Events

Critical Infrastructure Consulting Services, LLC was formed to provide professional services to meet the emerging needs of the Advanced Nuclear Micro-Reactors (ANMR) nuclear industry. The founders’ vision is to provide design/construction/project control functions, as well as engaging and sourcing critical industrial resource services needed to perform site design, build, and oversight to ensure the client’s objectives and plans are properly executed throughout all phases of the project life cycle.

CICS LLC, a NV corporation and Veteran owned business will share its insight on the state of power and what the future holds for the greater Reno / Washoe County basin.

In 2010, Cara made a bold move. With determination, compassion, and a precise vision, she created Reno Rescue, a place where forgotten and abused horses would get a second chance at life.

By 2016, her dedication was recognized when Reno Rescue became an official 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The beginning of a long and beautiful story.

As the horses arrived and the work piled up, Cara quickly realized something crucial: these animals didn’t just need hay and hoof care, they also needed a safe, healing environment. A place where trauma could turn into trust with patience. Where broken spirits, both equine and human, could find peace.

So, in 2022, she took another huge step. She moved Reno Rescue to the other side of Verdi on Trelease Lane. This place was an working ranch for many years, old and dirty but with deep roots in local history : where the Donner Party passed on a cold October,25. But Cara saw more than old buildings and dusty pastures, she saw a future for Reno Rescue. It surely took a team to rehabilitate the buildings, clean the place and create a safe environment for both human and horses. With the help of few volunteers, hard work, and a whole lot of love, she created a peaceful place where everyone is welcome — a place where children can learn life skills, grow with animals, and heal in safety.

Her mission is as powerful as it is simple:

“To give legs to those who don’t have them, and to offer safety to children who need it most.”

And that’s exactly what she’s done. Today, she runs this ranch, home to 42 horses, with a team of dedicated horse and human lovers that Believe in second chances. Every day, she blends grit with compassion, tradition with transformation.

Cara Kaufer doesn’t just run a ranch. She leads a movement of healing, of hope, and of second chances.

Robin Schofield, NAS Fallon Community Planning and Liaison Officer, will talk about the history of Naval Air Station Fallon, the importance of a Navy base in the middle of the desert, and the Modernization that the Fallon Ranges are currently going through. Please bring any questions you may have!

President Mark Growdon will review his plans and goals for the year ahead. Building on the success of Past President Laurie’s accomplishments, our club is poised for a great year!

Mark has been a rock climber all his life. In 1974 he flew from New Hampshire to climb in Yosemite Valley for six weeks.

Mark will take the audience along with him on his adventure of first climbing El Cap and being right there, when he learned the most important lessons of my life.

Caleb Cage founded the consulting firm, Arc Dome Strategies, in 2022. In 2023, he joined with partners from across the battery supply chain to form the Nevada Battery Coalition, for which he currently serves as the Executive Director. The Coalition works to increase public awareness, inform policymakers of the importance of the industry, and develop workforce development and economic development initiatives.

Born and raised in Reno, Nevada, DA Hicks is a fifth-generation northern Nevadan. He attended the University of Nevada, Reno and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and was a member of the inaugural graduating class of the Boyd School of Law in Las Vegas. He is a loving father of a son and three daughters, and a devoted husband to his wife Nicole, who is also a prosecutor.

DA Hicks was sworn in as the 37th District Attorney in Washoe County on January 5th, 2015, and won re-election to the office in 2018 and 2022.

Joe Ernst has been an active member of the Northern Nevada community for more than 25 years. He has held the positions of teacher, coach, assistant principal, principal, area superintendent, and Chief Continuous Improvement Officer. Throughout the entirety of his career, he has demonstrated exemplary leadership and academic excellence within all educational capacities.

Mr. Ernst has been honored with numerous awards, including the Reno Gazette Journal Best in Education, Washoe County Teacher’s Association Distinguished Performance Award, WCSD Inspiration Award for Exemplary Inclusive Practices and WCSD Principal of the Year. As a principal, he led Anderson Elementary School to being recognized as one of only nine Shining Star Schools in Nevada,

Mr. Ernst graduated from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan with a bachelor’s degree of science in elementary education.  He also holds a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Phoenix.

