Argentum Partners

John Sande, IV

Managing Partner

For more than a decade, John has successfully represented a vast array of industries before the Nevada Legislature, including healthcare, banking, gaming, energy, transportation, education, motor vehicle franchise, liquor distribution, and local governments. The diverse interests of John’s clients have allowed him the ability to work extensively with different state agencies including the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Division of Insurance, the Financial Institutions Division, the Department of Taxation, the Public Utilities Commission and many others.

As a licensed attorney in Nevada, John has extensive experience representing clients before the executive branch of government, including administrative agencies, city and county boards and planning departments. John's unique talents and relationships with decision makers ensure that he is able to achieve outstanding results for his clients.

John graduated from Stanford University with a BA in both Economics and Political Science and attended law school at Santa Clara University. After law school, John returned to Nevada to pursue his legal and government affairs career in the state he loves and he is a 20 Under 40 Award recipient.

Bradley Mayer

Partner

With over 14 years of experience in local politics, Bradley has been involved in the campaigns of many of Nevada's top elected officials. He has helped elect candidates to offices across Nevada including the Clark County Commission, Las Vegas City Council, North Las Vegas City Council, Henderson City Council, Clark County Sheriff, State Senate, State Assembly, and Judicial offices.

On the Clark County Commission, Bradley has worked on the campaigns of Commissioners Susan Brager, Mary Beth Scow, Larry Brown, Tom Collins and Marilyn Kirkpatrick. In North Las Vegas, Bradley has worked on the campaigns of Councilwoman Anita Wood and Councilman Richard Cherchio.

On the Las Vegas City Council, Bradley was Mayor Carolyn Goodman's campaign manager, overseeing her smashing 20-point victory in 2011 and successful re-election in 2015. He also worked on the campaigns of Councilman Steve Ross and Councilman Ricki Barlow.

Bradley is a Las Vegas native and attended Bishop Gorman High School. He holds a B.A. in Economics and an MBA, both from UNLV.

Jeff Donato

Partner

Jeff Donato has licensed hundreds of liquor and gaming establishments in both Southern and Northern Nevada. In particular, Jeff has substantial experience working directly with elected officials, management, and staff on licensing matters in jurisdictions such as Clark County, Washoe County, Douglas County, City of Las Vegas, City of North Las Vegas, City of Henderson, City of Reno, and City of Sparks, among others. Since 2007, Jeff has been and continues to be solely responsible for all aspects of State and local licensing, including liquor and gaming, for over 200 corporate and franchise owned convenience stores within Nevada for the world’s largest convenience store chain and one of the nation’s largest gasoline retailers.

Jeff honorably served in the United States Air Force and holds a B.A. in Criminal Justice Administration.

Mike Draper

Partner

From energy to insurance, travel and tourism to mining and healthcare, Mike has managed a diverse client portfolio, with specialties in branding, strategic messaging, internal communications, crisis communications, issues management, government and stakeholder outreach and media relations. His background in multistate grassroots organizing and issues management has helped him navigate substantive issues for clients including NV Energy, El Paso Natural Gas Corporation, the Nevada Mining Association, Newmont Mining Corporation, Western Lithium Corporation, General Moly, Coeur Rochester, Lender Processing Services and Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center, among others.

Mike is an expert in coalition building, creating community partnerships and managing issues through outreach and messaging. Mike has gone on to lead some of the most recognizable public affairs and crisis communications efforts in the West. In 2011, Mike spearheaded an effort to ensure the development of the largest natural gas pipeline in the country, the Ruby Pipeline. That same year, with years of experience handling several high-profile mining accidents, as well as pilot fatalities for the National Championship Air Races, Mike oversaw all crisis communications during and after a deadly accident that involved 10 spectators and a pilot and injured dozens more during the event's 48th year. This yearlong effort earned a Silver Anvil Award of Excellence from the Public Relations Society of America.

Prior to opening Draper Strategies in the summer of 2013, Mike led the statewide government and public affairs for R&R Partners, one of the largest advertising, public relations and government affairs firms in the West.

Mike graduated from the University of Nevada with dual degrees in journalism and communications. He currently sits on the board of directors for Volunteers of America in Northern Nevada and is a 20 Under 40 Award recipient.

Paul Klein

Creative Director

Paul specializes in public affairs, brand positioning and campaign management. Paul has successfully implemented national advertising and public relations campaigns for Allstate Insurance, L.A. Gear Shoes, Valspar Paints, U-Swirl Frozen Yogurt, Nikki Beach Resorts and Cousins Maine Lobster to name a few. Locally, Paul has managed campaigns for the City of Reno Government, Hamilton Solar, Haws Integrated, Re-Elect Oscar Delgado for Reno City Council, among many others. Paul has won dozens of design, advertising and public relations awards for his word.

