Elements of Change Speaker Bios

Dr. Alexander was appointed as the President of Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) in Reno, Nevada in 2025. With a focus on teaching, learning, and student success, he leads a talented team that continually develops innovative educational opportunities for the students and employers of Northern Nevada. Previously, Jeffrey served as the Vice President of Academic Affairs at TMCC, leading efforts to foster improved student performance, retention, and workforce training. In addition to his focus on creating complementary skills certificates for transfer-degree seekers, he also led the development of a Credit for Prior Learning program via Portfolio or Workforce Certification, as well as an Open Educational Resource (OER) program that saves TMCC students nearly $1 million annually in textbook costs.

Trained as a historian, Dr. Alexander received his Ph.D. from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, and has taught over a dozen unique courses on the history of Japan, China, and World History at both 2-year and 4-year institutions. His early career included earning tenure at the University of Wisconsin at Parkside, and later serving as the Dean of Arts and Sciences at Pueblo Community College in Southern Colorado. A passionate supporter of higher education, Jeffrey also builds relationships throughout the community. He serves on the Nevadaworks board, is a member of the Rotary Club of Sparks, and previously served as Chair of the Western Alliance of Community College Academic Leaders, under the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE).

NSGI Board Member Staci Alonso worked in the gaming industry for over three decades. In late 2018, she retired from Red Rock Resorts in the role of Executive Vice President | Chief Marketing and Innovation Officer. Additionally, she served as CMO|VP of Global Marketing for IGT, and strategic marketing consultant for Ft Worth Stockyards Heritage, Sightline Payments and Wynn Resorts. With a passion driven by purpose, her gaming career has been blessed with several accolades including the Lifetime Achievement Award, Top Women in Gaming; as well as Anderson Cooper’s, Top Ten CNN Heroes 2019 for her work in domestic violence and animal welfare.

Alonso founded Noah’s Animal House @ The Shade Tree in 2007, the first full-service pet kennel on the grounds of a domestic violence shelter in the country.  She served two terms on the Nevada State Athletic Commission overseeing the regulation of unarmed combat sports, such as boxing and UFC for the state of Nevada.

As the Director of Business Development at the Nevada Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED), Alex Bacchus leads the efforts to attract, retain, and expand businesses in the state, creating jobs and economic opportunities for Nevadans. With an MBA in finance and over 10 years of experience in the financial services industry, Bacchus has the skills and knowledge to identify and support the needs and goals of businesses across various sectors and regions. In addition to his background in political and civic engagement, Bacchus has worked as an investment advisor, a trust officer, and an independent consultant, providing financial planning, estate planning, and banking solutions to clients and partners.

Jason Bubba is the Chief Operating Officer at NORCAT, which offers skilled labour training and development and mining technology and innovation services. Jason is dedicated to the development and delivery of world-class programs, services, and resources to reduce injuries, save lives, and enhance productivity in the workplace. As NORCAT’s COO, Jason is responsible for the management and implementation of large-scale training programs and innovative delivery mechanisms to provide skills training solutions for the mining/critical minerals industry.

Jason has managed educational program development/delivery projects for some of the largest mining companies nationally, and internationally with a particular focus on interpreting and combining government regulatory requirements with corporate training and health and safety desired outcomes. Jason is a thought leader in training technology. He is instrumental in aiding mining companies determine the best use of learning technology including VR, AR, and simulation to achieve their training objectives.

Caleb Cage is the Executive Director of the Nevada Battery Coalition and the founding principal of Arc Dome Strategies, LLC, a Reno-based consulting firm specializing in government affairs, strategic planning, and organizational management. Since 2023, Caleb has led the Nevada Battery Coalition, a trade association uniting stakeholders across the battery supply chain to raise public awareness, inform policymakers, and promote workforce and economic development in Nevada’s growing battery and lithium sector. Through Arc Dome Strategies, he further supports collaboration among industry partners, government entities, and educational institutions, advancing Nevada’s leadership in clean energy and the battery economy.

Tim Crowley is the Vice President, Government and External Affairs.Prior to joining LAC, he was the Principal of Crowley & Ferrato Public Affairs from 2014 to 2021. Prior to Crowley & Ferrato Public Affairs, he was the President of the Nevada Mining Association. He sits on the Keep Truckee Meadows Beautify Board of Directors and the University of Nevada, Mackay School of Earth Sciences and Engineering Advisory Board. Mr. Crowley holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Nevada, Reno.

Jaime Cruz has been the Executive Director of Workforce Connections since October 2017, driving workforce innovation and expanding career opportunities in Southern Nevada. An immigrant from Peru, he overcame early challenges to return to engineering and later transitioned to public service. Before joining Workforce Connections, Jaime led sustainability projects in Las Vegas’s hospitality industry. He holds certifications as a Certified Energy Manager, Certified Sustainable Development Professional, and Certified Public Manager. A naturalized citizen since 1994, Jaime has lived in Southern Nevada for over 34 years. His greatest pride is his family—his two adult children, Samuel and Sofia.

Jimmy Daghlian serves as the Vice President of Engineering and Project Management at NV Energy. Jimmy has supported multiple roles including Vice President Renewables and Director of Delivery Operations. NV Energy delivers electricity to nearly 1.4 million customers and over 56 million tourists annually throughout its nearly 46,000-mile service territory in the state of Nevada. The company also provides natural gas to 200,000 customers in the Reno-Sparks, Nevada area Jimmy’s career started working for Alstom as a field service engineer before working at PacifiCorp as their corporate combustion engineer. After a brief stint with Clyde Bergemann in burner project development projects, Jimmy worked in Morocco in an engineering support for TAQA Global before moving back to the US and joining NV Energy in 2012 Jimmy has a Bachelors and Masters degree in Chemical Engineering from University of Utah and an MBA from Westminster College.