Ron Smith has lived and worked in Reno since 1960, primarily working in broadcasting, public relations, tour operations and with the chamber of commerce. He retired as vice president for Development and Marketing at KNPB/Channel 5 Public Broadcasting in 2006 after 15 years.

Smith has been chairman and a member of many community boards, including the Ad Club, Nevada State Fair and the Reno Performing Arts Center Association. He wrote for and performed in all 55 Sheep Dip Shows and has been “The Voice of the Great Reno Balloon Race” since 1983. He was selected to the Hall of Fame of the Nevada Broadcasters Association in 1999. His wife, Pat, and he perform and direct plays as part of a reader’s theater group, The Ageless Repertory Theater (ART).

Ron and Pat live in Reno and have a combined family of four adult children and seven grandchildren.

Jorge Montano-Figueroa is a dedicated Pediatric Injury Prevention Specialist committed to protecting children from preventable harm. With a background in pediatric critical care, his experience as a Pediatric ICU nurse fuels his passion for proactive safety measures. At Renown Children’s Hospital and through Safe Kids Washoe County, Jorge harnesses data, advocacy, and community partnerships to improve child safety across Northern Nevada. He empowers families through education and evidence-based strategies, striving to create safer environments for every child.

Greg Mosier is Dean and Professor in the College of Business at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Mosier provides executive support for approximately 75 faculty, thirty-five professionals and 3,500 students at the Bachelor, Master, MBA, and PhD levels.

Mosier serves on the International Advisory Board for the SGH Warsaw School of Economics and is a frequent contributor to global business school accreditation activities of AACSB.

Mosier, previously at Oklahoma State University, was interim dean of Business, associate dean, Regents Service Professor, and an endowed professor. He is a former corporate attorney, working in the oil and gas industry and passed the State Bar Exams of Kansas, Texas, and Oklahoma. Mosier’s research focuses on technology and the law, commercial law, and international business.

Dean Mosier earned a B.S. in Education from Oklahoma State University, a J.D. from the University of Kansas, and an Ed.D. from Oklahoma State University.

Join us as we welcome Nicole Harvey, Esq., founder of Nevada Counsel and author of I Hope You Die Laughing: A Beginner’s Guide to Estate Planning. Nicole brings a refreshing, engaging style to a topic most people avoid, using humor and real-life stories to make estate planning approachable, memorable, and even fun. She’ll share insights on why planning matters, how to avoid common mistakes, and how to leave a legacy with intention. Copies of her book will be provided to attendees.

Mike Shain began his career with New York Life in June of 2015 in the Colorado General office after graduating from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a Degree in Economics and Political Science.  He was a Financial Services Professional for two and half years before being Promoted to a Partner in 2018 where he was responsible for building a team of financial professionals.  

Mike and his team won the Partner of the Year award in the Colorado General Office in 2018 and in 2022 he was recognized for finishing in the top 50 Partners in the country. In August of 2023 Mike received the promotion to become the Managing Partner of the Reno General Office.  In 2024 The Reno General Office won two National Trophies for the tremendous growth the organization has achieved.  His commitment to providing a collaborative environment to the elite financial professionals of Reno aligns with the collective vision of developing the premier financial services organization in Northern Nevada.  Mike has been involved with Truckee Meadows Tomorrow for since the beginning of 2025 and has a passion for serving non-profit organizations and our community.

Nick Tscheekar was born and raised in Reno and has served on the Board of Truckee Meadows Tomorrow since 2021. He loves seeing how TMT’s data can improve quality of life in our region. Nick is the Major Gifts Officer for Volunteers of America Northern California & Northern Nevada, leading their fundraising for services across the homelessness and poverty continuum. He lives in the old northwest with his wife, Sofia, and their two dogs, Ophelia and Misty.

Naomi Albertson, MD, is a board-certified sports medicine and family medicine physician with over 20 years of clinical experience. A former NCAA collegiate athlete, her fascination with biomechanics and athletic performance led her to a career focused on the non-surgical treatment of musculoskeletal injuries and joint pain.

