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Board Of Directors

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Dr. John Kenny

President & Founder

D.C. National University of Health Sciences, Chiropractic Physician
B.S. National University of Health Sciences, Human Biology
B.A. Northwestern University, Biology

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Dr. Kenny grew up in Chicago, Illinois and wrestled for Northwestern University. After graduating with a degree in Biology, he went on to National University of Health Sciences graduating with a doctorate. He began practicing in 1982 opening two clinics in Chicago. From there, Dr. Kenny went on to become licensed physician in Arizona and Nevada as well as Iliinois. He moved to Nevada in 1988 and has been practicing in the Las Vegas valley ever since. In 1997, Dr. Kenny had a dream to open a school and founded Northwest Massage School where he began teaching Anatomy, Physiology and Kinesiology. Today, his small school has grown into Northwest Career College. Dr. Kenny has served on numerous boards and organizations but focuses his time on his passions: his family, his patients and his students
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Dr. Stephanie Kenny

Chief Academic Officer
Dean of Students

D.O. Touro University
B.A. University of Southern California, Biology

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Stephanie Kenny grew up in Las Vegas and played soccer and softball for the Meadows School in Summerlin. She began working at Northwest at the age of 13 doing everything from cleaning to copying. After graduating high school, Stephanie headed to the University of Southern California to study biology. Upon graduation, Stephanie began pursuing her Medical Career and graduated from Touro University in 2016. Additionally, she accepted the position as the Chief Finance Officer of Northwest Career College where she works side by side with her family.
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Dr. Thomas Kenny

Chief Compliance Officer

D.M.D. University of Nevada Las Vegas, Dentistry
B.A. University of Southern California, Biology

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Dr. Thomas Kenny was born in Chicago, raised in Las Vegas, but considers Northwest Career College his true home. He has been working at NCC for as long as he can remember. He started by moving and building furniture on the weekends and has served in a variety of roles throughout the years. He is now the Director of Regulatory Affairs, overseeing the licensure and accreditation processes for NCC, as well as the Dental Assisting Program Director. Dr. Thomas began his service as an ABHES Commissioner in July 2017 and looks forward to the opportunity to help shape the future of the education industry as a whole.
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Patrick Kenny, B.A.

Chief Executive Officer
Director Of Human Resources

B.A. University of San Diego, Psychology

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Patrick Kenny is one of the founding members of the Northwest family and has served as the Chief Operating Officer since June of 2013. Patrick graduated with a B.A. in Psychology from the University of San Diego and has an extensive background in operations, project management, team building, and student development. As a member of the Kenny family, Patrick has been serving in one role or another at the college for most of his life.
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Michael Kenny, B.S.

Chief Financial Officer

B.S. University of Nevada Las Vegas

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Michael Kenny grew up in Las Vegas and played football and wrestled for the Meadows School in Summerlin. He began working at Northwest at the age of 13 doing everything from cleaning to copying. After graduating high school, Michael headed to the University of San Diego to study accounting. After two years, Michael transferred to UNLV where he completed his accounting and finance degrees while continuing to work for Northwest Career College as the Director of Finance where he works side by side with his family every day.

Staff

Vice-Presidents
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Barbara Alcaraz, M.A., L.M.T.

Vice-President of Program Management

M.A. Organizational Management, University of Phoenix

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Barbara, originally from St. Paul, Minnesota, has lived in Las Vegas for the past twenty-two years. The recipient of a B.A. degree in American Studies from the University of Minnesota, and an M.A. degree in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix, she also graduated from the Massage Therapy Program at here at Northwest. Barbara has a wide breadth of experience, having worked at the St. Paul Police Department, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and even as a Chiropractic Assistant for Dr. Kenny himself.

As our Massage Therapy Program Chair here at Northwest Career College, Barbara believes in a holistic approach to healthcare, and that the human touch is critical to every person’s wellbeing. Because receiving massage on a regular basis is mentally and physically rewarding, she thoroughly encourages every NCC employee to take advantage of their free monthly massage in the student clinic.
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Jilian Lopez, B.A.

Vice-President Of Student Relations

B.A. Northwestern University

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Jilian graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and is currently our Director of Career Services. A member of the NCC family since 2013, Jilian has always been passionate about civic engagement, community relations, connecting people, and empowering others to fight for their potential. She is focused on building a positive and encouraging environment, seeking out a strong network of wonderful employer partners, helping students realize there is a perfect job out there for them, and recruiting the best Career Services team on earth.
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Leslie Tran, B.A.

Vice-President of Operations

B.A. University of Nevada Las Vegas

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A native of Las Vegas, Leslie graduated from UNLV with a B.S. in Psychology before going on to hold positions that give her a background in administration, operations, gaming/hospitality, and project management. Passionate about giving back to the Las Vegas community, Leslie joined Northwest Career College in 2017 as the Executive Assistant to the COO.
Academic Affairs
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Seri Marx, B.A.

Director Of Academic Affairs

B.A. University of Nevada, Las Vegas

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Seri moved to Las Vegas in 2003 and graduated from UNLV in 2010 with a Bachelor's Degree in Communications. She pursued a career in Office Management and worked as an Assistant Project Manager. In January 2017, Seri joined Northwest Career College as the Executive Assistant to the Dean of Students and has since transitioned to the Director of Academic Affairs.

In her free time, she enjoys quality time with her family and seeking outdoor adventure.
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Century Leigh, B.S.

Registrar

B.S. Northwest Missouri State University

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Century graduated from Northwest Missouri State University with a B.S. in International Business before joining Northwest Career College and the Admissions Team in July 2017. A competitive figure skater, Century has represented the USA in competitions across the world, including France, Germany, Estonia, and Canada.
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Daniella Martinez, B.A.

Academic Affairs Manager

B.A. Arizona State University

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Daniella was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, before moving to Arizona, where she worked teaching elementary school students.

Having attended Palo Verde High School, Daniella achieved her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Arizona State University’s Tempe campus. She taught in Arizona and Las Vegas for almost five years, and she has worked with students in grades K-6 through various tutoring, internships, and volunteering programs.

Daniella also worked for over two years training fellow education majors in educational technology. She now brings those teaching and training skills to bear as the Academic Affairs Advising Manager.

The thing that drew Daniella to Northwest was the family-oriented environment and positive attitude at NCC. Her professional passion is contributing to the future and enriching our world, and Daniella looks forward to doing this by elevating students toward their future goals and ambitions.

In her spare time, Daniella’s hobbies include rock climbing, hiking, and crafting. Her guilty pleasures are trying different coffee drinks, going out to eat, and feeding her sweet tooth.
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Jacquelin Favela

Academic Advisor II

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Originally from Pomona, California, Jacquelin moved to Las Vegas with her parents when she was eight years old and has been in love with the city ever since.

Throughout the different roles, she has held here at Northwest Career College (NCC), she has experience assisting students and helping them succeed here. Being a part of the Academic Affairs department, Jacquelin channels her passion for helping others and strives to make NCC the best college in Las Vegas for our valued students.
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Myra Aguirre, B.A.

Academic Advisor I

B.A. University of Nevada, Las Vegas

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Born and raised here in Las Vegas, Myra attended Cheyenne High School, Area Technical Trade Center, and UNLV before graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Hotel Administration.

Now a member of our operations team, Myra is passionate about making a positive difference in someone’s life in both her professional career and personal life. For Myra, the best thing about working for NCC is the chance to work for a company whose values align with hers.

On the weekends, you can find Myra hiking and camping around Las Vegas.
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Kristin James

Academic Advisor I

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Born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, Kristin graduated from Centennial High School and now works in our Academic Affairs department.

Kristin’s professional passion is being able to help others reach their goals. She has always had a passion for helping others be successful.

Her personal passion is photography. She loves being able to capture special moments with her family and friends.

For Kristin, the best thing about working at Northwest Career College is the atmosphere. Everyone is so positive and friendly and she feels so thankful to be a part of the NCC family.

In her spare time, Kristin indulges her love of Disney or spending time with her family, and enjoys anything outdoors such as hiking and running marathons.
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Cierra Nelson, A.A.

Administrative Liaison I

A.A. Los Medanos College

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Born in Texas and raised in California, Cierra graduated from Deer Valley High School before attending the Los Medanos College. Cierra’s personal passion would have to be acting and during high school, she attended a performing arts school called DELTA academy.

Now a member of our front desk administrative liaison team, Cierra’s professional passion in math, although she hasn’t quite figured out exactly what she wants to do with math. For Cierra, the best thing about working for NCC is the faculty, as everyone is really welcoming and helpful.

At the weekends, you can find Cierra taking part in her hobbies, such as improv, bowling, and listening to music.
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Fernando Herbert, B.S.

Spanish Language Consultant

B.S. Ed. City College of New York

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At an early age, Fernando moved from San Pedro de Macorís in the Dominican Republic to NYC to raise a family and begin his teaching career. Now at the young age of 80, he is still passionate about educating young minds, bringing his years of experience and his Master’s Degree in Education to bear on his students.

In his spare time, Fernando enjoys reading, crossword puzzles, playing the slots at one of Las Vegas’s many casinos, and indulging in good music. He loves that his position at Northwest allows him to continue with his love of teaching and have an impact on the next generation of NCC graduates.
Admissions Department
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Andres Ontiveros

Intake Manager

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Originally from Sinaloa in Mexico, Andres was raised in San Deigo before moving to Las Vegas in 2015. Having gradate from Chula Vista High School, Andres attended SDSU before coming to join us here at Northwest as part of our commited admissions team.

A positive and optimistic person who is always up for a challenge, Andres enjoys working here at Northwest because of the people and the atmosphere.

On the weekend, Andres can be found watching movies, going to the gym, or doing anything to do with his love of the outdoors.
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Michael Dramis

Intake Specialist II

Miami Dade Junior College

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A business owner for most of his life, Michael has been part of the Northwest team for eleven years and is now the Senior Enrollment Specialist in our Admissions Department. Michael considers the position of Senior Enrollment Specialist to be one of the most rewarding he has yet held, helping students achieve their goal of a earning a great position in the career they have chosen. So rewarding in fact that, after taking several years off to try out semi-retirement he eventually returned to Northwest where his focus remains the success of every student whose lives he touches every day.
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Jolee Frantzich

Intake Specialist II

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Jolee is originally from New York and moved to Vegas in 1992. Having grown up the restaurant business, with her family owning an International House of Pancakes (IHOP), Jolee moved to Vegas to open up the Great Steak and Potato Companies in the food courts in the malls.

As a professional Jolee strives to be the best at whatever she is doing. On a personal level, she is passionate about her family and is a proud mother of two and a proud grandmother to a beautiful granddaughter.

Jolee enjoys working at NCC because of the family atmosphere that allows here to indulge both her passions at once.
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Derrick Mosqueda

Intake Specialist I

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Derrick was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, and graduated from Las Vegas High School before receiving his Legal Assistant Diploma at Northwest Career College.

Now a member of our committed Admissions department, Derrick now works alongside the same people who strived to ensure that he had the best future in graduating from NCC. For Derrick, these co-workers are the best thing about working for NCC.

Derrick’s professional passion is to influence and guide individuals who may be going through dark times to the light, which ties into his personal passion for working in the community with his church and giving to those in need.

At the weekend, Derrick can be found singing and playing his guitar and piano. He also enjoys hiking.
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Hugo Chinchilla, M.B.A.

Senior Enrollment Specialist

M.B.A. Argosy University

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Originally a native of New Jersey, Hugo, along with his wife and two sons, moved to Las Vegas in 2000 on the advice of his best friend from high school. They haven’t looked back since. The recipient of a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from Rutgers University and an MBA from Argosy, Hugo has been working in education for over seventeen years.

A committed family man himself, Hugo loves the family atmosphere here at Northwest and the fact that he, and every other member of staff, are on the same page when it comes to getting the best for our students. For Hugo, It’s all about the student and their success and his professional passion is changing lives, one student at a time.

In his spare time, Hugo can be found jogging, taking in the latest Disney or Marvel movies, and making the traditional Sunday morning breakfast for his family.
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Victor Maniece

Senior Enrollment Specialist

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Originally from small-town Ohio, Victor moved to Las Vegas to explore new horizons. At work, Victor enjoys helping NCC’s students discover new possibilities and pursue those opportunities with an open mind and a strong heart. Always outgoing, Victor can always be relied upon to listen and offer advice, and he likes to do both with a smile.
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Hailey Burbridge, B.A.

Enrollment Specialist II

B.A. Purdue University, West Lafayette

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Originally from Hobart, IN, Hailey graduated from both Hobart High School and Purdue University with a BA in Public Relations and Strategic Communication.

After graduation, Hailey decided to move out west and settled in Nevada. Now a member of our dedicated Front Office staff, Hailey is passionate about making a difference in the lives of others, both professionally and personally.

For Hailey, the best thing about working here is being able to truly make a difference in somebody’s life for the better, as setting our students up for success is such a crucial role in changing their lives and creating a better future.

At the weekends, Hailey can be found watching sitcoms, cooking, hiking with her dog Xena or hanging out with friends by the pool.
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Scott Atkins

Enrollment Specialist I

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Scott was born in Queens, NY, and moved to California when I was only five years old. Having moved to Las Vegas about six years ago.

He has been blessed to work for two organizations in that time that afforded him the opportunity to really make a difference in people’s lives. He is so excited to be a part of the NCC family and to be able to continue to do that same thing.

Scott’s professional passion is being able to help people and has an impact on their lives. His personal passion is his family. For Scott, the best thing about working for NCC is the opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives.

In his spare time, Scott enjoys golf, football, anything to do with the Dallas Cowboys, and spending time with his daughter.
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Liliana Gonzalez

Enrollment Specialist I

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Originally from a small town in CA, Liliana moved to Nevada looking for growth and opportunities.

Now a member of our Admissions Team, her passion in life is to empower others to find their way and also be true to herself. In a professional capacity, she is looking to grow into a well-rounded person to give the example to those who come after her.

For Liliana, the best part about working for NCC is the communication and the culture to say as it is very welcoming and just makes work ten times better to be a part of such a family.

On the weekends, Liliana can be found cooking, traveling, reading books, or spending time with her family.
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Shelby Watkins

Enrollment Specialist I

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A creative and artistic person, Shelby was born and raised in Las Vegas. A graduate of Northwest Career and Technical Academy and the College of Southern Nevada, Shelby has a passion for empowering people, as well as training and learning, which makes her a great fit for our Admissions Team.

For Shelby, the best thing about working for NCC is the incredibly warm and inviting atmosphere and an opportunity to help students make decisions that will positively affect their lives.

