Southern Nevada continues to grow and evolve because of leaders who are willing to step forward, take on challenges and create opportunities for others. Among them are the honorees of Women Inspiring Nevada, a group of remarkable women whose work strengthens industries and communities alike.
These honorees represent a range of industries, including health care, education, public policy, the arts and the nonprofit sector. What unites them is a commitment to tackling our region’s most pressing challenges and lifting up the community in meaningful ways. The women featured here are more than accomplished professionals; they are role models whose vision, drive and example inspire others to aim higher. Their stories remind us that leadership rooted in community can transform not only organizations but the entire region.
Ciara Byrne - Co-founder and CEO, Green Our Planet
Ciara Byrne Photo by: Wade Vandervort
Ciara Byrne grew up in Dublin where her happiest moments were spent working in her family’s garden, walking along the Irish coast and picking blackberries behind her home. That early connection to nature influenced much of her life and later inspired her to combine storytelling with action.
After working as a documentary filmmaker, Byrne realized she wanted to do more than tell stories about the planet—she wanted to help protect it. In 2013, she co-founded Green Our Planet, a nonprofit that brings garden and hydroponics programs into schools to teach science, sustainability and entrepreneurship. What began with five Las Vegas schools has since grown into the largest program of its kind in the country. Today, it reaches more than 1,100 schools in 44 states and impacts more than 500,000 students.
Dawn Barnes - Founder and CEO, RGD Construction
Dawn Barnes Photo by: Christopher DeVargas
Dawn Barnes was raised in a big Italian-Hispanic family where resilience, hard work and competition were daily lessons. She gravitated toward building and creating, taking woodshop in high school, before starting her construction career in 1995. Nearly three decades later, she is founder and CEO of RGD Construction, a certified woman-owned firm in Las Vegas with more than $2 million in sales in an industry where fewer than 1% of firms are owned by women.
Barnes has established herself not only as a builder but also as an advocate. Through leadership roles with the National Association of Women in Construction and Women’s Business Enterprise Council-West, she champions women in construction and small business. She mentors entrepreneurs on certification and growth, while also expanding youth scholarships, launching welding programs and creating hands-on opportunities for students interested in the trades.
Karyna Armstrong - Litigation Attorney at McDonald Carano LLP
Karyna Armstrong Photo by: Christopher DeVargas
Balancing academics and athletics, including competing as a regional track and field champion, Karyna Armstrong learned the value of hard work and resilience. Her drive carried her through degrees at Boise State University, the University of Miami and the William S. Boyd School of Law at UNLV, which laid a strong foundation for her legal career. She is now a litigation attorney at McDonald Carano LLP and serves as vice-chair of the firm’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.
Armstrong’s dedication has earned recognition on a national level. Armstrong received the “Diverse Lawyers Making a Difference” award from Profiles in Diversity Journal and was named “Rising Star of the Year” by the Meritas Women’s Leadership Congress. She also serves on the executive board of the Las Vegas Chapter of the National Bar Association and the board of directors for Family 2 Family Connection.
Dawn Rawle - Senior Vice President of Marketing, Entertainment & Guest Experience, Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino
Dawn Rawle Photo by: Wade Vandervort
Family vacations to Las Vegas left a lasting impression on Dawn Rawle. She was drawn to the city’s energy, creativity and drive, and inspired by its willingness to take risks and strive for excellence. That inspiration paved the way for Rawle’s hospitality career that now spans more than 30 years.
As senior vice president of marketing, entertainment and guest experience at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, Rawle has revitalized the property’s entertainment legacy. She has balanced nostalgia with innovation, honoring icons like Elvis while introducing new programming, including Las Vegas’ first lifetime residency with Barry Manilow. Her leadership has helped Westgate remain both historic and progressive.
Nancy Brune - Councilmember, Ward 6, City of Las Vegas
Nancy Brune Photo by: Wade Vandervort
Councilwoman Nancy Brune was born into a family that emphasized service to God, country and community. That foundation inspired a wide-ranging career dedicated to service, including work with women in rural Nicaragua on micro-enterprises, advancing national security programs at Sandia National Laboratories, building partnerships through the World Bank and consulting in the private sector with JPMorgan Chase.
