Board of Directors

Craig has served most recently as CEO of Singer Industrial, where he helped double the business size in 3 years to over 100 locations while improving the profitability through focused goals and back-office efficiencies. Additionally, he has held leadership positions at ThermoFisher Scientific, McKesson and Hewlett Packard. He holds an MBA from Northwestern University and bachelor’s in accounting from Brigham Young University. He values integrity, efficiency and passion and brings those traits to all his endeavors. He believes in developing talent to achieve their highest potential. He enjoys hiking, reading and spending time with his wife, Michelle, 4 children and 2 grandchildren.

Jerrie E. Merritt is the senior vice president and community development manager at Bank of Nevada, with a 45-year banking career dedicated to supporting businesses, nonprofits, and community initiatives. She oversees community development efforts, working closely with local and state agencies to drive economic growth and strengthen partnerships. Deeply committed to education, she has served on the UNLV Libraries Advisory Board, Communities in Schools board, and mentored students in the Clark County School District.

Jerrie is the board chair of Workforce Connections and president of the Hannah Brown Community Development Corporation, while also serving on multiple other boards, including United Way of Southern Nevada and the Governor’s Workforce Development Board. Her past leadership roles include board presidencies at the Rape Crisis Center and Urban Financial Services Coalition. Recognized for her impact, she has received the Trailblazer Award from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, the NAWBO Women of Distinction Award, and Vegas INC’s Women to Watch Award. She has been married for 52 years and has one son.

Jon Angarola is a seasoned gaming executive with over 20 years of experience. As Vice President of Studio at Aristocrat Technologies, he has been instrumental in building and scaling a high performance slot game studio since joining the company in 2013. He oversees all aspects of studio management and game development, champions creative excellence, and fosters a collaborative environment that enables flow and fearless creation. Jon also drives strategic decisions in licensing, product vision, and portfolio planning that consistently deliver strong revenue performance and market-leading titles in a highly competitive landscape.

Before joining Aristocrat, Jon honed his leadership and strategic expertise in the pharmaceutical industry and at a top-tier consulting firm, giving him a unique cross-industry perspective that strengthens his approach to creative studio management. Deeply passionate about mentorship and team growth, he is committed to cultivating high-performing, collaborative cultures where talent thrives. Jon holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Seton Hall University. A New Jersey native, he relocated to Las Vegas in 2013 and now enjoys traveling and making lasting memories with his wife and three children.

Chef Marcus O’Brien, Property Executive Chef/ Sr. Director of Food & Beverage, Palms Casino Resort is local favorite and industry renowned innovator in the Las Vegas food scene. O’Brien Las Vegas resume includes Executive Chef positions with the N9NE Group at the Palms (N9NE Steakhouse, Nove Italiano, Playboy Club, Ghostbar, Moon and Rain), Hard Rock Hotel (Pink Taco, Mr. Lucky’s, 35 Steak and Martini, Rehab and Goose Island Pub), Anthem Country Club and PGA Summerlin. These experiences have allowed Marcus talents to grow under the mentorship of Vegas Icons such as Barry Dakake, Geno Bernardo and Brian Massie as well as James Beard nominated Chef Michael Kornick of Chicago.

Under O’Brien’s leadership, several of his venues have received local and national recognition including Best New Steakhouse (Scotch 80), Best Steakhouse (Scotch 80 and 35 Martini), Thrilllist “Top 10 Steakhouses” (35 Martini) and Open Table and Trip Advisor Diner’s Choice Awards (multiple venues).

On top of these prestigious recognitions, some of Marcus favorite culinary experiences include catering the MTV Video Music Awards, The Warp Tour, private events for two former United State Presidents and 1 Vice President and The Playboy Magazine 50th Anniversary Celebration.

In addition to catering to the who’s, who of Vegas Celebrity clientele and corporate clients, Marcus has truly treasured his ability to work with local organizations such as the Culinary Academy and Three Square to provide teaching assistance to those who want to make food and beverage a career, but more importantly, ensuring community members with limited access to resources have access to a healthy food supply system.

Originally from Aurora, Ill., Marcus treasures his Midwest roots and having established his culinary career in the heart of America’s food production. “There is nothing better then preparing a meal with produce you just picked from a garden or field,” O’Brien discusses often when apprenticing young Chef’s.

Before relocating to Las Vegas, Marcus attended Drake University in which his original goal was to become a 6th Grade Science teacher. Marcus attributes what he learned in the pursuit of a teaching degree to how he teaches and mentors those around him today. Mixing things in the lab did not hurt his ability to produce fun and unique recipes either.

Marcus has called Las Vegas home now for over twenty years and is excited to see what the next 20 years bring to this amazing town.

