Your Speakers and Panelists Include
Mauricia Baca
Mauricia BacaMauricia Baca has over 25 years experience working across a wide range of environmental issues. In January 2010, Ms. Baca was brought on board as the Executive Director for the Outside Las Vegas Foundation. The Outside Las Vegas Foundation (OLVF) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that focuses on processes that increase quantity, quality and access to trails and open space systems. OLVF achieves positive outcomes in support of these efforts by working with and connecting southern Nevada citizens, the business community, educators, advocacy organizations and governmental entities to solve important community issues regarding quality of life and stewardship of public lands in Southern Nevada. Raised in New York City, Ms. Baca now resides in Henderson, Nevada and is passionately committed to the communities of Southern Nevada.
Sara Hill
As a Co-founder and Managing Partner for The Mill, an Idea and Startup Accelerator established in 2014 in downtown Las Vegas, Sara Hill works daily to empower entrepreneurs and help mentor startups to success. Sara’s passion for working with entrepreneurs was kindled at NextSpace, where she spent four years helping to grow the innovative coworking company from one to nine locations. As a NextSpace manager in both the Bay Area and Los Angeles, she had her finger on the pulse of startup ecosystems in two of California’s thriving tech scenes. Sara also teaches the Innovation and Teams course at UNLV as part of the Global Entrepreneurship Experience minor and volunteers her time with Global Shapers, TEDx Las Vegas and judging startup weekends and local hackathons.
Jeanette Schneider
An accomplished author and public speaker, Jeanette founded LORE Advocacy, a network of professional women who aspire to change the world through a gender lens. Jeanette works within professional and community networks to accomplish goals and mobilize change. Jeanette also founded Lore and Little Things in 2015. It is a platform for women to discuss issues relevant to professional women and mothers. Her “Love, Me” mentorship program has been seen on the Huffington Post. During the day Jeanette is a Senior Vice President and Institutional Client Advisor within the financial services industry. She serves on the boards of Spread the Word Nevada, the President’s Advisory Council for The Smith Center for the Performing Arts and a large charitable foundation. She is a member of the Hall of Fame of the Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Nevada and a 2016 Vegas Inc Woman to Watch.
Lynda Tache
Lynda is the Founder/President of the Grant a Gift Autism Foundation. Grant a Gift is currently collaborating with the UNLV School of Medicine to create the largest Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities in the state of Nevada. It will focus on treatment, education and research and become a Center of Excellence model for the country. Lynda has testified in front of the Nevada State Legislature and served as a parent advocate for a variety of autism related bills. She has served on a variety of professional and philanthropic boards, including as Co-Chair for the NV Commission on Autism Spectrum Disorders Subcommittee for Early Intervention, Co-Chair of the state funded Autism Treatment Assistance Program Policy Committee and Co-Chair of the Learn the Signs Act Early/CDC steering committee for the NvLEND program through Nevada Center for Excellence in Disabilities and UNR. Lynda was an original team member for the opening of the MGM Grand Hotel and on the original beverage management team for New York-New York, overseeing 250+ employees. Lynda also has a strong financial planning background, and she has served as the Director of Southern Nevada for Wells Fargo Bank of Nevada.
INSPIRATIONAL TALKS BY INFLUENCER ACADEMY ALUMNI
Carissa Begonia
Carissa Begonia is the head of Diversity & Inclusion at Zappos. She came into this new role through her work spearheading Women Empowered, an affinity group at Zappos, focused on supporting the advancement of women in leadership roles at the company by providing opportunities for connection, inspiration, and mentorship. When Carissa isn’t checking out new shoes on Zappos.com, researching and developing new diversity initiatives, or planning an event on the Zappos campus, she is off traveling the world, exploring new cultures, and visiting her friends and family in New York, Nicaragua, and the Philippines. Carissa is also dedicated to community charity work, volunteering her free time at Dress for Success and Mustard Seed Communities. She is currently working on starting a not-for-profit organization with her family, to support health and education for children at Popantay Elementary School, in the rural Pangasinan province of the Philippines.
Ada Casanova
Ada Casanova has been in the hospitality and wedding industry for over fifteen years. She has experience as Director of Wedding and Floral at Mandalay Bay, Director of Group Sales for Hakkasan Group and Director of Guest Experience for Luxor Hotel and Casino. She has coordinated and planned over 2,000 events and has been featured in Beautiful Bride magazine for her contribution to the Las Vegas wedding industry. In her spare time, Ada can be found reading, traveling with her friends and family, and learning languages and volunteering for Dress For Success. She loves to inspire others to feel the love and follow their personal journeys!
Sonnya DeBonis
Sonnya DeBonis is the president elect of the Junior League of Las Vegas and has been a member since 2010. She is also active with National Charity League, a mother daughter philanthropy organization. Sonnya is a mother of two teenagers and loves spending time with them and her husband of 24 years, Eric.
Ronda Taylor
Ronda Taylor is a publishing expert, award winning book designer, author, and TEDx speaker. She is most passionate about bringing an author’s vision to life and sharing their message with the world…what she calls her “heart work”. Through the company she founded, HeartWork Publishing, Ronda works with dynamic entrepreneurs, coaches, speakers, healers and thought leaders who have a compelling story to tell. As a woman who has successfully overcome many obstacles in life, Ronda gravitates toward women who are making a difference in their own communities. She is an advocate for those without a voice, and she volunteers with local organizations for the homeless, economically disadvantaged women, and abused women and children.
About Your Event Host, Alexia Vernon
Alexia Vernon is the Founder of Influencer Academy, a leadership development program that provides high potential women hands-on, skills-based leadership training in public speaking, persuasion, negotiation, coaching, facilitation and stepping into thought leadership. As a leadership and presentation skills speaker, coach and trainer, Alexia has had the privilege of partnering with executives, startup founders, entrepreneurs, bestselling authors and change makers to use public speaking to radically and positively transform their people’s lives. The White House Office of Public Engagement has called Alexia a “Moxie Maven” for her unique and effective approach to empowering emerging leaders to develop professional success, their way. In March 2016, Alexia spoke at the United Nations during the Commission on the Status of Women, and she has shared her advice with media including CNN, NBC, the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Inc., the European Business Review and Women’s Health Magazine.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row inner_container=”true” no_margin=”true” padding_top=”0px” padding_bottom=”30px” border=”none” bg_color=”#ffffff” bg_video=”” class=”” style=””][vc_column fade_animation_offset=”45px”][vc_column_text]About Influencer Academy
About Influencer AcademyInfluencer Academy is a 9-month, face-to-face, transformational women’s leadership experience. Designed for business leaders, entrepreneurs and community leaders, Influencer Academy grows women’s confidence, ambition and impact by cultivating their skills in such critical leadership areas as interpersonal communication, public speaking, coaching, facilitation, difficult conversations, persuasion and negotiation. Through its holistic and skill-based leadership development programming, practical coursework and extraordinary opportunities for quality relationship building and mentorship, Influencer Academy graduates leave the program equipped to advance their careers, scale their businesses and make significant positive impact in their companies and communities.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row inner_container=”true” no_margin=”true” padding_top=”0px” padding_bottom=”0px” border=”none” bg_color=”#216a66″ bg_video=”” class=”” style=””][vc_column fade_animation_offset=”45px”][vc_column_text]Join up to 100 Las Vegas leaders, entrepreneurs and change makers for a transformational evening to develop your mindset, skillset, relationships and resources so you can lead big change in your company and in the community.
