Elaine Wynn
Task Force Co-Chair
Director of Wynn Resorts
Elaine Wynn has served as director of Wynn Resorts since 2000, overseeing a multitude of business operations and the company's charitable involvement. Prior to her current position, Wynn served in a similar capacity as director of Mirage Resorts from 1976 to 2000.
Wynn's commitment to improving children's lives through education has engaged her in numerous leadership roles at local and national levels. Since 1995 she has co-chaired the Greater Las Vegas After-School All Stars, and she is the founding chairman of Communities in Schools of Nevada, as well as chairman of the national board of Communities in Schools. A past member of the Executive Board of the Consortium for Policy Research in Education, she has served since 1997 on the State of Nevada Council to Establish Academic Standards. She also chaired the UNLV Foundation for eight years.
Wynn's role as a business leader in Nevada led to her recent appointment to the Library of Congress Trust Fund Board. She was also recently awarded one of seven National Promise of America Founder's Awards for improving children's lives at a ceremony at the White House. Wynn is most proud of the dedication of the Elaine Wynn Elementary School in 1991.
Born and raised in New York City, Wynn graduated from George Washington University in 1964 with a B.A. in Political Science. She resided in Washington D.C. before moving to Las Vegas in 1967.
Daniel Klaich
Task Force Co-Chair
Chancellor, Nevada System for Higher Education
Daniel Klaich was appointed by the Board of Regents to serve as the Nevada System of Higher Education's (NSHE) tenth chancellor on June 18, 2009. He previously held the positions of executive vice chancellor, vice chancellor for legal affairs and administration and chief counsel.
Klaich is an attorney, admitted to the bar in Nevada and California and was in private practice for almost 30 years prior to joining the NSHE.
He is a native Nevadan and a 1972 graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno with a bachelor's degree in accounting. He received his Juris Doctor from the University of Washington School of Law in 1975, and in 1978 received a master's degree in taxation from New York University.
Klaich served on the Board of Regents of the NSHE from 1983 to 1997, including two terms as chairman of the board.
Klaich is married to the former Denise Woods (University of Nevada, Reno 1973). They have four children and seven grandchildren.
Governance
Punam Mathur
Vice President, Human Resources
NV Energy
Mathur joined NV Energy, Inc. in April 2009 after 13 years in the gaming industry, most recently serving as senior vice president, corporate diversity and community affairs, for MGM Mirage. Prior to joining Mirage Resorts in 1996, she had been with the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce for six years, holding a variety of management positions, the last of which was senior vice president of government affairs.
An avid supporter of education, Mathur is a member of the president's advisory task force on diversity at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; co-chair of the Nevada Partnership for Inclusive Education; and is on the board of advisors for Nevada State College and the Clark County School District Superintendent's Education Network.
Ray Bacon
Executive Director
Nevada Manufacturers Association
Ray Bacon has worked for the Bently Nevada Corporation in Minden, Nev. for 14 years, holding multiple positions, and serving as vice president of manufacturing for the last five years.
Bently Nevada is now part of GE Energy Systems. The Minden operation makes instruments and transducers to detect vibration in large rotating machinery typically used in the petrochemical and power generation sectors. The products are used around the world and have been the recognized industry leader for decades.
Bacon has also served as the executive director of the Nevada Manufacturers Association since November 1991. The mission of the organization is to promote the manufacturing sector and protect existing companies.
Bacon has a bachelor's degree in business from the University of Nevada, Reno, and served six years of active duty in the U.S. Army.
Dr. Jill Derby
Educational and Governance Consultant
Association of Governing Boards of Colleges and Universities
A native of Lovelock, Nev., Derby is a cultural anthropologist and educator. After living for three years in the Middle East early in her career, Derby returned to earn her doctorate in cultural anthropology from the University of California, Davis, concentrating on Middle Eastern cultures. After teaching for several years she turned her focus to educational policy, serving 18 years on the Nevada Board of Regents—three terms as chair. Academic policy was her primary focus as she concentrated her efforts on protecting and enhancing quality in Nevada's rapidly growing system of higher education. Derby now works as an educational and governance consultant for the Washington D.C.-based Association of Governing Boards, working with college and university boards to improve their performance and effectiveness. She lives in Douglas County with her husband, Dr. Steve Talbot, a veterinarian.
