Give to solutions that will have a lasting impact on the lives of people in need.
|
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
|
|
Lutheran Social Services of Nevada is governed by community minded and
experienced community leaders and professionals. The Board of Directors is
a working board that actively encourages, supports, and facilitates
professional development for its self and agency staff in the form of both
education and community involvement. Currently, the Board of Directors
consists of professionals from areas such as law, estate planning,
communication, finance, retail businesses, education and social work.
Many
of the members of the Board of Directors also participate and or affiliated
with other community based agencies, social clubs, and organizations. |
Executive Board
Dave Knowlton - Board President
Mr. David Knowlton received his Bachelor's Degree, with honors from the
University of Maryland in 1975. After 31 years, he retired as the FBI's
Assistant Director for Inspection, where he was responsible for evaluating
the effectiveness and efficiency of FBI operations worldwide. This included
ensuring that FBI investigative and administrative financial operations were
in compliance with the Government Accountability Office's standards for
fiscal responsibility. Leadership roles in the FBI included Chief Inspector
of the FBI, Deputy Assistant Director of the Criminal Division, as well as
Special Agent in Charge of Maryland and Delaware. He has coordinated crisis
responses at the highest level of the US Government, including serving as
the FBI's representative on the White House National Security Council's
Transnational Crimes working group. In 2002, President Clinton awarded him
the Presidential Rank Award for sustained accomplishment in management of
programs and for noteworthy achievement of quality and efficiency of public
service. He has served on many boards, including the International
Association of Police Image and Ethics board, and the Maryland Police
Training Commission.
Upon relocating to Nevada, he was again called into public service after 911
and became the Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Air Marshal Service in
Nevada and Arizona. Former Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security,
Tom Ridge, designated him to the Principal Federal Official for Nevada to
coordinate all US Government assets during the 2006 Las Vegas New Year's Eve
event. He is now a confidential consultant to a wide variety of clients.
Mr. Knowlton has been married to Ellen B. Knowlton for 25 years. She
recently retired as the Special Agent in Charge of the FBI for Nevada. Ellen
and Dave have a nine year old daughter and two married sons living out of
state.
Sonia Vermeys - President-Elect
Ms. Sonia Church Vermeys, Esq. is practically a native Nevadan, having lived
and served in the community since childhood. She graduated with a B.F.A. in
1988, cum laude, from the University of Southern California and with a J.D.
in 1993, cum laude, from the University of San Diego School of Law.
Ms. Vermeys is currently Of Counsel for the national law firm, Brownstein
Hyatt Farber Schreck. She is a member of the firm's Gaming, Securities &
Corporate Finance and Real Estate groups. Based in the firm's Las Vegas
office, she practices primarily in commercial transactions with an emphasis
on real estate matters and business mergers and acquisitions.
In addition to her experience handling transactional matters, Ms.Vermeys has
assisted numerous clients, including significant resort hotel clients, with
Nevada gaming and liquor law issues, including regulatory compliance and
licensure. She also represents individuals and businesses before regulatory
agencies such as the Nevada Gaming Control Board, Nevada Gaming Commission,
Clark County Liquor and Gaming Licensing Board, and the City of Las Vegas.
Outside the office, Ms. Vermeys proudly serves on the Board of Lutheran
Social Services of Nevada, assists in her church, participates in various
sporting activities and tends to her three young children.
Ron Bjokne - Treasurer
Mr. Ron Bjokne is President of Enviro Pro Building Services, a company he
founded in 1991. Enviro Pro is a building services contractor serving the
Las Vegas area. Ron has a BA degree from St. Olaf College in Northfield,
Minnesota, and a MBA degree from Minnesota State College in Mankato, MN.
His business career began with 14 years managing and supervising retail
stores for The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. eventually supervising operations
in a 14 state area. He then began working for and with three Goodyear
private dealer organizations, the last of which, Superior Tire, brought him
to the Las Vegas area in 1986.
Ron has been married to Joyce for 47 years, and has 3 children and 5
grandchildren. He has served 2 terms as President of Christ Lutheran Church
council, and currently serves as the Treasurer of LSSN.
Hyla Winters - Secretary
Ms. Hyla Winters, PhD, is the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs
at the College of Southern Nevada. She is directly responsible for the
Office of Resource Development and Assessment at the College and has
provided leadership to the college in the solicitation and management of
federal and state grants. She is currently the principal investigator for a
Department of Labor Technology Based learning grant. Hyla has been
associated with the College of Southern Nevada for twenty years and has
served as faculty, program director, Associate Dean and most recently the
Dean for the School of Health Sciences. She is also an active board member
for the Area Health Education Center of Southern Nevada. She has also
served as a previous board member and chair of the Clinic on Wheels,
associated with the Classroom on Wheels. She is an active member of Canyon
Ridge Christian Church in northwest Las Vegas.
|
Board Members
Elmo Douglass, P.E. -
Mr. Douglass is originally from Baltimore, MD and has been a resident of Las
Vegas since 1999. After graduating from The Johns Hopkins University with
his Bachelor of Engineering degree, he served in the United States Army
Corps of Engineers for four years with the 35th Engineering Battalion,
stationed in Europe. His career in Civil Engineering spanned 37 years,
working on freeway design with the California Department of Transportation
and heading the facility construction and modernization effort for the Los
Angeles Transportation Authority. He is currently retired.
