Friends of LVA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to provide the resources necessary to make the promise of LVA’s world-class tuition-free arts education possible, today and in the future.
Located in the heart of downtown Las Vegas, LVA is a public magnet school that draws talented students from across the valley, fostering a community of creativity, collaboration, and passion. With a distinguished faculty of professional artists and educators, students at LVA receive a top-tier education that prepares them for successful careers in the arts.
Meet the Team
Friends are educators, students, alumni, volunteers, donors, artists, activists and allies who believe in the importance of arts based learning and support Las Vegas Academy of the Arts. An all volunteer board drives fundraising efforts and carefully stewards those funds to directly support the programs, experiences, and opportunities that define LVA’s exceptional arts education for all of its students. Current board members include:
Executive Board
Nick Della Penna
President
Current LVA Parent (Visual Arts 2028)
Nick is owner and franchisor of The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill, one of the leading Greek restaurant concepts in the country. He operates 12 local restaurants and oversees another 90 nationwide. Nick is also the owner of The Muse Cafe, a coffee shop across the street from LVA and is donating 100% of the profit to Friends of LVA. Having joined the Friends of LVA Foundation board in 2024, Nick brings decades of experience in the hospitality space, an entrepreneurial spirit, and philanthropic passion to the Friends of LVA Foundation.
As now President of the Board, Nick’s vision for the foundation is to accelerate fundraising efforts by expanding on multiple fronts, building on the organization’s recent momentum, and implementing new strategies, including a heightened focus on grant identification and application, and increased alumni engagement.
Lezlie Koepp
Vice President, LVA Ambassador
Lezlie brings more than 28 years of experience in education and a lifelong passion for the arts to her role as principal of Las Vegas Academy of the Arts. A proud CCSD alumna and UNLV graduate, she began her career teaching at both middle and high school levels before moving into administration in 2005. Lezlie led K.O. Knudson Academy of the Arts to national recognition as an Exemplary Arts School and Magnet School of Excellence, and in 2023 was appointed principal of LVA, which has since earned five-star status and Top Magnet School of Excellence distinction. Her leadership has been recognized statewide, being named Administrator of the Year by the Nevada Thespians (2022) and Administrator of the Year by the Nevada Music Educators Association (2025).
Throughout her career, Lezlie has supported the broader educational community through service on curriculum cadres, accreditation teams, leadership design groups, and as a mentor to new administrators. A passionate advocate for arts education, she is also a proud parent—her four children are all LVA alumni, with pursuits ranging from theatre and choir to digital animation, Tae Kwon Do, and national-level gymnastics.
Janelle Addis
Vice President
Janelle Addis is Executive Director of Fulfillment Fund Las Vegas, where she helps expand college access and opportunity for students attending Title I high schools across CCSD. She is passionate about connecting community and philanthropic partners to work that creates meaningful pathways for young people and their futures.
With more than a decade of experience in education and nonprofits, Janelle brings both professional expertise and personal commitment to her role on the Friends of LVA Board. She also serves as Board Chair of Girls on the Run Las Vegas, is an advisory board member for Nevada GrantLab, and serves as the Governor’s appointee to the State Public Charter School Authority Board.
As the parent of two students at Las Vegas Academy of the Arts, Janelle has seen firsthand how arts education helps students build confidence, purpose, and durable skills that extend far beyond the classroom. She is excited to support Friends of LVA in creating more for students to thrive creatively, academically, and personally.
Maria Bement
Vice President
Maria was part of the inaugural freshman class at Las Vegas Academy of the Arts, where she discovered her passion for Technical Production. After a 24-year career with MGM Resorts International, where she advanced from on-call stagehand to Director and produced world-class events around the globe, Maria returned to her roots at LVA.
She now serves as Theater Manager at Las Vegas Academy of the Arts and Executive Producer for Colorado-based Six Productions. A former President and current Director of Alumni for the Friends of LVA Foundation, Maria is passionate about reconnecting graduates with their alma mater and building a thriving alumni network that supports future generations of LVA students.
Patrick Kearney
Treasurer
Patrick is the Assistant Vice President of Fraud at One Nevada Credit Union, where he has spent nearly 20 years in the credit union industry. A Certified Fraud Examiner, he holds a BSBA in Accounting from UNLV and an MBA from Western Governors University.
As the parent of a Las Vegas Academy of the Arts sophomore, Patrick is passionate about the role the arts play in helping students reach their academic goals and grow as well-rounded individuals. Through Friends of LVA, he is eager to use his professional expertise and community focus to help expand opportunities and resources for LVA students.
Bonnie Toth
Secretary
Bonnie serves as the Director at Kids’ Co-op Preschool and holds a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction. A passionate advocate for lifelong learning, she was recognized as Early Educator of the Year in 2022 and remains dedicated to high-quality education. In her current role at Kids’ Co-op, she leads a team of employees and volunteers, manages the school’s DEI initiatives and collaborates closely with its fundraising committee. In addition, she assists with financial management for her family’s local pest control business.
Bonnie joined the Friends of LVA Board in 2025 to help support the school’s mission and arts programs. She is the proud parent of three children attending CCSD magnet schools, including one currently enrolled at LVA. Bonnie deeply values the school’s commitment to excellence and has unwavering support of its teachers, counselors, and staff. Bonnie is a passionate supporter of the arts and believes that education should nurture not only academic growth but also creativity, confidence, and compassion—the essential skills that help children grow into capable, secure adults.
Board Members
Melissa Adams
Director
Melissa K. Adams is Senior Vice President of Sales, North America & Latin America at Aristocrat, where she leads the company’s sales organization across the region. She has more than 25 years of experience in sales, business development, and leadership, with a strong focus on developing people, building high-performing teams, and mentoring future leaders.
