NOW – MAY 21 TICKETS ON SALE AT RWLASVEGAS.COM/ENTERTAINMENT/CARRIE-UNDERWOOD
GRAND OPENING WEEKEND FRI / APR 1
SAT / APR 2
SUN / APR 3
AT VIRGIN HOTELS L AS VEGAS 7 02 . 6 9 3 . 557 0 / M U ST B E 2 1 + / E L I A B E AC H LV.C O M
PUBLISHER MARK DE POOTER mark.depooter@gmgvegas.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER KATIE DIXON katie.dixon@gmgvegas.com EDITOR SPENCER PATTERSON spencer.patterson@gmgvegas.com
EDITORIAL Senior Editor GEOFF CARTER (geoff.carter@gmgvegas.com) Editor at Large BROCK RADKE (brock.radke@gmgvegas.com) Deputy Editor EVELYN MATEOS (evelyn.mateos@gmgvegas.com) Staff Writer SHANNON MILLER (shannon.miller@gmgvegas.com) Staff Writer AMBER SAMPSON (amber.sampson@gmgvegas.com) Contributing Writers HILLARY DAVIS, MIKE GRIMALA, CASEY HARRISON, JESSICA HILL, ARLEIGH RODGERS, DANNY WEBSTER Contributing Editors RAY BREWER, BRYAN HORWATH, CASE KEEFER, DAVE MONDT Office Coordinator NADINE GUY
CREATIVE Art Director CORLENE BYRD (corlene.byrd@gmgvegas.com) Designer IAN RACOMA Multimedia Manager YASMINA CHAVEZ Photographers CHRISTOPHER DEVARGAS, STEVE MARCUS, WADE VANDERVORT
DIGITAL Publisher of Digital Media KATIE HORTON Web Content Specialist CLAYT KEEFER
ADVERTISING & MARKETING Director of Branded Content EMMA CAUTHORN Special Publications Editor JENNIFER INABA Market Research Manager CHAD HARWOOD Senior Advertising Manager ADAIR NOWACKI, SUE SRAN Account Executives LAUREN JOHNSON, MIKE MALL, ALEX TEEL, ANNA ZYMANEK Sales Assistant APRIL MARTINEZ Events Manager SAMANTHA PETSCH Marketing & Events Coordinator ALEXANDRA GEX
PRODUCTION & CIRCULATION Vice President of Manufacturing MARIA BLONDEAUX Production Director PAUL HUNTSBERRY Production Manager BLUE UYEDA Associate Marketing Art Director BROOKE EVERSON Production Artist MARISSA MAHERAS Publication Coordinator DENISE ARANCIBIA Traffic Administrator JIDAN SHADOWEN Fulfillment Manager DORIS HOLLIFIELD Route Administrator KATHY STRELAU
GREENSPUN MEDIA GROUP CEO, Publisher & Editor BRIAN GREENSPUN Chief Operating Officer ROBERT CAUTHORN Editorial Page Editor RIC ANDERSON
LAS VEGAS WEEKLY 2275 Corporate Circle Suite 300 Henderson, NV 89074 702-990-2550 lasvegasweekly.com facebook.com/lasvegasweekly twitter.com/lasvegasweekly
All content is copyright Las Vegas Weekly LLC. Las Vegas Weekly is published Thursdays and distributed throughout Southern Nevada. Readers are permitted one free copy per issue. Additional copies are $2, available back issues $3. ADVERTISING DEADLINE EVERY THURSDAY AT 5 P.M.
3.31.22
A
B
L
E
O
F
C
O
N
T
E
N
T
S
Kusa Nori’s 3000 LVBLVD roll (Wade Vandervort/ Staff)
WANT MORE? Head to lasvegasweekly.com.
08
SUPERGUIDE
Your daily events planner, starring BTS, Miguel, Backstreet Boys, Priscilla Presley, Al Capone and more.
18 20 24 26 28 NEWS
NIGHTS
THE STRIP
FOOD & DRINK
SPORTS
Hospitals search for solutions to Nevada’s worsening nursing shortage.
Cheapshot delivers a fresh entertainment infusion to Fremont East.
The Skating Aratas are bringing a Ukrainian benefit show to the stage.
Memorable sushi at Resorts World and churro-flavored cupcakes in the Arts District.
The Lights are back in action, once again turning Cashman Field into a unique environment for serious and casual soccer fans.