As a person with a passion for brain puzzles and board games, Shelby can be found spending her weekends playing games with her friends and family as well as binging Netflix and Hulu, drawing, and painting.
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Ciara Cowlishaw

Administrative Liaison II

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Originally from a town on the small island of Guam, Ciara has lived a globe-trotting life thanks to her parents serving in the airforce. Having lived everywhere from Japan to Germany, Ciara eventually settled in Las Vegas where she graduated from Legacy High School in North Las Vegas and is currently enrolled in UNLV, studying for a degree in Healthcare Administration.

Passionate about helping those around her, Ciara loves working in our front office for a company that is very family-oriented. From the moment she walked in for her first interview, she felt welcomed and like she was meant to be here.

In her spare time, Ciara can be found spending most of her time with her daughter, reading, cooking, or heading to California to spend time with the rest of her family.
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Kryston Latta, A.S.

Administrative Liaison II

A.S. College Of Southern Nevada

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Having graduated from Eldorado High School in 2007 and Community College of Southern Nevada in 2008 with an Associates Degree, Kryston joined our team as an Administrative Liaison.

Motivated by helping others succeed, Kryston is fulfilled by providing our students with a life-changing experience that gives them so many open doors to choose from.

Part of what Kryston loves about working at NCC is the people and the atmosphere! Not only is everyone passionate about student success but also about peer success.

In her spare time, Kryston can be found swimming, hiking, playing video games, and riding dirt bikes from time to time.
Career Services Department
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Tina Spencer, B.A.

Director Of Careers Services

B.A. University of Las Vegas Nevada

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Tina is a New Yorker that grew up in Las Vegas. Having lived in Pennsylvania, New York, Florida, Washington D.C and California, she now calls Las Vegas her home again. Tina graduated High School as a Presidential Scholar and continued pursuing her education at The University of Nevada, Reno, The University California, San Diego and ultimately graduating from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. After a varied career in marketing, sales and political consulting she wanted to find a way to make a difference, which is why she became a part of the team at Northwest. Tina joined Northwest Career College in October 2017 as a Career Services Advisor and has fallen in love with being a part of the Northwest family. When she is not helping the students prove that anything is possible, she enjoys reading, rock concerts, and yoga. Tina is focused on helping other succeed and proving that any challenge is just simply an opportunity for growth.
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Jenette Ashcraft, N.C.M.A.

Externship Manager

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Jenette has worked in the field of medicine since she got her first job as a receptionist and filing clerk for a neurologist’s office at the tender age of fifteen. After falling in love with medicine, Jenette graduated from National Education Center in the early 1990’s and went on to pursue a career in medical assisting that has seen her work in a huge range of capacities, from front desk receptionist through back office assistant to billing and utilization manager. A certified medical assistant and holder of a multitude of sub certifications, Jenette’s varied experience of in hospitals, labs, dialysis clinics, urgent care units, and doctor’s offices in over twenty specialties led to her being recruited by Northwest Career College to work in first the Phlebotomy department and then the Medical Assisting department. Jenette’s passion for medicine saw her ultimately assume the position of Allied Health Department Director, where she oversees the education of future generations of medical assistants.
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Lois Westover

Senior Advisor

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Born and raised in Southern California, Lois moved to Las Vegas in 1994. After spending most of her career in corporate banking and as a bodily injury insurance claims adjuster, Lois moved on to managing a family owned and operated massage therapy clinic for nine years and now passes on her wealth of experience to our NCC students. Lois loves being part of the family environment of Northwest Career College and assisting our graduates in pursuing their dream careers. She spends her spare time enjoying the company of her family.
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Jason Ong, B.S.

Graduate Advisor II

B.S. University of Arizona

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Born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, Jason is a member of our dedicated Career Services team. Having graduated from Bishop Gorman High School, Jason studied Microbiology / Minor Chemistry at the University of Arizona before joining us at NCC.

A dedicated, adaptive, problem-solving individual who enjoys tackling new challenges, Jason loves that his work environment is filled with friendly and welcoming people.

In his spare time, Jason is an active member of a nonprofit service organization called Las Vegas Young Professionals (LVYP) of Kiwanis, which is dedicated to servicing the children of the world, networking within the community, and creating new opportunities to empower others.

He also enjoys playing with his Shiba Inu, video games, and tabletop board games.
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Andrew Cavaciuti, A.A.S.

Graduate Advisor I

A.A.S. Northwest Career College

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Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Andrew is one of our alumni, having graduated with an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice and is now a valued member of our security team while he attends Grand Canyon University to study for his post grad.

Studying Criminal Justice has inspired Andrew to follow his professional passion and work towards setting up a program for underprivileged youth to receive counseling along with being able to play sports on a team that is affordable for their parents.

Part of what drew Andrew to come back to Northwest was the comradery that he has built with the team and the culture that has been created here that seems to naturally draw the best from people.

On the weekends, you can find Andrew playing basketball with his son. They also go on hikes and play Fortnite together.
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Allison Arellano, A.S., B.S.

Graduate Advisor I

B.S. Dixie State University

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Allison is originally from the small island of Saipan in the pacific located in the Northern Mariana Islands. She is a proud first-generation college student. She lived in Saint George Utah for about four years where she pursued my bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies with an emphasis on applied leadership.

Having moved to Las Vegas about a year ago in the midst of the pandemic, Allison has been adapting to our new normal in a new city.

Allison’s professional and personal passions would be creating bridges for those who want to break the cycle of poverty through higher education. She is a passionate advocate who enjoys working with students and thrives on helping others reach their academic success and life achievement.

For Allison, the best thing about working at Northwest Career College would be the fact that everyone acts like family here. You can walk everywhere, and smiles would greet you instantly. Everyone is always so cheerful and helpful here.

In her spare time, Allison enjoys road trips and hikes. She believes in staying active as well as seeking new adventures and meeting new people.
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Denee Thomason, A.S., B.S.

Career Services Advisor I

A.S., B.S. College of Southern Nevada

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Born in Huntington Beach, California, Denee has been bouncing between there are Nevada for the last 30 years. A graduate of Huntington Beach High School and CCSN, Denee, now works as a member of our dedicated Career Services Team.

Professionally, Denee looks to utilize the skill sets and knowledge that she has gained over the last 20 years from both working as well as her college education. She is excited to be challenged and reach new goals within her role here at Northwest.

For Denee, the best thing about working for NCC is the infectious positivity. Everyone is willing to help and support you from day one, you don’t feel like you are a stranger here. You feel like you are a part of the family. She is so happy to be a part of such a great company and culture.

In her spare time, Denee can be found decorating, exercising, or spending time with family and friends. Her weekends are filled with sports events and kids mostly.
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Dionne Webster

Career Services In School Advisor I

M.A. Ashford Uniersity

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Nadine Bryant, A.A.S.

Senior Administrative Liaison

A.A.S. College of Southern Nevada

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Nadine moved to Las Vegas from Roanoke Virginia in 2005 and graduated with high honors from the College of Southern Nevada in 2017, receiving an Associate’s Degree in Business Management.

In her spare time, Nadine likes to spend time with her Vegas and East-coast family. She is an avid gamer, but still finds the time to enjoy Nevada’s scenery by heading out hiking, rock climbing, and fishing.
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Nicole Lightell

Career Services In School Advisor I

A.A., Special Education; B.A., University of Nevada Las Vegas

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Education Department
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Mark Brunton, M.S.Ed., CPhT

Director Of Education

B.S., M.S. Kaplan University

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Mark brings a wealth of pharmacy technician experience to share with the students at Northwest, having served in the field for ten years as a Pharmacy Technician and for twelve years as a Technician Educator.

A graduate of Kaplan University, with a BA in Organizational Communications and MS in Higher Education Administration and Leadership. Mark has worked as a surveyor for ASHP’s Technician Accreditation Program, as well as an item writer for the Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam. He is also a member of the Technician Advisory Committee to the Nevada State Board of Pharmacy.

Passionate about producing competent and confident pharmacy technicians through proper training, Mark enjoys working for a college whose culture emphasizes a desire to provide the best pharmacy training in Las Vegas. Not content with training pharmacy students all week, Mark can often be found teaching swing dancing at the weekend.
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Bailee Whitmore, R.D.A.

Education Manager

R.D.A. Northwest Health Careers

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An alumnae of Northwest Career College, Bailee graduated with her RDA in 2014. With a career in dental assisting at Affordable ll and office management with the Dollar Loan Center to draw on, she came back to Northwest to become our Dental Assisting Administrative Liaison. A passionate outdoors person spends the majority of her weekends getting lost somewhere in the mountains with her friends.
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David Bolshazy, C.C.M.A, EMT-I

Curriculum Development Coordinator II

C.C.M.A. Pima Medical, AZ

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Having started his medical career as an X-ray Specialist while in the U.S. Army, David left the military and became an EMT in Las Vegas. Transitioning to Orthopaedics for the next 17 years, David eventually ended up working as an EEG Technician in Neurology for 2 years.

It was during his time in Neurology that David joined the team here at Northwest, coming to work with us in 2019 as one of our Medical Assisting Instructors.

Passionate about medicine in all its forms David loves to share his 30 years of clinical experience with our students. David continues to advance his knowledge of the medical field whenever he can and plans to study for his Bachelors in Radiographic Technology in 2020

At the weekends, David loves to spend time with his family and can most often be found teaching them how to tie their own flies for fly fishing.
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Phoebe London

Administrative Liaison I

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Phoebe is originally from Wisconsin but grew up in Ohio. She moved to Las Vegas with her family in 2011. Having attended Findlay High School in Ohio, she attended UNLV after she moved here, and then completed both her Master’s degrees with GCU.

As a former teacher, Phoebe’s passion is helping others in an educational capacity. She enjoys seeing people work hard and reach their goals.

For Phoebe, the best thing about working at Northwest Career College is how friendly and welcoming everybody is!

In her spare time, Phoebe enjoys training for different road race distances. She has run too many 5K’s, 10K’s to count, and 10 half marathons. She is currently training for the next marathon.

When she is not running, Phoebe enjoys spending time with her two dogs, family, and friends spending as much time outdoors as possible.
Employee Services Department
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Patricia Russ, B.A.

Talent Acquisition Manager

B.A. Angelo State University

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Trish, as she prefers to be called, has had the pleasure of working all over the world, mostly within the nonprofit and higher education sectors. A military spouse and mother of two, Trish has become something of a “jack-of-all-trades,” picking up skills from around the world and then bringing them home to NCC.

A part of our committed Employee Services Team, Trish spends her time building relationships, collaborations, job descriptions, and training tools. She loves being part of an organization that is growing exponentially and yet still maintains the “at-home” feeling so she can truly be herself.

At the weekends, Trish likes to stay active, and can most often be found with her family going to the gym, hiking around Las Vegas or practicing her home improvement skills on her new property.
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Paloma Bernal, L.M.T.

Training & Development Coordinator

L.M.T. Cortiva Institute, Illinois

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Originally born in Mexico City, Paloma grew up just north of Chicago and moved to Las Vegas in 2019 to join us here at Northwest as a Massage Instructor, where she enjoys being around our students and being a constant learning environment.

Having graduated from Woodstock Highschool, Paloma discovered she had a passion for helping people be well and so studied Massage Therapy with the Cortiva Institute, a Massage Therapy, and Esthetician School.

In her spare time, Paloma enjoys hiking the Valley of Fire and Red Rock, hanging out with her dog, cooking traditional elaborate Hispanic meals, or at the gym.
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Justin Cooper

Administrative Liaison II

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Originally from Nuremberg in Germany, Justin has spent most of his time in the US living in Colorado. Justin graduated from Overland High School and went on to a vocational trade school in Clearfield Utah called Clearfield Job Corp.

Justin is proud to have served as an Airborne Paratrooper/Mechanic and now takes the lessons he learned during his time in the military and applies them to his personal passion of being a great role model to his kids and significant other.

At work, Justin believes that the best part about working at NCC is the atmosphere. The positivity on show really drives him to succeed and apply his best effort in any task he is given. Justin strongly believes that, with a team like NCC, success is easily possible.

In his spare time, Justin loves football, hiking and working out, in fact, anything that is physical and keeps his mind working. On the weekends he also enjoys spending time with his family and gaining new experiences with them, whatever they may be.
Facilities Department
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Francisco Reyes

Facilities Manager

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Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Francisco moved to New York when he was 16, living there for around 17 years before moving to Nevada.

A committed member of our Facilities Department, Francisco sees his time here at NCC as a new beginning in his life and is full of enthusiasm for his new post. He enjoys working with this around him in an mutually supportive atmosphere.

At the weekend, Francisco can be found spending time with his family and friends.
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Arthur Estrada

Senior Facilities Operator

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Originally born in Mexico, Arthur grew up in sunny California before moving to Las Vegas at the age of seventeen. He soon fell in love with the city and has been a Vegas native ever since.

A huge sports fan and lover of music, Arthur would one day like to become a professional drummer. Until that time, he enjoys working at Northwest Career College because being part of the family here offers him the chance to learn a range of new and exciting skills.
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Jamie Cantero

Facilities Operator II

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Having taken a leap of faith and moved to Las Vegas from Riverside CA, Jamie is now a member of our facilities team. A graduate of Quartz Hill high school, Jamie has a passion for animals and meeting new people.

Having joined the team here at NCC, Jamie enjoys the clear passion for our future generation, and the drive to ensure their success, that pervades the culture here at Northwest.

At the weekend, Jamie can be found spending time with her children and experiencing everything she can with them.
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Ri’Chel Thompson

Facilities Operator I

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Born and raised in Las Vegas, Ri’Chel graduated from Western High School and is now a committed member of our facilities team. In her spare time, Ri’Chel can be found Working out at the gym, reading books, and running at the park with her daughter and dog.

For Ri’Chel, the best thing about working for NCC is the fact that the first day she walked inside the building, she was greeted by a smiling face. She felt so welcomed.
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Gregory Tyiska

Facilities Operator I

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Originally from Southern California, Gregory has lived in Las Vegas for three years now. A graduate of Banning High School in Wilmington CA, he is now a member of our committed Facilities team.

Gregory’s professional passion is taking on new challenges to develop new skills for better opportunities. And his personal passion is to lead by example for his children to show them the meaning of hard work and determination to help them grow into successful adults.

For Gregory, the best thing about working for NCC is becoming part of the family and not just showing up for a paycheck. The opportunity for career growth is here in a positive work environment and most of all, the staff made him feel welcome in the company.

In his spare time, Gregory enjoys working out, camping, fishing, and, on the weekends, riding around the Las Vegas Valley on my Can-am Spyder F3, and listening to music on the open road.

Finance Department
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Amelia LeFevre, M.P.Adm.

Director Of Finance

M.P.Adm. Southern Utah University

Read Bio
Having attended Southern Utah University in Cedar City, Utah, where she completed a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Criminal Justice, Amelia went on to gain a Master’s of Science Degree in Public Administration.

After being adopted from India when she was just four months old, Amelia grew up in Southern Utah where her parents owned and operated a cattle ranch. After meeting her husband she decided to relocate to Las Vegas and refer to herself as a “small town girl, living in the big city.”