Dr. Donnelli is the President of Great Basin College (GBC) and a registered nurse, has built her career in healthcare and higher education leadership. She earned her AAS in Nursing from GBC, a BSN and MSN from the University of Phoenix, and a PhD from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Throughout her leadership, she has secured millions of dollars in grants and private support to advance programs and expand opportunities for students across rural Nevada. President Donnelli's unwavering commitment to educational excellence and her significant contributions to the institution continue to drive the future of GBC.

Christina Erling is the Vice President Government Affairs, North America for Barrick. As the primary advocate for Barrick in Washington, D.C., Carson City and Ottawa, she engages with a wide range of external stakeholders, including members of Congress, the administration and industry associations to identify, monitor and influence developments in public policy. She provides strategic direction, support and guidance regarding Barrick’s government relations efforts and on matters of reporting and compliance within the hard rock mining industry.

Christina holds a bachelor’s degree in Russian and Political Science from the University of New Hampshire. She serves on the board of the Mining Association of Canada; and the boards and Executive Committees of the National Mining Association and the Nevada Mining Association; as well as the board of the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance.

Ryan Erwin is the President of RedRock Strategies, a nationally recognized political and public affairs consulting firm based in Las Vegas. Over the course of his career, he has held leadership positions on political campaigns, public affairs efforts, ballot measures, and corporate boards. His unique perspective, hands-on experience building his own business, and nationally recognized strategy and communication skills have made him one of the most sought-after strategists in America.

Ryan has advised not only political candidates and causes but also corporations and business groups on strategic growth, rapid response efforts, fundraising, media training, and audience targeting.

In 1999, Ryan took the reins of the Nevada Republican Party and, in less than two years, transformed a struggling organization into one of the nation’s model party operations. His success in Nevada led Republican leaders to recruit him to lead the rebuilding of the largest party organization in the country—the California Republican Party.

In 2005, Ryan founded RedRock Strategies. Under his leadership, the firm has represented some of the nation’s most respected elected officials and candidates, helped small businesses grow and bring new products to market, and assisted Fortune 500 companies in winning critical and high-stakes battles.

In 2022, Ryan served as the lead strategist for Joe Lombardo’s successful campaign for Nevada Governor—the only campaign in the nation to unseat an incumbent governor that year. He went on to chair Governor Lombardo’s transition team and continues to serve as one of his closest advisors.

Additionally, Ryan serves as a trusted advisor to respected leaders across the country, including Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. RedRock Strategies has secured ballot measure victories in more than a dozen states, advancing reforms that strengthened elections, stabilized economies, and guaranteed important constitutional rights for crime victims. Beyond campaign strategy, Ryan’s work focuses on economic development, public policy, and advising elected officials on key appointments. He chairs LOCATE, which leverages major events such as the Super Bowl and Formula One to recruit and showcase Nevada’s business advantages.

Ryan serves on the Board of Directors of Lauren’s Kids, a national nonprofit dedicated to the prevention of childhood sexual abuse.

Ryan is a native of Coshocton, Ohio. He and his wife Brandi live in Las Vegas and have two adult children.

NSGI Board Member Shirley Folkins-Roberts is a Community Development Director for Panattoni Development Company in North America, Shirley Folkins-Roberts leads the company’s community engagement initiatives, representing Panattoni in commercial real estate and infrastructure policy at both the state and national levels. Since joining Panattoni in 2014, she has contributed to the development of over four million square feet of commercial real estate.

Shirley is a passionate advocate for Nevada’s nonprofit sector. She co-founded the Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation (NNCCF) and dedicated over two decades to advancing advocacy efforts, legislation, and support for families battling childhood cancer. As Executive Director of NNCCF from 2018 to 2021, Shirley played a key role in expanding resources and advancing childhood cancer research in the region. She remains involved with several cancer-related initiatives and serves on the National Advocacy Committee for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation and the Steering Committee for the Max Vincze Foundation, which supports research for adolescent and young adult cancers.

Her community impact extends to multiple philanthropic and civic organizations. Shirley is an active member and Chair of the REMSA Health Board of Directors, serves as a Trustee for the Reno Philharmonic, and is involved with the Rotary Club of Reno Central. In 2024, she was appointed by the Governor to the Nevada Strategic Growth Initiative Board, a role that focuses on guiding the state's economic diversification. Shirley holds a Juris Doctor from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of California, Davis. She is licensed to practice law in California and Nevada.

Dr. Gautam is the vice president for research and innovation and professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Nevada, Reno, Dr. Mridul Gautam leads the articulation and implementation of a shared vision for developing world-class research and discovery, the careers and competitiveness of faculty, and the institution’s capacity as a R-1 university, as classified by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education and denoting very high research activity.

Dr. Gautam is a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration, chair of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Coalition of EPSCoR/IDeA States, and a member of the National Academies’ Government-University-Industry Research Roundtable. He serves on additional boards and committees including the Executive Committee of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU) Commission on Economic and Community Engagement, the South Coast AQMD Clean Fuels Advisory Group, the Desert Research Institute Research Park Board of Trustees. Dr. Gautam also serves as president of the Nevada Research and Innovation Corporation.

Dr. Gautam received his doctorate in mechanical engineering from West Virginia University (WVU) and his master’s in mechanical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. He is an internationally recognized researcher and expert in the area of heavy-duty mobile source exhaust emissions, aerosol sampling, and particulate matter measurement, characterization, and control. Prior to joining the University of Nevada, Reno in 2013, he served as associate vice president for research at WVU as well as vice president for the WVU Research Corporation.

Dr. Gautam is a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration, chair of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Coalition of EPSCoR/IDeA States, and a member of the National Academies’ Government-University-Industry Research Roundtable. He serves on additional boards and committees including the Executive Committee of the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU) Commission on Economic and Community Engagement, the South Coast AQMD Clean Fuels Advisory Group, the Desert Research Institute Research Park Board of Trustees. Dr. Gautam also serves as president of the Nevada Research and Innovation Corporation.