ON THE COVER
40 UNDER 40 Courtney Garland Photograph by Wade Vandervort/Staff
31
COVER STORY Vegas Inc’s 40 Under 40 awards honor locals who rise to the occasion and go above and beyond expectations.
7I
IN THIS ISSUE
T
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
8
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
3.31.22
SUPERGUIDE THURSDAY 31 MAR.
“North Stars” by Julie Meyers (Courtesy/Shahab Zargari)
AT THE HORIZON LINE We all have to start somewhere. For UNLV artists and staff members Richard Saladino and Julie Meyers, the journey begins At the Horizon Line. Their joint exhibition gives viewers an inside look into the artistic process behind a mural Saladino and Meyers designed for a UNLV contest. Though their work ultimately didn’t win, the artists have deconstructed its parts into a series of walls—or stages—that visually chart the process behind their original idea, and beyond. “You’ll get to see the beginning stages of our designs, which then evolve into bigger, more detailed pieces as we collaborated more,” Meyers said in an Instagram post. “The culmination of our work is the mural, but that’s not the end of the show.” Additional artwork, which Meyers said she and Saladino were inspired to create after working on the original project, will also be viewable. From sketches and large-scale oil paintings to handmade collages, each piece articulates something different about Saladino and Meyers’ life experiences. Through April 8; Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. free, UNLV’s Richard Tam Alumni Center, unlv.edu. –Amber Sampson
MUSIC
PARTY
SPORTS
S U P E R G U I D E
ARTS
FOOD + DRINK
COMEDY
SILK SONIC & 4/2, 9 p.m., Dolby Live, ticketmaster.com. BREATHE CAROLINA 10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com.
MISC
UKRAINIAN BENEFIT SHOW 9 p.m., V Theater, vtheaterboxoffice. com.
PAUL THOMAS With Jordan Harvey, 10 p.m., Commonwealth, elationlv.com.
HILLSONG UNITED & CHRIS TOMLIN 7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.
MICHAEL GRIMM 7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter.com.
SILLA 11 a.m., Marquee Dayclub, events. taogroup.com. DIONNE WARWICK & 4/3 & 4/6, 8 p.m., Stirling Club, eventbrite.com.
LOUD LUXURY 10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, events.taogroup. com. KYNG With Royal Bliss, The Black Moods, 7:30 p.m., Count’s Vamp’d, eventbrite.com.
3.31.22
FRIDAY 01 APR.
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
BILLIE EILISH With Duckwrth, 7:30 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com. (AP Photo)
FIRST FRIDAY 5 p.m., Downtown Las Vegas Arts District, ffflv.org. ZEDD 10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com.
KEITH URBAN & 4/2, 8 p.m., the Colosseum, ticketmaster.com.
THE SCRIPT 7:30 p.m., House of Blues, livenation.com.
THE REVOLUTIONISTS & 4/2-4/3, times vary, Las Vegas Little Theatre, lvlt.org.
MARTIN GARRIX With Justin Mylo, 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, events.taogroup.com.
NEWSICAL THE MUSICAL Thru 4/3, 8 p.m., Majestic Repertory Theatre, majesticrepertory.com.
TONY ORLANDO Thru 4/3, 7:30 p.m, South Point Showroom, ticketmaster.com. JONAS BLUE 11 a.m., Ayu Dayclub, zoukgrouplv.com.
THINGS I KNOW TO BE TRUE A Public Fit Theatre Company returns to the Usual Place on Maryland Parkway with Australian writer Andrew Bovell’s naturalistic musical Things I Know to be True, directed by Ann-Marie Pereth and Joseph Kucan. The play, which premiered in the states in 2019 and is being adapted by Amazon Studios for a TV series starring Nicole Kidman, was originally set in Adelaide, Australia, but has been adjusted to a Midwestern setting in past American productions. Still, the focus remains on the Price family, as its members grow up, drift apart and learn to understand the universal changes, highs and lows of family. APF performances continue through April 25. Days & times vary, $35-$40, the Usual Place, apublicfit.org. –Brock Radke GULLY BOYS After delivering garage-y punk and pop rock—think Babes in Toyland meets Best Coast—to crowds at SXSW and down the West Coast from Seattle to San Diego, Gully Boys promise a gritty, energetic show. Contrary to the band’s name, members of the Minnesota foursome all use she/her or they/them pronouns. Numbers from their new EP Favorite Son, a “display of resilience and brilliance,” should speak to folks who’ve been missing live music in smaller venues. Gully Boys’ touring partner Niiice and local indie rockers Indigo Kidd are also on the bill. 8 p.m., $12, the Space, thespacelv.com. –Shannon Miller
F O R M O R E U P C O M I N G E V E N T S , V I S I T L A S V E G A S W E E K LY. C O M .
