Board of Directors

Governing Board of Directors

• Chris Bennett, Chair

  

  Director of Client Relations, Capella Mortgage
  Nevada Board Member since 2018

  Chris Bennett has positioned himself as one of the industry’s most informed, influential and dynamic producers. Bennett has spent the last five years serving as Director of Client Relations at Capella Mortgage – a title which is representative of his 24 years in finance, a passion for real estate and affinity for southern Nevada.

  His direct and honest approach coupled with being on the forefront of one of the most quickly ascending markets in the country has equated to terrific success. After relocating from Manhattan Beach, CA, hard money and real estate development were the obvious directions for Bennett. Pursuits outside of real estate and finance include philanthropic endeavors by way of Boys Town Nevada, Pepperdine Alumni Association, Vegas Shepherd Rescue, Team Hoyt Las Vegas and The Sanctuary Project. Other passions include traveling the world, racing Ironman events, family and the occasional glass of Barolo.

• Dr. Kim Metcalf, Chair-Elect

  

  Professor, UNLV College of Education​
  Nevada Board Member since 2020​

  Metcalf joined UNLV as dean in 2013. Metcalf said he was recruited to elevate the college’s work and engagement at the local, state and national level, and to improve its impact among academic peers, education and behavioral health practitioners and policymakers. He stepped down from his post as dean of the College of Education in August of 2020 and was on professional development leave for a year. He plans to return to faculty at UNLV to focus on teacher education and research with an emphasis on policy.

  As dean, he has advocated for education research, and has developed what he refers to as ‘next generation’ practices. Under Metcalf’s leadership, the College of Education established its first endowed chair with funding from the Dunn Family Foundation. The endowed chair supports the development of educational assessment tools and research. The college also received one of the largest-ever gifts to UNLV – $12.9 million – from the estate of the late philanthropist Kitty Rodman for scholarships and graduate fellowships in Special Education. Additionally, as a reflection of his impact and the high quality of work under his stewardship the college jumped 70+ spots on the U.S. News & World Report’s best education colleges list.

  Prior to joining UNLV, Metcalf served as dean of the College of Education, interim vice president for operations and sponsored research, and director of institutional research at the University of West Georgia. He had also spent more than a decade as a member of the faculty of the School of Education at Indiana University-Bloomington. Metcalf began his career as a public-school band and orchestra teacher after receiving his bachelor's degree in music education from Ball State University.

  He earned his master’s and doctoral degrees from Ohio State University. Metcalf's research in teacher education and in education policy, particularly his research on school choice, has been recognized by the Association of Teacher Educators, the U.S. Office of Management and Budget, and the American Evaluation Association, among others.

  His publications include a co-authored textbook, The Act of Teaching, now in its seventh edition. Previous leadership positions include service as director of the Indiana Center for Evaluation (Indiana University, 1997-2003) and as an associate superintendent for research and assessment (Monroe County Community Schools, Bloomington, Indiana, 2004-2006).

• Colleen Savage, Secretary

  

  Attorney, Srgo & Roger Law Firm
  Nevada Board Member since 2022

  Las Vegas native, Colleen, graduated from Bishop Gorman and received her bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and Philosophy from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She graduated from Creighton University School of Law and previously served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Rob Bare in the Eighth Judicial District Court.

  Colleen has a broad range of experience in federal and state court defending criminal cases and litigating complex civil matters. She has litigated federal criminal cases across the United States including Nevada, Arizona, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Florida and Missouri ranging from white collar crimes to capital murder. Colleen has developed a specialty in handling quasi-criminal matters and has successfully kept families together when threatened by CPS. She also has defended businesses against the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission under the threat of prosecution. Colleen also routinely handles administrative disputes and defends licensed medical professionals against the Nevada State Board. Outside of the office, she enjoys spending time with family and friends and attending Golden Knights games.

• John Etzell, President

  

  Executive Director, Boys Town Nevada
  Nevada Board Member since 2018

  John Etzell is passionate about seeing families succeed and creating opportunities for under-resourced children and their families. As Boys Town Nevada’s Executive Director, John is channeling that passion and his almost 20 years of experience into helping Clark County, the Greater Las Vegas area and the state of Nevada change the way we care for kids and families. He believes that every kid matters and each family deserves to have hope.

  He has a background of working in the individual and family services industry, and education. John got his start by becoming a Family Teacher with his wife at Boys Town Omaha in 2002. In that role, he housed and took care of 6-8 kids at a time giving them a stable home environment, attention, and resources they needed to flourish. In 2006 he made the switch to Residential Director at Boys Town Rhode Island. Outside of Boys Town, John has held positions as a Institutional Abuse and Neglect Investigator, Dean of Students and then became the principal of two charter high schools in Aurora Colorado. Skilled in Management, Leadership Development, and Public Speaking, John bring strong professional business development skills and a proven background in multiple sectors to this role.

  John received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Work from the University of Saint Thomas in 1996. He later completed half of his MBA in Children, Youth and Families at Brandeis University, The Heller School for Social Policy and Management.

