Issuu

(shutterstock and staff file/ photo illustration)

v e g a s i n c . c o m | MA R C H 2 0 - 2 6 , 2 0 1 6

Planning for more weddings Industry pros join forces to try to restore Las Vegas’ place atop the destination wish list By Julie Ann Formoso | STAFF WRITER

The women chatter about weddings over cups of coffee and a box of bagels. They squeal each time someone comes up with an exciting idea they can get behind, like eager moms determined to map out ceremonial details for their engaged children. ¶ But there’s no bride-to-be in the room to fuss over, no fiance to gush about and no wedding date for weddings, Continued on page 13

20% 100,000

Share of Americans 65 or older who were employed in 2015, up 12 percent from a decade ago.

Jobs that have been eliminated over the past two years in the U.S. oil and gas industry. Globally, employers have laid off more than 265,000 oil workers since prices started to drop in 2014.

VEGAS INC MARCH 20 -26

CONTENTS GROUP PUBLISHER Gordon Prouty ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Breen Nolan

EDITORIAL

NOTEWORTHY STORIES

05 08 16 Q&A WITH AMY HUNTER

A partner at the human resources firm the Simmons Group talks about her passion for mentoring young people, the shift from an employer-hiring market to an employee-focused market, and her admiration of Ellen DeGeneres. THE NOTES People on the move, P4

MEET: ROSALLIE LE FRENCH CAFÉ

Jonathan Pluvinet, who came to Nevada for college, has carved out a slice of his native France in Las Vegas. He named his café after the one his parents run and is dedicated to providing an authentic French experience for his customers. TALKING POINTS For light rail to work, we must work together, P9

DATA AND PUBLIC INFORMATION A listing of local bankruptcies, bid opportunities, brokered transactions, business licenses and building permits. MORE VEGAS INC BUSINESS NEWS Calendar: Happenings and events, P15 The List: Largest private employers, P19

EDITOR Delen Goldberg (delen.goldberg@gmgvegas.com) MANAGING EDITOR Dave Mondt (dave.mondt@gmgvegas.com) ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITOR/SPORTS AND DIGITAL Ray Brewer (ray.brewer@gmgvegas.com) STAFF WRITERS Kailyn Brown, Julie Ann Formoso, Chris Kudialis, Megan Messerly, J.D. Morris, Daniel Rothberg, Cy Ryan, Eli Segall, Ricardo Torres-Cortez, Jackie Valley, Ian Whitaker COPY DESK CHIEF John Taylor COPY EDITORS Jamie Gentner, Brian Sandford SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS EDITOR Craig Peterson EDITORIAL CARTOONIST Mike Smith LIBRARY SERVICES SPECIALIST Rebecca Clifford-Cruz RESEARCHER Julie Ann Formoso OFFICE COORDINATOR Nadine Guy

ART ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR Liz Brown (liz.brown@gmgvegas.com) DESIGNER LeeAnn Elias PHOTO COORDINATOR Mikayla Whitmore PHOTOGRAPHERS L.E. Baskow, Christopher DeVargas, Steve Marcus

ADVERTISING ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER OF ONLINE MEDIA Katie Horton GROUP DIRECTOR OF SALES OPERATIONS Stephanie Reviea PUBLICATION COORDINATOR Denise Arancibia DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS Jeff Jacobs EXTERNAL CONTENT MANAGER Emma Cauthorn BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST Sandra Segrest ACCOUNT MANAGERS Katie Harrison, Dawn Mangum, Sue Sran ADVERTISING MANAGERS Jim Braun, Brianna Eck, Frank Feder, Kelly Gajewski, Justin Gannon, Chelsea Smith, Tara Stella GREENSPUN MEDIA GROUP SALES ASSISTANT Steph Poli

MARKETING & EVENTS EVENT MANAGER Kristin Wilson DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER Jackie Apoyan

PRODUCTION

Units at Park House, an upscale condo complex on Flamingo Road, recently sold for less than $200,000 each as part of a $7.7 million deal — 30 percent cheaper than condos at Sky Las Vegas on the Strip. (COURTESY)

WHEN IT COMES TO REAL ESTATE, THE STRIP IS STILL ITS OWN WORLD Las Vegas real estate is divided into two worlds: the Strip and everything else. It’s far more expensive to buy or rent in the famed resort corridor. Investor Lorne Polger knows this. His company, Pathfinder Partners, last month paid $7.7 million for 39 units at Park House, a three-story, upscale condo complex on Flamingo Road in the southwest valley. By comparison, in September, Pathfinder Partners bought 64 units at Sky Las Vegas, a 45-story north Strip condo tower, for about $18.1 million. Polger’s group paid about $282,800 per unit at Sky. In the suburbs, Polger paid about $197,500 per unit — 30 percent cheaper.

(Another example of the cost of a prime location: Drugstore chains Walgreens and CVS pay about $2 million a year to rent space in the casino corridor, versus about $300,000 in a typical residential area.) Still, Polger’s investments have at least one factor in common: Both were boomera projects that faced problems when the economy tanked. Sky’s developers sold about 300 units in 2007 but an average of just three per year from 2008 through 2014. Park House was partially built then abandoned by previous owners, seized through foreclosure, then sold to investors, who finished construction. — ELI SEGALL

VICE PRESIDENT OF MANUFACTURING Maria Blondeaux ASSISTANT PRODUCTION DIRECTOR Paul Huntsberry PRODUCTION MANAGER Blue Uyeda PRODUCTION ARTIST Marissa Maheras, Dara Ricci ART DIRECTOR Sean Rademacher GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Michele Hamrick, Dany Haniff TRAFFIC SUPERVISOR Estee Wright TRAFFIC COORDINATORS Kim Smith, Meagan Hodson

CIRCULATION DIRECTOR OF CIRCULATION Ron Gannon ROUTE MANAGER Joel Segler

GREENSPUN MEDIA GROUP CEO, PUBLISHER & EDITOR Brian Greenspun CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Robert Cauthorn EXECUTIVE EDITOR Tom Gorman MANAGING EDITOR Ric Anderson CREATIVE DIRECTOR Erik Stein

VOLUME 3, ISSUE 11 Vegas Inc (USPS publication no. 15540), 2275 Corporate Circle, Suite 300, Henderson, NV 89074 is published every Sunday except the first Sunday of the year by Greenspun Media Group. Periodicals Postage Paid at Henderson, NV and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO: Vegas Inc 2275 Corporate Circle Suite 300 Henderson, NV 89074 702.990.2545 For inquiries, write to: Vegas Inc 2275 Corporate Circle, Suite 300 Henderson, NV 89074 For back copies: Doris Hollifield at 702.990.8993 or e-mail at doris.hollifield@gmgvegas.com For subscriptions and customer service: Call 818-487-4538, or visit vegasinc.com. For annual subscriptions, $50. For single copies, $3.99.

from good to

The small business of the future is faster and more flexible. It works in the cloud more than on paper. Itâ€™s constantly connected, automated and responsive. And it needs a fiber-based network with multi-gig speeds to support the big things ahead. With gig+ speeds powered by Cox, the small business of the future has arrived. Business is zooming.

coxbusiness.com/gogig

VEGAS INC march 20 -26

Several medical professionals joined Southwest Medical Associates. Dr. Brent Devera devera haralson specializes in primary care, Teresa Praus is an advanced practice registered nurse spekaur aguinaldo cializing in urgent care and Eric Haralson is a certified physician assistant specializing in primary care at bellow pace the Nellis Health Center, 540 N. Nellis Blvd., Las Vegas. Dr. Girisha Kaur specializes in primary care, Janice alexander peistrup Aguinaldo is an advanced practice registered nurse specializing in primary care, Aaron Bellow is an advanced practice registered nurse specializing in urgent care, and Marcus Pace is a certified physician assistant specializing in urgent care at the Eastern Health Center, 4475 S. Eastern Ave., Las Vegas. Dr. Anthony Welch is a hospitalist. Dr. Darlicia Alexander specializes in anesthesia at Southwest Medical’s Surgery Center, 2450 W. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas, and Greg Peistrup is an advanced practice registered nurse specializing in urgent care and convenient care at the Durango Health Center, 7150 S. Durango Drive, Las Vegas. Casey Eade is a public relations and social media specialist, and Gina Traficant is an account executive at Forté PR.

the notes Send your business-related information to news@vegasinc.com

Members of the Las Vegas Hospitality Association’s 2016 board of directors are Chairman of the Board Cyndi Martin, Freeman; President Jamie Malloy, Wynn Las Vegas and Encore; Presidentelect Michelle Sharples, Base Entertainment; Vice President of Meetings Shannon Trujillo, PSAV; Vice President of Membership Kathy Dyke, By Dzign; Secretary Lauren Bauer, Shepard Exposition Services; Treasurer Bryan Kroten, Maverick Aviation Group; and Parliamentarian Mary Thomas, MKT Consultants. Directors include E.J. Cutliff, MGM Resorts International; Kristina Ghiloni, Hello! Las Vegas Destination Management; Mallory Maciuszek, Cort Event Furnishings; Kelly Messina, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority; Stacey Purcell, Caesars Entertainment; and Erin Ward, Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas. Assistants to the board include Mindi Cherry, ConvExx; Donald Contursi, Lip Smacking Foodie Tours; Jessica Juadines, Blue Man Group; Larry Peterson, Cosmopolitan; Jason Vince, Totally Mod Event Furnishings; and Kassi Weist, Wynn Las Vegas and Encore. Bernadette Mashas is a partner at Fair, Anderson and Langerman, an accounting firm. Amanda Franchi is branch manager at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Nevada Properties’ West Sahara office, 7475 W. Sahara Ave., Suite 100, Las Vegas.

vice president of operations and Gina Mann is vice president of groups and events at SpeedVegas. Pavy Mueller is director of global sales and Grant Blakeman is director of regional sales. Dr. Nicole Flora is a medical operations director at Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Chris Evans is vice president of media at R&R Partners. Ronaldo Jardim is interactive creative director. Jersey Mike’s Subs opened at flora 2101 N. Rainbow Blvd., Las Vegas. It’s the chain’s eighth Southern Nevada location. John’s Incredible Pizza Company opened at Boulevard Mall. Williams Gold & Silver, which provides refining services, opened at 3638 E. Sunset Road, Suite 100, Las Vegas. Henderson ranked No. 7 on U-Haul International’s list of Top 10 U.S. Growth Cities of 2015. Loco Cantina opened at Town Square. Las Vegas and members of the Las Vegas Medical District launched lasvegasmedicaldistrict.com. Red Rock Fertility moved its main office to 9120 W. Russell Road, Las Vegas. The 12,000-square-foot facility includes two operative suites.

mashas

Jasmina “Mina” Djurka is event coordinator at Ferraro’s Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar.

The+Source, a medical marijuana dispensary, opened at 2550 S. Rainbow Blvd., Suite 8, Las Vegas.

Larry Piparo is director of accounting firm Stewart Archibald & Barney.

Neck and Back Clinics opened its eighth Southern Nevada location, at 3820 W. Ann Road, Suite 130, North Las Vegas.

Linda Montgomery, president of the Learning Center, was appointed to the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education Working Group’s training and certifications program.

Sutton Watkins Advertising & Marketing is the agency of record for Dynamic Minds Consulting Inc., a hospitality technology consulting and professional services firm. piparo

Mike Korzen, a strategic marketing executive at Capstone Risk Management Insurance, is a member of the Million Dollar Club. Elaina Mulé is vice president of collective impact and social innovation at United Way of Southern Nevada. Angel Williams is vice president of donor engagement. Allison Raskansky is executive vice president of business development, Darren Strahl is executive

All local Matt Smith Physical Therapy locations now are known as ATI Physical Therapy locations. The Ronald Reagan Memory Support Suites opened at Las Ventanas at Summerlin. The suites will be staffed around the clock and will be home to people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. The Valley Electric Association received the Pahrump Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Cornerstone award, given to businesses that are an integral part of the community.

BANKRUPTCY | COMMERCIAL LITIGATION | REAL ESTATE | CORPORATE

702.385.5544 | nvfirm.com | Located in Town Square

the interview Send your business-related information to news@vegasinc.com

VEGAS INC march 20 -26

Q&A with amy hunter

‘Simply being available’ is a mentor’s first priority Amy Hunter is a partner at the Simmons Group, a human resources and talent management firm. She moved to Las Vegas from Ohio, where she was an active participant in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. In Southern Nevada, she has maintained her passion for mentoring young people by working with the nonprofit Core Academy. How did you become involved with mentoring children? I became a mentor in Ohio and had a wonderful experience. When I moved to Las Vegas, I met Lindsay Harper, chief inspiration officer at Core Academy, an after-school program that works to educate, enrich and empower young people, and I fell in love with the model and the students. I wanted to continue to inspire youths in my new community. How much time do you devote to mentoring? I have been formally mentoring my current mentee for three years, and I spend about 12 to 16 hours a month with her. My husband and I also informally mentor a small group of students, Amy Hunter, a partner at the Simmons Group, spends 12 to 16 hours a month with and we do something with them almost her mentee, in addition to informally mentoring a group of students with her every month, whether that is having husband. (STEVE MARCUS/Staff) them over to the house for dinner or a cludes a discussion at the end about Southern Nevada? pool party, or taking them somewhere what people have learned and how they The economy is rebounding. The fun. will use the information to improve. market is getting more competitive, and great talent is no longer as readily What’s the most rewarding asWhat advice do you have for available to employers. pect of mentoring? someone who wants to advance The candidate pool is shifting from Having the opportunity to see young in an organization? an employer-hiring market to an empeople grow and learn; it gives me hope Be certain you understand your ployee-focused market. In the down for future generations. Spending time “why” and the organization’s “why.” If years, the candidate pool and number simply being available, being another you haven’t seen Simon Sinek’s “Start of highly-qualified people may have set of ears to listen, another set of arms with Why” TedTalk, check it out. Be meant 10 final candidates interviewed to hug and a voice to be held accountopen to learning about yourself, then and tough employer decisions because able to is reward enough for me. doing something about what you learn. there were so many great options. Now, candidates have more options. If you could change one thing What do you do after work? about Southern Nevada, what Spend time with my husband and What qualities are most essenwould it be? close friends. We love supporting local tial in a good employee? The preconceived notion that Las programs in the community. We also What makes a good employee is a Vegas is just about flashy lights, partynever fall short in supporting UNLV good fit — culture, skill, personality ing hard from dusk to dawn and a being athletics. We’ve been season ticket and team dynamics. People work for place where it’s OK to put the rest of the holders for the eight years we’ve lived people, not companies. world on pause when you step off that here, and my guess is we’ll be that cute plane for an unconventional and overold couple in our 80s on the kiss cam. What makes a team-building exthe-top weekend. ercise successful? I often find myself politely explainDescribe your management style. It’s most important to identify where ing to people I meet — on an airplane, at Management style is always an interthe team is and what it is struggling a conference or presenting at a speakesting topic of discussion in my line of with, to break that barrier. Trust, vuling engagement — what it’s really like business. I do my best to approach each nerability and suspending judgments to live in Las Vegas. The flashy lights, person with a win-win outcome. My are essential foundational characterthe showgirls, the hottest DJs and intent in managing people is to get the istics of teams that work well together. dance clubs certainly add to the excitejob done, learn and have fun. This apA successful team-building process is ment around us. However, they repreproach has guided me in helping people inclusive of everyone, is fun, reaches sent only a small sliver of what makes succeed with us and in their personal team members at their level while this community remarkable. lives. It’s important to engage people stretching them outside of their comfrom their comfort zones and know fort zone, and most importantly, inWhat’s the biggest issue facing

what their preferences are and how best they receive information. Once trust is built, you can help guide them to step out of their comfort zone to see other possibilities. If you could live anywhere else in the world, where would it be? Santorini, Greece. It is the most beautiful place I have seen. My husband and our best friends spent time there in 2010. The sunrises, the sunsets, the crystal clear water and the relaxed way of living are refreshing and freeing. Whom do you admire? Ellen DeGeneres, because she is courageous and bold. She has such a powerful message and has fun while delivering it. She has a way of getting people not just to hear her message — “be kind to one another” — but also to feel it. She’s proud to be herself and share that in the hopes that others will step outside their comfort zones. What is your biggest pet peeve? Being late. Over the years, I’ve had to curb my annoyance when I am late or someone I’m meeting is late. I’ve always believed if you’re early, you’re on time, and if you’re on time, you’re late. I have found ways to be productive and see those gaps as an opportunity to get little things done on my “to do” list. Where do you like to go for business lunches? Food is certainly my favorite fourletter f-word, so that’s a tricky question. My top five “lunch-type” places are Carson Kitchen, Heidi’s Deli, Panevino, Grimaldi’s and Parsley Modern Mediterranean Grill. Get me talking about food, and I just might talk your ear to the next meal. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? My strong introverted preferences. In a social group setting, I rarely jump in on conversation without first gauging my surroundings. The consequence of this is that I’m sure people whom I could have learned from have walked in and right back out of my life.

