Joining the show is Glenn Christenson, managing director of Vestland Investments and longtime LVGEA board member, who shares his journey from public accounting to the casino industry and his deep commitment to philanthropy. Born in Honolulu and raised in Iowa, Glenn shifted from aspiring to play college basketball to pursuing a career in accounting and finance, earning his MBA from Ohio State University.

Glenn talks about his roles at Haskins & Sells in Las Vegas, his 17 years with Deloitte, and his executive positions at Station Casinos. He also discusses his significant contributions to economic development through LVGEA, emphasizing how it can transform communities and the importance of philanthropy beyond financial donations.

In his personal life, Glenn enjoys golf and actively supports Las Vegas colleges. He advises young people on self-awareness, perseverance, education, work-life balance, and keeping options open.

LVGEA:
LVGEA - Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance

Denette Suddeth, the Regional President and head of Commercial Banking for PNC Bank joins the show today. Having moved from Southern California as a child, Denette attended local K-12 schools. She shares her journey, starting her career at UNLV while working for Nevada Title Company, and gives us a glimpse into her typical workday.

Denette discusses the strategies PNC Bank uses to drive business growth in Nevada. As a small business owner and founder of Suddeth Inc., she has worked as an executive coach, helping leaders recognize their blind spots. She emphasizes the growing importance of Emotional
Intelligence in the workplace.

A 2008 graduate of Leadership Las Vegas, Denette gained unique insights into the city and formed lasting friendships. She remains active with United Way and Junior Achievement, reflecting on the values she learned growing up. Denette is also involved in the new Inspiration Center, where PNC Bank will provide real-world banking experiences
for over 60,000 students in Clark County.

Beyond her professional life, Denette is passionate about Doodle dogs, riding ATVs, and traveling. She advises young people on building networks and relationships in their careers and highlights PNC Bank’s commitment to empowering women in business through its
Women’s Business Advocate certification program.

PNC Bank-Women in Business:
 https://www.pnc.com/en/small-business/topics/women-in-business.html

Junior Achievement (JA):
 https://southernnevada.ja.org/

 JA Biz Town:
 https://southernnevada.ja.org/programs/ja-biztown

Vincent Saavedra, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Southern Nevada Building Trades and a Workforce Connections’ Program Committee member, joins the show. Born and raised in Fontana, California, Vince comes from a hard-working blue-collar family. After moving to Las Vegas, he joined the Iron Workers Union Local 416. Vince discusses the 19 construction unions that are part of the Southern Nevada Building Trades, an association of unions. He proudly notes that he is the first Latino to hold his current position and is the founding president of the Las Vegas chapter of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LACLA), which focuses on voter education and information.

Vince emphasizes the importance of talent and workforce development in the K-12 school system. He explains the involvement and impact of the Southern Nevada Building Trades, particularly in the Brightline project. He also highlights the significance of addressing the mental health of construction workers.

Outside work, Vince enjoys smoking cigars, practicing jujitsu with his kids, and watching them compete in sports. He also mentors young men and encourages young people to never stop working hard.

 Southern Nevada Building Trades:
 https://www.snbtu.org/news-details/webview/overview/single/24727

Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LACLA):
 https://www.lclaa.org/

Former US Congresswoman Shelley Berkley joins the show today.  Born in New York, Shelley moved to California at 12, but once her family stopped in Las Vegas, she knew she had found her home. She attended John C. Fremont School and was part of the first graduating class at Valley High School. Shelley then went to UNLV, where she was even the school mascot!

Shelley's passion for public service led to law school and a remarkable career. She served seven terms in the Nevada Assembly and helped establish the Sam Boyd Law School at UNLV. In Congress, she worked tirelessly to bring a mammogram machine to the Adelaide Delhi Veterans Hospital and was key in securing a VA hospital for Las Vegas.

After her time in Congress, Shelley joined Touro University and teamed up with Sheriff Kevin McMahill to create a program training police officers in disaster medical training. She continued her dedication to the community as a Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance board member.

Shelley also shares how her family's support and her mother's encouragement were crucial to her success. In her free time, she loves reading, watching movies with her husband, and spending time with her family. She offers great advice for young people: go after your goals with determination.

Joining the show, Tom Andrulis, the founder of Intelligent Technical Solutions (ITS) and a Las Vegas native, discusses the city's remarkable growth. His entrepreneurial journey began at 16 when he started working in food service. Over time, he transitioned through various jobs, eventually finding his way into the technology sector as a game tester, which ultimately inspired him to establish his company, Intelligent Technical Solutions/Managed IT Services Las Vegas.

Tom highlights the importance of cybersecurity in preventing cyber-attacks and emphasizes the transformative impact of technologies like Artificial Intelligence in the tech industry. He expresses his passion for helping others and discusses ITS's community initiatives, such as the ITS Cares program and speaking engagements for high school technology students.

Mr. Andrulis also shares his experience with the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) model and its role in the company's growth. Outside of work, Tom enjoys activities like mountain biking, exercising, and spending time with his family.

In closing, he advises young people to develop valuable skills that they can offer others and stresses the importance of continuous learning for entrepreneurial success.

For Cybersecurity Roadshow (Free Event) or webinars visit the website

Intelligent Technical Solutions | Managed IT Services Las Vegas:
 https://www.itsasap.com/

Gourav Pani, President of US Independents at GoDaddy, joins the show to discuss his role overseeing the division dedicated to supporting entrepreneurship among small teams of 10 or fewer employees. He reflects on his diverse background, from growing up in India to studying in Singapore and Indiana, and now residing in Seattle. Gourav underscores the significance of the Microbusiness Summit in Las Vegas, aiming to aid over 300,000 microbusinesses, triple the national average, while also addressing gender disparity and access to funding. He offers insights into enhancing microbusinesses' online presence and highlights GoDaddy's resources for aspiring entrepreneurs. Gourav emphasizes the importance of respecting time and moving swiftly in business endeavors.