Joyce Haldeman
Associate Superintendent of Community and Government Relations
Clark County School District
Joyce Haldeman began her career in education as a high school English teacher, following her graduation from Brigham Young University in 1973. During two decades of full-time motherhood, she shifted her education-related activities to PTA assignments on a local and statewide basis. She also served as a volunteer on many school district committees. From 1993 to 2000, Haldeman worked in various capacities in the community relations division of the Clark County School District (CCSD). She left in February 2000 to accept a position as director of community and government relations at the Community College of Southern Nevada, but returned to the school district after one year to head up CCSD's community and government relations division.
In her current role, Haldeman supervises the School-Community Partnership Program, Government Affairs, the Communications Office and the Office of Parent Services. She also serves as the chief lobbyist for the school district. She has been responsible for coordinating successful public awareness campaigns for school bond elections in 1994, 1996 and 1998, generating billions of dollars to build over a hundred new schools and renovate existing schools in Clark County. Haldeman serves on the CCSD Bond Oversight Committee, Nevada's Advisory Committee for Participatory Democracy and on the 2010 Census Complete Count Committee.
Dr. Heath E. Morrison
Superintendent
Washoe County School District
Dr. Heath E. Morrison is the Superintendent of Washoe County School District in Reno, Nev. The Washoe County School District is the second largest school district in Nevada with 64,000 students enrolled in 94 schools.
Before coming to Nevada, Morrison was community superintendent for the Down County Consortium in Montgomery County Public Schools, Maryland where he supervised 34 schools and approximately 23,500 students in some of the most diverse and economically-impacted areas of the school system. He holds a doctorate in educational policy and planning and a master's degree in educational administration from the University of Maryland as well as a bachelor's degree in government from the College of William and Mary. Previously, he served as principal of John Hanson Middle School and Thomas Stone High School in Charles County, Maryland. He served as an adjunct instructor with McDaniel College teaching aspiring administrators. Last year, he completed his tenure as co-chair of the National Association of Secondary School Principals' task force on principal preparation.
Morrison is the recipient of the Outstanding New Professional Award from the University of Maryland, the Distinguished Educational Leader Award from the Washington Post and was named Maryland's Principal of the Year in 2004. His work has been published in Principal Leadership on such topics as strategic monitoring and supporting National Board Certification for teachers. Additionally, he was featured in Best Practices of Award-Winning Secondary School Principals, published by Corwin Press. Morrison has presented at numerous state and national conferences on efforts to eliminate the achievement gap by making data driven decisions and leadership development.
In December 2008 Morrison was accepted into the 2009 Broad Superintendent Academy, a unique training program utilizing a comprehensive approach to developing successful urban district leaders.
Gina B. Polovina
Vice President of Government Affairs
Boyd Gaming Corporation
Gina Polovina coordinates the Boyd Gaming Corporation's political activity and serves as its lobbyist on local, state and national issues. A Las Vegas native, Gina attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and received both her bachelor's and master's degrees in political science. Active in many civic and charitable organizations, she chairs the United Way of Southern Nevada Commitment to Education Council and serves on the board of trustees for the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce; the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, College of Liberal Arts Community Advisory Board; the Three Square Board of Directors; the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada Stakeholder Advisory Committee; the United Way of Southern Nevada Board and the Nevada Volunteers Commission.
John D. Soderman
Interim Superintendent
Douglas County School District
John Soderman served as superintendent for the Douglas County School District from 2001 to 2006 and came out of retirement in 2009 to serve as interim superintendent for the district while trustees searched for a permanent replacement. Soderman was recognized as co-superintendent of the year in 2003 by the Nevada Association of School Boards and is a recipient of the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award. He was the co-author and lobbyist for iNVest, the Nevada Association of School Superintendent's and Nevada Association of School Board's education platform for the 2003 and 2005 legislative sessions. He received his master's degree in educational leadership from the University of Nevada, Reno, in 1983.