SUPERGUIDE
CARRIE UNDERWOOD: REFLECTION & 4/2, 8 p.m., Resorts World Theatre, axs.com.
PROK & FITCH 10 p.m., Discopussy, discopussydtlv.com.
P L A N Y O U R W E E K A H E A D
9I
10
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
3.31.22
SUPERGUIDE SATURDAY 02
SNOOP DOGG 11 a.m., Élia Beach Club, eliabeachlv.com. (AP Photo)
APR.
P L A N
S U P E R G U I D E
W E E K
Y O U R A H E A D
TAO BEACH DAYCLUB GRAND OPENING Good things come to those who wait. The pandemic slowed construction for one of the Strip’s largest new venues, so the April 1 grand-opening preview of the 47,000-square-foot Tao Beach Dayclub on the Venetian’s renovated rooftop will be extra sweet for both Tao Group and Vegas pool partiers. After the opening Friday event, presented by Element, an unprecedented lineup of artists will take over the tropical paradise for the rest of the weekend. Afrojack, Fisher, Illenium and Kaskade will each take a turn on the decks April 2, essentially turning the club’s first big Saturday into a mini-festival. And then Lil Jon, Mustard and Tyga will bring some serious bounce to close things out on April 3, with unnamed special guests expected to join in the fun. We’ve already seen the vastly expanded scale and scope of this seminal dayclub venue; now it’s time to celebrate. 4/1-4/3, 11 a.m., ticket & table prices vary, events.taogroup. com. –Brock Radke
AMY SCHUMER & FRIENDS 10 p.m., Mirage Theater, mirage. mgmresorts.com. SUMMER WALKER 10:30 p.m., Light Nightclub, thelightvegas.com. JACK HARLOW 10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com. DAVID GUETTA 11 a.m., Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com.
CAROL BURNETT 7:30 p.m., Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter.com. HENDERSON SILVER KNIGHTS VS. BAKERSFIELD CONDORS 7 p.m., Dollar Loan Center, axs.com. BLACK COFFEE 10:30 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, events.taogroup.com.
G-EAZY 11 a.m., Ayu Dayclub, zoukgrouplv.com. BEARTOOTH With Silverstein, The Devil Wears Prada, Erra, 6 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketweb.com. BONOBO & TOTALLY ENORMOUS EXTINCT DINOSAURS 10 p.m., Discopussy, discopussydtlv.com.
BANDAID BRIGADE With Sprockets, Jerk!, Illicitor, 9 p.m., Evel Pie, evelpie.com. KIZUNA JAPANESE SPRING FESTIVAL 11 a.m., Sammy Davis Festival Plaza, eventbrite.com. DAMARIS With Mojave Sun, Elephante King, 7 p.m., Taverna Costera, tavernacostera.com.
3.31.22
MUSIC
PARTY
SPORTS
FOOD + DRINK
ARTS
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
COMEDY COMEDY
MISC
SUNDAY 03 APR.
(Courtesy/Hulu)
LIL JON, MUSTARD & TYGA 11 a.m., Tao Beach Dayclub, events. taogroup.com. TIËSTO 10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com.
YOUNG ARTISTS ORCHESTRA: THE MUSIC OF HARRY POTTER 2 p.m., Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter.com. DILLON FRANCIS Noon, Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com. DJ WHOO KID Noon, Daylight Beach Club, daylightvegas.com.
RÜFÜS DU SOL Fresh off another epic Art of the Wild set at XS and the recent announcement of a North American summer tour beginning in Chicago in June, trio Rüfüs Du Sol returns to Las Vegas for a one-night-only special event at Intrigue, the boutique nightclub turned private event space and sports lounge at Wynn. Musicians/producers Tyrone Lindqvist, Jon George and James Hunt have been all about creating deeper experiences following the October release of acclaimed fourth studio album Surrender, including this month’s Sundream Festival in Tulum. Expect the special Intrigue set to bring all those progressive vibes, with the new record’s varied musical textures complementing the elegant, dream-like environment at Wynn. 11 p.m., $85-$125, wynnsocial.com. –Brock Radke
MONDAY 04 APR,
MONDAYS DARK 8 p.m., the Space, mondaysdark.com. BRAD GARRETT With Mo Mandel, Cash Levy, thru 4/5, 8 p.m., Brad Garrett Comedy Club, mgmgrand. mgmresorts.com. HOLY WAVE With The Acid Sisters, Mutual, DJ Jacob Savage, 8 p.m., Artifice, artificebarlv.com.