ÂŠ2016 16 City National Bank

City National Business Banking

Romain Thievin & David Perisset Co-Founders, Exotics Racing

“City National understands our racing business model and helps us grow.” We have a passion for racing beautiful cars. Our business model is unique. When you ask a bank to finance multiple exotic cars, you know it will take vision to understand the story behind your request. City National not only understood our unique needs, they jumped right in to help us reach the next level. They looked at our business from outside the box. City National is The way up® for our business.

Congratulations David on your well-deserved 40 Under 40 recognition. Hear Exotics Racing complete story at Findyourwayup.com/RaceNV

Find your way up.

Call (702) 425-6559 to speak with a business banker.

CNB MEMBER FDIC

VEGAS INC

get to know a local business

march 20 -26

Send your business-related information to news@vegasinc.com

by the numbers

$115

Price of a bottle of fresh air an English couple is selling to people in China, where pollution is rampant. Melanie and Francesca De Watts “harvest” fresh air from the English countryside, then bottle and ship it.

$38 billion

Estimated value of the mobile order-ahead industry by 2020, according to a Business Insider study. Because more customers are using technology to order food and beverages, an increasing number of fast food chains are making orders available through mobile apps.

118

Number of Wahlburgers restaurants brothers Donnie and Mark Wahlberg plan to open in the next decade. The Boston-based burger chain has seven locations. The family planned to open a Wahlburgers on the Strip, but little progress has been made. Banners promise the restaurant is “coming soon.”

200

People Facebook plans to hire at its international headquarters in Ireland, where the social media company already has 1,300 employees.

$62.2 billion

Amount U.S. banks spent on technology in 2015. Bank operators hope to use technology to increase profit in light of stricter regulations.

6,000

Number of jobs Jes Staley eliminated during his first 100 days as head of Barclays PLC. The CEO pulled the investment bank from Africa, Brazil and seven countries in Asia. Staley has moved to simplify Barclays after the bank saw about $28 billion of profit wiped out by misconduct charges.

$3.9 trillion

Combined wealth of the top 400 billionaires in the world, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Jonathan Pluvinet owns Rosallie Le French Café. He laid the brick counter himself, and the lantern to his left was his grandfather’s. (L.E. Baskow/staff)

A little slice of France in Las Vegas Describe your business.

Rosallie Le French Cafe Address: 6090 S. Rainbow Blvd., Las Vegas Phone: 702-998-4121 Email: info@rosallie.com Website: rosallie.com Hours of operation: 7 a.m.-6 p.m. daily Owned/operated by: Jonathan Pluvinet In business since: August 2015

Rosallie Le French Café offers guests a casual, yet authentic French coffeehouse experience, serving a variety of coffees and teas as well as French bread, pastries, sandwiches and salads in a rustic, relaxed atmosphere. Our menu and setting pay homage to a restaurant of the same name in France that my parents opened 30 years ago. I’ve been working in this industry since I learned how to walk. Our pastries are baked daily on site with real French butter and flour. Our bread for sandwiches is homemade, and our coffee beans are sourced from high-quality purveyors to give guests a full European café experience. The café also features an intimate library space that invites guests to work or socialize. So at any given time, you’ll see guests cozying up to a good book on our couches or a business group discussing ideas over coffee in our conference room. Who are your customers?

We see families, students and business professionals of all ages. We see ladies who lunch, first dates, foodies and coffee enthusiasts. I often hear guests who have traveled to France say that Rosallie mirrors the experiences they’ve had when they were abroad — it’s one of the highest compliments. How do you compete with chain coffeehouses?

We are near a couple of major coffeehouse chains, but we’re not intimidated because we have something unique and authentic to offer. We don’t just want you in and out; we want you to stay and really experience a French café. But certainly, if you need something on the go, we are happy to accommodate that as well with the same level of service.

We also don’t just offer coffee. We offer breakfast, lunch and brunch options along with coffee and tea. The menu is updated often. What brought you to Las Vegas?

After I graduated from UNR, I wanted to continue living in the United States. I enjoyed the people and the quality of life, so after graduation, I secured a position as a retail manager in Las Vegas. While working retail, I honed my customer-service skills and continued to work toward my dream of starting my own business. It took me longer than I expected, as I was diagnosed with cancer. Thankfully, I underwent treatment, beat it, then my son was born and shortly after, we found a location and opened the doors to Rosallie. How does operating a restaurant in France compare with operating one in Las Vegas?

It’s challenging to open a business in France. Navigating the administrative process can be complicated, and it’s harder for new businesses to secure financing. In Las Vegas, I found the process to be a lot easier to navigate. However, as Las Vegas now is a top culinary destination, there is more competition in the food and beverage sector. What’s the most important part of your job?

Interacting with guests and getting to know them on a personal level. It fosters relationships, promotes a sense of community and provides a comfortable atmosphere. What obstacles has your business overcome?

Perception. Often people view French food as very formal, uptight or not affordable. We’ve been able to show people that French can be casual, approachable and attainable.

talking points Send your business-related information to news@vegasinc.com

Reader comments We want to hear from you. Visit vegasinc.com to post your opinion.

On Megan Messerly’s lasvegassun. com story “Pay freeze: What became of the push to raise Nevada’s minimum wage”: Leave the minimum wage alone. This would only result in fewer jobs. — NVFisherman Our workforce is diluted by illegal immigrants. Then we have the issue of a lazy generation of youths who are not willing to put down their phones and games long enough to pick up a shovel or spatula. — ChunkyFlyRight On Daniel Rothberg’s vegasinc.com story “Meltdown: What happened when a Las Vegas solar company fell apart”: This is what happens when there is no oversight of businesses to protect customers. — Homer W Do not pay a contractor in advance for work. Either pay them upon completion or pay them in increments along the way. — itsumo On J.D. Morris’ lasvegassun.com story “Las Vegas looks to Denver for transit example but faces unique challenges”: Having lived in Denver and witnessed the buildout of light rail, I can say that if it’s planned correctly, it will be a great asset. — Harleyman

VEGAS INC march 20 -26

For light rail to work, we must work together

guest column: historic Union Station, transforming it s the Southern Nevada Rebecca Miltenberger, from an outpost for Amtrak into a vibrant economy continues to grow Alisa Nave-Worth and community meeting place, boutique hotel and diversify, our community Kandis McClure and multimodal transportation center, is confronted with questions they started by hosting community regarding the infrastructure investments meetings. The conversations were crucial we must make to support such economic catalysts to ensuring that all of Denver development. was included in making the decision to invest in light rail As a part of this process, the Regional Transportation and commuter rail infrastructure. Commission of Southern Nevada has been conducting an Collaboration is an expectation when it comes to funding, audit of peer cities, including Phoenix and Salt Lake City, both private and public. In the shifting federal environment, that have invested in transportation projects as an engine decisions about which large-scale transportation projects to for growth. fund increasingly hinge on common vision. On March 7 and 8, RTC officials continued this The same holds true for private investment. Chad exploratory process by partnering with Brownstein Hyatt McWhinney, a Denver-based real estate developer, Farber Schreck to host nearly 50 community leaders and discussed his company’s decision to invest in the decision-makers in Denver. The Nevada delegation took redevelopment of Union Station. “The synergy, energy and a closer look at how Denver’s light rail and mass transit alignment from the public and private sectors were very systems were conceived, funded and built — and how they compelling,” McWhinney said, adding that he decided now are setting records in the Mountain West. The trip to join the partnership as a private investor. the day the included tours and panel discussions about how funding opportunity was presented can be procured through public and private sources and Collaboration from the public and private sectors will what economic development results from investing in a be necessary to make new transportation infrastructure a city’s transportation infrastructure. reality in Southern Nevada. We look forward to seeing how One takeaway from every panel was that if Nevada wants leaders and stakeholders here move forward. an effective transportation plan for Southern Nevada, we Rebecca Miltenberger is a shareholder, Alisa Nave-Worth must work together. is senior policy adviser and counsel, and Kandis McClure is Collaboration starts by listening to the community. As policy advisory at Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck. Denver officials sought to invest in the development of

Smith’s world

Mike Smith is an award-winning editorial cartoonist who also draws for the Las Vegas Sun. His work is distributed nationally by King Features Syndicate. See archives of his work at lasvegassun.com/smithsworld.

VEGAS INC

your Business-to-business news

march 20 -26

Send your business-related information to news@vegasinc.com

What happened when a solar company fell apart By daniel rothberg Staff Writer

A Las Vegas homeowner is out more than $18,000. A company claims it is owed more than $700,000. A $20,644 lien is slapped on the home of an insurance agent. The list of claims stretches into the hundreds. So goes the fallout in the saga of a Las Vegas-based solar company that declared bankruptcy recently after becoming the subject of the biggest investigatory case the Nevada State Contractors Board has handled. Summerlin Energy Las Vegas LLC filed for bankruptcy last month after nearly quadrupling its revenue last year. It claimed about $680,000 in total property and more than $4 million in liabilities. The small solar installation business, which went into 2015 looking to expand its operations, started 2016 facing a lawsuit from a supplier, complaints from customers anxious that they might have to pay

twice for solar panels, and investigations from contractors boards in California and Nevada. The issues came after Thanksgiving, when the business faced the fatal shooting of a company leader. Through February, Summerlin Energy was missing payments to its suppliers and at the end of the month, filed to liquidate through a Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceeding. A company crumbles In the weeks before Summerlin Energy filed for bankruptcy, the Nevada State Contractors Board, which licenses and disciplines contractors, had received nearly 100 complaints from Summerlin Energy customers. Some said they were charged twice for services or that they paid for work that was either abandoned or only partially performed. On Feb. 3, the board suspended the company’s license to operate in Nevada. It is investigating the consumer complaints and

will conduct a hearing on the issue at the end of this month. “This is the largest investigative case the board has handled in its history,” said Jennifer Lewis, a spokeswoman for the board, which has existed since the 1940s. The contractors board in California, one of the states where Summerlin Energy had operated, also has opened an investigation into the company. In addition, a similar agency in Arizona has reported at least one complaint against Summerlin Energy. A lawyer for the company did not respond to multiple requests for comment, and it is unclear what led to the company’s bankruptcy. On Thanksgiving, Henry Bankey, who claimed to serve as CEO for Summerlin Energy, was fatally shot after a dispute with his ex-wife. From that time through February, Summerlin Energy missed several payments to at least two subcontractors, Clark Coun-

ty records show. By the time the company filed for bankruptcy, it reported $678,596 in total property — $2,112 in checking accounts and $676,484 in accounts receivable — and owed $4,215,560 to creditors including customers, workers and vendors who sold solar panels and parts. Its parent company, Summerlin Energy LLC, which also filed for bankruptcy, had about $100,000 in total property and more than $1 million in liabilities. “I’m not sure there will be any assets for unsecured creditors in this case,” said Lenard E. Schwartzer, the court-appointed trustee. Customers charged twice Caught in the middle were customers such as Dr. Vadim Levitin, a retiree who said he deposited about $18,000 with Summerlin Energy to meltdown, Continued on page 11

2016 INDUCTEE

Please join us as we celebrate our 15th anniversary with a reflective and appreciative look back with our distinguished recipients and honor our 2016 Inductee. 6 P.M. Cocktail Reception

7 P.M. Dinner and Hall of Fame Induction

T H U R S D AY MARCH 24 2016

MGM GRAND CONVENTION CENTER Premier Ballroom, 3rd Floor. 3701 Koval Lane $275 per person or $2,500 per table

To register, please visit netcommunity.unlv.edu/NevadaBusinessHallofFame or call 702-895-3608. SPONSORED BY

ROSSI RALENKOTTER President and CEO, LAS VEGAS CONVENTION AND VISITORS AUTHORITY Reception Sponsor- The Howard Hughes Corporation Spirit Sponsor- Southern Wine & Spirits of Southern Nevada

VEGAS INC march 20 -26

m e ltdown, from page 10

install rooftop solar on his home. The company came to inspect his roof in November, he said, and that was the last contact he had. “Something went wrong. Something bad happened,” he said. “I’m pessimistic about my ability to recover the money.” Summerlin Energy, in its bankruptcy filing, lists about 300 customers among its creditors. Other homeowners, such as Troy Fletcher, were hit with liens, despite having paid for their solar panels in full. Fletcher, an insurance broker, recalled having paid about $47,000 for his system, installed by Summerlin Energy. Then Summerlin Energy failed to pay a subcontractor for work on Fletcher’s home, and the subcontractor placed a $20,644 lien on his property. Fletcher does not recall being told the company worked with suppliers. “It’s just mind-boggling,” he said. “What am I supposed to do, take out a loan to pay off something that I already paid for?” The subcontractor was Sun Valley Electric Supply Co., which claims to have sold more than $700,000 in solar panels and materials to Summerlin Energy. Taking a huge hit because of Summerlin Energy’s defaults, Sun Valley Electric began placing liens on customers’ homes, a statutory right of subcontractors. Simply put, the customer paid the contractor for the materials the subcontractor provided: solar panels. Despite receiving the funds from the customer, the contractor did not pay the subcontractor for the panels. To recoup its losses, the subcontractor was legally entitled to put liens on the customer’s property. This placed the customer in the position of potentially having to pay twice: once to the contractor for the panels and again to the subcontractor for the lien. “Because of Summerlin Energy’s business decision, those companies have not been paid, which has had a trickle-down effect to homeowners who are getting liens on their houses,” Lewis said. Clark County records show that Sun Valley Electric put about 100 liens on homes, ranging from about $1,000 to over $20,000, because Summerlin Energy had missed payments for services. Soligent, a Summerlin Energy supplier based in California, has issued about 60 liens. Some customers were assessed liens on their property from both Sun Valley Electric and Soligent, records show. According to its bank-

“It’s just mind-boggling. What am I supposed to do, take out a loan to pay off something that I already paid for?” Troy Fletcher, Summerlin Energy customer

ABUSED BY CLERGY IN HAWAII?

WE CAN HELP. ACT NOW!

Deadline of April 24, 2016

Call or email us for a free and confidential consultation. Hawaii: Mark Gallagher, Attorney Minnesota: Jeff Anderson, Attorney

808.535.1500 info@andersonadvocates.com

AbusedinHawaii.com ruptcy filing, Summerlin Energy owes at least two other suppliers in excess of $300,000 each. It owes Soligent about $500,000, the filing says. Sun Valley Electric, which claims it is owed $725,180, is suing Summerlin Energy in hopes of recovering some funds. Allegations in the suit include breach of contract and fraud. “It’s a travesty for these homeowners,” said Donald Williams, Sun Valley Electric’s attorney. “It’s a travesty for my client.” What’s the recourse? Sun Valley Electric, Williams said, hoped to alleviate the pressure on some of Summerlin Energy’s customers by recouping at least a portion of the losses in court. “There are a lot of unanswered questions that I hope get answered through our litigation or the bankruptcy,” he said. If Sun Valley Electric does not recover its losses in court, it will be protected through the liens. It is not unusual for a subcontractor to put a lien on a property. What is unusual, according to the State Contractors Board, is the scope of how many customers have been affected at the same time, a large group that is unlikely to recover money through the bankruptcy. The board has a residential recovery fund for eligible customers, but it is capped at $400,000. It offers up to $35,000 per affected homeowner and the board is in the process of collecting all possible claims. Customers could also pursue litigation. In the past, the board has encountered similar situations but never involving the levels of damages in the Summerlin Energy case. A yearlong probe in 2011, focusing on a pool contractor that had left work unfinished and failed to pay subcontractors, resulted in a combined $138,363 payment to 18 homeowners. Pool contractors by law are not supposed to collect a down payment or deposit greater than $1,000 or 10 percent of the entire price. There are no such rules for solar customers.

App Madness

Double V T HRU

Get the app at capriottis.com/download

LOCATIO

ORDER

ONLIN

isits!

3 /26 / 1 6

REWARD

NEWS

& OFFE

CALL NOW!

99 SPECIAL

SAME-DAY SOLUTIONS FOR ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION We offer a Same-Day Treatment for Erectile Dysfunction and Pre-mature Issues. No gimmicks…just Proven Science. Our treatments are alternatives to conventional ED pills that are ineffective, that take too long to start working, and are not safe for all men.

Includes: Medical Consultation and Initial Test Dose to Ensure Positive Results. Expires 3/31/2016.

