A highly sought-after philanthropy expert, board member and business leader, Julie Murray has led numerous successful public/private partnerships and social impact projects for corporate funders, family foundations and community leaders. Principal and CEO of the Moonridge Group, and President of the Moonridge Foundation, she is widely credited with transforming social impact in Nevada to be more strategic and collaborative.
While serving in 2019 and 2020 as the President and Board Chair for the NV International Women’s Forum, she formed a successful strategic alliance with the National Association of Corporate Directors and led the IWF team who won the bid to host the 2022 IWF World Leadership Conference in Las Vegas.
Murray has been honored for the strategic and collaborative nature of her work. She co-founded with business leader and philanthropist Eric Hilton the Three Square Food Bank in Las Vegas, a $55m annual operation that is sought after for its award-winning national-model best practices. She worked with philanthropist athlete Andre Agassi to launch the national model charter school, Agassi Prep, and is the co-founder of the “I Have a Dream” Foundation Nevada.
Murray serves on the Nevada Board for SilverSummit Healthcare and on the Community Advisory Council for Barrick/NV Gold Mine. She is the Board Chair for the Moonridge Foundation, a Donor Advisory Fund; and on the Board of Directors for Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada and Noah’s Animal House.
She is a frequent speaker about philanthropy and has served as an adjunct professor of philanthropy at the University of Nevada Las Vegas teaching graduate students about driving efficiencies into social impact.
Murray resides in Las Vegas and has three grown children and one new grandbaby.
As co-founder of Morton Group, Jenna Morton is a driving force behind the development and success of a prestigious array of restaurants, including La Cave Wine and Food Hideaway at Wynn Resort, CRUSH and Greek Sneek at MGM Grand Hotel & Casino, ONE Steakhouse at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, and most recently, Nudo Itailiano. Her role extends beyond business, reflecting her commitment to enriching communities and cultural heritage.
Jenna holds a degree in Political Science from Northwestern University, a foundation that underpins her strategic approach to both business and philanthropy. Her dedication to social causes is evident in her leadership roles: she served as the board chair of the Council for a Better Nevada and After School All Stars Las Vegas, and she remains a longtime board member for each. As a past president of the Las Vegas Springs Preserve Foundation, Jenna has been instrumental in preserving local heritage and sustainability. Her philanthropic spirit extends globally as she co-directs the Umm al-Jimal Archaeological Project in Jordan and has played a vital role as a board member of Community Cloud Forest Conservation in Guatemala.. She is also board member of the American Center of Research in Jordan, a member and supporter of the American Society of Overseas Research, and founded the PAX Peace by Peace Fund to support cultural heritage initiatives. She is currently completing a masters thesis at Harvard studying the role of local community engagement in cultural heritage preservation.
Founder, Amber Ezell Photography
Amber Ezell-Bisiaux is a Reno-based photographer, entrepreneur, and community advocate who has built two successful photography businesses, Ezell Images and Bijou Photo, while using her work to create connection and give back to the community.
As the founder of Ezell Images, a portrait studio focused on helping people feel confident and seen, Amber has spent years photographing women, entrepreneurs, families, and professionals throughout Northern Nevada. She later co-founded Bijou Photo, an event and commercial photography business, expanding her ability to serve businesses, organizations, schools, and community events.
Her passion for celebrating people and their stories led to the creation of the Ezell Images 40 Over 40 Project, which celebrates the accomplishments, resilience, and impact of women over 40 in Northern Nevada. In partnership with the Nevada Women’s Fund, the project has evolved into a philanthropic initiative, with 100% of proceeds from the annual 40 Over 40 Project Book supporting the Ezell Images 40 and Over Scholarship for women returning to school to further their education.
Across her businesses and philanthropy, Amber believes in the power of showing up, building genuine relationships, and creating opportunities for others. Her work is rooted in the passion of taking the time to see, celebrate, and support women, creating a stronger community for everyone.
Community Advocate, Philanthropist, Founder of
Marson Foods
Dr. Jan Marson is a nationally respected pediatric occupational therapist, nonprofit founder, and community leader whose career has been defined by building systems of care for children and families who too often fall through the cracks. With decades of experience in assessments, treatment, and program development, she has dedicated her professional life to improving outcomes for children impacted by developmental differences, abuse, and unmet mental health needs, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
Dr. Marson is the co-founder and driving force behind Serving Our Communities, a family foundation that strategically invests in innovative, high-impact solutions across child advocacy, mental health, food security, and community wellbeing. Through SOC, she helped launch and sustain transformative organizations including the Carson City Rural Child Advocacy Center (CCRCAC), which serves eight rural Nevada counties through a multidisciplinary, child-centered response to abuse; the Nevada Collective for Autism and Neurodevelopment (NvCAN), which addresses critical gaps in assessment, treatment, and research for autistic and neurodivergent individuals statewide; and Sierra Healing House, which provides accessible, trauma-informed therapy and mental health services for children and families. Across all of her work, Dr. Marson is known for pairing deep clinical expertise with a systems-level understanding of policy, funding, and collaboration, bringing together healthcare providers, educators, law enforcement, researchers, and philanthropists to create sustainable models of care. Her leadership reflects a rare combination of compassion, rigor, and long-term vision, grounded in the belief that communities are strongest when children and families have timely access to the support they need to heal and thrive.