Paul served the City of Reno as a two-term commissioner on the Parks and Recreation board, the Arts and Culture commission and represented Reno ward 1 on the Service Priorities Budget Task Force.

Paul graduated magna cum laude from the University of Nevada with a Bachelor's degree in Pre-Law Criminal Justice and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a concentration in public policy and management.

Paul was named a Twenty Under 40 Young Professional award recipient and honored as the Outstanding Young Alumnus of the University of Nevada in 2010. He gave a TEDx talk in 2014 about rebranding a city.

Scot Rutledge

Senior Vice President

Scot began his work in politics when he moved to Las Vegas in 2004 to work on federal, state and local campaigns. He has been involved in dozens of successful electoral, issue advocacy and legislative campaigns throughout his career.

In 2006, Scot took the helm of the Nevada Conservation League and over the course of the next eight years, helped build the organization into one of the most effective and politically viable advocacy organizations in the state. Their non-partisan lobbying efforts at the Nevada State Legislature helped create long-lasting relationships with many of the state’s elected leadership and their public education campaigns reached tens of thousands of Nevadans.

During his tenure at NCL, Scot raised millions of dollars from private individuals, corporations, and philanthropic foundations. In addition, Scot was responsible for the recruitment and cultivation of board members and completed numerous trainings and seminars focusing on organizational development, donor cultivation and stewardship, and board dynamics. One of Scot’s most outstanding achievements was his work on a multi-year clean energy advocacy campaign that stopped the construction of multiple coal-fired power plants that led to the development of a new clean energy economy in Nevada.

Electorally, Scot served as the Finance and Political Director for Nevada Congresswoman Dina Titus. He was responsible for the day-to-day fundraising efforts, social media, and political outreach, including developing and stewarding key relationships for her within the Nevada business, nonprofit, and political communities.

Erik Jimenez

Legislative Affairs Director

Erik has experience with research, government affairs, data analysis, strategic communications, political campaigns, public opinion polling and has represented a variety of industries at the Nevada Legislature.

Active in state and local politics since 2008, Erik has formed relationships with elected officials, educators, policy actors, and residents of the state. In 2009, Erik interned at the Office of former United States Senator John Ensign, where he assisted constituents in communicating with a variety of federal government agencies. During the seventy-seventh legislative session in 2013, Erik interned under then-Assemblyman and now U.S. Congressman, Cresent Hardy.

Erik also believes in being involved with his community and serves on the Board of Trustees for United Cerebral Palsy of Nevada and on the Access Advisory Committee for the City of Reno. He also volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern Nevada.

Erik has a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Nevada Reno and is currently a graduate student there, pursuing a master’s degree in public administration with an emphasis in energy policy and management.

Chase Whittemore

Chase has extensive experience in real estate finance, land use, sales and leases. As an attorney, Chase has worked in bankruptcy, gaming and commercial litigation. As a third-generation Nevadan, Chase has made relationships with elected officials, policy actors and business leaders from around the state.

During the 2015 legislative session, Chase worked beside some of the most influential individuals in the state, working on issues such as transportation, banking, healthcare, taxation, and tobacco. As he builds his career, Chase aspires to positively impact his community and be a hard working attorney like his father Harvey.

Chase’s number one career goal is to help, in any way possible, businesses, elected officials and the public to continue to make Nevada the best place to live, work and raise a family. In his free time, Chase attends Nevada athletic events, charity functions, and skiing Lake Tahoe resorts.

Chase graduated from the University of Nevada Reno with a B.A. in Economics, the University of Denver with an Master’s in Real Estate Finance and from the Boyd School of Law school at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Molly Ellery

Still young in her career, Molly is a Nevada native with a love for politics and government. After becoming nationally ranked in debate, Molly discovered her innate ability for deductive reasoning and persuasive argument.

Upon joining the Argentum team, Molly has become entrenched with Nevada's elected officials and public relations community. Molly aims to become a successful and effective public relations expert, lobbyist and crisis communicator.

Molly was also caregiver for her father for eight years and his battles with Dementia and Diabetes drove her to volunteer with the Alzheimer's Association and the National Diabetes Association. Despite his passing, she continues to volunteer and donates time as an alumni to her sorority Sigma Kappa who is the number one fundraiser for the Alzheimer's Association.

Molly graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno with a B.A. in Political Science and International Affairs with an emphasis in Ethics, Law and Politics. She is pursuing a Masters in Public Health Administration.