VEGAS INC 40 UNDER 40 EVENT RECAP
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2026
Vegas Inc celebrated its 40 Under 40 awards at the SAHARA Theatre inside SAHARA Las Vegas honoring Southern Nevada’s most influential and inspiring young professionals. The evening was made possible by Gold Sponsors STITCHED and the UNLV Executive MBA Program, Silver Sponsor Palm Mortuaries and Cemeteries, and Liquor Sponsor Hello Soju.
Guests mingled and celebrated, enjoying tray-passed appetizers from SAHARA Las Vegas alongside an array of sweet experiences throughout the venue. The Cookie Bar LV delighted attendees with s’mores cookies, while Braud’s Funnel Cakes served up s’mores funnel cakes and Nuage Events spun fresh cotton candy. DJ Skye of SPTLGHT Entertainment kept the energy high all evening and Desert Cactus Booth was on hand to capture the celebration with a roaming photo booth. Guests also had the chance to receive permanent jewelry by Luxe Linx — a one-of-a-kind keepsake to remember the night. Stunning balloon decor by Social Booth LV set the perfect backdrop for the festivities.
TV personality Mike Davis of Silver State Sports & Entertainment Network and FOX5 Vegas returned to host the awards program, congratulating each honoree on stage as the room celebrated Southern Nevada’s next generation of leaders.
ALAN WALKER
Director of Brand Marketing
Aria Resort & Casino and Vdara Hotel & Spa
ALEXANDER CUEVAS
President
Injured Police Officers Fund
ALEXIS MERUELO
Chief Vision and Purpose Officer
Meruelo Group
ANAMARIE ELLIS
Vice President of Operations
Ellis Island Casino & Hotel
ART ZARGARYAN
CEO
Pegasus Development
AYMBER YOUNG
CEO
Brandshine Holdings, LLC
BEAU MCDOUGALL
Fire Battalion Chief
Las Vegas Fire & Rescue and
Executive Vice President of Private Capital
All Western Mortgage
BRITTANI GRAY
Vice President of Resident Services
Nevada HAND
CONNOR CAIN
Director of Government Relations
HCA Healthcare
DEREK SCHARADIN
Senior Vice President
LEV Food Group
EBERE ARUM
Senior Director of Community Relations
Las Vegas Raiders
EMI K. SAKEVICH
Executive Director
Firefighters of Southern Nevada Burn Foundation
EMILY PRAZER
President and CEO
Las Vegas Grand Prix, Inc. and Chief Commercial Officer
Formula 1
FELICIA HERSH
Director of Guest Experience Bellagio and Park MGM
GIOVANNI TRILLERAS
CEO
Forensic Pathology Services
HEATH POMERANTZ
CEO
WOW Carwash
JANSON TRIEU
Medical Oncologist
Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada
JESSICA ROSADO
Television Host & Multimedia
Producer
KTNV Channel 13
JOSÉ OROZCO
CEO Orozco Siblings and VP
Broches for a Cause
JUAN MEDRANO
Principal and Co-founder HL Workroom
KAREN ALONSO
Chief Advancement & Communications Officer
United Way of Southern Nevada
KATHY RUDD
Director of Standards and Learning Communities In Schools of Nevada
KATIE NYSTROM
Tour Manager
Backstreet Boys
KEVIN KITTISOROS
Managing Partner Pin Kaow Thai Restaurant and Blue Orchid Thai Kitchen
KEVIN MURRAY
Manager of Housing & Justice Systems SilverSummit Healthplan
KRISTINA VILLARDI
President Junior League of Las Vegas
LAILANI ALBANO Director of Marketing Light & Wonder
LINDSAY JACOBS
Vice President
Commercial Roofers, Inc.
MACKENZIE SEROKA
Senior Communications Advisor 84 Communications
MEGAN WEINTRAUB
Chief Philanthropy Officer
Jewish Nevada
MELISSA MCCORMICK CEO
Nevada State High School
MICAELA WARGO
Marketing Director Vestar
MICHAEL AQUINO CEO Acesso Biologics
MICHAEL CASPER
Vice President of Business Development AREA15
MIGUEL LOYA
Executive Chef
Sahara Las Vegas
SHADOW MONTALTO
Cemetery Manager Palm Mortuaries & Cemeteries
THOMAS SIU
Assistant Director of Experiential Marketing
Wynn Las Vegas
TRAVIS TURNER
Vice President of Guest Experience & Owner Services Cirrus Aviation Services and CEO
Luxe Lifestyle Managers
YOLANDA MATIONG
Chief Development Officer
Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada
ZACH JUKEL
Vice President of Marketing Carver Road Hospitality
Nomination Digital Ads Featured in The Sun Daily
Nomination Digital Ads Featured in BizClick
Step and Repeat
Digital Edition Eblast Sent by Vegas Inc 5/1/26
Weekly Fix Eblast Sent by Las Vegas Weeky 4/30/26
BizClick Eblast Sent by Vegas Inc 5/4/26
Event Photo Page Published in Las Vegas Weekly 5/14/26
Bounce Back Email Featuring Event Photos and Partner Offers
Featured Story Published in Las Vegas Weekly 4/30/26
