EDUCATION
• University of Nevada, Reno Extension has appointed Lindsay Chichester as the new state leader for the 4-H Youth Development Program. With a focus on enhancing youth engagement across Nevada, she will officially begin her role June 1.
Chichester brings extensive experience in Extension community work, having served in related positions for nearly 15 years. Before her tenure at the University, she was an educator at University of Nebraska – Lincoln Extension for six years, where she focused on beef and livestock systems. She joined University of Nevada, Reno Extension in 2016, initially as the Extension educator in Carson City, and then transitioned to the Extension educator in Douglas County in 2018.
As an Extension educator, Chichester has provided guidance to livestock producers, helping them to maximize productivity and ensure the health of their livestock. She also has developed and implemented educational programs for the 4-H Youth Development Program, including the promotion of initiatives such as Youth for the Quality Care of Animals Program. Additionally, she has provided expertise for various youth contests and events, such as honeybee and pollinator programs and livestock judging. In her most recent position as the Douglas County Extension educator, she leveraged her skills in community outreach and hands-on learning to develop methods for measuring impacts of Extension programs within the community.
As Nevada’s new 4-H leader, Chichester will work collaboratively with Extension specialists, parents, community leaders and volunteers to lead and develop educational and leadership programs for the group’s nearly 26,000 youth participants. Her objective is to expand youth engagement in 4-H programs across Nevada and ensure the organization offers opportunities to every youth in the state.
Chichester earned her bachelor’s degree in animal science and agriculture business, and master’s degrees in animal/meat science and speech communication from West Texas A&M University, where she later earned a Ph.D. in systems agriculture. Her instructional expertise spans a diverse range of topics, including livestock programming, food safety, agriculture business, environmental sciences, horticulture and cropping systems.
“As we welcome Lindsay as the state leader for the 4-H Youth Development Program, we embrace not just her wealth of experience, but also the passion and dedication she brings to empowering the youth of Nevada,” said Jacob DeDecker, Extension director and associate dean for engagement with the University’s College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources. “Her journey with 4-H reflects a deep-rooted commitment to nurturing young minds and shaping the leaders of tomorrow, and I have every confidence that her vision will inspire positive change and growth within our 4-H community.”
The Nevada 4-H Youth Development Program caters to youth, ages 5 to 19, providing hands-on learning experiences, mentorship opportunities, and the chance to explore various STEM disciplines in fun and interactive ways. The program offers a diverse range of clubs, STEM programs, in-school and after-school activities and summer camps, all aimed at empowering youth with the skills and confidence needed to thrive as engaged citizens.
NONPROFIT
• The Mob Museum, the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, announced Vice President of Marketing, Communications and Sales Ashley Miller has been honored as one of PRNEWS’ Top Women of 2024 in The Motivators category. This prestigious recognition is awarded to women who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and innovation in the field of public relations. Miller’s strategic vision and relentless pursuit of elevating the Museum’s brand recognition and credibility have cemented the organization’s commitment to excellence. Her efforts drive The Mob Museum’s success, extending its impact locally, nationally and internationally.
Under Miller’s leadership, the organization routinely earns more coverage for its exhibits and programs in local, national and international media outlets than other nationally renowned museums and has become Nevada’s most visited museum, welcoming over 4 million visitors since its opening from all 50 states and 36 countries. Additionally, the Museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, affirming adherence to the highest industry standards and commitment to excellence as it welcomes more than 400,000 guests per year. Under her direction, the Museum’s website also receives more than 2.5 million annual visits while its social media platforms have amassed more than 260,000 followers.
Accolades received include being named “A Must for Travelers” by The New York Times, “Expansive and Enlightening” by The Wall Street Journal, “Best Attraction in Las Vegas ” by USA TODAY’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice, “Twenty Greatest Attractions in Las Vegas History” and “Best Museum” in by Las Vegas Weekly, one of National Geographic’s “Top 10 Things to Do in Las Vegas” and one of “20 Places Every American Should See” by FOX News. The museum also continually outpaces comparable institutions in terms of the sheer volume of media coverage its exhibits and public programs receive.
The PRNEWS group recognizes women who are mentors that inspire and empower other women to succeed. The award celebrates those who have made a significant impact in their organizations and industries, paving the way for future generations of women in leadership.
• Project 150, a nonprofit dedicated to assisting homeless, displaced and disadvantaged high school students, announced the appointment of two individuals to its board of directors: Lorraine Kalayanaprapruit and Mike Heiman.
— Kalayanaprapruit brings a wealth of experience to Project 150 as the senior manager of sustainability and community for The Venetian Resort Las Vegas. With her leadership, she has spearheaded numerous initiatives aimed at environmental stewardship and community welfare. Additionally, she co-chairs the Nevada Resort Association Environmental Group, demonstrating her commitment to making a positive impact both locally and statewide.
— Heiman, the senior vice president of facilities at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, joins the Project 150 board with extensive expertise in facilities management and strategic planning. Responsible for overseeing all aspects of facilities management at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, Heiman’s insights will be invaluable in guiding Project 150’s efforts to support high school students in need.