Gintas Vildzius
General Manager, Global Technologies
Measurement & Control Solutions – GE Energy
Gintas Vildzius is a general manager of Measurement & Control Solutions (MCS), a GE Energy business that provides solutions to the power generation, oil and gas and petrochemical industries to maximize the economic performance of operating assets through data collection, information management, decision support and control expertise. He took this role in 2008 and moved to Minden, Nev. In his current position, he is responsible for all technology research and development conducted globally for the MSC business.
Vildzius joined GE in 1989 and since that time he has held a number of leadership positions in the energy business in engineering, project management and finance. He has experience in a broad base of technologies, including nuclear power, steam and gas turbine power, hydro power and controls/software and instrumentation. Vildzius' career has included international assignments in Montreal, Canada and Olso, Norway. Prior to his GE career, he served for four years as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Air Force.
Vildzius holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a master's degree in mechanical engineering from Union College.
Legislation
Senator Barbara Cegavske
Nevada Senate (Clark, No. 8)
Barbara Cegavske moved to Nevada in 1974. She and her husband, Tim, married in 1980 and settled in Las Vegas to raise a family. Their two sons attended public schools in Clark County and the University of Nevada and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, respectively. In 1996, Cegavske was elected to the Nevada Assembly, and in 2002, she was elected to the State Senate. In the Senate, she has served on the Education, Health and Finance committees. In 2005 and 2007 she served as the chair of Legislative Operations and Elections and currently serves as senate minority whip.
In addition to her legislative service, she is the community development coordinator for the Horizon Center for Family and Children, a non-profit community development corporation. She is a board member for Opportunity Village, the Alzheimer's Memory Care Association and is the co-chair of the United Methodist Social Ministries.
Assemblywoman Debbie Smith
Assistant Majority Whip
Nevada Legislature (Washoe, No. 30)
Assemblywoman Debbie Smith was first elected in 2000. She serves in leadership as an assistant majority whip. During the last legislative session, she served as the chair of the Health and Human Services Committee and served on the Ways and Means Committee (chairing the K-12 and CIP subcommittees) and the Elections, Procedures, Ethics and Constitutional Amendments Committee. In the interim, Smith chairs the Stimulus Oversight Subcommittee and serves on the Interim Finance Committee, Legislative Commission, Reapportionment Committee and Committee to Consult with the Director.
Smith represents Assembly District 30 in Washoe County. The district includes portions of Reno, Sparks and Washoe County.
Smith served as Chairman of the Council to Establish Academic Standards for eight years, leading the state through the initial process of developing and passing the state's first academic standards. Smith is a past President of the Nevada Parent Teacher Association, as well as a former board member of the National Parent Teacher Association. She is an Education Alliance board member, an advisory board member of the Angel Kiss Foundation and a former Lander County School Board member.
She recently completed the Emerging Political Leaders Program at the University of Virginia Darden Graduate School and is a graduate of the CSG West Western Legislative Academy and a Flemming Fellow.
Smith is married to Greg Smith. They have three children and two granddaughters.
Pamela Hicks
Administrative Trainer
Southern Nevada Regional Professional Development Program
Pamela Hicks was a teacher in the Clark County School District (CCSD) for 12 years before becoming an administrator. She was principal of Kenny Quinn Junior High School and director of secondary curriculum. She became an area superintendent in CCSD and was responsible for the supervision of more than 32 junior and senior high schools. She moved to higher education after her tenure with the Clark County School District. At the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, her first position was director of admissions and then associate vice president for enrollment and student services. Currently Hicks is an administrative trainer with the Southern Nevada Regional Professional Development Program (SNRPDP) and responsible for professional development for K-12 administrators statewide.
Dr. Sonya Douglass Horsford
Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Dr. Sonya Douglass Horsford is an assistant professor of educational leadership at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she specializes in education policy, early childhood education and school-family-community engagement. Her work has been featured in The Urban Review, International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, International Journal of Educational Management and Journal of Negro Education. She is also editor of the book New Perspectives in Educational Leadership: Exploring Social, Political, and Community Contexts and Meaning (Peter Lang, 2010).
In addition to research and teaching, she serves on the board of the Nevada Public Education Foundation, Acelero Learning Clark County Head Start and as executive director of the Las Vegas Children's Defense Fund Freedom Schools Program, a summer literacy program for children in historically underserved communities.
