Our Board Members
Mark Huse - Board President
Mark Huse and his wife Dawn have three children and three grandchildren. A proud veteran, Mark served with both the U.S. Army and Louisiana National Guard. A graduate of Ashford University in Clinton, Iowa, he earned a bachelor's degree in business administration. In 2016, he graduated from LSU in Shreveport with an MBA.
Mark serves as Vice President of Casino Operations for Horseshoe, Paris, and Planet Hollywood Casinos. As part of his responsibilities, he oversees the slots, table games, poker, keno, sportsbooks, and the Arcade at Horseshoe. It has been more than two decades since he began his gaming career in his hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana. His professional journey took him to Davenport Iowa, Oxford Maine, New Orleans Louisiana, and finally Las Vegas Nevada as he steadily attained positions of increasing responsibility.
In Davenport, Iowa, Mark and Dawn were blessed with the birth of their daughter Hannah in 2003. Upon learning of their daughter's diagnosis, they immediately found a group called the Upside of Down Syndrome Family Group. The group of families played a crucial role in Hannah's development by providing support and guidance. A participant in this support group, Mark later became involved in the planning and fund-raising of the first Buddy Walk, then became a member of the opening team and served on the board of Gigi's Playhouse Quad Cities.
As Mark and his family have moved several times, they have been able to volunteer and participate in numerous organizations and events focused on inclusion and acceptance. The Huse family is excited to once again be a part of GiGi’s, where their journey began in 2011.
Justine Adams - Board Vice President
Justine Adams joined her journey with GiGi’s Playhouse Las Vegas in 2019 by setting up a Believe in Our Build in honor of Cooper, her son. In early 2020, she joined the startup team, although Covid-19 halted progression, the remaining members of the team held an event in June 2021 to reignite the mission of opening the doors of a GiGi’s Playhouse for the Las Vegas community. And that’s exactly what they did! She is incredibly honored to be the inaugural Board Vice President of GiGi’s Playhouse Las Vegas!
Justine was born in Cleveland, OH, but was raised in Las Vegas. She graduated from Valley High School, and attended UNLV for both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. She has been a high school counselor in CCSD for the past 16 years. She met Travis, her husband in 2000 and they married in 2003. They have two children; Chloe, born in 2004, and Cooper, born in 2010. Cooper has Down syndrome. With the birth diagnosis came much uncertainty and fear, but this far into their journey, Justine wishes she knew then what she knows now. Life is good. Life is normal. Life is beautiful. With support, interventions and tireless advocacy, their son Cooper flourishes. She wants all parents of children with Down syndrome to have hope instead of fear. She believes that having a GiGi's Playhouse Down Syndrome Achievement Center is just what our valley needs to help support new parents, parents deep in their journey and for self-advocates with Down syndrome to continue to flourish; making Las Vegas shine brighter still.
Damiana Franklin - Board Treasurer
Damiana Franklin started her career in public accounting in 2005. She received her license to practice as a Certified Public accountant (CPA) in the state of Nevada in 2009. Damiana attended the University of Nevada Las Vegas where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with her undergraduate and graduate degrees in accounting. She is also a member of the American Institute of CPAs.
Damiana’s professional focus is on providing accounting, bookkeeping and tax services to small to mid-size companies. She understands the struggles many business owners face today trying to juggle running a business, paying bills, complying with tax regulations and just simply meeting their businesses’ demands. She is dedicated to providing her clients with professional, personalized and timely service.
Damiana Franklin is a strong supporter of work-life balance, which has encouraged her to begin her own journey of being a business owner. Apart from her professional career, Damiana is passionate about giving back to the community by staying involved with various charitable organizations, such as Child Haven, Boys and Girls Club, and A Broader View orphanage volunteering organization.
Natalie Connelly - Secretary
Natalie's journey to Las Vegas unfolded during her college years at USF when she was accepted the role of Head of Revenue and granted minority ownership at Patir, a distinguished European Casino Seating Manufacturer. In 2014, She then ventured to Las Vegas to establish the U.S. office and spearhead the development of the North American division. Driven by a passion for expanding her expertise in the Gaming Industry, She embarked on a new chapter in 2017 by joining Interblock's sales team. Since then, her focus has centered on nurturing vital client relationships and overseeing key accounts in Nevada.
But life isn't all about work. Outside of her professional pursuits, She finds joy in exploring the world through travel, carving through fresh powder while snowboarding, and treasuring the precious moments shared with her husband, their four enchanting daughters, Amelia (4), Alina (9 months), Addyson (16) and Payton (16), and two precious pups, Duke (German Shepherd) and Ziva (Border Collie). she believes that GiGi's Playhouse aligns perfectly with her values. She is deeply drawn to GiGi's mission of providing unwavering support to children and families impacted by Down Syndrome.
