Executive Leadership

Joseph Ferreira

President & Chief Executive Officer

Joe Ferreira began his role as the Chief Executive Officer and President of Nevada Donor Network in April 2012.

Ferreira brings years of experience and expertise in the organ procurement field. He spent 14 years at Life Alliance Organ Recovery Agency in Miami, Florida where he served as the Director of Clinical Operations for seven years, and is certified in all aspects of the organ donation and recovery process.

Ferreira has a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and Immunology and an MBA, with a specialization in Healthcare Administration and Policy, from the University of Miami. He serves as a coach for the Art and Science of Leadership Program at the Wharton School and Fox School of Business.

Ferreira has served as a member-at-large on the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO) Executive Committee, and is the President of AOPO (2020-2021). He is a certified member of the National Association of Healthcare Quality (NAHQ), a certified faculty member of the North American Transplant Coordinators Organization (NATCO), and a past board member of the Nevada Chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). He has served as the Chairman of the Procurement Council for AOPO and as an at-large representative on four committees for the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS).

Ferreira is a published author and speaker on organ donation. He has presented at conferences and meetings around the world. He consults internationally and has provided guidance to several foreign governments on the establishment or improvement of organ donation and transplant systems based on the U.S. model. He was also the recipient of the Kruger Award for 'Outstanding Professional- Transplant Services' by the Transplant Foundation in Miami.

Jason Mahfood

Chief Financial Officer

Jason Mahfood served as Nevada Donor Network’s (NDN) Board Treasurer prior to accepting the role of Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in 2014.

Mahfood has vast financial expertise, with a focus on long-term integration of best practices and prevailing standards to ensure timely compliance. He directed financial operations as Assistant Controller and Controller for Capital Regional Medical Center and Coral Gables Hospital in Florida. Mahfood served as the Associate Vice President of Finance for the University of Miami Hospital prior to becoming CFO, of Town and Country Hospital in Tampa and Wuesthoff Health System in Melbourne.

Mahfood has a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Florida State University, Tallahassee and a Master of Healthcare Administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. As CFO, he uses his extensive knowledge and skill to lead NDN to unparalleled financial growth and success. In addition to his role at NDN, he is currently the Finance Chair for the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO).

Jacquelyn Warn

CQO

Jacquelyn “Jackie” Warn is a recognized leader in the donation and transplantation community and is the Chief Quality Officer. Prior to her advancement, Warn joined Nevada Donor Network (NDN) in 2017 as the Director of Quality and Regulatory Affairs, expertly guiding the organization through crucial policy updates, training and exercises to maintain compliance with all applicable regulatory agencies. In this role, she ensures the organizational pillar of quality and compliance is represented at all levels.

Warn served as the Corporate Director of Quality and Compliance for DCI Donor Services in Tennessee and as the Senior Director of Quality and Regulatory Affairs for Donor Network of Arizona for more than 10 years. Her career started as a Medical Laboratory Technician working in a few hospitals including Mercy Hospital, CMX Labs and Columbus Hospital in Buffalo, New York. 

In addition to holding a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) degree, she is a Certified Manager of Quality and Organizational Excellence by the American Society for Quality (ASQ). She also maintains certification by the American Society of Clinical Pathology (ASCP) and the ASQ. 

Warn’s professional memberships include the American Association for Tissue Banks (AATB) Quality Council, where she serves as Chair and a member of the Board of Governors (2016-2020), is on the Accreditation Committee (2020-2022) and previously served as Vice Chair of the Quality Council (2014-2016); The Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO), in which she served as Quality Improvement Co-Chair in 2005 and Chair in 2006; The Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA), and the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) Membership Professional Standards Committee.

Tyre Gray

Chief Administrative Officer

Tyre L. Gray, Esq. is a charismatic and savvy thought-leader known for his big laugh, sharp dress, and great appreciation for live music. With over two decades of experience holding leadership positions in the consulting, resorts, and legal industries, Tyre has acquired, and continues to develop, a wide range of skills that make him an effective leader of teams. Born in a part of San Diego “you don’t see on the postcards”, Tyre’s childhood experiences led him to initially seek a career in education, where he cut his teeth at an at-risk learning academy. In his mid-20’s, a chance physical revealed Tyre was living with chronic kidney disease. Years later, when his health began to fail, instead of waiting for the reaper to come, Tyre decided to pursue a law degree. In 2012, Tyre received a kidney transplant and went on to graduate at the top of his class, pass three bar exams (CA, AZ, & NV) in 368 days, and join a large regional law firm. As an attorney, Tyre represented Fortune 5, 100, 500 companies before local, state, and federal regulatory and legislative bodies across the western states. Tyre lives in Henderson, NV, with his wife, Ashanti, son Adonis, and daughter, Reign. 