DAN NATURMAN With Jackie Fabulous, Mike E. Winfield, Michael Yo, thru 4/6, 7 & 9 p.m., Comedy Cellar, ticketmaster.com. PATRICK GARRITY 8 p.m., LA Comedy Club, tickets.thestrat.com.
SUPERGUIDE
LETTERKENNY LIVE Firstly: Letterkenny is a show, a consistently hilarious Canadian comedy streaming on Hulu. It recently delivered its 10th season, but don’t let that put you off; seasons are generally seven episodes long, and a typical episode less than 25 minutes, so the barrier to entry is low. Secondly: Letterkenny is a fictional town in Ontario, a rural community of 5,000 “hicks, skids, hockey players and Christians,” plus First Nations folk, Mennonites and the occasional “up-country degens” [degenerates]. Thirdly: Letterkenny is a whole mood. To hang with Wayne, Katy, Daryl, Squirrely Dan and their friends is to adopt their expressions (“Pitter-patter,” “Wheel, snipe, celly”), aspire to their unbreakable bonds (“If a friend asks you for help, you help him”) and marvel at their lightning-fast wordplay, which can only be witnessed, not described (or duplicated). And lastly: You’ll have a chance to roll up to the produce stand (“end of the laneway; don’t come up the property”) and witness all this good stuff firsthand when the stars of Letterkenny stop by the Chelsea for a rare live performance. Grab a Puppers and join the shirt-tuckers. 8 p.m., $38$209, the Chelsea, ticket master.com. –Geoff Carter
ALT-J & PORTUGAL. THE MAN With Cherry Glazerr, 6 p.m., Theater at Virgin, virginhotelslv.com.
SCORPIONS With Skid Row, 8 p.m., Zappos Theater, ticketmaster.com.
(Courtesy)
MARSHMELLO 10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com.
11I
12
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
3.31.22
SUPERGUIDE TUESDAY 05 APR.
P
L
A
N
Y
O
U
R
W
E
E
K
A
H
E
A
D
MUSIC
PAUL OGATA 8 p.m., LA Comedy Club, bestvegas comedy.com.
PARTY
SPORTS
S U P E R G U I D E
FOOD + DRINK
UNLV CHAMBER ORCHESTRA 7 p.m., Clark County Library, lvccld.org.
ASE: AFRO FREQUENCIES Words hold a significant amount of power. In West African Yoruba culture, the word ase (pronounced ah-shay) describes the concept of change, or more importantly, the ability to drive it. Digital illustrator Vince Fraser and poet Ursula Rucker, in collaboration with experiential art organization Artechouse, explore this philosophy in full with Ase: Afro Frequencies at the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art. Fraser and Rucker’s artistry intersects in the multisensory exhibit, an evocative and empowering showcase of digital and spoken-word art that provides an Afro-surrealist look into the Black experience. Visitors will witness themes of rebirth, hope and transformation over 14 immersive encounters, including Egungun installations, which digitally overlay tribal masks onto onlookers, spurring them to consider the meaning behind the masked traditions. Fraser’s artistic vivid golds and panoramic artworks wrap around the gallery walls, while Rucker’s soothing voice (which also appears in some of The Roots’ music) issues words of power and positivity. Last year, Time Out Miami awarded Ase: Afro Frequencies its Best Exhibition award, and with the Vegas version on display until April 18, you can experience it for yourself. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., $15-$18, Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art, bellagio. mgmresorts.com. –Amber Sampson
DESTROYER OF LIGHT With Sonolith, Haxa, 9 p.m., the Usual Place, eventbrite.com.
SUPERGUIDE
ARTS
ROB GUSON 10:30 p.m. Omnia, events.taogroup.com.
Ase: Afro Frequencies (Courtesy/Max Rykov)
WEDNESDAY 06 APR.
COMEDY
VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. VANCOUVER CANUCKS 7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com. MISC
LIONEL RICHIE & 4/1-4/2, 8 p.m., Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com.
FOREIGNER & 4/1-4/2, 8 p.m., Venetian Theatre, ticketmaster.com. VEGAS THEATRE COMPANY: ON GOLDEN POND Thru 5/8, dates & times vary, theatre.vegas.
