Our Philanthropic Advisory Council (PAC)

Community Insight. Donor Impact. NCF’s Philanthropic Advisory Council

PAC members are respected community leaders in Nevada who bring deep expertise across a range of nonprofit sectors and community issues. In partnership with NCF leadership, they offer real-time insights, novel research, and strategic guidance in an informal, volunteer capacity.

Their contributions help inform policy recommendations, identify impactful philanthropic opportunities, and support donors in aligning their giving with the most effective strategies. By drawing on the PAC’s knowledge and perspective, NCF is better equipped to empower donors with practical, forward-thinking solutions that increase the effectiveness and impact of their charitable giving.

Our advisors generously share their experience and expertise with both NCF and our donors, informally offering real-time information and knowledge access.

Philanthropic Advisory Council (PAC)

Aaron Sheets

Aaron Sheets serves as the Chief Executive Officer of HopeLink of Southern Nevada, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing homelessness and providing support services to individuals and families in need.

Before assuming the role of CEO, Aaron was a successful business owner in Las Vegas. His commitment to community service led him to bring his business acumen to the nonprofit sector.

Under Aaron’s leadership, HopeLink has expanded its programs and services, focusing on prevention services including non-congregant shelter, rapid rehousing, rental assistance and wrap around services. He has been actively involved in community engagement, participating in panel discussions and collaborating with local leaders to address the pressing issue of affordable housing in Southern Nevada. An alumnus of Arizona State University, Aaron sits on the Board of Foresight Properties, a local affordable housing developer and volunteers consulting local churches on strategic operational planning.

Aaron’s dedication to serving the community and his strategic vision have been instrumental in advancing HopeLink’s mission to prevent homelessness, preserve families, and provide hope to those in need.

Arash Ghafoori

Arash Ghafoori is a social entrepreneur, strategist, and advocate dedicated to ensuring every young person has a safe place to call home. As CEO of the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth (NPHY), he has led the organization’s transformation into Southern Nevada’s leading provider of services for youth experiencing homelessness and a catalyst for statewide systems change. Drawing on experience across policy, academia, and both corporate and startup environments, Arash is known for his ability to synthesize complex information, think strategically, and bring people together to drive meaningful change.

Arash conceived and co-leads The Movement to End Youth Homelessness in Nevada—a visionary, community-wide effort that brings partners across systems together to address the root causes of youth homelessness through sustained collaboration and systems-level change. What began as a regional initiative has grown into a statewide network aligning providers, housing, education, child welfare, health systems, funders, and policymakers to drive lasting impact. Through this work, Nevada has advanced more coordinated strategies, expanded resources, and passed key legislation removing barriers for youth experiencing homelessness.

In recognition of this impact, Arash was named one of The Advocacy Association’s Top 20 Advocacy Professionals of 2025 for his visionary work creating and leading The Movement. His leadership has also been recognized with the Executive Leadership Award from National Safe Place, the Sustainable Leadership Award from Impact NV, and the HOME Award for outstanding contributions to the Southern Nevada Homelessness Continuum of Care, and he was named a Vegas Inc. “40 Under 40” business trailblazer.

A proud Persian-Nicaraguan leader whose multicultural background and multilingual fluency inform his inclusive leadership style, Arash brings a global perspective and deep cultural awareness to his work. He serves on the Board of Directors of the National Network for Youth, the Advisory Board of National Safe Place, and the Nevada Interagency Advisory Council on Homelessness to Housing Committee for Technical Assistance. A Jameson Fellow, Leadership Las Vegas graduate, and member of the Nevada Community Foundation’s Philanthropic Advisory Council, he enjoys cooking (really, eating), traveling, outdoor adventures, and spending time with family, friends, and his dogs.

Dr. Christina Vela

Christina Vela is a mission-driven nonprofit executive and selfdescribed “Hustler for Hope” with more than two decades of leadership advancing equity and transformative care for vulnerable children and families. As CEO of St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, she leads trauma-informed programs serving youth impacted by abuse, neglect, homelessness, and human trafficking, while strengthening systems for operational excellence, fundraising, and community engagement. Her career includes senior leadership roles at the local, state, and federal levels within child welfare and policy systems, including coordination of Nevada’s efforts to prevent the commercial sexual exploitation of children. Dr. Vela holds a Doctorate in Public Policy and a Master’s in Public Administration from UNLV and serves as a National Board Member of the Family Focused Treatment Association. She is widely recognized for her humanitarian leadership and belief that meaningful change is driven by courage, care, and accountability.

