Coming up in Edutainment | March 2025
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Scott Rosenzweig is President and CEO of Make-A-Wish Nevada. He joined the organization in 2018 as Director of Mission Delivery, overseeing the Wish granting team and volunteers, ensuring that every eligible child diagnosed with a life-threatening illness in Southern Nevada received a wish. He was promoted to President and CEO in 2021.
Prior to joining Make-A-Wish, Rosenzweig served as Director of Service Operations for Caesars Interactive Entertainment, Inc. He was a member of the team that launched real money gambling in Nevada and New Jersey with brands such as World Series of Poker and HarrahsCasino.com. Tasked to oversee and execute day-to-day operations, customer service, risk and fraud, and Responsible Gaming, Rosenzweig has always been the first to raise his hand when an opportunity presented itself.
Rosenzweig began his career in show business and acknowledges his path to CEO was nontraditional and different than most. As a performer, director and choreographer for 30 years, working for prestigious and diverse organizations - from Virginia Opera to Disneyland – he also taught performance for competitive ice skaters at the University of Delaware alongside Olympic medalist, Ron Ludington. He also served as the official blogger for Project Runway Season 3 for BravoTV.com, demonstrating his diverse and unique skill set.
Through a connection from his Disneyland days, Rosenzweig directed the opening of Madame Tussaud’s in Las Vegas at The Venetian with a list of notable celebrities in 1999. He then joined corporate America, overseeing entertainment, and eventually training and development for 1500 employees at 17 locations nationwide for the arcade/restaurant concept, GameWorks, created by Steen Spielberg, Universal Studios and SEGA.
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Rosenzweig grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona and has lived in several states along the way. He and his husband, Michael, have called Las Vegas home since 1999.
Michael Franzese grew up as the son of the notorious Underboss of the feared Colombo crime family. Mr. Franzese would serve as a caporegime for the Colombo crime family. At his most affluent time, he generated 5-8 million dollars per week from legal and illegal businesses. However, it all came to a halt when Mr. Franzese served a 9 years sentence and was ordered to pay $3 million in restitution. He has since renounced and denounced the life of organized crime. He is the author of seven books, co-founder of a national pizza franchises Slices Pizza, has appeared in many movies and television shows, and is a motivational speaker.
Gary Sinise’s stage, film and television career has spanned more than four decades. In 1974, at 18 years old, he co-founded Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre Company where he served as Artistic Director for seven years. Now in its fifth decade as a professional theatre company, Steppenwolf has received national and international recognition from the media, theatre critics, and audiences alike.
He has starred in or directed over a dozen productions at the renowned theatre, some of which played on or off Broadway, earning multiple Tony award nominations, and winning a Drama Desk Award, Obie Award, Joseph Jefferson Award, and Regional Theatre Tony Award for his work with the theatre.
20 years into his career, for his performance as Lt Dan Taylor in Forrest Gump, he received nominations for Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and Academy Awards, and earned the Best Supporting Actor Award from the National Board of Review and the Commander's Award from the Disabled American Veterans. His other film credits include Apollo 13, Ransom, Snake Eyes, Impostor, The Green Mile, Mission to Mars, The Human Stain, I Still Believe, and Good Joe Bell. Gary starred as Jack Garrett on the series Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders, and for nine seasons as Detective “Mac” Taylor on the hit series CSI: NY, both of which aired on CBS. His most recent television work was on the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why. He is an Emmy, Golden Globe, and two-time SAG Award winner for his roles in Truman and George Wallace, and a SAG Award nominee for his role in The Stand.
Gary also directed two feature films: Of Mice and Men, which he co-produced and co-starred in with John Malkovich, and Miles from Home starring Richard Gere, Kevin Anderson, Helen Hunt and John Malkovich.
For more than 40 years, Gary has stood as an advocate on behalf of America’s service members. It began in the early ‘80s, supporting local Vietnam veterans’ groups in the Chicago area, and into the ‘90s, when his portrayal of Lt. Dan formed an enduring connection with service members throughout the
military community, and as he worked on behalf of the Disabled American Veterans organization, which he continues to actively support today. Following the attacks of September 11, 2001, Sinise’s dedication to our nation’s active-duty defenders, veterans, first responders and their families has become a tireless crusade of support, service, and gratitude for all those who protect our freedom and serve our country.
In 2011, Sinise established the Gary Sinise Foundation with a mission to serve our country by honoring our defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need. The Foundation's four programmatic pillars are their way of "doing a little more" for those who sacrifice so much for the country.
Sinise serves as spokesperson for both the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial Foundation and Disabled American Veterans. He serves on executive councils for The Medal of Honor Foundation and the USO and is an advisory board member for Hope for the Warriors.
In recognition of his humanitarian work on behalf of our troops and veterans, Sinise has earned many distinguished awards including The Bob Hope Award for Excellence in Entertainment from the Medal of Honor Society, the Spirit of the USO Award, The Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the Spirit of Hope Award by the Department of Defense, the Dwight D. Eisenhower Award from the National Defense Industrial Association and West Point’s Thayer Award. In 2008 he was given the Presidential Citizens Medal, the second-highest civilian honor awarded to citizens for exemplary deeds performed in service of the nation, only the third actor ever to receive this honor. He was recently named an honorary Chief Petty Officer by the Navy and an Honorary Marine by the United States Marine Corp.
In 2019, his autobiography, Grateful American: A Journey from Self to Service, was released and immediately became a New York Times Bestseller. It is the inspiring, entertaining, and profound story of how a young “rough around the edges” kid from Chicago eventually, through his very personal and unique journey, found his calling: to ensure that our nation’s defenders, who serve this country and its freedoms, are never forgotten.
