LEADERSHIP
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
- David Dahan, Chair
- Christopher A. Vito, MHA, Vice Chair
- Randy Ecklund
- Elizabeth Manera
- Michael Anthony Pickett
- Sue Roderick
- Ruby Warthan
- Carla Jewell
- Michael Murphy
David Dahan, Chair
A 37-year resident of Las Vegas, David Dahan has persistently worked to enhance the lives of Southern Nevadans through his active involvement in numerous organizations, boards and committees, providing a positive impact on religion, family and business life. His accomplishments in areas of both business and community come about by his steadfast leadership, vision and integrity. Mr. Dahan served as vice president and managing partner for Orgill/Singer & Associates for nearly 12 years before becoming the company’s chief executive officer and co-owner. Mr. Dahan brings more than 15 years of experience in the insurance industry to the Orgill/Singer team. Prior to joining Orgill/Singer, he worked in independent insurance sales and owned and operated a florist shop in Las Vegas. Mr. Dahan also spent years as a freelance photographer. Since 1975, he has also served as a French interpreter for Nevada’s State and Federal Court system. In addition to his vast experience in the insurance industry, Mr. Dahan is active in the development of the Southern Nevada business community. He currently serves on the Presidents Club, on the board of advisors for the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce and holds a position on the board of Hillel at UNLV. Mr. Dahan also sits on the board of Nevadans for Affordable Healthcare, co-chair of the Healthcare Strategic Alliance, and is a Leadership Henderson Class of 2003 graduate, as well as the president of the board of directors for the Henderson Chamber of Commerce. A member of the Las Vegas Jewish Federation, he served as the organization’s treasurer from 1995 to 1997 and as president from 1997 to 1999.
Christopher A. Vito, MHA, Vice Chair
Christopher Vito is president and CEO of Rehabilitation Institutes of Nevada. Mr. Vito is an experienced healthcare executive managing acute care and rehabilitation hospitals, multi-specialty medical groups and healthcare organizations. With more than 24 years of experience, his healthcare knowledge ranges from clinical experience to orchestrating the design, development and financing of new healthcare organizations. He earned a Bachelor’s of Science in chemistry and physics from the University of Arizona and a Master’s in healthcare administration from the University of La Verne, where Peter F. Drucker (father of modern management) was part of the faculty. He serves on the Southern Nevada Medical Industry Coalition as leadership chairman, MS Society, City of Henderson Economic Development, TLC Care Center ownership and management, and the Legislative Committee for Healthcare and American College for Healthcare Executives. He is very active in civic duties, serving on committees to help recruit companies relocate to the City of Henderson. Within a short period, Mr. Vito was awarded Business Man of the Year in 2003 for the fastest-growing city in the United States. He was also recognized in Who’s Who in Healthcare in the Las Vegas Valley every year. Mr. Vito is also the president of Nevada Adult Day Healthcare Centers, the first adult day healthcare model in the state of Nevada; COCHELCO Corporation, a healthcare management company; NADHC Jones Real Estate, LLC; EMC2 Investments, LLC and NADHC Henderson, Inc., a nonprofit company. He is extremely passionate about the delivery of healthcare and leading organizations to be successful.
Randy Ecklund
Randy Ecklund has been a member of the Summerlin community and master development team since 1992 and continues to work for The Howard Hughes Corporation. Mr. Ecklund’s strong background in customer service, community service and business administration will serve to help Las Ventanas realize its full potential and remain the quality retirement community it has become. Mr. Ecklund holds a Bachelor’s of Science in psychology from Western Illinois University and possesses 22 years of community association management experience working for large-scale, master-planned developments in Colorado, Arizona and Nevada. Mr. Ecklund was executive director of Summerlin Council and executive director of Summerlin Children’s Forum, participating in various fundraising golf tournaments and recognition dinners. Mr. Ecklund has been a resident of Las Vegas for almost 15 years.
Elizabeth Manera
Dr. Manera’s background is in education, both working with personnel and providing leadership training and adult programming. Dr. Manera’s interests in adult education and providing lifelong learning, particularly for seniors who have retired, led to the acceptance of a position on the Orangewood Board, American Baptist Estates, serving as a member and then chair. As a result of that service, Dr. Manera went on to serve on the ABHOW Board Development Committee. Dr. Manera has chaired that committee for several years, as well as presently serving on the Cornerstone Board. Dr. Manera taught at Arizona State University for 28 years, as well as at the University of Missouri and University of Victoria. Dr. Manera served on a number of educational organization boards and has worked with superintendents in developing programs for teacher effectiveness through self-evaluation. Before retiring, Dr. Manera was the program coordinator for the Secondary Education Department at ASU. Since retirement, Dr. Manera has been very active in the docent program at the Phoenix Art Museum, most recently chairing the organization. She has been active in the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development, both national and state; the Association of Teacher Education, both national and state; Phoenix Art Museum Docent - board member for 13 years, president 2006–2007; Town of Paradise Valley Arts Council - member 10 years, presently chair; Arizona Costume Institute - board member for 4 years, president 1998 - 1999; and Friends of European Art - board member for 4 years, president 1999–2000.
