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James J. Pisanelli Founder/Partner, Pisanelli Bice Referred Todd & Debra to City National

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Todd. L. Bice Founder/Partner, Pisanelli Bice Now a client of City National

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*2017 Greenwich Excellence Award for Likelihood to Recommend in the West. Based on interviews conducted by Greenwich Associates in 2017 with more than 30,000 executives at businesses across the country with sales of $1-500 million. City National Bank results are compared to leading competitors on the following question: How likely are you to recommend (bank) to a friend or colleague? CNB MEMBER FDIC. ÂŠ2018 City National Bank. All Rights Reserved. City National Bank is a subsidiary of Royal Bank of Canada.

A healthy dose of thank you for all you do. KPMG congratulates the 2019 CFO of the Year Finalists and Financial Executives of the Year Industry Winners

kpmg.com

© 2019 0 KP KPMG MG LLP, a Delaw aw ware a liimit mited ed lia liabi bility partnership and the U.S S. memb ember e firm off the h KPM KPMG G nettwor w k of inde n pendentt memb mber e fir firms ms aff a iliated with KPMG Internationa nall Coop Coopera rativ ive e (“KPMG MG Intern ernati ational”), a Swiss entit ity. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. Th The e KPMG KPMG na ame and nd lo logo go are ae reg egist istered trademarks or trademarks of KPMG International. NDPPS 888471 471

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OF THE YEAR CFO 2019

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—FROM THE PRESENTER—

he Las Vegas Chapter of Financial Executives International is excited to host our third annual CFO of the Year Awards. This annual award ceremony has become a must-attend event for local financial executives and

area businesses. In partnership with VEGAS INC and with the support of many local sponsors, FEI is proud to honor the best and brightest financial executives in Southern Nevada. Financial professionals work tirelessly, often behind the scenes. Their work is

critical, the hours are long and the deadlines are relentless. The CFO of the Year Awards recognize finance professionals who are outstanding in both their companies and communities. Each honoree is a valuable contributor and FEI is proud to help recognize their contributions. Please join us in congratulating the best and brightest financial executives in Southern Nevada. Sincerely, Dustin E. Dunn, FEI Las Vegas Chapter President

Understanding what makes you unique.® www.swlaw.com

CFO 2019

OF THE YEAR

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— F R O M T H E e v e n t ho s t —

ilverton Casino Hotel would like to congratulate the CFO and financial executive honorees. We celebrate your outstanding achievements that have made a strong impact in our community. You have demonstrated significant accomplishments that are unparalleled in Las Vegas and each of you serves as a role model to all. It is our honor to host this year’s CFO of the Year Awards event inside Veil Pavilion at Silverton Casino Hotel. Our dedication and loyalty to this community has grown over the past 22 years that we have been in business. With more than 1,500 slot and video poker machines and an 117,000-gallon aquarium, Silverton Casino Hotel is not just a place to stay and play in Las Vegas, it is an overall dining and entertainment experience. We are dedicated to providing the best customer service for every guest that visits us. Silverton Casino is home to a variety of restaurants, including Seasons Buffet, the 24-hour Sundance Grill, awardwinning Twin Creeks Steakhouse, Mi Casa Grill Cantina, WuHu Noodle and our newest addition, Su Casa, as well as Starbucks and Johnny Rockets. There are several bars and lounges offering a great place to gather after work or before a show at Shady Grove Lounge, Mermaid Lounge and Flare Bar. In addition to the flagship 165,000-square-foot Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, Silverton Casino offers 90,000 square feet of gaming, including the Sports Book powered by CG Technology. We have also just expanded Silverton Village with a new 150-room Hyatt Place Las Vegas at Silverton Village with meeting and event space, as well as the new restaurants including Blaze Pizza, Firehouse Subs, Panera Bread and Starbucks in the new retail center. Congratulations to all of this year’s CFO and financial executive award winners. We look forward to seeing all of you successful executives here in southern Nevada flourish and achieve more in the coming years. Regards, Silverton Casino Hotel Team