Sonja Braunlich - Board Member
Sonja Braunlich born in Florida but has traveled most of her childhood as an Army brat and much of her married life with her husband, Brandon, and with their two children. Sonja has been married to her College Sweetheart for 22 years and counting. Micah is their oldest son, who is 20 years old and attends our local University, and their youngest son, Braden, is 16 years old and a sophomore in our local charter high school. Sonja is also a local REALTOR for the area and loves helping all those around her. Although, her greatest passion is her kids. Sonja has always been involved in supporting her children with their needs.
Her oldest son, Micah, is anaphylactic to peanuts and all nuts; there isn't a moment of rest with this deadly disease, and you will often see her helping her son and any family navigate life with this fatal disease of food allergies. Sonja's youngest is with Down syndrome, and she has always been involved in some capacity for the local Down syndrome community, their sports teams, and her son's schools.
Sonja is very excited to be on the start-up committee for GiGi Playhouse. Her primary goal in bringing GiGi playhouse to the area is not only to help support her son with all the opportunities GiGi Playhouse will provide but for all parents, siblings, grandparents, and foster families as they navigate life with their loved ones. Sonja is hopeful Vegas will have a GiGi location here in Vegas in 2023.
John Connelly - Board Member
John Connelly is the Global Chief Executive Officer of Interblock and is a highly respected and proven leader, with more than thirty years of experience in gaming and a distinguished track record of business development, innovation, and M&As. His extensive background within US and international markets has played a pivotal role in increasing Interblock’s market share, development, and profitability over the past eight years.
During Connelly’s leadership, some of the world’s largest private equity (PE) funds sought to purchase Interblock. One such PE fund, Oaktree Capital, was successful and the acquisition of Interblock occurred in June of 2022. John’s unwavering commitment always has and will continue to blaze the trail for Interblock and the future of electronic table games.
John Connelly was appointed the Corporation’s Chief Executive Officer at Interblock, effective January 2015. Before joining Interblock he was a member of Bally Technologies Executive Committee. In 2004, Mr. Connelly joined Bally Technologies as Vice President of Governmental Markets, but was quickly promoted in 2005 to Vice President of International.
In 2011, John Connelly was named to the Executive Committee of Bally as the Vice President of M&A and Business Development, while in January of 2014 the Interactive Division was added to his list of responsibilities, along with a Senior Vice President title. Before Bally, he served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Automated Wagering International – now a part of Scientific Games – and as a Senior Account Executive for GTECH Corporation. Prior to, John Connelly held several high-level sales and marketing roles:
- Senior Vice President of Sales for Oberthur Gaming Technologies Corporation, the world’s largest printer of scratch-off lottery tickets, from 2001-2004.
- Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Automated Wagering International, Inc. (AWI), a lottery systems provider, from 1995-1998.
- Account Executive for GTECH Corporation from 1992-1995.
Connelly received a Bachelor of Science degree from Bryant College in 1992 and in November 2007, completed Harvard Business School’s General Management Program, a seven-week Executive Education program for executives who have demonstrated capabilities and proven leadership potential.
Dr. Thessa Hilgenkamp - Board Member
Dr. Thessa Hilgenkamp is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at UNLV since fall 2019. She is also the Director of the Cardiovascular Research and Exercise (CARE) Lab at UNLV. She has been involved in research with individuals with intellectual disabilities and Down syndrome for over 13 years. She is passionate about everything related to physical activity and exercise, and she greatly values collaboration with the community to share experiences and knowledge. She is excited to be part of the board of directors of GiGi's Playhouse Las Vegas and to create positive experiences with physical activity and exercise for families and individuals with Down syndrome. In her free time, she loves to go hiking with her husband and dog.
Steve Zanella - Board Member
As Chief Commercial Officer at MGM Resorts, Steve Zanella oversees Public Relations, Marketing, Direct Marketing, Group Sales, Social Media, Loyalty and Commercial Strategy. Steve is an accomplished industry veteran who has held several leadership positions at MGM Resorts.
Prior to taking this role, Mr. Zanella served as President & COO of CityCenter, which includes Aria Resort & Casino and Vdara Hotel & Spa, where he oversaw daily operations and provided strategic direction for the ultra-luxury resorts.
