The Next Era in Entertainment

Opportunity Village has always had a special place in Bob Brown’s heart. Combined with the leadership he has provided us over the years as a contributing OV Board Member and Board Chair, Bob’s personal commitment underlines his successful and welcome transition to his role as Opportunity Village’s President and CEO.

Catherine Francisco is the Founder and President of the AAPI Chamber of Commerce of Southern Nevada, bringing over 30 years of expertise in management, fundraising, media, business development, brand marketing, and event planning. Since moving to Las Vegas in 2007, she has become deeply involved in the community. Before leading the AAPI Chamber, Catherine served as the Underwriter for Vegas PBS, Channel 10, collaborating with numerous nonprofits and businesses to advance their missions and spotlight their philanthropic efforts.

Her career includes organizing numerous citywide events supporting underserved families and children, and she has raised millions in funding for various causes. Catherine holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration, an associate degree in Fashion Merchandising/Merchandise Marketing, and certificates in Radio & TV Broadcasting as well as Event Management and Planning.

Her community service includes leading the media committee for the Southern Nevada Census 2020, serving on the YMCA marketing board and the Clark County Pedestrian Safety committee, and acting as a board member for Family Promise. She is involved in the Clark County Spring Mountain Redevelopment Project, a member of the Southern Nevada Cross-Sector Language Access Group and the Coalition for Cleaner Affordable Energy and was also a member of the Super Bowl Host Committee. Catherine and the AAPI Chamber are also the fiscal agent for SBA Nevada.

Additionally, she is a managing partner at The GoodWorkz, a consulting and event production firm specializing in nonprofit, corporate social responsibility, and strategic fundraising.

Ciara Byrne is a dynamic force in the world of environmental education, blending her rich Irish heritage with her innovative spirit to inspire change. Born and raised in Dublin, Ireland, Ciara feels a profound connection to her Celtic Druid ancestry, embracing the ancient wisdom of nurturing the bond between humanity and nature. This lifelong mission to foster harmony between people and the planet has guided Ciara throughout her twenty-year career in film production as well as her current work in nonprofit leadership.

In 2013, Ciara co-founded Green Our Planet with Kim MacQuarrie, a Las Vegas-based nonprofit that has become the largest and most comprehensive STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) school garden and hydroponics programs in the United States. Green Our Planet empowers students, teachers, and families to cultivate joy and equity in their communities by growing food and connecting with the natural world.

Under Ciara's passionate leadership, Green Our Planet has helped redefine how education can inspire the next generation. The organization trains teachers to harness the power of hydroponics laboratories and outdoor gardens, turning classrooms into vibrant ecosystems of learning. Equipped with the innovative Magic Garden Portal, which offers over 500 engaging PreK-Grade 12 lessons and videos, educators can make STEM subjects come alive. This hands-on, culturally responsive approach ensures that students from all backgrounds—especially those in underserved communities—can access transformative learning experiences that pave the way to rewarding STEM careers.

Since its inception, Green Our Planet has made a significant impact, establishing over 250 outdoor gardens and more than 1000 hydroponics laboratories across 44 states, reaching over 400,000 students. With a commitment to equity and community empowerment, the organization has trained over 14,000 teachers, organized more than 1,500 student-run farmers markets, and conducted over 1,200 chef demonstrations, all aimed at addressing food insecurity and creating a sustainable future.

Before her work with Green Our Planet, Ciara led a successful film production company, Lion Television, with offices in New York and Los Angeles. Her team created numerous award-winning films for networks such as PBS, BBC, TLC, Discovery Channel, and National Geographic. Notable projects include long-running television series like History Detectives, which aired for 11 seasons on PBS, and Cash Cab, which enjoyed a 12-season run on the Discovery Channel.

Ciara's unwavering commitment to social impact and education earned her the honor of being a 2019 Obama Fellow, selected from over 5,000 applicants worldwide. This recognition reflects her dedication to fostering meaningful change and building a brighter, more equitable future for all.

Evan Louie is a partner and founding member of Asian Pacific Joint Venture and HLN Holdings. He was appointed by Governor Sandoval and the state legislature of Nevada as Commissioner of Minority Affairs, chairing the Economic Development Subcommittee under the Department of Business and Industry. Evan built a business recognized by the Las Vegas Visitor and Convention Authority as one of three enterprises representing Las Vegas for global tourism. He formerly served as the Community Advisory Board of Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas Super Bowl Host Committee, board of Aoki Foundation, and currently Chairman of the board of a 501c4 organization, One APIA Nevada, among several other boards and advisory roles in philanthropy.

Evan is highly active in the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community and passionate about uplifting minority communities in Nevada.

Irene Bustamante Adams, the Deputy Director & Chief Strategy Officer for Workforce Connections, stands out as a dynamic and transformational leader in Southern Nevada’s Local Workforce Development Board. Her remarkable journey is adorned with prestigious recognitions, including the title of “National Trailblazer” by Emerge America and the esteemed “Women Inspiring Nevada” accolade by Vegas Inc.

With a rich background at MGM Resorts International, where she ascended from clerk to a corporate position over 18 years, Irene has demonstrated resilience and excellence. She repeatedly assisted in creating and executing national award-winning programs for the organization. Her dedication to public service led her to represent District 42 in the Nevada Assembly from 2010 to 2018, culminating in her role as Speaker Pro Tempore.

Hailing from the farming community of Kerman, California, Irene overcame humble beginnings by waking before dawn to work in agricultural fields alongside her siblings. As the first in her family to attend and graduate college, each earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business management from California State University, Fresno. In 2007, she became the first Latina in Nevada history to earn an Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) degree from UNLV.