— F R O M T H E P R E S E N T I N G s po n s or —

ity National Bank is very proud to sponsor this year’s CFO of the Year Awards. There were far more worthy candidates for this prestigious award than could be honored, which speaks volumes of the highly qualified and talented professionals we have in southern Nevada. On behalf of City National, I would like to congratulate all of this year’s nominees and winners. Greenspun Media Group and City National have been partners on various media-related projects, programs and events for nearly two decades. These partnerships have been one of the hallmarks of City National’s success during the same time frame. Celebrating 65 years in business, leadership at City National has had a longstanding commitment to supporting its clients, colleagues and communities where the bank calls home. On a local level, City National is the official bank of the Vegas Golden Knights and a founding partner of T-Mobile and MGM Grand Garden arenas. Leadership at the bank has made community engagement a priority and works to help create vibrant communities throughout Nevada. Congratulations to all of the 2019 CFO of the Year award recipients! We are honored to call many of you friends and are excited to help recognize your many accomplishments. The influence you have had on your companies, communities and state has been invaluable, and you are among the best business and community leaders in the country, bar none. Thank you for all the work you do to help Nevada be one of the best states in our great nation.

Paul Stowell, Nevada Regional Executive, City National Bank

CFO 2019

OF THE YEAR

n behalf of RSM US LLP (RSM), I’d like to congratulate all of the financial executives being recognized for their exceptional leadership skills, civic activities and business performance — traits that contribute to Las Vegas’ economic growth. At RSM, we recognize the deep commitment of these individuals to their respective professions and their communities. In fact, we reflect that care and excellence in our own work with middle-market businesses worldwide, and with the communities where our people live and work. Our purpose at RSM is to deliver “the power of being understood” to our clients, colleagues and communities. We are committed

or over 122 years, KPMG has provided innovative business solutions and audit, tax and advisory services to many of the world’s largest and most prestigious organizations and worked closely with CFOs across all industries. In a changing economic and competitive landscape with varying industries that Las Vegas can claim, the role of the CFO is changing, and changing quickly. But as businesses and market conditions change, so too do the roles of every member of the C-suite, and the CFO is no exception. In fact, a KPMG study surveyed CEOs globally, and we found that the CFO is indeed exceptional, because compared with any other executive in the organization, CEOs expected the CFO role to change the most. In short, tomorrow’s CFOs need to become

usch Commercial Interiors is a proud sponsor of the CFO of the Year Awards. Our company has aligned ourselves with this event because we recognize and appreciate the roles that CFO’s live out every single day within their organizations. Each CFO strives for excellence — as does Fusch Commercial Interiors. Because of that,

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— F R O M T H E s p o n s or s — have demonstrated hard work, outstanding financial leadership, and innovative attitudes that have led to growth within their respective organizations. We look forward to the honorees’ continued success and we hope that their accomplishments serve as an inspiration to being a first-choice advisor to financial lead- to other future finaners in the Las Vegas market, and committed to cial leaders. continuing to build strong relationships based on a deep understanding of what matters most Congratulations! to our clients. We’re excited to work with FEI, VEGAS INC Theresa Merlino, Ofand our cosponsors to honor the accomplish- fice Managing Partner, ments of these distinguished individuals who RSM US LLP

must have intellectual curiosity, must have leadership skills, must not be overly conservative about disruptive technology, and must aggressively seek out the business insights to help make necessary changes that drive the business forward. modern CFOs. Above all else, the most effective quality in The modern CFO needs to manage capital, a modern CFO is adaptability. but also needs to be versed in strategy, anaOn behalf of the women and men of KPMG, lytics, operations and talent management. In I offer my heartfelt short, the CFO needs to help drive business congratulations to this change. year’s CFO of the Year Beyond managing numbers and the re- finalists. lationship with the markets, a modern CFO should be able to look at the finance and accounting organization and make sure it’s Mark Hutchins, streamlined. The good news is that many Las Vegas CFOs are already equipped to do it. Managing Partner, In the minds of CEOs, that trusted advisor KPMG