Dr. Gautam received his doctorate in mechanical engineering from West Virginia University (WVU) and his master’s in mechanical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. He is an internationally recognized researcher and expert in the area of heavy-duty mobile source exhaust emissions, aerosol sampling, and particulate matter measurement, characterization, and control. Prior to joining the University of Nevada, Reno in 2013, he served as associate vice president for research at WVU as well as vice president for the WVU Research Corporation.description

Rob Ghigheri currently serves the role of Administrator for the Nevada Division of Minerals. He received his degree in Geology from the University of Nevada, Reno. Rob started his career as an exploration geologist in precious metal exploration for a small junior company in Nevada. In 2012 Rob transitioned to NDOM working with the Abandoned Mine Lands program, bond pool administration, agency budget, and general agency management.

Now as the Administrator, Rob directly coordinates with the Commission on Mineral Resources, minerals industry, various state and federal agencies, the Legislature, and acts as a point of contact for the Governor’s office on mineral policy. He has or is serving in various roles of professional groups including as the chair of the Hardrock AML Committee for the National Association of Abandoned Mine Lands Program, the Nevada State Environmental Commission, University of Nevada Mackay Advisory Board, University Center for Economic Development, and others. 

NSGI Board Member Peter Guzman is the President of the Latin Chamber of Commerce.  The LCC is the most powerful Hispanic Chamber in Nevada with over 48 years of community work and business representation.  The LCC has provided services for the community for over 48 years and continues to grow.  Guzman has served on 3 Governor transitions, including leading Governor Lombardo’s 17 transition committees.  “The Latin Chamber of Commerce is a beacon of light for the business community and a shining star of hope for those in need of assistance in our great community”.  

He is an accomplished Realtor, Small Business Owner and Real Estate Investor.  Mr. Guzman came to Nevada 52 years ago at the age of 2.  Mr. Guzman has worked very hard in helping people achieve the dream of home ownership. Mr. Guzman started his career with Lynn Wardley and that continues to this very day.  His work has been recognized nationally by all of the major Real Estate Organizations and he has been recognized as the Top Producer for the entire company in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009, with over $700 million in sales.

After nearly two decades in the mining industry, Amanda Hilton was appointed President of the Nevada Mining Association in January 2024.  In this capacity, she represents the mining value chain from exploration companies to mineral producers to the suppliers who provide the goods and services to safely produce the minerals needed by everyone in their daily lives. Prior to joining the Nevada Mining Association, Amanda was the General Manager of KGHM’s U.S. Operations, which included leading the historic Robinson copper mine near Ely, Nevada and the Carlota Copper Mine near Miami, Arizona. Amanda is passionate about Nevada’s mining industry and is always excited to discuss the important work Nevada’s mining community is performing every day.

Dr. Jim Hodge is the Senior Vice President of Power Sources at Lithion Battery. Previously, Dr. Hodge was a founder of K2 Energy Solutions, where he served as Chief Technical Officer.  Prior to K2, he was Director of Henderson Operations for Valence Technology, where he was instrumental in the scale-up and operation of that company’s lithium iron phosphate production.  He earned his Ph.D in Materials Science at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and possesses extensive experience in commercialization of products based on advanced materials and chemical technology.  His most recent work has been focused upon the development and commercialization of energy storage systems based upon lithium ion battery technology.  In addition, he has wide expertise in commercial application of ceramics, metals, and polymers in areas as diverse as electronics packaging, high intensity discharge lamps, advanced fuel cell technology, and electrical switchgear and RF products based on high temperature superconductors.

Daniel W. Kappes has over 50 years’ experience in mining and metallurgical engineering. Mr. Kappes is a founder and the President of Kappes, Cassiday & Associates (KCA), a 75-person firm which specializes in all aspects of gold and silver recovery from laboratory testing, through engineering design, construction, and operations management of mining projects.   In addition to working for clients, KCA occasionally takes on an ownership design/management role in projects, with positive (profitable) results on two significant projects, losses on one, and potential profits on two which are on-going.   

Mr. Kappes graduated from the Colorado School of Mines with an Engineer of Mines Degree and the University of Nevada’s Mackay School of Mines with a Master’s Degree in Mining Engineering.  Mr. Kappes is a Registered Professional Engineer in Nevada and has presented numerous technical papers on precious metals heap leaching beginning in 1972.  He was named Alumnus of the Year at Mackay in 1995, received the prestigious James Douglas award from SME in 2016, and was named SME Distinguished Member in 2020.  Mr. Kappes is a member of the Mackay Advisory Board, and is a Trustee Emeritus of the University of Nevada Reno Foundation.

Adam Kirby has worked as the External Affairs Program Manager for Redwood Materials. As an expert translator of Engineer into English, Adam spends most of his professional time helping the public understand Redwood’s vision of a world powered by a circular battery supply chain. Previously, he worked with Tesla for 9 years as the Tour Program Manager hosting over 100,000 visitors at both the McCarran, Nevada Gigafactory and the Fremont, CA assembly plant.

NSGI Board Chair Matt Maddoxcomes from luxury resorts to iconic brands, Matt Maddox has built a career on steering complex businesses toward transformative growth. As President of the Authentic Brands Group, a leading lifestyle and entertainment company valued at over $20 billion, he is focused on scaling the company’s global footprint and diversifying its brand portfolio while driving long-term value. Mr. Maddox is also recognized as a thought leader in both the hospitality and gaming industries. He is known for his leadership skills in business transformation, delivery of leading-edge products, board and company culture design and implementation, as well as employee experience and loyalty.

Mr. Maddox was a founding member of the original Wynn Resorts team, which is now one of the most recognized luxury resort brands in the world.   He worked at Wynn for 20 years in various executive positions including CFO 2008-2013, President in 2013-2018 and Global CEO from 2018-2022. Mr. Maddox spent his early career as an investment banker in the mergers and acquisitions department at Bank of America before working in corporate finance at Park Place Entertainment, which later became known as Caesars Entertainment.