Amelia spends her work days relishing the fact that she can have a positive impact on people’s lives and her weekends chasing around her daughter and three puppies.

Amelia loves the fact that her position here at Northwest allows her to help change student’s lives for the better, how her values match those of the organization and the “family feeling” built into NCC by the Kenny family.
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Aileen Sawyer, B.A.

Finance Coordinator II

B.A. San Francisco State University

Read Bio
Aileen moved to Las Vegas from Northern California and grew up in the suburban part of the San Francisco, known as the Bay Area.

Having gained a B.A. in Liberal Studies with a concentration on English Literature from San Francisco State University, Aileen moved on to a twenty-year-long career in accounting.

Having made the move to Las Vegas in 2006, Aileen was looking for a new start and found it here as part of the Northwest Career College family. Aileen firmly believes in higher education and the betterment of individuals.

In her spare time, Aileen can be found splitting her time between spending time outdoors hiking the various trails at Red Rock, indulging in her love of Klay Thompson, The Warriors, and basketball in general, and learning to play the piano to emulate her all-time favorite artist, Alicia Keys.
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Janeice Thomas

Finance Coordinator II

Read Bio
Financial Aid Department
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Dana Glenn

Director Of Financial Aid

Read Bio
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Guillermo Balderas, B.S.

Senior Financial Aid Officer

B.S. Brigham Young

Read Bio
Taking his parents advice to “invest in himself”, Bill earned himself a Business Management degree from Brigham Young University and considers himself a living example of how an education can be a life changing and sometimes even a lifesaving opportunity. Bill is now a Financial Aid Officer. In that role, he is able to pass on the life lessons he has learned to our students while helping them find their own path to education.
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Donella Stanard

Senior Financial Aid Officer

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Bringing twenty years of experience in the Financial Aid arena to he role as as a Assistant Director of Financial Aid, Donella joined Northwest Career College in May, 2017. Originally a “Jersey Girl”, born and raised in Monmouth County, New Jersey, Donella moved out west in May 2017 to continue her career with NCC.
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Kerri Swallia, M.B.A.

Financial Aid Manager

M.B.A. Southern New Hampshire University

Read Bio
A passionate advocate of human and animal rights, Kerri likes to make the most of every day, learning new skills, taking in new information and spreading positive energy. For Kerri, the best thing about working for NCC is the family environment that both the students and staff help to build. In her spare time, Kerri likes to watch Netflix with her family or head out to the beach to enjoy the sun.
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Diane Barrett, B.A.

Senior Financial Aid Officer

B.A. Univeristy of Akron

Read Bio
Having graduated from the University of Akron with an Undergraduate Degree in Mass Media Communication, Diane, a first-generation college graduate, has channeled her passion for higher education into about assisting others in attaining their higher education goals. At work, she can most often be found keeping up to date with the changes in Federal Financial Aid regulations, so as to be of better assistance to our students. At the weekend, she is most likely to be found at a concert, indulging in her love of live music.
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Jonathan Hill, A.S.

Financial Aid Officer II & Veterans Affairs Specialist

A.S. Salt Lake Community College

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Originally from Salt Lake City, Jonathan’s wife is from Las Vegas and they moved out here to be closer to her family. Jonathan went to high school at West Jordan High in West Jordan, Utah and then went to Salt Lake Community College where he received his Associate’s Degree.

Jonathan loves working with people and helping them reach goals and achievements, so, for him, the best thing about working with as a member of the Financial Aid team here at NCC is the chance to work with, and help, our students.

In this spare time, you can find Jonathan indulging in his passion for sports and the outdoor, doing projects around the house, and, his favorite thing to do, playing with his children.
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Tim Thompson

Financial Aid Officer II & New Student Experience Specialist

Read Bio
Born in Cadillac, Michigan, Time grew up in Washington state and moved to Las Vegas in 2007. His main impetus for moving was to be in a warm climate, Tim was ready to be away from cold weather.

Having gone to high school in Kennewick WA, Tim studied Computer Science at Columbia Basin Community College and has spent most of his career in call centers specializing in customer service and various areas of employment such as people management, data analytics, and staffing.

A member of our dedicated Financial Aid department, Tim loves the fact that we provide actual training before new starters start work here. In the past several years, all positions Tim has been in have been a “learn as you go” environment in which leaves you wondering if you are doing things right.

On the weekends, Tim loves to travel, enjoys doing yard work, and indulges in his passion for DIY projects.
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Nathalya Moreira, B.A.

Financial Aid Officer I

B.A. University of Washington

Read Bio
Nathalya is originally from Brazil and moved to the United States in 2007 to work as an Aupair. Having lived in Seattle, WA and San Diego, CA, she eventually settled down in Las Vegas and joined the NCC family as a part of our committed Financial Aid team.

Nathalya has a background in Retail Management and Banking as well as a degree in Law, Economics and Public Policy from the University of Washington.

With a professional passion for helping others and making a difference, as well as learning about new cultures and perspectives, the best thing about working for NCC for Nathalya is getting to help people directly, especially immigrants like herself.

Nathalya loves that she is able to actively help them achieve their educational goals and improve their lives and that she gets to help them from the beginning of that journey through to the end.

In her spare time, Nathalya can be found reading, watching movies and documentaries, cooking/ baking, and making repairs to her house (which was built in 1947 and needs a lot of repairs).
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Gregory Morrison, B.A.

Financial Aid Officer I

B.A. California State University, Sacramento

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Originally from Sacramento CA, Gregory moved down to Nevada from LA after the prices and cost of living continued to skyrocket. Gregory attended Laguna Creek High school and got his BA at California State University Sacramento.

Gregory has had a varied career. Originally, he used to play football until an injury caused him to choose a different career path. He then moved to Los Angeles where he was a publicist for a period and was able to meet high-profile celebrities.

After working for the PR firm, Gregory then transitioned into finance and worked for Wells Fargo. He now works as a member of our dedicated Financial Aid department.

Gregory’s professional passions include educating people and assisting them in accomplishing their goals and, for Gregory, the best thing about working for NCC is the atmosphere, the people, and the culture of striving for greatness.

When he’s not at work, Gregory enjoys travel, working out hiking, cooking, and spending time with his family.
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Ash Contreras Hernandez, A.A.S.

Administrative Liaison II

A.A.S. Northwest Career College

Read Bio
Another Northwest Career College alumnae, Ashley earned her Associates Degree on Applied Science of Criminal Justice with us and now puts it to use as a member of our campus security team.

Ashley loves working as part of such a strong and supportive team and being able to help young people find the right path in life. For Ashley, the best part about working for Northwest is the staff, who she thinks are among the nicest people you can meet.

In her spare time, Ashley is passionate about art and her hobbies consist of videogames, drawing, painting, creative writing, reading, and watching new shows.
Front Office
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Maria Allen

Front Office Manager

City College Of San Francisco

Read Bio
A veteran employee of Northwest Career College, Maria first joined NCC in 2006 to lead our Front Office team and become the "face" of NCC to all visitors. Maria is a native of the Golden Gate City of San Francisco where she attended City College. She began her career at Seton Hospital as a PBX operator, then transferred to admitting patients. After moving to Las Vegas, Maria worked for Caesars Entertainment in telecommunications and conventions. After walking into NCC to drop off a resume, Maria was hired on the spot and began her career at Northwest serving as both Dr. Kenny's assistant and as the Massage Clinic front office coordinator. Since then, Maria has met every student, employee, and visitor to Northwest over the last 12 years, greeting each of them with a warm smile and a kind, "Can I help you?"
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Emily Biles, B.A.

Front Office Manager

B.A. University of Hawaii at Manoa

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Emily recently moved to Nevada from Southern California with her best friend and was originally from a small town in Ventura County called Simi Valley. Having graduated high school at Simi Valley High, Emily attended Moorpark College for her GED and completed her Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Professionally, Emily is passionate about helping students succeed and reach their full potential. Personally, she is passionate about helping her community, specifically youth development. For Emily, the best thing about working at Northwest Career College is the family environment. Everyone seems truly happy to be working here and they always have a smile.

A self-proclaimed dog lover, college graduate, and hot sauce connoisseur, Emily spends her weekend spending time with friends, playing with her dog and exploring her new city. She also loves to camp and be outdoors.
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Bridget Zambrano

Evening Front Office Manager

Read Bio
Bridget is currently studying Business at the College of Southern Nevada and is hoping to transfer to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, to gain an Undergraduate degree. Born and raised in Las Vegas, Bridget is passionate about making sure that everyone who walks into Northwest feels as welcome as she did when she first joined the NCC family. In her spare time, Bridget enjoys the outdoors and can often be found out at Mount Charleston or Red Rook, hiking and walking her dogs.
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Angelica Baltodano

Administrative Liaison II

Read Bio
Originally from San Francisco, Angelica moved to Nevada to attend college. She studied at Pima Medical Institute for Dental Assisting and is currently studying at the University of Phoenix for her BA in Business.

Part of our Administrative Liaison team, Angelica’s professional passion is helping others by teaching them skills that she has acquired through the years. For Angelica, the best part of working for Northwest Career College is that she has a chance to make a difference in the lives of others as well as moving forward in her own life.

In her spare time, Angelica loves learning how to cook new things, seeing her family, spending time in the mountains with her dogs, and her personal passion, singing.
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Erica Carlos, M. Psych

Administrative Liaison II

M. Psych Capella University

Read Bio
Originally from Honolulu, Hawaii, Erica graduated from Moanalua High School and continued her education at the University of Hawaii in West O’ahu, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Sciences with a concentration in Psychology. Erica is currently pursuing a Master of Science degree in Educational Psychology with Capella University.

Professionally, Erica’s passion is seeing others succeed. She enjoys talking to colleagues and friends about their desires and goals and what steps they’re taking to achieve them, which makes her the perfect fit for her position in our front office.

For Erica, the best thing about working at NCC is the camaraderie. Since her very first interview, she has felt so overwhelmingly welcomed.

In her spare time, Erica enjoys dining out with friends and doing a little bit of retail therapy. She’s also a professional binge-watcher and her favorite T.V. show is FRIENDS!
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Madelin Hernandez

Administrative Liaison II

Read Bio
Born in San Diego, California, Madelin moved with her family to Las Vegas when she was just two years old.

A member of our dedicated front office team, Madelin’s professional passion is helping others succeed and to always be there for others. For Madelin, the best part about working for NCC is becoming apart of the NCC family and working with amazing people.

Madelin is a huge fan of scary movies and when she’s not watching one, she can most often be found playing softball and painting. She is the proud owner of two dogs, one chihuahua and a Maltese and spends her weekends walking them in the park.
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Cynthia Villanueva, A.A.S.

Administrative Liaison II

A.A.S. Northwest Career College

Read Bio
Born in Redwood City, Cynthia moved to Las Vegas from California at the age of eight. A graduate of Northwest Career College’s Criminal Justice Program, Cynthia went on to have a varied career, working for EOS Fitness, NorAm International warehouse, and MGM Grand before coming back to join as a member of our Campus Security team.

Cynthia’s professional and personal passions are learning new things and meeting new people and she loves that the staff at NCC are always very nice and friendly, everyone is always really positive and outgoing.

On the weekend, Cynthia can be found learning how to play the keyboard as well as drawing or painting.
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Matthew DeMeo

Administrative Liaison I

C.A.A. National Career Certification Board

Read Bio
Matthew has lived in Las Vegas his entire life and loves the city. A graduate of Cimarron-Memorial High School, which is right across the street from NCC, Matthew decided to continue his education by taking a business administration class with us.

As a professional, Matthew loves the idea of businesses because you can make your passion come to life. He also has a passion for music and cooking so he hopes one day to start a business of his own involving one or the other.

Now a member of our Front Office Team, Matthew thinks the best thing about working for NCC is the environment and the people. He has yet to meet someone here who is negative about their job and that is such a refreshing new addition to my life. He loves his team, and can’t wait to see what the future brings to the table!

On the weekends Matthew spends a lot of his time playing guitar, playing video games such as Call of Duty, and hanging out with his best friends. He also goes out bowling once a week to keep his chops up.
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Carrie Oliver, L.M.T., B.A.

Administrative Liaison I

L.M.T. Northwest Career College, B.A. Psychology Concordia University

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Born and raised in Minnesota, Carrie moved to Las Vegas with her family after spending some time in Dallas, Texas.

A graduate of Concordia University and NCC, Carrie is now a member of our committed Front Office team. People are Carrie’s passion, both personally and professionally. She’s interested in hearing people’s stories and is happiest when she can be of service in big and small ways.

For Carrie, the best thing about working for NCC is the people, as she is surrounded by such a great team of individuals who are all working to not only provide a positive educational experience for students but to also encourage and uplift one another.

In her spare time, Carrie’s hobbies include counting cross stitch and other crafts, reading, and listening to podcasts (mostly true crime). On the weekends you will find her checking out local yard sales, walking her dog, and binging Netflix shows or listening to 70s music with her husband. She also loves a good game night and enjoys feeding everyone!
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Jessica Ortega CMAA

Administrative Liaison I

CMAA Milan Institute

Read Bio
Born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, Jessica graduated High School online before moving on to Milan for her qualification as a medical administrative assistant.

Now a member of our excellent front office administrative liaison team, for Jessica the best thing about working at NCC is how everybody is so friendly and willing to help you with anything to bring you on board.

Jessica’s professional passion is making everybody feel welcomed the moment they step foot on campus in the same manner she did when she first arrived.

In her spare time, Jessica can be found enjoying being outdoors with her family, going hiking, enjoying going to new places, and especially going swimming in the Las Vegas heat!
Office of The Chief Academic Officer
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Emerald Garcia, A.A.B.

New Student Manager

A.A.B. College of Southern Nevada

Read Bio
Emerald joined Northwest Career College in February of 2017, taking on the position of Outreach Coordinator. The recipient of a degree in Business Management, Emerald brings her unique background knowledge, skill set, and interpersonal skills to the role. A proud member of NCC, Emerald's passion is solely driven in the direction of aiding students in their dream of finding a career and imparting the message "come be a part of our family!"
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Fernando Herbert

Spanish Language Consultant

Read Bio
Office of The Chief Executive Officer
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Pablo Chacon, B.A.

Director Of Project Management

B.A. Marroquin University, Guatemala

Read Bio
Pablo grew up in Guatemala before emigrating to the United States when he was 20 years old. After spending some time living and working in San Diego and Pittsburgh, he moved to Las Vegas and has been working with Northwest Career College since April 2017. After a varied career in marketing for an insurance company, career services for a law school and as an executive assistant to the owner of a behavioral health company, Pablo signed on with NCC as an administrative liaison and is now our Director of Technology.
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Nancy Enis

Senior Advisor to the CEO

Read Bio
A six year veteran of NCC family, Nancy began her career in Criminal Law as a Legal Secretary before moving on to become a Paralegal. She worked for thirty-one years for the same attorney before moving to Las Vegas to accepted a position as an Account Manager for GES (Global Experience Specialists) and remained with them for over sixteen years. Dr. John Kenny has been Nancy's Chiropractor for over 20 years and as his patient they often talked about working together, so Nancy retired from GES, she joined the NCC family and currently works in the Student Development Department working hand in hand with our students.
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Sophia Palomino, B.S.