ELISA FIORILLO & D TRAIN 7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter.com. JUSTIN CREDIBLE 10:30 p.m., EBC at Night, wynnsocial.com.
F O R M O R E U P C O M I N G E V E N T S , V I S I T L A S V E G A S W E E K LY. C O M .
THREE CONVENIENT LOCATIONS SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS
NORTH LAS VEGAS
SAHARA
3698 W Cactus Ave Las Vegas, NV 89141
2755 W. Cheyenne Ave. Unit 103 North Las Vegas, NV 89032
3500 W. Sahara Las Vegas, NV 89102
ORDER ONLINE: THRIVENEVADA.COM FOR EXCLUSIVE GIVEAWAYS, NEW DROP INFO, AND MORE DOWNLOAD OUR REWARDS APP Management reserves all rights. Keep out of reach of children. For use only by adults 21 years of age or older.
apr
01
apr
08 apr
MYX PRESENTS PRE-AWARDS MYXTAPE
FEATURING RUBY IBARRA, JR AQUINO, KIANA V AGES 18+
10 YEARS
W/ BLACK MAP, VRSTY
CLUB 90’S PRESENTS BTS RAVE
10
AGES 18+
702.242.8861
apr
RITTZ
WWW.BALLOONSWITHATWIST.COM
12
apr
13
apr
14
apr
15
apr
18
THE LOUD & CLEAR TOUR W/ GRIEVES, TRIZZ
THE AVALANCHES
INNER WAVE
THE EMO NIGHT TOUR
AGES 18+
BEABADOOBEE
W/ MANNEQUIN P***Y, LUNA LI
FOR TICKETS AND INFORMATION VISIT VIRGINHOTELSLV.COM
@24OXFORDLV
MORE OFFERS FRIDAY
gift GIVEAWAY APRIL 1
Dessert Plates 4:30PM – 7:30PM EARN 2,500 POINTS TO RECEIVE GIFT.
Visit the 2nd Floor Event Room. Gifts may vary from images shown.
7X 7X POINTS
11X
APRIL 1 7AM–7PM Swipe at a promotions kiosk to activate your point multiplier.
*
FRIDAY W E D N E S D AY S
7X 7X
*Points are not available on some machines. Visit Player Services for details.
APRIL 1 • 8PM–12AM POINTS FRIDAY
Winner called every hour! Unclaimed prizes ROLLOVER to the next drawing! Earn entries each listed Friday, 3:01am–11:55pm. 50 Slot Base Points or 1 Hour Table Play = 1 Entry
POINTS
APRIL 2 • 7AM–7PM
*
Swipe 7am–7pm at a promotions kiosk to activate on Saturday. *Points are not available on some machines. Visit Player Services for details.
APRIL 2 • 8PM–12AM Winner called every hour! Unclaimed prizes ROLLOVER to the next drawing!
PRIZES, CANDY & GIVEAWAYS!
NOVELTIES | DANCEWEAR | FETISH | LINGERIE | MASSAGE OILS | SMOKE SHOP
APRIL 16
TH
Earn entries each listed Saturday, 3:01am–11:55pm. 50 Slot Base Points or 1 Hour Table Play = 1 Entry
April
Showers of
APRIL 4 • 6PM-9PM
WIN UP TO $1,000 IN FREE PLAY! Winner selected every 30 minutes to step inside the money booth!