Dr. McKenna is the Executive Director of the Division of Hydrologic Sciences (DHS) at the Desert Research Institute (DRI). In this position he is responsible for success of a Division with ~120 Research Faculty and Scientists, Postdocs, and Students. DHS works to advance knowledge of hydrologic processes including ground water, surface water, evapotranspiration, precipitation and snowmelt as well as the impacts of climate change and wildfires on these processes and on society. Projects within DHS span the full spectrum from basic science to applied solutions.

Dr. McKenna has over 30 years of experience in initiating and completing research projects that translate basic science to impactful solutions. Prior to joining DRI, Dr. McKenna was a Senior Manager at IBM Research Europe from 2012 to 2020. IBM Research is the largest industrial research organization in the world and Dr. McKenna was hired to lead the water and energy areas for a newly formed Research Laboratory in Dublin, Ireland focused on Smarter Cities. This work evolved into broader research and applications in the areas of Internet of Things (IoT), machine learning and AI. Dr. McKennas responsibilities at IBM covered all aspects of initiating research projects and moving outcomes of those projects into solutions for academic, industrial and government sponsors. Parallel responsibilities included business development (Europe and Middle East), creation and review of intellectual property (IP), hiring and mentoring of research staff (MS and PhD) and coordinating projects with 12 other IBM Research labs as well as IBM Business Units.

From 1994-2012, Dr. McKenna was in the Geosciences Research and Development Group at Sandia National Laboratories. There he focused on numerical modeling, spatial statistics and applied mathematics to create solutions to problems in areas of Energy, Homeland Security, Environmental Restoration and Climate Change. His research interests led to solutions for the secure, long-term storage of spent nuclear fuel and nuclear waste; real-time protection of water distribution systems from accidental and intentional contamination; and restoration of millions of acres of land potentially containing unexploded ordnance. Dr. McKennas work at Sandia included a two-year assignment in Singapore where he executed projects on water security, energy forecasting and national security.

Dr. McKennas research interests are within the areas of Hydrologeology (numerical modeling of ground water flow and solute transport with inverse parameter estimation in heterogeneous media), Geostatistics (integration of multiple data types and supports into spatial estimation and uncertainty quantification) and Hydroinformatics (online anomaly detection, long-term monitoring networks, leak detection).

Dr. McKenna has served as an Adjunct or Visiting Professor at New Mexico Tech (Dept. of Environmental Science), University of New Mexico (Dept. of Earth and Planetary Sciences; Dept. of Civil Engineering), National University of Singapore (Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering) and the University of Texas (Dept. of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering). He has taught ~15 short courses/workshops for national and international organizations in areas of water security, probabilistic risk assessment, and geostatistics.

Chase McNamara serves as Policy Advisor on Natural Resources in the Office of Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo, where he works closely with state agencies, tribal governments, and industry leaders to advance the Governor’s agenda on water, energy, agriculture, and critical minerals. His portfolio spans from modernizing Nevada’s water-rights framework and strengthening the state’s fuel supply resiliency to supporting responsible development of renewable energy and mineral resources.

Ryan Melsert brings twenty years of multidisciplinary expertise to his positions as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of the Company. Melsert previously served as R&D Manager for Tesla’s Gigafactory Battery Materials Processing group. He founded and led a cross-functional team of mechanical and chemical engineers who implemented first principles design to develop novel first-of-kind systems for the extraction, purification, and synthesis of precursor and active battery materials. This development scope included the fundamental conceptual design, rigorous thermodynamic and process modeling, design and fabrication of bench-scale prototypes, construction and operation of integrated pilot systems, and implementation of commercial scale systems for the processing of battery materials.

Other roles include R&D Manager (Advanced Energy & Transportation Technologies) for Southern Research and Energy Systems Consultant for the Advanced Technology Development Center in Atlanta Georgia. He has a variety of publications and patents in his name, and in previous positions has won several Department of Energy grants and innovation competitions, including the BASF Circularity Challenge in 2019, which was hosted in order to identify the most promising lithium-ion battery recycling technologies in the world. Melsert was recently acknowledged as Waste360’s 40 under 40 Innovator of the Year 2022.

Melsert holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering science and a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from Penn State University, a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology, and a Master of Business (MBA) from the Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business.

Stacey Montooth was appointed in 2019, Stacey Montooth, a citizen of the Walker River Paiute Nation, is the Executive Director of the Nevada Department of Native American Affairs (DNAA). Montooth is the conduit between the State of Nevada and our 28 federally recognized Tribal Nations, Bands, Colonies, and 62,000+ Urban Indians who choose to make Nevada their second home. She is a member of Governor Lombardo’s cabinet. The DNAA was created by statute in 1965 to “study matters affecting the social and economic welfare and well-being of American Indians residing in Nevada” and serves as the liaison between Tribal communities, Tribal citizens, and the Governor’s Office.

A direct descendent of a survivor of the Stewart Indian Boarding School, Montooth is a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism. She has spent over a decade in service to Nevada Tribes. From 2012-2019, Montooth worked at the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony as that Tribe’s first public relations/ community information officer.  Upon returning to Northern Nevada in 2007, Montooth was the Indian Education liaison for her alma mater, Churchill County High in Fallon, Nev. Prior to returning home to the Great Basin, Montooth spent nearly 12 years working in community relations, primarily in higher education and college athletics, plus she staffed the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.

