Executive Leadership

Joseph Ferreira

President & Chief Executive Officer

Joe Ferreira is a nationally and internationally recognized healthcare executive with more than 20 years of leadership experience in organ, eye, and tissue donation and transplantation. He is known for building high‑performing organizations in highly regulated healthcare environments and for advancing donation and transplant systems through innovation, operational excellence, and inclusive leadership. 

Ferreira serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of The Donor Network, a newly established multi‑state nonprofit enterprise overseeing organ procurement organizations, including Nevada Donor Network and South Florida Donor Network. Prior to the formation of The Donor Network, he served as President and CEO of Nevada Donor Network (NDN) beginning in April 2012. In that role, he led one of the most significant organizational and systemwide transformations in the organ procurement field. 

Under Ferreira’s leadership, Nevada Donor Network evolved from one of the lowest‑performing organ procurement organizations in the country into a nationally recognized leader in donation outcomes, regulatory performance, and organizational culture. He built a culture centered on accountability, transparency, and inclusion while aligning clinical excellence with operational discipline and long‑term strategy. 

While serving as CEO of Nevada Donor Network, Ferreira led the creation of several first‑of‑their‑kind initiatives to expand access to transplantation and strengthen Nevada’s healthcare infrastructure. He founded the Nevada Transplant Institute, a collaborative network established in partnership with Renown Regional Medical Center to bring the first kidney transplant services to Northern Nevada. He has initiated development of a Southern Nevada transplant clinic, designed to reduce travel burdens, costs, and barriers for patients that may need to travel to northern Nevada. 

Ferreira further guided the establishment of Nevada’s first tissue processor, the first on‑site infectious disease laboratory dedicated to donation and transplantation, and the first histology testing laboratory supporting donation, now undergoing certification to perform transplant‑level testing. He also led the development of the state’s first Donor Care Unit, currently under construction, representing a major advancement in honoring donors, improving clinical efficiency, and increasing lives saved. 

In 2019, while leading Nevada Donor Network, Ferreira founded the Nevada Donor Network Foundation and launched the $35 million “End the Wait” capital campaign, a bold, long‑term effort to expand in‑state donation and transplantation services. This initiative aims to increase organ, eye, and tissue recovery, provide more Nevadans access to lifesaving transplant care without leaving the state, and strengthen support for donors, recipients, and their families. 

Before joining Nevada Donor Network, Ferreira spent 14 years at the Life Alliance Organ Recovery Agency at the University of Miami, where he served as Director of Clinical Operations for seven years. His professional experience spans the full continuum of organ, eye, and tissue donation and recovery, including clinical operations, hospital partnerships, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance. 

Ferreira has played a significant leadership role at the national level, serving as President of the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO) from 2020–2021 and later as Past President. He has also served as a Member‑at‑Large on AOPO’s Executive Committee, Chair of AOPO’s Procurement Council, and as the Inaugural Chair of AOPO’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. In addition, he has served as a Member-at-Large and on four committees within the OPTN/UNOS system.  

A Forbes Books® published author, Ferreira wrote Uncomfortable Inclusion: How to Build a Culture of High Performance in Life and Work, drawing on his experience leading organizational turnaround in healthcare. He is an internationally sought‑after speaker and consultant, advising organizations and governments on the development and improvement of organ donation and transplantation systems based on the U.S. model. www.joeferreira.com  

Ferreira’s achievements have been recognized with numerous honors, including the Kruger Award for Outstanding Professional Transplant Services from the Transplant Foundation in Miami. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Immunology and an MBA with a specialization in Healthcare Administration and Policy, both from the University of Miami. 

Jason Mahfood

Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer

Jason Mahfood is a healthcare finance executive with extensive experience leading financial strategies and operations across complex healthcare organizations. He is recognized for building sustainable financial models, strengthening governance, and aligning fiscal performance with long‑term organizational growth in highly regulated environments. 

Mahfood serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of The Donor Network, a newly established multi‑state nonprofit enterprise overseeing organ procurement organizations, including Nevada Donor Network and South Florida Donor Network. In this role, he leads enterprise‑wide financial strategy, including budgeting, forecasting, capital planning, and revenue management, with a focus on supporting operational integration and long‑term financial sustainability across regions. 

Prior to the formation of The Donor Network, Mahfood served as Chief Financial Officer of Nevada Donor Network (NDN) beginning in 2014 and was later promoted to Executive Vice President. He initially supported the organization as a member of its Governing Board, serving as Board Treasurer before transitioning into executive leadership.  

Mahfood plays a key role in strengthening the organization’s financial infrastructure and supporting sustained growth and operational expansion. His focus is on implementing best practices in financial management and aligning financial strategy with evolving organizational priorities in the organ procurement and transplantation field.  