Giving back to those who sacrifice for our nation and encouraging others to do the same has become Gary Sinise’s personal quest and what he hopes will endure as a legacy of service to others.
Nick Bodine serves as the Church Location Pastor of Central Henderson. He grew up in Albuquerque, NM and moved to the Las Vegas area in 2000. He graduated from Foothill High School and started his career in management at Target, followed by Starbucks, and joined the Central team in 2007. He now has a Biblical Studies Certificate through Liberty University. He and his wife, Laura, live in the Las Vegas area with their three daughters, Avery, Quinn, and Cosette, along with their dogs Zoe & Olive.
Dynamic industry executive, Label Manager at Mr. 305 Records, the music label owned by Grammy Winning International artist and business entrepreneur "Pitbull". With over a decade of experience in the music industry, Barbara Rivas, affectionately known 'Barbie,' has been able to have a proven track record of growth and success. Beginning her career in broadcasting, working in radio and TV for over nine years interviewing some of the top talent in the industry such as Anuel AA, Anitta, Farruko, Rauw Alejandro, Jbalvin, Jhayco, Myke Towers, Eladio Carrion, Jessie Reyes, The Black Eyed Peas, among many others before transitioning to the business side of the industry.
Since then, she has worked with over twelve artists (both known and upcoming) under Mr.305 Records, including Pitbull, Lenier, Omar Courtz, IAmchino, Vikina, and more to develop and promote their music careers. As the Label Manager at Mr.305 Records, she is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the label's operations, from signing and managing to marketing artists. Her passion for music and commitment to excellence can be seen through her successful projects such as Pitbull's 'Trackhouse' and 'Trackhouse Daytona 500,' as well as Omar Courtz's viral 'Elevate' TikTok campaign, which have helped the label achieve unprecedented success in the industry.
In addition to her business achievements, Barbie is a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion in the industry, and actively works to empower women and the Latin community to pursue their careers in music through the Recording Academy's Grammy U national mentorship program. She is an advocate for physical, mental, and spiritual health through her own initiative
"The Blissful Project," providing valuable resources, tools, and support empowering industry professionals and fostering artistic, and personal growth.
Tom Mauriello is a senior lecturer in the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice and manages the department's Teaching Crime Laboratory. A sought-after forensic sciences consultant, Mauriello is regularly interviewed by media and has appeared on ABC World News, CBS Sunday Morning News, and Fox and MSNBC cable shows. He has been featured on television documentaries, including The Discovery Channel’s “The Lizzie Borden Murders,” and Investigation Discovery Channel’s series “Forensics: You Decide.” Mauriello is author of "Criminal Investigation Handbook Strategy, Law and Science" and "The Dollhouse Murders." In 2011, Mauriello formed a forensic consultant company, ForensIQ, Inc., which provides forensic investigation services; criminal case and evidence assessments; security and counterintelligence services; education, training and motivational public speaking; and news media, film, and TV production consultation. In 2012, Mauriello retired from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) after 30 years of service. His assignments with DoD included special agent, chief of police, senior polygraph examiner, congressional staff investigator for the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, and chief of polygraph for the Associate Directorate for Security and Counterintelligence. He is a former police officer and criminal investigator.
Erik is currently the founder and Chief Community Officer of xPhase, a management and product consulting firm based in Portland, Oregon. Additionally, Erik is the Co-founder and Chairman of Beaverton-based consumer electronics firm CTL. Erik is also an active advisor, board member, and investor. As CEO of CTL, Erik led the company to significant growth, expanding to global markets with distribution in over 55 countries. Erik is a growth-oriented executive leader with a proven track record of building products and partnerships with organizations, including Google, Intel, Logitech, Microsoft, and Verizon. In 2024, Erik was listed as one of the top 25 executives in Portland and one to watch for 2025. The Portland Business Journal ranked CTL as one of the top Oregon companies and one of the fastest-growing organizations in the region. CTL is a leader in K12 1:1 engagements and maintains a significant market share in the U.S. and Southern Europe Chrome Device and Solutions market. CTL is also active in enterprise cloud adoption, including conference room solutions through its partnership with Logitech, cellular connectivity, and private LTE(CBRS) built on Chrome OS. Erik also led CTL's sustainability initiatives, including sponsoring our annual sustainability report, membership in the responsible labor alliances, and helping organizations achieve B corp certification in 2024. CTL maintains offices and distribution in the US, Europe, and Asia and distributes to over 50 countries through long-term distributor partnerships, supporting some of the world's largest corporate brands. Erik is a licensed CPA who serves on several executive and advisory boards, including Intel’s Customer Advisory Board and Western Oregon University's Finance Committee. The Portland Business Journal recognized Erik on its prestigious 40 under 40 list, identifying rising business stars. Erik enjoys running, playing music, and spending time with his family. He lives in Portland, OR, with his wife and identical twin boys, Nikko and Viggo
Edgar the Storm Chaser is a fearless storm chaser, weather journalist, and media personality with Team Dominator, one of the most well-known storm-chasing teams in the world. With a Bachelor of Science in Entertainment Business, Edgar has expertly combined his passion for extreme weather with his media expertise, bringing captivating storm coverage to audiences worldwide.
From intercepting violent tornadoes to navigating extreme weather conditions, Edgar’s on-the-ground reports provide critical real-time updates, helping to educate and inform the public about severe weather threats. His adrenaline-fueled adventures have made him a standout figure in storm-chasing media, where he blends science, storytelling, and high-impact visuals to deliver compelling coverage.
Whether braving the heart of a supercell or documenting the raw power of nature, Edgar’s dedication to storm chasing and weather journalism continues to inspire and inform audiences, solidifying his reputation as a leading voice in the field.
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