@ NOON
4335 W. Tropicana Avenue, Las Vegas | 702-367-8009 Must be 21 or older. See Player Services for full details and rules. 4100 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas, NV 89169
silversevenscasino.com
16
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
3.31.22
IN THE NEWS S
T
U
F
F
Y
O
“ People like this shouldn’t be
ruling countries. But they do. The fact they do doesn’t mean I can’t express my outrage about it.” –President Joe Biden, March 28, explaining that he wasn’t making any apologies or walking back comments he had previously made about Russian President Vladimir Putin
U
S
H
O
U
L
D
K
N
O
W
COMMUNITY
N E W S
Plans unveiled for bike park RESIDENTS CAN GIVE INPUT ON DESIGN, AMENITIES Las Vegan Rob Hutchison, who was injured on his bicycle in a 2018 hit-and-run crash, was one of several speakers March 29 at Faiss Park as Clark County Commissioner Justin Jones, Rep. Susie Lee, D-Nev., and others unveiled plans to build an ultramodern bike park in unincorporated Clark County. “With the bike park, what you get here is community,” said Hutchison, the community liaison for the Southern Nevada Bike Coalition, a group of cycling enthusiasts that advocates for safer conditions throughout the valley. “You get a safe place for youth and families alike to come together and share something that they enjoy without having to worry about trespassing or damaging public property.” Jones anticipates the park being a hit, especially among teens and children, where the pavilion can host meet-ups and small birthdays. For a list of proposed amenities and obstacle course challenges, as well as to vote on which will be built in the park, go to bit.ly/36Rgg2s. To learn about other parks around the county, contact the Clark County Parks and Recreation Department at 702-455-8200 or go to clarkcountynv.gov/parks. –Casey Harrison
Nev. Senator Jacky Rosen outside the U.S. Capitol with UNLV law students (Courtesy Nina Garcia)
UNLV law students witness historic Senate hearing While growing up in Las Vegas, Yadira Santana observed how her Mexican mother’s heavy accent and dark complexion was a point of ridicule and discrimination for those with whom she interacted. These taunts were Santana’s motivation to go to law school, she said, to help those who “can’t advocate for themselves.” The third-year UNLV Boyd School of Law student said she was struck by those memories of her mother March 22 as she sat in the U.S. Capitol watching the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings for President Joe Biden’s nominee to the Supreme Court, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. Santana was one of five UNLV law students of color attending the hearings for Jackson, the first Black woman nominated to the high court. The trip was a combined effort from the school’s Black Law Students Association; La Voz, the university’s Latin and Hispanic Law Student Association; Demand Justice, a progressive organization that advocates for added seats in the Supreme Court and organized the trip; and the law firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, from
whom third-year UNLV law student Nina Garcia said she secured funding for the students’ flights. The students—Santana, Garcia, third-years Sebastian Ross and Gabriela Molina, and second-year Eddie Curry— initially only planned to be part of the excitement of the historic nomination, watching the livestream viewings of the hearings, rallying on Capitol Hill and exploring the bustling city, which several had never visited. They would also meet with other law students of diverse backgrounds from other universities. But the Las Vegas students received an email with news their plans would be enhanced and would instead be in the actual hearing room, made possible by Nevada Democratic U.S. Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen. “Not only am I going to D.C. for the first time, not only am I going to a historical event, but I’m going to go in person,” Santana said. “That is insane.” The UNLV students were allowed in the hearing chambers for 30 minutes each. Afterward, they met the Nevada senators and their staffs. –Arleigh Rodgers
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
3.31.22
WATCH THIS
Comeback kids
The Golden Knights host Vancouver April 6 at 7 p.m.
G R A M M Y M G M
G R A N D
G A R D E N
A R E N A
W I L L
H O S T
T H E
Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel, right, celebrates with Chandler Stephenson after scoring against the Chicago Blackhawks during the third period March 26 at T-Mobile Arena. The Knights scored three goals in the first three minutes of the period to erase a 4-1 deficit and eventually win, 5-4, in overtime. It was defenseman Alec Martinez’s first game since taking a skate to the face on November 11. (Steve Marcus/Staff)
MUSIC
EDC announces lineup for May festival Electric Daisy Carnival will hold its second festival in seven months at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on May 20-22, following its wildly successful comeback from the pandemic in October, and has announced its lineup of hundreds of DJs and artists slated to perform. One of the highlights will undoubtedly be the May 21 set from Kx5, a new team-up project featuring Kaskade and Deadmau5, two of the biggest names in electronic dance music who each have Las Vegas club residencies. Other standout names include Alan Walker, Eric Prydz, Fisher, Jauz, Madeon, Porter Robinson, Alesso, Borgore, David Guetta, Deorro, DJ Snake, Duck Sauce, Paul Van Dyk, Tiësto, Vintage Culture, Yellow Claw, Armin van Buuren, Dillon Francis, Illenium, Lee Foss, Richie Hawtin, San Holo, Tchami, Tritonal and Zedd. Tickets for EDC Las Vegas 2022 are available at lasvegas.electricdaisycarnival. com. –Brock Radke
BY
T H E
IN THE NEWS
A W A R D S
A P R I L
3 .
3.26.2022
17I
N U M B E R S
27%
A recent survey by the Education Support Employees Association union found that more than a quarter of staffers felt threatened by a student in the past year, while 23% felt threatened by a parent. Clark County School District Police logged 6,827 calls for violent crimes over the first seven months of this school year.
