2011 Lobbyists
Janice Aryes has been actively engaged with Nevada’s Legislature since 1969 when she was statewide Director for the Nevada Mental Health Association, a non-profit organization. She saw the need for services for the mentally ill and was successful in lobbying for the first mental health facility in Nevada that provided a full array of services. She has lobbied for several major health agencies and non-profit social service agencies since, and has been highly successful in getting funding to provide services and facilities. Forty years of experience with the Nevada Legislature and 15 years with the California Legislature makes her a very experienced lobbyist.
Bruce Arkell has been active in the Legislature since the early 1970's when he was the State Planning Coordinator in Governor O'Callaghan's Office, where he developed various policy positions for the Governor, and was responsible for shepherding them through the Legislature. Bruce has lobbied in most of the sessions since then. He has represented various private sector clients as well as governmental entities at the State and Local level. Bruce brings to the Nevada Senior Advocates lobbying team an understanding of the process and the ability to develop and present testimony.
Sandra Borrelli, has a wealth of professional experience, both in the private sector and public sector, that contribute to the abilities she brings to NSA. Sandra worked for a major corporation in management for 12 years prior to dedicating her passion to serve special populations in the public sector and non-profit sector. She became a Licensed Social Worker in Nevada and started on the path of serving the under served with administrative as well as counseling skills. While new to the legislative process, Sandra has developed senior programs and been active in senior issues for years. She is a quick study and will be actively involved in all legislative activities for NSA.
Mike Trudell, has been actively engaged with Nevada’s Legislature since 1995 as the General Manager for the Caughlin Ranch Homeowners Association. Trudell’s lobbying experience includes testifying at committee hearings and writing amendments for legislation, as it impacts common interest communities. Trudell has 15 years of experience with the Nevada Legislature and 26 years of business experience in the private and public sectors. Trudell’s educational background is in Urban and Regional Government, and his interests include the government’s role in providing health services to Nevadans. Trudell’s experience also includes running a campaign for local government, Washoe County Commission, where health care and education are among the key issues he advocates.
Tibi Ellis is the President and CEO for Home Helpers, a homecare provider and Direct Link, a personal emergency response company serving the elderly, convalescing and disabled in Las Vegas. Tibi was born in Venezuela to a family of political activists and lived in Ohio, Indiana and Key Biscayne, Florida, before arriving in Las Vegas in 2000. Over twenty years of experience in the healthcare industry have provided Tibi with the broad, acquired knowledge necessary to mentor and help other healthcare professionals. She brings a considerable amount of technical experience to the lobbying team, as well as her demonstrated ability to work with individuals and groups. Her success with building relations in the community and growing up in a politically active family, prepares her well for this new role as a lobbyist.
Larry Weiss for more than 35 years, has assessed, identified, and developed high quality, cost effective public and private health and human services delivery systems for elders. He has served roles that encompassed health and aging services administration, research and management, program planning and development, and process evaluation. He served as the Director of the Sanford Center for Aging at the University of Nevada, Reno for 13 years. His current responsibilities include the design, development, implementation of geriatric and gerontology programming, research, and community education and service programs at the Center for Healthy Aging (CHA). The mission of the CHA is to develop innovative, effective, and efficient programs through research, education, and services designed to improve the quality of life and to promote easy access to these programs. Larry brings a wealth of experience to the NSA teams