Anna Schmid is an accomplished hospitality executive with over 30 years of experience spanning hotel operations, events, entertainment, marketing, public relations, and corporate social responsibility. She has held senior leadership roles at world-renowned integrated resorts, including The Atlantis Resort Bahamas and Caesars Palace Las Vegas, and currently serves as Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility for The Venetian Resort Las Vegas.

A passionate proponent for food rescue and impactful events, Anna is dedicated to supporting and uplifting those in need throughout the Las Vegas community. She holds a bachelor’s degree in global hospitality leadership from the University of Houston and an MBA from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Committed to mentoring the next generation of hospitality leaders, she actively engages with students as a guest speaker, educator, and Dean’s Advisory Board Member. Above all, Anna’s most rewarding role is being a mom to her two strong, amazing daughters, Ava (19) and Stella (14), and a life partner to her husband and biggest fan, Paul.

Ryan Works is a Partner at McDonald Carano and a member of the Executive Committee. He is Chair of the Bankruptcy, Insolvency & Financial Restructuring Group. He represents creditors and debtors both in and out of bankruptcy under Chapter 11 and 7 of the Bankruptcy Code. Ryan represents secured lenders, landlords, tenants, health care ombudsman, buyers, sellers, and other parties in interest. He has significant experience prosecuting and defending avoidance actions, adversary cases, and related litigation and has handled fraud cases and non-discharge matters. Ryan has represented the debtor in possession and successfully restructured several businesses. In addition to his bankruptcy practice, Ryan is a member of the Commercial & Complex Litigation Practice, with a focus on commercial financing disputes under the Uniform Commercial Code, partnership disputes, corporate governance matters, real estate law, construction law, mechanics’ lien litigation, and general defense of local and national clients in federal and state courts.

Ryan has received numerous recognitions for his expertise and experience, including Martindale-Hubbell’s AV – Preeminent Rating since 2012 and The Best Lawyers in America’s ranking of prominent attorneys in Commercial Litigation, Bankruptcy Litigation, and Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law since 2019. Ryan has also been included in Nevada Business Magazine’s list of Top Rank Attorneys and Mountain States Super Lawyers magazine’s list of Super Lawyers since 2013. He has served as a member of the Board of Governors of the State Bar of Nevada and is a member of the Bar Licensing Commission created by the Nevada Supreme Court to evaluate alternatives to the system for attorney licensure in Nevada. Ryan earned a J.D. from UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law and a B.A. in Criminal Justice from the University of Nevada, Reno.

Suzanne Bierman is a Managing Director at Sellers Dorsey, a national Medicaid consulting firm. Suzanne is a former Nevada Medicaid Director, a position she held from 2019-2023, including during the COVID-19 public health emergency. While at Nevada Medicaid, she assisted with the development and implementation of program enhancements to improve health care access and affordability, including eligibility expansions to improve maternal and child health outcomes. She also developed new managed care requirements to support health-related social needs in the state’s managed care contracts.

Suzanne also served as an assistant Medicaid Director in her home state of Arkansas, where she worked to implement Medicaid expansion and on numerous initiatives to support Medicaid funded home and community-based services. Additionally, Suzanne has worked in health policy research, for a state hospital association, and at an academic medical center.

Suzanne remains passionate about improving access to quality health care and needed social supports and is thrilled to join the advisory board of The Just One Project!

Kalani Tissot is the Principal Consultant and founder of Tissot Solutions LLC, based in Las Vegas. Since launching the firm in January 2021, he has grown it into one of the largest political fundraising firms in Nevada and the Mountain West, with offices in Utah and Washington. Tissot Solutions has supported over 65 candidates and elected officials across Nevada. A University of Washington graduate, Kalani began his career on campaigns nationwide before relocating to Las Vegas in 2019.

Advisory Board Member | Community Strategist | Infrastructure Builder

Monica Ford is a community strategist, infrastructure builder, and trusted advisor with more than two decades of leadership across Southern Nevada. She is the Founder and Principal Consultant of M3 Strategies LLC and serves as Superintendent of Rainbow Dreams Early Learning Academy in the Historic Westside.

Her work is grounded in strengthening community and walking alongside families by addressing the full spectrum of barriers they face. She provides executive-level HR and business operations oversight across multiple industries, helping organizations align people, systems, and purpose to transform systems into pathways of opportunity and deliver meaningful, sustainable impact.

At her core, Monica is a connector, a builder, and an advocate. She operates at the intersection of strategy, service, and community, ensuring that systems work for people and not the other way around.

She previously served as President and CEO of Nevada Partners and continues to support its mission as a trusted advisor.