Ted (Terrence) O’Connor P.Geo., M.Sc., B.Sc. is a Professional Geoscientist with over 30 years of professional experience primarily in uranium & lithium exploration & development. Ted is currently Executive Vice President at American Lithium Corp, developing the TLC Lithium Project in Nevada, the Falchani Lithium Project in Peru and the Macusani Uranium Project in Peru. Ted has been in the junior exploration and development world for 13 years; formerly CEO of Plateau Energy Metals and Azincourt Energy after having spent 20 years in Exploration and Corporate Development with Cameco Corporation, one of the world’s largest uranium producers in the global search for project opportunities and partnerships. Early in his career, Ted was also a gold exploration and mine geologist in his home town of Timmins, in northern Ontario, Canada.

Peter O’Rourke currently serves as the managing partner of TCI Partners LLC and President of the National Association for Veterans Rights. In May of 2018 President Donald J. Trump appointed Peter as the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (acting) while serving as the Department’s Chief of Staff. Peter has been active in the manufacturing and supply chain industry as both the US President of Western Magnesium Corporation and Vice President of Blackland Aerospace. After serving honorably in the United States Navy and Air Force, Peter has been active in the healthcare, aerospace and critical metals industries along with supporting several non-profits focused on veteran’s rights and wellbeing.

John Passalacqua is an international business strategist with over 35 years of extensive technology and capital markets experience. He is founder, CEO and director of First Phosphate, a mineral development company fully dedicated to extracting and purifying high-grade igneous phosphate for the production of cathode active material for the Lithium Iron Phosphate (“LFP”) battery industry.  First Phosphate plans to vertically integrate from mine source directly into the supply chains of major North American LFP battery producers that require battery grade LFP cathode active material emanating from a consistent and secure supply source.

Dr. Denis Phares is a recognized expert in advanced battery technology and manufacturing innovation. As President and Chief Executive Officer of Dragonfly Energy Corp., he leads the development of cutting-edge lithium-ion technologies and next-generation manufacturing processes that are redefining energy storage. Under his leadership, Dragonfly Energy and its flagship brand, Battle Born Batteries®, have grown into a leading force in the deep-cycle battery market, supported by a world-class R&D team advancing proprietary technologies from concept to commercialization.

Before founding Dragonfly Energy in 2012, Phares was a tenured professor of Aerospace & Mechanical Engineering at the University of Southern California. With three decades of experience spanning energy systems, nanotechnology, fluid mechanics, and powder processing, he has positioned himself at the forefront of lithium-ion cell innovation. His portfolio of patents includes core advancements in battery cell design and manufacturing methods that are foundational to the company’s technology roadmap.

Dr. Podgorney PhD, PG, directs the Critical & Strategic Minerals and Materials Initiative at Idaho National Laboratory. He builds the partnerships, testbeds, and internal R&D needed to test, scale, and deploy responsible extraction, processing, and recycling technologies for a secure U.S. mineral supply chain. A subsurface modeler by training, he leads the modeling and simulation team for DOE’s FORGE enhanced-geothermal program and chairs the International Partnership for Geothermal Technology’s reservoir modeling group. Formerly INL’s Chief Computational Scientist, he holds a PhD in Geology (multiphase flow/CFD) and has 40+ peer-reviewed publications and several patents.

Jon Raby is the State Director for the Bureau of Land Management in Nevada, where he has advanced the multiple-use management of public lands and resources since 2019. Mr. Raby, who previously served as the Montana/Dakotas State Director, leads the management of 48 million acres of public land in Nevada and 59 million acres of Federal mineral resources in the state. Jon’s career in federal service began more than 35 years ago as a student volunteer and includes 30 years with the BLM serving in positions ranging from Field and District Office Biologist to Assistant Field Manager, Field Manager, and Associate District Manager in BLM Oregon/Washington. Jon has also held several key BLM Headquarters positions in his career.

Most recently, Jon served as the BLM Director in Washington D.C. from January 2025 until June 2025. In addition, Jon served as BLM Liaison to the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Land and Minerals Management, and as Chief of Staff for the BLM Director. He has also worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Forest Service in various capacities including the Natural Resources Staff Officer for the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest and Acting Deputy Regional Director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Pacific Region.

Jon holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Ohio Northern University. He grew up in Richmond, Indiana and his family has a long history of farming in Indiana and Ohio. Jon has spent most of his life living in the West and enjoys all types of outdoor activities. He is an avid hunter, angler, hiker, woodworker, traditional black powder, and overall shooting sports enthusiast. He and his wife Glendora have been married for 35 years and have two daughters and two granddaughters. They love camping and fly fishing.

Ryan Ravenelle is a native Nevadan; he grew up in Carson City and obtained a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno. He then completed a PhD in Chemical Engineering at Georgia Tech in Atlanta, focusing on materials characterization of biomass reforming catalysts. He returned to Nevada in 2012 working in various process engineering roles and eventually joined Lithium Americas in 2018. He is currently the Technical Director, responsible for managing the Technical Center in Reno, NV. He has been intimately involved in process development testing for the Thacker Pass project throughout his tenure with the company. He is proud to be a part of an amazing team bringing a first-of-its-kind project to production. He has a two-year old son, Leo, who keeps him on his toes outside of work!

Chris Reilly recently joined Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo's team as the State Infrastructure Coordinator, focusing on supporting statewide infrastructure priorities and economic development. Previously, Chris spent over 7 years at Tesla, leading efforts in policy, recruiting, and workforce development for the company. Prior to Tesla, Chris worked at Apple for 8 years in San Francisco, Shanghai, and London in roles across Product Merchandising, Program Management, and Finance. Outside of his role with the Governor’s Office, Chris interns for his wife, Piper Stremmel, at their local businesses in Reno's Brewery District and Midtown, including The Jesse Hotel & Bar, Estella, Abby’s Highway 40, and the recently renovated Best Bet Motor Lodge.

Tim Robb serves as Nevada’s Homeland Security Advisor and Director of Strategic Initiatives in the Office of Governor Joe Lombardo, where he oversees policy and interagency coordination across emergency management, cybersecurity, energy resilience, and natural resources.With deep experience in strategic planning, natural resource management, and state-level policy development, Tim has been a driving force in advancing Nevada’s preparedness for both immediate threats and long-term challenges that impact both Nevada and the nation. His portfolio includes advising on issues at the intersection of homeland security, infrastructure, and resource security, areas that directly connect to the importance of building a resilient lithium loop and strategic minerals industry in Nevada.