Prior to joining Nevada Donor Network, Mahfood held senior financial leadership roles across multiple healthcare systems and hospitals. He served as Associate Vice President of Finance for the University of Miami Hospital, where he oversaw financial operations in a large academic medical center environment. He also served as Chief Financial Officer for Town and Country Hospital in Tampa and Wuesthoff Health System in Melbourne and directed financial operations as Assistant Controller and Controller for Capital Regional Medical Center and Coral Gables Hospital.  

Mahfood served as Finance Chair for the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO) for two years, supporting financial strategy and collaboration across the organ procurement field.  

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Florida State University and a Master of Healthcare Administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Tyre Gray

Chief Administrative Officer

Tyre L. Gray, Esq. is an executive with more than 20 years of leadership experience across law, public policy, nonprofit management, and regulated industries. He has led organizations and advised clients through complex regulatory environments, with a track record of building coalitions, shaping policy, and advancing operational strategy at scale.

Gray serves as Chief Administrative and Legal Officer for The Donor Network, a multi-state operator of organ procurement organizations, including Nevada Donor Network and South Florida Donor Network. In this role, he oversees legal affairs, compliance, and enterprise strategy, helping guide initiatives that expand organ donation and transplantation. His work focuses on aligning regulatory requirements with operational performance, strengthening hospital and community partnerships, and supporting measurable improvements in donation systems across the regions served.

Previously, Gray was President and CEO of the Nevada Mining Association, where he became the first African American to lead a major statewide trade association in Nevada. As the chief spokesperson for a $14 billion industry employing more than 40,000 people, he directed government relations and public policy strategy, representing industry priorities before state and federal lawmakers and regulatory agencies. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he played an active role in Nevada’s 2020 special legislative sessions, advocating for the designation of mining as an essential industry, addressing taxation and economic stability measures, and coordinating with state officials to maintain operations while meeting public health requirements.

Earlier in his career, Gray practiced law at Fennemore Craig, P.C., where he represented Fortune 5, Fortune 100, and Fortune 500 companies in government affairs, regulatory compliance, and legislative strategy. His work involved direct engagement with local, state, and federal legislative bodies and regulatory agencies, with a focus on taxation, policy development, and coalition building in highly regulated sectors, particularly pharmacy, liquor distribution, and natural resources across the Western United States.

Gray began his career as an educator at an at-risk learning academy, an experience that informs his approach to leadership and public service. He later worked in hospitality and resort operations, including involvement in the opening of The Palms and roles with Caesars Palace, gaining operational experience in large-scale service environments.

He earned his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he graduated at the top of his class, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies, cum laude, from Purdue Global. He is admitted to practice law in California, Arizona, and Nevada, having passed all three bar examinations within a one-year period.

Gray’s connection to organ donation is personal. After being diagnosed with chronic kidney disease in his mid-20s, he received a kidney transplant in 2012 through Nevada Donor Network, now part of The Donor Network. That experience informs his work to expand access to transplantation and support donors and recipients.

He has served on boards and committees including the Nevada Governor’s Office of Economic Development, the Las Vegas Super Bowl LVIII Host Committee, the Foundation for an Independent Tomorrow, and Opportunity Village.

A native of San Diego, Gray splits his time between Henderson, Nevada, and Miami, Florida, and is the father of two children.

Elizabeth Shaller

Chief Operating Officer

Elizabeth Shaller is a healthcare operations executive with expertise in organ, eye, and tissue donation and transplantation, recognized for advancing clinical performance, strengthening hospital and transplant center partnerships, and scaling high‑performing systems in complex, highly regulated environments. 

Shaller serves as Chief Operating Officer of The Donor Network, a newly established multi‑state nonprofit enterprise overseeing organ procurement organizations, including Nevada Donor Network and South Florida Donor Network. In this role, she leads enterprise‑wide operations, including clinical services, organ and tissue recovery, surgical services, hospital development, and family services. Her work focuses on driving operational integration, standardization, and performance across regions to expand access to donation and transplantation. 

Prior to the formation of The Donor Network, Shaller held leadership roles at Nevada Donor Network (NDN), where she joined the organization in 2021 and advanced rapidly through roles including Director of Organ Services, Senior Director, and Vice President of Organ Operations before being named Chief Operating Officer. As a member of the executive leadership team, she oversaw multidisciplinary teams across clinical, surgical, and hospital services functions, while leading the organization’s CAP‑accredited clinical laboratory supporting transplantation. 

During her tenure at Nevada Donor Network, Shaller led a significant operational and cultural transformation within the organ services division, strengthening trust and collaboration with transplant centers and hospital partners across the region. Her leadership helped improve system performance, expand clinical capabilities, and increase donation and transplantation activity through a combination of relationship management, operational discipline, and data‑driven decision-making. 

Shaller has been a strong advocate for innovation in transplantation, leading early adoption of emerging technologies to improve organ preservation and utilization. Under her operational leadership, Nevada Donor Network became an early adopter of advanced perfusion technologies, including achieving a milestone as one of the first organ procurement organizations in the Western United States to successfully utilize ex vivo organ perfusion in transplantation, further positioning the organization at the forefront of clinical advancement. 