18
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
3.31.22
BY SHANNON MILLER efore applying for nursing school in August 2021, Miranda Sanders says she and her colleagues saw how nurses were called to the front lines during the pandemic, and how the pandemic affected working conditions. But that didn’t turn her away from the career path. “It made me want to do it even more,” Sanders says. “With the shortage, there’s just such a great need in our society. And it’s very fulfilling to be able to fill that need.” Now in her second semester of nursing school at UNLV, Sanders started as a paid nurse apprentice at Sunrise Hospital on March 25. The position isn’t required for her degree, but she says other nurses recommended it. Sanders will be one of 18 nurse apprentices enrolled at UNLV, all of whom are gaining paid experience at local hospitals and healthcare facilities while working toward their associate’s or bachelor’s degrees. In January, Gov. Steve Sisolak said the state health department and board of nursing have called on eligible nursing students to “strongly consider” becoming a nurse apprentice to help with the “constant challenge” of staffing hospitals across the state. At press time, COVID-19 hospitalizations across the state continued “to decline to the lowest levels Nevada has experienced since March 2020,” and are not negatively impacting hospital capabilities, according to the Nevada Hospital Association. With a seven-day rolling average down to 123 new daily cases, the association recently reported less-serious “warning” levels for staffing in hospitals across the state—one notch down from the “crisis” levels that have persisted in previous months. After surpassing more than 10,000 COVID-19 deaths in Nevada, staffing issues continue to be a concern for officials, facilities and workers. Shortages of nurses are “not new,” according to Dr. Carrie Hintz, an
H E A L T H
B
HELPING HOSPITALS Solutions for Nevada’s long-standing nursing shortage prove elusive
3.31.22
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
19I
(Shutterstock/ Photo Illustration)
timately had to hire travel nurses and implement mandatory overtime. Without disclosing the number of employees who took advantage of the program, UMC spokesman Scott Kerbs claims that the voluntary separation program from two years ago is “not relevant” to current staffing levels at the hospital. Since the hospital announced in early March that it was re-implementing the policy, more nurses have signed up for voluntary shifts. Currently, fewer than 20% of the hospital’s nursing units require mandatory overtime, Kerbs says. He adds that the hospital contracts with a “large number” of travel nurses, and hopes to call off mandatory overtime shifts “whenever possible, depending on patient volumes.” Since January, UMC has brought on 41 nurses and expects to continue hiring in the coming months. Since 2019, the total number of bedside nurses at the hospital has increased by 119, Kerbs says. “In support of our commitment to patient safety, UMC maintains the best nurse-to-patient ratio in the state,” he adds. As she considers future employers, Sanders says, she has concerns about understaffing causing unsafe work environments. She says nurses can’t be as effective making serious decisions when they have too many patients. “It just motivates me to make sure I’m working at hospitals that do have safe ratios,” Sanders says, adding that facilities without good nurse-to-patient ratios will likely will face greater shortages. On the other hand, Hintz says, fixing ratios won’t fully address factors contributing to the nationwide nursing shortage. “It’s not just about the number of nurses in a particular area. It’s about turnover and retention,” she says, adding that ancillary staff, training, work environment and other factors—
which vary by region and facility—need to be considered when making policies that aim to address the shortage across healthcare facilities. “They have to allocate that money from somewhere,” Hintz says. “When California put ratios in, they got rid of a lot of ancillary staff. And sometimes, you don’t need another nurse. You need a tech or CNA [Certified Nursing Assistant] that can walk your patient to the bathroom, take their vitals. With ratios, it only takes one bad patient to [ruin your night.] And there’s no flexibility for the number of patients [they’re handling.]” Sanders says she’s eager to gain additional experience in a hospital as she works toward her degree and certification, and students like her can help take some tasks off workers’ plates. “If they’re facing a shortage right now, then that is a possible solution to help them, just to decrease the workloads of nurses by allowing nurse [apprentices] to do the everyday basic things that just take up their time,” Sanders says. But getting qualified students and nurses into facilities won’t be enough to address staffing issues that have been mounting for decades, Hintz says. After members of Congress asked the White House COVID-19 Task Force to investigate travel nurse agencies for “price gouging,” the American Nurses Association released a statement in February calling attention to “chronic causes of cyclical nursing shortages that have occurred over the past 50 years.” “More needs to be done to effectively investigate and mitigate the root causes of nursing shortages,” the association stated. “Changes must be made in providing better work environments, appropriate compensation and benefits, and making patient safety a top priority to attract and retain nurses today and in the future.”