President, Owner, Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop and Wing Zone
Jason Smylie is President and principal owner of Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop and President of Wing Zone, two nationally and internationally recognized restaurant franchise brands headquartered in Las Vegas. A longtime entrepreneur and business leader, Jason began as a Capriotti’s franchisee with business partner Ashley Morris before acquiring the company in 2008. Under their leadership, Capriotti’s has tripled in size to 175 locations across 35 states, while the 2021 acquisition of Wing Zone expanded their portfolio and international reach.
Jason Smylie is President and principal owner of Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop and President of Wing Zone, two nationally and internationally recognized restaurant franchise brands headquartered in Las Vegas. A longtime entrepreneur and business leader, Jason began as a Capriotti’s franchisee with business partner Ashley Morris before acquiring the company in 2008. Under their leadership, Capriotti’s has tripled in size to 175 locations across 35 states, while the 2021 acquisition of Wing Zone expanded their portfolio and international reach.
Jason’s leadership and entrepreneurial success have earned recognition throughout the business and franchise industries. His honors include being named one of Fast Casual’s Top 25 Movers & Shakers, recognition on the Inc. 5000 list of Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America, and being named UNLV Honors College Alumnus of the Year. He also holds the prestigious Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) designation from the Institute of Certified Franchise Executives.
A UNLV graduate with a background in technology and business, Jason has helped drive growth through innovation, franchise development, and a strong commitment to people and community. Beyond business, he has supported organizations including the Las Vegas Rescue Mission, Susan G. Komen, the Aoki Foundation, and Intermountain Health’s Pediatric Advisory Council. His career demonstrates how entrepreneurial leadership can create opportunities, strengthen communities, and generate impact far beyond the workplace.
Jess Molasky is COO at Ovation Development, a company founded by his father, Alan, in 1984 and the region’s leading designer and developer of both market-rate and affordable multi-family housing projects in Southern Nevada.
The company has designed and built 33 multi-family communities throughout the Las Vegas metropolitan area valued in excess of $1 billion and encompassing 8,340 units. Today, Ovation is easily considered one of the state’s largest and leading developers of affordable housing with 13 projects totaling more than 1,900 units – with more under development.
After graduating from UCLA in 2016 where he studied geography, environmental science and urban planning, Jess worked for UCLA Capital Programs to build three new Leadership in Energy Environmental Design (LEED)-certified dorm facilities and two world-class LEED-certified athletic facilities to be used for upcoming Olympics in 2028. While working for the Capital Programs, Jess helped to roll out a pilot program which created transparency relative to power usage for students living in the dorms. By collecting sub-meter data and developing a dashboard, the energy consumption of each section and floor could be tracked.
In 2018, Jess returned to Las Vegas to join the family enterprise, focusing primarily on Ovation’s affordable senior product, which continues to set the bar high for the region’s standard in affordable housing with resident amenities and services that rival market-rate communities. Since joining Ovation, Jess has helped to develop three mid-rise apartment buildings, each Energy Star Certified and totaling almost 600 units.
Born and raised in Las Vegas, Jess’ grandfather, Irwin, and chairman of The Molasky Group of Companies, developed many of the city’s transformational projects, including Sunrise Hospital, Boulevard Mall, Paradise Palms – the city’s first master-planned community, and many other iconic buildings and properties. Like his father, Alan, Jess is making his individual mark on the family legacy via an enhanced commitment to sustainable development and a continued commitment to help meet Southern Nevada’s critical shortage of affordable housing.
Youth Speakers Las Vegas: Skai Jones, Ethan Cohen, Palmer Kennedy
Youth Speakers Reno: Lucas Gorelick, Anshuman Arun
Brian Gordon is a principal with Applied Analysis, a leading economic, fiscal and policy research firm based in Las Vegas, Nevada. As a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with 30 years of experience and holding the Accredited in Business Valuations (ABV) credential, Gordon is widely recognized for his …
His work spans Nevada’s key industries, including real estate, hospitality,
mining, banking and finance and manufacturing, as well as large-scale infrastructure
and community development projects. Gordon has conducted economic and fiscal
impact assessments of projects spanning statewide industries like tourism and real
estate to major venues such as Allegiant Stadium and T-Mobile Arena. His work has
also included evaluating high-profile events such as UFC’s International Fight Week,
WWE’s WrestleMania, NFL’s Super Bowl and Formula 1’s Las Vegas Grand Prix. While
sports and entertainment are prominent examples, these analyses demonstrate a
broader ability to evaluate complex projects that drive economic activity across diverse
sectors. Gordon has also led countless market studies and research projects, providing
actionable insights for developers, policymakers and business leaders.
He has also served as a subject matter expert witness in numerous litigation cases and as a court-appointed manager for various business enterprises. Appointed by the Governor to
Nevada’s Economic Forum, Gordon plays a critical role in forecasting General Fund
revenues. His contributions to the real estate sector involve more than a decade of
service to the Southern Nevada Home Builders Association, including positions as a
board member and Treasurer, reflecting his leadership and commitment to Nevada’s
economic development.