Mr. Zanella previously held the position of President & Chief Operating Officer of MGM Grand Detroit where he was responsible for the day-to-day operations of one of the most dynamic resorts in the region. In addition to overseeing all resort operations and guiding the property’s strategic direction, he cultivated MGM Grand Detroit’s guest service culture and fostered open communication and teamwork within the property and across the company.
A veteran of the hospitality industry with more than 29 years of experience, he joined MGM Resorts in 1991 as a participant in the Management Associate Program, which is a hands-on training curriculum for college graduates. In his tenure with the company, Mr. Zanella has also served as Senior Vice President of Marketing for MGM Grand Las Vegas, Vice President of Slots at Beau Rivage, Director of Slot Marketing and Player Development also at Beau Rivage and Domestic Marketing Administrator for Table Games Marketing at The Mirage.
Mr. Zanella received his bachelor’s degree in Hotel Administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. In 2014 he earned a Master in Business Administration degree from the University of Michigan’s Stephen M. Ross School of Business.
Chase Haydel - Board Member
Chase Haydel has spent the last 25 years providing leadership to teams across multiple roles representing various hospitality industries. Throughout his career, he has been responsible for envisioning, planning, and executing strategic initiatives designed to elevate business profitability, as well as enhancing the overall customer experience. Chase's experience in food and beverage began with the time he dedicated to assisting his family operate their fine dining restaurant. In this role, he was responsible for standardizing and modernizing operations. In 1994, Chase entered the gaming industry as a dealer when casinos first entered the hospitality industry in New Orleans. He was soon promoted to table games supervisor where he was selected to serve on different operational teams. As life would have it, in 1998 he married and decided to leave New Orleans to work with his brother to build one of the most successful franchise companies in the Southeast region. While serving as a regional manager, the company grew to include 40 restaurants and led franchise partners in performance, efficiency, profits, and growth.
After 14 years away, New Orleans called Chase back and he joined the Caesars Family as a part of the Harrah’s New Orleans team. He began as a supervisor, quickly establishing himself within the organization, holding a variety of positions and making a positive impact. In his role as Table Games Trainer, Chase introduced new games to the operations while providing the team the opportunity to grow and develop new skills. After serving as a Casino Manager for Table Games, Chase was promoted to Poker Manager where he facilitated revenue generation that exceeded established expectations and targets through his leadership, the introduction of seasonal tournaments, and partnerships during the World Series of Poker events held in
New Orleans. Chase's strength in reviving departments led to his appointment as the Slots and Beverage Manager where he stayed until joining the Las Vegas team as the Director of Casino Operations for Horseshoe, Paris, and Planet Hollywood. In his current role, Chase has revised games, implemented new operational strategies, and established a well-developed team.
Over the course of his career, Chase has been committed to improving the social conditions of the communities in which he has lived. He has been a member of the Son of a Saint Foundation, Children's Museum of New Orleans, and the St. Joseph Men's Club. Currently, Chase serves as a Board member of Dooky Chase Restaurant and the Dooky and Leah Chase Foundation. Additionally, he routinely assists with civic activities including volunteering at the local homeless shelter and voter registration drives. Chase attributes much of his success to his wife, Nia, and their amazing children, Issis, Chase, and Noelle. They have been a huge support to him and motivate him to be actively involved in the community. Besides spending time with family, Chase enjoys the outdoors, and loves to root for the New Orleans Saints.
Brandon Leavitt - Board Member
Brandon K. Leavitt has been a practicing attorney for more than 14 years. Brandon takes a holistic approach when practicing family law and understands that his client’s legal issues can impact their lives for years. This approach helps Brandon get great results in and outside of the courtroom. Brandon has extensive experience in family law matters, including divorce, child support, child custody, alimony, asset division, and prenuptial agreements.
Brandon is a 6th generation Southern Nevadan and has family ties to the initial settlers of the Las Vegas Valley. He was born in Henderson, Nevada, and graduated from Green Valley High School in 1998. Brandon continued to pursue his education at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he graduated with distinction with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Degree in Communications with an emphasis in argumentation and negotiation.
Brandon then earned his Juris Doctorate (J.D.) Degree from the prestigious Shepard Broad College of Law at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Adhering to his lifelong work ethic, he was employed full-time as a law clerk for a Fortune 100 company while putting himself through law school.
Our Team
Justine Chevalier - Site Manager
Justine Chevalier is a mother to two girls, Lucy and Penny, who has Down syndrome. Since 2021, she has served as the Start-up Lead for GiGi's Playhouse LV, a role that reflects her commitment to creating a better future for Penny and her friends. Justine has been actively involved in the Las Vegas community since 2010, channeling her passion into making a positive impact in the lives of individuals with special needs.