By Appointment Only/Same-Day Appointments Available. Call or Visit

(702) 457.3888

3365 E. Flamingo Road Ste. 2 Las Vegas, NV 89121

VivacityClinics.com

EASTER BUFFET SUNDAY, MARCH 27

DELICIOUS

CLASSIC

GOURMET

FIESTA HENDERSON FIESTA RANCHO

PALACE • TEXAS SUNSET • SANTA FE • BOULDER

RED ROCK GREEN VALLEY RANCH

99 $

For times and menus visit sclv.com/buffets

VEGAS INC

your Business-to-business news

march 20 -26

Send your business-related information to news@vegasinc.com

w e ddings, from page 1

Number of ceremonies performed in the valley has dropped 40 percent since 2004 which to start planning. The women’s mission is far larger than just one ceremony. They’re here to put Las Vegas back on the map as the wedding capital of the world. n n n The eight women make up the Las Vegas Wedding Chamber of Commerce, a new organization formed to rescue the city’s love market from an alarming slump. The ladies are a microcosm of the industry: Some are sales representatives for chapels, others work at resort wedding departments. A couple of years ago, the women may have considered one another competition. Not anymore. In less than a year, they have become The Las Vegas Wedding Chamber of Commerce meets to discuss ways to friends and have formed a coalition to improve Southern Nevada’s wedding industry, which. Members include, from left, meet with industry professionals and and Ada Casanova, Ann Parsons, Rochelle Clayton, Lynn Goya, Genie Forkner, Kris take their concerns to decision mak- Labuda, Aimee Stephens and Laura Covington. (julie ann formoso/staff) ers at the Las Vegas Convention and to bring more weddings back to Las from $60 to $77 to boost revenue for Visitors Authority, and perhaps even Vegas. advertising.) They needed to unite as the Legislature. “We know we’re all in it together,” one official group. The conversations The group agrees the time to act is says Rochelle Clayton, the chamber’s led to the creation of the Wedding now, because the number of “I do’s” membership chairwoman. “It’s not Chamber. taking place in the valley has dropped competition now. It’s coalition.” “It made sense,” Clark County almost 40 percent since 2004. It’s a The group faces an uphill battle. Clerk Lynn Goya said. “We need an steep dive, considering the business Competition nationally and internaorganized voice for the wedding inused to generate about $2 billion for tionally is growing. dustry.” Clark County. Last year, Mexico, Jamaica and the People began to wonder: Would one n n n Dominican Republic were the most of Las Vegas’ most iconic industries booked wedding destinations, acMembers of the Wedding Chamber disappear? The answer, at least from cording to the Destination Weddings are meeting for at least the third time the perspective of the city’s wedding Travel Group. this month. professionals, is a resounding “no.” “Mom-and-pop shops can’t com“OK, we need a website,” one says. What happens here, stays here, and pete with whole countries like Mex“Oh! Maybe we can put one of those the business of tying the knot is no ico,” chamber Secretary Ann Parsons donate buttons on it,” another sugexception, they say. It’s here to stay. says. gests. But love and history don’t pay the But Las Vegas’ worst enemy may be The women spew ideas, jotting bills. The industry needed a plan to itself. Wedding professionals across notes and giggling among themsecure its future. the valley say the state and city do selves. So last spring, wedding experts, little to promote tying the knot here. It’s a good day for them. The preincluding ministers and mom-andMany resorts, including Caesars Palvious night at the Bootlegger Bistro, pop bridal shop owners, began meetace and MGM Grand, don’t promote they introduced the chamber to dozing regularly to brainstorm ways weddings on their website home ens of guests, many in the wedding to boost numbers. They decided it pages. industry. About 30 people joined the wasn’t enough for the city simply “Everyone else has been going aforganization. to increase marketing efforts. (The ter this market,” Goya says. “We have The success of the event makes Clark County Commission last year just been taking it for granted.” the women even more determined increased the marriage license fee

It’s a lost opportunity that will hurt the county and state, chamber members say. “You can have a big or small wedding,” Communications Chairwoman Aimee Stephens says. “You don’t even need a passport to come here.” “You can get married at Red Rock,” a woman exclaims. “Or the Linq.” “We just introduced splash pool weddings,” Chamber President Kris LaBuda says. “Really?” some of the women ask. While prices for wedding packages in Las Vegas are similar to those in other locations, chamber members maintain the valley has much more to offer after the ceremony. “Celebrity chefs: How many celebrity chefs can you choose from here?” Parsons asked. “You can’t get that at Sandals (Resorts). Sorry!” The ladies burst out laughing. Then it’s back to planning. The women admit the wedding market has changed since the city’s glory days. Vow renewals are on the rise, younger couples are waiting longer to get married, and same-sex marriage now is legal. All can benefit Las Vegas if stakeholders market and plan accordingly, the chamber members say. “The business of love is not something that is going to go out of style anytime soon,” chamber Treasurer Ada Casanova said. “The way people commit has changed and evolved ... and our brand can evolve with that.” n n n About noon, the ladies begin departing from the meeting. It has been a successful session, but there’s a long checklist of tasks they still must complete. Some stay behind, including Goya. She and Stephens murmur to one another, outlining priorities that need to be addressed at the next meeting. No doubt, the pressure is on, but the chamber has made a vow — for better or for worse.

“The business of love is not something that is going to go out of style anytime soon. The way people commit has changed and evolved ... and our brand can evolve with that.” — Ada Casanova, treasurer of the Las Vegas Wedding Chamber of Commerce

NATIONAL LICENSING SERVICES R

Specializing in Alcohol, Gaming & Medical Marijuana

• Preparation of Business License Applications • Transfer of Interest / Key Employee Applications • Training Certification / Continuing Education Credits • Government Relations for Compliance / Regulations • Strategic Marketing and Public Relations

MEET UP & DRINK UP

CALL NOW For More Information!

NEW HAPPY HOUR

YOUR TRUSTED SOURCE FOR ALCOHOL, GAMING, MEDICAL MARIJUANA, & BUSINESS LICENSES

WEST SAHARA • SOUTH RAINBOW FLAMINGO • GREEN VALLEY PARKWAY

702.227.7393 | www.NLSlicensing.com

CLINICAL TRIAL FOR PEOPLE WITH

GLAUCOMA DIAGNOSED WITH GLAUCOMA? THIS CLINICAL TRIAL MAY BE RIGHT FOR YOU! If you have Glaucoma or high eye pressure, you may be eligible for a research study involving the use of an investigational drug. You will be reimbursed for your time and travel. The study has 9 visits & will last approximately 12 months. All visits & medication will be provided at no cost to you.

CALL TODAY! 702.515.9648 TO SETUP A FREE SCREENING APPOINTMENT CONTACT:

LINDSEY KOWAL, Study Coordinator

Matthew J. Swanic, MD | Las Vegas Eye Institute | 9555 S. Eastern Ave., Suite 260, Las Vegas, NV 89123

daily from 4–6 pm BITES + DRINKS

sammyspizza.com

VEGAS INC

your Business-to-business news

march 20 -26

Send your business-related information to news@vegasinc.com

Calendar of events Tuesday, March 22 BOMA (Building Owners and Managers Association) lunch Time: 11:30 a.m. Cost: $35 in advance and $45 at the door for members; $40 in advance and $45 at the door for nonmembers Location: Las Vegas Country Club, 3000 Joe W. Brown Drive, Las Vegas Information: Visit bomanevada.org The keynote speaker will be Henderson Ward 2 Councilwoman Debra March. Vegas Young Professionals Fusion mixer Time: 6-8 p.m. Cost: $10 in advance and $15 at the door for members; $15 in advance and $20 at the door for nonmembers Location: Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill, 10955 Oval Park Drive, Las Vegas Information: Call 702-586-3843 Network and celebrate Vegas Young Professionals’ 10th anniversary.

Wednesday, March 23 Business and marketing development Time: 9 a.m.-noon Cost: Free Location: Sumnu Marketing, 1951 Stella Lake St., Suite 7, Las Vegas Information: Call 702-229-6862 Learn how to use business and marketing skills to improve your small business. Focus Las Vegas: Open for Business Time: 9 a.m.-2:15 p.m. Cost: $15 per person for groups of 10 or more, $25 for Metro Chamber of Commerce members, $35 for nonmembers Location: Innevation Center, 6795 S. Edmond St., Las Vegas Information: Call 702-586-3809 Learn how to protect your business, employees and investments from natural disasters and emergencies. Nonprofits Munch and Mingle Time: 11:45 a.m. Cost: Free Location: Clark County Library, Jewel Box Theater, 1401 E. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas Information: Call 702-507-3421

Connect with other nonprofit representatives at this networking lunch. Pass out brochures and share ideas over coffee and snacks.

Thursday, March 24 “Performance Management, Discipline and Discharge” Time: 8:30-11 a.m. Cost: Free Location: Las Vegas City Hall, Achievement Room, 495 S. Main St., Las Vegas Information: Visit laborlawyers.com Learn how to issue evaluations and discipline in a positive, constructive way, and how to properly discharge employees to avoid lawsuits. Design-Build Institute of America luncheon and panel discussion Time: 11:30 a.m. Cost: Free for student members, $10 for student nonmembers, $20 for owners and employees of public agencies, $35 for members, $45 for nonmembers Location: Green Valley Ranch, 2300 Paseo Verde Parkway, Henderson Information: Visit dbiawpr.org Learn about Henderson Hospital. Panelists will include the project’s owner, architect, engineers and construction design/build team. LVGEA 60th anniversary/grand opening mixer Time: 5-7 p.m. Cost: Free Location: LVGEA, 6720 Via Austi Parkway, Suite 330, Las Vegas Information: Call 702-522-3355 The Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance is celebrating 60 years of success with a networking event at the organization’s new office. HCC networking mixer Time: 5-8 p.m. Cost: $15 in advance and $25 at the door for Henderson Chamber of Commerce members; $25 in advance and $35 at the door for nonmembers Locations: Essence and Herbs, 15 Via Bel Canto, Henderson, and Sonrisa Grill, 30 Via Brianza, Henderson (both venues are in the Village at Lake Las Vegas) Information: Call 702-565-8951 Mingle with business professionals and enlarge

your network while taking in views of Lake Las Vegas. RSVP by March 23. Nevada Business Hall of Fame 2016 Ceremony Time: 6 p.m. Cost: $275; $2,500 per table Location: MGM Grand Convention Center, Premier Ballroom, 3701 Koval Lane, Las Vegas Information: Call 702-895-3608 Honor the inductee while celebrating the Business Hall of Fame’s 15th anniversary. This year’s inductee is Rossi Ralenkotter, president and CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

Monday, March 28 Southern Nevada Forum: Economic Development Committee Time: 3:30-5 p.m. Cost: Free Location: Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce, 575 Symphony Park Ave., Suite 100, Las Vegas Information: Call 702-586-3846 Join legislators, government officials, business leaders and other stakeholders in identifying regional priorities for the 2017 legislative session. Voice concerns and needs regarding economic development and workforce.

Tuesday, March 29 Public Relations Society of America luncheon Time: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Cost: $30 for members, $35 for nonmembers Location: Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar, 8721 W. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas Information: Email programs@prsalasvegas.com Dave Sholler, vice president of public relations, athlete development and marketing at the Ultimate Fighting Championship, will speak about how the brand engages audiences. Father Max Business Mass Time: 12:10 p.m. Cost: Free Location: Guardian Angel Cathedral, 302 Cathedral Way, Las Vegas Information: Call 702-277-4517 Father Max Oliva, a Jesuit priest and business consultant, will discuss the necessity of ethics in the marketplace.

Conventions

expected Show Location Dates attendance

Access Intelligence LeadsCon

Venetian

March 21-24

2,500

International Wireless Communications Expo

Las Vegas Convention Center

March 23-24

10,000

Globalshop

Mandalay Bay

March 23-25

14,000

Western Political Science Association Annual Regional Meeting

Caesars Palace

March 23-26

1,200

VEGAS INC

the data

march 20 -26

Send your business-related information to news@vegasinc.com

Records and Transactions Bid Opportunities

Robert Torres of Colliers International

MONDAY, MARCH 21

$2,411,000 for 28,420 square feet, industrial Address: 2865 Coleman St., North Las Vegas 89032 Seller: CSA Service Center LLC Seller agent: Did not disclose Buyer: SGPS Holdings LLC Buyer agent: Greg Pancirov and Mike DeLew of Colliers International

3 p.m. Assessment of infrastructure disaster recovery architecture for Scope II Clark County, 604013 Jim Haining at jhaining@clarkcountynv.gov

TUESDAY, MARCH 22 2:15 p.m. Silver Bowl Park: restroom installation Clark County, 603993 Sandy Moody-Upton at scm@ clarkcountynv.gov 2:15 p.m. Hollywood Regional Park: ballfield entertaining and lighting Clark County, 604008 Sandy Moody-Upton at scm@ clarkcountynv.gov

THURSDAY, MARCH 24 2:15 p.m. Clark Place: roof replacement Clark County, 603981 Sandy Moody-Upton at scm@ clarkcountynv.gov 3 p.m. Annual requirements contract for plumbing supplies Clark County, 603951 Adriane Garcia at akgarcia@clarkcountynv.gov

Brokered transactions SALES $16,000,000 for 258 units, apartment Address: 4801 Spencer St., Las Vegas 89119 Seller: Nevada Springs LLC Seller agent: Art Carll and Patrick Sauter of NAI Vegas Buyer: TMIF Acquisitions LLC Buyer agent: Did not disclose $15,600,000 for 268 units, multifamily residential Address: 3655 E. Sahara Ave., Las Vegas 89104 Seller: 268 Vegas Apartments LLC Seller agent: Did not disclose Buyer: Las Vegas Residential Properties LLC Buyer agent: Did not disclose $5,903,808 for 32.58 acres, land Address: Executive Airport Drive and Bermuda Road, Henderson 89052 Seller: South 15 Partners LLC Seller agent: Dan Doherty, Susan Borst, Chris Lane and Jerry Doty of Colliers International Buyer: South 15 LLC Buyer agent: Scott Gragson and

$2,169,288 for 12.45 acres, land Address: A portion of a parcel at Executive Airport Drive and Bermuda Road, Henderson 89052 Seller: South 15 Partners LLC Seller agent: Dan Doherty, Susan Borst, Chris Lane and Jerry Doty of Colliers International Buyer: GKT4 LLC Buyer agent: Did not disclose $2,080,426 for 11.94 acres, land Address: 1775 Executive Airport Drive and a portion of a parcel at Executive Airport Drive and Bermuda Road, Henderson 89044 Seller: South 15 Partners LLC Seller agent: Dan Doherty, Susan Borst, Chris Lane and Jerry Doty of Colliers International Buyer: Beltway 4.77 LLC Buyer agent: Scott Gragson and Robert Torres of Colliers International $700,000 for 7,524 square feet, industrial Address: 3830 S. Valley View Blvd., Las Vegas 89103 Seller: Lynn and Jane Mosdell Trust Seller agent: Renae Russo of Colliers International Buyer: CEL Holdings II LLC Buyer agent: Did not disclose $303,000 for 1,211 square feet, office Address: 5235 S. Durango Drive, Suite 2, Las Vegas 89113 Seller: Durango Development Group LLC Seller agent: Jason Otter and Chris Richardson of Logic Commercial Real Estate Buyer: MSN Durango LLC Buyer agent: Jason Otter and Chris Richardson of Logic Commercial Real Estate $275,000 for 2.5 acres, land Address: Northwest corner of Torino Avenue and Tenaya Way, Las Vegas 89113 Seller: Estate of Charles Todaro Seller agent: Brian Fike and Joe Bonifatto of Colliers International Buyer: Khusrow Roohani Family Trust and Remark Revocable Trust Buyer agent: Vince Schettler of Colliers International

BUSINESS LICENSES Idriana Fashion

License type: General retail sales Address: 1717 S. Decatur Blvd., Suite B47, Las Vegas 89102 Owner: Idriana Sanchez Tolmo Imagination Pools LLC License type: Contractor Address: 5686 La Costa Canyon Court, Las Vegas 89139 Owner: Did not disclose Insane Installations LLC License type: Express or delivery service Address: 6149 Benchmark Way, Las Vegas 89031 Owner: Carl L. Allen Irstaxremedies.com License type: Business support Address: Did not disclose Owner: Lizette Valiente Isleworth Group LLC License type: Social work Address: 10001 Peace Way, Suite 2302, Las Vegas 89147 Owner: Isleworth Group LLC Jackie’s Iced Out Beauty & Bar License type: Cosmetics Address: 1100 N. Martin L. King Blvd., Suite D, Las Vegas 89106 Owner: 1100 N. MLK LLC Jade Nails License type: Cosmetics Address: 10960 S. Eastern Ave., Suite 104, Henderson 89052 Owner: Tammy Tran

Joanna Jia License type: Independent massage therapist Address: Did not disclose Owner: Joanna Jia

License type: Residential property maintenance Address: 10296 Ashlar Point Way, Las Vegas 89135 Owner: Tom Allen

Joie’s Raw Healthy Crunch License type: Restaurant Address: 8751 W. Charleston Blvd., Suite 190, Las Vegas 89117 Owner: Joelita Altabet

Las Vegas Celtic Society License type: Nonprofit Address: 9200 Tule Springs Road, Las Vegas 89131 Owner: Tori Bullock

Joshua J. Nieves License type: Real estate sales Address: 10161 Park Run Drive, Suite 150, Las Vegas 89145 Owner: Joshua Nieves

Las Vegas Jerkys License type: Food specialty store Address: 1 S. Main St., Las Vegas 89106 Owner: Las Vegas Jerkys Inc.

Joverart Community Development Corp. License type: Thrift store Address: 2187 N. Decatur Blvd., Suite 100, Las Vegas 89108 Owner: Ty Smith

Las Vegas Prestige Plumbing LLC License type: Contractor Address: 4725 Quality Court, Las Vegas 89103 Owner: Did not disclose

JP Pool Service License type: Residential property maintenance Address: Did not disclose Owner: Jose T. Pacheco Lopez Keith Hawkins Company License type: Nonfarm product vendor Address: 4100 W. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas 89107 Owner: Kevin Fawley

Janitorial & Restoration License type: Residential property maintenance Address: Did not disclose Owner: Mario Matinho

Kidney Specialists of Southern Nevada License type: Professional services - medical Address: 7316 W. Cheyenne Ave., Las Vegas 89129 Owner: Bernstein Pokroy & Lehrner Ltd.