Tracy and I want to congratulate the 2019 honorees for the excellent work they’ve demonstrated to reach this plateau and for the example they’ve set for all CFOs moving forward! It’s an honor to be a part of this program! Congratulations! Chris and Tracy Fusch, FCI & Design

CFO 2019

OF THE YEAR

CFO | City of North Las Vegas

ix years ago, North Las Vegas was struggling. On the verge of state takeover, the city was strapped with a $153 million long-term budget deficit, a $17 million shortterm budget deficit, court orders requiring more than $30 million in judgments and a North Las Vegas bond rating of “junk” status. Now in 2019, the city’s structural deficits have been erased, credit has returned to “investment grade” and the city is operating under a current and projected balanced budget, thanks in part to the financial experience and leadership of CFO Darren Adair and his team. “Today, the future is bright, and I believe the City of North Las Vegas will go from being the ‘stepchild’ of the Las Vegas Valley to the ‘prince,’” said Adair, who came on board with the city in 2013 as the senior executive finance officer. Under Adair’s guidance, the city turned things around by considering its undeveloped real estate as a key asset, pushing tens of millions of dollars of infrastructure into what is now a thriving commercial and industrial area with a promising future. “The greatest skill required and used the most in the CFO role is the ability to encourage honest and open discussions on solving problems and listening,” said Adair. Thanks in part to his efforts, North Las Vegas’ credit and financial creditability have rebounded to pre-recession levels, with historic increases in both its S&P Global Ratings report card and its Moody’s Investors Services credit rating. With more than two decades of experience in local public accounting, corporate and real estate development finance, and SEC reporting, Adair holds dual bachelor’s degrees in accounting and business information systems (computers/IT) and a master’s degree in accounting from Southern Utah University.

Bryan Coy

CFO | Vegas Golden Knights

ryan Coy, CFO of the Vegas Golden Knights, believes that accounting and finance are the language of business. The language he speaks goes beyond hockey and the hockey group, owned by Bill Foley. There are also Foley Family Wines and its related vineyard entities; and Epic Wines and Spirits. That means Coy oversees the financial functions for companies involved with wine production and distribution as well as sports — industries with very stringent guidelines. Coy is responsible for preparing and executing budgets for two dozen Foley entities; oversight, monitoring and strategic review of capital structure; leading the finance and treasury operations; and providing financial, budgetary and operational reporting to the National Hockey League. “I joined the Foley organization just after the start of the Golden Knights’ inaugural season, so the hockey organizations were essentially a startup, and I have been fortunate to have a fantastic finance group there,” Coy said. “The finance team all came through different channels and that diversity allowed the group to handle the surprises that come with a high-volume startup.” Coy led the refinancing or replacing of nine figures of debt and equity facilities, including capital for the Vegas Golden Knights’ practice facility in Summerlin and the new arena in Henderson. He also replaced the Epic Wines and Spirits’ and Foley Family Wines’ revolving lines of credit in partnership with City National Bank and refinanced many of vineyard mortgages of Foley Family Wines. Coy is a CPA and CMA who holds a degree with a dual major of accounting and finance from Wright State University. He previously worked at Interblock Gaming, Aruze Gaming, Sunterra Resorts and Deloitte & Touche.

