The Conservation District of Southern Nevada (CDSN) is recruiting new and diverse board members for the seven-member Board of Supervisors to assist the governance of the organization. CDSN is a local subdivision of the State of Nevada that promotes natural resource conservation, preservation and sustainability through education, facilitation and public and private partnerships to benefit the citizens ofClark County,Nevada. To learn more about projects and programs offered by CDSN visit www.cdsn.org. Each elected board position serves a four year term. Each member is required to commit to fundraising for the organization, attending monthly meetings, volunteering to assist with organizational and program needs and must truly be devoted in making a positive environmental impact in the community. CDSN board members are active as well proactive members.
If you or a member of your organization is interested in joining the CDSN Board of Supervisors, please send a resume and short cover letter expressing your interest in serving on the CDSN Board and what special skills or resources you bring to the Board to Jon Wardlaw, District Chairman at jkw@clarkcountynv.gov. Those interested must be a registered voter and reside in Clark County, Nevada. Desired experience includes skills in accounting, marketing, media relations and fundraising.
CDSN is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Jon Wardlaw served the Conservation District as a Board Supervisor since 1999. He became Chairman of the CDSN on January 21, 2009 after previously serving as Vice-Chair.
Jon has 26 years of professional planning experience in community, regional, and environmental planning.He is currently the Assistant Planning Manager for the Regional Planning Team with the Clark County Department of Comprehensive Planning.Formerly, he was a Principal Planner on the Department's Community Planning Team where he lead the preparation ofland use plans for many of the County's urban and rural Towns.Prior to joining Clark County, Mr. Wardlaw was a Planner with Washoe County, Nevada where he worked on community plans, the County's Geographic Information System, the Comprehensive Plan, and the Capital Improvement Plan.
A native Nevadan, Jon graduated from Basic High School in Henderson and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Geography and a Master of Science degree in Regional Planning Policy from the University of Nevada, Reno. Mr. Wardlaw is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners.
Chris Magee, Vice Chair/Incorporated Cities Representative
Chris Magee joined the CDSN Board of Supervisors as the appointed incorporated cities representative in 2009. He is the Director of Sustainable Facility Development at MGM Resorts International. He conducts technology review and manages the selection, procurement, and implementation of MGM Resorts conservation projects pertaining to natural gas, electricity, water and renewable energy applications.Chris is also responsible for the Clark County Department of Air Quality and EPA permitting as it relates to major and minor source air permits for all Las Vegas properties of the company.In addition, Chris has helped develop comprehensive sustainability plans for property operations and manages an employee environmental awareness education campaign. Chris has worked for MGM Resorts for 19 years.Prior to his current position he was a crew leader in the engineering department of the Bellagio Casino Hotel.He has also held multiple engineering positions at The Mirage Casino Hotel.Chris is recognized for his expertise on energy issues and is an Ashrae associate & voting member of the 62.1 full committee and subcommittee - Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality.His interests include competitive water polo and swimming. He is team captain for multiple Corporate Challenge swim teams and manages various related youth organizations. Chris is married with two daughters.
Elizabeth Tomica Hewitt, Secretary/Treasurer
Beth joined CDSN in 2005 as a Board Supervisor. Beth has over 15 years of experience in the fields of botany and biology. Working for government agencies, private firms, and educational institutions, Beth has developed extensive knowledge of native and rare plants in Southern Nevada, where she has over ten years of experience. As a botanist at the College of Southern Nevada, Beth oversees an eight-acre propagation nursery. In this role, she coordinates with the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to provide support for arid land restoration projects throughout the Mojave. Beth currently represents the College of Southern Nevada's Ornamental Horticulture Department to the: Nevada Native Plant Society, Nevada Rare Plant Working Group, CDSN, and SNWA Wash Team Committee.
As a project lead for plant production projects, Beth has developed scopes of work, deliverables, and time frames. She has developed an integrated weed abatement program and completed seed collection, data review, and summary of long and short-term seed storage requirements, as well as cultivation of selected species. As a wildlife biologist, Beth has acted as restoration lead for a variety of projects. Her activities have included implementing watershed improvement projects in accordance with habitat management plans; training and supervision of restoration interns on desert tortoise handling; conducting biological surveys for sensitive bat species, desert tortoise, and Migratory Bird Treaty Act species; and coordinating with state and federal agencies to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations. Beth has performed surveys and prepared comprehensive documents in conformance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Endangered Species Act, and Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Beth's professional affiliations include memberships with the Desert Tortoise Conservation Council, Nevada Native Plant Society, Chelonian Research Foundation, and American Orchid Society.