He is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Security Studies at the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security, where his thesis examines how U.S. policy can expedite and expand the exploration, extraction, and recycling of critical minerals through permitting reform, international friend-shoring strategies, and national security frameworks. Bringing both professional expertise and personal commitment, Tim works to ensure Nevada’s leadership in lithium production, battery innovation, and energy resilience, bridging the gap between policy, industry, and security to advance economic growth and U.S. energy security.

Maj. Gen. (Ret) Alberto Rosende is a results-focused and transformational senior leader. He has over 37 years of command and operational experience in the Army, and over 28 years of experience in the global payments industry, where he worked for two of the largest global payment brands, consulting directly with client banks and payment processors in the Latin America and Caribbean Region. Al’s military career spanned four decades, serving in command and staff assignments at every level through Division and Component, including troop and training assignments, with combat tours in both Afghanistan and Iraq.

His final assignment was as the 63d Readiness Division Commanding General, responsible for facilities, human resources support, and general maintenance and storage of equipment in a seven-state region of the Southwest United States, from Arkansas to California. This region encompassed over 44,000 Soldiers and their families, over 16,000 pieces of equipment, and over 1,000,000 square feet of facilities space. Al received numerous awards and decorations throughout his career, including the Army Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, and Bronze Star.

His civilian career includes over 30 years of experience in management and consulting in the electronic payments industry. He worked at Visa, Inc., based in Miami, Florida, for over 20 years, where he supported financial institutions in the Latin America and Caribbean Region. His expertise is in fraud prevention and risk management, in both the card issuer and merchant acceptance businesses. Prior to joining Visa, he worked at American Express for over 7 years where he managed operational units in credit, in-house and outside agency collections, and performed consulting engagements focused on card and acquirer portfolio risk performance reviews.

Al holds a B.S. Degree in Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University, an M.S. degree in National Resource Strategy from the Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy at the National Defense University, and an M.A. in Education and Human Development from The George Washington University.

A’Keia Sanders brings a wealth of leadership experience in public service, federal policy, and community development. She is a current appointee of Governor Joe Lombardo, serving as the Director of the Nevada Governor’s Office of Federal Assistance. In this role, she is responsible for increasing access to federal funding across the state and strengthening Nevada’s ability to effectively secure and manage federal resources. Sanders works closely with state agencies, local governments, nonprofit organizations, and tribal communities to address funding gaps and build capacity for long-term success.

Prior to this appointment, Sanders served as a Regional Representative for U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto. In that role, she specialized in government affairs and community engagement, ensuring that Nevada’s priorities and constituent concerns were communicated directly to federal decision-makers. Her work helped bridge the gap between Washington, D.C., and the everyday needs of Nevadans, particularly in underserved and rural areas. Sanders is a U.S. Navy Veteran with 14 years of honorable service as a military police officer.

She deployed to the Middle East in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, where she demonstrated leadership, resilience, and a deep commitment to service. She holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Nevada, Reno, and brings a strong understanding of organizational strategy, operations, and intergovernmental relations. In addition to her professional responsibilities, Sanders remains actively involved in civic and community life, serving on several boards and advisory councils that reflect her commitment to leadership, resource management, and inclusive community engagement. She is also pursuing her Doctorate in Public Policy at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, furthering her dedication to strengthening the systems and structures that support Nevada’s residents and future generations.

Jamie Schwartz is UNLV’s Director of Industry & Business Engagement and Associate Director of the UNLV Research Foundation. She leads initiatives that connect university research, workforce talent, and industry partners to drive innovation and regional growth. With a background in entrepreneurship, business valuation, and public-private collaboration, Jamie has helped launch Nevada’s first university-affiliated venture fund and advance projects spanning medtech, advanced manufacturing, and sports innovation. She is recognized for turning bold ideas into tangible results that strengthen Nevada’s economic future.

Mr. Sewell is the current Director at the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation (DETR), after being appointed by Governor Lombardo in January 2023. Prior to being the Director, he served in numerous roles at DETR including Deputy Director. He started his state service with the Nevada Transportation Authority as an Investigator and has also worked for the Public Utilities Commission as a Financial Analyst, Senior Compliance Investigator and Acting Manager in the Consumer Unit. When he lived in Las Vegas he worked for the Division of Insurance in the Compliance Unit and with the Real Estate Division as Chief of the Compliance/Audit unit. Prior to his State service, Mr. Sewell was a Washoe County Deputy Sheriff and a Washoe County School District Police Officer. In addition, he has been a small business owner in Reno.

State Senator John C. Steinbeck was promoted to fire chief of the Clark County Fire Department on Feb. 6, 2020. He began his career with the Department in 1990. Chief Steinbeck held the rank of deputy fire chief, battalion chief, captain, fire engineer, and firefighter. For a large portion of his career, he specialized in technical rescue, including high-angle, confined-space, swift-water, trench, structural collapse, and vehicle and machinery extrication. Chief Steinbeck has also been a member of Southern Nevada's FEMA Urban Search and Rescue team since 1993. His deployments for search and rescue missions included New York City shortly after 9-11 and New Orleans for the aftermath caused by Hurricane Katrina.

Following the shooting at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival on Oct. 1, 2017, Chief Steinbeck served as the incident commander for the Family Assistance Center and coordinated efforts at the Vegas Strong Resiliency Center.

In November 2024, John Steinbeck was elected to the Nevada State Senate.  He served in the 2025 legislative session and was the primary sponsor of legislation that improved the sharing of information with public safety agencies, made improvements to firefighter safety, and increased penalties for driving under the influence.