  When not helping kids and families throughout Las Vegas and Nevada, John spends time with his wife and three kids or with friends hiking and enjoying the great outdoors.

• Daniel Chung, Member

  

  CFBS (Certified Family Business Specialist), Chung Strategic Solutions
  Nevada Board Member since 2021

  Daniel Chung is a well-established financial services representative with a practice based in Las Vegas, Nevada since 1998. As a Certified Family Business Specialist (CFBS), Daniel focuses his practice on the financial, business and estate strategies of business owners.

  Daniel, who espouses a very strong work ethic, feels a connection to business owners largely due to the entrepreneurial streak he shares with his clients. Building a business from scratch after college, Daniel used the same traits that he had cultivated while growing up doing odd jobs while growing up in Illinois and California. He decided to work with business owners because it was a market he truly understood.

  The practice continued its growth trajectory while Daniel built a strong network of allied professionals with whom he could exchange ideas and bring specialty knowledge back to his clients. In 2013, his firm was officially named Chung Strategic Solutions, and shortly thereafter, Daniel decided to relocate his family to Las Vegas so that he could pursue further growth opportunities.

  Daniel is a perennial qualifier for the Million Dollar Round Table (MDRT). MDRT membership is recognized internationally as the standard of excellence in the life insurance and financial services business. Daniel volunteers his time and extensive professional connections to the MDRT Foundation in order to support charitable causes within the state of Nevada. In addition, he supports such causes as the Grant a Gift Foundation for Autism and is on the Board of Directors of HHOVV (Helping Hands of Vegas Valley).

  Outside of work, Daniel resides with his family in Summerlin and enjoys golfing, biking, coaching sports with his three sons, and volunteering.

• Orlando Gallegos, Member

  

  Gallery Director, William Carr Gallery
  Nevada Board Member since 2022

  Orlando is the Gallery Director at William Carr Gallery in ​Boca Park Fashion Village Summerlin. Orlando Gallegos organized a fundraiser with ar​tist, William Carr during the unveiling of his newest project, Tree of Life. A long-time resident of Las Vegas, Orlando is a founding board member of the Nevada Hispanic Business Group and makes it his philanthropic mission to give the youth of Las Vegas opportunities to find success and rise above their circumstances and environment.

  During Orlando’s fundraising event held for Boys Town Nevada, William Carr donated proceeds from his latest photobook, World Focus Images Vol. II, to Boys Town Nevada. World Focus Images Vol. II offers 160 stunning images from around the world along with experiences from this Modern Master of Photography. We are proud to welcome Orlando to the Board this year and grateful he orchestrated a successful fundraising opportunity in his art community to save children and heal families in Southern Nevada.

• John Loomis, Member

  

  Retired Chief Operating Officer, Heligenics, Inc.
  Nevada Board Member sinc​e 2017​

  An accomplished executive with direct experience in the financial, technology, entertainment, and communications industries. Responsible for driving business growth and profitability by directing corporate operations, providing executive insight, and optimizing technology and expenses.

  Achieved exceptional business results by defining the corporate vision, evaluating operations and technology, and developing ​and implementing key business strategies. Loomis exhibits a strong expertise in turnaround situations ranging from personnel and organizational restructuring to program leadership and project management. Loomis mentored executive teams consisting of diverse​​ business units—transforming organizational processes, procedures, and operating standards.

• Francisco Mazon, Member

  

  Officer, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
  Nevada Board Member since 2020

  Francisco Mazon joined the Nevada Board of Directors in 2019. His five years on the Metropolitan Police Force give Francisco a unique perspective and drive to help create solutions for the community he grew up in.

  Francisco is a Las Vegas local and grew up for most of his life in the valley. However, he first came to Boys Town Nevada in 2000, at 8-years-old, through the Family Home Program in Omaha, Nebraska. During Francisco’s time in Omaha, Nebraska he met our Executive Director, John Etzell and his wife –who were Family Teachers at the time. Francisco and his two brothers stayed with the family for six years. After, successfully reuniting with his family, Francisco moved back to Las Vegas and graduated from Green Valley High School in 2015.

  He graduated from the College of Southern Nevada with an Associate in Arts (A.A.) Public Administration in 2016 and went straight on to the Metropolitan police force which he’s been on for the past five years where he’s worked Special teams or work accomplishments.

  In his free time, Francisco spends time with his wife and three kids.

• Steven “JT” Washington, Member

  

  Employment Attorney, Holland & Hart
  Nevada Board Member since 2017

  Steven J.T Washington currently focus his practice on general litigation matters and is passionate about impacting the valley he grew up in. Currently an Associate Attorney for Murchison & Cumming, LLP, Washington has previously served as a law clerk for the Eighth Judicial District Court and has worked as a student attorney for Juvenile Justice. Additionally, he’s worked within the office of a United States Senator and the Las Vegas Clark County Library District.

  Passionate about making a difference in the youth of Las Vegas, Washington has worked with youth by volunteering his time and energy as an Englestad Scholar at Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy. He is a recipient of many honors, including the Western Region National Black Law Students Association “Brother in Service Award.” Washington holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Juris Doctor from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.