Michael Anthony Pickett
Michael Anthony Pickett holds an undergraduate degree in business management and a master’s degree in business administration. Mr. Pickett has over 18 years of experience in the human resources field that spans across several industries to include banking, hotel and casino, manufacturing and hospitality. Mr. Pickett also holds a teaching license to teach kindergarten through 12th grade in the state of Nevada. Mr. Pickett is a contracted teacher/instructor at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas. Mr. Pickett’s passion for customer service and overall welfare of people brings motivation to find opportunities to make a difference in the lives of others. Mr. Pickett currently sits on the board of directors for Imagine School of Nevada and is acting treasurer. Mr. Pickett also volunteers at a local elementary school to teach third to fifth graders on banking.
Sue Roderick
Dr. Sue Schock Roderick has worked in the field of aging and senior services for over 40 years. Dr. Roderick has experience in long-term health care, mental health, senior living, recreation, education and training. As a consultant on aging with the State Department on Aging, Dr. Roderick was responsible for establishment of the statewide information and referral network for seniors. Early on in her career, Dr. Roderick was responsible for establishing local commissions on aging in areas not yet serving older persons. Dr. Roderick established commissions for the St. Peter’s Lutheran Church and the Community Adult Day Care Center at St. Peter’s in San Leandro. Prior to retirement, Dr. Roderick was senior vice president and chief administrative officer for American Baptist Homes of the West, a nonprofit retirement housing and health care organization. Over the years, she has volunteered on many boards serving older adults, and under her leadership the Alameda County Long Term Care Planning Council developed the first long-term care plan approved by the Board of Supervisors for countywide implementation. Dr. Roderick has earned recognition in the field of aging and social services, having received national, state and local awards for her work. She gained recognition conducting workshops and educational training sessions and has written several articles in the field. As a volunteer fundraiser, Dr. Roderick has raised $750,000 for special projects in aging. Dr. Roderick received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from San Jose State University and her master’s of public administration and doctorate of public administration degrees from the University of Southern California. She also maintains a lifetime secondary education teaching credential. In her relaxing times, Dr. Roderick enjoys reading, boating and crafts. She is married to John, a retired accountant, and they have been residents of Alameda for 26 years.
Ruby Warthan
Ruby Warthan joined Orgill/Singer & Associates in 2004 as a group benefits broker in the Life and Health Division. She is responsible for representing businesses with their group insurance and employee benefit needs. Prior to joining Orgill/Singer, Ms. Warthan served as a western region business development sales executive for a national third-party administrator. She is a subject-matter expert in the areas of COBRA and Section 125 Flexible Benefits, having conducted numerous seminars and continuing education courses for brokers, carriers and businesses. She is a member of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, Henderson Chamber of Commerce and Asian Chamber of Commerce. Her professional associations include the Southern Nevada Human Resources Association and Clark County Association of Health Underwriters. She is a graduate of the Leadership Henderson Class of 2005 and recipient of the 2005 Circle of Peace Award honored by SAFE House. She has been a committee member for the Alzheimer’s Association’s annual memory walk, and formerly served as a board member for CrimeStoppers of Nevada. Ms. Warthan received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1988, and took part in a 6-month foreign studies program in Tours, France. Ms. Warthan has four children and resides in Henderson.
Carla Jewell
Carla Jewell has more than 25 years of experience in the banking industry. Currently, she is the senior vice president business loan manager at Sun West Bank in Las Vegas. There, she manages a team of commercial loan officers, assistant relationship officer, credit analyst and loan officer, with a portfolio that has grown to $45 million. Ms. Jewell started at Sun West Bank as a loan officer. Previously, she was a risk management officer at Sun State Bank in Las Vegas, and a risk management manager at PriMerit Bank in Las Vegas, where she managed a staff of three people. She started her career at National Bank of Detroit in Flint, Michigan, where she completed the management training program and was promoted to loan officer. She also worked at Electronic Data Services (EDS) in Southfield, Michigan, where she was in the Capital Appropriations Group managing the budget process for part of the General Motors account at EDS. Ms. Jewell has experience in underwriting all aspects of credit. She has experience working with gaming, commercial lines, commercial loans and real estate, both non-owner and owner-occupied. Ms. Jewell graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Michigan and is currently in her third year at Pacific Coast Banking School in Seattle.
Michael Murphy
Michael Murphy is the president and general manager for the Nevada division of WellPoint/Anthem Blue Cross & Blue Shield. His responsibilities include representation and deployment of all product lines in the state of Nevada, sales responsibility for all business lines in Nevada and the development and implementation of the Nevada operating structure into the overall Wellpoint strategic operating model. During his more than 11 years with Wellpoint, Mr. Murphy has led operational organizations in multiple business lines, including as vice president of ISG Sales-UniCare in Bolingbrook, Illinois, director of sales group markets for the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the director of sales individual markets for the state of Indiana. In 2005, Mr. Murphy served as chairman of the United Way Anthem Kentucky; in 2001, he served as chairman of the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Heart Walk/American Heart Association Leadership Committee. From 1997 to 2000, he served as a volunteer for the American Heart Association Heart Walk in Indianapolis. Mr. Murphy also served as a financial consultant for Merrill Lynch in Indianapolis. He earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree with a double major in finance and marketing from Butler University and an MBA from the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame.