Dr. Albertson earned her medical degree from Tufts University and completed her residency and sports medicine fellowship at Stanford University. In addition to her clinical practice, she is an entrepreneur.  Dr. Albertson owned and sold a supplement company, and owned and merged her sports performance company, Nevada Sports Science with Kime Peak.  She continues her dedication to the advancement of sport performance and injury prevention as a physician advisor on the board of directors for Kime Peak. Her expertise is in helping patients of all ages, from children to seniors, recover from injuries and improve their overall performance through personalized treatment plans, including exercise and nutrition programs. Dr. Albertson is passionate about her work and giving back to the community through teaching, volunteering, and public speaking.

Brenda has been with the Washoe County Human Services Agency since 2017, beginning her career as a Permanency Caseworker before transitioning to the Recruitment and Training Unit in 2020, where she currently serves as a Recruiter.

As a Recruiter, she is responsible for identifying, training, and supporting prospective foster and adoptive families—individuals who take on the vital role of caring for some of our most vulnerable youth. It is a responsibility she holds with deep respect and dedication. In her previous role as a Permanency Caseworker, she worked closely with families to support reunification efforts and ensure long-term permanency for children, while holding families accountable to improve safety and well-being at both the individual and community level.

This year we are sponsored by J Resort.  J Resort is generously covering our licensing fees and the event set-up equipment.

Please join us in the new Cedar Event Space for dinner and drinks. Doors open at 5:30 pm, and the buffet starts at 6:30 pm.

Please RSVP at this link https://renorotary.org/event/fall-festival-2/

Or email Julie Griffiths at jkgmedia3@gmail.com or Tony Padavich at tonyp@tworld.com

Tickets are $100 per person and sponsorships are available at $500 and $1000.

Amanda Hilton is a fourth-generation Nevada native who grew up in Reno and Ely, graduating from White Pine High School. She is President of the Nevada Mining Association (NVMA) and began her role in January 2024. Prior to her current position, Hilton served as the first female general manager of the KGHM Robinson Mine for over six years, one of Nevada’s largest and oldest operating mines. She was a member of the NVMA Board of Directors during that time and served as the organization’s first and only female Chair in 2021-2022. 

Larry started in Rotary with the Rotary Club of Sparks in 2002. He was President in 2011-2012 before serving in a number of different roles at the District level including Awards Chair, Administration Chair, Secretary, and Area Governor. He also served on the Zone 26-27 Expert Hub committee. He is a Paul Harris Fellow, a Paul Harris Society member, a Polio Plus Society member, a Bequest Society member, and a Major Donor II.

Larry’s message this year is “Make Dreams Come True’ in Rotary. This was inspired by an idea that became a reality called REGL through the people, passion, time, and treasure of many Rotarians that went viral and developed from a city-wide program, out to the District, and being looked at by other Districts in our Zone. The power of Rotary can make a concept, idea, or dream come true.

Shelley Newell has been with the Nevada Gaming Control Board since 2004, beginning her career in the Audit Division.  Over the years, she advanced through several roles including Agent, Senior Agent, Special Agent over the Internal Controls and Minimum Internal Control Standards, and Supervisor.  

In March 2025, Shelley was promoted to Senior Economic Analyst and transitioned to the Administration Division, where she oversees the Board’s monthly gaming win numbers and other monthly, quarterly, and annual statistical publications.  She prepares revenue forecasts for Percentage Fees and Collections and regularly presents gaming win data and other related analyses to the Nevada Legislative Council Bureau and the Nevada Governor’s Office of Finance.  She also prepares and presents forecasts to the Economic Forum for state budgeting purposes. 

Shelley assists the Public Information Officer with media inquiries, and she assists in answering questions from all interested parties.

Originally from Colorado, Shelley moved to Las Vegas in 1991.  She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration (Accounting) from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, is licensed as a Certified Public Accountant, and is a graduate of the Nevada Certified Public Manager Program.

Major Randy Hartt and his wife Major Tracie Hartt are the Washoe County Coordinators and Corps Officers for the Salvation Army in Reno. The officers have served in The Salvation Army for 24 years and bring a wealth of experience.  The Salvation Army has served in the Reno community for over 139 years.

Prior to receiving this assignment, they served as the County Coordinators in Sonoma County, California. They have also been responsible for running the Suisun City Kroc Center—a Salvation Army community center with an indoor pool, full-size gym, wellness center, arts center, day camp and classes for people of all ages—and saw its programs through the COVID-19 pandemic. When stay-at-home orders were first issued, the Majors Hartt opened an emergency pop-up childcare facility for the children of first responders, healthcare professionals and other essential workers.