FINALIST — CFO OF THE YEAR

Darren Adair

FINALIST — CFO OF THE YEAR

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Brian Kleven

CFO | Dignity Health-St. Rose

Dominican Hospitals — Siena and San Martin campuses

s the son of a registered nurse, Brian Kleven — CFO of Dignity Health-St. Rose Dominican Hospitals’ Siena and San Martín campuses — aspired to work in health care from early on. “I was not clinical in nature, but took to mathematics and finance very well, so decided to contribute the best way I could,” said Kleven. Kleven joined Dignity Health in 2016 as CFO of the St. Rose Dominican Siena campus. He has been providing financial oversight for the San Martín location since last summer. His responsibilities include direct oversight of finance, revenue integrity and revenue-cycle optimization for the two hospitals, which have annual net revenue of more than $700 million. Kleven’s work on net revenue denials improvement has been so successful that it’s being implemented across the Dignity Health organization. In layman’s terms, that means that Kleven works with insurance companies to guarantee that guidelines are being met for the hospital to issue proper billing statements and receive payments. Also committed to professional growth and mentoring his team to help them achieve professional success, Kleven offers the following tip for young finance professionals: “Hard work and culture are very important,” he said. “There has been a recent movement to push toward other ways to view employees, but I see fitting in and delivering organizational goals as critical. High performers deliver results and serve as role models.” Kleven holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and finance from California State University, Northridge, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in business administration from UNLV. He serves as a board member of the American Lung Association. — Profiles by Danielle Birkin

CFO 2019

OF THE YEAR

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C O N S T R U C T I O N | R E A L E S TAT E

Jennifer LaFrance Senior Vice President and CFO

Somerpointe Resorts

ennifer LaFrance’s co-workers credit her commitment to the craft of accounting for many of her successes. “When I started my career in the audit field with Ernst & Young I had an amazing mentor who guided me and allowed me to take on challenges,” LaFrance said. LaFrance was initially drawn to the field when she realized the potential to learn about various business aspects through accounting and finance. That potential is realized at the ASNY Family of Companies, which span a diverse number of businesses. Most notable is Somerpointe Resorts, a national vacation ownership business.

ser v ices

Ken Wilkins

Vice President of Business and Finance/Treasurer

Roseman University of Health Sciences

LaFrance’s nomination for CFO of the Year said that her role “cannot be defined as a CFO. She is one of the rare talents that is able to transcend that definition and make the role more than a title.” Among recent accomplishments, LaFrance helped strategize her company’s review of multigenerational estate and tax planning, and has led the company into new business lines. In addition to her CFO role, LaFrance has supported charities including the Make-a-Wish Foundation, Goodie Two Shoes and Habitat for Humanity.

en Wilkins brings a passion for health care and education to his role at Roseman University of Health Sciences, where he oversees accounting, finance and select business operations for the institution, a teaching university for health care professionals with campuses in Henderson, Summerlin and South Jordan, Utah. During Wilkins’ time at Roseman, the institution’s revenue and assets have quadrupled. “I’m really proud of the educational and financial successes of Roseman University,” said Wilkins. “I also participated in the successful acquisition of the former Nevada

G A M I N G | H O S P I TA L I T Y

Michael Pearse

CFO and Executive Vice President of Finance

Westgate Las Vegas

ichael Pearse joined Westgate Las Vegas as CFO and executive vice president of finance in 2015. He is responsible for oversight of all accounting and finance operations as well as budgeting and planning for the property. “I wasn’t actually interested in finance or accounting until I was a junior at Southeastern Louisiana University and took my first accounting class, which was surprisingly easy for me,” Pearse said. Under Pearse’s financial direction, the Westgate’s EBITDAM (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) have a forecasted projection for 2020 of four times what the number was in 2014.

“I am most proud of developing our workforce management team and installing our scheduling system, which has resulted in improved management and productivity,” said Pearse, who said his best advice for up-and-comers is to find your passion and continue to challenge yourself. “Finance continues to evolve through technology and the regulatory environment, so keep up with the latest changes, and network, network, network,” he said. Pearse has worked with many gaming properties in his career, including Paris, Bally’s, Green Valley Ranch, Palace Station and Mandalay Bay.

Cancer Institute, two municipal bond issues of $39 million and $68 million, and the launch of the College of Medicine.” A mentor who aspires to inspire both students and his team, Wilkins has kept turnover in his department low and offers financial incentives to his staff for professional development. “No matter how knowledgeable and skilled you may be in an area of expertise, you will never be successful without developing great relationships with your team,” said Wilkins, who also provides pro bono consulting services for area schools.