In 2023, Irene added another significant achievement to her portfolio by securing a position on the Clark County School Board, a remarkable feat in the fifth-largest school district in the nation with over 300,000 students. Her colleagues recognized her leadership qualities, electing her as the Vice President of the Board. This accomplishment was complemented by her selection as Vice President of the Nevada Association of School Boards by her peers.

Beyond her professional roles, Irene actively contributes to the community, serving on the board and councils of the United Way of Southern Nevada and the RTC’s Transportation and Resource Advisory Committee. Her personal life is as fulfilling as her professional one – married to Army Sergeant Brad Adams, she is the proud mother of two daughters, Olivia, and Alaina, and recently welcomed her first grandchild. Irene Bustamante Adams continues to inspire and impact both her community and family with her unwavering dedication and outstanding contributions.

Kipp Ortenburger oversees strategic planning and fundraising at Vegas PBS – including grant and donor development, government affairs, and data analysis. Prior, Kipp was the host and moderator of Vegas PBS’ public affairs show Nevada Week. Kipp has been working in the public media and nonprofit sectors in fundraising and strategic planning for more than fifteen years.

Myisha Boyce is the founding member and president of M.Y.S. Firm, a Nevada-based, women- and minority-owned professional services organization that provides strategic consulting and community engagement services to clients in both the public and private sectors. Established in 2014, M.Y.S. Firm’s work is deeply rooted in Boyce’s passion for service and advocacy, focusing on fostering economic empowerment for disadvantaged businesses and cultivating relationships that positively benefit corporations and the communities they serve.

Boyce, who has directed high-stakes community programs for more than a decade, has held several leadership roles spanning civic engagement and corporate social responsibility. Notably, she served as the Chief Community Engagement Officer for Las Vegas’ first Super Bowl in 2024, where she provided operational and fiduciary oversight for several NFL and Host Committee programs, ensuring Super Bowl LVIII’s impact extended well beyond game day. Following the Super Bowl, the NFL engaged Boyce’s M.Y.S. Firm to lead event-based supplier diversity initiatives under the League’s procurement program, NFL Source, which seeks to increase and standardize how local and underrepresented businesses are engaged for its tentpole events.

Boyce’s commitment and advocacy for economic and community development is further displayed through her recent involvement as Chair of the Community Advisory Board for Allegiant Stadium. She will also contribute to shaping Las Vegas’ budding film industry as a member of the newly formed Summerlin Production Studios Community Advisory Committee while continuing to serve on the Board of Directors for two nonprofit organizations: Access Community Capital’s Community Development Financial Institution and StartUpNV, a statewide business accelerator and incubator focused on stimulating entrepreneurship in Nevada.

Furthermore, Boyce has held several titles over the course of her career, including:

• Legislatively-appointed Commissioner and Chair of the Legislative Subcommittee within the Nevada Department of Business and Industry’s Commission on Minority Affairs
• Appointed by Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak to the Community College Workforce Training & Programs Committee
•  Served on the Nevada Governor’s office of Economic Development’s Southern Nevada Infrastructure working group
• Nevada Forum Chair for the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council
• MBE Ambassador for the Western Regional Minority Supplier Development Council
• Chair of the Business Council for the Las Vegas Urban Chamber of Commerce

A lifelong learner and educator, Boyce holds a post-secondary degree in Education from the University of California, San Diego. Through her work, Boyce continues to exemplify a commitment to service, empowerment, and collaboration, working tirelessly to create opportunities for growth and inclusion within a national business landscape.

Peter Guzman currently is the President of the Latin Chamber of Commerce of Nevada (LCC). The LCC is the most powerful Hispanic chamber in Nevada, providing over 48 years of community work and business representation, and continues to experience growth.

Peter Guzman is an accomplished small business owner, real estate professional, real estate investor, and developer. He came to Nevada 50 years ago and has worked very hard in helping people achieve the dream of homeownership. His work has been recognized nationally by all of the major real estate organizations and he has been recognized as the “Top Producer” for the entire company in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009, with over $650 million in sales.

Rudy Zamora, Director of Advocacy at CPLC, brings a wealth of experience from diverse roles. Before joining CPLC, he spent the last year and a half as the Director of Public Affairs at Teach For America, where he strategically planned and executed initiatives to expand educational equity in Nevada. Rudy has also played a pivotal role in leading a Latinx-led climate movement at Chispa Nevada, part of the League of Conservation Voters, showcasing expertise in program management, strategic partnerships, and grassroots community organizing. His commitment to positive change was evident in integrating voter registration efforts with environmental, labor, and social justice movements. Rudy has spent over 15 years fighting for the community, advocating for various causes and initiatives that aim to empower and amplify the voices of the community. In his current role at CPLC, Rudy continues his dedication to civic engagement by leading voter registration efforts, further contributing to CPLC's impactful leadership.

Vida Lin has been a powerhouse in Las Vegas, dedicating 30 years to empowering Nevada's Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community by taking decisive action where she saw the greatest need. As Founder and President of the Asian Community Development Council (ACDC), Vida transformed her vision of advancing AANHPI priorities into reality by establishing Nevada's first Asian food pantry, hosting vaccination clinics, offering free citizenship assistance, and opening the HAPI Medical Center in Las Vegas.

Vida's journey of community service began in San Francisco, where she ran a small family business and later transitioned to the insurance industry to protect families after a personal tragedy. During her successful 20-year career as an insurance broker, Vida's passion for helping the underserved drove her to advise and serve on numerous Boards for a variety of charities and causes, with her latest appointment as Commissioner of the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Her unwavering commitment to civic engagement and advocacy was recognized with Bank of America's "Neighborhood Builders: Racial Equality Award" in 2022 and by the city of Las Vegas, proclaiming January 18, 2023, as "Vida Lin Day." Vida's legacy is defined by her relentless pursuit of uplifting and empowering the next generation of leaders.