EDUCATION
• Civil and environmental engineering professor Krishna Pagilla has been selected to serve on the Environmental Protection Agency’s Science Advisory Board, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin announced April 17.
Pagilla joins 36 other scientists on the newly appointed board, which will advise EPA leadership as they advance the agency’s core mission of protecting human health and the environment. He has served on the EPA’s SAB previously under President Donald Trump’s first administration and President Joe Biden’s administration.
After joining the University of Nevada, Reno, in 2015, Pagilla helped establish the Nevada Water Innovation Institute, which works with local and regional agencies to solve water challenges. He is the NWII director and has served as the chair of the civil and environmental engineering department.
Pagilla’s research focuses on water reclamation and reuse, water treatment and the relationship between water systems, energy and resources. His work has been cited thousands of times by other scientists and engineers.
The University of Nevada, Reno is a public research university that is committed to the promise of a future powered by knowledge. As a Nevada land-grant university founded in 1874, it serves 21,000 students. The University is a comprehensive, doctoral university, classified as an R1 institution with very high research activity by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Additionally, it has attained the prestigious “Carnegie Engaged” classification, reflecting its student and institutional impact on civic engagement and service, fostered by extensive community and statewide collaborations. More than $800 million in advanced labs, residence halls and facilities has been invested on campus since 2009. For more information, visit unr.edu.
ENGINEERING
• RS&H welcomes Zuhair Almaghrabi as the firm’s digital designer for transportation. In this critical role, Almaghrabi will lead the strategic development and implementation of advanced digital solutions across the firm’s transportation projects. This addition highlights RS&H’s commitment to using technical innovation and shared expertise to deliver superior, resilient infrastructure solutions that move communities forward.
“As RS&H advances our digital delivery capabilities, we are committed to staying ahead of industry transformation and empowering clients with future-focused solutions,” said Andrew Poszich, PE, director of digital delivery. “Zuhair is joining us at an exciting time in our firm’s evolution, and her experience, excitement and vision will further strengthen our efforts to deliver innovative digital strategies. Together, we are building communities around digital workflows, shaping a path for us all to meet today’s growing needs — and leading the way for the future.”
Operating nationally, Almaghrabi will serve as a lead resource to deliver high-profile projects that require emerging design workflows. She will provide 3D model quality control services and ensure that regional capabilities meet evolving client demands. By partnering with teams across highway, drainage, structures, signals and lighting disciplines, she will curate pilot projects, help clients develop agency protocols, and assist in creating corporate standard practices for the industry-wide shift to BIM for infrastructure.
“Zuhair brings a profound level of practical expertise and a true collaborative spirit to our team,” said Sam Worthy, PE, infrastructure digital delivery Leader at RS&H. “Our digital delivery group is driven by a strong commitment to improving project delivery through innovation. Zuhair brings experience and energy to the group, motivating and elevating the project teams we work with daily. Investing in exceptional designers such as Zuhair empowers RS&H to build internal technical excellence while supporting our infrastructure clients.”
Almaghrabi brings more than seven years of dedicated experience in highway and transportation infrastructure. She holds a Master of Science in civil engineering and is a recognized Bentley Premier Scholar with 14 Bentley accreditations. Throughout her career, Almaghrabi has successfully guided multi-state transportation programs, built robust digital standards and provided hands-on mentoring for multidisciplinary teams at leading engineering firms and state transportation departments. Her background emphasizes translating specialized technical knowledge into practical, accessible workflows that improve quality control and project outcomes.
RS&H is a 100 percent employee-owned leading provider of architecture, engineering and consulting services. Learn more at rsandh.co.
ENTERTAINMENT
• Play Social Inc., the creator of the Play Playground social game experience with locations in Las Vegas and Nashville, announced the expansion of its executive leadership team with the appointments of Anna-Marie Shropshire as director of marketing and sales and Roxana Adan as human resources director. The additions come as the company positions itself for continued expansion across U.S. and global markets, while elevating women into key leadership roles guiding its next phase of growth.
As Play Social Inc. continues to grow, the company is building a leadership team reflecting the collaborative, people-driven spirit at the core of its brand, with a deliberate focus on bringing experienced female leaders into roles that directly influence business performance and team culture. Developed to help guests experience the power of play, Play Playground offers larger-than-life physical games, nostalgic challenges and a high-energy food and beverage program. Each venue blends playful competition with social spaces, specialty cocktails and shareable moments, creating an environment where connection comes naturally and friendly rivalry sparks genuine joy.
