Leadership
The fortitude of any organization depends solely on the quality of its leadership.
-Richard Bydde
Our Board of Directors
The Mayor’s Fund for Las Vegas LIFE is led by an impressive group of community and business leaders who assist with fundraising, awareness-building and provide critical input to City staff on key issues.
Ivette Fernandez
Chair
Ivette Fernandez is Vice President of Government Affairs for Endeavor, the parent of multiple entertainment companies, including UFC®, William Morris Endeavor, IMG, Professional Bull Riders and Miss Universe. Ivette is a Commissioner on the Nevada Equal Rights Commission, Board Member and Vice Chair of the Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino, and a Member of the Winning for Women Advisory Committee, Hispanic Scholarship Fund Las Vegas Advisory Council, and Junior League of Las Vegas. Ivette has traveled to over 30 countries and 30 states in the U.S. and speaks three languages. Born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska, Ivette won the title of Miss Alaska USA and Miss Congeniality in 2000, and she competed in the 2001 Miss USA Pageant. Ivette received her bachelor’s degree from The George Washington University and her master’s degree from Georgetown University.
John Tippins
Secretary
John Tippins is Founder & CEO of Northcap Commercial. A prolific real estate developer, owner, operator in multifamily, retail and office projects, he is currently involved in multiple real estate companies as an operating partner or broker for Starwood Capital, TPG, LeFrak Organization, the FDIC, Dune Real Estate Partners, Silverstein Properties, Southern Land Companies, and others. He was a partner in the development of the LVMPD headquarters in downtown Las Vegas, which represented a consolidation of over 60 leases into one developed headquarters. John has recently closed, in partnership, three land deals for development with the City Of Las Vegas. John has been involved in over 100 transactions in Downtown Las Vegas throughout his career. John graduated with a bachelor’s in marketing from UNLV and is a graduate of Leadership Las Vegas, Class of 2007. In addition to other organizations, John is on the Advisory Board for UNLV
Sabra Newby
Treasurer
Sabra Newby currently serves as a Deputy City Manager at the City of Las Vegas with responsibility for the departments of Neighborhood Services, Youth Development & Social Innovations, and Government Affairs. Prior to her service at the city of Las Vegas, Sabra served as the vice president of Government and Community Engagement at UNLV since 2020. She was appointed by the Clark County Commission to the Nevada State Assembly in January 2023.
From 2017 to 2020, she served as city manager for the city of Reno, having worked at Clark County from 2006 to 2017, where she was a chief administrative officer before being promoted to assistant county manager. Sabra began her career in public service in 2002 with the city of Las Vegas where she held multiple roles, including legislative officer.
She is a member of the Nevada Public Radio Community Advisory Board. She has a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Wellesley College.
Danielle Bisterfeldt
Danielle Bisterfeldt is Senior Vice President, Marketing and Consumer Experience for Summerlin®, a 22,500-acre master-planned community (MPC) developed by Howard Hughes Holdings, Inc., in Southern Nevada. She is responsible for management of all branding, marketing and business development functions for Summerlin and Downtown Summerlin®, the community’s acclaimed 400-acre walkable, mixed-use urban core.
In this capacity, Bisterfeldt utilizes experience and expertise in both retail marketing and management to develop and execute a highly strategic and integrated marketing and public relations program for both the community and its large retail destination. Summerlin is the only master-planned community in Southern Nevada with its own downtown.
Bisterfeldt joined the residential division of The Howard Hughes Corporation in 2012 to lead the marketing department for Summerlin. Her professional career includes positions with The Rouse Company in specialty leasing and General Growth Properties as associate general manager for Fashion Show, the largest retail destination on the Las Vegas Strip at over two million square feet. One of her core responsibilities was overseeing the center’s entertainment department, which included all advertising revenue, special events and the specialty leasing program. She also served as marketing manager for Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian | The Palazzo where she directed the daily entertainment program, secured alternative revenue streams and implemented a local and nationally focused marketing platform including advertising, special events and public relations initiatives.