David Gallagher has been a Rotarian since 1987. He served as President of Modesto Sunrise Rotary in 1997-98 and had the honor of serving as the Centennial District Governor for District 5220 during the 2004-2005 Rotary centennial year. After moving to Reno, he transferred his membership to the Rotary Club of Reno in 2018.

His main area of interest is international service. He has been the lead Rotarian on 33 grants with The Rotary Foundation in 11 different countries. David has traveled to be a part of 98 international humanitarian trips.

David was awarded the Service Above Self Award from Rotary International in 2002. The Rotary Foundation awarded David with the Citation for Meritorious Service Award in 2015, and the Distinguished Service Award in 2020. He serves as a member of the Cadre of Technical Advisors to The Rotary Foundation.

David is a retired Optometrist. He and his wife Diane have 3 daughters and 6 grandchildren. He enjoys spending time with his grandkids, and volunteers as a “math coach” at Glen Duncan Elementary School, and as a docent at the California State Railroad Museum. 

Mark came to Reno when he was three months old so his dad could study journalism on the GI Bill at the University of Nevada. It wasn’t his decision but it worked out.

He spent some 35 years as an award-winning advertising agency principal/creative director/writer, arts advocate and civic leader. His clients included Harrah’s Hotels & Casinos, International Game Technology, Washoe Health System/Hometown Health, the University of Nevada, Heritage Bank of Nevada and many others. Upon his semi-retirement, he took on two clients as a consulting creative director: Kampgrounds of America and the historic La Fonda Hotel in Santa Fe, NM. He is a recipient of the Thomas C. Wilson Lifetime Achievement Award from the northern Nevada chapter of the American Advertising Federation.

He was a founding member of Reno’s first arts commission (C.I.T.Y 2000), conceived and cofounded Artown, America’s largest visual and performing arts festival, has won civic and creative awards at all levels, and as of this November has published three books: RENO: A FABLED CITY FINDS IT SOUL and ONE OF A KIND, Volumes 1 and 2: The people and places that make Reno The Biggest Little City in the World.

Mark lives in one of Reno’s historic homes with his wife Valerie and son Henry. He also has two grown daughters: Britt, who lives in Reno and founded the Holland Project, and Johanna who lives in Seattle with her partner Colin Evans. Mark is also the proud grandfather of Theo and Miles, Britt and her partner Tim Conder’s sons, and Rue, Johanna and Colin’s daughter.

Oscar Delgado is a Nevada native and seasoned executive with nearly a decade of healthcare leadership experience. As Chief Executive Officer of Community Health Alliance (CHA) — the largest Federally Qualified Health Center in Washoe County — he leads more than 300 medical and administrative professionals committed to delivering high-quality, patient-centered care.

Under Oscar’s leadership, CHA provides comprehensive services to more than 34,000 patients each year through six health centers and three mobile medical and dental units. Its integrated service model includes primary care, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, nutrition programs, and WIC. His strategic focus on operational excellence, organizational growth, and long-term sustainability ensures that the community has reliable access to essential healthcare.

In addition to his role at CHA, Oscar served for a decade as a Reno City Councilmember for Ward 3, championing initiatives that strengthened community health, safety, and engagement. This dual experience in public policy and healthcare delivery has shaped a unique leadership perspective that continues to benefit Reno residents.

Oscar holds dual master’s degrees in Social Work and Urban & Regional Planning from the University of Michigan. His professional background spans healthcare and social service organizations, grounding his leadership in a deep understanding of community needs.

Charles Weller is the author of World War II and Nevada: The Silver State’s Contribution to Victory, a comprehensive examination of the most significant conflict in recent human history through the eyes of the citizens of Nevada. The book includes a foreword by former Nevada Governor and current President of the University of Nevada, Reno, Brian Sandoval.

He has a law degree from Georgetown University and a PhD from the University of Nevada, Reno. He practiced law in Reno for more than two decades. During that time, he hosted a popular KOH radio program, “Chuck Weller and the Law” and wrote a weekly legal advice column in the Reno Gazette Journal.

He served three elected terms as a district court judge in Washoe County and, in retirement, continues to serve as a senior judge.

He is the historian for the Reno Chapter of the Navy League of the United States.