Senior Coordinator

B.S. Westwood College

Read Bio
Originally from Huntington Beach in California, Sophia finished high school there before attending Westwood College in Anaheim to earn her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.

Along with her husband and two children, Sophia moved from San Diego to Las Vegas in 2016 and joined the Northwest family as part of our operations department.

For Sophia, the best part of the job is the opportunity to emotionally connect with students and she does her best to be a counselor, a friend, cheerleader, and safe place. She finds that being surrounded by like-minded people here at NCC makes being there for the students that much easier

On the weekends, Sophia can most often be found indulging her passion for the outdoors, enjoying sunset surf sessions, camping under the stars, a good fishing trip or a long ride down a snowy valley. She likes to cap those outdoor adventures off with her some of her favorite food, eggplant parmesan, blueberry cream cheese over French toast, cream puffs or caprese pasta.
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Estefania Martinez

EA I to the CEO

Read Bio
Estefania, who much prefers to be called Stefy, moved to Nevada at the age of four and has dedicated her professional life to acquiring the tools and knowledge needed to make a life-changing impact on other people.

For Stefy, the best thing about working at NCC is the family atmosphere. The NCC staff strive to make both employees and students feel at home, and Stefy loves seeing how NCC comes together as a family to change every student's life.

At the weekend, Stefy, who considers herself a "movie critic," likes to watch one of her long list of favorite films, cook, listen to music or just cruise around Las Vegas with her friends.
Office of The Chief Financial Officer
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Sierra Barnhart, C.N.A.

Executive Assistant I to the CFO

Read Bio
Sierra grew up in Colorado, where she went to high school and college, then spent two years living in Utah before she moved to Las Vegas and joined Northwest as our Financial Aid Administrative Liaison.

As a person that loves helping people in all areas of life, the thing that Sierra enjoys most about working at NCC is having a work family and being able to help other people achieve their dreams.

In her spare time, Sierra enjoys spending time with her family.
Operations
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Glache Parco, B.S.

Operations Administrative Liaison I

B.S. University of Nevada Las Vegas

Read Bio
An Administrative Liaison with a background in retail and healthcare, Glache is originally from Queens, New York, and moved to Nevada with family in 2001 due to the career opportunities.

A graduate of Southwest Career and Technical Academy (SWCTA) and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Glache has discovered a passion for the analytical/administrative side of things and aspires to become a Data Analyst in the near future.

For Glache, the best thing about working for NCC is that it’s an intentional family environment in every interaction. This team is like no other, continuously redefining quality education and overcoming challenges together with the students. It’s truly a joy to work here.

On the weekends, Glache can be found on a foodie adventure around town or watching something with comedy or action-comedy be it American/European movies, Korean Dramas, or some anime.
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Samantha Glover, B.A.

Marketing Manager

B.A. University of Nevada Las Vegas

Read Bio
Sam is a Las Vegas native, born and raised. Having worked in hospitality and sales management and, moved to Washington State and Hawaii to follow her husband as he served in the U.S Army, Sam is now back in Las Vegas and a part of our Front Office team.

Sam’s professional passion is finding a career that will focus on her communication and marketing abilities that she accumulated through her customer service background. For Sam, the best part about working for Northwest Career College is the camaraderie of all the faculty and staff. She loves the fact that you truly feel like apart of a family that wants you to succeed in all that you do.

In her free time, Sam passionate about her family, friends, and making connections with people that will make a positive impact on her life. Her hobbies include spending time with family, traveling with her husband and two dogs and finding new books to read.
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Grace Perea

Director of Operations

Read Bio
Born in California, Grace moved out to Las Vegas when she was 15 and joined Northwest Career College in November, 2014 managing the office in the evenings, working with the night students. Over the years, Grace continued to demonstrate her understanding of student challenges and needs. Her passion for helping students achieve their ultimate career goals made Grace the clear leader of our enrollment team and today Grace is the Director of Admissions for NCC. Excited to be excited to be part of the NCC family, the best part of Grace’s job is helping to change students lives for a brighter future, and having that impact on as many people as possible.
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Charles “Chuck” Grays III, M.S.

Student Advisor

M.S. University of La Verne

Read Bio
Born and raised in California, Chuck earned his B.A. in Communications at the California State University of San Bernardino and his M.S. in Educational Counseling at the University of La Verne before being drawn to join NCC as an Enrollment Specialist.

Chuck has always been community-minded and spends much of his free time volunteering at community service events, and helping, inspiring, and impacting the youth to excel academically, socially, and personally.

For Chuck, the best thing about working for NCC is the family environment where everyone supports each other and that the main goal for Northwest is to make a difference in the students’ lives.

When he isn’t coaching, Chuck likes to spend his spare time writing poetry, playing card games, and indulging his love of football and basketball.
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Dominique Lewis, B.S.

Student Advisor

B.S. California State University, San Marcos

Read Bio
Originally from Washington state, Dominique went to high school in a small town called Spanaway but spent all of his college years in San Diego. Having graduated with a Bachelor’s in Business Management, Dominique is now part of our admissions team and enjoying the positive impact his role allows him to have on other people.

An upbeat team player who loves creating new relationships, Dominique looks forward to using his knowledge and experience for his own business someday, but in the meantime, he’s using his skills to help lead our students to success.

In his spare time, Dominique can most often be found hanging out with friends and family, watching sports, and trying new things, such as new cities, foods, and activities.
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Autumn Estes

Administrative Liaison I

Read Bio
Born in a little town named Wheatland, Autumn moved to Nevada with her parents around 2nd grade. She lived in Las Vegas until about 2010 when she then moved to a small town in North Dakota. After two winters she decided to take a job offer in Kauai, HI, and moved to the island for another two years before returning to Las Vegas in 2016.

Having graduated from Votech (renamed as SECTA now) with an emphasis in drafting, Autumn attended CSN right out of high school but took time off to start a family and raise children. She recently restarted at CSN to finish her degree in Business.

Now a member of our Operations team, the best thing about working for NCC for Autumn is the environment and the positivity in everyone she has met.

On the weekends, Autumn can be found traveling, reading, painting, and supporting her son when he plays soccer.
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Tony Gonzalez

Operations Administrative Laison I

Read Bio
Originally born in Mexico, Arthur grew up in sunny California before moving to Las Vegas at the age of seventeen. He soon fell in love with the city and has been a Vegas native ever since. A huge sports fan and lover of music, Arthur would one day like to become a professional drummer. Until that time, he enjoys working at Northwest Career College because being part of the family here offers him the chance to learn a range of new and exciting skills.
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Tony Madero

Director of IT and Cybersecurity

Read Bio
Tony learned his IT skills by serving 22 years in the US Army as a telecommunications, communication security, and IT expert. Having left the army, he is currently studying for a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems with a specialization in computer forensics.

As part of Tony’s job here at Northwest, he spends a lot of time talking to other staff members and he loves the synergy, happiness, and the passion of the staff and faculty at Northwest Career College.

In his free time, Tony can most often be found bowling, reading, or spending time with his family hiking, at family movie nights, or exposing them to new experiences.
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Ashley Martinez

Administrative Liaison I

Read Bio
Originally from North Hollywood, CA, Ashley moved out to Las Vegas when she was just 18 in order to expand her horizons. Ashley’s personal passion has always been art and, as a former art assistant for an art teacher, she also enjoys helping students get in touch with their creative side.

For Ashley, the best part of working at Northwest is the energy and the passion of the people around her and knowing that every day is a new goal and there is an achievement available at the end of that day.

In her free time, Ashley loves to spend time with her friends and family and indulge in her passion for art.
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Alan Noyes, B.S.

Administrative Liaison I

B.S. University of Nevada, Reno

Read Bio
Alan is a Vegas native who has a really large extended family that mostly all live in Vegas as well. Having graduated from Shadow Ridge High School, Alan attended the University of Nevada, Reno.

Now a member of our IT department, Alan really enjoys the networking side of IT but IT security is also very interesting to him. Keeping up to date with all of the latest security threats and updates is exciting and also good to know to help mitigate those threats within the company.

For a personal passion, Alan enjoys trying to live a healthy lifestyle in regards to diet and staying active. He also always tries to keep continuously learning professionally by studying topics in IT and pursuing new certifications, and also personally by reading about different topics and expanding his viewpoints and knowledge in general.

For Alan, the best thing about working for NCC is the coworkers, who all seem like great people and the great work culture and opportunities for career growth that are available in the IT department.

On the weekends, Alan can be found playing Disc Golf with friends, cooking and trying new recipes out, hiking, camping, fishing and all things of that nature, and in the winter, snowboarding.
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Mario Rodas

Administrative Liaison I

Read Bio
Mario is originally from Los Angeles, California, but has lived in Las Vegas Since 1995. He came out to Vegas with his family as they were looking for better work opportunities and have been here ever since.

Having graduated from Green Valley High School and got his degree from the College of Southern Nevada, Mario now works in our IT department.

Mario has been passionate about working in the IT field ever since he was 11 years old. He has always loved computers and technology so he is excited to have this opportunity to work for such an amazing company where he can start his career.

For Mario, the best thing about working for NCC is the comradery amongst all the employees and higher-ups. Everyone seems to be happy to be here which in turn makes him feel happy to be here as well.

In his spare time, Mario is very passionate about his family's happiness and success. He spends most of his time with his children, having fun with them or helping build them up in their daily lives.
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James Bernardo, A.S.

Senior Videographer

A.S. College of Southern Nevada

Read Bio
Originally from the Philippines James came to the USA after joining the U.S. Navy. During his service he was posted all over the world, living in South Korea, Japan, and Italy before moving to California and, finally, Nevada.

With an MBA in Business Administration through Touro University International’s online Master’s Program, James joined the Northwest family as a member of our marketing department. One of the things James loves about working here is being able to collaborate with a lot of talented and passionate people to do meaningful work in education and pursuing NCC’s strategic goals.

A keen photographer, with an Associate’s degree in Commercial Photography, James spends his spare time with his family while trying to keep up on technology and new trends in video and photo production by watching online tutorials and videos and reading articles and blogs.
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Adam Malkowski, A.A.S.

Videographer II

A.A.S. South Suburban College

Read Bio
Adam grew up on the far South East side of Chicago, from a neighborhood known as The East Side. Adam attended Bishop Noll Institute for High school and the Environmental Technical Institute to study HVAC repair before moving on to the South Suburban College where he discovered his love of film and cameras.

Now a member of our marketing and videography department, Adam enjoys indulging his passion for making short films on our behalf.

In his free time, Adam’s personal passion is to make people laugh and he spends most of his weekends either watching films or getting out and about, shooting videos or photos for fun.
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Anthony Le

Videographer I

Read Bio
Anthony grew up here in Las Vegas and went to Ed W Clark High School. Currently a member of our Marketing department, Anthony brings his passion for film to our marketing efforts. For Anthony, the best thing about working at NCC is the friendly community and the fact that he gets paid to make videos.

Anthony’s passions, both personally and professionally, revolve around pursuing a career in film with a focus on writing and directing. So, it’s no surprise that he can most often be found spending his spare time writing, shooting and editing film, with short breaks for playing music with friends and working out.
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Jeffrey Simkins

Videographer I

Read Bio
Jeffrey’s first job at the tender age of 16 was working for Northwest Career College, having worked with our founder Dr. John Kenny, assisting him in his chiropractic office. Originally a part of our marketing team, Jeffrey took a break from NCC to find himself and after almost a year away from the school, he knew he had to return to the NCC Family. he doesn’t regret his decision.

Now a member of our operations team, there are two things here at NCC that stand out for Jeffrey, the energy and the people. Everyone is so friendly and seeing their smiling faces everyday encourages him to reciprocate the positivity.

On the weekends, Jeffrey can be found painting or indulging in his passion for movies and Photography, sharpening his talents for the day he becomes a successful movie director.
Security
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Eligio Gandarilla. A.A.S.

Senior Campus Security Officer

A.A.S. Northwest Career College

Read Bio
Born in Paramount,California, Eligio moved to Las Vegas at the tender age of three and has been here ever since, graduating from Northwest with his Associates Degree In Criminal Justice.

On a professional level, Eligio’s passion is to one day be a part of the gang unit and to help teenagers from going down the wrong road. On a personal level, he is passionate about helping his younger brothers achieve their dreams of becoming professional soccer players.

For Eligio, the best thing about working as part of our security team is the family atmosphere and his coworkers, who always motivate him to do better.

In his spare time, Eligio can be found being a full-time soccer dad watching and coaching his two brothers and sister when he is not playing himself.
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Richard Mumford

Campus Security Officer II

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Richard was born in Andrews, Texas but grew up in San Antonio, Texas. A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Richard’s last assignment in the Air Force brought me to Las Vegas in 1991 when he was stationed at Nellis, AFB.

Professionally, Richard would like to bring his experience and knowledge to the Security Dept. He is dedicated to his job with an emphasis on attention to detail and being reliable and a team player. Richard hopes to bring his knowledge and experience to the Security Team.

For Richard, the best thing about working for NCC is the level of communication between staff.

At the weekends, Richard’s hobbies include fishing, golf, and a deep deep love of barbecue.
Student Relations
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Angela Buehler

Executive Assistant I to VP of Student Relations

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Originally from a small town called Pueblo in Colorado, Angela moved to Vegas around five years ago and hasn’t looked back since. Having graduated from centennial High School, home of the Bulldogs, Angela worked in retail for 12 years before joining us here as one of our Administrative Liaisons.

Angela is committed to making those around her happy and her favorite thing since I joining Northwest Career College is how everyone is so friendly and the extra effort they put in to make her feel like she is part of the family.

At the weekends, Angela loves to spend time outdoors, mostly fishing or spending family time with her five children.
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Romone Jones, B.S.

Student Relations Coordinator

B.S. University of Phoenix

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Born and raised in Tacoma Washington, Romone attended Spanaway Lake High School before gaining his Bachelors in Business Management from University of Phoenix and is currently attending a Master’s program in Divinity at Grand Canyon University.

Romone’s professional passions include people and building a legacy, which is why he is now a committed member of our Student Relations team.

Personally, Romone has a range of passions and hobbies and has co-authored a book, made a musical CD, hosted radio broadcasts and several other incredible opportunities.

For Romone, the best thing about working for NCC is the people, including the staff, faculty and students and the environment here on our campus.

