40 Under 40: Leading Las Vegas into the future

We couldn’t have planned it better. Our 20th year of honoring the valley’s 40 most auspicious and prominent professionals under the age of 40, happening in the year 2020. And for this notable occasion, the community pulled out all the stops, nominating the best of the best.

Submissions poured in from a cross-section of industries in the valley—education, health care, law, nonprofit, hospitality and more. It was a mix that would impress even the most unimpressionable person.

Our panel of judges read every submission. They carefully considered each nominee’s business acumen, charitable spirit and future potential. They looked for standouts in professional achievements, community service and overall influence on their respective industries. It became abundantly clear: Southern Nevada is full of remarkable leaders.

This year’s honoree list is brimming with eager, dedicated and incredibly successful young professionals. And while each honoree offers something unique, they all bring a refreshing and encouraging promise of what’s to come.

We hope you read their stories and get inspired by their passion. Our community has a bright future with these honorees at the helm.

It is with the support of our sponsors that we bring these exceptional individuals to you. We are extremely thankful to City National Bank, Stitched, Grey Goose, Barrick operating Nevada Gold Mines, Cox Business, Vegas Golden Knights, SIOR, Carl’s Donuts and Balloons With a Twist for making our 2020 40 Under 40 publication a reality. A special thank you to Palms for hosting the prestigious celebration where we honor these 40 trailblazers making Las Vegas a better place to do business and call home.

Joshua Bonde, Ph.D. - Las Vegas Natural History Museum

Joshua Bonde

Joshua Bonde

Curator of Paleontology | Age: 39

Growing up on a 48-acre alfalfa farm in northern Nevada, Joshua Bonde got pretty good with a shovel and spool of bailing wire—skills he now uses regularly as a paleontologist.

Bonde set out from a young age to conquer the mystery of the dinosaur. “When I was 7 or 8, my parents took me and my brother to the Lawrence Hall of Science at the University of California in Berkeley; the museum was having an animatronic dinosaur exhibit,” Bonde said. “The life-size dinosaurs scared me, and from that moment on, I was going to figure out these dinosaurs.”

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Nicole Brisson - Locale Italian Kitchen & craft cocktails

Nicole Brisson

Nicole Brisson

Executive Chef and Partner | Age: 38

Nicole Brisson is a woman of firsts.

She’s the youngest woman to become a chef at a reputable Las Vegas restaurant on the Strip. She became the first female executive chef of an Eataly in the U.S., when she opened the company’s first Las Vegas location. And, she’s the first chef appointed to the board of directors of the Southern Nevada Health District.

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Kady Casullo - The Emergent Group, The Powell Law Firm

Kady Casullo

Kady Casullo

Partner, Director of Firm Relations | Age: 34

Kady Casullo didn’t choose her career; it chose her. “I was in the legal field wanting to pursue law school when I was introduced to a family friend who was heavily involved with numerous nonprofit organizations,” Casullo said. “What started as a decision to volunteer led to a deep desire for wanting to help others and to a career transition.”

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Laura Christian - Discovery Children’s Museum

Laura Christian

Laura Christian

Director of Learning Experiences | Age: 39

Curiosity. Wonder. Enthusiasm. Energy. These are the characteristics that Laura Christian admires most about young children.

Christian began her career as a preschool and first grade teacher, and while she loved that experience, she has enjoyed the transition from a formal learning environment to an informal one.

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Ryan Cogley - McCarthy Building Companies Inc.

Ryan Cogley

Ryan Cogley

Vice President Project Executive | Age: 35

Ryan Cogley is passionate about the future of the construction industry. Since high school, he knew he wanted to be in construction, though he wasn’t exactly sure of the path to take.

“When I started college, I was pursuing a degree in civil engineering, but after a few years I realized my passion was being out in the field and involved in the day-to-day construction process rather than designing the projects. I switched majors and graduated with a degree in construction engineering technologies,” Cogley said.

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Donald Contursi - Lip Smacking Foodie Tours

Donald Contursi

Donald Contursi

President | Age: 36

Donald Contursi can’t cook. But, what he lacks in kitchen know-how, he nails in taste.

It’s a skill he credits to his biggest mentor—his mom. “She was the one who instilled in me an appreciation of good food and caring service,” Contursi said. “As a successful business owner in her own right, she worked long hours but always took the time to bring us all together at dinnertime over one of her wonderful home-cooked meals.”

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Dustin Drai - Drai’s Beachclub, Nightclub and After Hours

Dustin Drai

Dustin Drai

Vice President of Entertainment and Marketing | Age: 26

In college, Dustin Drai threw parties, but they weren’t your typical college parties. He would book talent, market the event and make sure everything went off without a hitch—basically the job he has today, but for fun.