GoDaddy:
Domain Names, Websites, Hosting & Online Marketing Tools - GoDaddy

Joining the show is Ivan Ferraz, Senior Vice President of the Southwest division at Wells Fargo, who recently shared his remarkable journey from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to the United States on the show. After graduating college, he faced challenges while adjusting to life in the U.S., working various jobs to make ends meet. He pursued further education at Cal State Los Angeles, earning degrees in economics and international business.

Beginning his career at Sanwa Bank's credit training
program, Ivan concurrently pursued an MBA in Supply Chain Management with a
finance focus from the University of Laverne. He seized an opportunity at Wells
Fargo Bank, where he has thrived for the past 20 years. For the last 4 ½ years,
he's managed the commercial banking team for Nevada.

During the interview, Ivan discussed Wells Fargo's
innovative recruitment and talent retention strategies, as well as the latest
technology the bank utilizes for business banking. He also shared insights on
Nevada's investment prospects to attract big businesses.

Emphasizing community involvement, Ivan highlighted
the importance of giving back and offered advice to aspiring community leaders:
pursue your passions, stay humble, listen attentively, and treat customers like
family, and prospects like future clients. Ivan's journey and wisdom serve as
an inspiration to all.

Wells Fargo Talent:
Join our talent community | Wells Fargo (wellsfargojobs.com)

Ivan Ferraz’s Contact Information:
[email protected]

Joining us today is Kim Dung Ho, the founder and owner of Kim Photography, LLC. Kim takes us through her remarkable journey, from her childhood in Vietnam to her unexpected transition from a pharmacist at Roche Pharmaceuticals to pursuing an MBA at Cal State San Bernardino, ultimately leading to the establishment of Kim Photography, LLC.

She candidly discusses how her initial hobby of photography blossomed into a full-fledged career, which has since flourished into a thriving business venture. Kim also shares how the pandemic posed challenges for her business, prompting her to leverage networking opportunities with organizations like the Vegas Chamber to support the Vietnamese business community by translating crucial services.

Her active involvement with Nevada Grow and The Urban Chamber empowered her to launch Viet Nevada Culture, a nonprofit dedicated to serving the Vietnamese community, earning recognition from both corporations and national media outlets. Despite the pandemic's hardships, Kim emphasizes the silver lining by highlighting the
growth of Kim Photography, which opened doors to new business prospects and
collaborations.

Kim's philanthropic endeavors extend to supporting small businesses and contributing to scholarship programs at UNLV. Beyond her professional pursuits, Kim shares her passion for Vietnamese music, global travel, and exploring diverse cuisines, reflecting her vibrant and multifaceted personality.

Kim Photography:
Las Vegas Portrait Photographer (kimdungho.com)

Nevada Grow:
 Home - NV Grow

Viet Nevada Culture:
 ABOUT - Viet Nevada Culture NCC (vietnvculture.com)
 

Joining the show today is Evelyn Garcia Morales, a remarkable individual serving as the Executive Director of the Fulfillment Fund Las Vegas, President of the Clark County School District Board of Trustees, and Member of the Workforce Connections’ Program Committee. Evelyn reflects on her upbringing in Los Angeles, California, alongside her two older siblings. Her parents, immigrants from Jalisco, Mexico, arrived in the U.S. at the ages of 16 and 17.

Evelyn reminisces about her entrepreneurial spirit, starting her first job as a door salesperson at the age of 11, selling Velcro wallets alongside her mother. Later, she moved to Las Vegas, attending Mojave High School, and pursuing a bachelor’s degree in
political science at UNLV, becoming the first in her family to graduate from both high school and college.

Her journey led her to Washington D.C., where she was exposed to a myriad of opportunities that shaped her perspective. Evelyn shares her favorite aspects of serving on the board of trustees and the profound influence of Brene Brown, emphasizing the
significance of living in alignment with one's values.

In her downtime, Evelyn finds solace with her family. To young aspiring community leaders, she offers heartfelt advice: discover what brings you joy, invest in others, and give your all to it. So, if you're passionate about making a difference, take Evelyn's words to heart and dive in!

Viva Las Visionaries Podcast-UNLV:
"Episode 8: Evelyn Garcia Morales on "I was recently asked how I do it " by Evelyn Garcia Morales (unlv.edu)

Interview with Mojave Students:
Mojave HS Students Interview Trustee Evelyn Garcia (youtube.com)

Tyler Corder, Chief Financial Officer for Findlay Automotive Group, joins the show today to talk about his roots in a rural part of Central Montana, growing up on a wheat farm, and his time at Montana State University where he earned his business degree. 

His career kicked off at General Motors Acceptance Corporations (GMAC), where he started by collecting past-due car payments. Tyler's dedication led him to climb the ranks, becoming a branch manager before being transferred to Las Vegas in 1992. In 1994, he crossed paths with Mr. Findlay, who sought his expertise in expanding the car dealership business. Tyler reflects on his involvement with the Foundation for an Independent Tomorrow (FIT) and the automotive technician course that collaborates with Findlay Automotive.

Sharing his insights, Tyler advises aspiring community leaders to immerse themselves in the community and actively participate. So, if you're looking to make a difference,
take Tyler's advice and put yourself out there!

Findlay Automotive:
Findlay Auto Group Careers | Learn More

Foundation for an Independent Tomorrow and Findlay Automotive:
 Findlay hires new graduates from FIT’s class of auto techs | Dealer News | Autos (reviewjournal.com)