In her new role, Shropshire will oversee marketing and sales initiatives for Play Social Inc. and all Play Playground locations, with a focus on driving revenue growth and aligning brand strategy with business objectives. She brings more than 17 years of experience leading expansion efforts across multi-location businesses and is renowned for integrating marketing and sales strategies that deliver measurable results while maintaining brand integrity and operational efficiency.
“Anna-Marie’s ability to connect marketing and sales in a meaningful, results-driven way makes her a stand-out addition to our leadership team,” said Phil Royle, CEO, Play Social Inc. “As we continue to scale, her experience building high-performing, data-informed programs will be key to accelerating our growth.”
Adan joins as human resources director, overseeing people operations across the organization. Her background spans location-based entertainment and hospitality, including leadership roles with Madame Tussauds in Hollywood and Las Vegas, as well as MGM Resorts International and Wynn Resorts. Throughout her career, she has managed operations and human resources functions across multiple departments, bringing a comprehensive understanding of workforce development within large-scale entertainment environments.
“Roxana’s experience in human resources within the entertainment industry gives her an unmatched foundation to help scale Play Playground globally,” Royle said. “Bringing on a trusted and proven member of the senior leadership team was a key priority within my first 60 days at Play Playground. I am truly excited to have Roxana support the team and help grow our business by putting our people first.”
With locations in Las Vegas and Nashville, Play Playground offers a social game experience blending larger-than-life physical games, nostalgic challenges and a high-energy food and beverage program. Open to ages 13-plus before 7 p.m. and 21-plus after 7 p.m., Play Playground invites friend groups, couples, private parties and out-of-town visitors to laugh, move, mingle and experience the power of play across signature attractions. Guests can also enjoy social spaces, specialty cocktails and shareable moments. For more information, visit playplayground.com or follow on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.
FINANCE
• America First Credit Union announced the appointment of Jessica Graham as its new executive vice president and chief legal officer.
Graham brings nearly 30 years of legal expertise to America First. She spent several years in private practice with national law firms, and the last 23 years as general counsel and chief legal officer for large institutions with multi-state and international operations. Most recently, she served as executive vice president, chief risk officer and chief legal officer for Global Federal Credit Union.
“We are thrilled to welcome Jessica to America First,” said Thayne Shaffer, president & CEO at America First Credit Union. “She brings incredible experience not just as a chief legal officer, but also in compliance, crisis management and mergers and acquisitions. Her expertise and leadership make her an outstanding addition to our leadership team.”
As America First’s chief legal advisor, Graham will guide the credit union on regulatory compliance, risk management and strategic decisions, while supporting ongoing growth initiatives.
Founded in 1939, America First Credit Union has grown into one of the strongest and most progressive credit unions in the country. It is the sixth largest credit union in the nation with $24 billion in assets and 116 locations across Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah, serving 1.5 million members. America First is a member-owned, not-for-profit cooperative financial institution dedicated to building communities and helping its members do more with their money. Learn more at americafirst.com.
GAMING
• Emerald Island and Rainbow Club casinos announced the promotion of Chelsea Crossley to Rewards Center marketing specialist, recognizing her continued growth and contributions to the organization.
In her new position, Crossley will work closely with the director of operations and assistant general manager to support daily operations and enhance the guest experience. Her responsibilities include assisting with promotional drawings, developing and producing marketing materials such as graphics and print collateral, and supporting the execution of promotional campaigns and incentives. She also plays a key role in the Rewards Center, assisting guests, managing employee schedules and helping curate merchandise and gifts that elevate the player experience.
HEALTH CARE
• Taylor Thompson is the director of strategic partnerships for CareSource Nevada, where the work centers on building strategic, mission‑aligned collaborations that strengthen access to care and advance health equity. Taylor brings a strong background in health care partnerships, philanthropic development and cross‑sector collaboration, with experience spanning managed care, higher education and nonprofit organizations.
Before joining CareSource, Taylor held senior development leadership roles at the UNLV School of Public Health, including interim and associate director of development. Taylor led partnership strategy and stewardship efforts with health care systems, foundations, corporations and community‑based organizations, supporting initiatives in workforce development, prevention, youth health programming and public health research.