Christy Stevens

Christy Stevens is the Founder and Executive Director of Hearts Alive Village, a nonprofit organization transforming the landscape of animal welfare in Southern Nevada through innovative, community-centered solutions. What began in 2013 as a shared dream with her daughter, to create a rescue sanctuary for animals, has evolved into a comprehensive, lifesaving organization focused not only on rescue, but on prevention, access to care, and systemic change.

Under Christy’s leadership, Hearts Alive Village has developed a suite of progressive programs designed to keep pets with the people who love them. From access-to-care initiatives with two veterinary hospitals, a pet food distribution system, to crisis intervention and specialized medical support, her work has helped shift the focus from reactive sheltering to proactive community support. She has built meaningful collaborations with local and national organizations and established critical partnerships with municipal jurisdictions, working alongside animal protection services to address cruelty cases, provide forensic veterinary support, and expand safety nets for vulnerable animals and families.

Known for her bold, solutions-driven approach, Christy consistently pushes beyond traditional models, creating programs that meet people where they are and reimagining what animal welfare can look like when compassion and strategy align.

Before founding Hearts Alive Village, Christy spent over 26 years working alongside her family leading their large-format printing company, Pictographics, where she developed the operational and creative skills that now fuel her work.

“I’ve never worked harder in my life, but I love it. I’ve found my groove.”

Dean Isabella

Dean Isabella is a seasoned public-safety executive and current Warden with the Rhode Island Department of Corrections (RIDOC). He leads systemwide accreditation, compliance, and professional development initiatives that strengthen operations, elevate staff training, and support a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

With more than three decades of leadership experience in policing, child protection, emergency management, and corrections, Dean has served in multiple high-impact roles, including Chief of Police in Seekonk, Assistant Director of Child Protective Services for the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth & Families, and Captain with the Providence Police Department. He has commanded patrol divisions, special investigative units, and administrative operations, designing data-driven strategies to enhance safety and organizational performance.

Dean is nationally recognized for his work in “Building Our Way Out of Crime,” a model community-policing and redevelopment strategy that transformed the Aleppo Street and Riverside Park corridor in Providence’s Olneyville neighborhood. Working in partnership with local housing organizations and community stakeholders, he helped convert a high-crime area marked by open-air drug markets and gang violence into a renewed public space centered on affordable housing, green infrastructure, and resident stability. That initiative reduced crime dramatically and became a nationally profiled case study on place-based crime reduction, cited in federal conferences, police-leadership programs, and policy reports.

Throughout his career, Dean has earned top national honors, including the U.S. Department of Justice Anthony J. Sutin Civic Imagination Award and recognition as the first Rhode Island officer named a finalist for the Herman Goldstein Award for Excellence in Problem-Oriented Policing.

Today, as Warden, Dean brings a collaborative leadership style grounded in innovation, partnership, and proven results that improve public safety and institutional outcomes.

Emily Irwin

Emily Irwin serves as the assistant vice president of Corporate & Foundation Relations (CFR) at UNLV where she is charged with strengthening the university’s strategic partnerships with industry and private foundations. Prior to assuming leadership of CFR in March 2020, Emily served as director of development for the UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law.

Emily came to UNLV from The Ohio State University where she served in a variety of corporate and foundation engagement roles across the agricultural, environmental, and health science disciplines. Earlier in her career, Emily worked for the National Democratic Institute in Washington, DC, where she designed and managed democratic governance and civic education programs in the Horn of Africa.

Emily is a proud alumna of The Ohio State University (BA, International Studies and French) and American University (MA, School of International Service).

Jeff Detrick

Jeff Detrick is the Director of Adult Education Services at the Dr. William W. Sullivan Center for Academic Enrichment and Outreach (CAEO) at University of Nevada, Las Vegas where he and his team of Academic Coordinators advises/assists adult learners who want to pursue a university/vocational/technical diploma/certification or their high school equivalency diploma.