On the weekend, Romone can be found creating content for online programs, challenging my son at NBA 2k and losing every time, and spending time with friends and family.

Faculty

Business Administration
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Monica Jones, B.S., C.A.A.

Business Administration Program Chair

B.S. University of Phoenix

Read Bio
Born and raised in the state of Washington, Monica and her family decided to make Las Vegas, Nevada their new home in 2015. Having graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from the University of Phoenix, Monica began as the Executive Assistant to the chief operating officer (COO) here at Northwest, where her many talents were showcased. Today, Monica is the Program Chair of the Business Administration Department of Northwest Career College.

Monica brings a passion for helping people to this busy role and is always on hand to help solve a problem or bring out the best in the people she comes into contact with. Her favorite thing about Northwest Career College is the contagiously welcoming atmosphere that envelops people when they come in through the front door.

On her free days, Monica loves spending time with her family, enjoying Lifetime and Hallmark movies, playing spades, and literally anything to do with comedy.
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Tanya Sprang, B.A.

Business Administration Lead Instructor

B.A. University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Read Bio
Tanya moved to Nevada in eighth grade from Tucson, Arizona. Coming from a USAF family, Tanya has lived in many places, such as Arizona, Hawaii, and South Korea. She went to college at UNLV and has a minor in Japanese. Tanya also served in the Peace Corps from 2017 to 2019, teaching in China for two years at a college in Guizhou, Tongren.

As a member of our Business Administrative Assistant instructor team, Tanya’s professional passion is establishing a mutual relationship of trust with both her colleagues and students and helping her students grow while also learning from them in turn.

Tanya loves the positive energy of the school. She always looks forward to spending time with her students because seeing them grow both personally and professionally is wonderful and she’s thankful for being part of their journey.

On the weekends, Tanya likes to meet up with friends to go shopping and eat plenty of food. Her favorites are Chinese hotpot and Korean BBQ, although she’s open to trying a lot of new things if they’re delicious. She also enjoys reading and writing in her free time with her favorite genres being horror and drama.
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Toni Baybayan, B.S.

Business Administration Instructor I

B.S. Hawaii Pacific University

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Toni is originally from a small town called Kea’au on the Big Island of Hawaii and moved to Las Vegas in November of last year.

She graduated from Kalani High School in Honolulu and started college at Holy Names University in Oakland, CA then transferred to Hawaii Pacific University where she earned her B.S. in Business Administration.

Both Toni’s professional and personal passions are helping people be successful and always learning new things. For Toni, the best thing about working for NCC is the opportunity to make a difference in student’s lives.

When she’s not working, Toni can be found spending time with family and friends, watching TV shows and sports, trying new restaurants, and indulging in her love of sports.
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Kay Stewart, MEd., B.A., CSPO

Business Administration Instructor I

M.Ed. Tiffin University, B.A. Northern Kentucky University

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Originally from the Midwest, Kay worked in Project Management for nearly 10 years, across different lines of business and has earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Integrative Studies as well as a Masters of Education in Higher Education Administration.

Now a member of our Business Administration team, Kay can communicate her passion for higher education and the importance of individuality. Staying true to yourself and achieving goals that resonate with you is of the utmost importance.

For Kay, the best thing about working for NCC is The opportunity to engage with colleagues and students alike, who come from all walks of life.

In her spare time, Kay enjoys travelling to new territories, exploring immersive art exhibits, and trying different brunches.
Criminal Justice
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Lisa Myers, J.D., L.L.M.

Criminal Justice Senior Program Chair & General Education Department Chair

J.D., L.L.M. Campbell University

Read Bio
Beginning her career as a Paralegal, Lisa soon advanced to the role of Senior Paralegal for various Family Law, Personal Injury and Corporate law firms in the Las Vegas community. She obtained her Juris Doctor and LL.M, completing her fellowship in Washington D.C. and Carson City, Nevada. Lisa also heads up the Educational Board of the LVVPA (Las Vegas Valley Paralegal Association) which is the local chapter affiliated with NALA, the Paralegal Association and CCBA, the Clark County Bar Association. As the Program Chair and an Instructor for the Legal Studies Department here at Northwest Career College, which is comprised of both the Paralegal Studies and Criminal Justice Degree Programs, Lisa uses her passion and love for the law, teaching, and politics to inspire our students.
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Robert Kurth, Jr., J.D.

Criminal Justice Senior Instructor

J.D. University of Denver College of Law

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Now in his 25th year of practicing law in Nevada, Robert earned his B.S. in Business Administration from UNLV in 1989, and his Juris Doctor from the University of Denver College of Law in December of 1991. During his career, he has been an Arbitrator for the Eighth Judicial District Court, a former Alternate Child Support Hearing Master, and a Small Claims Court Referee and Mediator. As an Adjunct Instructor for both our Paralegal Studies and Criminal Justice Programs, he now passes on his vast knowledge and experience in the legal field to our students.
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Dennis Nowakowski A.A.S.

Criminal Justice Instructor I

A.A.S. College Of Southern Nevada

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Dennis came from very humble beginnings in Chicago’s Southside. Having visited Nevada on holiday, he happily left the miserable Illinois winters behind for the sunshine of Las Vegas and to attend the College of Southern Nevada.

Passionate about teaching, Dennis wants the students to succeed both academically and in life. He wants them to be prepared when he sends them into their chosen profession. He wants to give them his best and wants them to learn from his worst. He wants his students and children in the best possible position for success, with the strongest attitude and confidence that they can accomplish anything in life.

Now a member of our Criminal Justice Team, Dennis enjoys the amazing culture here at NCC that brings together the staff and students.

On the weekends, Dennis can be found watching his son play lacrosse, spending time with his three chihuahuas, or practicing his baking skills.
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Tom Riddle, A.S., B.A., M.S.

Criminal Justice Instructor I

A.S. Rutgers, B.A. Glassboro State College, M.S. Central Michigan University

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Originally from New Jersey, Thomas and his family moved to the Las Vegas area after he retired from law enforcement and then from teaching.

Thomas has four years of military service where he served three years with NATO. After military service, he joined the Cherry Hill Police, NJ, and retired after 27 years at the rank of lieutenant.

During his tenure in law enforcement, he had the honor to work on the tactical team and detective unit.

In 1997, after receiving a master’s degree, Thomas worked as an adjunct professor in the Criminal Justice Department at the Camden County College, Blackwood, NJ. It was a great experience because he, along with his colleagues, blended theories in CJ to real-world experiences.

Upon retirement, Thomas worked in private security but was awarded a full-time faculty at Camden County College, where he served as an instructor and program coordinator.

Now a member of our Criminal Justice Team, the best thing about working for NCC for Thomas is the students. Over a period of time, seeing students enter a career they desire, and he was part of it.

During his free time, Thomas can be found working out or lounging by the pool.
Dental Assistant
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Jessica Vazquez, R.D.A.

Dental Assistant Program Chair

R.D.A. Charter College

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Originally from Southern California, Jessica moved to Las Vegas with her family before she found both a job as part of our Dental Assisting Team and her husband here. Jessica attended Sylmar HS in California and then Charter College for the Dental Assisting Program and she now hopes to go back to school and further her career in the dental field.

Jessica loves working at Northwest because the people that work here are very easy to get along with, everyone is super friendly, and Jessica finds the Kenny family to be very inspiring.

On the weekend, Jessica can usually be found spending time with her family and three fur babies or taking a quick trip to California
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TR Williams, B.S., C.D.A.

Dental Assistant Lead Instructor

B.S. National American University

Read Bio
A thirty year veteran for the United States Army, TR graduated from National American University in Rapid City, South Dakota, where he earned a BS in Applied Management before going on to hold the position of the Program Director for the U.S. Army Enlisted Dental Training Program. Prior to his retirement, TR was responsible for training over 1,600 military students in the areas of dental assisting, dental hygiene, and dental laboratory technology each year. He now brings the benefits of that experience to our students as one of our Dental Assisting Instructors, doing his part to make our program is best learning experience we can offer our students.
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Ellesa Reynada, R.D.A.

Dental Assistant Lead Instructor

R.D.A. Northwest Career College

Read Bio
Originally born in Anaheim, California, Ellesa moved to Las Vegas when she was just four years old. Having graduated from the College of Southern Nevada High School, Ellesa went on to attend the College of Southern Nevada before joining us here at NCC and graduating from our Dental Assisting Course in 2015.

Having spent time in the field as a dental assistant and as the academic director and lead instructor for another dental assisting school, Ellesa returned to NCC to take up the position as one of our new dental assisting instructors.

Ellesa considers the success of her students to be her highest priority and spends her workdays swapping between the roles of mentor, leader, and listener in order to give them the full support they need.

In her spare time, Ellesa can most often be found spending time with her family or indulging in her passion for baking.
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Alberta ‘Gale’ Duncan, R.D.A

Dental Assistant Instructor I

R.D.A. Dental Board of California

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Originally from Michigan, Alberta has only recently moved to Las Vegas and just trying to cope with the heat during June through September.

Having attended Edwin Denby High and the Riverside Community College to achieve her qualifications in dental assisting, Alberta now works as one of our dental assisting instructors.

A friendly, approachable, caring, and mild tempered individual, Alberta’s professional passion is teaching dental assisting and she finds that working at NCC means working in the kind of extremely positive environment that she enjoys.

On the weekend, Alberta can be found spending time with family, no matter what.
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Tina Estep C.D.A.

Dental Assistant Instructor I

C.D.A. Dental Assisting National Board

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A native of Nevada, Tina has lived all over the United States, and even overseas, but has chosen to come back to Las Vegas to become a part of our committed Dental Assisting program.

A graduate of Sonoma Valley High School and The Red Cross Dental Program, dental is Tina’s professional passion, helping people change their life with dental health and great smiles.

For Tina, the best thing about working for Northwest Career College is the family atmosphere that supports her in growing as a professional and unique individual.

In her spare time, Tina can be found out exploring, hiking, and baking.
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Danielle Flores, R.D.A.

Dental Assistant Instructor I

R.D.A. Concorde Career College

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Danielle was born in California but has moved around several times between Southern California, Northern California, and Northern Nevada. She ended up in Southern Nevada because the sister she is closest to lives here.

Having attended High School in Minden, NV graduating in 1998, Dental Assisting school in Garden Grove as Valedictorian in 2003, CA, and earning her Associates in Newport Beach, CA in 2020, Danielle has had an 18-year career of 4-handed chairside assisting and 2-years dental front office experience.

Now a member of our Dental Assisting team, Danielle is able to share her love of dentistry with not only her students but also with her patients.

For Danielle, the best thing about working at NCC is her co-workers. Everyone is so friendly and helpful. The atmosphere at Northwest is infectious and Danielle can’t wait to contribute to the culture!

At the weekend, Danielle’s hobbies include reading, hiking, and being a cheer and musician mom.
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Margarita Verrengia, D.D.S.

Dental Assistant Instructor I

D.D.S. Medical University, Sofia

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Originally from Bulgaria. Margarita came to the United States around 20 years ago and spent about 3 years in Pennsylvania, before moving to Nevada for greater professional opportunities and of course the nice weather in Las Vegas.

Having trained at the Dental School in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, Margarita is now a member of our Dental Assistant Instructor Team and is passionate about helping patients improve their quality of life, their smile, and self-esteem. She strongly believes that life is all about the legacy we leave.

For Margarita, the best thing about working for NCC is that she gets to experience working with great supporting professionals, being a part of great culture, and sharing her knowledge with talented students.

In her spare time, Margarita likes to go to movies, bowling, hiking, meet friends or watch movies at home.
General Education
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Lisa Myers, J.D., L.L.M.

Criminal Justice Senior Program Chair & General Education Department Chair

J.D., L.L.M. Campbell University

Read Bio
Beginning her career as a Paralegal, Lisa soon advanced to the role of Senior Paralegal for various Family Law, Personal Injury and Corporate law firms in the Las Vegas community. She obtained her Juris Doctor and LL.M, completing her fellowship in Washington D.C. and Carson City, Nevada. Lisa also heads up the Educational Board of the LVVPA (Las Vegas Valley Paralegal Association) which is the local chapter affiliated with NALA, the Paralegal Association and CCBA, the Clark County Bar Association. As the Program Chair and an Instructor for the Legal Studies Department here at Northwest Career College, which is comprised of both the Paralegal Studies and Criminal Justice Degree Programs, Lisa uses her passion and love for the law, teaching, and politics to inspire our students.
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David Bolshazy, BSRS, RT (R) (ARRT)

General Education Instructor I

BSRS, RT (R) (ARRT) Pima Medical Institute

Read Bio
Having started his medical career as an X-ray Specialist while in the U.S. Army, David left the military and became an EMT in Las Vegas. Transitioning to Orthopaedics for the next 17 years, David eventually ended up working as an EEG Technician in Neurology for 2 years.

It was during his time in Neurology that David joined the team here at Northwest, coming to work with us in 2019 as one of our Medical Assisting Instructors.

Passionate about medicine in all its forms David loves to share his 30 years of clinical experience with our students. David continues to advance his knowledge of the medical field whenever he can and plans to study for his Bachelors in Radiographic Technology in 2020

At the weekends, David loves to spend time with his family and can most often be found teaching them how to tie their own flies for fly fishing.
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Julia Latun, B.A., M.A.

General Education Instructor I

B.A. Zaporizhye State University, M.A. Zaporizhye State University

Read Bio
Julia is originally from Ukraine and came to the US as an exchange student, got married, and has been living here ever since. She used to reside in Henderson then moved to the East Coast for a while. Finally, she decided to return to Las Vegas because it feels like home more than any other place.

Having graduated from Zaporozhye State University with a Master’s Degree in English & Literature, and a Master’s Degree in History and Social Science, Julia now works as part of our dedicated General Education team where she enjoys working with students and helping them change their lives.

For Julia, the best thing about working for NCC is the family atmosphere and the opportunity to contribute to its mission.

In her spare time, Julia enjoys traveling, exploring outdoors, or reading.
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Nicole Jameson, B.A., M.B.A.

General Education Instructor I

B.A. California Polytechnic State University, M.B.A. California Polytechnic State University

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Nicole grew up in southern California and obtained her BA, in English and MBA in HR Management at the California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo before coming to Vegas in 2016.

A lifelong learner who enjoys learning new things, Nicole’s professional passion is seeing our students grow personally and professionally. One of Nicole’s favorite things about working here at NCC is the staff, who share her passion for giving our students the education they deserve.

At the weekend, Nicole can be found relaxing and training her new puppy, Peanut.
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Dennis Jantz, M.Ed.

General Education Instructor I

M.A. Ed. University of Nevada Las Vegas

Read Bio
Dennis has fifteen years of teaching experience to back up his Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. As one of our General Educational Instructors, Dennis can normally be found teaching the general education courses to the enthusiastic Paralegal Studies and Criminal Justice students here at Northwest Career College, and even training new drivers for Northwest Driving School.
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Patrick Kenny, B.A.

