Felipe A. Ortiz – Chair
Felipe A. Ortiz received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of Santa Fe in New Mexico and a Master of Public Administration from UNLV. A retired federal probation officer, Mr. Ortiz was appointed by the Las Vegas City Council to a second term and it expires in April 2025. He enjoys reading presidential biographies and crime fiction.
Kelly D. Benavidez – Secretary/Treasurer
Kelly D. Benavidez is a liaison to Clark County Commissioner Lawrence Weekly. Having previously served as chair on the Library Board, her other community involvement has included work for the Las Vegas Latin Chamber of Commerce, Hispanics in Politics, and the Latina Network to name a few. Ms. Benavidez is a fan of Chicano writers, and her favorite book is Rain of Gold by Victor Villaseñor. She was appointed by the Clark County Board of Commissions to her second term and it expires in March 2025.
Elizabeth Foyt
Elizabeth Foyt's family moved to Las Vegas in 1957. As a young girl in Las Vegas, some of her fondest memories are family trips to the local library. Her life's careers as a librarian, editor, writer, and consultant have been bolstered by the concept of free access to information and resources. Ms. Foyt is a voracious reader and a great believer in the value of public libraries. She adores the books about horse racing written by the late Dick Francis. Appointed by the Clark County Commission, her second term expires March 2025.
José L. Meléndrez
José L. Meléndrez was appointed to the Library District's Board of Trustees by the Las Vegas City Council in March 2015 and then reappointed by the Clark County Commission. He is the assistant vice president in the UNLV Office of Diversity Initiatives and he received a Masters in Social Work from the University of Michigan. His term will run through August 2023.
Sandra Ramaker
Sandra Ramaker currently serves on the Mesquite City Council and has lived in Mesquite for 10 years, having moved from Portland, Oregon with her husband, Doug. She was a phlebotomy supervisor for 31 years, and currently volunteers at Mesa View Regional Hospital, sits on the Advisory Committee for Kids for Sports Foundation, and previously served on the Board of the Mesquite Chamber of Commerce. Two recent books Ms. Ramaker has enjoyed reading are, “Nevada’s Great Recession,” by Elliott Parker with Kate Marshall and “The Book of Bundy: The Chronicles of a Welfare Cowboy,” by Let’s Talk Nevada.com. And, she loves to read anything by James Patterson. She was appointed by the Clark County Commission and her term expires March 2023.
Dr. Keith Rogers
Dr. Keith Rogers currently serves as the deputy executive director at UNLV's Center for Academic Enrichment and Outreach. He has earned his Doctorate in Business Administration from Grand Canyon University and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. A U.S. Army veteran, Dr. Rogers has devoted his professional career to helping increase underrepresented students' access to and completion from college. He enjoys reading materials about innovation and leadership. Appointed by the Las Vegas City Council, his term expires November 2023.
Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson is an entrepreneur and a successful business owner for more than 25 years in the Las Vegas area. Mr. Wilson volunteers at his local church and has served as a policy advisor in the 2015 Legislative Session. He believes that learning and education are a lifelong endeavor, and that public libraries play a critical role in the community by providing free access to an array of resources and information. With an occasional graphic novel thrown in to unwind, he enjoys reading nonfiction on a wide variety of subjects. Appointed by the Las Vegas City Council, his term expires in May 2023.