Jeff is a US Army veteran with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He is also the Chair of the Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery Committee and a Commissioner on the State of Nevada’s Veteran Service Commission. He is a founding member and the inaugural president of the UNLV Alumni Veterans Club (2018-2020), former president of the UNLV Rebel Vets (2013-2015) and Team Lead for the Peer Advisors for Veteran Education (PAVE) program at UNLV (2015-2016).

Jeff’s education includes a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Masters degree in Public Administration, both attained at UNLV.

Jeff likes to spend his time with his wife Elizabeth of 20, their dog, Odin, and his friends and family. His hobbies include working out and baking bread.

Liz Ortenburger

For more than two decades, Liz Ortenburger has been at the forefront of the fight for women’s and children’s rights. Her career has evolved from working directly with survivors to transforming how communities, systems, and policies respond to the epidemic of interpersonal violence.

As CEO of SafeNest, Nevada’s largest and most comprehensive nonprofit addressing domestic and sexual violence, Liz channels her energy and vision into ending the cycle of abuse at its roots. She leads a multi-million-dollar organization that combines emergency response, prevention education, housing, legal advocacy, and offender intervention to create a holistic model for safety and accountability.

Under her leadership, SafeNest has expanded beyond traditional service delivery to tackle the epidemic itself: building strategic partnerships with law enforcement, legislators, healthcare providers, and community leaders to align policy solutions with the realities survivors and families face every day. Liz’s approach integrates data, innovation, and compassion to ensure every survivor can move from crisis to confidence while the systems around them evolve to prevent violence before it begins.

Liz is a Ph.D. candidate in Public Policy and Administration at Walden University, where her research focuses on policy analysis and the social construction of abusive partners in public policy. She previously earned her MBA from IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain—one of the world’s top-ranked institutions—and a Bachelor’s degree from California State University, Fresno, where she was a nationally ranked track and field athlete and cross-country team captain. Liz has spoken nationally and internationally as a presenter at the EVAWI conference, as the chosen speaker for the IESE Alumni reunion, and has worked with international partners through the State Department. Liz is also a Graduate of the USAF Civilian Air University.

Pam Beal

Ms. Beal is the Managing Consultant for PB Diversified Company LLC. With over 30 years of experience in executive leadership healthcare, Ms. Beal is the former Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs for the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), as a key executive instrumental in launching an $86 million dollar UNLV School of Medicine clinical faculty practice plan, with over 365 employees and 300 providers and residents, including 13 multi-specialty clinic locations. She served as the Chief Operating Officer for FirstMed Health and Wellness, a Las Vegas-based Federal Qualified Health Center, after leading the non-profit Southern Nevada Immunization and Health Coalition through unprecedented memberships, partnerships and access to no-cost immunizations, vision screening, well-child check-ups, eyeglasses, and dental care for low-income populations. Ms. Beal has held positions as the Director of Business Development for Desert Winds Hospital; Universal Health Services- Spring Mountain Treatment and Sahara Psychiatric Hospitals. Ms. Beal has substantial healthcare experience in managing overall operations and taking complete responsibility for the effective and successful management of labor, productivity, quality control, and safety measures as established and set for the Operations Department. She has extensive experience in leading diverse teams and managing all aspects of projects and implementations by ensuring that the business deliverables are completely satisfied on time and within budget. Throughout her career, she has secured in excess of $20 million dollars in federal, state, local, foundation and corporate grants to improve and increase access to healthcare for low-income populations in Louisiana and Nevada. Ms. Beal also has a long history of participating in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) programs in Louisiana and Texas. Ms. Beal has completed two fellowships, one as a New Mexico Governor’s Fellow in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and the other as a Faculty Fellow for the Foundation for the Mid South in Jackson, Mississippi. She is the recipient of numerous awards in health care and has degrees in Accounting and Business from Western New Mexico University and Clarendon College, respectively. Ms. Beal serves on the USMLE Committee for Individual Review (CIR) and USMLE Management Committee. Ms. Beal is a public member of the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners (NBME), appointed to the Board effective July 1, 2021, with a reappointment effective July 1, 2025. Ms. Beal also is a member of one of NBME’s three Investigative Committees.

Peter Stanton

Peter Stanton is the Chief Executive Officer of the Walker Basin Conservancy, where he spearheads transformative efforts to restore Walker Lake and revitalize the Walker River watershed in Nevada and California. Under Peter’s leadership, the Conservancy has established
itself as a national model for environmental water management, overseeing one of North America’s largest freshwater acquisition programs for environmental benefit.

