SPEAKERS

Lewis Jordan
Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority
With over 40 years of public and private management experience, Lewis Jordan has led housing authorities from the very large with 50,000 or more total units, medium-sized agencies with 10,000 plus units, to small agencies with 3,200 units. This unique array of experience has positioned him to work effectively with resident leaders, residents, staff, community partners and stakeholders to address not only housing issues but also strategies to develop underserved communities. As a former public housing resident, he understands both issues and opportunities residents encounter.
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Leading the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority, Lewis Jordan oversees the management of a $202M operating budget along with housing programs, comprehensive goods, and services for 17,000 residents. The Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority is one of the nation’s largest public housing authorities, providing the largest stock of affordable housing in Clark County. Mr. Jordan is a leader dedicated to purposeful integrated planning and collaborative efforts between agency staff, community partners, city, state, county, and legislative officials; working together to preserve and expand affordable housing. He strives to achieve deliberate, successful, and impactful outcomes through his efforts to strengthen landlord partnerships. Mr. Jordan oversees the planning and coordination of the agency’s nationwide Developers Conference, designed to inform and inspire partnerships for developing affordable homes for low and moderate income individuals and families.
Shondra Summers-Armstrong
City of Las Vegas Councilwoman
Shondra Summers-Armstrong was elected to the Las Vegas City Council representing Ward 5 in November 2024. Before joining the City Council, she served two terms in the Nevada Legislature as the Assemblymember for District 6, representing parts of Las Vegas and North Las Vegas.

Long before holding elected office, Shondra was a committed community advocate. She volunteered on the West Las Vegas Plan Team and served as a commissioner for both the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority and the Southern Nevada Enterprise Community Board.

Shondra retired in 2022 after a 26-year career with the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC), where she most recently worked as a management analyst in the Streets and Highways Department. During her tenure at RTC, she was also a proud labor leader, serving as Chief Steward and Executive Board Member of SEIU Local 1107.