MARKETING
• The Abbi Agency (TAA) has announced the addition of Jennifer Davies as vice president of strategic communications, further strengthening the agency’s ability to help organizations communicate clearly and effectively across complex, public-facing environments.
Davies brings more than a decade of leadership experience in public-sector communications, most recently serving as strategic communications manager for the city of Las Vegas, where she managed integrated communications strategies across more than 20 departments. In this role, she oversaw social media, digital marketing, public relations, website strategy and public outreach efforts designed to reach a rapidly growing and diverse population.
This addition reflects a broader shift in communications, where complex audiences and higher expectations are raising the bar across industries. As organizations face increasing pressure to reach diverse audiences and deliver measurable outcomes, the ability to create clarity and confidence has become essential. In Nevada, government roles make up roughly 11.5 percent of the workforce, making the public sector a key economic engine. With many teams stretched thin, strategic communications support is essential to keeping pace, driving impact, fostering public engagement and achieving their goals.
Davies’ understanding of public-sector communications will be an asset to The Abbi Agency’s many private sector clients who look to the TAA to help partner with public agencies on shared priorities.
“Jennifer brings a perspective that reflects where communications is headed,” said Abbi Whitaker, founder of The Abbi Agency. “Organizations, today, aren’t just trying to capture attention — they’re working to communicate clearly across diverse audiences and help people feel confident in what they’re seeing. That requires a different approach, and her experience strengthens how we support our clients.” ”
In addition to her public-sector leadership, Davies serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she teaches social media strategy and integrated marketing within the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs. She previously held communications roles at NV Energy and Kirvin Doak Communications. Davies earned a Master of Arts in communication management from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Arts in communication with an emphasis in public relations from Michigan State University. She holds multiple professional certifications in digital marketing and leadership and has received national recognition, including being named a Top 100 Influencer in Local Government by Engaging Local Government Leaders (ELGL) and earning Social Media Team of the Year honors from the Government Social Media organization.
In her new role, Davies joins the agency’s leadership team alongside Owen Truesdell, vice president of public affairs, and Allegra Demerjian, vice president of travel and tourism. She will serve as vice president of strategic communications, providing senior counsel to clients, overseeing integrated communications strategies, and supporting agency growth initiatives, including new business development and market expansion in Las Vegas and across Nevada.
The Abbi Agency (TAA) is a full-service marketing and public relations agency. Headquartered in Nevada with offices in Las Vegas, Reno and Helena, Montana, TAA is a certified B Corporation, committed to using bold business as a force for good. Recently named Advertising Agency of the Year by the American Advertising Federation’s (AAF) Western Region Best of the West Media Awards and Bulldog PR’s Midsize Agency of the Year, the agency excels in creating award-winning integrated marketing campaigns for clients. Learn more at theabbiagency.com.
• Las Vegas-based public relations and digital marketing agency Purdue Marion & Associates has become an employee-owned company called The PMA Agency. The award-winning agency was established in 2001, and for the past 24 years, Purdue Marion has provided public relations, video and digital asset creation, community outreach, digital marketing and branding services to clients in Nevada and across the country. The agency’s diverse clients have included top brands in hospitality, education, utilities, real estate and development as well as municipal governments. The PMA Agency will continue to serve Purdue Marion & Associates’ current clients.
“Purdue Marion & Associates’ longevity and success are because of the hard work and talent of our staff,” said Lynn Purdue, Purdue Marion & Associates principal and founder. “We want to share that success with our team and watch them carry on the work of the agency as they build their legacy.”
The PMA Agency will be led by Michele Voelkening, serving as president and managing partner, and Gaby Rodriguez as vice president of public relations and community outreach. Purdue Marion & Associates’ principals and founders, Purdue and Bill Marion, will continue to work with agency clients and serve as advisors in their roles as agency partners.
New to the team is April Mastroluca, who will serve as vice president of strategy and public policy. A former member of the Nevada Assembly representing District 29 from 2008 to 2012, Mastroluca has vast experience in stakeholder engagement, strategic planning and meeting facilitation for both for-profit and nonprofit organizations. The PMA Agency’s new website is found at thepmaagency.com.
NONPROFIT
• Communities In Schools of Nevada (CIS of Nevada), part of the nation’s leading evidence-based dropout prevention nonprofit organization serving 117 Nevada schools with regional offices in the Clark, Elko, Humboldt and Washoe County school districts, announced the appointment of board member Ann Silver.