Jason Rosenberg License type: Real estate sales Address: 1925 Village Center Circle, Suite 150, Las Vegas 89134 Owner: Jason Rosenberg

Kiera McGillivray License type: Professional services Address: 8430 W. Lake Mead Blvd., Suite 100, Las Vegas 89128 Owner: Kiera McGillivray

JBM Custom Upholstery License type: Manufacturing, light assembly and fabrication Address: 3400 W. Desert Inn Road, Suite 5, Las Vegas 89102 Owner: Leticia Mendoza Alonso

Kirkwood Bank of Nevada License type: Bank Address: 8531 W. Lake Mead Blvd., Las Vegas 89128 Owner: Gerald Willer

Jefe’s Taco Shop License type: Restaurant Address: 5700 Sky Pointe Drive, Las Vegas 89130 Owner: Mamas LLC Jem Cleaning & Maintenance License type: Residential property maintenance Address: 3478 Paradise Road, Suite 127, Las Vegas 89169 Owner: Jessica D. Mendoza JMB Custom Apparel & Accessories License type: General retail sales Address: 2901 W. Washington Ave., Suite F112, Las Vegas 89107 Owner: James Bumpus

Kona Ice Henderson LLC License type: Ice supplier Address: 1551 S. Buffalo Drive, Las Vegas 89117 Owner: Steven T. Vitz La Flor De Michoacan License type: Ice cream shop Address: 1039 Whitney Ranch Drive, Henderson 89014 Owner: Angelica’s Business LLC La Piazza Restaurant & Bar License type: Restaurant Address: 1000 N. Main St., Las Vegas 89101 Owner: Spinsig Operating Corp. Land’s End Pool Service LLC

Leslie Andrade License type: Independent massage therapist Address: Did not disclose Owner: Leslie Andrade Lily’s Cleaning License type: Janitorial services Address: 4841 El Este Lane, North Las Vegas 89031 Owner: Liliana Lopez Linda Gilmore License type: Real estate sales Address: 10000 W. Charleston Blvd., Suite 130, Las Vegas 89145 Owner: Linda Gilmore Linx Protection License type: Cosmetics Address: 6001 S. Decatur Blvd., Suite D, Las Vegas 89118 Owner: Audio Integrations Inc. Lisa Robert LLC License type: Business space rent or lease Address: 3969 Salisbury Place, Las Vegas 89121 Owner: Robert J. Comeau Loren’s Vegas Delights LLC License type: Interjurisdictional business Address: 1525 E. Sunset Road, Suite 10, Las Vegas 89119 Owner: Loren’s Vegas Delights LLC Lou Christian Aegean Isle LLC License type: Business space rent or lease Address: 7871 W. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas 89117 Owner: Rita Papas Louis Berger Group Inc. License type: Professional services Address: 444 E. Warm Springs Road, Suite 118, Las Vegas 89119 Owner: Roger J. Patton LV Professional & Legal Services LLC License type: Business support Address: 710 S. Eighth St., Las

VEGAS INC

the data

march 20 -26

Send your business-related information to news@vegasinc.com

Records and Transactions Vegas 89101 Owner: Miguel A. Martinez-Perez

Court, Las Vegas 89129 Owner: Michael Tessler

Mach-1 Plumbing LLC License type: Contractor Address: 2325 Western Ave., Suites 6 and 7, Las Vegas 89102 Owner: Douglas E. Hughes Jr.

Michele Kubiak-Rankin License type: Real estate sales Address: 9525 Hillwood Drive, Suite 120, Las Vegas 89134 Owner: Michele Kubiak-Rankin LLC

Maintenance Pros LLC License type: Residential property maintenance Address: 4550 W. Oakey Blvd., Suite 111, Las Vegas 89102 Owner: Makemarketing LLC

Minions Construction License type: Contractor Address: 3060 Business Lane, Las Vegas 89103 Owner: Did not disclose

Man’s Best Friend Pet Salon and Boutique License type: General retail sales Address: 7524 Westcliff Drive, Las Vegas 89145 Owner: Man’s Best Friend Pet Grooming LLC Manuel Mobile Car Wash License type: Automobile detailing Address: 5801 W. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas 89146 Owner: Manuel Rios Mariner Development LLC License type: Contractor Address: 9205 W. Russell Road, Suite 235, Las Vegas 89148 Owner: Did not disclose Massage By Krysty License type: Independent massage therapist Address: Did not disclose Owner: Krysty V. Calzada McKinney-James & Associates License type: Management or consulting service Address: 410 S. Rampart Blvd., Suite 390, Las Vegas 89145 Owner: Energy Works LLC Mealprepology License type: Restaurant Address: 2040 E. Craig Road, North Las Vegas 89030 Owner: Christopher C. Strickland Meats Gone Wild License type: Nonfarm product vendor Address: 1600 N. Rampart Blvd., Las Vegas 89128 Owner: Southern Nevada Exotic Meats LLC Micah Sullivan License type: Real estate sales Address: 10000 W. Charleston Blvd., Suite 130, Las Vegas 89145 Owner: Micah Sullivan Michael O’Connor License type: Real estate sales Address: 1820 E. Sahara Ave., Suite 101, Las Vegas 89104 Owner: Michael O’Connor Michael Tessler Photography License type: Photography Address: 3361 Michaelangelo

Mountain Rehabilitation Services License type: Professional services - medical Address: 2641 Box Canyon Drive, Suite B, Las Vegas 89128 Owner: Mountain Rehabilitation Services, Poindexter & Associates Move Right Movers Inc. License type: General services Address: Did not disclose Owner: Anthony Rodriguez Natalie Nevarez License type: Real estate sales Address: 10750 W. Charleston Blvd., Suite 180, Las Vegas 89144 Owner: Natalie Nevarez Neabras Handy Service License type: Repair and maintenance Address: Did not disclose Owner: Nigel Bruce Neonbrand License type: General services Address: 817 S. Main St., Suite 100, Las Vegas 89101 Owner: Neon Brand LLC On Time Oil License type: Trucking Address: 50 W. Colorado Ave., Las Vegas 89102 Owner: On Time Oil LLC One Stop 4 Flooring License type: Express or delivery service Address: 6150 W. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas 89103 Owner: One Stop 4 Flooring LLC Pablo’s Carpet and More License type: Professional services Address: 2200 Civic Center Drive, North Las Vegas 89030 Owner: Pablo Solorzano Papa John’s Pizza License type: Restaurant Address: 8574 W. Lake Mead Blvd., Las Vegas 89128 Owner: PJ Las Vegas LLC Patricia Moran License type: Real estate sales Address: 777 N. Rainbow Blvd., Suite 120, Las Vegas 89107 Owner: Patricia Moran Phone Zone

License type: General retail sales Address: 2232 Paradise Road, Las Vegas 89104 Owner: Wash N Save LLC Pirate Fest License type: Multivendor Address: 3333 W. Washington Ave., Las Vegas 89107 Owner: R&J Productions Ponce Lawn Maintenance License type: Residential property maintenance Address: Did not disclose Owner: Rosalio Ponce Poseidon Pool Service License type: Residential property maintenance Address: Did not disclose Owner: Poseidon Pool Service Inc.

Services LLC Rehab Cash Now Nevada LLC License type: Professional services Address: 410 S. Rampart Blvd., Suite 390, Las Vegas 89145 Owner: Donald Vaccaro Reliable Security Sound and Data License type: Contractor Address: 400 S. Fourth St., Suite 500, Las Vegas 89101 Owner: Reliable Business Concerns Inc. Restorative Health LLC License type: Professional services Address: 3225 S. Rainbow Blvd., Suite A, Number 206, Las Vegas 89146 Owner: Tigran Avetisyan

Power Only Transit LLC License type: Merchandise broker Address: 3670 N. Rancho Drive, Suite 107, Las Vegas 89130 Owner: Kris Tryber

Revive Services License type: Residential property maintenance Address: 3440 E. Russell Road, Suite 226, Las Vegas 89120 Owner: Revive Services LLC

Proaction Recovery Inc. License type: Professional services Address: 3227 Meade Ave., Suite 5A, Las Vegas 89102 Owner: Lawrence C. Howard

Rise Resource Center License type: Community services Address: 1722 Primrose Path, Las Vegas 89108 Owner: Rise Resource Center Inc.

Professional Pest Control LLC License type: Professional services Address: 2200 Civic Center Drive, North Las Vegas 89030 Owner: Steven J. Sterrett

RJW Transport License type: Warehouse or storage Address: 3230 W. Desert Inn Road, Suite 140, Las Vegas 89102 Owner: RJW Transport Inc.

Professional Pest Control LLC License type: Residential property maintenance Address: 167 Enloe St., Las Vegas 89074 Owner: Steven J. Sterrett

Robert Lawn Service License type: Residential property maintenance Address: Did not disclose Owner: Roberto Jose Oviedo Crespin

PT’s Gold License type: Tavern Address: 1540 W. Sunset Road, Suite 140, Henderson 89014 Owner: Golden-PT’s Pub Whitney Ranch 51 LLC

Rock-A-Do Hair Studio License type: Sales/services Address: 4040 W. Craig Road, North Las Vegas 89031 Owner: A-Rod Corp.

Qi Security Services License type: Professional services Address: 10 Commerce Center Drive, Las Vegas 89014 Owner: Quality Investigations Inc. Quantum Resources D&C LLC License type: Contractor Address: 9000 Rolling Knoll Court, Las Vegas 89134 Owner: Mark Myers Racing Parts Only LLC License type: General retail sales Address: 10161 Park Run Drive, Suite 150, Las Vegas 89145 Owner: Daniel Oliver Reaching Out Community Services License type: Sales/services Address: 5135 Camino Al Norte, North Las Vegas 89031 Owner: Reaching Out Community

Rodriguez Handyman License type: Residential property maintenance Address: 6849 Arroyo Ave., Las Vegas 89103 Owner: Julio Cesar Rodriguez Rooter Man License type: Residential property maintenance Address: Did not disclose Owner: Luft Heating & Air Conditioning Royal Group LLC License type: Restaurant Address: 11720 W. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas 89138 Owner: Young H. Choi Ryan Thornton License type: Real estate sales Address: 1820 E. Sahara Ave., Suite 101, Las Vegas 89104

Owner: Ryan Thornton

BUILDING PERMITS $8,150,000, industrial 8390 Eastgate Road, Henderson Henderson Freeways Crossing LLC $2,694,100, education building 225 Grand Cadence Drive, Henderson CA Las Vegas BB LLC $2,065,000, electrical 333 S. Valley View Blvd., Las Vegas Rafael Construction Inc. $2,025,749, commercial - addition 1209 Trade Drive, North Las Vegas Burke Construction Group Inc. $2,000,000, tenant improvement - store 7530 W. Lake Mead Blvd., Suite 120, Las Vegas AGI General Contracting $1,843,715, commercial - alteration 4222 Losee Road, North Las Vegas Anderson Group $1,819,000, industrial 8355 Eastgate Road, Henderson Henderson Freeways Crossing LLC $1,100,150, retail 625 S. Green Valley Parkway, Henderson Green Valley Crossing II LLC $1,064,707, commercial 1015 E. Sunset Road, Henderson Landwell Company LP $1,000,000, electrical 333 S. Valley View Blvd., Las Vegas Rafael Construction Inc. $964,000, industrial x2 8365 and 8375 Eastgate Road, Henderson Henderson Freeways Crossing LLC $912,115, residential - production 1052 Spotted Saddle St., Henderson Beazer Homes Holdings Corp. $909,200, education building 225 Grand Cadence Drive, Henderson CA Las Vegas BB LLC $800,883, commercial - new 14100 Kushberry Lane, North Las Vegas Hadfield Building Corp. $743,119, tenant improvement offices 1670 Pinto Lane, Las Vegas Richardson Construction Inc. $716,000, industrial 8345 Eastgate Road, Henderson Henderson Freeways Crossing LLC $647,616, commercial - alteration

VEGAS INC march 20 -26

Escape to Southern Hillsâ€™ RECRUITMENT FAIR

Records and Transactions 2113 Las Vegas Blvd. North, North Las Vegas 2113 Investors LLC $460,000, demolition 301 S. Martin L. King Blvd., Las Vegas Northstar Contracting Group Inc. $399,954, commercial remodel 1450 W. Horizon Ridge Parkway, Suite 420, Henderson Foothills Nevada LLC $256,102, commercial 1670 Pinto Lane, Las Vegas Richardson Construction Inc. $238,010, tenant improvement - restaurant 931 S. Rainbow Blvd., Las Vegas LM Construction Co. LLC

Meet with Hiring Managers On-the-Spot Wednesday, March 30 8 am - Noon 3 pm - 5 pm

$213,870, residential - production 2120 Canvas Edge Drive, Henderson Toll Henderson LLC $213,443, single-family residential - production 396 Venticello Drive, Las Vegas Toll South LV LLC $210,000, commercial 265 Fox Hill Drive, Las Vegas Tyler Construction & Development $203,258, single-family residential - production 12113 Cabo Rojo Ave., Las Vegas Woodside Homes of Nevada LLC $200,119, residential - roofing 1168 Skyline Road, Henderson PN II Inc. $200,000, OTC 333 S. Valley View Blvd., Las Vegas Rafael Construction Inc. $195,627, residential 3089 Hushed Sonnet Ave., Henderson Century Communities of Nevada

9300 W. Sunset Rd., Las Vegas 89148

$194,097, single-family residential - production x2 8441 and 8451 Canyon Sun Court, Las Vegas Pulte Homes of Nevada $181,266, residential 3085 Hushed Sonnet Ave., Henderson Century Communities of Nevada $180,562, single-family

residential - production 9957 Shadow Landing Ave., Las Vegas Pulte Homes of Nevada $179,693, single-family residential - production 9619 Ashlynn Peak Court, Las Vegas Richmond American Homes of Nevada $179,158, residential 1136 Via Della Curia, Henderson Century Communities of Nevada $175,000, tenant improvement - restaurant 903 S. Rainbow Blvd., Las Vegas PKC Construction $173,447, residential - production 329 Values Circle, Henderson Woodside Homes Nevada LLC $168,303, single-family residential - production 9805 Blistering Sun Ave., Las Vegas Richmond American Homes of Nevada $168,274, single-family residential - production 9910 Celestial Cliffs Ave., Las Vegas Pulte Homes of Nevada $168,235, residential - production 1157 Hillside Peak St., Henderson PN II Inc. $167,958, residential 3092 Amoruccio Court, Henderson Toll Henderson LLC $162,302, residential 3088 Amorucciou Court, Henderson Toll Henderson LLC $162,302, residential - production x2 2531 and 2543 Desante Drive, Henderson Toll Henderson LLC $160,971, residential - production 132 Outcrop Ridge Ave., Henderson PN II Inc. $160,638, residential - production 480 Wildflower Ave., Henderson Greystone Nevada LLC $160,416, residential - production

144 Shear Peak Ave., Henderson PN II Inc. $160,266, single-family residential - production 1226 Tempestad Ave., Las Vegas Toll South LV LLC $160,266, single-family residential - production 250 Besame Court, Las Vegas Toll South LV LLC $159,307, residential - production 484 Wildflower Ave., Henderson Greystone Nevada LLC $159,141, residential 3081 Hushed Sonnet Ave., Henderson Century Communities of Nevada $153,031, single-family residential - production x2 8212 and 8236 Serpentine Sands St., Las Vegas Pulte Homes of Nevada $150,000, residential - addition 1605 Milano Villa Ave., Henderson Jody L. Lake and Trish A. Lake $149,105, residential - production 149 Outcrop Ridge Ave., Henderson PN II Inc. $148,827, residential - production x3 2527, 2541 and 2544 Amista Drive, Henderson Toll Henderson LLC $146,944, single-family residential - production 461 Cabral Peak St., Las Vegas KB Home Nevada Inc. $146,497, single-family residential - production 10655 Marble Arch St., Las Vegas Greystone Nevada LLC $145,279, residential - production 52 Sadler Shore St., Henderson Ryland Homes Nevada LLC $141,286, residential - production 1122 N. Water St., Henderson Richmond American Homes of Nevada To receive a complete copy of Data Plus every week in Excel, please visit vegasinc. com/subscribe.