Mark Silverstein, Clark County Representative
Mark Silverstein has been involved with CDSN since 2007 when, soon after being hired by Clark County, he was appointed as a County representative on CDSN Board of Supervisors. Mark has had a 30-year career in the environmental and ecological science fields, which includes such disciplines as aquatic and terrestrial biology, rangeland management, analytical chemistry, geology, water quality monitoring, and hazardous waste site investigations.Currently he is a Principal Planner with the Clark County Department of Aviation (CCDOA), involved in environmental planning for the proposed Southern Nevada Supplemental (Ivanpah) Airport and various other environmental needs for the five CCDOA-operated public-use airports.Previously, Mark was involved in stormwater and wastewater policy development with the Clark County Department of Air Quality and Environmental Management (DAQEM).Prior to his County employment, Mark spent 20 years as a Senior Scientist with the Lockheed Martin Corporation, primarily working on contracts for the US EPA laboratory based on the UNLV campus, for which he participated in research projects across the nation.Early on, Mark was a field technician for the US Forest Service and for the Bureau of Reclamation, and was a laboratory technician for a state health department. Mark is a 25-year resident of the Las Vegas Valley, where his wife and he have been raising their three children, and where he has become an involved member of our community?volunteering as team manager and coach in both able-bodied and disabled youth sports programs, as an elementary school science fair judge, and as a boy scout troop committee member.You may also find Mark hiking, camping, kayaking, or 4x4ing throughout Southern Nevada and the desert Southwest.
Joseph Fortier, Board Supervisor
Joe Fortier served as CDSN Board Supervisor from 1995-2001 and again in 2007 to present. Joe currently works for the ClarkCountySchool District as the Civil & Landscape Quality Assurance Construction Inspector/Manger. Also, Joe is the president and founder of Mojave Water Management. Mojave Water Management is a Landscape Irrigation consulting firm serving the west since 1993. Joe has more than 29 years of experience in the landscape and irrigation industry having worked in the landscape/irrigation wholesale distribution for 14 years and at Southern Nevada Water Authority as a Conservation Programs Coordinator for almost 7 years. In 1999 to the end of 2004, Joe ran Mojave Water Management as a full time consulting firm, and now part time taking on challenging projects. In November 2004, Joe started working at the ClarkCountySchool District because of the challenge of the position to improve the construction of the landscaping and irrigation systems. Joe is active with many local, regional, and national landscape and irrigation associations.
Joe is an active member of the American Society of Irrigation Consultants and has served on the Board of the Southwest Chapter of the American Society of Irrigation Consultants. Joe is active with the Irrigation Association, having served seven years on the Certification Board, in 2003 was Chair, and in 2005 served on the Board of Directors. Joe is a Certified Irrigation Contractor; Certified Irrigation Designer in Golf, Commercial, and Residential; Certified Golf Irrigation Auditor; and Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor from the Irrigation Association. Joe is an EPA WaterSense partner who has demonstrated knowledge of and commitment to water-efficient techniques. Also, Joe is a founding member and current President of the Desert Green Foundation which hosts the Desert Green Conference every fall in Las Vegas, NV promoting education to the Green Industry.
Elise McAllister, Board Supervisor
Elise McAllister was elected as a CDSN Board Supervisor in 2002. She is a fifth generation native Nevadan whose ancestors were among the first settlers of Moapa Valley and Virgin Valley. Elise has served as the Administrator of Partners In Conservation (PIC), for over ten years; PIC is a non-profit organization in northeast Clark County specializing in conservation, natural resource, public land, and environmental issues.PIC promotes multiple-use for public lands, maintaining access to public lands, involving rural communities in common-sense conservation projects, and responsible stewardship of public lands by those who use and enjoy such.
Elise is a member of the Moapa Valley Rotary Club, Mesquite Chamber of Commerce, Moapa Valley Chamber of Commerce, Mesquite Kokopelli ATV Club, Dunes and Trails ATV Club, Vegas Valley 4-Wheelers, Moapa Valley Riders Club (an equestrian group), the Nevada Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition, Virgin River Conservation Partnership, and the Moapa Valley Town Advisory Board's Strategic Planning Committee and Trails Committee.Elise is a Board Member of the Educational Farm Foundation of Moapa Valley and serves as the Dispersed Recreation Representative to the BLM Mohave-Southern Great Basin Resource Advisory Council as well as serving on the Ad Hoc Nevada State Recreational Trails Advisory Committee. She is a site steward in Gold Butte and an educational volunteer for the US Fish & Wildlife's Moapa Refuge and the National Park Services' St. Thomas Historic Site. Elise was awarded the Nevada State Trails Advocate for 2008 by the National Trails Program and is certified as a Nevada Environmental Education and Interpretation Instructor.
Ken MacDonald, Board Supervisor Ken MacDonald joined the CDSN Board of Supervisors in 2011. Ken is a long time resident of Southern Nevada and a Partner with NewFields Environmental Planning and Compliance, LLC. An environmental professional in the western United States for more than two decades, he has led major enviromnetal efforts including projects for the Hoover Dam Bypass, the Colorado River Management Plan for the Grand Canyon National Park, and the Clark County Regional Flood Control District. He works extensively with Endangered Species Act compliance and with the US Army Corps of Engineers on wetlands issues. He currently focuses on renewable resources and evaluating, permitting, and providing environmental compliance for construction of both solar and wind energy projects.
Ken frequently teaches workshops on environmental permitting and has presented Keeping Environmental Permits off the Critical Path, National Environmental Policy Act 101 and US Army Corps Permitting 101 at American Public Works Association conferences. He was the invited Moderator for a panel on responsible surface water management and renewable energy development at the joint conference of the Flood Plain Management Association and the Association of State Flood Plain Managers Arid Regions joint Conference. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences and a Masters in Business Administration.