Originally from Northern California, Shondra has called Nevada home for 35 years and has lived in West Las Vegas for 26 of those years. She and her husband, Karl Armstrong, have been married for30 years and are the proud parents of three sons—Brandon, Dexter, and Kieran—and one granddaughter, Ella.
William Spencer
U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development
William T. Spencer serves as the Regional Administrator for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in Region 9, overseeing programs and initiatives across Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and the Pacific Islands. A retired Navy SEAL Master Chief with 14 overseas deployments, including eight combat tours, Spencer brings extensive leadership and operational experience to his role. After retiring from military service, he dedicated himself to supporting veterans and underserved communities, founding the American Warrior Association and launching programs to mentor at-risk youth. He holds a Master of Arts in Strategic Intelligence from American Military University and a Bachelor of Science in Management Communications from Southern Christian University. He is also the author of multiple books focused on leadership, resilience, and personal growth.
Dr. Lawrence Weekly
Master of Ceremonies
Former Clark County Commissioner Lawrence Weekly (89106) is currently Chief of Staff-Chief Diversity Officer for the College of Southern Nevada. Dr. Weekly has a proven lifetime record of leadership and commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. During his tenure as commissioner, he was widely regarded as a champion for education, workforce development, and social causes. He served as vice chairman of the Clark County Commission. He was also the first African American to chair the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority Board of Directors. He served as Chair of the Board of Trustees for University Medical Center of Southern Nevada, Western Regional Representative for the National Association of Black County Officials (NABCO) and served with the Nevada Association of Counties (NACO), the Clark County Liquor & Gaming Licensing Board, and the Local Law Enforcement Advisory Board that awards millions to valley wide programs dedicated to improving the quality of life for families in Clark County. His passion is the Senior Programs that began under his tenure as a county Commission. Dr. Weekly is a native Nevadan and graduate of Western High School. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Communication from Grambling State University, a Master of Public Administration and Ph.D. in Public Policy UNLV, where he teaches public policy. He is a life-time member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity and a mentor for the Kappa League. He and his wife Kim have two children, Malik and Kenya.
Nancy Brune
City of Las Vegas Councilwoman
SNRHA Board Chair
Nancy Brune, Ph.D. serves on the Las Vegas City Council (Ward 6) and is the Commission Chairwoman of the SNRHA. Previously, she was founding executive director of the Guinn Center, a nonprofit policy institute, where she worked on issues of housing and workforce development. She serves on several local and state boards and commissions. Her family’s early experience with housing insecurity has fueled her life-long interest in housing policy.
Catherine Cortez Masto
United States Senator
Catherine Cortez Masto is the first woman from Nevada and the first Latina ever elected to the U.S. Senate. Born and raised in Las Vegas, Cortez Masto has spent her career fighting for Nevada families. As Nevada's Attorney General, Cortez Masto fought to protect seniors and combat drug crime, strengthened laws to end sex trafficking and violence against women, and took on the Big Banks in the wake of the financial crisis. In the Senate, Cortez Masto has taken her fight for working Nevadans to Washington, D.C. by working to expand middle class housing in Nevada and securing the first ever targeted fund from the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco to fund affordable housing construction in the state. Her priority is standing up for Nevada families, protecting Nevadans' access to health care, holding banks accountable when they harm workers and homeowners, defending Dreamers so they can continue to live in the only country they've ever called home, and growing Nevada's innovation and renewable energy economy while also prioritizing workers and union families. She is a member of four U.S. Senate Committees: the Committee on Finance; the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources; and the Committee on Indian Affairs. Cortez Masto earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Finance from the University of Nevada, Reno in 1986, and a J.D. from Gonzaga University School of Law in 1990. She resides in Las Vegas with her husband Paul.
Cedric Crear
Onda Housing Group/ Former City of Las Vegas Councilman
Cedric Crear represents Ward 5. He won the March 27, 2018, special election to complete the council term that ended in 2019. He then won re-election to a full four-year term in the April 2019 election. Councilman Crear has a deep passion for the Las Vegas community and describes his style as one who “leads by example.”Councilman Crear earned a bachelor’s degree from Howard University in Washington, D.C., where he received a tennis scholarship. He was also captain of the team for three years and a two-time conference champion. Councilman Crear previously worked for Station Casinos as a marketing director, where he proved himself a capable leader while working at the company's most elite properties. Since then, he has gone on to found Crear Magnum, which provides full-service marketing, advertising and consulting solutions to regional and global businesses. Councilman Crear has served as president of the company since it was founded in 2010, and serves as president of Crear Outdoor Advertising.Crear served on the Board of Regents for the Nevada System of Higher Education. He was first elected in 2006, and was re-elected in 2012 as the representative for District 1 in Clark County. He served as chair of the Cultural Diversity and Title IX Compliance Committee and vice chair of the Business, Finance and Facilities and Investment committees.In 2015, Crear was appointed as a Las Vegas Planning Commissioner. He also served as a board member of The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, chairman of the Southern Nevada Chapter of the American Red Cross, and Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority.
William McCurdy II
Clark County Commission Vice Chair/SNRHA Board Member
Commissioner William McCurdy II was elected to the Clark County Commission in 2020 and sworn in for his first term on Jan. 4, 2021, and re-elected to his second term for 2025. He was selected by his peers to serve as vice-chairman of the Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 2, 2024.  Commissioner McCurdy previously served two terms (2016-2020) in the Nevada State Legislature as the representative for Assembly District 6.

During his tenure as Assemblyman, he was elected as the first African American and youngest chair of the Nevada State Democratic Party. Significant legislation introduced by McCurdy improved Education, Public Safety, Healthcare and Economic Development. While at the Legislature, he served as vice chairman of the Government Affairs Committee and was a member of the Commerce and Labor and Legislative Operations and Elections committees. Additionally, he served on the Homeland Security Commission.

Prior to his service in the Nevada Legislature, McCurdy was an organizer with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) where he elevated to state political director. He also was very engaged during his years at the College of Southern Nevada where he was elected student body president. While there he fought against tuition increases and worked to secure thousands of dollars in student scholarships to ensure education was within reach for many desiring to achieve their dreams.