VEGAS INC

your Business-to-business news

march 20 -26

Send your business-related information to news@vegasinc.com

The List

Category: largest private employers (Ranked by number of employees as of Jan. 1)

Year est. locally

Employees

Local offices/ locations

Type of business

Top executive

MGM Resorts International 3600 Las Vegas Blvd. South Las Vegas, NV 89109 702-693-7111 • mgmresorts.com

2000*

62,000

Entertainment and hospitality

James Murren, chairman, CEO

Caesars Entertainment Corp. 1 Caesars Place Drive Las Vegas, NV 89109 702-407-6000 • caesars.com

1966

24,000

Resort operator

Mark Frissora, president, CEO

Station Casinos 1505 S. Pavilion Center Drive Las Vegas, NV 89135 702-495-3000 • sclv.com

1976

12,000

Entertainment, gaming, hospitality

Frank J. Fertitta III, chairman, CEO

Wynn 3131 Las Vegas Blvd. South Las Vegas, NV 89109 702-770-7000 • wynnlasvegas.com

2005

12,000

Resort/casino

Steve Wynn, chairman, CEO

Boyd Gaming Corporation 6465 S. Rainbow Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89118 702-792-7200 • boydgaming.com

1975

9,300

Casino entertainment

Keith Smith, president, CEO

Las Vegas Sands Corp. 3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South Las Vegas, NV 89109 702-414-1000 • sands.com

1990

9,088

Resort operator

Sheldon Adelson, chairman, CEO

The Valley Health System 10105 Banburry Cross Las Vegas, NV 89144 valleyhealthsystemlv.com

1972

6,500

Health care/ hospitals

Karla Perez, regional vice president

McDonald’s Greater Las Vegas Operator Association 2217 N.Green Valley Parkway Henderson, NV 89014 702-454-3485 • mcdonalds.com

1966

5,040

100+

Fast food

James Vance, president

The Cosmopolitan 3708 Las Vegas Blvd. South Las Vegas, NV 89109 702-698-7000 • cosmopolitanlasvegas.com

2010

5,000

Resort operator

William McBeath, president, CEO

UnitedHealthcare/Southwest Medical Associates 2724 N. Tenaya Way Las Vegas, NV 89128 702-242-7000 • uhcnevada.com

1980

4,273

Health care provider/ insurance provider

Don Giancursio, CEO of UnitedHealthcare; Dr. Robert McBeath, president, CEO of SMA

Company

1 2

* The company began operations in 1986 as MGM Grand Inc. Source: VEGAS INC research. It is not the intent of this list to endorse the participants or to imply that the listing of a company indicates its quality. Although every attempt is made to ensure the accuracy and thoroughness of VEGAS INC charts, omissions sometimes occur and some businesses do not respond. Please send corrections or additions on company letterhead to Julie Ann Formoso, research associate, VEGAS INC, 2275 Corporate Circle, Suite 300, Henderson, NV 89074.

NEVADA ROCKS. SO SHOULD YOUR LAW FIRM.

L A S V E G A S 7 0 2 . 8 7 3 . 4 10 0

mcdonaldcarano.com

RENO 775.788.2000

WE’RE GIVING AWAY 8 BMWS FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS IN MARCH TOP PRIZE IS $2,500 FREE PLAY Drawings every Friday & Saturday. 50 slot points and 100 video poker points = 1 entry.

One lucky winner at 8pm gets a 320i BMW 3 year lease guaranteed. Nine winners at 9pm win Free Slot Play. Must be 21 years of age. See the cage for complete rules.

S L S L AS VEGAS HOTEL & C A SI N O ®

2535 LAS VEGAS BLVD. SOUTH | LAS VEGAS, NV 89109 | 702.761.7000 | SLSVEGAS.COM

@slslasvegas

SPECIAL PUBLICATION

Donâ€™t just stand out from the crowd. Lead the way.

Audi Henderson is proud to honor the 2016 40 under 40.

7740 Eastgate Rd. Henderson, NV 89011 702.982.4600 â€˘ www.audihenderson.com

Meet us at the

Beauty Studio

Pop in for a free Mini Makeover and ask about all the ways to beauty together at Sephora.

—FROM THE SPONSOR—

—FROM THE EDITOR—

ith a magic combination of smarts, skill, compassion and commitment to com-

munity, the honorees of our annual 40

Under 40 publication represent the best that Southern Nevada has to show the

“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” — Albert Schweitzer

world, and VEGAS INC is proud to share their stories with you. In our 16th annual publication, we’re recognizing 40 men and women from a cross section of industries in the valley

who have one thing in common — they’re making Las Vegas a better place. orty years ago, Station Casinos was born. And over the past four

As has been happening since 2001, nominations for the honor poured in.

decades, we’d like to think we’ve made our mark on Las Vegas and

We assessed each candidate’s community service, entrepreneurial spirit

helped to shape the great city that we all call home.

and impact on their respective industries.

The same could be said about VEGAS INC's 40 Under 40 honorees.

How they shape the future manifests itself differently from honoree

While we were focused on creating the ultimate locals entertainment

to honoree. More than one is helping our students get a firm foothold on

destinations, these 40 Under 40 were excelling in various fields and indus-

the path to greatness, perhaps setting our youth up to be future 40 Under

tries, leaving their own indelible marks.

40 honorees.

We take great pride in celebrating their success. By allowing us to share

A common theme motivates them — tenacity. As Sierra Vista Principal

in this group milestone, they remind us what a close and caring community

John Anzalone said, “Do not allow the things that life throws at you to

we are.

become an excuse.” Others possess an outlook that helps showcase Southern Nevada in

Congratulations from the entire Team at Station Casinos!

the best light possible. “I’ve lived all over the world — Berlin, London, New York — no city has ever embraced me or my family as much as this city has. I’m very loyal to Las Vegas,” said Max Tappeiner, vice president of hotel operations at the Venetian and Palazzo. Humility is another important ingredient in the mix. “Success and fulfillment are more likely to find you when you treat people with respect,” said Andy Moore of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Shreck. Take the time to read about these young leaders and their amazing accomplishments. This distinguished group plays a crucial role in Southern Nevada’s business development. A special thank you goes out to sponsors Switch, Sephora and Audi of Henderson, which toasted the honorees at a private reception. Another special thank you goes to Station Casinos and Red Rock Resort for hosting the soiree where we honor these leaders and innovators. Craig Peterson Editor of Special Publications craig.peterson@gmgvegas.com

The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is proud to congratulate

KEVIN SWEET Vice President of Slot Operations & Marketing for being honored as one of Vegas Incâ€™s 2016

40 UNDER 40

A unique luxury resort & casino CO S M O P O L I TA N L A SV E GA S .CO M

WE CHOOSE TO DO BUSINESS

WITH COX BECAUSE THEY PROVIDE US

GREAT SERVICE. LA MESA MEXICAN RESTAURANT

COX HAS BEEN ABLE TO PROVE THAT

THEY CAN PROVIDE THE

RELIABILIT Y

AND FLEXIBILIT Y

NEEDED FOR US TO BE SUCCESSFUL. TRAVEL & TRANSPORT

THE SPEED HAS BEEN

PHENOMENAL.

Thousands of customers recommend us for a thousand different reasons. If you’re ready for something different, make the switch.

IT’S BEEN FASTER THAN

ANYTHING WE’VE EVER HAD.

CALL QUALITY IS CRYSTAL CLEAR. MCQUADE’S ACE HARDWARE

COX BUSINESS HAS BEEN

VERY RESPONSIVE TO OUR GROWING NEEDS AND IS

VERY CUSTOMER FOCUSED.

PEPPERJAX GRILL

WE KNOW WE CAN TRUST THEM

TO GIVE US THE TOOLS

TO KEEP US UP AND RUNNING... THEY’RE JUST A PHONE CALL AWAY. DESERT FAMILY MEDICINE

TECHNOLOGY PLAYS A BIG PART

IN OUR BUSINESS.

Featured Package

COX BUSINESS INTERNET℠ 25 AND VOICEMANAgER℠ UNlIMITEDWE COULD NOT DELIVER THOSE SERVICES

XXX 99

$ $

/mo*

for X months with a X-year agreement with a 3-year agreement

XX mo*

WITHOUT HAVING A

Free INStaLLatION.

RELIABLE RELATIONSHIP

Reliable Internet speeds 20+ up toprofessional 25 Mbps

calling features

20+ professional calling features

WITH COX BUSINESS.

Unlimited nationwide long distance Unlimited nationwide

DELAWARE RESOURCE GROUP

long distance

caLL 702-939-1146 OR VISIt COXBUSINESS.COM TO SWITCH TODAY *Offer ends 5/1/16. Available to new subscribers (excluding government agencies and schools) of Cox Business VoiceManagerSM Unlimited and Cox Business InternetSM 25 (max. 25/5 Mbps). Service fees for this bundle are $99/month for the entire term. Offer requires 3-year service term. Early termination fees may apply. Standard rates apply thereafter. Unlimited long distance plan is limited to direct-dialed domestic calling and is not available for use with non-switched circuit calling, auto-dialers, call center applications and certain switching applications. Prices exclude equipment, installation, taxes, and fees, unless indicated. Free installation limited to standard installation on prewired outlets and is capped at $350 regardless of number of lines added. Additional costs for nonstandard installation, construction, inside wiring and equipment may apply. DOCSIS 3.0 modem required for optimal performance. Speeds not guaranteed; actual speed may vary. See www. cox.com/internet disclosures for complete Internet Service Disclosures. Rates and bandwidth options vary and are subject to change. Phone modem provided by Cox, requires electricity, and has battery backup. Access to E911 may not be available during extended power outage or if modem is moved or inoperable. Discounts are not valid in combination with or in addition to other promotions, and cannot be applied to any other Cox account. Offer is non-transferable to a new service address. Services not available in all areas. Other restrictions may apply. ©2016 Cox Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.

—THE HONOREES— Daniel Kouretas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18A

Stacy Acquista . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8A

Shauna Lemieux. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18A

Soraya Aguirre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8A

Glenda Lippman-Monkarsh. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18A

John Anzalone. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8A

Marty Lopez. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19A

Steve Aoki. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10A

Alexandra Lourdes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19A

Brent Bluett. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10A

Layke Martin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20A

Jake Cannon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10A

Kate McCullough. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20A

Sara Childress. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10A

Kurt Melien . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20A

Colin Comer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11A

Andy Moore. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21A

Ryan Cupersmith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12A

Jessica Peralta. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21A

Kelly Dove. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12A

David Perisset. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22A

Greg Duffield. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12A

Bridget Richards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22A

Katie Fellows. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13A

Spencer Stewart. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22A

Kelly Frey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14A

Kevin Sweet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22A

Ross Gdovin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14A

Max Tappeiner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23A

Alicia Green. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14A

David Tina. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24A

Wesley Gregg. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14A

Jennifer Turner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24A

Chris Gumiela . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15A

Lauren Westerfield. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24A

Joe Haro. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15A

Chris White . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25A

Raymond Hess . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18A

Matt Wilson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26A

B:14.5 ‘’ T:13.5 ‘’ S:12.5 ‘’

Nehme Abouzied. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8A

GOLDEN ENTERTAINMENT IS PROUD TO CONGRATULATE

RO SS GD OVIN ON EARNING THE

4 0 U N D E R 4 0 AW A R D C

CMY

GOLDENENT.COM

Nehme Abouzeid

Stacy Acquista

Executive Director of Brand Marketing and Advertising

Assistant Vice President of Marketing

Wynn Las Vegas ■ Age: 39

HCA Far West Division ■ Age: 31

s a kid growing up in Boston, Nehme Abouzeid spent considerable time fending off misconceptions about his father’s homeland, Lebanon, as the Middle Eastern nation endured a civil war in the 1970s. These experiences helped to shape a sharp media mind. By 22, Abouzeid was a reporter in Beirut and two years later was producing his own nationally syndicated National Public Radio show in Los Angeles. Today, he oversees branding and marketing efforts for Wynn Las Vegas. Whether he is scrutinizing contracts with A-list entertainers, brainstorming brand awareness opportunities for shows, clubs and other venues, or emceeing events at Wynn’s Lagasse’s Stadium, he counts his media education and experience as one of his greatest assets. “In business school, a lot of the other majors couldn’t write well or communicate well. … I don’t regret a single day of my liberal arts studies. It all made me a better businessperson,” he said. “I’m proudest of being a versatile person and quick study in my field,” he said. “I’ve worked with a deep Rolodex of people from a lot of industries and all can say I’m a fair person, a good person.” Abouzeid is also active in the Las Vegas nonprofit community. He has served on the boards for KNPR and the youth charity After-School All-Stars. — Brian Sodoma

hen Stacy Acquista took an marketing internship at North Florida Regional Medical Center in 2005, the recent college graduate saw it as a chance to gain some experience before she moved into entertainment public relations and marketing. But she quickly felt a pull to health care that was quite unexpected. “I was really pleasantly surprised. I took the internship on a whim. It opened up a world to me I never thought about,” she said. “If I were to give advice to anyone it would be to find something you’re passionate about. But it’s not always obvious what you’re passionate about until you try something out.” Acquista’s passion involves telling patient success stories and educating a community on health care offerings. That’s especially the case in Las Vegas. “Las Vegas is very transient and multigenerational and many people just don’t know their local health care options,” she said. “We have top physicians and top specialists offering services people are going to Arizona and California for.” Acquista wears many hats overseeing public relations and marketing for eight regional HCA hospitals, including Sunrise, Southern Hills and MountainView. Acquista has also served as a co-captain on Sunrise Health’s 2015 Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Walk fundraiser, which raised more than $50,000. She was also Sunrise Health’s fundraising lead for the 16th annual KLUC Toy Drive which contributed more than 60 toys, 10 bikes and $8,000 within a week. — Brian Sodoma

Soraya Aguirre

John Anzalone

Holland & Hart LLP ■ Age: 39

Sierra Vista High School ■ Age: 39

Partner

ecoming an attorney was a no-brainer for Soraya Aguirre. Her grandfather had been a judge, and an early interest in humanities and the liberal arts along with plenty of family encouragement, established a great foundation for law school. In 2006, she moved to Las Vegas and in only two years was named partner; at 31, she was one of the youngest in Holland & Hart history. Aguirre has also been honored four times as a “Rising Star” by Mountain States Super Lawyers. She enjoys the personal nature of her work. Aguirre learns about family histories, how a family generated wealth and brings expertise for how to handle succession plans and other matters. “It’s fun to learn about their businesses and families and be part of their success story. It’s a real privilege and honor,” she said. “The way wealth is often grown here is very different than in New York. I went from working with primarily Wall Street managing directors … to entrepreneurs and small to medium to large business owners here.” In Aguirre’s work the biggest compliment isn’t just a referral, it’s the fact that many generations within one family look to her for help. “I’m always extremely proud to have been entrusted, not only by first, but often second and third generations. To maintain that level of trust is something really special to me,” she said. Aguirre is a supporter of Harvest Hub, a regional effort to help produce locally sourced healthy foods for at-risk populations. She is also a member of the United Way of Southern Nevada’s Women’s Leadership Council. — Brian Sodoma

Principal

or John Anzalone, the first step is always trying to be good to people. “Working in the school district we come across all types of people, from all walks of life,” he said. “A goal of mine has always been to treat families, staff and students exactly how I would expect my own family to be treated. I have respected my superiors, as well as my subordinates. I have been fair and consistent in my message, and that has gone a long way.” Anzalone has also been “extremely” ambitious ever since he can remember. “If there was a leadership position to be had, I went for it. It didn’t matter if the situation was to be in charge of a lemonade stand or a high school, my instinct was to lead.” Anzalone got a lot of satisfaction last year in seeing two magnet programs come to fruition at Eldorado High School. “For a school with over 40 years of tradition, it needed a draw for kids; a reason for great students to attend. I pushed for video game technology and web design to come and it happened. Though I was assigned to Sierra Vista H.S. over the summer of 2015, and missed the grand opening in the fall, I can honestly state that I had a part in making these programs happen for the amazing kids at Eldorado, and those who will attend in the future.” His advice for colleagues is to complete whatever you start. “If you start a masters program, do not stop. Do not allow the things that life throws at you to become an excuse. Always put your family first. Do not allow work to take over your life. If you always remind yourself of how you want others to speak of you once you pass, you will go far. Get educated, don’t settle, and believe in yourself, even when it seems as though nobody else does.” — Howard Riell

40 UNDER 40 HONOREE RECEPTION AUDI HENDERSON 3.10.16 Photog: Tek Le

10A

Steve Aoki Producer, DJ, Entrepreneur ■

Age: 38

teve Aoki puts on 300-plus shows a year and is one of the top-grossing DJs on the planet. Naps and meditation, he says, are the keys to maintaining his schedule. Aoki grew up in Newport Beach, Calif. During college, he booked underground music shows and produced some albums independently. But after completing a sociology degree from UC-Santa Barbara, he considered staying in school to teach and perform research. But when he moved to Los Angeles in 2002 music again became the focus. By the mid-2000s, the pull to create his own music while also helping others proved to be the winning formula. He has remixed artists like Drake, Kanye West, Eminem and many others. “When I finished my first solo remix in 2007 I decided to pursue music production as a career decision rather than a hobby and that ultimately gave me more focus in this world,” he said. Aoki has also established the Steve Aoki Fund, which seeks to support organizations doing research on brain health. In 2016, the fund will partner for fundraising events with the SENS Research Foundation, the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health and the Buck Institute for Research on Aging. “Ultimately I would love to see brain degenerative diseases like ALS, dementia, Alzheimer’s etc. be eradicated (but) until then (we’ll) raise awareness and money towards organizations doing good work to fight these illnesses,” he said. — Brian Sodoma