General Education Instructor I

B.A. University of San Diego, Psychology

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Patrick Kenny is one of the founding members of the Northwest family and has served as the Chief Operating Officer since June of 2013. Patrick graduated with a B.A. in Psychology from the University of San Diego and has an extensive background in operations, project management, team building, and student development. As a member of the Kenny family, Patrick has been serving in one role or another at the college for most of his life.
Healthcare Administration
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Yu Lee, B.S.

Healthcare Administration Program Chair

B.S. UNLV Healthcare Administration

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Born in South Korea, Yu Chung Lee moved to Las Vegas to attend Spring Valley High School and then UNLV. She is now a member of our educational staff and is the instructor for one of our dental administrative assisting classes.

Yu Chung Lee’s professional passion is to help students achieve their goals so they have the skills and knowledge to excel in their careers, a passion she shares with all the staff here at Northwest.

In her spare time, Yu Chung Lee loves food, almost as much as her chubby Yorkie named Bopeep, and tries to travel as much as possible.
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Melanie Morris, B.A.

Healthcare Administration Lead Instructor

B.A. University of Nevada Las Vegas

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After a successful career in entertainment production, Melanie decided she wanted to make a difference in people’s lives and move into the healthcare field. Having started as a Clinical Administrative Assistant for an outpatient dialysis clinic, Melanie found it to be the most fulfilling role she had ever held, so she decided to return to school and become a Master of Health Administration.

Having graduated with a B.A. in Communications and Public Relations from UNLV and a Masters in Health Administration from the University of Phoenix, Melanie joined us as a Medical Administrative Assisting Instructor and now look forward to being able to help students reach their professional goals while teaching them how to elevate the patient experience.

In her spare time, Melanie enjoys hiking with her dogs, drawing, painting, and sculpting.
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Kalila Campbell, B.A.

Healthcare Administration Instructor I

B.A., Milwaukee Area Technical College

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Originally from the State of Washington, Kalila came to Las Vegas via Wisconsin to get away from the cold and the snow.

A graduate of Milwaukee Area Technical College and Concordia University, Kalila is now part of our committed Healthcare instructors team and can express her personal passion for teaching, motivating, and inspiring others to be the best version of themselves.

She is also doing her part to ensure that all people have access to quality healthcare by training the next generation of healthcare professionals.

For Kalila, the best thing about working for NCC is being able to teach and share her passion for healthcare with the students.

In her spare time, Kalila can be found reading, watching movies, and making T-shirts and home decor on her Cricut machine. At the weekend, she likes to visit yard sales and thrift stores, outdoor markets and explore new places and rest.
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Casandra Hosey, B.S., R.D.A.

Healthcare Administration Instructor I

B.S. Colorado Technical University, R.D.A. Dental Board of California

Read Bio
Born in Bakersfield, CA, Casandra obtained her high school diploma from Barstow High School. She attended San Joaquin Valley College in Bakersfield, CA. and it is there that she finished the Dental Assistant Program and obtained her Associate’s Degree.

She later went back to school and pursued a B.S. Degree in Healthcare Management. Casandra has been working in the dental field for over 15-years now. She is a registered dental assistant and is excited to have the opportunity to share some of her skills with her future students.

Casandra’s professional passions include setting and accomplishing small personal goals on a daily basis. She love’s learning so she makes it a habit to read informational books and watch YouTube videos to learn new DIYs to do at home.

For Casandra, the best thing about working for NCC is being able to work with such great supportive people and being provided with all the tools needed to become a great instructor and role model for her future students.

In her spare time, Casandra loves to travel to California and spent time with her family as well as enjoy making candles, listening to music, reading, and watching movies.
Legal Studies
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Cassidy Wagner, J.D.

Legal Studies Program Chair

J.D. Arizona Summit Law School

Read Bio
A graduate of Coronado High School and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she she earned her Bachelors of Arts in Communication Studies, Cassidy found her passion in college. Having worked as a paralegal in a law firm for over six years, Cassidy attended Arizona Summit Law School where she earned her Juris Doctor degree. Cassidy has a history of teaching and supporting students. During high school, she worked at the City of Henderson where she would coordinate programs and teach life skills to individuals with disabilities. She now brings that same passion and attention to her role as an instructor for our Paralegal Studies and Criminal Justice courses.
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Shindona Dines, B.S., A.S.

Legal Studies Lead Instructor

B.S. in Legal Studies National Paralegal College, A.S. Northwest Career College

Read Bio
Shindona, or Dona as she prefers to be called, is a proud alumnus of the Northwest Career College Paralegal Studies degree program. Originally from Southern California, Dona attended High School in Rialto, before moving on to received her Associates Degree in Applied Science in Paralegal Studies and is currently enrolled in National Paralegal College where she is looking to receive her Bachelor’s Degree in Paralegal Studies.

A 14 year veteran of the medical field, Dona now passes on her wealth of knowledge in order to achieve her professional passion for helping her students reach their full potential.

In her spare time, Dona can be found feeding the homeless, organizing a backpack drive for the neighborhood schools, supporting her kids during their sporting events.

Part of what Dona loves about working for NCC is working with great individuals who also have a passion to help others succeed and working in a positive environment where everyone is always cheerful, encouraging, helpful and has a great energy.
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Marina Alvarez, B.S., A.A.S.

Legal Studies Instructor I

A.A.S. Northwest Career College, B.S. National Paralegal College

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Born and raised in Las Vegas, Marina is an academic high flyer, having received the Who’s Who Award of Academic Excellence in 2008 as well as the President’s Education Award from Presidents Clinton, Bush and Obama.

The first person in her family to graduate high school, Marina also graduated from here at Northwest Career College and the National Paralegal College. After running her own DJ/Photography business right after high school, Marina has gone on to qualify as a paralegal and now passes on her passion for education as one of our Paralegal Studies instructors.

Marina’s professional passion is to inspire everyone by letting them know her story and her background so they can succeed and create a better future for themselves.

For Marina, the best thing about working at NCC is the chance to spread her knowledge and experiences to other students that will be going through what she experienced and to help make the ride easier and let them know they don’t have to go through it alone.

In her spare time, Marina can be found singing, playing the ukulele, being a dog mom, building lego sets, swimming, going to the beach and watching Harry Potter Movies.
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Jeannette Tracer, B.S.

Legal Studies Instructor I

B.S. Southern New Hampshire University

Read Bio
Born in San Diego, CA, Jeannette moved to Las Vegas when her father was stationed here. Initially homeschooled, Jeannette attended Kaplan University to obtain her Associate’s degree in Medical Billing and Coding and is currently enrolled at Southern New Hampshire University to obtain her B.S in Criminal Justice with a major in Criminology/Crime Analysis.

Currently a member of our Legal Studies team, for Jeannette, the best thing about working at NCC is the other staff members and how kind, knowledgeable, and supportive they are.

In her spare time, Jeannette loves to craft things, travel, and sing, especially karaoke.
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Bernie Zadrowski, J.D., L.L.M.

Legal Studies Instructor I

J.D., L.L.M. University of Denver College of Law

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Bernie has been a practicing attorney in Nevada for over twenty years, and is currently a Chief Deputy of General Litigation at the Clark County District Attorney’s Office. An active member of the local legal community, Bernie has served on the State Bar’s Southern Nevada Disciplinary Board as its Vice Chairman, the Judicial Selection Commission, and the Standing Committee on Judicial Ethics and Campaign Practices. Proud to call Las Vegas his home, Bernie now brings his insight and experience to the role of evening Adjunct Professor for the Paralegal Studies Program, helping to shape future generations of Nevada’s legal profession.
Massage Therapy
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Ivy Adams, B.S., L.M.T.

Massage Therapy Program Chair

B.S. Arizona State University, L.M.T. Northwest Health Careers

Read Bio
Born and raised in Las Vegas, Ivy is a proud graduate of Northwest Career College, class of 1999, and has been a Licensed Massage Therapist ever since. Her eighteen years of experience has taken her through an eclectic array of job opportunities, from day spas, to resort spa, chiropractic offices, poker room and casino chair massage, as well as being self-employed as an independent contractor. Ivy came to Northwest to work as a Massage Instructor in 2002. In 2006 she left to start a family, but couldn’t stay away for long, rejoining the Northwest family again in 2015.
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Lance Lisitza, M.T.C.

Student Clinic Lead Instructor

L.M.T. Northwest Career College

Read Bio
Raised in New Mexico, Lance moved to Las Vegas after finishing his term in the army in 2014.

Having studied for his paramedic qualification at Iowa Western Career College in Council Bluffs, Iowa, he moved on to Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA) school in the Army and finally began working with Dr. Kenny at his chiropractic practice after graduating from the MTB Program here at NCC.

Lance is now a committed member of our instructor team on the MTB Program and is continuing his education by working on a degree in Psychology at CSN.

For Lance, the best thing about working for NCC is the opportunity for idea expression. If you have an idea, put it out there. Someone is going to listen to your idea. The expectation to be continuously innovative and creative is a super positive aspect of working at NCC.

At the weekends, Lance can be found doing Crossfit, spending time with his dog Sammie, and trying to find enough time in his schedule to find good new restaurants with his friends.
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Amber Guitar, L.M.T.

Massage Therapy Instructor II

L.M.T. Utah College Of Massage Therapy

Read Bio
Born and raised in Las Vegas, Amber enrolled in Massage School shortly after graduating from Valley High School in 1997. Her love for massage and its benefits stems from receiving regular massages from the age of 11 and falling in love with the positive impact massage can have on people’s lives.

Passionate about helping people and educating them on how to reach their health and wellness goals, Amber enjoys working at Northwest because it gives her the opportunity to be around positive and uplifting people who strive to make a difference in other people’s lives.

In her spare time, Amber loves traveling and exploring, baking, and spending time with her family.
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Morgan Blackwell, L.M.T

Massage Therapy Instructor I

L.M.T. Nevada State Board of Massage Therapy

Read Bio
Morgan was born in Texas, but has lived all over the world. He was a military child so moved around a lot. Morgan has been in Las Vegas since 2004 and very much enjoys the weather so has no plans on moving.

Having attended Cheyenne High School, Morgan attended the Nevada School of Massage Therapy, which changed to Cortiva shortly after he graduated. He is now an instructor for our Massage Therapy School.

Morgan became a massage therapist because he wanted to help people feel better. One of the best feelings in the world is having a client come in with pain, using different modalities of bodywork and giving them self-care tools, and having the client come back in the next session saying that it helped, that they had relief finally.

Before working at NCC, Morgan was working with a chiropractor, and it gave him a lot of insight into injury-specific modalities.

Morgan’s professional passions are making sure therapists do their work in the most ethical way, and knowing how to do the job well will help prevent injuries. His personal passions are helping make sure everyone around me knows that he is a safe person.

Morgan wants to help support in any way that he can and will accept you for who you are. He also firmly believes in self-care in all ways. Taking care of your body mentally and physically, which also means setting healthy boundaries. Morgan tries his hardest to be a good communicator.

For Morgan, the best thing about working for NCC is the supportive and positive environment that I have encountered with all the employees. Everyone is friendly and willing to help.

In his spare time, Morgan can be found playing dungeons and dragons, video games, and working at a renaissance reenactment guild where he practices sword fighting, acting, role playing. Morgan is also learning how to play the ocarina.
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Kerry Gilbert, L.M.T.

Massage Therapy Instructor I

L.M.T. NWCC

Read Bio
Born and raised in Las Vegas, NV, Kerry loves exploring the desert and hiking with her daughter in Redrock. She also enjoys yoga, reading, Tai Ji, and Qigong. Kerry is passionate about massage therapy and helping others in general.

Kerry loves massage therapy. Alongside massage, she’s passionate about teaching others the benefits of combining movement, and meditation to create a healthy lifestyle. Qigong and Tai Ji are just some of her favorite ways to combine the two practices.

A graduate of the Northwest Career College Massage Therapy Program, Kerry is now an instructor, teaching the next generation of massage therapists. For Kerry, the best thing about working for Northwest is being a part of a team that gives people the space to grow and thrive personally, and professionally.

At the weekends, Kerry can be found hiking, reading, or playing the bass guitar.
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Teresa Lopez, L.M.T.

Massage Therapy Instructor I

L.M.T. Northwest Health Careers

Read Bio
Born and raised in Santa Cruz, CA, Teresa came to Nevada after High School. Having graduated from our Massage Therapy School, Teresa has now joined us as one of our committed Massage Therapy Instructors to pursue her professional passion for the subject.

For Teresa, the best thing about working for NCC is the family atmosphere as well as getting to help create the next generation of excellent massage therapists.

In her spare time, Teresa can be found playing with her Rottweiler puppy Thor and spending time with her family.
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TJ Perpar, L.M.T.

Massage Therapy Instructor I

A.S. Biblical Studies, Liberty University

Read Bio
T.J. has been massage therapist for twenty years and has worked in both the medical and spa environments. A seventeen year veteran of Northwest Career College, T.J. first joined us back when the school was exclusively a massage school. Considering himself blessed to be involved in the teaching of future massage therapists here at Northwest, T.J. divides his time between our Massage School, being active in the church and training in the martial arts, which he has been involved with for the past thirty-three years.
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Jeff Stults, L.M.T.

Massage Therapy Instructor I

L.M.T., Northwest Career College

Read Bio
Having lived in Nevada since 1993, Jeff considers himself very much a native. He’s a graduate of NCC and loved it so much that he came back twice, first as part of our career services team, then as a Massage Therapy Instructor. Always a fan of helping other people out, Jeff is now enjoying the ability to do that in an official capacity.

Jeff’s professional passion is continuing to learn. In any career, he truly believes you should never stop challenging yourself to learn more and the same can be said for your personal life.

For Jeff, the best thing about working for NCC is, hands down, the energy. Everyone is inviting, and friendly, and there is a sincere sense of community.

In his free time, Jeff loves to travel and loves to sing! Some of his accomplishments include singing for/with NASCAR, KC Royals, The Killers, and Adele.
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Darrell Sykes, L.M.T.

Massage Therapy Instructor I

L.M.T. Nevada School of Massage Therapy

Read Bio
Darrell began his career as a Massage Therapist in 2014 when he enrolled at the Nevada School of Massage Therapy. After graduating and beginning his career as a Massage Therapist, Darrell made the decision to return to his old school as a Teaching Assistant, so he could pay forward his experiences as a student.

Having found a passion for education, Darrell worked a Teaching Assistant for two years, being promoted to the role of Massage Instructor, where he taught advanced massage courses, including Trigger Point Therapy, Injury Rehabilitation, and Russian Sports Massage.

Darrell joined us here in 2019 as one of our Massage Therapy Instructors and, In addition to teaching, he works a Massage Therapist at the Four Seasons Las Vegas, as well as running a successful private practice.