Silver is the CEO of the Reno + Sparks Chamber of Commerce, the largest business organization in Northern Nevada, and has been at the helm of the company since 2015. Previous positions include CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern Nevada, senior vice president of human resources and labor relations for global food service and restaurant company COMPASS and general manager of Radio City Music Hall. Silver received a psychology degree from Cornell University and a doctorate in labor relations from Notre Dame Law School.
CIS places full-time and professionally trained site coordinators in 117 Title I and high-needs schools across Nevada to support nearly 100,000 students in grades K-12 who face barriers to their success — increasing the likelihood of students staying in school and graduating on time. The organization taps into a statewide network of more than 120 community nonprofits, partners and agencies, bringing the community into the school to get students whatever they need to overcome the barriers they face that prevent them from achieving academically. From eyeglasses, dental care, health care and professional counseling to food, school supplies, clothing and housing, CIS identifies student needs and finds a way to address them, closing the gaps they experience in their everyday lives. CIS’s long-term vision is for every child enrolled in a Title I or high-needs school to access a CIS site coordinator and their evidence-based model of integrated student support, otherwise known as wrapdaround services. The graduation rate for CIS case-managed high school seniors in Nevada for the 2024-2025 school year was 97 percent. For more information, visit cisnevada.org and follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
REAL ESTATE
• SVN | THE EQUITY GROUP announced that Jennifer Ott, CCIM has joined the firm as senior vice president. With more than 20 years of commercial real estate experience, she specializes in retail services for landlords, tenants and investors throughout Southern Nevada.
Ott has advised a wide range of clients, including prominent retailers, property owners, developers and publicly traded REITs. Her deep market knowledge and strategic approach have made her a trusted advisor in the region’s retail sector.
“We are excited to welcome Jennifer to SVN | The Equity Group,” said Paul Chaffee, CCIM, director of brokerage. “Her experience and strong industry relationships will be a great addition to our platform and the clients we serve.”
Ott has been an active leader in the commercial real estate community, previously serving as president of Commercial Alliance Las Vegas and the CCIM Southern Nevada Chapter. She remains involved with ICSC and NAIOP Southern Nevada and recently joined the board of directors for Project Marily.
• Madi Grimm, Nevada Realtors’ engagement and outreach specialist, was hired in December 2025 to help strengthen connection across the state. This newly created role is designed to meet community leaders, Realtors, entrepreneurs and future homeowners where they are in an ever-evolving real estate landscape.
Grimm brings both professional training and authentic enthusiasm to the work. With a degree in marketing from UNLV and a deep understanding of digital storytelling, she is helping NVR modernize how it communicates with members and the public. At the same time, she is working toward earning her own real estate license in order to fully understand the profession she represents.
Madi’s second initiative focuses on preparing the next generation of home buyers by expanding education around financial readiness and long-term planning.
For many young Nevadans, homeownership can feel out of reach amid rising costs, student loan debt and economic uncertainty. Nevada Realtors is working to change that narrative by promoting financial literacy and encouraging early preparation for homeownership. “Madi on the Streets” is her first visible campaign as a part of this initiative. Through interviews of homeowners and aspiring homeowners, she will be spotlighting real stories from across Nevada on NVR’s social media platforms.
• G.C. Garcia, Inc., a Nevada-based land planning and development services firm, recently announced it has hired Cheri Worthington as administrative assistant.
Worthington brings more than 10 years of experience supporting operations and compliance in fast-paced, highly regulated environments. She has a strong background in administrative oversight, safety documentation and cross-team coordination, with a proven ability to help teams stay organized, on schedule and aligned.
Throughout her career in Las Vegas, Worthington has worked behind the scenes on large-scale events and daily operations, earning a reputation for her attention to detail, calm approach and ability to keep projects moving forward. Her skillset naturally supports the coordination and planning essential to urban development projects.
Originally from Washington, Worthington has called Las Vegas home since 2012. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with family and friends and relaxing with her Labradoodle, Reya.
GC Garcia, Inc. is a Nevada-based land planning and development services firm. The company, founded more than 30 years ago, is well-established and respected within Southern Nevada’s local government and agency circles. Recognized as a leader in government and neighborhood relations, entitlements, due diligence, development coordination, permitting and business licensing they have earned the moniker the “Red Tape Sherpas.” For more information, visit gcgarciainc.com.