A longtime Las Vegas resident, Melissa is passionate about the role the arts can play in a young person’s confidence, creativity, and future. She believes access to high-quality arts education should not be limited by a student’s background or circumstances and is committed to helping create opportunities for all young people in the Las Vegas community to discover and pursue their talents.
Melissa brings her experience in leadership, strategic planning, and relationship building to the board, along with a personal commitment to ensuring the performing arts remain accessible to the next generation.
Cheronda Everett
Director
Cheronda is a change agent and loves making a positive impact. She has 20 years of experience managing programs, collaborating with local governments, working in higher education on grant-funded programs, and leading social impact initiatives. Cheronda’s expertise centers around project management and strategic planning. Over the years in her professional career, volunteer experiences and Principal Consultant/Owner of CME 2 Consulting Firm, she has brought positive change within organizations, communities and the lives of individuals. She is excited to bring her skills to the Friends of LVA Foundation.
Cheronda is a lifelong learner and takes on opportunities to refine her skills and increase her knowledge. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from Northern Illinois University. In order to enhance her knowledge and skills regarding local government and nonprofit management she pursued and earned a Master of Science in Public Service Management from the School of Public Service at DePaul University. Cheronda earned a Master of Science in Management and Organizational Behavior from Benedictine University which improved her knowledge and skills when managing people, projects and organizational change. In 2022 she completed 20 hours of training from the Society of Research Administrators International increasing her knowledge and skills when managing the lifecycle of federally-funded grants.
Alex Hubert
Director
Born into a musical family, Alex has spent a lifetime immersed in music and the arts. As a singer, guitarist, and songwriter, music has been an important part of his life from an early age, giving him a deep appreciation for creativity, collaboration, discipline, and artistic expression.
Alex ultimately transitioned into the legal profession, where he has spent the past 20 years serving as a Clark County Public Defender. His career has centered on public service, advocacy, and working directly with people from all walks of life.
Alex brings together the perspective of a lifelong musician and an experienced public servant, with a strong belief in the importance of education, the arts, and creating opportunities for young people to discover and develop their own talents.
Betsy Martin
Director
Betsy is new to Friends of LVA this year, serving as a Director at Large. A dedicated community volunteer, she has been actively involved in her daughters’ schools throughout their academic journeys, both in and out of the classroom. Betsy has organized food drives supporting the homeless and underprivileged children in the Las Vegas valley, reflecting her deep commitment to giving back.
Professionally, she works in the healthcare industry, where she continues to grow in compassion and service to others. Her passion for helping people is at the heart of everything she does.
Michelle Musburger
Director
Michelle is president of PR and communications agency, Strike Communications. Leveraging more than 25 years of agency, corporate and consulting experience, she joined the Friends of LVA Foundation board in 2024 to help the organization clearly and effectively communicate to its various audiences.
A former choir kid herself, Michelle is constantly amazed and inspired by the amazing talent at LVA. In turn, she’s inspired to use her experience to help the foundation raise the funds necessary to facilitate LVA’s premier arts education for all of its students.
Scott Ribiero
Director
Scott is SVP of Marketing for Go Nut Kukui, a brand focused on personalized novelty and apparel items primarily for the collegiate, high school and primary school markets. He oversees all online merchandising activities as well as onsite support of retail merchandising and sales events.
Since moving to Nevada, Scott has also worked for several hospitality and marketing organizations including Mandalay Bay, Caesars Entertainment, and The Venetian, heading up online sales, digital and mobile marketing, social media and digital signage. Scott has overseen both large and small organizations leading teams from 2 to over 35 employees, interfacing across organizational functions including operations, marketing, government, and finance. With a background as a musician, Scott is grateful for the opportunity to apply his experience in support of all LVA students.
Maggie Verderame
Director
Maggie is founder of Bright Maggie, an artful online space focused on health, home and happiness. Having worked in various schools facilitating early childhood education, theatre, and yoga, as well homeschooling her own daughter for eight years prior to her attending LVA, Maggie understands the dedication required of educators. She joined the board in 2024 to help give back to the incredible LVA staff. As Director of Events & Staff Appreciation, Maggie brings her entrepreneurial spirit, experience and attention to detail in order to create staff appreciation events that truly shine.
Brent Wiggins
Director
Brent is currently the Lead Program Support Assistant for Nursing Business Operations at the VA hospital. Joining the Friends of LVA Foundation board Brent brings enthusiasm to help LVA shine. Assisting where needed and putting the needs of LVA first.
Non-Board Partners
Brian Downey
Director of Outreach & Development
Brian is in his second year as Director of Outreach and Development for the Friends of Las Vegas Academy Foundation. He previously served as Development Director for the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts (2020–2024), where he led fundraising initiatives and built community partnerships to expand student opportunities in the arts. Brian’s efforts have supported the continued growth of one of the nation's premier public arts magnet schools.
Before transitioning into development, Brian spent over 30 years as a music educator, including 15 years as Music Department Chair and Director of Bands at LVA, where his ensembles earned national recognition.
He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of New Mexico and a Master of Arts in Music from the American Band College at Southern Oregon University.
Megan Franke
Development Director
Meghan leads fundraising and community engagement to support the nationally recognized programs at Las Vegas Academy of the Arts. With nearly 20 years of experience as an educator and arts advocate, she transitioned from directing LVA’s award-winning vocal ensembles to championing student opportunities through development and outreach. A proud believer in the power of arts education, Megan is continually inspired by the extraordinary talent of LVA’s students and is dedicated to securing the resources that allow them to shine.
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