Steven Peralta

Foundation President

Steven Peralta began his role as President of Nevada Donor Network Foundation (NDNF) in 2019 to lead the organization’s philanthropic and fundraising strategic plan to help expand transplantation services and programs in Nevada. Peralta brings a deep commitment to building partnerships and ensuring that the culture of the foundation aligns with Nevada Donor Network (NDN) and ensures success in the mission.

Being raised in a military family instilled in Peralta one big teachable lesson in his life – leadership. He holds a Juris Doctorate from Seattle University School of Law and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington.

 He began his career with Seattle’s NBA (formerly Sonics) & WNBA Team, Seattle Storm. This experience launched his passion for community engagement, team organizing, fundraising, board development and capital campaign projects. Later he joined the Regional Headquarters of State Farm Mutual Insurance Companies overseeing their underwriting and business development department. Since moving to Las Vegas in 2005, he held leadership positions at Healthcare Preparatory Institute and Academy Medical Equipment.

Prior to becoming the NDNF President in 2019, Peralta served as the Director of Philanthropy for Roseman University’s College of Medicine in Summerlin. In this role, he built and oversaw the medical school’s $66 million capital campaign and major gifts program while also managing the university’s relationships with private philanthropists, corporations, foundations and government leaders.

Dan Lunn

Vice President of Tissue Operations

Dan Lunn joined Nevada Donor Network (NDN) in October, 2020 as the Vice President of Tissue Operations. Lunn has spent 23 years in the transplant field and is a recognized leader in the donation community. Throughout his career, he has held various positions in senior leadership and clinical roles with OPOs, tissue banks, eye banks and tissue processors.  

Lunn currently sits on the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) Board of Governors, serving as the co-chair of the Accredited Tissue Bank Council. His past industry affiliations include Tissue Council Chair for the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO), member of the Eye Bank Association of America (EBAA) Board of Directors and member of the EBAA Accreditation Board. 

Lunn is a certified tissue bank specialist and eye bank technician. He received an Advanced Management Certificate from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri and has Masters in Business Administration and Health Sector Management from Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona.

Sara Levinson

Vice President of People, Culture + Development

Sara Levinson has been leading Nevada Donor Network’s (NDN) People, Culture + Development team since 2014 with oversight of the human resources, education and development functions. She started as the Director of Human Resources, and was promoted the Vice President of People, Culture + Development in 2023. Employee retention and a positive culture are two areas Levinson is most passionate about.

Prior to NDN, Levinson spent ten years in private medical practice and hospitals in employee relations and labor relations roles. Prior positions afforded her the opportunity to be involved in union contract negotiations for three hospitals and two separate unions.

Levinson still cheers on all Arizona State University teams as she graduated in 2005 with a bachelor’s degree in family and human development. She also holds two master’s degrees. One in human resources management and most recently, she earned her MBA through WGU-Nevada in 2019. Levinson also obtained her Professional in Human Resources from the HRCI in 2011, and her Senior Professional in Human Resources in 2020.

Levinson enjoys vacationing to any beach location with her husband and two younger children.

Leadership Roles:

2015-2016: AOPO Vice Chair -Human Resources Council

2016-2017: AOPO Chair – Human Resources Council

2020-2021: AOPO Annual Meeting Faculty

Current: AOPO Membership Committee Member

SHRM: 2010 Certification Vice President

Elizabeth Shipman

Senior Director of Organ Services

As the Senior Director of Organ Services, Elizabeth Shipman is responsible for overseeing, directing, and managing family, clinical, surgical and hospital services operations for the nonprofit organization. She has been leading NDN’s Organ Services team since 2021 as NDN’s Director of Organ Services.

As a native Floridian, she began her career in transplant at Life Alliance Organ Recovery Agency in 2013. She found her passion for serving others through organ donation and transplantation. Shipman joined Miami Transplant Institute (MTI) in 2016 and continued to grow in her career advancing into management roles including the development of the in-house organ intake center and organ perfusion program at MTI.

Shipman serves on the Vascularized Composite Allograft Transplantation (VCA) Committee for the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network. She is also very involved within Region 5, the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations (AOPO), and the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). 

Shipman obtained a Bachelor of Science in Business Marketing from Florida State University and a Master of Business Administration, specializing in Health Care Administration from Florida International University.