Bisterfeldt received the Silver Award for Marketing Director of the Year in 2015 and in 2016 from the National Association of Homebuilders. The National Association of Homebuilders Southern Nevada chapter named Bisterfeldt as a finalist in its Silver Nugget Awards for Marketing Director of the Year in 2015 and as the winner of Marketing Director of the Year in 2016. She was one of Vegas Inc.’s 2007 and 2015 “40 Under 40” honorees, and she was named by Las Vegas Business Press as one of the 2015 “Women Who Mean Business.” She serves as a Trustee for the Vegas Chamber and is a member of the Steering Committee for its Executive Women’s Council. She also serves on the Dean’s Advisory Council for the Roseman School of Medicine.
Bisterfeldt is a graduate of UCLA and holds a B.S. in political science.
Gian Brosco
Gian Brosco is President & CEO, Nevada Community Foundation. A former attorney and banker, Gian brings more than 15 years’ experience in the fields of philanthropy, law, fundraising and banking to his role with the Nevada Community Foundation. Previously, he spent four years with The Rhode Island Foundation as a development officer and gift planning advisor before joining U.S. Trust Bank of America, where he served as Vice President for the Philanthropic Management Group. While at U.S. Trust, Gian counseled individuals, families and private foundations on their philanthropy and advised institutional clients around governance and nonprofit management issues. He also served as an expert for the bank’s clients on the subjects of philanthropy and planned giving, leadership and governance, fiduciary and tax matters. In his career, Gian has advised more than 1,000 public charities, private foundations, individuals and families on all aspects of charitable giving and philanthropy and is one of fewer than 175 BoardSource © Certified Governance Trainers, globally. During Gian’s tenure at Nevada Community Foundation (2008- present), the organization has experienced exponential growth during a period of extraordinary economic upheaval, growing from $14.9mm to more than $260mm, today. Gian received his Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Georgetown University and completed his Juris Doctor from New England School of Law. A Greenspun Distinguished Professor of Practice at UNLV’s School of Public Policy and Leadership, Gian taught graduate courses in 21st Century Leadership and Public Policy.
Heather Harmon
Heather Harmon works with artists, organizations and museums on leadership, strategy, and fundraising. Currently she is the Executive Director of the Las Vegas Museum of Art and the Co-Executive Director of the Triple Aught Foundation, who governs and manages Michael Heizer’s City. Previously she served as Director of the Nevada Museum of Art in Las Vegas and prior, she was Director of Development for Artists Space, New York. From 2008-2013 she was Director at Regen Projects, Los Angeles before joining the firm KCM Fine Arts to build and manage Art Projects Ibiza and the Lune Rouge Foundation in Ibiza, Spain.
Dr. Roy Whitmore, Ph.D.
Roy Whitmore is a Program Chair at the University of Phoenix College of Business and Information Technology where he leads over 250 local and online faculty across four states. He also teaches business and ethics at DePaul University and previously served on a board for DePaul’s School of Continuing and Professional Education. He owns Whitmore Consulting, committed to developing authentic leaders, sustainable (ethical) businesses, and long-term strategic alliances with client companies. He earned his undergraduate degree in business, a master’s degree in business, a graduate certificate in Applied Leadership for Professionals from DePaul University. Additionally, he received a master’s and Ph.D. in Human Development from Fielding Graduate University. His book Misled, Hidden Colors of America details his remarkable personal and professional journey which inspires all Americans to join as one America.
Advisory Committee
Andy Abboud, Las Vegas Sands Corp.
Aaron Berger, The Neon Museum
Allan Creel, Creel Printing
Kristine Creel, Creel Printing
Cindy Ellis, Ellis Island Hotel Casino & Brewery and Philanthropist
Bruce Ford, City National Bank
Craig Galati, LGA – Lucchesi, Galati Architects
Maria Gatti, MGM Resorts International
Gard Jameson, Jameson Family Trust
Brian Kunec, KB Home
Rose McKinney-James, McKinney-James & Associates
Tony Sanchez, NV Energy
Ann Simmons Nicholson, The Simmons Group
Tom Thomas, Thomas & Mack