Brent Bluett Movement Disorders Specialist

Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health ■ Age: 39

rent Bluett recalls having had numerous unsatisfying jobs before he went into medicine and ultimately realized that “no matter what industry you are in, you will have to work hard if you want to become successful and reach a level of independence.” Bluett said it was his mother and father who were his primary mentors. “My mother was a psychometrist; she worked with children with learning and social disabilities. She taught me kindness and to have the utmost compassion for others. She had the biggest heart and always did the best to take care of the children at school. She also taught me to remain humble, and never forget I am a person before I am a doctor.” The compassion and humility he learned from his mother has had a lasting effect. “Just because I wear a white coat does not mean I am not a human being first.” He calls his father “one of the most wonderful, hard-working people I have ever met in my life. He never thought about himself first, he always worked tirelessly for our family. He taught me discipline, integrity, and selflessness. Bluett drafted a national Centers of Excellence initiative for a nonprofit organization called CurePSP that is dedicated to opening medical centers which will provide top-notch care to an underserved and under-recognized disorder — Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, which is similar to Parkinson’s Disease but with a more severe disease course and worse prognosis. “A nationwide initiative to improve patient care would be my biggest professional accomplishment to date.” — Howard Riell

Jake Cannon

Sara Childress

Smith's Food & Drug ■ Age: 35

MGM Resorts International ■ Age: 36

District Manager

ake Cannon joined Smith’s Food & Drug 16 years ago as a part-time produce clerk while earning his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Weber State University, ascending the ranks in various capacities — including division customer first manager, human resources coordinator and key retailing manager — before assuming his current post as district manager two years ago. The Northern Utah native and graduate of the Food Industry Management Program at USC has grocery experience that pre-dates Smith’s back to his high school years and he now manages 18 regional stores and some 2,500 associates. Among his recent accomplishments, Cannon was instrumental in helping to convert six local nofrills Food 4 Less stores into Smith’s locations last year, training 800 displaced Food 4 Less employees and putting them back to work at Smith’s stores. “With Food 4 Less being part of the Kroger family, there was definitely a concern that these folks were treated well, and we did right by them,” said Cannon. Among his other professional milestones in his previous positions, Cannon designed and implemented several customer service programs, initiatives and policies that helped Smith’s achieve the highest satisfaction success of national Kroger divisions, and also helped to create and implement a department manager development leadership plan. He also developed and executed solutions that saved the company $755,000 in expenses, labor, supplies and equipment costs over a period of two years. Cannon leads a team of about 300 employees who participate in the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event, where Smith’s is a presenting sponsor donating funds along with water, bananas and granola bars, and also supports Three Square Food Bank, Catholic Charities of Las Vegas and Boys and Girls Clubs of Las Vegas. — Danielle Birkin

Director of Publications/Executive Editor M Life Magazine

ara Childress started as a receptionist in the MGM/Mirage marketing department after graduating with a journalism degree from UNR in 2003. While it wasn’t exactly where she wanted to start her media career, she was very candid with her bosses that if something opened up at M Life Magazine — an in-house lifestyle luxury publication — she wanted a shot. Three months later that offer came to fruition. Childress hasn’t looked back. Today, Childress also enjoys a director role in MGM Resorts’ corporate public relations department while also running M Life Magazine, which has a 178,000-strong distribution rate. Childress is credited with enhancing its editorial content and visual appeal. Under her watch, M Life has won the AGA Communications Awards for Best Customer Publication three years in a row. She has also collaborated with the resort operator’s internal digital design team to launch M Life TV. “When I first started, the magazine was only in its second year and people or venues would decline to be featured. Now some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry request to be featured on the cover,” she said. The media pro says limited staff means she wears more hats — which she’s happy to do. “I get to be part of every step of the process. We have a very small team so I get to be involved in the editorial, design, production and distribution. It’s gratifying to hold the magazine in my hands after press and see what all that hard work created,” she said. Childress is also actively involved with Best Buddies, which helps those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She also volunteers for Opportunity Village, Habitat for Humanity and Ronald McDonald House. — Brian Sodoma

11A

Colin Comer Founding Partner

Light Nightclub and Daylight Beach Club at Mandalay Bay ■ Age: 35

olin Comer credits his quick success to nity by Light and Daylight’s ownership to crea combination of “incredibly good luck, ate our own company and to partner on these lots of hard work and a series of really incredible venues. I would never in a million amazing people in my life who have served as years have imagined I would become a manmentors and advisors.” aging partner of not one, but two world-class Comer moved to Las Vegas from Chicago. venues in a city like Las Vegas. There were What he calls his “Vegas adventure” began definitely some naysayers who predicted we with a job interview with the Light Group in would fall on our faces and it’s been really reOctober of 2010. “I met with the company warding to have done the opposite.” CEO, Andy Masi, who told me unflinchingly His advice is basic. “Work very, very hard — that he was very difficult to work for and I somewhere right now, there is someone else should think long and hard if I really wanted in your chosen field who is thinking that also, to do that. Being very comfortable in my and is doing it. Treat others the way you want hospitality career in Chicago, I couldn’t help to be treated. Keep calm and carry on. This but jump at the challenge to see if I could sounds simple and some people will laugh at make it among the entertainment capital of me for quoting the famous stoic World War the world.” II British mantra, but it’s brilliant. The people The process of launching Play Management who can stay calm under the toughest cirin 2015 was “very intense,” he said, but has cumstances are often the ones who succeed. also been highly rewarding. “(Business part- As you gain success, gain even more humility.” ner John Pettei) and I were given the opportu— Howard Riell

Station Casinos Published by Station Casinos Like this page • February 21

Congratulations, LW! We♥you & your accomplishments! #40Under40 #onﬂeek #stationcasinos Staci Alonso

that’s my girl! #soproud

Unlike • Reply • Message • March 20 at 10:35

Ethan Cartwright

3 •

Way to rock it, W!

Unlike • Reply • Message • March 20 at 10:20

3 •

Kelley Fertitta Lauren, thank you for being an amazing teacher, friend, co-worker, and leader! #welldeserved #congratulations Unlike • Reply • Message • March 20 at 10:15

3 •

Gina Schlichenmayer Way to go Lauren! Congrats! #TimetoShine Unlike • Reply • Message •

JOB #: STA-123309

3 •

12A

Ryan Cupersmith Managing Partner

Ernst & Young LLP

■

Age: 39

yan Cupersmith grew up in New Jersey and spent his high school years working on the Atlantic City boardwalk. That and his family’s trips to Las Vegas shaped an interest in the gaming industry and gaming law. “It’s an industry that has always really appealed to me and I’ve been fortunate to have worked in it most of my career,” he said. Cupersmith has spent his entire 17-year legal career with Ernst & Young. His expertise is in helping gaming companies with assurance and tax matters, financial statements and reporting, internal controls, due diligence for acquisitions, transaction law and other advisory services.

Prior to arriving in Las Vegas in 2009, Cupersmith helped Ernst & Young establish and grow its Asian gaming practice, particularly driving growth in markets like South Korea, Vietnam and the Philippines. In 2006, Tom Roche, the firm’s global director of gaming industry services, chose Cupersmith to lead a team that would pursue a large global hospitality and gaming company as a new client. Cupersmith’s team succeeded. The young attorney was admitted as partner in 2012 and then appointed office managing partner for Las Vegas in 2015. He is among the youngest managing partners

in company history. Today, he oversees 80 professionals in the local office. Cupersmith also supports several area nonprofits and the education community. He is a board member of the Las Vegas chapter of the After-School All-Stars, which offers programs to help children stay safe and succeed in school. “As a father of two small kids it’s important for me to give back to the community in this way. These programs provide valuable mentorship and educational opportunities to kids who need them,” he said. Cupersmith is also a member of the Lee Business School executive advisory board. — Brian Sodoma

focuses her practice on commercial litigation and appellate law, and has provided counsel in more than 100 state and federal appeals and writ proceedings. But it’s her pro bono work that really makes her tick. Dove had the privilege of serving on the legal team as pro bono counsel in the landmark marriage-equity case Sevcik v. Sandoval, filed in April 2012 on behalf of several plaintiff same-sex couples who were denied marriage licenses. A judge ruled against the couples, but upon appeal, the Ninth Circuit Court declared the Nevada same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional in October 2014, and enjoined state employees from denying same-sex couples mar-

riage licenses, effectively legalizing samesex marriage in the state. “It was moving to work with those couples, and to get to know them and hear their stories,” Dove said. “Being involved with that case will always remain a highlight of my legal career.” Her pro bono work also includes the representation of a human trafficking victim. Dove is working to expunge the criminal record the woman obtained while being forced to work as a prostitute. A member of the Nevada State Bar’s Appellate Litigation Section, Dove chairs the pro bono committee. — Danielle Birkin

n his 22 years with Bank of America — ployees, Duffield also helped launch the call where he began as an entry-level tell- center’s new digital services, which resolve er — Nevada native Greg Duffield has complex online and mobile banking issues. scaled the corporate ladder to currently But Duffield is perhaps proudest of his serve as a senior vice president, and is in- efforts on behalf of workplace tolerance, strumental in running the financial institu- and has in fact emerged as the go-to guy tion’s 400-person retail services customer for diversity, having served in multiple leadcontact center in Las Vegas, having played a ership roles for company LGBT programs key role in building the center from scratch. and training events. Serving worldwide clients with a volDuffield was honored in this capacity as ume of some 200,000 calls per month, the one of 22 manager recipients of Bank of center addresses everyday banking con- America’s 2015 Global Diversity and Inclucerns, offers 24-hour service for lost and sion Award, recognized among some 1,000 stolen debit cards and provides support for nominated employees. hearing-impaired customers. Responsible “I believe it’s important for associates to for hiring, developing and training local em- bring their authentic selves to work, and

(Bank of America’s) core values are about diversity and inclusion, which is one reason I’ve stayed with them for so long,” said Duffield, who also helped to increase the bank’s local LGBT employee advocacy program from 15 to 180 members and allies. Duffield also participated on the bank’s team in the 2014 and 2015 AIDS LifeCycle event, a seven-day, 545-mile charity bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles, raising $236,000 and $324,000, respectively. “I’m really proud of what the bank has done locally in terms of diversity and volunteerism,” said Duffield, who also supports Human Rights Campaign and The Center. — Danielle Birkin

Kelly Dove

Attorney

Snell & Wilmer

■

Age: 39

s a youngster in Philadelphia, Kelly Dove had an affinity for courtroom programming, whether it be “Law & Order” or “The People’s Court.” “It’s really cliché, but I’ve always been interested in the law, and while I worked hard in law school at UNLV, it also clicked and came naturally to me, because I love writing, research and analytical work,” said Dove, who also holds degrees in philosophy and English literature from Rudolph-Macon Women’s College as well as a master’s degree in philosophy from Rice University. An attorney at Snell & Wilmer since 2009 who had the rare distinction of serving two federal clerkships in 2007 and 2008, Dove

Greg Duffield Senior Vice President, Retail Services

Bank of America

■

Age: 39

13A

Katie Fellows

Vice President, General Counsel

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino ■ Age: 35

former Division I ice hockey player who also played softball as an undergraduate studying political science at Yale University, Katie Fellows holds a J.D. from UNLV — she also attended Tulane University Law School — and originally planned to pursue a career in sports law. Then the St. Paul, Minn., native, who relocated to Southern Nevada in 2003, discovered gaming law, developed an interest in entertainment, administrative and regulatory issues, and realized it was a great fit. “It happened organically while I was still in law school working at Jones Vargas, then I got a call out of the blue from Caesars Entertainment and closed my eyes and jumped off the cliff to go in-house, and loved every minute of it,” said Fellows, who put her experience with Caesars to good use when she joined Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in 2011, keeping busy as the property’s only in-house attorney by managing all legal af-

fairs. “Resorts are sort of like small cities, and they are very heavily regulated.” Fellows handles everything from employment issues and lawsuits to regulatory matters, intellectual-property situations, food and beverage leases and booking entertainment acts. She was recently involved in the legal aspects of remodeling the iconic Center Bar and also in securing performers such as Rascal Flatts. She is also currently involved with the expansion of the meeting and convention space, slated to open this fall, and planning for pool season, which begins in April. Vice chair for the Southern Nevada chapter of the American Red Cross — “first responders for disaster,” she said — Fellows is on the UNLV law school’s Gaming Law Policy advisory board and is also a member of the Las Vegas Founding 75, a group dedicated to bringing a National Hockey League team to Las Vegas. — Danielle Birkin

14A

Kelly Frey

Ross Gdovin

Former Director of Entertainment and Public Relations

Vice President of Marketing

Caesars Entertainment ■ Age: 35

Golden Entertainment Inc. ■ Age: 39

Alicia Green

Wesley Gregg

Hendricks Drive Advertising ■ Age: 36

Gaudin Ford ■ Age: 39

he director of entertainment, public relations and social media at Caesars Entertainment is the unofficial welcome wagon for the company; a role Kelly Frey knows well, having created a plethora of high-profile events to build buzz for the company’s local properties. In 2012, Frey was instrumental in gathering worldwide media exposure with the Shania Twain welcome event at Caesars Palace, which kicked off the singer’s residency. “We knew Shania loved horses, so we worked with Metro and the county to close down Las Vegas Boulevard for 15 minutes, and Shania arrived on horseback with a posse of 40 horses,” said Frey. “It was the first time we had done something that crazy and different, and it was the highlight of my career.” With the stage set for innovative events, Frey went on to plan and execute a welcome event for Olivia Newton-John’s residency at the Flamingo in April 2014, whereby the iconic songstress cruised through the Linq Promenade in an actual convertible featured in the movie “Grease.” In November of that year, Frey was also the driving force behind “Britney Day” — Nov. 5 — to celebrate pop singer Britney Spears’ one-year anniversary in residency at the Axis at Planet Hollywood. “Britney really wants to be part of the local community, and announced her partnership with Childhood Cancer Foundation,” McCullough said, adding that the singer has raised some $120,000 for the nonprofit. — Danielle Birkin

Founder / Marketing Strategist

hat is the secret to success? “I wish I had a blanket answer to share with aspiring entrepreneurs,” said Alicia Green. “I recall wondering why my predecessors couldn’t just lay it out for me. That answer often changes depending on who you are talking to, but I would just say to diversify your skill set and focus on a glaring issue that you can solve. I don’t feel like I have reached any ‘magical destination’ people may perceive as the success pinnacle. I think success is a verb. You have to constantly feed that beast.” In 2015, Green established her start-up, Hendricks Drive Advertising. “After completing my degree in 2012 I attempted the traditional corporate ladder, but at that point my children were already 12 and 8 (now 15 and 11). I needed to expedite my career advancement so I made some requisite pivots, ended up doing a sabbatical of sorts in Silicon Valley for about eight months by doing a lot of back-and-forth travel. I discovered the power of injecting technology into a lot of what I enjoyed in previous roles — event planning, branding and market strategy — so I took the leap.” High on her list of things to do in the coming months, Green says, is to “keep a healthy pulse on my happiness index. My family places high value on time and experiences. If we are able to squeeze in the occasional getaway and regular ‘sitcom moments,’ We know we are on the right track.” She recalls a recent dinner conversation when it occurred to her teenage son to compare our personalities to countries. “He associated my personality to Switzerland. I asked why and his response was, ‘Because you care less about the details of the problem and more about solving it.’ I’m still trying to wrap my head around the Switzerland piece, but I’ll take it.” — Howard Riell

hen Ross Gdovin first came to Golden Entertainment Inc., he was employed as a slot analyst. It was far different from the actuarial work he had been doing in Philadelphia, but with that industry showing few prospects in Nevada, he looked to apply his mathematics background elsewhere — and now he couldn’t be happier. Gdovin holds a graduate degree in math and actuarial science. Within a couple years, he asked to use those skills on the marketing side of the gaming business. “I thought of marketing as TV commercials, branding and billboards, but there’s a heavy science to it — and particularly in gaming. There’s extensive database marketing and modeling and I was able to apply my skills in the field quickly,” he said. In his time with the company Gdovin has helped usher Golden through incredible growth. The company is now the largest tavern operator in the country and recently opened its 50th PT’s. It also has the largest distributed gaming route in Nevada and owns three casinos in Pahrump. Golden recently purchased the Rocky Gap CasinoResort in Maryland. Gdovin is also the co-organizer of Golden Entertainment’s annual 98.5 KLUC Toy Drive. He is also a “Ride Safe” organizer, a program that encourages patrons to use Uber to avoid drinking and driving to get home safely. Golden donates a dollar for every ride taken from one of its taverns to the Friends of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Foundation. — Brian Sodoma

General Manager

amily-owned Gaudin Ford has enjoyed a Top 50 ranking among the world’s 3,200 Ford dealerships. General Manager Wesley Gregg is a big reason for that success. Gregg’s technology background helped him in the auto industry. He started building websites for small businesses in the 1990s. Then, when he worked for Reno Lithia Subaru, he saw how the auto industry needed to better integrate technology into the customer experience. He learned how and became a valuable asset for any auto dealer. “The auto industry was well behind the curve in the way it communicated with customers. With the evolution of the Internet, the web became more than information. It became a conversation point to where you could communicate with the customer through email, chat … there was more transparency. This really set the tone for the rest of my career,” he said. Five years ago, he seized the opportunity to join Gaudin as general sales manager; he became general manager three years ago. “It was fundamentally different because it was family owned and operated. It wasn’t this big corporation with 136 dealerships. It really fit with my belief system and how I wanted to be connecting with a local community,” he said. “My goal now is to grow and sustain Gaudin Ford and put it in a position to be around for another 100 years.” Gregg also supports the Grant a Gift Autism Foundation and Shriner’s Hospital. Gregg, in cooperation with the Gaudin dealership team, also recently helped a homeless family with basic needs and housing. “For me, that was just about giving someone an opportunity and propping them up a little for a fresh start,” he said. — Brian Sodoma

15A

Chris Gumiela

Joe Haro

Monte Carlo Resort & Casino ■ Age: 31

Hakkasan Group ■ Age: 35

Vice President of Marketing

Director of Corporate Partnerships

hris Gumiela believes that having worked only for MGM Resorts International in his professional career has helped him develop and refine his own personal brand. “It is all about performance,” he said. “If you don’t successfully deliver on what is requested of you, big or small, there are plenty of other worthy and willing individuals ready to step up.” Next in importance come relationships. “My mentors have been a huge part of my growth and have been there when I needed advice, motivation, or just a beer and conversation.” Gumiela has learned that “nothing is beneath me. While delegation is necessary people learn by watching, and the example I set will be what will be remembered by my team.” He is also convinced that “it’s all about progress, not perfection. I can’t expect to be perfect, nor can I expect my team to be perfect. But what should always be expected and achieved is progress towards eventual perfection.” In his view, 2015 was a set-up year. “It was my first full year as the vice president of marketing at Monte Carlo, so I was finally comfortable in the role and at the property. But all, if not most, of the work that was done was for the future of the property. We are in the midst of an incredible change, and there is a ton of strategic work that is necessary in order to ensure the decisions we make are informed and ultimately correct.” For the future, a major goal is "ensuring that we capitalize on the new neighborhood that MGM Resorts is creating. That will be the key to success for the property.” — Howard Riell

@UNLVLaw

The William S. Boyd School of Law at UNLV congratulates

Layke Martin Assistant Dean for External Relations

on being named one of Southern Nevada’s 40 Under 40 for 2016! Thank you for your dedication to the law school and the legal community.