Peter has successfully navigated complex water rights negotiations, legal strategies, and policy advocacy, securing enduring protections for environmental flows. His work has driven legislative and policy changes at the local, state, and federal levels, earning recognition for fostering collaboration among stakeholders, including farmers, ranchers, policymakers, and community leaders.

Since joining the Conservancy, Peter has guided its growth to manage 28,000 acre-feet of water annually, retire thousands of acres of farmland for ecological restoration, and create public access to Walker River and produce over 500,000 seedlings annually.

His recent work has been featured in national outlets such as The Washington Post, and he frequently lectures at institutions like Yale School of the Environment, UC Davis School of Law, and the University of Nevada, empowering the next generation of conservation leaders Peter’s expertise extends to nonprofit leadership and innovative fundraising strategies, which have been highlighted at the national level through PBS and partner organizations. He has presented nationally on fundraising approaches that drive meaningful impact, sharing insights that have inspired others in the nonprofit sector.

A dedicated advocate for building resilient communities through philanthropy and conservation, Peter’s career has been defined by a commitment to solving complex challenges with innovative solutions. Beyond his professional achievements, Peter is an avid backcountry skier, trail runner, and ultramarathoner, passionate about conserving the landscapes that bring joy to so many.

Rick Neal

Rick Neal is the president and chief executive officer of Goodwill Industries of Southern Nevada, Inc. (GSN). GSN operates 21 retail stores and three Career Centers, offering career coaching and community-based employment programs.

Before joining GSN in 2019, Mr. Neal was employed by the Clark County School District, where he held the roles of the district’s first-ever Chief Operating Officer, and Chief of Staff and External Relations from 2015 until 2019. In addition to his daily duties in these capacities, Mr. Neal was appointed by the governor to the Nevada Homeland Security Working Group; served on the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Multicultural Advisory Committee; and was appointed to the Nevada Intrastate Mutual Aid Committee, serving as the vice chairman. Mr. Neal was appointed to the Governor’s Workforce Development Board in 2025 and currently serves.

Prior to joining the Clark County School District, Mr. Neal served in the United States Air Force for 25 years as a security forces officer, his career culminating at the rank of colonel.

Mr. Neal earned a BA in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, an MA in Social Psychology from Bellevue University (NE), and two additional master’s degrees through military professional education.

Though he travelled extensively both as a military dependent and as a servicemember, Mr. Neal called Charlotte, NC home for most of his life. Mr. Neal now lives in Las Vegas with his wife, Adrienne. They have six children residing and working in Las Vegas, NV and Austin, TX.

Major Awards and Recognition
2022 Vegas, Inc. C-Suite Awards Inaugural Honoree (Non-profit)
2022 Leadership Las Vegas Graduate

Stephanie Kirby

Stephanie Kirby has spent over 22 years working in the nonprofit sector in Southern Nevada after relocating from New York state. Previously volunteering as a track coach for Special Olympics and at Susan G. Komen Nevada, she was fortunate to be able to turn her volunteer work into a fulltime position with Susan G. Komen for nearly ten years as the Race Director and then Executive Director. Serving as the Executive Director of EyeCare4Kids since 2017, Stephanie believes strongly that nonprofit work is in her blood and is honored to be of service to the community she has called home for 24 years. In addition to being a mom to two teens/young adults, Stephanie loves spending time with her friends, home improvement projects, taking her dogs to the park and volunteering. Currently serving as a member of the Communities In Schools Advisory Council, the R.E.D. Rose Breast Cancer Committee for Dignity Health and as a board member with Impact Las Vegas, Stephanie believes it is a privilege to have a voice, and be a voice, for those who are marginalized and often voiceless. She feels strongly that we all have the capacity to make our community better…find a cause that speaks to you, roll up your sleeves and jump in!

Tami J. Hance-Lehr

As the Chief Executive Officer & State Director of Communities In Schools of Nevada, the nation’s leading and most effective dropout prevention and intervention organization, Tami Hance-Lehr brings 30 years of leadership, strategic planning, crisis management, relationship building, and communication skills to the position of CEO. Tami’s passion is driven by the belief that every child has unlimited potential but may not have access to equal opportunities to succeed.