Drai started his career at Drai’s in operations, learning the ins and outs of the business before moving to talent coordinator, then to director of marketing and finally, into his current role as VP of entertainment and marketing.

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René Durruthy - DTP Companies

Rene Durruthy

Rene Durruthy

Director of Digital Marketing | Age: 34

With an interest in graphic arts, a passion for computer technology and a foundation in marketing, René Durruthy was practically destined for a career in digital marketing. His experience spans multiple fields including finance, real estate and health.

As director of digital marketing, Durruthy was instrumental in the rebranding of Tony Hsieh’s Downtown Project to DTP Companies. He worked to develop the new name, branding, messaging and marketing rollout for the initiative.

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Deryk Engelland - Vegas Golden Knights

Deryk Engelland

Deryk Engelland

Ice Hockey Defenseman | Age: 37

Deryk Engelland’s connection to Las Vegas began with a 2003 professional hockey debut with the Las Vegas Wranglers. And while his sport took him all over the country, he always returned to Las Vegas in the offseason.

Then, when Engelland was drafted by the Vegas Golden Knights in their inaugural season, it was the perfect storm. Engelland’s connection to Las Vegas transcends the hockey arena. He met his wife here, and his children were born here. This was his home and exactly where he wanted to be.

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Lisa Finney - Capability Health and Human Services

Lisa Finney

Lisa Finney

Vice President of Pediatric Rehabilitation | Age: 35

Lisa Finney was a psychology student at UNLV when she saw a flyer posted on campus for a tutor. This led to her working as a behavior technician providing one-on-one assistance to a child with autism.

“Watching a child make progress to reach their developmental milestones was inspiring and addicting,” Finney said. “I knew that I wanted to continue down this path but effect change on a greater scale.” It was then that Finney was introduced to the world of early intervention and became a developmental specialist.

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Matt Frye - Universal Health Services/Centennial Hills Hospital

Matt Frye

Matt Frye

Chief Operating Officer | Age: 33

After years of owning a successful pool construction business, Matt Frye had an unexpected experience that completely changed the trajectory of his future.

“A close friend was in a life-altering car accident, and I watched as those closest to him who were caregivers and medical professionals were able to truly help him,” Frye said. “That became a moment of reflection for me that I needed to do my part to help and improve the lives of others.”

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Ricky D. Gourrier Sr. - Tri-Strategies

Ricky D. Gourrier, Sr.

Ricky D. Gourrier, Sr.

President and Co-founder | Age: 39

Ricky Gourrier has worked in what he calls the “big five” industries: entertainment, government, education, politics and nonprofit. But with each role, he struggled to genuinely strike joy.

“I first started to experience that joy while advocating for children in the Nevada Legislature, when I was serving as a lobbyist for Communities in Schools [CIS] Nevada,” Gourrier said.

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Henry Igid, MD - Comprehensive Cancer Centers

Henry Igid, MD

Henry Igid, MD

Medical Oncologist and Hematologist | Age: 33

Dr. Henry Igid started medical school at age 16 and completed the accelerated program, with honors, when he was just 22. He was in the Philippines at the time and taking care of his grandfather, who eventually died of cancer.

“I then moved on to devote my time to becoming an oncologist and hematologist, and to provide the best care to each and every person with blood disorders and cancer that I treat,” Igid said.

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Brad Keating - Clark County School District

Brad Keating

Brad Keating

Director of Government Affairs | Age: 33

Brad Keating’s parents taught him at a young age the importance of leaving the world a better place than he found it.

“Now I have that very opportunity my parents spoke about—to be able to change the lives of generations of children and to make our education system one of the best in the United States,” Keating said.

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Dianna Klein - Stockwell Medical, Inc.

Dianna Klein

Dianna Klein

Professional Pilot, CEO | Age: 37

When Dianna Klein was a child, she wanted to fly airplanes.

“My father was a pilot and always came home happy and ready to spend his days off with family,” Klein said. “At a very early age, I decided I wanted to pursue a profession that gave me as much joy and flexibility as he had.”

Klein also had a desire to serve her country. After college, she enlisted in the United States Air Force Reserve and was commissioned to serve as an officer and C-5 Galaxy pilot, flying missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

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Aman Lal - Elephant Partners

Aman Lal

Aman Lal

CEO | Age: 37

Starting each day with a walk and meditation is the key to success for Aman Lal.

“My biggest challenge is in the mirror. The more I can get out of my own way, the better off I do,” Lal said.

And, it’s working.