Jessica Saldivar - Family and Community Coordinator
Jessica has lived in Las Vegas most of her life, she was blessed and fortunate to have been chosen as the mother to her beautiful daughter Ellie, who was born in 2020 with Down syndrome.
Having a prenatal diagnosis, Jessica had many fears and worries. Since learning about GiGi's Playhouse, it has brought her knowledge of the quality life her daughter will have.
Jessica truly believes an important part of acceptance is having the support of parents that understand you, see you and hear you.
The support and understanding she wished for at the time of her daughter's birth is what she wishes and hopes to make a difference in the Las Vegas Down syndrome community as we all learn together and go through this not easy but wonderful journey
Debbi Block - Literacy Coordinator
Debbi was born and lived in Detroit, Michigan, and also lived in Clearwater, Florida and Raleigh, North Carolina before moving to Henderson, Nevada in 1994. Her passion for helping others has been a part of her life since she was young. Debbi taught swimming lessons and tutored individuals of all ages.
She earned a bachelor's of science degree with a major in psychology, a kindergarten through 8th grade teaching license and a master's degree in school counseling. After teaching science in the middle school for eight years, she was a counselor in a middle and a high school for 20 years before retiring in May of 2020.
Debbi follows in her mother's footsteps with the desire to volunteer, which she does in her cousin's elementary school classroom. Debbi found a fond love for the Down syndrome community when one of her great friends and longtime coworkers, Justine Adams, had her beautiful son Cooper. Justine introduced Debbi to GiGi's Playhouse Las Vegas in 2019 and it was at that moment that she knew she had to be involved. Debbi is excited to be the Group Program Coordinator as well as a 1:1 tutor in the Playhouse.
Cat Kohl - Volunteer Coordinator
Although born on the east coast, Cat has lived in Las Vegas/Henderson most of her life. She is a licensed cosmetologist and a registered nurse. She operated her cosmetology career as an independent contractor for a rewarding 15 years. Always interested in the human body, Cat also accomplished completing her nursing degree in 2019.
In 2020, Cat and her husband James finally had their miracle baby, Leonardo. Leo was diagnosed prenatally with Down syndrome and a complete AVSD heart defect. Cat and James were part of new clubs they knew nothing about at the time; they were now part of The Lucky Few and the parents to a tiny brave heart warrior. Little did they know Cat’s nursing experience would be useful for Cat and James to start advocating hard for Leo and to care for him during a long NICU stay and 5 major surgeries in his first year and a half of life, including his open-heart surgery.
Cat is beyond excited to be involved with GiGi’s Playhouse LV, the GiGi’s team, and the families in the wonderful Down syndrome community! If Cat could tell you anything about GiGi’s, it would be that volunteers and donations are so very important to our Playhouse. This is how we continue to run and provide purposeful programs for this amazing community. We absolutely cannot do it without you! Cat and her family eagerly anticipate witnessing GiGi’s Playhouse LV and the families flourish through the years!
Our Key Volunteers
Bellamy Pascucci
Bellamy Pascucci was born in Wisconsin and had lived in Scottsdale, Arizona for twenty years before moving to Las Vegas in 2015. She has a passion for helping others and when she received a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome for her son Jonathan (JC) she wanted to help her current community have more resources for families and their loved ones who have Down syndrome and a dual diagnosis of Autism like JC.
Bellamy’s background includes a bachelor's degree with a focus in sales and marketing from the University of Phoenix. Besides volunteering on the Startup Team with GiGi’s Playhouse Las Vegas, she enjoys spin class, yoga, and traveling.
Jackie Cantu
Jackie Cantu is originally from Los Angeles, CA and moved to Las Vegas, NV in the summer of 2000. She is married to Omar Cantu and they have three children. The oldest is Ashley and is attending college, Jayden is in middle school and the youngest Andrew is four. Andrew was born with Down syndrome. He has been a great blessing and inspiration to the family. Before Andrew was born Jackie and her family did not have any connection to Down syndrome. They are very fortunate to have him and they can see the need in the Las Vegas community for a GiGi’s Playhouse. Jackie is very excited to help bring GiGi's Playhouse to Las Vegas. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family and loves to attend her children’s schools and sports functions.
GiGi's Playhouse Las Vegas would like to thank all of the people that have contributed to the mission of opening the doors of this incredible resource for our community. Gizelle Romero, Kara Thormodsgaard, Kimberly Wagner, Rachael Chesin-Vermeulen, Mallory Levins, Pamela Levins and Sarah Clem. The hard work and dedication of all have been a necessary part of the GiGi's Playhouse Las Vegas journey!