Prior to joining CIS of Nevada, Tami was the leading vice president and shareholder of Destinations by Design, the largest and foremost hospitality event company in Nevada. Her passion for giving back to the community began long before her role at CIS. Previously, she was president of Nevada Women’s Philanthropy, and the Las Vegas Hospitality Association. She was awarded a leadership badge by the Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada in 2016, and currently serves on the board of directors for Nevada Community Foundation.

In July 2020, Tami and Communities In Schools of Nevada, joined forces with the Governor’s Covid-19 Task Force, the Elaine P. Wynn & Family Foundation, and the Public Education Foundation to create “Connecting Kids”, a public-private partnership to ensure that 100% of Nevada students were able to successfully access remote learning. In just four months this coalition tracked down every student utilizing digital learning and ensured each had a connection to a device and a reliable internet source at home. This “Whatever It Takes” mentality is the foundation of the CIS mission, bringing the community into the schools to make sure every student crosses the finish line career and college ready.

To Tami being a leader represents a significant part of how she lives her life. Since moving to Las Vegas as a teenager, she has been passionate about the city and community. A graduate of Ed W. Clark High School, she then attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where she aligned herself early on with empowering women, serving as president of the Theta ETA chapter of Sigma Kappa in 1991 and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree, with an emphasis in Communication Studies.

Tami shares her life with her husband Ben, a retired Clark County Firefighter, her two bonus daughters, Merissa, and Ilana and her two Labrador Retrievers, Pepper & Ryder.

Terri Chandler

Terri Chandler, RDH, is the Founder and Executive Director of Future Smiles, a Nevada-based nonprofit dedicated to increasing access to oral healthcare for underserved children and families. Since launching the organization in 2009, she has led efforts to deliver school-based oral health programs across Clark County, providing preventive and restorative services to more than 170,000 at-risk children.

Terri was born in 1964. Her father served in the Navy and the family traveled a lot when she was young, including a three-year period on the island of Guam during the Vietnam War. Terri’s mother came from a Hispanic family deeply connected to Mexican culture.

Traditional Mexican healing practices include honey, and Terri’s Nana encouraged her mom to use honey in her baby bottle to help her sleep at night. Unfortunately, honey is a natural sugar that causes tooth decay. By the age of two, while on Guam, she had so many cavities that the Navy dentist could not repair her teeth.

Under hospital sedation, all of Terri’s front teeth were extracted, leaving her with a life-long fear of the dentist and long-term dental issues. Despite—or perhaps, because of—this fear, Terri pursued a career as a dental hygienist. Says Terri: “Because of this experience, I have profound mindfulness that my dental issues resulted from my family’s misunderstanding of cavities, not a lack of love or an absence of intention for my good health and safety. As a dental hygienist, I could personally relate to a patient’s dental anxiety and fear, doing my utmost to ease their emotional journey as they pursue dental health. I’ve infused this depth of empathy into our core values at Future Smiles, where we provide respect, dignity, and understanding for our families while we champion children’s dental health one smile and one heart at a time!”

Venicia Considine

Venicia Considine is the Director of Development and Community Relations at Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada. Venicia joined Legal Aid Center in 2009 as a Staff Attorney in the Consumer Rights Project, representing clients going through difficult financial situations, including predatory lending, fraud, and other consumer issues. She testified during several legislative sessions on consumer protection and homeowner issues. In 2016, Venicia took on the role of Director of Development and Community Relations. She is uniquely familiar with Legal Aid Center’s Projects and Programs, including consumer protections, student educational rights, family law, protected-person rights under guardianship, children in the foster care system, immigration, legal and litigation processes, and victim services.

Venicia began her legal career at Legal Aid Center during law school, starting as an extern in 2008. Prior to joining Legal Aid Center, Venicia was as an academic advisor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, helping students reach their academic goals. She also worked for the Women’s Research Institute at UNLV, where she was the first Program Manager for the NEW Leadership Nevada program. Venicia graduated from the William S. Boyd School of Law in 2008, after completing a Master’s Degree and Bachelor’s Degree, both in American History. Venicia was elected to the Nevada Legislature, representing Assembly District 18 in 2021, 2023, and 2025.

Philanthropic Advisory Council (PAC)