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Bryce Loveland - Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck

Bryce Loveland

Bryce Loveland

Shareholder | Age: 39

When Bryce Loveland enrolled at UNLV’s Boyd School of Law 17 years ago, he wasn’t even sure he wanted to be an attorney.

“No one in my family had gone to law school, but I knew Boyd would provide a solid education that would help me in whatever career path I decided on,” Loveland said. “Ultimately, I chose to become an attorney to help people solve complex problems.”

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Brittany McCoy - St. Jude’s Ranch for Children

Brittany McCoy

Brittany McCoy

Development Director | Age: 37

"Do you need help?”

After surviving an abusive relationship, Brittany McCoy promised herself she would always be the person who asks this question. When she discovered the world of nonprofits after college, she found a platform that gave her the opportunity to ask it every day.

“Helping people, giving people the opportunity for a better tomorrow, a better quality of life, fighting for individuals who can’t fight for themselves, is my passion,” McCoy said.

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Andy Meese - Bellagio Resort & Casino

Andy Meese

Andy Meese

Vice President of Hotel Operations | Age: 39

A company man and a community man, Andy Meese has established himself as a leader on both fronts.

Meese began his career as a front desk clerk at Treasure Island when he was just 19 years old. He has since taken the Strip by storm, with professional stints at New York-New York, Vdara, Luxor and Bellagio, quickly rising the ranks at MGM Resorts International along the way.

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Kade Miller - Snell & Wilmer

Kade Miller

Kade Miller

Partner | Age: 33

For Kade Miller, a career in law was never in his plans. “My family has been in the construction industry for several generations, so I had no exposure to the legal profession or plans to attend law school,” Miller said. “That all changed during the first year of my masters of accountancy program, when I stumbled across the university’s joint accounting and law program.” With the promise of a dual degree and increased professional marketability, he took the bait.

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Kelsey Moreira - Doughp

Kelsey Moreira

Kelsey Moreira

Founder & Fearless Leader | Age: 28

Kelsey Moreira is leveraging ready-to-eat cookie dough as a vehicle for change. “After battling alcoholism, I was able to get sober in 2015. Several years later, I quit my 10-year career in the tech industry and started Doughp as a way to channel my newfound energy into something that I loved—making people happy with my desserts,” Moreira said.

A passionate and trailblazing entrepreneur, Moreira has used her business acumen to grow Doughp at an exponential rate, reporting a 500% revenue increase year-over-year in the first two years. Moreira appeared on Shark Tank’s 10th season and was recently named one of Forbes magazine’s 30 Under 30. With a flagship location at the Miracle Mile Shops on the Strip and nationwide shipping, Doughp continues to succeed with Moreira at the helm.

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Jennifer Murphy - Caesars Palace

Jennifer Murphy

Jennifer Murphy

Executive Chef, Restaurant Operations | Age: 36

Jennifer Murphy has been making a splash on the local dining scene since her debut in a Las Vegas Strip kitchen in 2006. She has worked in some of the most prestigious restaurants in the city, including L’Atelier De Joël Robuchon, Prime Steakhouse and Michael Mina at Bellagio. But her big break came when she was hired as executive chef of Gordon Ramsay Hell’s Kitchen at Caesars Palace in 2017.

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Marc O’Griofa, MD, Ph.D. - Omega Strategic Solutions LLC

Marc O'Griofa

Marc O'Griofa

CEO and Chief Medical/Technology Officer | Age: 39

Marc O’Griofa’s accomplishments are as vast and overwhelming as the terrain in which he works. O’Griofa is a physician and biomedical engineer who has worked all over the world—on land, on the sea and in space.

“My career path has allowed me to combine both medicine and engineering in unique and diverse ways, from working as a triage physician as part of the Space Shuttle medical team at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, to developing advanced medical equipment for special operations medical missions and chronic medical conditions like heart failure to try and reduce unnecessary readmissions and costs,” O’Griofa said.

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BJ Perna - Credit One Bank

BJ Perna

BJ Perna

VP, Development Director | Age: 39

Hard work is at the cornerstone of BJ Perna’s success—and a trait that was instilled in him from an early age.

“My biggest inspiration and mentor is my father. He ingrained in me core values: No matter what you are doing, work hard and do it to the best of your ability; from every experience you have and every person you encounter, there is something to learn; you are always accountable to yourself, even if nobody else knows,” Perna said. “Just as influential is my mother, who taught me empathy and to put others before myself.”

