Thoran Towler

Chief Executive Officer

Thoran Towler is the Chief Executive Officer of Nevada Association of Employers.  Thoran possesses extensive knowledge and experience in wage and hour rules, employment law and labor issues.

Thoran served as the Nevada Labor Commissioner from 2011 to 2014, where he administered and enforced Nevada’s wage and hour laws, set and enforced the state’s minimum wage and investigated complaints related to violations of Nevada labor law. Thoran was admitted to practice law in the State of Nevada in 2006.  He earned a Bachelor of Science in Technology from Walla Walla University and he earned his law degree from Gonzaga University School of Law in Spokane, Washington.

Thoran is an Ambassador for Donate Life, a non-profit working to save and heal lives through organ transplantation. In addition, Thoran serves on several boards including Nevadaworks, which provides funding to qualified service providers who work directly with a diverse population of individuals who are seeking employment.  Additionally, Thoran served as the 2020 Board Chair of Employer Associations of America, a non-profit whose core purpose is to collectively advance the success of America’s employers.

Audra L. Parton, JD

Member Services Coordinator

Audra Parton joined the Nevada Association of Employers in December 2016. Prior to joining NAE, Audra worked in legal and regulatory compliance for a nationwide workers’ compensation insurance carrier and served as the Deputy Labor Commissioner for the State of Nevada from 2013 to 2014. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience regarding regulatory compliance to NAE.

Audra earned her Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from the University of Nevada, Reno and her law degree from California Western School of Law in San Diego, California.

Ava Umanos, SPHR, SHRM-SCP

Human Resources Director

Ava Umanos joined the Nevada Association of Employers in September 2022. An alumnus of DePaul University, SHRM-SCP, and SPHR certified, Ava has over 20 year’s experience helping companies connect their people power. She works compassionately with clients to find positive outcomes and create solutions for budding companies. Ava specializes in compliance, employee relations, benefits, training, recruiting, and HRIS implementation but has worked in all aspects of HR over the course of her career. Ava has worked in many industries, including real estate, hospitality, health care, sports management, construction, and manufacturing.

Outside of work, Ava is a culinary enthusiast, crafting her own versions of Chicago-style cuisine from her hometown and exploring dishes from other cultures. 

Tanya Vial, SPHR, SHRM-CP, CAPM

HR Consultant

Tanya Vial joined the Nevada Association of Employers in February 2023.  Born and raised in Northern Nevada, Tanya came to Las Vegas to attend UNLV where she earned her bachelor’s in Hotel Administration with a Human Resources concentration.  Since then, she has been providing human resource support to businesses in a variety of industries including health care, insurance, construction, transportation, publishing, gaming and technology.  Tanya has experience in all areas of Human Resources including employee relations, training, and HRIS system implementation & management. She is a certified HR professional with both her SPHR and SHRM-CP.  She is also a Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM).

In her spare time, Tanya enjoys traveling with her husband and spending time with family & friends.

Lindsay Hill, CCP, GRP

Director, Compensation Services

As the Director of Compensation Services, Lindsay provides professional level compensation support with a focus on understanding business needs to develop and implement comprehensive compensation solutions. Her experience with compensation in a variety of industries enables her to effectively tailor compensation strategies to specific employer needs.

Lindsay earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business – Human Resources Management from Portland State University. She holds a Certified Compensation Professional (CCP) certification and a Global Remuneration Professional (GRP) certification from WorldatWork. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, camping, and traveling.