Ron Montoya
Principal
Valley High School
Ron Montoya graduated from St. Mary's College in Moraga, Calif., in 1972 with a bachelor's degree in psychology and completed his master's degree in psychology in 1975 at California State Hayward. Over his 35 year career, Montoya has served the Clark County School District as a teacher, counselor and administrator. Since 1999, he has been the principal of Valley High School, where he has gained national recognition for his ability to impact student achievement. Most notably, in 2009 Valley High School was designated “High Achieving – Exemplary Turnaround” under the federal No Child Left Behind legislation. In addition to 19 years of administrative experience, Montoya recently completed his second term as the Clark County Association of School Administrators president. While Montoya has enjoyed acknowledgements such as Class Magazine Principal of the Year (2005), Nevada Honor Grant recipient (2005), Senatorial and Congressional Recognition (2006), CCSD Hall of Fame inductee (2008) and Educational Pioneer Award (2010), he derives satisfaction from the accomplishments of students.
Karen Pedersen
National Board Certified Teacher
Yerington Intermediate School
Karen Pedersen earned her bachelor's degree in music education at the University of Northern Colorado in December of 1989, where she was named to the dean's list of academic distinction. In her 20 years of teaching experience, she has taught K-6 general music in Washoe County School District. In Lyon County, Pedersen was the choir director for Yerington Intermediate School and Yerington High School and general music director for fifth and sixth grades at Yerington Intermediate School, as well as a sixth grade reading and language arts specialist for nine years. Pedersen earned her National Board Certification in the area of Literacy: Reading/Language Arts for early and middle child, in the fall of 2004. She completed her ProTELL (Professional Teachers of English Language Learners) certification from the University of Nevada, Reno, in December of 2006, and currently holds the position of instructional coach and professional development at Yerington Intermediate School in Lyon County.
Dr. Keith W. Rheault
Superintendent
Nevada Department of Education
Dr. Keith Rheault was appointed as Nevada's superintendent of public instruction in March 2004 and continues to serve the state in that capacity. Prior to his appointment as superintendent of public instruction, Rheault had been employed with the Nevada Department of Education since 1986. During his tenure with the Department of Education, he served as the agriculture education consultant and state FFA advisor for five years, assistant director and director of the Office of Occupational and Continuing Education for four years and as deputy superintendent for Instructional, Research and Evaluative Services for nine years. Rheault received his bachelor's and master's degrees in agricultural education from North Dakota State University in 1976 and 1980. He earned his doctorate degree from Iowa State University in agricultural education in 1985.
Dr. Michele Robinson
Superintendent
Odyssey Charter Schools
Dr. Michele Robinson is currently the superintendent of schools for Odyssey Charter Schools in Las Vegas. In this capacity, she has led the school in turnaround efforts that have resulted in an overall increase of up to 30 percent in student achievement. She has worked with Odyssey for 10 years in a variety of capacities including teacher, grant writer and manager, testing coordinator and curriculum director and assistant principal. Under Robinson's leadership, the K-5 program received the distinction of a School of Excellence for three consecutive years and increased student enrollment from 200 to over 700 students. She was involved in the creation of both the Odyssey High School program and the Parent as Teacher program, designed to involve and assist parents in working with their children in the home. Robinson earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; her master's degree in curriculum and instruction from Lesley University; her administrative certification from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; and her doctorate degree in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University.
Lynn Warne
President
Nevada State Education Association
Lynn Warne is a 47-year resident of Nevada. She graduated in 1977 from Reno High School and attended the University of Nevada, Reno, with degrees in elementary education, counseling and educational psychology and education leadership.
Warne has been an elementary teacher in Washoe County for 25 years. She is the past president of the Washoe Education Association and the current president of the Nevada State Education Association.
She is married to husband Derrick and has a son, Bennett.
Public Will & Communication
Dana S. Lee
President
Nevada Women's Philanthropy
Dana S. Lee received a bachelor's degree in art history from Brown University in 1988 and a master's degree in arts management from Carnegie-Mellon University in 1993. A devoted mother of Graham and Katie, Lee lives with her family and husband Gregory in Las Vegas.