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Catherine Raw - North America, Barrick Gold Corporation

Catherine Raw

Catherine Raw

COO | Age: 38

Catherine Raw was interested in the mining industry early in her career. “A combination of a curiosity about the world around me, a love for the outdoors and a desire to put these two passions to practical use led me to geology and subsequently mining,” Raw said. After graduating from University of Cambridge, Raw pivoted and joined Merrill Lynch Investment Managers (MLIM) as a mining analyst.

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Juanny Romero - Mothership Coffee Roasters

Juanny Romero

Juanny Romero

CEO | Age: 37

Hailing from Queens, New York, Juanny Romero fell in love with Las Vegas for the fun, adventure and local community. As such, she was drawn to the coffee industry as a vehicle for community strengthening.

“Coffee is important, because as one of the main commodities in the world, it has a huge impact globally,” said Romero, who supports the Café Femenino program, an organization that empowers women coffee farmers. Romero purchases coffee from Café Femenino and donates a portion of her revenue each year to help grow the program in coffee-producing countries.

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Anthony Rossi - OSI Consulting of Nevada

Anthony Rossi

Anthony Rossi

Principal | Age: 36

Anthony Rossi didn’t always imagine a career in retail.

“Upon graduation from college, I received an incredible offer for a retail general manager position and made the tough choice to pivot from my anticipated career path in broadcasting and journalism,” Rossi said. “I quickly became fascinated with the complexity of commercial real estate, shopping centers and the responsibilities of the operations teams. In 2012, I was given an opportunity to prove myself in the industry and never looked back.”

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Ivan Ruiz - Westgate Resort

Ivan Ruiz

Ivan Ruiz

Executive Culinary Director of Operations | Age: 37

Ivan Ruiz has spent his life in the kitchen. He’s gone from cooking traditional Spanish and Italian food in his home growing up, to culinary school, to becoming the youngest executive culinary director of operations at Westgate Resort.

“My daily responsibilities consist of checking all 15 food outlets for quality and service, followed by meetings with each chef and going over the daily profit and loss reports. I develop and design menus, work on advertising ideas and restaurant concepts, and lead the team to stay on the latest trends in the food and beverage industry,” Ruiz said. “I also push my team to think about new and innovative concepts and service experiences to give people the Vegas experience they come for.”

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Jessica Sayles - Houldsworth, Russo & Company

Jessica Sayles

Jessica Sayles

Managing Principal | Age: 36

Jessica Sayles is a CPA and managing principal at Houldsworth, Russo & Company (HRC), with accounting and tax experience working with nonprofits, individuals, partnerships and corporations.

“I knew choosing accounting may not be the sexiest career choice, but [it’s] one that would allow me the flexibility to work in any industry and with a wide variety of clientele,” Sayles said. With a particular passion for helping nonprofits and small businesses achieve their goals, Sayles provides specialized expertise and a commitment to maintaining the highest quality of service.

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Chris Singer - OptumCare

Chris Singer

Chris Singer

SVP, Chief Experience Officer | Age: 38

Chris Singer is changing the face of health care in Southern Nevada, one patient experience at a time. After spending more than decade in the hospitality industry, Singer took his service background into the health care arena.

In early 2015, Singer decided the “patient experience” focus was missing from health care. “With a comprehensive customer service background and firsthand experience as an upper extremity amputee who faced substantial ‘service related’ challenges, I realized I could impact health care in an immense way,” Singer said. With no formal training, Singer sought to bridge the customer service experience between health care and hospitality.

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Jordan Smith - Pisanelli Bice

Jordan Smith

Jordan Smith

Partner | Age: 34

Litigation comes naturally to Jordan Smith. “I’m from a family of lawyers, including my grandfather, father, mother, two uncles, aunt, brother and my wife,” Smith said. Having served as Deputy Solicitor General of Nevada, Smith is now a partner at Pisanelli Bice, one of the most prestigious law firms in the state.

“I’ve been a part of some of the most significant recent cases in Nevada. With Pisanelli Bice, I am lead counsel in the State’s litigation against the Department of Energy related to a secret plutonium shipment to the Nevada National Security Site and part of the team contesting the Yucca Mountain nuclear repository,” Smith said. While previously working at the Nevada Attorney General’s Office, Smith contributed to numerous other high-profile cases but considers being promoted to partner of Pisanelli Bice his greatest professional accomplishment to date.

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Krupa Srinivas - Owned Outcomes

Krupa Srinivas

Krupa Srinivas

Co-founder | Age: 39

With a longtime passion for health care and a foundation in computer engineering, Krupa Srinivas teamed up with her sister, Anita Pramoda, to found Owned Outcomes, a software company that creates predictive algorithms to help optimize patient care. The firm specializes in solving problems for health care providers using concepts and frameworks from computer science and mathematics.