CONGRATULATIONS!

hicago native Joe Haro has kept up with the pace of an evolving Las Vegas. A graduate of UNLV with a bachelor’s degree in communications, Haro joined Hakkasan Group in the summer of 2014, updating his title from director of sponsorship and beverage to director of corporate partnerships to better reflect the synergy between vendors and clients. “While beverage is certainly our bread and butter, I deal with companies across the board from luxury lifestyle to fashion to technology, and, having sat in the sales seat, I can put myself in their shoes and understand the challenges they face,” said Haro, who was raised in New Jersey and relocated to Southern Nevada in 1998. “Partnerships used to be more of a one-way street, but we really want to help drive our partners’ brands on a national level.” Haro said the focus for 2016 is creating partnerships with other upscale brands outside beverage, citing Louis Vuitton, Rolex, Apple and Starbucks as examples. “The great thing about Las Vegas is that it’s not just about gaming, and with new companies and entrepreneurs coming in, (it’s exciting to see) what we’ll become in the next 10 or 15 years,” said Haro, who is helping to make a difference in future generations by serving as chief marketing officer for the non-profit Las Vegas Business Academy, which focuses on education for young professionals by offering promising local students up to $75,000 in scholarship funding to earn an MBA, MHA or J.D. from UNLV. Haro also serves on the board of the UNLV Football Foundation. — Danielle Birkin

CONGRATULATIONS Matt Wilson

on being named one of

Vegas Incâ€™s 40 Under 40.

CONGRATULATIONS Soraya Aguirre embodies Holland & Hartâ€™s values of client service, integrity, excellence, teamwork, and commitment to community. We salute her and all of the 2016 Vegas, Inc. 40 Under 40 honorees.

Soraya Aguirre PARTNER, PRIVATE CLIENT AND TAX

Soraya Tabibi Aguirre 702.222.2500 staguirre@hollandhart.com 9555 Hillwood Drive, 2nd Floor Las Vegas, NV 89134

18A

Raymond Hess

Daniel Kouretas

The RTC of Southern Nevada ■ Age: 39

Kouretas Ventures, LLC ■ Age: 38

Director of Planning Services

aymond Hess discovered the planning world when he took a job in Brooksville, Fla., as a community development coordinator. What appeared to be a position focused on creating special events, taking public input and creating ordinances involved much more. Hess found himself closely tied to economic development efforts, land use and other community matters. He was most intrigued by planning. “If you do it (planning) well you can really address the needs of a community,” he said. “A lot of that really resonated with me along with how multidisciplinary the work really is. … There’s so much coordination and collaboration to do as well.” Hess is now a major part of Southern Nevada Strong, a comprehensive plan to improve economic development, education, transportation choice and other community concerns. As a core administrator of an effort very much in its infancy, his team works to bring parties together to discuss transportation issues, changes and needs and how these elements impact local economic competitiveness and education. Hess also has overseen the development of the regional transportation plan, which will program more than $8.5 billion in local transportation projects over the next 20 years. He is also proud of his team’s efforts to help fund the Boulder City Bypass project for the future I-11 corridor. The $300 million financing effort was creative for how it used federal funds while bringing cost savings and a shortened implementation timeline. — Brian Sodoma

Shauna Lemieux Communications and Brand Manager

Vegas PBS ■ Age: 37

hile Vegas PBS may have a strong brand presence in the valley, Shauna Lemieux thinks there’s a lot more to know about the enterprise, and she’s always looking for a way to tell us all about it. “Sometimes people know us and love us as a TV station, but they aren’t always aware of the other things we do to leverage that great TV programming,” she said. Lemieux points to Vegas PBS’ robust adult education program, workforce development efforts and GED certificate training as just a small sample of offerings that go overlooked in the Vegas PBS conversation. The entity has also placed a strong emphasis on helping to transition veterans into civilian life as well. Lemieux’s team has been designing new branding and marketing materials for Vegas PBS, both in Spanish and English, and combining that with an effective communications campaign via radio, television and other media channels. All of this is done with the idea of keeping the brand more consistent with the national brand while also targeting specific messaging for local needs. “Everyday, with my job I get to help promote the wonderful work that we’re doing across the organization. … I’m fortunate to work with and share those programs with the community,” she said. Prior to joining Vegas PBS, the Wisconsin native worked in communications for nonprofits and health care entities. She was also the communications and development specialist for CASA of Brown County in Green Bay, Wisc. She is also currently on the board of the child abuse prevention agency, Olive Crest. “Nonprofits are where my passion is. I like working with organizations with fewer resources than the big guys, but whose mission is helping the community,” she said. — Brian Sodoma

Founder / CEO

hen he was growing up, Daniel Kouretas recalls, he was able to observe someone at close range from whom he learned to develop his own business acumen: his own father. “My father and my brother have been my primary mentors,” he said. “My father taught me to never chase a deal, and to be patient. As a child I saw this philosophy play out and learned it was a successful strategy for business deals. My brother has taught me to work collaboratively with groups to achieve the common goal.” Over the years, Kouretas developed a personal philosophy of remaining positive. “My business philosophy is to never chase a deal but to recognize viable opportunities and put forth my best effort into those. These merge, because no matter the outcome of my business ventures, I have a positive outlook because I know that I gave it my all.” In 2016, he plans to see many of his projects come to fruition. “I plan to see the Lucky’s Lounge brand expand throughout the valley and even beyond. Furthermore, I plan to see a fast-casual dining concept that I have been working on come to life that will offer patrons a unique dining experience. Finally, I expect to continue to foster new relationships that may open even more doors for business opportunities.” To anyone looking for success he offers the following suggestion: “Focus. In order to be successful in life, an individual must identify a goal and then focus on that goal. The focus is what differentiates those who are successful from those who are not.” — Howard Riell

Glenda LippmanMonkarsh CEO/Owner

Lippman Media ■ Age: 37

enda Lippman-Monkarsh was not a typical student when she was younger, having been diagnosed with dyslexia in early elementary school. “While it made school difficult for me, it taught me other important skills that translated well to the business world,” she said. “For example, I learned to look at problems in an alternate light and search for different answers when other people may settle for the first or easiest one.” She also learned to keep trying even when things were challenging, and to work hard every day even when it is not apparent that there was forward progress. “I try to find the positive in every situation,” she said. “Even when others might look at a circumstance and struggle to find the silver lining, I take a step back and see what I can take away from the situation to prevent it from occurring again, or to know how to address it in the future. I enter every day with the mindset that it is an opportunity to learn and improve my myself and my business.” Last year was a huge one for her company, which saw her expand her team by adding a full-time content writer and a social media director. In addition, she signed two large clients, a law firm and a medical practice. “Remarkably, both clients have seen substantial growth during their first year with us, doubling their new client referral rates. I am really proud of our team and what we accomplished in 2015.” For the year now unfolding, Lippman-Monkarsh plans to continue to provide excellent customer service to her existing clients, including the newest medical practice she signed only recently. “I also would like to continue to educate the public about affordable advertising and marketing options. Growing a business isn’t just for the big companies; everyone can learn to market.” — Howard Riell

19A

Marty Lopez

Alexandra Lourdes

35 Steaks + Martinis/Hard Rock Hotel ■ Age: 35

The Refined Agency ■ Age: 31

Executive Chef

rowing up in the Philippines, Marty Lopez was heavily influenced by American cinema. “Top Gun” had him wanting to be a fighter pilot some day; but a far more low-key part of his life steered him towards a culinary career. Lopez enjoyed helping his grandfather in the kitchen. He would visit markets to find ingredients and was exposed to what Americans would probably see as exotic cuisine. “The first thing I learned to make was squid. … Cooking was my baseball, my football,” he said. “My fondest memories are in the kitchen with my family, and having that quality time.” Today, he and his 35 Steaks + Martinis team enjoy rave reviews. Last year the venue took Las Vegas Weekly’s 2015 “Best Steakhouse” Reader’s Choice Award. Previously, Lopez worked for Gordon Ramsey, and in 2012, he was also part of the Bacchanal Buffet opening team at Caesars Palace. Now, as an executive chef, Lopez embraces a role that requires many hats. “People associate a chef with the food, but that’s actually about 25 percent of it,” he said. “You’re also helping to fulfill the business model. … You have to treat the funds coming in as your own money and manage everything efficiently. … But then you have to be very accommodating to guests, meeting their needs, even with dietary restrictions … and you have to be very personable.” In the future, he would like to establish a charity kitchen. “It’s just something I always wanted to do. There are so many people out there who need help,” he said. — Brian Sodoma

Partner

lexandra Lourdes has a couple of rules for herself that she has always followed. “Regardless of what goal I set for myself, I see it through — even those that I may have questioned midway through,” she said. “In every experience, I have always learned something new or met someone who has led me to where I am today. The challenges and accomplishments of each goal are equally rewarding.” Another of her rules is to pay it forward. “I love seeing the good in people, connecting them with someone I may know, or giving someone advice and recommendations from what I have learned. I have been lucky enough to encounter the most amazing people that have been cheerleaders for me since Day One. Even complete strangers have gone out of their way to connect me with someone or help in some way, so I always make sure to pay it forward.” The rules appear to be working. Last year was one of her best yet, she explains. “I graduated from UNLV with my Ph.D. and launched a new company, the Refined Agency, with my business partner Lin Jerome. Being able to make a real impact on the success of local businesses in Las Vegas through interactive marketing and community events was the most rewarding professional achievement of 2015.” Her major goal this year is to grow the Refined Agency into a national brand. “Many people advise that you should surround yourself with people you want to be like,” she said. “While I believe that is true, what was more important to me was to always surround yourself with positive people who see the best in you.” — Howard Riell

20A

Layke Martin

Assistant Dean for External Relations

UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law

■

Age: 36

ayke Martin is committed to helping who went on to obtain her J.D. at Boston students and alumni of UNLV’s Wil- University School of Law, practicing loliam S. Boyd School of Law navigate cally in business litigation with Marquis the cutthroat legal employment market. Aurbach Coffing and also serving as an adA native Nevadan who holds a bachelor’s junct law professor at UNLV, a move which degree in broadcast journalism from UNLV, cemented her passion for working with Martin began her own career as a news students. She came on board as the law producer for the local KVBS News 3 morn- school’s director of career development ing show but realized her inherent curios- in 2001, and assumed her current post in ity coupled with her excellent writing and November 2014. listening skills would translate well to the Martin’s advocacy efforts also include legal field. outreach to lawyers, law firms and judges Also, “If I went to law school I would as well as fund-raising. Last fall, she spearnever have to work graveyard,” said Martin, headed the Dean’s Scholarship Initiative, a

three-year, $2 million campaign which has thus far raised more than $500,000 for student scholarships. She also created the law school’s 10week, paid internship program in 2012, pounding the pavement to enlist companies such as Caesars Entertainment, NV Energy, Boyd Gaming Corp. and Southwest Gas. “We didn’t have students interning in the legal departments at the city’s largest companies, so we set out to change that, and provided great opportunities that didn’t previously exist,” said Martin. — Danielle Birkin

Kate McCullough

Community Services Supervisor

Nevada Donor Network

■

Age: 36

rgan donation has long been a hotbutton topic for Kate McCullough, whose high-school friend received a life-saving kidney transplant 13 years ago. Even as a student at Slippery Rock University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in communications, organ donation was on her radar, having planned an organ drive in conjunction with her membership in the Public Relations Student Society of America. Flash-forward to 2011, when — after 10 years in broadcast media, including her local role as news producer at 8 News Now — she took a leap of faith and joined the nonprofit Nevada Donor Network, where she

leads the strategic planning and implementation of programs and initiatives designed to raise awareness of the importance of organ, eye and tissue donation; increase statewide donor registrations; and heighten the public’s support and understanding of organ donation, including multicultural outreach. She also oversees education, and youth and multicultural outreach for the Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles. “Organ donation is something I’ve always believed in, and I’m amazed by what one person has the ability to do,” said the Erie, Pa., native, who was instrumental in launching NDN’s first multimedia “Every-

one Counts” campaign last year, and also led the organization through a complete rebranding, including the design of a new logo, in 2014. With the launch of the new logo, McCullough also began the task of creating a new website with the goal of providing educational resources for the public as well as the organization’s valued community partners. A supporter of the Simon Keith Foundation, which provides financial support to children who wish to return to an active and healthy lifestyle following a life-saving transplant, McCullough also serves as team leader for Donate Life Nevada. — Danielle Birkin

Kurt Melien President

Live Nation, Las Vegas

■

Age: 39

urt Melien is committed to keeping Las Vegas the entertainment capital of the world. “Las Vegas has evolved, and really appeals to all different types of ages and faces and demographics, and music really helps to drive that diversification,” said the Massachusetts native, who holds a bachelor’s degree in history from College of the Holy Cross and a degree from the Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University. A former executive with Caesars Entertainment — where he served as vice president and head of entertainment — Melien also worked at Harrah’s Entertainment and

Six Flags Inc., experience which serves him ing with Caesars Entertainment to bring well as president of Live Nation, Las Vegas, Jennifer Lopez to residency at the Axis, a a post he assumed in January 2015. deal long in the making, according to Melien, Melien promotes concerts both large who was also instrumental in bringing Lioand small across venues including Manda- nel Richie and Pitbull to Planet Hollywood. lay Bay Events Center, T-Mobile Arena, The “We’ll also probably do a dozen shows a Foundry at SLS, MGM Grand Garden Arena, year at the new T-Mobile Arena, and have the Axis at Planet Hollywood and Las Ve- already signed Janet Jackson,” said Megas Village, serving as an informal ambas- lien, whose personal philanthropic efforts sador for the city wooing music agents and include assisting the homeless and lowartist managers to bring top-notch artists income families in the area. “We also just to town. Through a collection of market- started working with the Foundry at SLS, ing efforts, Melien also ensures that fans with a younger-skewing demographic and know about each event in the city and can great energy. We’re always talking to artget tickets in their hands. ists in an ongoing courtship.” Recent accomplishments include work— Danielle Birkin

Andy Moore Shareholder

Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck ■ Age: 39

ince becoming an attorney in 2004, Andy Moore has strived to do his job well and to help others perform to the best of their abilities. “I think the main reason why I have enjoyed some success and derived enjoyment from my profession is because I really enjoy working with others to assist clients,” he said. “When I did litigation work, I really enjoyed collaborating with other attorneys to brainstorm potential arguments that we could make in a contentious matter. As a gaming attorney, I enjoy working with others in providing answers to clients’ questions about certain regulatory requirements, or working with colleagues to get a large multijurisdictional licensing project completed.” His philosophy of both life and business is to treat people with respect. “If you do that outside the office and inside the office, the people around you will definitely enjoy your company substantially more than if you don’t do that. Additionally, success and fulfillment are more likely to find you when you treat people with respect.” Moore urges those around him to “try to have fun in doing whatever you do. I enjoy the company of others, and it’s important to make the office a fun and positive environment. There are long hours and drudgery inherent in the legal profession. It’s better to handle that drudgery with humor rather than with misery. No one really likes to hear people complain about how many emails they need to respond to.” Another good piece of advice is to remember that success comes to those who show up. “Support your colleagues and friends with their various endeavors. If a colleague or friend is hosting an event, show up rather than finding excuses not to go.” — Howard Riell