When he’s not instructing students, Darrell loves karaoke, weekend trips to the beach, and going to concerts.
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Christel Watson, L.M.T.

Massage Therapy Instructor I

L.M.T. Nevada State Board of Massage Therapy

Read Bio
Originally from Colorado, Christel is a self-described artsy nerd who loves to help people feel better in their day-to-day lives. A graduate of Stanley Lake HS and Pomona HS in Colorado and the Denver School of Massage Therapy, Christel is now a member of our highly regarded Massage Therapy Instructor Team.

Passionate about bodywork and overall health, Christel believes the body is an amazing machine that we need to take care of. For Christel, the best thing about working for NCC is how friendly and accommodating everyone has been and how efficient and smooth the whole onboarding process has been, even though there is a ton to learn and remember.

In her spare time, Christel likes to go for a nice drive or walk with her fiance and their dog, or just stay in and enjoy a quiet evening with movies and good food.
Medical Assistant
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Corey Del Pino, M.P.H. R.P.T.

Medical Assistant Program Chair

M.P.H. University of Nevada, Reno

Read Bio
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Corey Del Pino attended Northern Arizona University after high school and graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology with a Chemistry Minor in 2012. After attending Mohave Community College and earning her Medical Assisting Certificate in Phlebotomy, Corey became a Registered Phlebotomy Technician through American Medical Technologists. After four years of patient care in the outpatient and inpatient hospital field at Western Arizona Regional Medical Center in Bullhead City, Corey moved to Las Vegas and joined NCC as our Phlebotomy Instructor, imparting her expert knowledge and experience to our students.
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Crissandra Marion-Stovall, B.A.

Medical Assistant Assistant Program Chair

B.A. Middle Tennessee State University

Read Bio
Originally born and raised in a small town in Holly Springs, MS, Crissandra recently moved from Nashville to Las Vegas to join our Medical Assisting Instructor team.

Cassandra graduated from Holly Springs High School and Nashville State Community College before going to Middle TN State University to study Psychology with minors in Social Welfare and Mental Health Counseling.

As part of our medical assisting team, Crissandra is looking forward to interacting with our students and helping them reach their goals and uncovering their purposes.

At the weekend, Crissandra can be found spending time with friends and family or painting, writing, listening to music, or learning new things.
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Aaron Arlt, C.M.A.

Medical Assistant Assistant Program Chair

C.M.A. Brightwod College

Read Bio
A lifelong native of Nevada, Aaron graduated from Clark High School here in Las Vegas before going on to complete two years at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and one year at both the University of Nevada, Reno, and the College of Southern Nevada. He is the proud owner of a Business Management degree from Hamburger University in Chicago. Having attended Medical Assistant School at Kaplan, Aaron moved on from an eight-year tenure in restaurant management and has been working in the medical field for the past three and a half years. Aaron leads an active life outside of his work at NCC, enjoying soccer, running, camping, fishing and spending time at the sand dunes with his family driving their sand cars and four-wheelers. He feels the best part of his work at Northwest is being able to make an impact on the students and being able to work with an excellent and supportive team.
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Denisse Adams, R.M.A.

Medical Assistant Senior Lead Instructor

R.M.A. Northwest Career College

Read Bio
Denisse is one of our graduate success stories. Giving up her job as a Walgreens’ Pharmacy Department Team Leader, Denise followed her dream of becoming a Medical Assistant and graduated from Northwest Career College in 2013. After graduation she went on to work for a local Ob/Gyn office, honing her skills before returning to become one of our Medical Assistant Program Instructors. Originally from Yauco in Puerto Rico, Denise grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She moved to Las Vegas with her husband and two children to support her husband’s career in culinary management.
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Angela Krempel, C.M.A.

Medical Assistant Lead Instructor

C.M.A Medix School Baltimore

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Angela was born and raised in Baltimore, MD, before coming to Nevada in 2017 to experience life on the West Coast.

A Medical Assistant with 20 years of experience, Angi, as she prefers to be called, spent her entire career working for Johns Hopkins Hospital System. Angi has experience in about 10 specialties, but the majority of her time was spent in Pediatrics.

In both her personal and professional life, Angi is passionate about animal advocacy, Autism awareness, delivering great medical care, and supporting live music. In her spare time, she can most often be found attending live music events, partaking in activities outdoors, and indulging in an overall positivity in life.
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Justin Kauker, B.A, R.M.A.

Medical Assistant Assistant Program Chair

B.A., R.M.A. University of California, San Diego

Read Bio
A self-proclaimed book nerd that loves jazz music and expensive tea, Justin joined Northwest to pass on his passion for medicine and is continually impressed by the resolve and compassion of the NCC students.

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in linguistics from the University of California, San Diego, Justin did a year of graduate education work at West Chester University before going on to train as a hospital corpsman and lab tech in the US Navy. He now passes on his training and experience to our Medical Assisting students.

Justin loves being a teacher, almost as much as he loves being a student. He thinks medicine is fascinating and loves talking about the complex moral and ethical issues of health care.

At the weekends, Justin enjoys playing goofy songs on the guitar and ukulele, reading American literature and popular science books, taking in stand-up comedy shows, and doing morning laps at the pool.
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Jennifer Bagley, C.M.A.

Medical Assistant Instructor I

C.M.A. Platt College

Read Bio
If asked, Jenn claims to be from Las Cruces NM because that is where she went to high school, but she has also lived in Arizona, Texas, Florida, and Oklahoma.

Oklahoma is where she attended Platt College to train as a Medical Assistant, before completing her externship and getting hired on at Norman Urology. For Jenn urology is a fascinating field where she had the opportunity to really utilize all the skills she learned in school.

Jenn is passionate about helping people. In the clinical setting, she was the trainer for new employees and graduates. She loves meeting someone and seeing where their potential can take them while being able to be a part of their journey.

For Jenn, the best thing about working for NCC is the incredible energy and the fact that everyone is helpful and happy.

At the weekend, Jenn can be found taking her family on spontaneous road trips and enjoying Crossfit.
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Diane Bullitt, C.C.M.A.

Medical Assistant Instructor I

C.C.M.A. College Of Lake County

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Diane is a 25 year veteran of the medical field. Having graduated from North Chicago Community High School and the College of Lake County she got her first medical position in a hospital working in the patient registration department.

Having obtained her CCMA and Phlebotomy certificates, Diane moved on to spend the next 12 years working in an OBGYN office, 3 years working in the Maternity department in a hospital, and 7 years in a Nephrology office.

Diane’s professional and personal passion is the treatment for the elderly. Diane was raised by her grandmother and was taught early on to respect her elders and to help her elders whenever she could. Diane tries to do this, both in and out of work, as much as possible.

For Diane, the best part of working with us is the diversity of NCC. Diane loves the upbeat and joyful personalities of the faculty. Everyone is committed to giving the best experience to the students as well as each other. The instructors are all focused on helping the students to reach their goals to finish their programs ready to enter the workforce with confidence.

In her spare time, you can find Diane enjoying a good book or attending church with her daughter.
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Jaykub Chase, R.M.A.

Medical Assistant Instructor I

R.M.A. NWCC

Read Bio
Originally from California, Jaykub moved in here with his family in 2014. A proud California native, Jaykub is a huge nerd, who loves gaming, riding motorcycles, and keeping up to date on the latest miracles in medicine. He is also former air force lab tech and phlebotomist.

A graduate of our Medical Assisting Program, Jaykub is now one of our Medical Assisting instructors, His professional passion is medicine and anything to do with teaching and molding the future of healthcare.

For Jaykub, the best thing about working for NCC is the warm welcome and feeling of having found a warm and welcoming family he can work well and cohesively with.

At the weekends, Jaykub can be found gaming, shooting, riding motorcycles, fishing, and hiking.

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Jacqueline Edwards, C.N.A.

Medical Assistant Instructor I

C.N.A. Academy of Medical Careers

Read Bio
Originally from Rosedale Mississippi, Jacqueline came to Nevada by way of her sister being accepted into UNLV.

A graduate of Horizon East High School, CSN, Jacqueline loved share-shaping experiences, which is her terminology for teaching. She enjoys informing and molding minds. She loves listening and people watching. Her personal passion is helping those less fortunate.

For Jacqueline, the best thing about working here at NCC is the culture and the opportunity to become a better version of herself and give back what was given to her.

In her time off, Jacqueline spends her time watching crime shows, traveling, and exploring different cultures.
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John Lowry, B.S. R.M.A.

Medical Assistant Instructor I

B.S. Austin Dean University, R.M.A. American Registry of Medical Assistants

Read Bio
John is originally from Clarksville, TN, and attended Kenwood High School and the Austin Peay State University, where he obtained his Bachelor’s Degree of Science in Health and Human Performance as well as qualifying as a Registered Medical Assistant.

John has been in the medical field since 2005 working in various jobs and assignments starting by joining the United States Navy and becoming a corpsman.

He has worked at Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, Naval Hospital Corpus Christi for his military assignments.

After the military, he worked in civilian medical clinics in pediatrics and internal medicine. He has also worked in several departments including family practice, pediatrics, laboratory, pharmacy, internal medicine, college health, and dermatology.

John’s professional passions are to excel at attention to detail, exceptional patient care, and leading by example. His personal passions are playing sports, fishing, disc golf, watching football, learning something new as often as he can, and promoting positive personal growth.

For John, the best thing about working for NCC is the ability to come to work and know that he is making a difference in someone’s life by teaching the students professionalism and necessary skills to perform at a high level while providing compassion and exceptional patient care.

In his spare time, John’s hobbies include disc golf, bowling, video editing, hiking, and playing piano and guitar.
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Maria Martinez Romero, R.M.A., R.P.T.

Medical Assistant Instructor I

R.M.A., R.P.T. Northwest Career College

Read Bio
Born in Mexico City, Maria emigrated from Mexico at the age of six. Having graduated from Spring Valley High School and here at NCC, Maria is now a member of our Medical Assisting Team.

Maria has been in love with the medical sector ever since she can remember and she turned that passion into a career in the field for seven years, with dermatology and plastic surgery being her main specialty. She loves any chance she can get to help others and looks forward to inspiring new students.

For Maria, the best thing about working here at NCC is the friendly and welcoming environment. You really do feel like you are part of one big family.

At the weekends, Maria can be found reading, watching movies, meditating, and listening to music. When she’s not at the gym, she can most often be found spending time with her daughter.
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Nichole Maxfield, N.C.M.A.

Medical Assistant Instructor I

N.C.M.A. Pima Medical Institute

Read Bio
Born in upstate New York, but raised by the beach in North Carolina, Nichole followed her family to Las Vegas when they moved here about five years ago. Once here, she just fell in love with the city.

Nichole graduated high school a semester early in North Carolina. She completed her Medical Assistant certification at Pima Medical Institute and is currently enrolled in Pima for her associate’s degree in Healthcare Administration.

Nichole’s professional goals include growing and developing for the company she works with. She loves being given room to grow and learn. Nichole wants to make a career out of the change in healthcare we need, so getting to teach now is an amazing opportunity to do that.

For Nichole, the best thing about working at NCC is other employees. It is nice to see a workplace that wants to improve socially as well as business-wise. It truly makes a difference and makes her want to come to work even more.

Nichole’s weekends generally are just her and her fiance hanging out with their friends and playing video games.
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Hazel Munoz, R.M.A., R.P.T.

Medical Assistant Instructor II

R.M.A. R.P.T. Northwest Career College

Read Bio
Hazel is one of our returning students. Having graduated from NCC in 2017, Hazel spent her time in the field, refining her skills, specifically in OBGYN, before returning to be part of the instructor team for our Medical Assisting Program.

Hazel’s professional passion is obstetrics and gynecology and she has always had an interest in women’s health because of how much there is to know about the female body.

For Hazel, the best thing about becoming part of our instructor team is the chance to share the knowledge she gained in the field and filter her instruction through the experiences she had as a student at NCC.

In her spare time, Hazel enjoys indulging in her passion for playing classical and modern violin music whenever she gets the chance. At the weekends, she can be found spending time with her family, hiking, watching movies, and playing dominos.
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Alyxis Reyna, R.M.A.

Medical Assistant Instructor I

A.S. Imperial Valley

Read Bio
Alyxis is originally from California and moved to Nevada with her parents. One of our homegrown talents, Alyxis went to Sierra Vista High School before becoming certified in Medical Assisting from Northwest Career College.

As a member of our Medical Assisting Department, Alyxis is really excited to have the opportunity to further her education and will be going back to college.

In her free time, Alyxis likes to travel and see new things. She loves to learn new things but has a bad habit of diving into something and not coming up for air. She also enjoys painting and drawing to relax.
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Taylor Slack, C.M.A.

Medical Assistant Instructor I

C.M.A., American Association of Medical Assistants

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A mother of two awesome kids, Taylor has been a medical assistant since 2017 and specializes in Neurology. Originally from Springfield, IL, Taylor decided to move to Las Vegas for more opportunities for her family.

Having attended Midwest Technical Institute and graduated in 2017 as a Certified Medical Assistant, Taylor is now one of our Medical Assisting instructors. For Taylor, the best thing about working for NCC is having the opportunity to help others achieve success.

In her spare time, Taylor enjoys reading historical novels, taking her kids to the park and movies, and exploring Las Vegas.
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Keya Vanhook, C.C.M.A.

Medical Assistant Instructor I

C.C.M.A. Bryman College, Los Angeles

Read Bio
Originally from Los Angeles, CA, Keya has lived in Las Vegas for 10 years now after she and her family moved here for better opportunities.

Keya has been in the medical field for 15-years, starting in internal medicine for two years and then moving to pediatrics for 12 years. With a professional passion for training others, Keya enjoys the family atmosphere at NCC.

In her spare time, Keya can be found going to football and basketball games, cooking, and spending time with her family.
Medical Billing And Coding
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Nancy Ferrante, C.B.C.S.

Medical Billing & Coding Senior Program Chair

Read Bio
Nancy began her career as a Medical Assistant in 1979. From there, Nancy mastered many other areas of the medical field. She spent 35 years in Ohio, building a successful medical practice with the same Physician until his retirement in 2014. During that time she managed five practices, billed for twenty-seven Skilled Nursing facilities, obtained an X-ray machine operator’s license and opened a medical billing business specializing in Podiatry. Despite training many employees over the years, Nancy never imagined herself teaching until she joined Northwest as our Program Chair for the Medical Billing and Coding program. Since then she’s embraced a new passion in life, loves meeting new students every month and takes the greatest satisfaction in guiding that one student, who feared they would never make it, into landing a great job in the field, helping realize their dream in the process.
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Carrie Ostrander, C.B.C.S.

