Commission For Women

Tina Brown, a Las Vegas native, has a strong commitment to her community. She earned her bachelor's degree in sociology with a minor in Women's Studies from UNLV and has since become a successful small business owner along with her husband, running a retail store. With more than 25 years of experience in real estate, Tina specializes in commercial properties in and around the Las Vegas metropolitan area. Tina has been an active advocate for women's empowerment as the past President of a local Women's Club, where she worked closely with a dedicated group of 100+ members to foster positive relationships and create opportunities for women throughout the region. Tina also finds joy in family life, proudly supporting her twin daughters as they cheer at a local high school and collaborating on creative projects with her eldest daughter, who is a designer. Her goal is to dedicate herself to both her career and her community to make a positive impact in Nevada. 

Emmy® nominated journalist, Jennifer Rogers Markwell, changed gears in her television career when she realized the need to help women and their finances. It started at home for Jennifer after her grandfather passed away and she wanted to help her grandmother make sense of investing. After founding the firm, Platinum Wealth Management, she regularly hosts monthly educational workshops to empower women & others to take charge of their investments. Jennifer also anchors the "Platinum Talks Wealth" Podcast where she discusses with her guests the psychology behind money, memories and financial infidelities. She also shares that message as a contributing author in three international best-selling books. In addition to acting as president for Platinum Wealth Management, Jennifer currently serves as a State Commissioner for the Nevada Commission for Women and sits on various boards. Jennifer Rogers Markwell was voted Sierra Nevada’s Top 20 Most Powerful Women by Northern Nevada Business View in both 2018 and 2019 and Best in Business - Top Financial Planner by Nevada Business Weekly in 2023 & 2024.

Dionne is a Senior Human Resources Business Partner for Southern Glazer’s Wine, Spirits and Beer. During her time at Southern Glazer’s, she has advocated for and participated in community relations partnerships and Diversity and Inclusion initiatives nationwide. She is a founding member of CHEERS to Diversity, Nevada Chapter and CHEERS to Black Excellence, National Chapter. Prior to joining Southern Glazer’s in 2014, Dionne held similar roles at Downtown Grand & Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The foundation of Dionne’s professional background comes via an extensive career in retail sales management.

Dionne attended The George Washington University and was born and raised in our nation’s capital, Washington, DC. Dionne has been a proud resident of Las Vegas since 2000 and married her hometown sweetheart here in 2002. Since relocating to Las Vegas, Dionne has been an active member of our community most recently participating in Leadership Las Vegas class of 2020 and joining the Dress for Success Southern Nevada Board of Directors. As a proud mom of two teenage girls, she considers education and elevating women in the community as not only her passions, but her legacy.

Fun Facts: Dionne enjoys sports and music. She can be heard cheering our Vegas Golden Knights from afar and has an ongoing game of music “tag” with several fellow music lovers.

While attending the University of Arizona and Pima Community College, Celena began her career in the funeral profession in 1999, in Tucson, AZ. She quickly fell in love with the gratification of serving families in all capacities. She was promoted to General Manager of South Lawn Mortuary and Cemetery in 2002. During this time, she volunteered in many areas of her community.

In 2004, Celena found herself traveling a new path. She had recently divorced and become a single mother. With the intentions of providing a better life for herself and her son, she moved to Las Vegas, NV, allowing them both to be closer to family. She followed her passion for service in the funeral industry. She worked for Carriage Services from 2004 until 2011 as the Cemetery Manager. In 2011,
Celena was ready for a change, for growth. That year, Palm Mortuaries and Cemeteries offered her an amazing opportunity to run their Affordable Cremation and Burial Service location. In 2013, upper management approached her with another opportunity to lead Palm Eastern Mortuary and Cemetery as their funeral home manager. In 2017, she was invited to manage Historic Palm Downtown Mortuary and Cemetery. And in 2019, she received the honor and responsibility to be the President of Palm Mortuaries and Cemeteries. As a Hispanic female, she feels immense pride for her contributions that helped diversify a historically male-dominated profession.

During her journey in Las Vegas, she became passionate about so many aspects of the Las Vegas community. In 2007, she began volunteering at her church, Green Valley Baptist, teaching Sunday school until 2020. She had a heart for the homeless community and participated in homeless outreach with the City of Las Vegas, Hope of Southern Nevada, LVMPD, and local business owners in the Corridor of Hope in 2008 and 2009. In 2012, she began volunteering for Nathan Adelson Hospice, the only non-profit hospice organization in Southern Nevada and in 2017, she began volunteering for youth centers in the Sherman Gardens and Marble Manor Westside neighborhoods, supporting and educating children from the ages of 5 to 18.