McCurdy is a native Las Vegan, born in the very Commission District he now proudly represents. He holds an Associate’s degree from the College of Southern Nevada and a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. McCurdy is a proud husband to his wife, Susie McCurdy and father to their three children.
Jacky Rosen
United States Senator
United States Senator Jacky Rosen is committed to working with both parties to deliver for Nevada’s hardworking families. She is fighting for all Nevadans by being an independent voice who brings people together to find commonsense, bipartisan solutions for our state. Senator Jacky Rosen works across the aisle to solve problems and achieve results for Nevada. Elected to the U.S. House in 2016 and then the U.S. Senate in 2018, Jacky is the second woman ever to serve Nevada in the U.S. Senate, alongside fellow Senator Catherine Cortez Masto. In the Senate, Jacky is working to improve the lives of all Nevadans and fighting for an economy that gives everyone the opportunity to succeed. And with rising prices stretching families’ budgets to the breaking point, Jacky is pushing to increase access to affordable housing in Nevada, cut taxes for the middle class, and lower costs for everyday essentials.
Steven Horsford
Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus
United States Congressman
Congressman Steven Horsford is a member of the U.S. House, representing Nevada's 4th Congressional District. He assumed office on January 3, 2019. Born and raised in Las Vegas to an immigrant mother, Rep. Horsford has worked hard to raise and nurture his three children.
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Before his first election to the 4th District in 2012, Horsford had served in the Nevada State Senate since 2004. He was Senate majority leader from 2009 to 2012. His professional experience outside of public office includes serving as the executive director of the Culinary Training Academy of Las Vegas. He helped to launch a food recovery program with Three Square and major employers like MGM Resorts to address food insecurity among needy children, families and seniors.  He brings a principled focus on job creation, community development and skills development to Congress.
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Horsford was the first black U.S. House member to represent Nevada and the first black leader of the Nevada State Senate.
Shani Coleman
Clark County Community & Economic Development
With 20+ years of economic development, commercial development, and strategic planning.  Shani Coleman is a professional with proven success in creating new opportunities to drive strategic growth throughout Southern Nevada.  As the current director of the Office of Community and Economic Development for Clark County, NV, Ms. Coleman applies her extensive skills and experience, along with her passion for the community she calls home, to build awareness of the opportunities that exist beyond The Las Vegas Strip.  This work drives new growth and investment throughout unincorporated Clark County, and helps shape a better, brighter future for residents and businesses alike.

During her tenure with Clark County re-established and expanded the Clark County Redevelopment Agency, established Clark County’s Innovation District, developed the award winning Technical & Economic Assistance Program (TEAP) for small business support, created Clark County’s first ever online learning platform for the Small Business Opportunity Program and implemented workforce development opportunities with the EMT Academy.

In addition to economic development, Ms. Coleman is skilled in local, regional and federal government relations, having served as the chief lobbyist for the city of Las Vegas.

Ms. Coleman holds a master’s degree in Public Administration and a Juris Doctor from the William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Dina Titus
United States Congresswoman
Serving the First Congressional District of Nevada, Congresswoman Dina Titus has built a strong record of achievement as both an educator and a public servant. As a professor, Dr. Titus taught American and Nevada government classes from 1979 through June 2011 at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where she has professor emeritus status.

In 1988, Congresswoman Titus was elected to represent the people of District Seven in the Nevada State Senate, serving as the Democratic Minority Leader from 1993 to 2008. During her service in the Legislature, Congresswoman Titus was a champion for quality education and renewable energy development, and a strong advocate on behalf of Nevada’s children, seniors, and persons with disabilities.

Currently in her seventh term in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congresswoman Titus is the dean of Nevada’s Congressional delegation. She is a proud member of the House Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure, Foreign Affairs, and Homeland Security. Dina serves as Ranking Member of a key Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee, where she works to help Nevada’s communities better respond to natural disasters, address the devastating impacts of climate change, and fight for infrastructure projects that will benefit the most vulnerable.

Congresswoman Titus grew up in the small town of Tifton, Georgia, with her parents, Joe and Betty Titus, and her younger sister, Dr. Rho Hudson, who is a professor of special education and founding faculty member of Nevada State College. Congresswoman Titus is a graduate of the College of William and Mary, holds a Master's degree from the University of Georgia, and earned her Doctorate at Florida State University. Congresswoman Titus has been married to Professor Thomas C. Wright for over 35 years.
Melvin Green
KME Architects
Melvin Green has over 40 years of experience in the architectural field. Prior to co-founding KME Architects, Melvin had owned and operated as MGA, Melvin Green Architect, LLC since the early 1990’s. Melvin has designed and managed various small and large architectural projects, including high rise hotels in Macau, high rise residential, educational facilities, medical, hospitality, retail, and office projects. He has extensive knowledge in architectural programming, planning, design, construction documentation, and quality control. Melvin has obtained his (APEC) Asia Pacific Economic Council license, which allows him to seek reciprocity to practice architecture in over twenty APEC member countries. 
Joselyn Cousins
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
Joselyn Cousins manages the Community Development Outreach Group at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, which partners with financial institutions, community-based organizations, and government agencies to address pressing community development needs impacting low-income neighborhoods and households. Joselyn also serves as the regional manager for Nevada.

Joselyn has an extensive background in community development in the private and public sectors. Prior to joining the San Francisco Fed, Joselyn was the vice president of community development for United Way of Southern Nevada where she directed and managed the community impact team in developing strategies to address local issues in the areas of education, financial stability, and health. She has many years of banking experience working as a Community Reinvestment Officer for both small and large financial institutions in Nevada. Joselyn earned her bachelor’s degree in administration from California State University, San Bernardino.
Susie Lee
United States Congresswoman
Congresswoman Susie Lee was born to a working family of ten in Canton, Ohio. A product of the public education system, she attended Carnegie Mellon University where she used a combination of scholarships, loans, and part-time jobs to pay for her education.