“Seeing suboptimal health care decisions being made due to lack of modern approaches is painful,” Srinivas said. Owned Outcomes was created in direct response to this concern.

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Corrin Sullivan, Ph.D. - UNLV School of Medicine

Corrin Sullivan, Ph.D.

Corrin Sullivan, Ph.D.

Assistant Dean of Curriculum and Assessment | Age: 38

Dr. Corrin Sullivan is fortifying the medical infrastructure in Las Vegas.

After obtaining her bachelor’s degree at UNLV, Sullivan pursed her doctorate and worked at the University of Washington School of Medicine (UWSOM), the largest regional medical education program in the country. “I realized the direct impact medical education has on a community’s welfare,” Sullivan said. “I decided that if I could be a part of a team focused on education and improving health and community outcomes, then that’s exactly what I wanted to do with my career.”

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Jen Taler - Fergusons Downtown

Jen Taler

Jen Taler

Co-founder & Creative Strategist | Age: 34

If you’d have told Jen Taler that one day, she’d be running one of the most exciting new Downtown properties with business partner Tony Hsieh, she might not have believed you.

“Five to 10 years ago, I never would have thought I would be here,” Taler said. But with hard work, dedication and an innovative vision, Taler is the co-founder and creative strategist of Fergusons Downtown.

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Jake Tomlin - Grand Canyon Scenic Airlines

Jake Tomlin

Jake Tomlin

President | Age: 39

For Jake Tomlin, aviation and the love of flight runs in his family. “I had developed a fondness for aviation at a very young age from listening to my dad’s stories about flying in the Marine Corps,” said Tomlin, who went on to be a pilot and officer in the U.S. Marines himself.

After a successful military career and two deployments, Tomlin began transitioning out of the Marines following the birth of his second child. It wasn’t long before he was offered an opportunity that checked all of his boxes.

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Stefanie Tuzman - Jewish Nevada

Stefanie Tuzman

Stefanie Tuzman

President & CEO | Age: 37

Stefanie Tuzman has worked in Jewish nonprofits in Las Vegas for nearly 14 years. Through her dedication, passion and relentless hard work, Tuzman was named president and CEO of Jewish Nevada, Nevada’s Jewish Federation serving more than 70,000 Jews in the state, making her the youngest of the female CEOs in the 148 federations in the country.

“I have worked for the Jewish Federation in several capacities for many years. I am so proud to have become the CEO at this point in my career,” Tuzman said. “The biggest part of my job is to be out of the office, engaging with community members, donors and partner organizations. When in the office, I am working with our team to ensure their individual goals and work align with our mission and will ultimately move us forward.”

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Rachel Villanueva - MGM Resorts International

Rachel Villanueva

Rachel Villanueva

Director of Marketing, Entertainment & Sports | Age: 34

"Growing up in Las Vegas, the glitz and glamour of entertainment has always been right in my backyard,” said Rachel Villanueva, director of marketing, entertainment and sports at MGM Resorts. With an enduring passion for entertainment, Villanueva has dedicated her career to creating and facilitating unforgettable moments—whether it be a small concert series, major stadium tours like the Eagles’ recent run at MGM Grand Garden Arena or professional sporting events.

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Christopher West - HCA Healthcare

Christopher West

Christopher West

Regional Vice President, Behavioral Health Services | Age: 34

Christopher West began his career in the military 15 years ago with the U.S. Army at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he deployed twice for 12-month tours in Iraq to provide mental health services to those in combat. “Since then, I have had the opportunity to work in many diverse and complex settings,” West said. “I have always had a passion for helping others, and working in behavioral health has allowed me an avenue to do that.”

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Marcella Williams - The Juice Standard

Marcella Williams

Marcella Williams

COO & Co-founder | Age: 38

Marcella Williams founded the Juice Standard after becoming a mother and embarking on a healthful journey. “When my children were 2 and 4, I was fortunate to live in Greece for almost six months, where I was able to focus on learning to eat seasonally and cook from scratch again,” Williams said. “I fell back in love with not just food, but healthy, nutrient-dense foods that my children loved, too.”

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Emily Wofford - The Publicity Lab

Emily Wofford

Emily Wofford

Partner & Owner | Age: 39

A natural born storyteller with an affinity for strategy, a flair for visual drama and a passion for impactful marketing, Emily Wofford found her calling in public relations. “I started my career in broadcast journalism, because I have always loved news and telling stories,” Wofford said. “When I decided to go to grad school, I moved from broadcast news to public relations to make a little more money before going back to school.” But life doesn’t always go as planned, and Wofford never returned to broadcasting, working instead in marketing communications in Washington, D.C., Reno and Las Vegas.

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