She currently serves on the Las Vegas Executive Association Board of Directors and supports and believes strongly in many organizations such as Nevada Donor Network, TIP of Southern Nevada, Jewish Nevada, Candlelighters of Southern Nevada, Nathan Adelson Hospice, Nevada Ballet Theatre, and the NAACP.

As an attorney specializing in government affairs, Erin brings a strong political background and several years of experience to Boyd Gaming’s government affairs team. She is responsible for the state and local policy that impacts the company in Nevada, California and Hawaii. She has lobbied full time at the Nevada legislature since 2005 and has developed a sophisticated understanding of the political process at both the state and local level.

Prior to joining Boyd Gaming, Erin was the Director of Government and Public Affairs for R&R Partners in Las Vegas, where she oversaw the development and execution of legislative agendas for the company’s Nevada clients, which covered a diverse set of policy issues, ranging from healthcare, telecom
and energy, to gaming and general business initiatives.

Before her time at R&R, Erin served as an associate attorney with the government affairs group of Snell & Wilmer, L.L.P. in Las Vegas, where she specialized in governmental affairs; political lobbying; and administrative and regulatory law for clients in the insurance, health care, energy, banking, taxation, and general business arenas.

From 2003 to 2005, she worked as a legislative correspondent for U.S. Senator Harry Reid in his Washington, D.C., office. In this role, she served as a liaison between the senator and his constituents, assisting Nevada residents with a wide variety of policy issues and legislation related to taxes, budget, labor, and housing.

Erin is a proud fifth-generation Nevadan who earned her B.S. in linguistics from Georgetown University in 2003, and her J.D. from California Western School of Law in 2008. She is a member of the State Bar of Nevada and the American Bar Association, and a City Council appointed member of the City of Henderson Charter Review Committee. She currently serves on the Board of the Guinn Center for Policy Priorities and the R&R Partners Foundation and is a member of both the Nevada Resort Association and Vegas Chamber’s Government Affairs Committees. Erin has provided pro bono lobbying and advocacy services to a variety of organizations, including Communities in Schools of Nevada, Nevada Humanities, and Three Square. Erin was recently named one of Vegas Inc.’s 40 under Forty honorees for 2021 and is an adjunct professor at the UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law teaching advanced advocacy and legislative policy. She also enjoys spending time with her husband, Eric Midby, and their daughter, Mia.

Ms. Taylor’s impact in the government arena features her involvement with state, federal, and local organizations such as the Nevada Department of Business and Industry, Nevada Department of Transportation Advisory Working Group, the Nevada Women’s Business Center, U.S. Department of Labor-Women’s Bureau region 9, and the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) southern Nevada chapter.

Her role as a state-appointed Commissioner for the Nevada Department of Business and Industry Commission on Minority Affairs demonstrates her ability to lead collaboratively and support initiatives that highlight the contributions of diverse communities for Nevada’s economic, business, and workforce
development sectors. Ms. Taylor applies a strategic, analytical, and creative approach to impact the growth and development of new and established woman-owned businesses in Nevada with her role at the Nevada Women’s Business Center and as a Board member with the National Association of Women Business Owners Southern Nevada chapter. She co-hosts the Urban Chamber of Commerce 88.1FM broadcast of the Commerce First Radio show to promote resources in Nevada’s small business communities.

To enhance her leadership skills, Ms. Taylor completed an in-depth leadership program at Harvard University to develop organizational leadership principles and practices. She is a Magna cum Laude graduate of Grambling State University with a bachelor’s degree in biology.

Destiny McDoniel is a seasoned professional with a robust background in sales, real estate, gaming, and technology. A Las Vegas native, Destiny's early life was marked by a strong work ethic, as she balanced motherhood with education and jobs in the casino industry.

Destiny practiced real estate for over a decade. However, her career took a significant turn when she entered the gaming industry where she held key roles such as Account Executive at Shufflemaster, Bally Gaming, and Scientific Games, before advancing to Director of Sales at DEQ.