Mr. Douglass is a charter member of Grace Lutheran Church (LCMS) in
Henderson and remains an active member. He is also an avid stamp collector,
focusing his collection on African-American themes.
Donna Hall -
Ms. Donna Hall is a licensed social worker, employed at UMC in the Trauma
Center for nearly 11 years. She has Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in
Sociology. She has been Director of Social Service at Desert Springs
Hospital (1979 - 1991). At Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center (1991 -
1995), Ms. Hall was Director of Social Service, Utilization Review and Case
Management. In all of these positions, she has been responsible for
utilizing and evaluating resources and services for the well-being of the
patients returning to the community.
She served on the council of Christ Lutheran Church, including a term as
President of the 1500- member congregation. Ms Hall currently is a Board
Member and Secretary of the Southern Nevada Continuity of Care Association
and is a member of the Advisory Board for Southern Nevada Home Care. Married
for 32 years, she has 1 adult son.
Kirk Kaplan -
Mr. Kirk D. Kaplan, CPA and Esq., practices law related to Business
Planning, Trusts and Estates, and Taxation. Born in South Bend, Indiana,
Mr. Kaplan was admitted to the Nevada bar in 1996 , to Colorado and U.S.
District Court, Southern District of Nevada in 1997, to the U.S. Supreme
Court in 2003, and to the U.S. Tax Court in 2007.
Mr. Kaplan received his Bachelors of Science degree from Regis University in
1986, graduating cum laude, and a J.D. degree, cum laude, from Thomas M.
Cooley Law School in 1996. He is also a Certified Public Accountant, in
Nevada, since 1990. Mr. Kaplan is the author of many articles, including:
"Changes to the Probate Code that Affect CPA's Payment of Professional
Fees," Vol. 38, 2 The Silver State CPA 9 (1998); "Generation Skipping
Transfer Tax: Sophisticated Estate Planning Strategies for the Advanced
Practitioner in Nevada," National Business Institute (1998); "Litigation
Support: When an Expert's Opinion is Discoverable," Vol. 37, 4 The Silver
State CPA 12 (1997); "Delaying Income Tax When Selling Property," The
Apartment Insider (1997). Speaker: Nevada Rules of Civil Procedure-Expert
Witness, 1998 and Nevada Discovery and Evidence Rules, 1996, Litigation
Support Committee, Nevada Society of Certified Public Accountants, Pro Bono
Training; "Preserving your Job Through your Employer's Wealth," Internal
Management Accountants, 1997; "CPA's in Court: Court Rules that Affect
Expert Testimony," CPA Education Association, 1997; Lorman - Advising Small
Business Startups and Larger Companies, 2007; Fundamentals of Trust
Administration, National Business Institute, 2008.
He is a member of the Clark County and Colorado Bar Associations; State Bar
of Nevada; American Institute of Certified Public Accountants; Southern
Nevada Estate Planning Counsel; WealthCounsel; Nevada Society of Certified
Public. Mr. Kaplan has served as a member of the board of directors for
Lutheran Social Services of Nevada since 2003. In addition, he serves on
the Nevada Conservation League and as a Commissioner for the Clark County
Housing Authority. He has been married for 20 years.
Kent Larson -
Mr. Kent Larson, ChFC, is a Senior Financial Consultant for Thrivent
Financial for Lutherans who manages the Las Vegas team of financial
professions. He was born and raised in Harlan, Iowa. Being raised in a farm
community has served him well with small town values and work ethics. Mr.
Larson received his Bachelors in English Literature and completed his
Masters degree in Divinity in St. Paul, Minnesota. He served Lutheran
congregations in Iowa and Texas. Mr. Larson began his career in the
financial services industry with Lutheran Brotherhood - now Thrivent
Financial for Lutherans - 13 years ago in Houston, Texas. In 1996 he was
promoted to Associate General Agent and was asked to manage the Tennessee
market. Now residing in Las Vegas, Mr. Larson serves as the Regional
Managing Associate, serving the investment needs for Thrivent Financial. A
Wrap Account specialist, he serves those who desire individual attention.
Mr. Larson has been married for 33 years to Marsha who also serves as his
executive assistant. They have two grown children, Steven and Allison.
Steven joined the Red Rock Group in 2007 and Allison teaches 3rd grade in
Memphis.
Kent has served as a board member of Lutheran Social Services of Nevada,
Faith Lutheran Jr./Sr. High School and as president of Community Outreach
Development. He enjoys traveling and cooking as hobbies.
