Hall of Fame

The Leadership Las Vegas Council will select one alumnus that has gone above and beyond in their commitment to the Las Vegas community to be inducted into the  Leadership Las Vegas Hall of Fame.

2013 Inductee - Ron Kline, MD, FAAP

"Leaders lead by setting a good example. You cannot ask others to do what you yourself will not do. Respect the judgments of those on the front lines of any endeavor." Ron Kline, MD, FAAP

Ronald Kline is the medical director of the Pediatric Division of Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada, the largest multi-specialty oncology group in Nevada. He is also a clinical associate professor at the University of Nevada School of Medicine and an Adjunct Clinical Professor at Touro University Nevada School of Medicine. As a board certified pediatric hematologist-oncologist with additional training in pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, he has a rewarding and clinically challenging medical practice.

He maintains leadership positions in local and statewide organizations, primarily focusing on health policy and childrenís issues. He is past president of the Clark County Medical Society and the Nevada State Medical Association, alternate delegate to the AMA House of Delegates, a gubernatorial appointee to the Silver State Health Insurance Exchange board of directors, and a past member of the Nevada Board of Medical Examiners. He is the founding chair of the Children's Medical Advocacy Coalition, the president elect of the Southern Nevada Medical Industry Coalition and serves on the boards of the Children's Advocacy Alliance and the Sunrise Children's Foundation.

Recently he was one of six people in the nation selected as a Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellow. The fellowship will take him to Washington DC for a year to be a part of the decision making process at the highest levels of Federal health care policy.

In addition to his medical and health policy pursuits, Dr. Kline has a strong interest in history and international relations, having served as an officer of the World Affairs Council of Las Vegas since 2008.

He has broad experience directing clinical programs in multiple states; in university, hospital-based and private practice settings. Dr. Kline is the author of 19 scientific publications, as well as the editor of a textbook on pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Kline received his BA and MD from UCLA and did his pediatric residency training at the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles. He completed a biotechnology fellowship at the National Cancer Institute and a clinical fellowship in pediatric hematology-oncology and transplantation at the University of California, San Francisco.

2012 - Alan M. Diskin, '03

Alan is a 2003 graduate of Leadership Las Vegas and has served as Curriculum Chair for the Leadership Las Vegas youth program in 2005, Curriculum Chair for Leadership Las Vegas in 2008 and on the Leadership Council from 2004 to 2010.  He received the 2003 Community Achievement Award for Nonprofit and the Junior Achievement Summit Award from 2002-2011.

2011 - Darcy K. Neighbors, '03

"A true leader inspires others to be passionate about people, the foundation of all relationships, growth, life's meaning, and ultimately, success and happiness."

2010 - Shannon West, '99

"Leadership is not something that you are in; it's something that you do. A leader is someone who doest he right things for the right reason."

2009 - Punam Mathur, '90

"Change, whether managed or not, is inevitable. Community leaders are those who possess  a vision, spend the time to gain knwoledge, and then rally the energy to manage and direct the course to desirable outcomes."

2008 - Howard L. Skolnik, '95

"A leader is someone people follow without being asked. He/She has a vision which others willingly share regarding where the organization is going."

2007 - Gina Polovina, '98

"Leadership is the ability to perceive common things in an uncommon way coupled with the capacity to inspire others to strive toward a desired goal."

2006 - Valerie Wiener, '90<

"It starts with one person, one idea, and the unswerving determination to put a plan into action. That's leadership. When that person combines his or her talents and insight with other inventive, resourceful, committed individuals...that's Leadership Las Vegas."

2005 - John Wilcox, '92<

"A leader establishes a vision and motivates others to achieve it. They do so by demonstrating their personal commitment in every aspect of their life. A Leadership Las Vegas graduate is a teacher, a counselor, a motivator, a listener and a role model."

2004 - Henry Hoogland, '89

"A man's accomplishments in life are the cumulative effect of his attention to detail."

About the Leadership Las Vegas Alumni Program

With more than 1,000 alumni, the Leadership Las Vegas program extends well beyond your class year. The Leadership Las Vegas Alumni Committee plans a full calendar to keep the connections you've made through the program, create new relationships with other alumni, access exclusive venues for special alumni activities and help recruit candidates for upcoming classes. Sponsorships are available for the alumni program.

Leadership Las Vegas Alumni Program Sponsorship Levels

Leadership Green $500 (Chamber membership required)

• Logo on all Leadership Las Vegas Alumni correspondence for entire year
• Logo on sponsorship board to be displayed at all Leadership Las Vegas Alumni events
• Sponsorship moment at one Leadership Las Vegas event
• Company materials made available at all Leadership Las Vegas Alumni events table
• Up to $100 of complimentary admission to Leadership Las Vegas Alumni events

Leadership Yellow $250 (Chamber membership required)

• Logo on all Leadership Las Vegas Alumni correspondence for entire year
• Logo on sponsorship board to be displayed at all Leadership Las Vegas Alumni Events

Sponsorship monies are used to enhance Leadership Las Vegas Alumni programming and events and a portion to support the Leadership Las Vegas Scholarship Foundation. For additional information or to sign up for a sponsorship, contact Mindy Unger-Wadkins, class of '96 and Leadership Las Vegas Alumni Activities, Sponsorship Sub-Committee Chair, at 702.379.7845.

2011 - 2012 Alumni Committee

• Brian Rice '09, Leadership Las Vegas Council, Graduate Activities Chair
• Lori Andersen '95
• Mindy Unger-Wadkins '96
• Dawn Merritt '97
• Anne Smith '00
• Mike Sexton '05
• Aggie Knoblock '06
• Barry Thigpen '007
• Rebecca Howell '007
• Donna Lauger '10
• Joan McGee '10
• Mahima Singh '10
• Tim Mullen '10
• Wendy Sexton '10
• Chanda Cook '11
• David Stoft '11
• Greta Seidman '11
• Nicole Wolf '11
• Patricia Falvey '11
• Stacy Frank '11
• Ted Hartwell '11
• Alaina Cowley '12
• Alisa Nave-Worth '12
• Armena Mnatsakanyan '12
• Justin Kalb '12
• Michael Gordon '12
• Miranda Jennings '12
• Paul Moradkhan '12
• Rachel Hunt '12

2012 - 2013 Program Dates

• January 11, 2013 - Business Day
• February 8, 2013 - Education Day
• March 8, 2013 - Criminal Justice Day
• April 12, 2013 - Health Day
• May 9, 2013 - Recruitment Mixer
• May 10, 2013 - Gaming and Tourism Day
• June 14, 2013 - Closing Session
• June 21, 2013 - Graduation Gala (6 - 9 p.m.)

2013 - 2014 Program Dates

• September 26 -28, 2013 - Opening Retreat: Gateway
• October 18, 2013 - History Day & Fall Mixer
• November 15, 2013 - Community Safety Net Day
• December 6, 2013 - Government, Politics & Media Day
• January 10, 2014 - Business Day
• February 7, 2014 - Education Day
• March 14, 2014 - Criminal Justice Day
• April 11, 2014 - Health Day
• May 8, 2014 - Recruitment Mixer
• May 9, 2014 - Gaming and Tourism Day
• June 13, 2014 - Closing Session
• June 20, 2014 - Graduation Gala (6 - 9 p.m.)