In 2020, Destiny entered into the technology sector as the Head of Strategic Partnerships at Citizen App. There, she led national public safety initiatives, showcasing her ability to drive impactful collaborations across industries. Currently, she serves as an Account Executive at Light & Wonder, managing casino accounts in Los Angeles, Arizona, and Colorado. Her extensive 23-year career has equipped her with a deep understanding of sales and business development in diverse sectors.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Destiny is dedicated to her family, spending quality time with her husband and children. She balances her personal life with her professional commitments, staying active in her children's lives and pursuing her personal interests.

Committed to empowering women in Las Vegas, Destiny looks forward to contributing her insights and ideas to foster positive change.

Jacque, a proud resident of Las Vegas since 1977, is passionate about community service and has been deeply involved in various organizations. As a respected member of the community and a graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) with a degree in Accounting, Jacque is a proud parent of two children and happily married to Arthur. Jacque is currently an Administrative Manager for RBSM LLP an International accounting firm.

But Jacque's impact extends far beyond her family life. She has been passionately involved with various organizations throughout the years, leaving a lasting mark on her community and has made significant contributions to preserving and promoting Filipino heritage.

Jacque's interest in her cultural roots led her to join the Filipiniana Dance Company of Las Vegas in which she became President of in 2009. Through the art of folk dancing, she actively shares and educates others about Filipino traditional dances, championing cultural awareness and preservation.

In addition to her involvement with the dance company, Jacque played pivotal roles in the Las Vegas Asian Chamber of Commerce, St. Viator Foundation, Boys Scouts of American-Troop 143 and the National Federation of Filipino American Association Nevada (NaFFAA NV). With positions such as Region Treasurer Region, Executive Director and currently serving as President of NaFFAA NV, she shows her commitment to serving the Filipino American community in Nevada.

Under Jacque's leadership, NaFFAA NV has achieved significant milestones in advancing the civic and social empowerment of the Filipino American community in Nevada. The organization serves as a unified voice for Filipino Americans in the state, promoting their visibility and influence. NaFFAA NV advocates for immigrant rights, fights against hate crimes, and increases Filipino American participation in political and civic activities. They also prioritize cultural awareness and heritage preservation through various initiatives and partnerships with community organizations, businesses, and government agencies.

Her dedication and commitment to serving others make her an inspiring leader and a true asset to our community.

Ila Friedenthal is a native Nevadan and mission-driven nonprofit leader with a deep passion for empowering women, strengthening communities, and fostering equitable opportunities across the Silver State. As the President & CEO of the Nevada Women’s Fund, Ila is only the fourth person to lead the organization in its four-decade history. Under her leadership, Nevada Women’s Fund has experienced transformative growth—including a 140% increase in programmatic funding over three years—fueled by strategic partnerships, expanded donor engagement, and a bold vision to increase access for women across both urban and rural northern Nevada.
Ila is particularly focused on elevating women in underrepresented sectors, include the trades and service industries, while championing educational and professional advancement as core tools for economic mobility. In January 2025, she was appointed by Governor Joe Lombardo to serve as a Commissioner on the Nevada Commission for Women (NCFW). This dual role in both nonprofit and governmental leadership allows her to further align and amplify the missions of Nevada Women’s Fund and NCFW—promoting gender equality, supporting leadership opportunities for women, and removing barriers to success at every level.
Prior to her nonprofit leadership, Ila spent over two decades as the CEO of her family’s small finance company. Her entrepreneurial background sharpened her expertise in business development, financial strategy, and long-term organizational planning. She holds a master’s degree in organizational management and a bachelor’s degree in human services—credentials that reflect her commitment to building people-centered, results-driven institutions.
In addition to her executive work, Ila is an active community volunteer. She currently serves on the advisory board of TEDx Reno, and has served on the board of Sierra Nevada Chapter of National Charity League, and the WCSD Career & Technical Education Board for Business and Entrepreneurship. Her previous work with Junior Achievement of Northern Nevada supported the delivery of financial literacy programs to over 12,000 local students.
Known for her collaborative leadership style, authentic relationship-building, and clear strategic vision, Ila is widely respected for her ability to lead with integrity and impact.
Outside of her professional life, Ila is an avid outdoor enthusiast, home cook, and proud mother of two young adults—Evan, a recent graduate of the University of Nevada, and Emma, who is pursuing a career in the film industry with a focus on sound and lighting.