Kelli Kristo, executive director of Project 150, expressed her excitement about the new additions to the board, stating, “We are thrilled to welcome Lorraine and Mike to the Project 150 family. Their diverse backgrounds and wealth of experience will provide invaluable insight and knowledge as we continue our mission to empower disadvantaged high school students.”
Founded in December 2011 by local businessmen Don Purdue and Patrick Spargur, Project 150 has been dedicated to supporting homeless, displaced and disadvantaged high school students in the Las Vegas area. Starting with a focus on 150 students at Rancho High School, the organization has expanded its reach to serve over 6,800 students across more than 75 schools in Nevada. Project 150 provides essential resources such as food, clothing, school supplies and college scholarships to ensure students can focus on their education and achieve success in life.
REAL ESTATE
• MDL Group, a Las Vegas-based commercial real estate firm, announced a new leadership team alignment, effective April 1. This leadership structure will allow MDL Group to continue to provide exceptional commercial real estate brokerage and property management services and maintain its proud employment culture that values inclusion as well as individual opportunity and empowerment. Under the new leadership alignment:
— Hayim Mizrachi, CCIM, serves as CEO, broker and principal.
— Jarrad Katz, CCIM, SIOR, assumes the role of president and principal.
— Carol Cline-Ong, CCIM, RPA, serves as co-founder and principal.
— Curt Anderson, CPA, remains in his role as co-founder, broker and principal.
— Desiree Lowery, remains in her role as director of operations.
— Laura Cornwell, was promoted to director of accounting
The new leadership team structure has been a decade in the making. Both Cline-Ong and Anderson are co-founders of MDL and continue to serve as active executive leaders, with Cline-Ong focusing on client relations, business development and operational excellence. Anderson, whose career accomplishments also include a partner role in a national accounting firm, is actively involved in ensuring a seamless transition for MDL’s leadership team.
— Lowery, who started with MDL Group as an administrative assistant in 2006 and has been promoted to executive roles through the years, now helps shape MDL Group’s strategy while overseeing property management, operations, staff development and customer satisfaction.
— Cornwell, who started with MDL Group in June 2009, takes over the accounting department leadership duties from Julie Lane, who has held that role since 2015. Lane is relocating out of state as part of her family’s plans but will remain on the team remotely.
— Both Mizrachi and Katz bring impressive commercial real estate backgrounds and have been groomed to guide MDL Group into the future. Katz, who specializes in sales and leasing of industrial, office and investment properties, now leverages his strengths to ensure MDL Group’s future growth continues to be built on integrity, trust and client satisfaction. Mizrachi, a native Las Vegan with 20 years of commercial real estate experience, comes to the CEO position with past leadership success in steering a top-five global commercial real estate enterprise through tremendous growth.
WHOLESALE
• Andmore, a omnichannel marketplace for wholesale buyers and sellers, announced the appointment of Jonathan “Jon” Pertchik as chief executive officer, and the promotion of Dorothy Belshaw to president. Pertchik succeeds Bob Maricich, who founded Andmore (formerly International Market Centers “IMC”) in 2011. Maricich will now assume the role of executive chairman of the board to ensure a seamless transition.
“I am pleased to welcome Jon to the Andmore team and am confident we have found the right leader for the future of our great company,” Maricich said. “Jon is a seasoned executive closely aligned with our company’s core values and our unwavering focus on putting the customer first. It has been a tremendous privilege to build and lead this business over the last 13 years, and I look forward to working alongside Jon, Dorothy and the rest of the team in my new role as Executive Chairman. The future is bright as we continue to build on our culture, our successes, and our customer partnerships to grow our unique industry position as the only omnichannel B2B marketplace.”
— Pertchik joins Andmore with over 20 years of leadership experience across real estate, hospitality and finance industries. Most recently, he was CEO of TravelCenters of America (TCA), a Fortune 500 company, where he led the organization through a period of growth and transformation ultimately earning recognition as one of Newsweek’s “Most Trustworthy” large travel and leisure companies. Prior to his role at TCA, Pertchik served as CEO of InTown Suites / Uptown Suites as well as ST Residential, and held leadership roles at WCI Communities and The Staubach Co. He holds a Master of Laws from Georgetown University Law Center, a Juris Doctorate from the University of the District of Columbia and a Bachelor of Arts from Rutgers University. He is on the board of directors of Nikola Corp. and has sat on the boards of Lenkbar and AV Homes.
Pertchik will make his permanent office in Atlanta, while also setting up offices in Las Vegas and High Point.
— Belshaw is a proven leader with 32 years of experience in the wholesale marketplace industry, including 12 years with Andmore holding positions as chief revenue officer, chief marketing officer and, most recently, chief growth officer.
Belshaw joined Andmore (formerly IMC) in 2012, bringing 20-plus years of home and gift tradeshow industry experience. Initially hired to bring the category to the Las Vegas Market, her role soon broadened to include responsibility for all aspects of the end-to-end customer experience, driving increased buyer acquisition across all IMC markets, and developing tools and services to improve the at Market experience for buyers and exhibitors. An industry leader, Dorothy will be honored with the 2024 Gift for Life Industry Achievement Award in June, which recognizes overall excellence and contribution to the gift and home industry.