Carey Miller
Mr. Carey Miller, P.E., works for DLT&V Systems Engineering, Inc. as
director of engineering for the corporation in Nevada. He came to that
position in 2008, bringing with him more than 16 years of experience in the
instrument, controls, mechanical and electrical engineering fields. Mr.
Miller has formerly worked for TIMET in Henderson, Nevada, where he was a
senior project manager in charge of global manufacturing information
systems. At TIMET, he was responsible for the global rollout of the
Wonderware System Platform to TIMET's three North American plants and two
plants in the United Kingdom. Previously, he worked for Bioproducts, Inc. in
Las Vegas, and designed a dairy bypass fat supplement plant that is
currently operating in Corcoran, California. Mr. Miller began his career
with the consulting firm, Nofsinger, Inc., a division of Burns & McDonnell,
Inc., in Kansas City, after graduating from Kansas State University with his
B.S.E.E. He is a registered professional engineer in the states of Kansas
and Nevada.
Mr. Miller has served for the past three years on the board of directors of
Lutheran Social Services of Nevada. He is the father of one grown son.
Robin R. Smith-
A third-generation Las Vegan, Robin R. Smith is proud to be a lifelong
resident of our community. Having earned her Bachelor's Degree in Accounting
from UNLV, Ms. Smith has been an employee of NV Energy for the last 23
years. She currently holds that organization's position of Manager,
Generation Business & Partnerships and is a Certified Internal Auditor. She
also holds the distinction of being a member of Leadership Las Vegas' Class
of 2006. Ms. Smith is proud to serve with the American Heart Association,
the Institute of Internal Auditors, and Lutheran Social Services.
Kimberly Wanker -
Ms. Kimberly A. Wanker, Esq. is an attorney engaged in her own private law
practice. For the past 22 years, Ms. Wanker has been involved in all aspects
of running a civil employment law and business litigation practice. Ms.
Wanker has extensive experience in all aspects of employment law and
litigation, representing public and private employers in the states of
Nevada and Colorado. Ms. Wanker has day to day involvement and experience in
handling informal and formal employee complaints, discrimination claims,
wage and hour disputes, workers' compensation and unemployment matters,
union grievance issues, and wrongful termination issues. Ms. Wanker has
previously served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Nevada
Self-Insurer's Association and for Employers of Nevada. Ms. Wanker, a native
Nebraskan, graduated with High Distinction from the University of Nebraska
in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. Ms. Wanker received
her Juris Doctor, with distinction, from the University of Nebraska College
of Law in 1987.
Ms. Wanker is a member of Community Lutheran Church where she is actively
involved in the "Water for the Homeless Program." Ms. Wanker also donates
her time to various non-profit organizations in Clark County, by providing
free employment law advice and assistance.
|
Board Committee Structure:
Executive Committee
Chair: Board President David Knowlton
Members: Chairs of Board Committees and LSSN Executive Director
Responsibilities: Board Meeting Agenda, Coordinates Standing Committee Work,
Monitors Board Performance, Performance Targets and Performance Evaluation
of Executive Director, Governance and Legal (Secretary of State Filings,
Articles, By-Laws)
Nominating Sub-Committee
Chair: Hyla Winters
Member: Donna Hall
Responsibilities: Board Nomination Policy & Process, Board Policy for
Ineffective or Inactive Members, Identify and Recruit a Diverse Board,
Develop Skill Profiles/Roles/Responsibilities & Descriptions, New Board
Member Orientation, On-Going Board Training
Resource Development Sub-Committee
Chair: Robin Smith
Members: Carey Miller, Thomas Maatta (Development Director)
Responsibilities: Fundraising Plan, Marketing Plan, Events, Board Liaison to
Volunteer Committee, Gift Acceptance Policy, Recognition Programs for Donors
& Volunteers
Finance Sub-Committee
Chair: Ron Bjokne
Member: Paula Rammer (Finance Manager)
Responsibilities: Financial and Cash Handling Policy, Financial Statements,
Board Approved Budget, Cash Flow Chart, Audited Financials, Tax/Regulatory
Filings, Licensing & Insurance, Workers Comp, Contract and Check Signatory
Oversight Sub-Committee
Chair: Donna Hall
Member: Sonia Vermeys, Derrick Felder (Social & Health Services Director)
Responsibilities: Annual Strategic Planning & Status Reporting Facilitation,
LSSN Program Oversight (Financial Assistance, Housing & Emergency Services,
Home Care)
Personnel Sub-Committee
Chair: Sonia Vermeys
Member: Kim Wanker
Responsibilities: Human Resource & Standard Operating Procedures and
Policies, Conflict of Interest Policy, Confidentiality Policy, Whistleblower
Policy, Records Management Policy, Volunteer Program Policies and
Procedures, Employee Benefits, Compensation Program, Performance Evaluations
Permanent Campus Ad-Hoc Committee
Chair: Kirk Kaplan
Member: Elmo Douglass
Responsibilities: Feasibility Study, Capital Funding Campaign,
Government/Community Relations
|
|