Senior Medical Billing & Coding Instructor

C.B.C.S. Nevada Career Institute

Read Bio
Born and raised in Clearwater, Florida, Carrie moved to Las Vegas NV going on 13 years ago in what was supposed to be just a long vacation.

Having graduated from Clearwater High School and the Nevada Career Institute, Carrie came on board with NCC as one of our MBC Instructors. Professionally, Carrie loves analytics and identifying trends in billing. She enjoys helping providers understand the revenue side of their practice and educating them on how they can grow their business.

Carrie’s personal passions are to keep learning new things, sharing knowledge with others, being true to myself and starting new adventures.

Carries chose to work at NCC because she believes that everyone at NCC is genuinely amazing to work with and very helpful, you can tell the sense of pride everyone has to work for NCC. She is truly grateful to be apart of the family.

At the weekends, Carrie can be found taking her two springer spaniels on new adventures, hiking, traveling, MLB Baseball games, reading a good book or embarking on a road trip with a great playlist.

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Shelley Dunn, B.S.

Medical Billing & Coding Instructor II

B.S. Colorado Technical University

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Shelly is a Kansas City girl who graduated from Grand Island Sr. High School in Grand Island, Nebraska before moving on to earn her bachelor’s degree in Health Care Management from Colorado Technical University in 2013.

Having spent twenty-one years in the field of healthcare and specializing in medical billing and coding, Shelly joined Northwest in order to share her experiences and knowledge with the next generation of healthcare professionals.

In her spare time, she can be found enjoying the great outdoors, quietly reading a book, or enjoying a good history documentary as part of her goal to learn something new every day she is alive. In her words “Life is too short to waste your time not being the best you can be!”
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Brittany Cezar, A.A., C.B.C.S.

Medical Billing & Coding Instructor I

A.A. Leward Community College

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Born and raised in Ewa Beach on Oahu, Brittany moved to Las Vegas in 2017 because it was affordable compared to Oahu.

For high school, Brittany attended an all-girls private catholic school called Sacred Hearts Academy. For college, she attended the University of Hawaii in Manoa and Leeward Community College. She is currently attending Southern New Hampshire University for her bachelor's in Healthcare Administration.

Brittany obtained her medical billing and coding certificate 11-years ago and has been working as a medical biller and coder for the past 7-years. Now a member of our Medical Billing and Coding Department, she shares that experience with our students.

For Brittany, the best thing about working for Northwest Career College is the comradery you acquire from your fellow coworkers as well as sharing your knowledge of what you know with the students.

In her spare time, her hobbies include painting canvases for her wall art, karaoke, Amazon shopping, escape rooms, eating sushi, daydreaming about future travel plans, relaxing, and sleeping.
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Rhonda Gaines

Medical Billing & Coding Instructor I

Read Bio
Rhonda was born in Louisiana before moving to California and then finally to Nevada. A graduate of the University of Phoenix with an MBA, Rhonda actually started working in the medical field as a receptionist in a Los Angeles doctor’s office. From there, she spent 38 years in the field and is now one of our medical billing and coding instructors.

Rhonda’s passion, both professionally and personally, is being able to share her knowledge and experience, and the best thing about working for NCC is the fact that the people always make you feel welcome.

On the weekend, Rhonda can be found bowling or spending time with her grandchildren.

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Nohea Kawaiaea, C.B.C.S

Medical Billing & Coding Instructor I

C.B.C.S Northwest Career College

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Born in Hawaii, Nohea moved to Las Vegas, Hawaii’s ‘ninth island,’ when she was eight. Having graduated from Liberty High School, she came to join us here at Northwest Career College and is now part of our excellent Medical Billing and Coding instructors team.

Nohea always wanted a career she could grow with and that allowed her to continue helping and teaching people new things. For Nohea, the best thing about working for NCC is the progressive and considerate nature of the school and staff as well as the genuine family atmosphere.

In her spare time, Nohea is an avid artist and can be found dabbling in tattooing, creating digital art for Twitch, and indulging in her love of Korean soap operas.
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Tashonda Shaw, A.A.

Medical Billing & Coding Instructor I

A.A. University of Phoenix

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Originally from Staten Island, NY, Tashonda has been in the medical field since 2009 and has had the opportunity to work in various fields within the time span of her career.

Having graduated from the University of Phoenix and the Drake Business School, Tashonda now works as one of our excellent Medical Billing and Coding Instructors.

For Tashonda, the best thing about working for NCC is the ability to pursue her professional passion helping, mentoring, and training our students. Tashonda enjoys getting to be a part of helping someone achieve their goals and making a difference in someone’s life.

On the weekends, Tashonda enjoys cooking and baking and can occasionally be found playing pool and singing karaoke.
Pharmacy Technician
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Samantha Huntsman, M.S., CPhT

Pharmacy Technician Program Chair

M.S. University of Illinois at Chicago

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Raised in Cedar City in southern Utah, Samantha ended up in Nevada in 2014 after moving here from Minnesota to escape the winter.

After graduating from Cedar City High School, Samantha moved to Southern Utah University where she got her bachelor’s degree and then to the University of Illinois at Chicago for her master’s degree.

After spending six years at CVS Pharmacy where she was a lead technician, Samantha has joined our cadre of committed Pharmacy Technician Instructors. Passionate about science and how science can better the lives of the community, especially through medicine, Samantha loves being a mentor and helping our students succeed.

Samantha is also passionate about conservation and about how we, as humans, can reduce our impact on the environment. Much of her education was centered around studying water pollution and she remains devoted to the topic to this day.

In her spare time, Samantha enjoys writing fiction, which is something she’s been doing since she was very young. She’s also an avid gamer and loves to watch east Asian dramas.
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Hollie Anderson, A.A., CPhT

Pharmacy Technician Instructor I

A.A. Cuyahoga Community College

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Originally from Cleveland, Ohio but with Mississippi roots Hollie, came to Nevada in 2017 to be with my current significant other and for a change of atmosphere.

Having attended John F Kennedy High School in Cleveland, Ohio went on to Hollie attended the Art Institute of Pittsburgh before becoming a Certified Pharmacy Technician and Certified Immunizer.

Hollie has always been interested in healthcare and with a family full of nurses and technicians, she knew she would find a career in the field.

Getting PTCB certified and certified to immunize, helped catapult her career path in this direction and she couldn’t be prouder of all she has accomplished and will accomplish in the near and far future. She has a passion for caring for people and enjoys what she does.

Professionally and personally Hollie is excited to help students find their passion in the PHT field, finding innovative ways to serve the public in our growing communities. For Hollie, the best thing about working for NCC is the comradery so far between the faculty and the mission statement.

On the weekend, Hollie can be found working on her manuscript or baking.
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Angelika Garcia, CPhT

Pharmacy Technician Instructor I

CPhT Pima Institute

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Angelika is originally from Colorado but moved to Nevada to escape the snow. A graduate of Thornton High School, she also attended the Pharmacy Technician program at PIMA Medical Institute.

A pharmacy technician with a decade of experience under her belt, Angelika now works as a member of our Pharmacy Technician Instructor Team. For Angelika, the best thing about working at NCC is that she can help others and also help people with their careers in pharmacy! She loves to inspire people and let them know they can accomplish anything!

In her spare time, Angelika loves attending concerts, playing video games, sightseeing, traveling, and seeing new things.
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Perla Saythong, CPhT

Pharmacy Technician Instructor I

CPhT

Read Bio
Born and raised in Las Vegas, Perla graduated from the Southwest Career and Technical Academy as a certified CPhT. Now a member of our dedicated Pharmacy Technician instructors team, she loves the fact that per position gives her the opportunity to impart her knowledge and experience to others.

For Perla, the best thing about working for NCC is the chance to grow her knowledge of the pharmacy field and to transmit that knowledge to her students.

In her spare time, Perla can be found going to the movies or on dinner dates. If it’s a long weekend, then she likes to find new places to travel to.
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Akia Washington, CPhT

Pharmacy Technician Instructor I

Pima Medical Institute

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Born in Bellflower, California, Akia was raised in Lynwood, California, where she attended Lynwood High School before she moved to Las Vegas with her two sons. Having decided tath nursing was not the career for her, Akia obtained her Pharmacy Technician License from PIMA here in Las Vegas.

As one of our Pharmacy Technician Instructors, Akia is passionate about passing on her knowledge to the students here at NCC and sampling the delights of our fancy coffee machine, of course.

In her spare time, Akia can be found collecting crystals, playing video games, and indulging in her passion for getting all her family around the same table by cooking for them.
Phlebotomy
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Corey Del Pino, M.P.H. R.P.T.

Phlebotomy Technician Program Chair

M.P.H. University of Nevada, Reno

Read Bio
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Corey Del Pino attended Northern Arizona University after high school and graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology with a Chemistry Minor in 2012. After attending Mohave Community College and earning her Medical Assisting Certificate in Phlebotomy, Corey became a Registered Phlebotomy Technician through American Medical Technologists. After four years of patient care in the outpatient and inpatient hospital field at Western Arizona Regional Medical Center in Bullhead City, Corey moved to Las Vegas and joined NCC as our Phlebotomy Instructor, imparting her expert knowledge and experience to our students.
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Amy Byrd, R.M.A., R.P.T.

Phlebotomy Technician Assistant Program Chair

R.M.A. Northwest Career College

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Amy grew up in the wilds of Minnesota until, at the age of thirty, she decided she was tired of the brutal winters and moved to sunny Nevada, stopping in at Salt Lake City for a few years before heading a little further west to Las Vegas. Amy attended High School and College in Minnesota and attended Northwest when she moved to Las Vegas, receiving her Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) and Registered Phlebotomy Technician (RPT) Certifications in 2012. A lover of the outdoors, Amy heads out of town every chance she gets. Heading to the dunes or the lake to go boating, finding peace while hiking in the mountains, being by the ocean or while she is traveling. During work hours, Amy is inspired by the passion of her co-workers and the loves watching the journey NCC students go on, from enrollment in their first module to the excitement of their graduation day.
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Joylene Rael, R.M.A, R.P.T.

Phlebotomy Technician Lead Instructor

R.M.A. Northwest Career College

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Another of our graduate success stories, Joylene graduated from Northwest Career College in 2014 before using her student externship to gain employment in the medical assisting field. After being promoted, Joylene obtained her EKG and IV Therapy certifications while working in a Cardiology department. Originally a resident of a small town in New Mexico called named Los Lunas, Joylene has lived in Las Vegas for twelve years. She taught as a Medical Assisting Instructor with NCC, passing on her passion and experience to her students, and is now working with the Education department assisting students in a new and exciting way. Joylene is always excited to see what the future holds!
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Tommika Goodrich, CPT, A.A.

Phlebotomy Technician Instructor II

A.A. San Joaquin Delta College

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Originally from Stockton, California, Tommika moved to Nevada in 2006. Having moved to Las Vegas Tommika decided to become a phlebotomist and attended Pima Medical Institute. Prior to that, she had attended San Joaquin Delta College with a focus on musical theater and sports medicine.

Tamika loves to share the knowledge that she’s accumulated over the years with younger people who are eager to learn. Teaching in a way that students are able to have fun while learning is a passion of hers.

Her personal passion is striving to make the present day a better day than the previous. For Tommika, the best thing about working for NCC is the welcoming, kind atmosphere.

At the weekends, Tommika can be found indulging in her passions for music, singing, drawing, and sketching.
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Michael Baguio, C.C.M.A., C.P.T.

Medical Assistant Instructor I

C.C.M.A., C.P.T. Gary Job Corps

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Originally from Hayward California, Michael has worked in various sectors within the medical field specifically in the areas of Oncology, Primary Care, and Urgent Care.

He has achieved a Medical Assistant and Phlebotomist certification from the National Healthcareer Association as well as a Certified Nursing Assistant license from NV State Board of Nursing.

Throughout his healthcare career, Michael has gained a lot of experience and can’t wait to share it with our students as one of our Medical Assisting Instructors.

For Michael, the best thing about working for NCC is the opportunity to contribute to our student’s academic goals and to get them a step closer to their dreams.

In his spare time, Michael can be found playing electric guitar, going to rock concerts, and going to sporting events.
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Stephanie Garcia-Seibert, C.P.T.

Phlebotomy Technician Instructor I

M.A. UDS School, Garden City NY

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A proud, first-generation Cuban American, Stephanie is originally from Queens, NY, but moved to NV with her family 10 years ago.

Stephanie has a deep, genuine interest in the medical field. The med-aesthetics field is her most recent experience, however, overall medical, from diagnostic to medical wellness is totally her jam. She is so excited to step into her newest role as a Phlebotomy instructor here at NCC.

Her primary personal passion is her faith. Stephanie strongly believes in the power of prayer and is always trying to find the good in people. Her family (siblings included!) have always been her driving force.

For Stephanie, the best thing about working at NCC is the ability to get into the classroom and teach, empowering students to train in the phlebotomy field.

At the weekend, Stephanie can be found enjoying long weekends at Disneyland or Universal Studios, going to movies and concerts or binging Netflix.
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Samantha Nielsen, R.P.T.

Phlebotomy Technician Instructor I

C.P.T. Phlebotomy Learning Center of Las Vegas

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Samantha was born here in Las Vegas and lived here most of her life. Her family moved to Pahrump, Nevada when she was six and after graduating from Pahrump Valley High School she returned to Las Vegas.

After attending two years at UNLV, where she did most of her general education courses, Samantha went to the Phlebotomy Learning Center of Las Vegas and received her CPT license. She is currently enrolled at Arizona College of Nursing, where she is working on her BSN degree.

Samantha’s professional passion is to help people, whether they are her coworkers, patients, family, friends, students, or someone she has just met. She loves being able to make an impact on others.

Her personal passion is self-growth and becoming a better version of herself.

For Samantha, the best thing about working at Northwest Career College is how friendly and welcoming the entire staff and faculty are. She looks forward to working each and every day because of the atmosphere here at Northwest Career College.

When she’s not working, Samantha can be found painting, hiking, or traveling. She loves adventure and expressing her creativity.
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Caresse Pierre, C.P.T.

Phlebotomy Technician Instructor I

C.P.T. Kofe Institute

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Originally from California, Caresse moved to Las Vegas for more opportunities. Having graduated from Pasadena High school, the University Of Phoenix in Criminal Justice, and the Kofe Institute in Phlebotomy, Caresse worked in the medical field for seven years as a phlebotomist working in a hospital, clinical, and lab settings before joining our Phlebotomy Team.

Throughout the years of experience in the medical field, Caresse grew to love teaching and mentoring new employees in my field. Mentoring and teaching is now her passion, being able to hand over the knowledge she’s learned throughout the years of her own experience while seeing students succeed and grow in their careers is very rewarding.

For Caresse, the best thing about working for NCC is the opportunities for growth, the culture, and the great energy Northwest Staff has.

In her spare time, Caresse can be found working out, trying new restaurants, traveling, and spending time with her family.

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