EDUCATION
• After a decade of work in ecological consulting, applied research and stakeholder engagement, University of Nevada, Reno alum Lucas Phipps is trading his field hat for a faculty one. He joins the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology & Natural Resources as an assistant professor of rangeland ecology and management.
Since earning an M.S. in rangeland ecology & management in 2019 from the College’s Department of Agriculture, Veterinary & Rangeland Science, Phipps has become a recognized voice in rangeland and wildland fire sciences. With a growing portfolio of more than $600,000 in research funding and collaborations with agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Phipps brings a rare combination of field expertise and applied research that strengthens both the College’s academic programs and its service to land stewards across Nevada and the West.
Drawing from his experience teaching professional development courses for wildland firefighters, who earn Office of Personnel Management credits through the Rangeland & Fire Ecology Education Program offered by the University’s Experiment Station, Phipps will lead his degree-seeking students into hands-on, field-based exploration of ecological systems through courses such as rangeland restoration ecology and rangeland vegetation monitoring and data analysis. He also will conduct research as part of the Experiment Station, supporting land restoration and fire resilience across Nevada’s rangelands.
“Lucas brings a forward-thinking approach to rangeland science that aligns perfectly with our mission as a land-grant institution,” said Mike Teglas, professor and chair of the Department of Agriculture, Veterinary & Rangeland Science. “His ability to connect students with real-world challenges while supporting Nevada’s land stewards makes him an exceptional addition to our faculty.”
In 2024, while serving as a private consultant focused on ecological restoration and land assessment, Phipps earned his doctorate in animal and rangeland science from the same academic department. He has served as a senior range specialist for the Great Basin Sagebrush Restoration Fund, a research initiative led by professor Tamzen Stringham, a rangeland and riparian ecologist in the department.
Phipps’ consulting work has spanned across the West, including in Nevada, Colorado, Arizona, Utah, California, Washington and Alaska, where he conducted biological assessments, rare plant surveys, post-fire rehabilitation and rangeland inventories, and mapping for the Bureau of Indian Affairs; and served as an expert witness for the Department of Justice on tribal water rights.
NONPROFIT
• Opportunity 180, an education nonprofit, has named Tamara Shear as its new chief executive officer. Shear succeeds Jana Wilcox Lavin, who led the organization since 2017 and will now transition to senior advisor.
Shear brings decades of experience in the education sector. Since joining Opportunity 180 in 2020, she has served as chief program officer and senior director of the great schools portfolio. In both roles, she led efforts to improve instructional outcomes for underserved students. She has been instrumental in developing initiatives that garner school support, leadership development and partnership work.
As CEO, Shear will be responsible for creating and implementing strategic opportunities that ensure every child has a pathway to success. She will work closely with the board, dedicated team members, donors, partners and other stakeholders to advance Opportunity 180’s mission of 100,000 more students attending high-quality schools by 2030.
“Tamara is the best candidate to guide Opportunity 180 into the next phase of our strategic framework. Her unwavering dedication to educational equity and proven ability to drive progress make her the ideal leader for our next chapter,” said Dr. Sebern Coleman, board chair of Opportunity 180. “With her vision, we are confident that Opportunity 180 will continue to champion meaningful change for students, families and schools across Nevada.”
Prior to joining Opportunity 180, Shear worked with Achievement Network, TNTP, and Teach for America, where she collaborated to bolster leadership development and encourage innovative approaches to teaching and learning. Shear began her education career through Teach For America as a middle school math teacher in Washington D.C. She earned her Master of Arts in secondary education and teaching from American University and Bachelor of Business Administration, economics from the University of California, Riverside.
Over the past eight years, Opportunity 180 has partnered with more than 30 public schools across Nevada, supporting nearly 25,000 students, and working closely with more than 130 current and aspiring school leaders. For more information about Opportunity 180, visit opportunity180.org.
TECHNOLOGY
• Koin, a leading cashless solutions provider, has appointed Ted Saxman as vice president of operations. With over 25 years of experience driving results in strategic project management, information technology operations and cross-functional leadership, Saxman will play a pivotal role in supporting Koin’s continued expansion.
Throughout his distinguished career, Saxman has built a reputation for delivering complex, multimillion-dollar projects on time and within budget, while fostering high-performing teams across diverse industries. His expertise in establishing project management offices, leading successful mergers and acquisitions and implementing innovative operational strategies has consistently driven organizational growth and efficiency.
“Ted’s proven track record and results-driven leadership style make him an outstanding addition to our executive team,” said Koin COO Bob Woodbury. “As we accelerate our growth and expand our offerings, Ted’s experience in building operational frameworks and executing strategic initiatives will be instrumental in taking Koin to the next level.”
Saxman has previously held senior IT and financial leadership roles at Boyd Gaming and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. At Koin, he will oversee daily operations, spearhead process improvements and lead mission-critical projects that support the company’s vision of transforming digital finance.
Koin is an advanced entertainment and lifestyle payment solution specifically designed to meet the demands of the highly regulated retail and online gaming markets. Founded in 2021 by Gary Ellis and Gary Larkin, Koin is guided by a talented leadership team with extensive experience in global gaming and payments. As a long-term partner of Euronet Worldwide, Inc., Koin leverages the resources of one of the world’s leading providers of advanced payment technologies. Koin offers clients a complete, fully integrated payment ecosystem that delivers unprecedented cost efficiencies while providing end users with seamless, fully portable digital solutions to pay, play or buy anywhere, anytime. For more information, visit koinpayments.com.