Jessica Peralta Owner

ike many new moms, when former registered nurse and clinical professor of nursing Jessica Peralta was pregnant with her first child, she gained a bit of baby weight. But the Georgia College & State University graduate, who moved to Southern Nevada in 2006 and has a passion for health and wellness, was undaunted, and set about getting back in shape. Trouble was, she couldn’t find a workout venue where she felt comfortable and supported in her own skin. So in 2012, she took a leap of faith and opened a local franchise of Fit4Mom at Town Square. “Since then, we’ve grown to 13 locations from Henderson to Summerlin to North Las Vegas, and are the second franchisee in the network to launch our own studio space,” said Peralta, adding that Fit4Mom Las Vegas recently won the Franchise of the Year Award. Fit4Mom's signature program is Stroller Strides. It includes power walking/jogging and intervals of strength and body-toning exercises using a stroller and the environment. A spinoff, Stroller Barre, is a blend of ballet, Pilates, barre, yoga and stroller-based exercises designed to help moms build strength and muscle tone, while Fit4Baby targets pregnant women. Body Back targets new moms with a highintensity workout to blast calories and increase strength. “All of our programs target the body, mind and soul in a supportive atmosphere,” said Peralta, who is active with Baby’s Bounty, Jingle Bell Run and Butterball Burn. — Danielle Birkin

Forward thinking got you here. And it’s what will fuel a future of possibilities. People who move the world forward are the kinds of people who help build our success at EY. We’re pleased to congratulate Ryan Cupersmith for being honored in Vegas Inc’s 40 Under 40 and thank him for his leadership in the Las Vegas market and his commitment to exceptional client service. Visit ey.com

Fit4Mom Las Vegas ■ Age: 35

22A

David Perisset

Bridget Richards

Co-CEO

Senior Vice President — Las Vegas Investment Services Division

Exotics Racing ■ Age: 37

Colliers International ■ Age: 38

Spencer Stewart

Kevin Sweet

avid Perisset believes that success is “very relative,” and doesn’t feel as if he has achieved more than a lot of people around him. “A lot of people are successful with their family, their involvement within their community or in sports, for instance,” he said. “Looking at the success we have had with Exotics Racing, which is now the largest driving experience in the world, I can only say that it is due to a group of people, starting with my business partner Romain Thievin.” Success, Perisset said, is “made of encounters, opportunities, and a little bit of luck. I grew up in a great family environment and had a fantastic education, but on the other hand I was never spoiled and never had it easy. Everything started there. Then I had successes and failures, but always bounced back and found new goals and objectives.” Exotics Racing went through a lot of changes and new developments last year. “We completed two large projects for us: we opened a new Driving Center at our track at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, which improved tremendously our customer experience and the working environment for our team. We also launched a new website.” Perisset wants to continue to develop activities in California at the Auto Club Speedway. “It is our second location, which we opened two years ago, and it is now profitable. We are going to invest more in our track and in our facility, and launch new activities. One of them is our new EXR Series, which is going to change the way racing is done.” — Howard Riell

or Bridget Richards, success appears never to have been in doubt. “I started working early and developed a strong work ethic,” she said. “I’ve always envisioned success as a certain reality. It’s important to capture exactly what success looks like in your mind’s eye before you take any action. For some reason I have always had a vision. I go through life thinking I can do anything, and sometimes I get lucky.” In her own estimation, said Richards, “I think it takes individuals to create success. One person with a dream and a plan is sufficient; if that person can communicate her vision effectively everyone else will become a believer.” Looking back, Richards believes that 2015 was a year of change “and the year I decided to pursue my happiness and to work on only projects and people I am passionate about since I gave birth to my beautiful son Jesse on Nov. 23. Might as well be happy; life is short. I don’t want to waste one minute working with jerks. The freedom you gain from being selective is priceless.” Her twin goals for this year are to be a great mom and to pursue her career with passion and a fun mindset. “The two are intertwined completely. I never put a client into a deal that I wouldn’t do myself, and for that reason we all win.” She cautions people coming into her industry about hiding behind a computer keyboard. “I see a lot of that, people who send an email rather than call. It’s foolish to rely on technology in place of human interaction.” — Howard Riell

Chancellor

Vice President of Slot Operations and Marketing

WGU Nevada ■ Age: 39

The Cosmopolitan ■ Age: 30

ow has Spencer Stewart — who has served as Chancellor of WGU Nevada for just over six months now — managed to achieve so much in his career in so little time? “The word managed suggests a rather calculated, controlled approach to achieving success, which is just the opposite from my personal experience,” he said. “I suppose whatever success I’ve achieved thus far is, to a great degree, the result of discovering very early in my career what I love doing and, to a greater degree, the good fortune of being surrounded by encouraging colleagues, patient mentors and supportive family members.” Last year was one of endings and beginnings for Stewart, he said. “I transitioned from Nevada State College after spending 14 remarkable years working shoulder to shoulder with some of the finest and most talented people in Nevada. We built something of lasting value and importance for this community — its students, parents, and employers — for years to come.” His plan for this year is to do much of the same at WGU Nevada. “My hope is that I’ve learned a bit from my previous experiences — both successes and failures — to help move WGU Nevada forward at the pace and with the quality that the ‘New Nevada’ requires.” Whatever the future holds, Stewart’s outlook remains unchanged. “I think David Brooks summed it up nicely when he described the difference between résumé virtues and eulogy virtues. The eulogy virtues are the ones we aspire to, the ones we’d like to be remembered for, because they matter the most. As a result, the most important work we will ever do will be within the walls of our home.” — Howard Riell

estined for a career in gaming, Kevin Sweet pulled the lever on his first slot machine when he was 4 years old and was instantly enthralled with the rush. “I knew by age 5 that I wanted to work in the casino industry, and the obvious place to go after college was Las Vegas,” said Sweet, a New York native who holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from West Virginia University. Sweet relocated to Southern Nevada in 2006, working in various capacities at Treasure Island, Bellagio, Aria and Las Vegas Sands Corp. — with a brief stint at Seminole Gaming in Hollywood, Fla. — before assuming his current post in January 2015 at the Cosmopolitan, where he puts his diverse knowledge of slot operations garnered both domestically and in Macau and Singapore to insightful good use. Sweet has been instrumental in reinvigorating the Cosmopolitan’s casino, with a push toward a more gaming-centric model and renewed focus on slot players. For starters, Sweet spearheaded the addition of the new High Limit Slot Lounge, which debuted last December to positive reviews. “We used to share a high-limit room with table games, which was not really conducive to either department, so by separating them out we enhanced the gaming experience on both sides,” said Sweet, adding that slot revenue has grown under his guidance by more than 20 percent. Sweet was also behind the effort to revamp the Identity Membership and Rewards program and was also a driving force behind the new sports book, which opened the week before Super Bowl Sunday. “This last year has been very exciting, and I’m honored to be a part of it,” said Sweet, who supports the Las Vegas Rescue Mission and Communities in Schools of Nevada. — Danielle Birkin

23A

Max Tappeiner

Vice President of Hotel Operations

The Venetian / Palazzo ■ Age: 34

Tappeiner spent 13 years with Mandarin Oriental and was responsible for the successful unveiling of the luxury brand at CityCenter in 2009, amidst the global financial crisis. He moved to the Venetian and Palazzo last year and doesn’t see himself leaving the valley anytime soon. “I’ve lived all over the world — Berlin, London, New York — no city has ever embraced me or my family as much as this city has. I’m very loyal to Las Vegas,” he said. Tappeiner is also president of the Las Vegas Business Academy, a nonprofit agency that provides scholarship opportunities for students seeking certain advanced degrees from UNLV. “What’s unique about the program is the mentorship component,” he said. “We hope that really serves as a platform for individuals to become successful leaders in our community.” — Brian Sodoma

WE KNOW VEGAS

ith his father in the business, Max Tappeiner grew up around luxury hotels. He always felt a strong pull to the field, so it seems natural that he would excel in the business. But it was a unique life event that ultimately planted the seed of ambition in this rising young executive. At the age of 21, Tappeiner was diagnosed with life-threatening thyroid cancer. Eventually grateful for a positive outcome, the experience shaped his view on career success forever. He attributes his rise through the corporate ranks to being “laser focused.” “I think this is the best job in the world. You host and are gracious with people and are always interacting with a young, talented team. It’s invigorating,” he said. “There’s really no hiding in hospitality from guests, from team members or from results. You are 100 percent exposed. There’s 100 percent visibility, and I enjoy that very much.”

Congratulations!

David J. Tina Owner/Corporate Broker

We are so proud of our very own Dave Tina for being named one of Vegas INC’ s 40 Under 40 for 2016. Urban Nest Realty also congratulates all the fellow nominees chosen for this prestigious award.

LASVEGASSUN.com | LASVEGASWEEKLY.com | VEGASINC.com LASVEGASMAGAZINE.com | VEGAS2GO.com

10220 W. Charleston Blvd. Ste. 3, Las Vegas, NV 89135 - 702.853.2444

24A

David Tina Broker/Owner

Urban Nest Realty

Age: 38

■

uccess, reflects David Tina, is relative “and so much more of a moving target than a destination that I rarely slow down enough to acknowledge it. I’m always looking forward to the next project.” Tina considers himself to have been fortunate to be around different businesses and people from a very early age. His father was a New York City firefighter who opened a restaurant with three partners before his son reached middle school. He was also a licensed Realtor on Long Island “and involved in so many things all while raising me by himself. Even though I had to grow

up quickly, I gained a ton of real-world experience by spending so much time with my dad. To be able to have that much exposure to such a diverse amount of industries at such a young age was invaluable.” In 2015, he was elected as the president of the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors and Urban Nest Realty became the sixth most productive real estate office in Las Vegas. In less than four years, the vision he and his colleagues set forth of being a company that values quality over quantity became a reality. “Our agency closes more deals per agent than any of the offices

ahead of us, and we have a higher average sale, as well. We accomplished all of this while staying true to our roots by being a locally owned company that is not a franchise. We thrive in the underdog role, and I couldn’t be prouder of our agents.” His company is hard at work expanding its luxury footprint with a separate division. Says Tina, “We are continually raising the bar.” As for the big picture, he notes, “There shouldn’t be a difference of philosophy between life and business; it’s all life.” — Howard Riell

“I didn’t know I would have this kind of passion for (the banking business), but as I started to build relationships with clients I realized I was making a contribution to people’s lives, and that really inspired me,” said Turner, who will receive her associate’s degree in business administration from College of Southern Nevada this May, and plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in accounting from UNLV — while continuing to work full-time — starting in the fall. “I’ve had people come and thank me and say that because of my advice, they were able to save money to get that first house or new car or start a college fund.” In her current role, Turner now manages

and is actively growing a team of 10 retail development officers who help small-business clients, and is always looking to grow partnerships, including working closely with the SBA. In her previous role, overseeing 15 branches as retail market sales manager, her effective training skills resulted in team members meeting or exceeding their personal sales goals and the team achieving 115 percent in overall production. Actively involved with Junior Achievement, Turner teaches financial literacy to elementary students on behalf of the organization. — Danielle Birkin

ary 2015. Her focus now centers on using nontraditional marketing methodology to transform the way the industry thinks as a whole while keeping Station Casinos ahead of the curve. “The increasing pool of millennials has become something that all casino operators are facing now,” Westerfield said, adding that the challenge is to deliver an experience instead of just a brand. “The industry is used to doing business a certain way, but direct-mail and free buffets are no longer attractive to this younger audience, so we’re working on solutions to get them to our resorts.” One such effort includes Silent Savasana, a poolside yoga event which debuted last

spring at Red Rock and Green Valley Ranch resorts. During the program, participants don headsets that stream wireless instructions to guide them through various moves. “We topped out at 350 participants across both properties one month, and are gearing up for the next season,” said Westerfield, who is also revamping and updating Station Casinos’ kiosk games, and hinted that the company will be launching first-inthe-city interactive innovations later in 2016. President of The Meadows School Alumni Association, Westerfield is also a marketing volunteer for Noah’s Animal Foundation and serves on the advisory board for First Friday Foundation. — Danielle Birkin

Jennifer Turner

Vice President, Business Banking Sales Manager

Nevada State Bank

■

Age: 34

s a senior in high school in her native Las Vegas, Jennifer Turner was in search of a job that could evolve into a career, and a family member suggested bank teller. To that end, Turner joined Bank of America in 1999, taking a brief leave of absence in 2002 to join the U.S. Marine Corp., from which she was honorably discharged as the result of illness. She returned to the company and went on to serve as branch manager until 2010, joining Nevada State Bank in a similar capacity in 2013, and assuming her current position in August of last year, using her years of experience to manage the Southern Nevada retail development officers.

Lauren Westerfield

Vice President of Interactive Marketing

Station Casinos Inc.

■

Age: 33

outhern Nevada native Lauren Westerfield combined her passion for creativity and one-on-one marketing with her love of technology in her current position overseeing interactive and nontraditional marketing for Station Casinos. A graduate of USC who holds degrees in communications and Spanish, Westerfield originally came on board with Station Casinos in a marketing capacity in 2005, leaving the company for brief stints working for Golden Nugget Las Vegas and Laughlin, Aliante Casino + Hotel and at International Gaming Technology, where she honed her affinity for merging technology and innovation, experience that serves her well in her current post, which she assumed in Janu-

25A

Chris White

Senior Vice President — Las Vegas

Brooklyn Bowl ■ Age: 38

hris White has always been a man with a plan. “I worked incredibly hard in school and my early career to set myself up to make as much money as I possibly could,” he said, “and I was on track to give myself that chance becoming an analyst for a hedge fund at 23.” After a few years he realized that his mindset was “completely misguided and naïve, and I moved to Las Vegas in search of career change and in the process took a large step back.” Eventually, the hard work and training he’d received in New York came in handy in positioning himself in roles that he found meaningful. “This, combined with the entrepreneurial opportunities Las Vegas provides, has allowed me to be involved in a variety of truly unique and exciting projects over the past decade.” White calls 2015 a year of “tremendous growth” for the Brooklyn Bowl. “Being an independent venue and operating on the scale

we do provided significant challenges entering a market without brand awareness or the resources of a large company.” His aims for 2016 include further solidifying Brooklyn Bowl’s leadership in his company’s two core business areas. “First off, to expand our presence as the premier venue in Las Vegas for group and corporate events ranging from five to 3,000 people. Second, to continue to increase quality and frequency of the live music content we provide to further establish Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas as one of the best music venues of our size in the country and the world.” White maintains at all times a strong sense of perspective. “Luckily, I do not deal with life or death regularly, as such. I try to not take myself or what I am doing too seriously, but I do strive to meet lofty goals and aim to surround myself with people of a similar mindset, both personally and professionally.” — Howard Riell

G LE NDA M O NKA R SH 40 UNDER 40 AWARD NOMINEE

26A

Matt Wilson

Senior Vice President of Global Gaming Operations

Aristocrat Technologies ■ Age: 34

hirteen years ago, after graduating college with a marketing degree, Matt Wilson had two job offers. One was with a major Australian newspaper enterprise, the other a gaming company named Aristocrat Technologies. His father advised him that people would always read newspapers, so, naturally, the newspaper job was the safer bet. Wilson enjoyed doing exactly the opposite of what his father expected, so the gaming gig was his clear choice. That 20-something rebel is now a 30-something gaming executive force. Wilson quickly established himself as a leader in the industry. He was in Macau from 2007 to 2012, helping Aristocrat capture a 70 percent market share. He did that by learning from other gaming technology companies’ mistakes. “A lot of the strategy was to force feed North American product to the Asian player, but we chose to localize instead,” he said. “Asian cul-

ture is rooted in destiny and fate with religions like Taoism and Confusionism. … So our focus was to be very Asian-centric instead, tailoring solutions to that specific market.” Game development requires an executive who is sensitive to a client or market need, but who also knows when to go full force with an idea or pull back on another. “There’s a lot of nuance. You’re not just slapping machines together,” he added. “You need to garner feedback, make sure you’re solving the business challenge. … The next generation coming up are millennials and we have to learn how to adapt and be profitable for that emerging category.” On a charity note, Wilson is a big supporter of Make-A-Wish Foundation. This year’s “February Fast” initiative that his team leads is on track to raise $40,000 for a childhood cancer patient’s trip to Australia. — Brian Sodoma

Kate McCullough on being named a

Top 4o Under 4o honoree! Your passion, leadership and dedication to our mission makes you an invaluable member of the Nevada Donor Network team.

We are so proud of you!

www.nvdonor.org

855-NVDONOR

TOGETHER, WE MAKE SOUTHERN NEVADA STRONG.

CONGRATULATIONS

Raymond Hess on being selected for the 16th annual 40 Under 40 award. Your dedication to the quality of life for our valley’s residents and visitors is instrumental, and we thank you for your efforts.

THANKS TO ALL 40 UNDER 40 HONOREES FOR DRIVING OUR COMMUNITY FORWARD.

CONGRATULATIONS STACY!

Sunrise Health honors Stacy Acquista, Assistant Vice President of Marketing, HCA Far West Division, for being recognized as one of Vegas Inc’s “40 Under 40.” Congratulations to 40 outstanding business and professional leaders under the age of 40 in Las Vegas.

SunriseHealthInfo.com