Congresswoman Lee moved to Las Vegas in 1993, where she became an education non-profit leader. She worked to improve the education system, decrease school dropout rates, and provide after-school programming for Nevada students. Her career taught her how to take on tough problems, roll up her sleeves, and bring people together to find solutions for Nevada's problems.

In Congress, she is fighting to improve our education system, honor our promise to our veterans, and tackle rising health care costs. Congresswoman Lee believes in working across the aisle and bringing people together to solve problems, which is why she serves as Vice Chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus and has been ranked the #1 most bipartisan member of Congress among all U.S. Representatives, Senators, and governors. She now lives in Las Vegas with her two children.
Frank Stafford
Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority
Frank Stafford has 30 years of experience in Public Housing at the former Housing Authority of the City and Las Vegas and the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority. He is knowledgeable in all aspects of the Development and Modernization of Public and Affordable Housing. He began his career in Public Housing in 1993 and has spent the last 29 years in the Development/Modernization Department as a Construction Inspector, Construction Manager, Acting Procurement Manager, Acting Development and Modernization Director and currently the Director of Development and Modernization. He has been responsible for numerous new construction and preservation construction projects totaling over 1,100 units preserved via comprehensive modernization, 400 newly construction units, and over 900 units demolished for new development at a cost exceeding $170 million. In addition, he has planned and overseen numerous Capital Improvement Projects and Site Improvement Projects to include landscape conversion projects, playgrounds, street, parking lot and curb replacement.
Larry Blackman
Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority
Larry Blackman is Former President Of The Blackman Group, A Business Consulting Co. Helping People Move From Consumers/Owners In Their Own Neighborhoods. He’s a Former College Athlete, Chairman Of American Heart Association African -American Task Force In State Of Nevada, and a Current Member of the Board of Commissioner for SNRHA.

Schedule

01
Opening Session & Breakfast

Lewis Jordan Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority
Dr. Lawrence Weekly Master of Ceremonies, College of Southern Nevada
Senator Cathrine Cortez Masto United States Senate
William Spencer Regional Administrator, U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development
Zach Conine Nevada State Treasurer
David Dazlich Nevada State Infrastucture Coordinator, Office of the Governor
Dr. Nancy Brune City of Las Vegas Councilwoman/
Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority Board Chair

02
From Policy to Practice

Video: U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen

Moderated by Yolanda King Former Clark County Manager
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Richard Cherchio City of North Las Vegas/
Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority Board Member
Lisa Corrado Assistant City Manager, City of Henderson
Abigail Frierson Deputy County Manager, Clark County
Mike Janssen City Manager, City of Las Vegas
‍Lisa Kremer Deputy County Manager, Clark County

03
Living the Legacy: The Transformation of the Historic Westside

Video: U.S. Congresswoman Dina Titus

Moderated by William McCurdy II Commissioner/SNRHA Board Member
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Ricki Barlow LV Access/Formor City of Las Vegs Councilman
Cedric Crear Onda Housing Group/Former City of Las Vegas Councilman
Shondra Summers Armstrong Councilwoman, City of Las Vegas
Dr. Lawrence Weekly Executive Director, Civic & Cultural Engagement, College of Southern Nevada/
Former Clark County Commissioner

04
Just the Facts: From Data to Decisions

Video: U.S. Congressman Steven Horsford

Moderated by Steve Sebelius Journalist, Editor, Writer

Jeremy Aguero Applied Analysis
Shani Coleman Director of Community and Economic Development, Clark County

05
Lunchtime & Networking Sponsored by Ovation & Metcalf Builders
06
Remarks by U.S. Congresswoman Susie Lee
07
Build It and They Will Come

Moderated by Joselyn Cousins Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

Terry A. Gentry The Richman Group of Companies
Melvin Green KME Architects
Mike Hemmens Citi Community Capital
Eric Novak Praxis Consulting Group
Angelica Silveyra NV Energy
Frank Stafford Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority

08
Affordable Housing Futures: Students. Faculty. Staff.

Moderated by Shaundell Newsome SUMNU Marketing

Michael Flores University of Nevada, Reno
Interim President Chris Heavey University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Dr. Stacy Kippenstein College of Southern Nevada
Dr. Maria Marinch-Gibbons Nevada State University‍

10
Closing Session

Larry Blackman Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority Board Member
Dr. Lawrence Weekly Master of Ceremonies
Lewis Jordan Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority

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Thursday May 7th, 2026  |  9am - 2pm