MANUFACTURING | TECHNOLOGY

Todd Valli

SVP, Chief Accounting Officer | Everi Holdings

odd Valli considers himself a driven, goal-oriented, critical thinker with a passion for numbers. The chief accounting officer and senior vice president of Everi Holdings is also an optimist. “Focus on what you can do with what you do have, as the glass is half full,” he said. Valli joined gaming-tech-solutions supplier Everi Holdings in 2011 after 15 years of experience with publicly traded gaming, timeshare and interactive companies. He manages the corporate finance and tax accounting teams with responsibilities including: financial reporting, technical accounting, integrated and statutory audits, tax and compliance, equity management, financial state-

ment consolidation, and internal controls. Valli is credited with building a corporate finance team for Everi, along with managing significant changes related to accounting standards and IRS regulations, and he’s been instrumental in mergers, acquisitions and financing transactions. In terms of offering words of wisdom to young finance professionals, “Remain humble, thirst for knowledge, believe in yourself, build relationships, and passionately pursue your dreams in preparation for eventual opportunities,” Valli said. — Profiles by Danielle Birkin

PROUD SUPPORTER OF FEI LAS VEGAS CHAPTER

It’s not just about understanding the numbers. It’s about a banker who understands your business. A one-to-one relationship with your banker – a banker who truly understands your business – is how Bank of Nevada delivers on accountability.

Bank on Accountability bankofnevada.com

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Bank of Nevada, a division of Western Alliance Bank, Member FDIC. Western Alliance ranks top ten on Forbes’ Best Banks in America list, four years in a row.

Weâ€™re up to speed, so you can go full speed. SEE CHALLENGES BEFORE THEYâ€™RE CHALLENGING. To make confident decisions about the future, middle market leaders need a different kind of advisor. One who starts by understanding where you want to go and then brings the ideas and insights of an experienced global team to help get you there. Experience the power of being understood. Experience RSM. rsmus.com

RSM US LLP is the U.S. member firm of RSM International, a global network of independent audit, tax and consulting firms. Visit rsmus.com/aboutus for more information regarding RSM US LLP and RSM International.

Humanity is alive and well. When we care for one another, we help each other heal. That’s why Dignity Health St. Rose Dominican supports Las Vegas Weekly’s CFO of the Year Awards. We are proud to salute all of this year’s outstanding CFOs, including Dignity Health St. Rose Dominican‘s San Martín and Siena Campus’ Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Brian Kleven. Brian Kleven

Dignity Health - St. Rose Dominican, a not-for-profit healthcare system, has served the Las Vegas Valley since 1947.

STITCHED CONGRATULATES ALL OF THE 2019 CFO OF THE YEAR HONOREES

The SIOR Southern Nevada Chapter would like to congratulate all of this yearâ€™s recipients of the CFO of the Year. When working on one of your companies largest line items, real estate Are you using an SIOR to provide you the value you deserve? With 38 designees in the Southern Nevada Chapter, SIOR designees were

responsible for an estimated 60% of the total market volume for office and industrial transactions in 2018 totaling $2.018 Billion in transaction value.

Contact an SIOR today with questions regarding your office or industrial real estate.

SOUTHERN NEVADA CHAPTER

www.siornv.com

The people you trust, trust City National. Top Ranked in Client Referrals*

“City National provides all the resources my business needs to keep growing.” Walter Schroeder, M.D. Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist

Find your way up. Visit cnb.com

*Based on interviews conducted by Greenwich Associates in 2017 with more than 30,000 executives at businesses across the country with sales of $1 million to $500 million. City National Bank results are compared to leading competitors on the following question: How likely are you to recommend (bank) to a friend or colleague? City National Bank Member FDIC. City National Bank is a subsidiary of Royal Bank of Canada. ©2019 City National Bank. All Rights Reserved. cnb.com

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