Featured Speaker(s)

Punam Mathur is Senior Vice President of Corporate Diversity and Community Affairs and a Corporate Officer of MGM MIRAGE (NYSE: MGM), one of the world's leading hotel and gaming companies. She is responsible for the oversight and implementation of the company's Diversity Initiative, as well as government affairs, diversity relations, community affairs, corporate philanthropy and the employee-funded Voice Foundation.

Under her leadership, MGM MIRAGE has received national and local acclaim for its support of diversity and community affairs initiatives. Recently, the company was recognized by DiversityBusiness.com as one of the "Top Corporations in the U.S." for multicultural businesses, was awarded "Supplier Diversity Program of the Year" by the Nevada Minority Business Development Council, ranked among the "Top 50 Companies for Diversity" by DiversityInc magazine, named one of "America's Most Admired Companies" by Fortune Magazine and was one of 15 U.S. companies to receive the 2006 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award from the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.

Ms. Mathur currently serves on the boards and councils of several organizations including the National Minority Supplier Diversity Council, Las Vegas After-School All-Stars and Human Rights Campaign. She also serves as Chair of the Clark County Regional Business Development Advisory Council and Chairperson of the Board of Trustees for Three Square, a new non-profit organization dedicated to eradicating hunger in Southern Nevada. Additionally, she serves as Co-Chair of the American Gaming Association's Diversity Task Force. An avid supporter of education, Ms. Mathur is a member of the President's Advisory Task Force on Diversity at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas; Co-Chair of Nevada Partnership for Inclusive Education; Nevada Board of Regents P-16 Council; Board of Directors for Nevada State College; and the Clark County School District Superintendent's Educational Network.

In 2006, the Women's Chamber of Commerce of Nevada inducted Ms. Mathur into the Women's Hall of Fame. She also is recipient of the organization's ATHENA Award, a prestigious international recognition that identifies individuals who have contributed to the success of women in leadership positions. Other honors include being awarded the Community Enrichment Award in Civil Rights by the Las Vegas Urban Chamber of Commerce, named a "Woman of Distinction" by the National Association of Women Business Owners of Southern Nevada and named among the "Top 100 Women in Corporate America" by Woman 3.0 magazine. She is the proud mother of two amazing sons, aged 17 and 8, and a spectacular 7-year old daughter.

Amy Ayoub is the owner of AYOUB & ASSOCIATES, a Las Vegas based company that specializes in the area of organizational fund development, political fundraising and community relations. AYOUB & ASSOCIATES maintains a diverse client base that covers non-profit organizations, political candidates and philanthropists. Amy is widely recognized as the premier political fundraiser in Southern Nevada and is sought after for her donor/client relationship coaching.

As a lifelong Las Vegan, Ayoub has been an active member of her community as a volunteer and working member of a number of charities, advocate groups and political campaigns. She has acquired over twenty years of fundraising experience that began in 1978 when she volunteered to help Senator Richard Bryan raise funds for his campaign for Attorney General of the State of Nevada. Amy went on to work on Bryan's staff during his tenure as Governor.

Amy continued to maintain an avid interest in politics and community development from that point on. Although she went on in her career to become licensed through the National Association of Security Dealer (NASD), and worked for twelve years as a financial planner, she continued her political involvement through fundraising for a number of campaigns. As a result of this passion, she opened her own business in 1998. Some of her current and former clients include:

- Senator Harry Reid
- Supreme Court Justice Michael Douglas
- Commissioner Rory Reid
- Sheriff Doug Gillespie
- AFAN (Aid for AIDS of Nevada)

Amy is a sought-after speaker on subjects such as political fundraising, successful capital campaigns, conquering the fear of public speaking, and board member training with an emphasis on fund development.

Amy's driving force is her desire to better the Las Vegas community she loves so much. Her community recognition includes:

- Appointment by Governor Kenny Guinn in 1999 as the first female to serve on the Nevada Athletic Commission
- Appointment by Senator Richard Bryan to serve as Co-Chair on his Military Academy Selection Committee from 1988-2000
- National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ) where she served as Chair in 1999 and received the Community Hero award in 2000
- Named by the Centennial Committee as one of the women responsible for shaping Las Vegas during its first 100 years. Featured on "Wall of Women" during the Centennial celebrations
- Named one of "Most Influential Businesswomen of 2003" In Business Las Vegas
- University of Nevada, Reno for which she received the President's Silver Award