She has also played a key role in advancing major strategic initiatives to expand transplant access and capacity in Nevada. While at Nevada Donor Network, Shaller was instrumental in the development of the Nevada Transplant Institute, supporting partnership development, program planning, and implementation efforts. Her contributions included engagement with hospital systems, recruitment of clinical leadership, and support in securing public funding to establish and expand transplant services within the state. The initiative represents a significant advancement in Nevada’s healthcare infrastructure, increasing in‑state access to transplantation while contributing substantial long‑term economic and workforce impact. 

Prior to joining Nevada Donor Network, Shaller held multiple leadership roles at the Miami Transplant Institute, one of the largest transplant programs in the United States, where she led organ placement and preservation operations. During her tenure, she contributed to the development of the organization’s inhouse organ intake center and organ perfusion program, strengthening transplant coordination and operational efficiency. She began her career in organ donation at the Life Alliance Organ Recovery Agency in Miami, where she developed foundational experience in donor coordination and recovery. 

In addition to her operational leadership, Shaller is actively engaged in national policy and governance within the transplant community. She serves as a Region 5 Representative on the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) Operations and Safety Committee, representing Nevada, California, Utah, and Arizona, and previously served on the OPTN Vascularized Composite Allograft (VCA) Transplantation Committee. She is also an active participant in professional organizations including the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO), United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), and NATCO. 

Shaller is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences and has presented on leadership, operations, and transplantation topics in forums across the United States and internationally. Her leadership and impact have been recognized with honors including Vegas Inc’s “40 Under 40” and selection as Southern Nevada’s “Remarkable Woman”, reflecting both her professional achievements and commitment to community impact. 

A native of Florida, Shaller holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Marketing from Florida State University and a Master of Business Administration with a specialization in Healthcare Administration from Florida International University. 

Miles Lanning

Chief Quality Officer

Miles Lanning is a healthcare quality and performance executive with more than two decades of experience in clinical quality systems, regulatory oversight, and operational performance improvement across highly regulated healthcare environments. He is recognized for building and sustaining robust quality‑ systems that support patient safety, regulatory readiness, and continuous improvement in organ, eye, and tissue donation and transplantation. 

Lanning serves as Chief Quality Officer of The Donor Network, a newly established multi‑state nonprofit enterprise overseeing organ procurement organizations, including Nevada Donor Network and South Florida Donor Network. In this role, he leads enterprise‑wide quality strategy, performance improvement, regulatory alignment, and risk management, with responsibility for ensuring consistent standards, accountability, and continuous improvement across regions. 

Prior to the formation of The Donor Network, Lanning held senior leadership roles at Nevada Donor Network (NDN), where he was responsible for advancing quality systems across clinical, laboratory, and operational functions. His leadership has focused on developing integrated performance improvement frameworks, strengthening regulatory relationships, and embedding quality as a core organizational discipline. 

Lanning began his career in healthcare as a paramedic in the Denver metropolitan area, an experience that shaped his commitment to patient care, safety, and service. Since 2004, he has specialized in quality assurance, regulatory oversight, and performance improvement within blood, tissue, and regulated donor testing environments, building deep expertise in compliance frameworks, laboratory systems, and industry standards. 

Throughout his career, Lanning has led the implementation and maintenance of comprehensive quality systems that support accreditation readiness, regulatory alignment, and operational performance. He has developed strong partnerships with regulatory bodies and industry organizations, ensuring that systems remain responsive to evolving standards and best practices. His work emphasizes alignment between quality expectations, clinical execution, and organizational outcomes to better serve donor families, healthcare partners, and transplant recipients. 

In addition to his operational responsibilities, Lanning is actively engaged in the broader donation and transplantation community, maintaining relationships across clinical, regulatory, and quality networks to support knowledge sharing and industry advancement. 

A Colorado native, Lanning holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Sociology from the University of Colorado. 

Outside of his professional role, he is an avid cyclist and spends much of his time supporting his children’s activities and interests. 

Gordon Prouty

Foundation President

Gordon Prouty joined the Nevada Donor Network team as the Nevada Donor Network Foundation President in October 2024

Formerly the Vice President of Public Relations and Community Affairs at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino, he oversaw media relations, publicity and community and government outreach for this iconic property, the home of Legendary Vegas Fun since 1969.

Gordon is active in the Las Vegas community as an emcee at various charity/awards events and has served as a board member for United Way of Southern Nevada, Las Vegas Business Academy, Cultural Diversity Foundation and most recently, Nevada Donor Network Foundation. He is also a member of the Vegas Chamber’s President Club, American Cancer Society’s CEO’s Against Cancer, Tech Impact Las Vegas Advisory Board and the Nevada Donor Network’s Gala committee.

Chris Johns

Vice President of Tissue Operations