Lee worked in the fields of fashion public relations, museum development for the Guggenheim Museum, corporate branding identity for Landor Associates in New York City and in corporate advertising for Mirage Resorts, Las Vegas. She is a past trustee of The Meadows School, a former board member of The Nevada Ballet Theatre in Las Vegas and past secretary of the board of The Las Vegas Art Museum. Presently she is a trustee of The Webb Schools of California and a City of Las Vegas Arts Commissioner. Dana also is a founder and president of The Nevada Women's Philanthropy, a pooled-fund, large-impact grant making organization that supports critical needs in Southern Nevada.
DJ Allen, MBA
Founder/Head Visionary
Imagine Marketing
DJ Allen is the founder of Imagine Marketing, a 10-year-old public relations and advertising firm that serves the Southwest. Imagine was honored as the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce's Small Business of the Year in 2009 and Allen was honored as the Small Business Association's “Small Businessman of the Year” for Henderson in 2005. Today, Allen focuses much of his efforts on working with University of Nevada, Las Vegas, head basketball coach Lon Kruger and the Runnin' Rebel program. Kruger and Allen teamed to publish a book, The Xs & Os of Success: A Playbook for Leaders in Business and Life, in 2008. Allen also facilitates strategic planning sessions for business, government and non-profit organizations and serves as a keynote and inspirational speaker. He currently serves on the boards of such organizations as the Clark County School District's School-Community Partnership, Henderson Chamber of Commerce and Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada. He earned a master's degree in business administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), and also earned his undergraduate degree in communications from UNLV.
Cherri Luna
Science Specialist
Steve Schorr Elementary
This is Cherri Luna's eighth year teaching in the Clark County School District, and her second year as a science specialist. Prior to discovering science with her kids at Steven G. Schorr Elementary School, she taught first and third grades. She graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), and received her master's degree in special education from NOVA South Eastern University. Prior to UNLV, her education specialized in animal science, with a minor in horse science. She has been happily married for over 20 years and is proud to have two very talented and wonderful children.
Although her family is number one on her list, the children Luna sees everyday are a very close second. The community she shares at Schorr is very special. She enjoys every part of her life there, starting with greeting everyone at the door, discovering the wonders of science, getting her hands dirty, sitting on the floor reading a great book, investigating, asking questions, listening to her students' ideas, watching the expressions on their faces as the light-bulb goes on in their heads—“I get it!”—and closing her day with a “Thanks Mrs. Luna; hope you have a great day!”
Dr. William "Rob" Roberts
Superintendent
Nye County School District
Dr. William "Rob" Roberts has served as the superintendent of the Nye County School District since 2002. Prior to that Roberts was employed as the principal of Reno High School, Incline Village High School and Incline Village Middle School, respectively. Before coming to Nevada, he was professor of military science and department chair at Stetson University in De Land, Florida. Roberts also served as an associate professor of military science at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York.
Roberts is the recipient of the Education Excellence Award from the Incline Chamber of Commerce, 2005 Superintendent of the Year from the Nevada Association of School Boards and 2008 Superintendent of the Year from the Nevada Association of School Superintendents. He also served on Governor Gibbons' Transition Team in 2007 and the Governor's Commission on Nuclear Projects in 2007.
Allison Serafin
Executive Director
Teach For America
A native Texan and proud Nevadan, Allison Serafin is a graduate of Texas Christian University with a master's degree in social work from the University of Texas-Arlington. She taught sixth grade language arts and world cultures as a 2001 Teach For America corps member in Houston During her first year in the classroom, 100 percent of her students increased their reading level by at least 1.5 grades, and 95 percent passed the annual state reading assessment. Serafin joined Teach For America staff as a program director in greater Philadelphia-Camden, where she supported 33 first-year corps members. Inspired by the work of her corps members, she decided to return to the classroom. As a seventh grade arts and humanities teacher at YES College Preparatory School in Houston, she led 100 percent of her students to pass the Texas reading and writing exams and was a middle school social studies curriculum author. Serafin returned to Teach For America in 2005 and for three years served as a recruitment director and director of online media and video production before her current role as the executive director of Teach For America – Las Vegas Valley. She is responsible for an operating budget of $2.2 million and the support of 98 corps members teaching grades pre-kindergarten through 12 across Clark County.