John Steinbeck is also an active board member of Nevada Child Seekers, which is an organization dedicated to protecting children in Nevada. He and his wife, Lynette, have four children and two grandchildren.

Dr. Steinmann is currently the Director of the University Center for Economic Development, part of The College of Business at the University of Nevada, Reno, and is the Principal Investigator for the Nevada Lithium Battery and Other EV Materials Loop Regional Technology and Innovation Hub, designated by the U.S. Economic Development Administration. In October 2023, he began his professional economic development career with the Reno Redevelopment Agency in the City of Reno, Nevada. Since then, he has worked for the Nevada Small Business Development Center, the Bureau of Business and Economic Research, and for the Carson Economic Development Services Department in the City of Carson, California.

Frederick has also worked as a Senior Associate for David Paul Rosen & Associates, one of the elite economic development and public policy consulting firms in California. Frederick earned his Doctorate in Policy, Planning, and Development, with areas of study including economic development, public policy, public finance, and real estate development, from the University of Southern California with the successful defense of his dissertation titled, “The Twilight of the Local Redevelopment Era: The Past, Present, and Future of Urban Revitalization and Urban Economic Development in Nevada and California.” As a doctoral student at the University of Southern California, Frederick also received the William A. Carlson Fellowship from the California Redevelopment Association in 2008. He also earned a Bachelor’s of Science and Masters of Science in Economics from the University of Nevada, Reno. He is currently a member of the International Economic Development Council, the American Society for Public Administration, and the American Planning Association.

Milt Stewart is the Chief Executive Officer of Nevadaworks, Northern Nevada’s Local Workforce Development Board. Milt brings ten years of workforce development experience and over two decades of small business experience, combining both employer and workforce stakeholder perspectives. Under his leadership, Nevadaworks has become a high-performing, innovation-driven board, securing major federal grants such as the Good Jobs Challenge and Apprenticeship Building America. These initiatives have expanded access to workforce training for the rural communities and the twenty-two tribes served throughout Nevadaworks thirteen county region.

Dr. Stoker has over 30 years’ experience in the battery and materials industry.  He is currently leading Ultion to restore LFP battery development and manufacturing and support the development of the lithium-ion supply chain in North America.  He originally entered the battery industry in 2001 when he joined Valence Technology as Director of Development and led one of the first teams to commercialize LFP CAM production as well as cell and pack production.  He established and led all of Valence’s China operations as Vice President of Operations before founding K2 Energy Solutions and serving as CEO for over 13 years.  K2 became one of the leading LFP focused cell and pack companies in the US before Ultion acquired its high-performance cell technology a few years ago.  Previous to 2001 Dr. Stoker was a technical leader and contributor in the materials industry, particularly involved in catalysts, ceramics, metals, and pigments.  One overriding theme to Dr. Stoker’s contributions is the ability to form teams and organizations that are proficient in developing and commercializing new products.

Taylor Stoker is the cofounder and head of business development at Ultion Technologies, a Las Vegas–based manufacturer of advanced Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery cells and systems. Raised in Las Vegas, Taylor grew up in the battery industry, developing a passion for battery technology as a teenager while working on K2 Energy’s production lines. He follows in the footsteps of his father, Johnnie Stoker, one of the earliest pioneers of LFP technology, whose cell designs and manufacturing processes remain foundational to the industry today. This lifelong experience gives Taylor a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of energy storage.

Before Ultion, Taylor led sales and go-to-market (GTM) strategy at Athelas, a Silicon Valley biotech startup, and helped the company scale into a multibillion-dollar enterprise. Today, he combines his experience building early-stage companies with his deep technical grounding in batteries to advance Nevada’s role in the global lithium economy.

Don Tatro is a Carson City native, began his career in Washington, D.C. as press secretary to two U.S. Senators. He later founded a successful startup and served as Executive Director of a major Northern Nevada business association. In 2021, he was appointed to the Nevada State Senate, and after completing his term in 2022, joined Redwood Materials as Director of State and Local Policy.

NSGI Board Member Danny L. Thompson is a seasoned strategist and public affairs consultant, widely recognized for his expertise, leadership, and ability to navigate complex policy landscapes. As President and Owner of Thompson Alliance Group, a Nevada-based public affairs firm, Danny provides strategic guidance and innovative solutions to clients across industries, leveraging decades of experience in government, advocacy, and organizational leadership. A Henderson, Nevada native, Danny began his career in public service in 1980 as a member of the Nevada State Assembly, where he served for a decade. During his tenure, he held influential leadership positions, including Chairman of the Government Affairs and Natural Resources Committees and Vice-Chairman of the Labor and Management Committee and the Nevada Public Lands Commission.

Danny’s executive career includes over 18 years as Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Nevada State AFL-CIO, where he guided a federation of more than 125 affiliates representing a diverse membership base across the state. Under his leadership, the organization became a nationally recognized model of effectiveness, influencing policy at both the state and federal levels and driving forward initiatives that contributed to Nevada’s economic and social advancement.

Throughout his career, Danny has demonstrated a keen ability to build consensus and achieve impactful outcomes, including leading high-profile campaigns on complex policy issues. His efforts have included successfully opposing initiatives that would have constrained state growth and advancing Nevada’s constitutional amendment to establish a fair and competitive minimum wage.

Danny’s accomplishments have earned him numerous accolades from organizations across the country, highlighting his professional contributions and commitment to advancing practical, results-driven solutions. He remains an active member of the Nevada community, serving on numerous boards and commissions and contributing his expertise to initiatives that promote economic vitality and innovation.

Dr. Jeff Thompson serves as the Executive Vice President and Provost at the University of Nevada, Reno. Dr. Thompson came to the role with extensive leadership and administrative expertise. In each of his administrative leadership roles, Dr. Thompson has remained devoted to advancing the reputation of the University with a focus on student success, innovation in research and community engagement. In his current role, Dr. Thompson has championed several first-of-their-kind student-serving initiatives, including the Digital Wolf Pack Initiative, Collegiate Academy program, and TechWise. Additionally, Dr. Thompson was instrumental in the designation as the Nevada Lithium Batteries and Other EV Material Loop (Nevada Tech Hub).

