WC Podcast

In this episode, Dr. Rex Liu, owner of Family and Cosmetic Dentistry and a Vegas Chamber Trustee, shares his remarkable journey from humble beginnings to becoming a successful dentist, landlord, and community advocate. Dr. Liu grew up in New York, Maryland, Texas, and Las Vegas, where he settled in fifth grade. Raised by Chinese immigrant parents, his early years taught him resilience, adaptabilit...

In this episode, Workforce Connections welcomes Greg Stechert, Director of Marketing and Business Development at Pacific Utility Installation. Greg shares his journey, starting with his birth in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, where he was born in a bathtub! At age five, he moved to Las Vegas and attended local schools, including Bonanza High School. Greg’s career began with humble beginnings, from sell...

In this episode, Michael Bonner, Managing Shareholder at Greenberg Traurig's Las Vegas office, shares his journey from growing up in Las Vegas to becoming a respected leader in corporate law. Born and raised in Las Vegas, Michael attended Western High School. His educational journey began at the historic Fifth Street School, and after graduating from high school, he earned his undergraduate d...

In this episode, Joyce Smith, Senior Vice President in Commercial Banking at MidFirst Bank and Vegas Chamber Board Trustee, shares her journey from growing up in Ely, Nevada, to building a successful banking career. After attending Great Basin College, Joyce started as a bank teller and worked her way up through various leadership roles at multiple banks. She developed a strong work ethic and a de...

In this episode, Jeremy Aguero, a principal analyst at Applied Analysis and a trustee with the Vegas Chamber, joins us. Born and raised in Southern Nevada, Jeremy has been a key figure in shaping the region’s future. He earned his degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and has a career specializing in economic analysis, policy, and community development. Through his work at Applied...

In this episode of the Workforce Connections podcast, special guest host Ricardo Villalobos talks with Grant McCandless, the President & CEO of Social Impact Consultants. Grant’s journey from Texas A&M graduate to research and consulting specialist showcases his dedication to service and community impact. With early career experience at Price Waterhouse in Germany and later as a director a...

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. René Cantú, who shares his inspiring journey from his birthplace in California to becoming a dedicated advocate for youth success in Nevada. After facing challenges in high school, including being told to drop out, he discovered his calling in education. Dr. Cantú began his career as a teacher, focusing on empowering students from diverse backgrounds. He later...

In this episode of the Workforce Connections Podcast, Michelle Jackson, President and CEO of Junior Achievement (JA) of Southern Nevada, shares her inspiring journey and the transformative work she leads through JA programs. From moving around the U.S. during her early years to her current leadership role, Michelle reflects on her background in nonprofits and passion for youth development. She exp...

In this episode, we sit down with Terry Shirey, President, and CEO of Nevada State Bank, to explore his professional journey, community involvement, and insights on leadership. Terry shares his experience in the banking industry, emphasizing the importance of finding a skill set that’s in demand, embracing hard work, and being comfortable with discomfort as a means of growth. He also discusses how...

In this episode, Tony Sanchez, Executive Vice President of Business Development and External Relations at NV Energy and a Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance (LVGEA) board member, joins us to discuss Nevada's dynamic growth, the importance of sustainability, and his journey in community involvement. A native Nevadan, Tony and his wife were the first in their family to attend college. They are...

In this episode of the WC podcast, Larry Singer, the Senior Managing Director at Newmark and member of the Vegas Chamber Board of Trustees, shares his remarkable journey from the Bronx to the bustling Las Vegas commercial real estate scene. He reflects on how his early experiences in his father’s business instilled a strong work ethic that has guided him throughout his career. After moving to Las...

In this episode of the WC Podcast, Nicole Tanguay, CEO of RVIV Wellness, shares her incredible journey from incarceration to becoming a successful therapist and advocate for holistic health. Nicole faced significant struggles and hardships growing up, including financial difficulties and a turbulent home life. Her life took a significant turn after a car accident led to her time in prison. While t...

