Board | Committees

NPF Board of Directors

Wendy VanVacter | President

Wendy is AVP, IT Risk Management for a Midwest life insurance and annuity carrier. While risk management is Wendy's day job, she spends her free time focusing on her passion for Las Vegas history and historic preservation. Since moving to Las Vegas full-time in 2012, Wendy has been a continuous volunteer at the Neon Museum and a regular supporter of the Nevada Preservation Foundation. Wendy resides in Paradise Palms, the first master-planned community in Southern Nevada and the first neighborhood on the Clark County Register of Historic Places.

Russ Rowe | Vice President

Russ works in the arena of government affairs focusing on zoning and land use planning and has represented various gaming clients, nonprofits, and public agencies. He obtained his law degree from the University of San Diego and has represented clients before the Nevada legislature since 2001. His extensive board experience includes the Urban Land Institute, AFAN, and the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance. A 40-year resident of Nevada and a graduate of UNLV, Russ resides in Henderson with his two daughters.

Chris Brooks | Treasurer

Chris is a fourth-generation Nevadan who was born and raised in Las Vegas. Before starting his current company, Brooks Consulting, LLC., Chris served as Executive Vice President of Energy Services for Valley Electric Association. A pioneer in the renewable energy industry, Chris also founded Las Vegas Solar Electric in 2000 and was a founder and director of Bombard Renewable Energy in Nevada. In addition to his passion for solar and renewable energies, Chris shares a love for old buildings and neighborhoods as well. He has lived, worked, and played in and around downtown Las Vegas for most of his life and shares a 60-year-old home in the McNeil neighborhood with his wife and his two sons.

Jennifer Gaynor | Secretary

Jennifer is a member at the law firm of Dickinson Wright. She is part of the firm's Gaming and Regulatory Law Department and Government Relations team. When she is not up in Carson City representing clients before the Nevada legislature, Jennifer can be found in downtown Las Vegas, where she has made her home since moving here from Washington, DC in 2005. She and her husband, Paul, are raising their son, Parker Jai, to be a proud downtown kid in the Southridge neighborhood.

Jennifer Lazovich

Jennifer is a native Nevadan and a key member of the law firm of Kaempfer Crowell. With close to twenty years of experience in the area of zoning, land use planning and government affairs, Jennifer provides counsel to large casino-resorts, residential, industrial and commercial developers, as well as educational institutions and other prominent businesses in Nevada. She has provided legal services to the nonprofit Liberace Mansion, represented The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, and provides pro bono legal services for The Animal Foundation.

Catherine Wines

Catherine, the owner and principal architect of R6Studio, is a native of Elko County and proud member of one of the region's oldest families. Catherine earned a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 1998 and went on to earn a post-graduate degree in architecture from the University of Arizona in 2002. In 2015 Catherine purchased the historic Taber Building and operates her firm from one of its second-floor offices. She plans a complete historic restoration of the building. Besides being a full-time architect, Catherine is a strong advocate for the arts and is active in development in the Elko community.

Jesse Wadhams

Jesse is with the law firm of Fennemore Craig, representing various Nevada state agencies including the Gaming Control Board and the Taxation Commission. Prior to joining Fennemore Craig, Jesse was the Director of Regional Government Relations for Newmont Mining Corporation where he developed and executed legislative policy and regulatory strategies. Outside of work, Jesse lives in Reno and is the proud parent of twin boys. He enjoys spending time with his family, hunting, camping, fishing, and rooting for the Minnesota Twins.

Nicole Willis-Grimes

Based in the Reno office, Nicole has been with The Ferraro Group for over twelve years where she heads up the firm’s public affairs practice, representing clients before state and local officials. Nicole has worked for several nonprofits in Minnesota and Washington, D.C., as well as served on numerous nonprofit boards. Before moving to Reno in 2005, she lived in Washington, D.C. for five years in the Columbia Heights neighborhood. Outside of work, Nicole loves traveling and camping around rural Nevada with her husband and twin boys, visiting historical towns off the beaten path. So far, Ely is her favorite. She and her family are the second homeowners of a 1953 home in Reno’s Old Southwest.

Frank Woodbeck