Nancy Smith
Marketing Manager
Datanamics Inc
Although only a resident of Henderson, Nev. for just under seven years, Nancy Smith has actually worked in Southern Nevada for over 16 years. Her Southern Nevada career began in Laughlin at the Flamingo Hilton in 1994 as a room reservations clerk. Smith worked in various positions within the Flamingo until landing the marketing manager position, and served in that role for six years. After a 10 year career at the Flamingo, Smith was promoted to advertising/media manager Western region at Caesars Entertainment corporate headquarters in Las Vegas. Smith has since moved to the technology side of business, and currently holds the position of marketing manager for Datanamics Inc, located in Henderson, Nev.
Smith has served her community in many capacities, including as commissioner on the Franchise License Commission for two years in Bullhead City, Ariz., and served six years on the Laughlin Tourism Committee. Smith is a 2002 graduate of the Colorado River Leadership program and currently participating in the 2010 Leadership Henderson program. She has served in many positions within her church organization, and participates annually in fundraising for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Susan B. Komen 5K, the American Heart Association Walk-A-Thon and her latest addition, Leadership Henderson 2010, Project Connect.
Smith is married, has four children and loves the outdoors. She enjoys boating, swimming, hiking, music, inspirational books and shopping.
Diane Sumner
Transition Coordinator
Washoe County School District
Diane Sumner recently retired from the Washoe County School District after 23 years of service. She has had the pleasure of teaching students English, U.S. History, American Government, Advanced Placement Spanish and English Language Learner (ELL) classes. In addition, Sumner was a dean at Truckee Meadows Community College High School, an assistant principal at Spanish Springs High School, the assistant principal at Wooster High School (and the International Baccalaureate Program), assistant principal of Washoe High School and principal of the Washoe Adult Program. Sumner is bilingual and has worked tirelessly to provide opportunities for all students, regardless of ability. After leaving the Washoe County School District, she earned her Global Career Development Facilitator certification (G.C.D.F.), which is essential in her current position as a transition coordinator; she works closely with the Vocational Rehabilitation Department in Carson City. Sumner earned her bachelor's degree in history/pre-law from the University of Nevada, Reno. She possesses two master's degrees, one in language acquisition and the second in educational administration. Currently, Sumner is pursuing her doctorate in education and will complete her degree in October 2011.
Alison J. Turner
President
Nevada Parent Teacher Association
Alison Turner has been an ardent advocate for children and education for over 20 years. Turner has worked in both the for-profit and non-profit worlds, in industries as diverse as politics, education programs, thoroughbred horses and commercial real estate. She also served as president of a non-profit foundation serving children and the indigent elderly during four years living in Ecuador.
Currently Turner serves as president of the Nevada Parent Teacher Association (Nevada PTA), representing tens of thousands of members across the state, and well over 400,000 Nevada children. Nevada PTA advocates on behalf of children in public school, private school, parochial school and those who are home schooled, especially in areas of education, health and welfare.
In addition to Governor Gibbons' Education Reform Blue Ribbon Task Force, Turner also serves on the Nevada Council on Parental Involvement, Nevada's Statewide Steering Committee for Parent Involvement Summits, National PTA's Strategic Planning Committee, Clark County School District's Empowerment Schools Central Design Team and various other boards and committees.
A parent in Nevada schools for 12 years, Turner resides in Las Vegas with her husband and two children.
Christopher Wallace
President
Nevada State Board of Education
Chris Wallace is a native Nevadan. He was born in Las Vegas and attended schools in the Clark County School District. Wallace is the owner of James Roman Productions, an event production company that provides audio, video and lighting equipment and labor for trade show booths, conferences, sales meetings and concerts. He and his wife Carin live in Las Vegas with their 18-month-old son, Finn. Wallace is from a third generation family of educators in the Clark County School District. In November 2008, he was elected to the State Board of Education representing District 7. In January 2010, Wallace was elected by the members of the State Board of Education to serve as their president.