In this episode, Maria Jose Gatti, Vice President of Philanthropy & Community Engagement - MGM Resorts International, shares her remarkable journey from Ecuador to Las Vegas. Moving to the U.S. at 14, Maria graduated from Clark High School and began her career as an executive assistant at the Culinary Training Academy, where she gained invaluable insight into the hospitality industry. With a f...

In this episode of the Workforce Connections Podcast, Michael Crome, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Las Vegas Raiders, shares his inspiring journey from his modest upbringing in Columbus, Ohio, to his current role with one of the NFL's most iconic teams. Growing up in a single-parent household, Michael discusses the challenges he faced and how a chance encounter with...

This episode welcomes Chris Wilcox, partner and Las Vegas market leader at Eide Bailly LLP. Chris shares his inspiring journey from his education in Utah during the 1980s recession to his success in the Las Vegas accounting industry. Despite challenges in finding work, his persistence led him to a thriving career. Chris discusses his passion for accounting, emphasizing the vast opportunities an ac...

In this episode, we welcome Ani Nazaryan, the Chief People Officer for the Siegel Group and Amazing Brands. She shares her inspiring journey from growing up in Armenia to making a life and career in Las Vegas. Ani discusses how her upbringing, particularly her mother’s influence as a teacher, instilled in her a passion for education and opportunity. She pursued her degree in education in the U.S.,...

Dr. Brenda Martin-Mitchell, interim superintendent of the Clark County School District (CCSD) and a new member of the Workforce Connections Board, shares her journey from growing up in Iowa to leading one of the nation’s largest school districts. After 30 years with CCSD, starting as a special education teacher, she’s now focused on building trust in the community and attracting top educators. She...

Major General Ondra Berry, Adjutant General for the Nevada National Guard and Vegas Chamber Trustee, joins the show to share his inspiring life story. He grew up in Evansville, Indiana, and East St. Louis, Illinois, and his experience of traveling 45 minutes to attend high school left a lasting impact on him. His grandmother was crucial in encouraging him to continue his college education. His car...

Special guest host Scott Black, North Las Vegas Mayor Pro Tem, talks with John Entsminger, General Manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA), on the show. John grew up in Colorado and studied at the University of Colorado, Boulder. He specializes in Environmental Compliance, Water Rights, and Native American Law and has worked at SNWA for 23 years, starting as an Environmental Complian...

Hector Fernandez, CEO of Aristocrat Gaming and LVGEA board member, shares his inspiring journey from Guatemala to Los Angeles. His mother’s sacrifices enabled him to attend a private school, shaping his path to success. Hector attended Claremont McKenna College and discovered his passion for business through an internship at Ernst & Young. He believes in the importance of skills, leadership, p...

Shannon Petersen, Executive Vice President at Nevada State Bank and a board member of LVGEA, began her journey in a small Northern California town. She discovered her passion for economics and finance while studying at UC Santa Cruz. Shannon's banking career took off unexpectedly during her thesis work at the Federal Reserve Bank in San Francisco, laying the foundation for her leadership at N...

Vince Ciminise, Senior Vice President and Commercial Loan Manager for Valley Bank of Nevada and a Vegas Chamber Board of Trustees member, joins the show to share his journey from studying accounting to a successful banking career. He highlights his role at Valley Bank, managing a team responsible for generating new business and supporting small businesses with loans and financial advice. He discus...

Lori Calderon, General Manager of Recruiting at Empire Caterpillar, shares her career journey from St. Louis to Northeast Missouri State, where she started in Human Resources and Recruiting. With over 30 years of experience, Lori is passionate about connecting people with careers. She discusses Empire Caterpillar's role in construction, emphasizing integrity and cultural fit in recruiting. Lo...

Dr. Marc Tedoff, founder of the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Institute, joins us to share his inspiring journey and career insights. Growing up in Sea Cliff, Long Island, Dr. Tedoff attended college in upstate New York before starting his professional life as a paralegal. Torn between law school and teaching, he chose the latter, beginning as a teacher aide at a Special Education school special...

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 Univ...