, a four-year public comprehensive institution. Dr. Pollard began her tenure at NSU on Aug. 16, 2021. Dr. Pollard is the first Black female president of any NSHE institution. She has held previous roles at the College of Lake County and served as president of both Montgomery College and Las Positas College.

Dr. Pollard is deeply connected to her community. Dr. Pollard was named one of Washington’s 100 Most Powerful Women by Washingtonian Magazine, won a 2017 Academic Leadership Award from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, and a Visionary Award from the Washington Area Women’s Foundation. She holds a bachelor’s and a master’s of arts in English from Iowa State University and a Ph.D. in educational leadership and policy studies in higher education from Loyola University Chicago.

Twitter:

@DrJoeGreer

@Rosemanmedicine

Instagram:

@rucomdiversity

About our guest … Malachi Williams is from Phoenix, Arizona. He moved to Las Vegas 13 years ago. He has been married for 16 years and is a father of 6. Malachi is a muralist and has 20+plus years of experience as an artist. He has pieces in Atlanta, California, Arizona, North Las Vegas, and Las Vegas. Malachi is also an art instructor and does customized shoes. Malachi recently won a spool decorating contest during the ‘Art U Ok’ hosted by First Friday with the Downtown Las Vegas. His piece is titled CAREousel “Life is full of ups and downs, you just have to enjoy the ride.” He was then the featured artist at First Friday for the month of April 2023 where he did a community piece. Malachi believes that art brings the community together. He is now a resident artist at First Friday where he will be working on art pieces with the community. Malachi is currently practicing visual arts at Strokes, LLC a company that he started with his wife in 2018.

”I believe art has a way of saying what can’t be spoken with words, so I use my gift to spread hope to whoever my work is placed. I am most pleased when I see the younger generation gravitate towards creativity, and making it their own. I hope one day my children do the same, fall in love with art, and take it to a new platform.”

Malachi hopes to one day have murals all across the United States. Malachi likes to inspire and evoke hope through his art pieces.