In 2013, Brune became the founding executive director of the Kenny Guinn Center for Policy Priorities, Nevada’s only bipartisan policy institute. Under her leadership, the center grew into a respected statewide resource, providing research that informs decision-makers on issues ranging from education to economic development.
Kimberly Small - CEO, Signs of HOPE
Kimberly Small Photo by: Wade Vandervort
Guided by a commitment to service and compassion, Kimberly Small has spent more than 30 years advocating for marginalized communities. She now leads Signs of HOPE, a Southern Nevada nonprofit dedicated to providing help, healing and prevention services for those affected by sexual violence and human trafficking.
Since joining the organization in 2023, Small has guided Signs of HOPE through major milestones, such as serving as the lead human trafficking non-governmental organization for both the Las Vegas Grand Prix and Super Bowl LVIII. These roles placed her team alongside law enforcement to provide crisis response and victim support. She also led the nonprofit through its 50th anniversary, expanded prevention programs in schools and businesses, and is the leading community spokesperson during Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
Mandy Cordia - Founder, The Kindness Cause
Mandy Cordia Photo by: Wade Vandervort
After more than a decade in corporate retail buying for brands like Zappos, Dillard’s and HSN, Mandy Cordia shifted her focus to a career that better reflected her values. In 2022, she launched The Kindness Cause, an e-commerce platform that turns shopping into a way to support nonprofits. Through curated, fashion-forward gifts, the company has partnered with more than 15 organizations and donated more than $16,000 to causes, ranging from breast cancer support and refugee resettlement to disability inclusion and veteran services.
Alongside leading The Kindness Cause, Cordia consults with nonprofits to develop sustainable merchandise strategies. She recently helped Opportunity Village’s Artworks Studio redesign its online store, expanding the reach of artists with disabilities and creating new opportunities for them to share their work.
Jo Cato - President and CEO, Periwinkle Group
Jo Cato Photo by: Christopher DeVargas
After arriving in Las Vegas with only $20 in her pocket, Jo Cato never imagined she would one day lead a multimillion-dollar enterprise. Today, she is president and CEO of The Periwinkle Group, a nationally recognized communications and branding firm that has advised Fortune 500 companies, government agencies and community organizations for more than 20 years.
Her entrepreneurial drive has led to multiple ventures, including Cruzin Vegas, Nevada’s only Black woman-owned mobile billboard company, and a workforce placement agency connecting underserved communities to jobs. Beyond business, Cato has helped more than 200 minority-owned businesses gain DBE and MBE certifications, mentored women re-entering the workforce and organized Military, Veterans and First Responders Appreciation Day in North Las Vegas, which welcomes more than 5,000 attendees each year.
Jenna Heath - Director of Student and Community Engagement, UNLV College of Liberal Arts
Jenna Heath Photo by: Christopher DeVargas
Jenna Heath built her career on the belief that education can transform lives. As director of student and community engagement for UNLV’s College of Liberal Arts, she oversees programming that reaches nearly 4,000 students each semester and manages a $28 million scholarship portfolio. She also leads the college’s internship program, which connects more than 300 students annually with career-aligned opportunities through industry partnerships and advisory councils.
Her commitment extends beyond the university. Heath has raised thousands of dollars for local nonprofits, served on boards including the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, and volunteers with Gamma Phi Beta sorority. In 2024, she launched Tearin’ Up My Heart: Emotional Leadership Lessons, a podcast designed to help listeners understand the emotional side of leadership and make education more accessible.
Kristine Lingle-Griffith - Vice President, Marketing at AEG Presents
Kristine Lingle-Griffith Photo by: Wade Vandervort
Kristine Lingle-Griffith has always been inspired by the power of live music and the way a show can bring people together. A college marketing internship with Feld Entertainment introduced her to the world of live entertainment and after moving to Las Vegas, she joined AEG Presents to help launch Celine Dion’s groundbreaking residency—an experience that set the course for her career.
Now vice president of marketing for AEG Presents Las Vegas, she has spent more than 20 years shaping the city’s entertainment landscape. Lingle-Griffith has led campaigns for residencies by artists including Shania Twain and Rod Stewart, while overseeing marketing for venues such as the Colosseum at Caesars Palace and Resorts World Theatre. Her efforts helped redefine Las Vegas entertainment and earned her recognition as a 2022 Billboard Women in Music Top Executives honoree.