Mr. Parent is a long-time Las Vegas resident who established his roots here in the year 2000 from Rhode Island. Derek owns and manages one of the area’s most reputable and successful mortgage firms, USA Mortgage, as well as Movement Fitness, a full-service gym and sports training facility. He is devoted to blending his passion for giving back to the community with his business goal of creating positive experiences for people seeking mortgages and wellness improvements.

Derek assumed the ownership and operation of a local fitness gym in 2020 and renamed it Movement Fitness. He envisioned building it and becoming a wellness center in the community while the profits from Movement Fitness are plowed back into the community through Movement Gives Foundation, a non-profit organization set up by him as a vehicle to deliver positive impacts on the lives of people in the community, especially the underserved populations.

Derek is highly recognized and respected as a successful entrepreneur and community leader. His determination and leadership are what’s driving MGF to march forward since its inception. In 2023 Derek welcomed the first EmployNV Youth Hub located inside Movement Fitness facility. The hub is the first American Job Center hosted in a privately funded business in the nation. He currently serves on the board of Workforce Connections and co-chairs the Programs Committee.

Dr. Chang serves as the Executive Director of the Foundation, working closely with Mr. Parent on various program development and implementation, integrating and ensuring that they meet the needs of our communities. David’s professional background encompasses consumer goods product and technology development, nutrition science, and regulatory compliance. David had gained much of his working experience in an international environment where he interacted with local government officials, had central roles in talent and next-generation leadership development, and held budgeting and fiscal responsibilities. Since his retirement in 2018, David has volunteered his time at a local foodbank call center, where he gained deeper insights into the challenges people were facing concerning food and financial insecurities. He joined the Foundation in 2023 to be part of a grassroots initiative, an opportunity presented by Mr. Parent, to serve and give back to our communities. David holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the City University of New York and an MBA in International Business Management from The University of Connecticut.

Sharon Jalene joined the Department of Kinesiology & Nutrition Sciences in 2013 as an instructor. After completing both master’s and doctoral degrees at UNLV, Jalene was hired as an Assistant Professor-in-Residence. She was then appointed Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Affairs, and in 2022, she was named the Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs for the School of Integrated Health Sciences. Dr. Jalene was promoted to Associate Professor-in-Residence and also serves as the Director of the B.S. of Applied Health Sciences. In partnership with Student Affairs and the campus counseling center, Dr. Jalene secured funding and coordinated the implementation of the UNLV student and employee holistic web-based app, You @ UNLV. She also serves as the director of the steering committee for UNLV’s partnership with the Nevada Science Olympiad and is a member of the Young Rebels initiative. Since 2013, Jalene has received seven teaching and service awards, including the 2019 UNLV Foundation Distinguished Teaching Award. In addition, she received three grants from the Office of Faculty, Policy, & Research and one from the Department of General Education at UNLV for course development. Jalene also directs a campus-wide service project, Fitness4Finals, twice yearly. Jalene’s research examines the increasing incidence of college student depression, intervention preferences, and the bidirectional relationship between depression and cardiorespiratory fitness.

Cecil Fielder brings over 30 years of experience in the transportation industry to his role as Strategic Initiatives Manager at Workforce Connections Southern Nevada. Previously, he held leadership positions at Keolis Las Vegas as AGM/Director of Safety, Training, & Security, where he oversaw safety, training, security, and day-to-day operations. Cecil’s career began at Monique’s Limousine Service in Beverly Hills, CA, where he gained invaluable experience in the family-owned business. In addition to his role at Workforce Connections, Cecil has served as Vice-Chair on the Workforce Connections Board and has been an active member of the Governors Workforce Development Board for the State of Nevada (GWDB). His extensive background in transit operations, safety, and logistics underscores his commitment to driving strategic initiatives and making a meaningful impact in the community.

Christine Dominguez is an executive administrator and business partner with over 30 years of experience working alongside C-suite executive teams of non-profit organizations and Fortune 500 companies in Denver, Colorado, and Las Vegas. Her extensive background includes economic development, government, hospitality, financial, communications, and manufacturing. Christine currently specializes in virtual assistance with remote support to her clients. Christine is a powerful force in the workplace and uses her experience, positive attitude, and tireless energy to encourage others to work hard and succeed. Christine is inspired by her mentor and her involvement in community organizations. She is active in health and wellness programs, volunteering in her community, and spending time with her two grandchildren and their busy sports activities.

Legislative Service:

Nevada Assembly, 2015-2021 (first elected in November 2014)—four regular and five special sessions.

2021 SESSION COMMITTEES: Government Affairs (Chair); Commerce and Labor; Education.

2019-2020 INTERIM COMMITTEES: Committee to Conduct an Interim Study of Issues Relating to Driving Under the Influence of Marijuana; Committee to Conduct an Interim Study of Issues Relating to Pretrial Release of Defendants in Criminal Cases.

2019 SESSION COMMITTEES: Government Affairs (Chair); Education (Vice Chair); Taxation.

2017-2018 INTERIM COMMITTEES: Committee on High-Level Radioactive Waste (Chair); Committee to Conduct an Interim Study Relating to Affordable Housing; Advisory Task Force on School Leader Management.

2017 SESSION COMMITTEES: Government Affairs (Chair); Education; Taxation.

2015 SESSION COMMITTEES: Education; Government Affairs; Transportation.

Education:

University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), B.A., English; William S. Boyd School of Law, UNLV, J.D.

Personal:

Occupation: Attorney

Born: Las Vegas, Nevada.