Currently, Punam operates her own business as a speaker, trainer and writer. For the last 13 years, she served as Executive Director of the Elaine P. Wynn & Family Foundation, a private foundation that existed to advance fundamental change, primarily related to public education and the arts.
From 2009-2012, she was an officer of NV Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NVE), a vertically-integrated statewide electric utility with 2,700 employees, serving as vice president of people resources and as vice president of employee and community engagement.
She joined NV Energy following 13 years in the gaming industry, most recently serving as an officer and senior vice president, corporate diversity and community affairs, for MGM MIRAGE, now MGM Resorts Int’l (NYSE: MGM).
During her tenure, MGM MIRAGE received numerous awards in her areas of responsibility, including being ranked among the “Top 50 Companies for Diversity” by DiversityInc magazine, one of the “Top Corporations in the U.S.” for multicultural businesses by DiversityBusiness.com and as one of the “Most Admired Companies in America” by Fortune magazine. Additionally, under her leadership the Company’s philanthropy program, including its centerpiece employee-directed foundation, set new standards for strategic philanthropy and employee engagement within the gaming industry.
Prior to joining the gaming industry 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.
Education
Mathur attended the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, studying elementary and special education, from 1979-1983.
Community Involvement
Mathur has received appointments to statewide leadership positions by four of Nevada’s Governors:
→ Governor Brian Sandoval (R) appointed her to the Common Core Steering Committee in 2013 and to the Board of Jobs for America’s Graduates in 2014.
→ Governor Jim Gibbons (R) appointed her to the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Task Force on Education Reform in 2010.
→ Governor Kenny Guinn (R) appointed her to the Commission on Tourism in 2002.
→ Governor Bob Miller (D) appointed her to the Welfare Reform Task Force in 1994.
A champion and advocate for public education, she has a long history of involvement with the Clark County School District, the fifth largest district in the nation, having served on a lengthy list of committees and special task forces over the years, including the Superintendent’s Equity & Access Commission in 2019.
She also works closely with the NV Department on Education in a variety of roles to advance the ball on education reform in Nevada, including appointments by the Majority Leader of the Nevada State Senate in 2019 and 2023 to serve on the Commission on School Funding.
In 2020, in response to the pandemic, Mathur co-founded Delivering with Dignity, an innovative emergency management solution, in which delicious meals made by independently-owned restaurants were delivered by volunteer Food Heroes to the most vulnerable members of the community. Her introduction to food insecurity occurred 15 years earlier, as the founding board chair for Three Square, a non-profit organization dedicated to eradicating hunger in southern Nevada. She has served on the Board of the United Way of Southern Nevada for over two decades, is active with Communities In Schools, serving as Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors, and serves on the board of The Guinn Center for Policy Priorities. And, in 2023, she was a part of the Host Committee for Super Bowl LVIII.
She is also active in a number of organizations to improve the effectiveness of the child welfare and foster care systems.
Awards and Recognition
She has received numerous awards including the inaugural Assemblyman Tyrone Thompson Yours in Service Award (2020) and the inaugural Athena Award from the Nevada Women’s Chamber of Commerce (2004), induction into the Nevada Women’s Chamber of Commerce’s Women’s Hall of Fame (2005), “Humanitarian of the Year” by Junior League (2012), “Achievement Award” by Las Vegas India Chamber of Commerce (2013), as a Woman of Distinction by Nat’l Association of Women Business Owners (2006), a Platinum Achievement Award by the Cooperative Development Energy Program by Fort Valley State University (2011), A Lady of Distinction by Olive Crest, an organization advocating for needs of children in the foster care system (2009) and Woman of the Year by The Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada (2009).
She was named among “Top 100 Influential Women in Las Vegas” by MyVegas Magazine in 2014 and 2015 and, in 2024, she was named among Nevada’s “Most Respected Leaders” by Nevada Business Magazine.
Personal
Mathur resides in Las Vegas with her three amazing sons and one spectacular daughter, and is an exuberant grandmother.
That same year, she assumed the role of President & CEO of the Nevada Women’s Fund—an organization founded in 1982 and recognized as one of the first women’s funds in the nation. Ila also serves as a Commissioner for the Nevada Commission for Women and was named a 2025 Woman to Watch by Nevada Business Magazine.
Widely recognized as a passionate and visionary nonprofit leader, Ila is known for her ability to build meaningful relationships that engage and empower communities. An entrepreneur at heart, she thrives on finding innovative ways to grow operations, scale impact, and streamline strategies that strengthen fiscal health—all while leading with bold vision and enduring optimism.
Transforming Philanthropy Through Lasting Change
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For 15 years, the Moonridge Foundation Philanthropy Leaders Summit has brought together changemakers committed to doing more than just imagining a better world—they’ve built it. This year’s theme, From Intention to Impact, honors that legacy by challenging us to turn purpose into measurable progress and ideas into lasting change.
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