Dr. Thompson joined the faculty in the Physics Department at the University of Nevada, Reno, at which time he started a research laboratory in experimental atomic and molecular physics. As a dedicated mentor, many of his students have gone on to illustrious careers in research and academia and have maintained deep connections to the University. He served as Physics Department Chair and Associate Dean of the College of Science prior to becoming Dean of the College of Science in 2008 before his appointment to Executive Vice President and Provost in 2020.

Jamie K. Tract is a Shareholder at Parsons Behle & Latimer, one of the largest and oldest law firms in the Intermountain Region offering a full range of legal services with more than 200 attorneys. As a member of the firm’s Corporate Transactions & Securities, and Environmental, Energy & Natural Resources practice groups, Jamie focuses her practice on mergers and acquisitions, corporate reorganizations, complex contract drafting and negotiation, start-ups, business formation, and corporate governance. She represents both national and international clients on a broad range of transactions in various sectors, including as counsel to mining and refining companies with respect to acquisition and leasing of properties and precious metals, corporate governance, operations, transactions, procurement, regulatory matters, mining, mineral rights, safekeeping, and refining. Her experience includes negotiating and drafting purchase and sale agreements, engaging in due diligence and diligence opinions, ensuring regulatory compliance, and overseeing entity formation and governance. Jamie received her Juris Doctor from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law, and holds licenses to practice law in Nevada, California, Montana and Colorado.

Dr. Vahidi holds the John N. Butler Endowed Professorship at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). As an interdisciplinary researcher, he aims to bridge the gap between engineering and sustainability sciences by applying fundamental environmental engineering principles to practical solutions, particularly within the mining and metallurgical engineering sectors. Dr. Vahidi has contributed to numerous peer-reviewed journal articles focusing on producing, recovering, and recycling critical and strategic materials using methods such as chemical leaching, bio leaching, and solvent extraction. His expertise in life cycle sustainability assessment (LCA) and techno-economic analysis (TEA) is instrumental in developing realistic environmental and economic models to evaluate these processes.

Before joining UNR, Dr. Vahidi served as a postdoctoral associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he investigated various greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction solutions in construction materials in the United States. He currently collaborates with several mining companies across the U.S. to help them achieve their carbon reduction objectives.

Christine Whetten, GPHR, MBA, is a human capital strategist with more than 15 years of experience leading workforce development and talent acquisition across North America’s mining sector. Christine began her career in Montana mining, then honed her employee relations skills in Arizona, drove HR strategy in Alaska, and now supports the largest gold mining complex in the world in Nevada, partnering with diverse teams across global operations. Christine is passionate about her work in the mining industry. She leads the company's talent acquisition strategy while serving as a business partner to teams across North America and partnering with diverse teams across global operations. For Christine, mining isn’t just a career—it’s the industry where she knows she belongs

 As the Regional Leader of Talent Acquisition for Nevada Gold Mines and Barrick Gold North America, she has spearheaded initiatives that increased hiring success by over 250%, launched multiple next-generation workforce programs, and advanced diversity in mining by significantly growing the representation of women and early-career professionals.  She has partnered with school districts, universities, and community partners to pilot statewide workforce development projects, expanding mining talent pipelines and educating future generations about the importance of critical minerals.  Christine served on the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology’s Mining Engineering and Management Advisory Board for 5 years and is currently a member of the Elko Institute of Academic Achievement School Board, Vice President of Women in Mining (WIM) Nevada, and a member of the WIM National Board. She is passionate about building inclusive, sustainable workforce solutions that strengthen communities and ensure the mining industry’s long-term success.

Michael Woods is the President & Managing Member of Woods Capital, a global financial advisory firm exclusively focused on institutionally based financial structures and modeling, capital solutions and real estate development. Innovation, Infrastructure and Impact are Woods Capital’s three business verticals of expertise. Michael is a partner of Carbon Quest Solutions, an environmental credit advisory firm based in Chicago and Dubai and a senior advisor for KingsRock Advisors in New York City — a network of former Deutsche Bankers focused on capital and financial solutions, structural complexity and originating unique investment opportunities. He is a board member of Roman DBDR, a SPAC specialist focused on structuring projects for innovative technology companies as well as a board member of the CROVER Group, based in Sri Lanka, a global real estate firm focused upon building resort communities.

Michael previously served as the CEO & COO of Rothschild & Co. Asset Management U.S., Inc., and Global Partner of Rothschild & Co. Prior to Rothschild & Co. Prior to that role, he served as CEO of DWS Investments and Head of the Americas, Global Client Group, for Deutsche Asset & Wealth Management.

Michael is the Chair of the Long Island Chapter for Tiger 21, a global peer-to-peer learning community of entrepreneurs, wealth creators, and investors. He is also a member of the Board of Directors, and the Chair of the Finance Committee for the Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU) based in New York City and Washington, DC, and a Board Member and Chair of the Development and Communications Committee of The Korea Society based in New York City. Michael is a member of both The Leadership Council and the Small Business Technology Council for the National Small Business Association (NSBA) in the U.S., and a member of the Global Executive Consultation Group of the Blue Dot Network, a division of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) based in Paris. He is a 2018 honoree of the “New York Responsible 100 Award” and a member within the “Top 100 Innovators & Entrepreneurs Magazine” for 2023. He previously served on the Board of Directors of The New York Metropolitan Opera, The Children’s Village in New York City and The Big Brothers Big Sisters Organization of Massachusetts Bay. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business from Taylor University where he is a member of their Board of Visitors. Michael resides on Long Island, NY, with his wife, Jennifer, and twin daughters.