NEWS
associate professor of nursing at UNR. “Nevada has traditionally struggled with nursing. Up here in the north, there are five schools that feed into Northern Nevada hospitals, and we still have a shortage,” she says, adding that the issue has gained more attention recently because of a “historic” increase in well-paid travel nurse opportunities. Originally from Elko, Hintz spent most of her 15-year nursing career in rural parts of Nevada. She says those areas are getting hit “particularly hard,” because they have less resources. According to a recent report, six of Nevada’s 13 rural hospitals (46%) are at risk of closing, with two at “immediate risk.” The report, from the national policy group Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform, also finds that nationwide, more than a quarter of rural hospitals are at risk of closing due to financial difficulties—both pre-existing and those exacerbated or brought on by the pandemic. “If you look from a global context and across the country, hospitals are decommissioning beds, closing down lines of service. So, we’re going to see more [of that],” Hintz says, adding that many facilities decommissioned beds during the pandemic to adjust for staff shortages. Hospitals have taken different approaches to dealing with financial issues throughout the pandemic. For example, during the summer of 2020, Clark County officials approved a plan to cut $14 million in costs for the publicly funded University Medical Center (UMC) by implementing a hiring freeze and offering early retirement. One nurse, who asked that her name not be disclosed, says she remembers about 10 nurses or ancillary workers taking the offer and leaving her department at UMC before the second and third surges of COVID cases. “It was a great idea, but unfortunately not at the right time,” she says, adding that the hospital ul-
20
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
3.31.22
VARIETY! AT THE DISCO Amy Saunders at Cheapshot (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
C U L T U R E
Cheapshot brings cabaret shenanigans and good old-fashioned boogie to Fremont East
3.31.22
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
21I
CHEAPSHOT 517 Fremont St. #110, cheapshotdtlv. com. Tuesday-Sunday, 7 p.m.-close. Alesso (AP Photo/ Photo Illustration)
BY GEOFF CARTER For just $25—a fraction of what you’d pay for a comparable Strip show—Cheapshot will give you 90 minutes of aerial routines, stand-up, juggling, drag and more. Mavericks will feel intimate, old-school and perhaps even slightly dangerous, and even if some performances repeat from night to night, no two shows will be alike. “It’ll be down and dirty,” Saunders says. “I’ve always liked shows like that.” The venue has still more to offer. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday nights, Cheapshot will operate as a piano bar, featuring Viral Live star Sarah Hester Ross. And following Mavericks performances, the cabaret will transform into “a proper disco,” Saunders says, plainly relishing the way that word rolls off the tongue. “[Vegas has] plenty of exclusive nightclubs, loud and big nightclubs. But there’s not that many that are just fun and easy and chill,” she says. “Ain’t nothing wrong with just a disco.” She intends for the playlist to lean towards “20th century classics”—pop, punk, soul, funk, reggae, “everything [from] before 2000,” she chuckles—but promises that DJs will watch the crowd and give it what it wants. “One of our taglines is ‘Everyone’s a VIP,’” Saunders says. “Everything’s welcome here, which means everybody’s got to be nice to everybody, because everybody’s OK.”
SUPERHERO DJ From ‘The Batman’ to Tao Beach, Alesso is living his best life BY BROCK RADKE n This year has already been a big one for Alesso, the Swedish DJ and producer behind dance megahits like “If I Lose Myself,” “Under Control” and “Let Me Go.” He started by releasing his long-awaited collaboration with Katy Perry, “When I’m Gone,” which the duo performed on Saturday Night Live after Perry featured the track in her Resorts World Las Vegas residency show. Alesso then announced that he’ll be joining Bad Bunny’s stadium tour later this year, which lands in Las Vegas in September, and dropped news of his new Tao Group residency, which will make him one of the lead-off artists at the brand-new Tao Beach Dayclub at the Venetian. “All this stuff has happened pretty fast, and it’s only March,” Alesso tells the Weekly. “It’s like I can’t even keep up with everything, but it feels like a blessing. I feel like it’s been so quiet in the dance-music scene; we had all these plans for 2020, then nothing was possible. I was hoping all this stuff would come to life, and some came sooner than I thought.” On April 2, he’ll return to play Omnia at Caesars Palace—where he has only performed a few times—before his slew of summer Tao Beach dates kicks off on April 23. “It’s just so exciting to be a part of this,” Alesso says. “I love the guys from Tao Group. They’ve always been the best at what they do, so it was kind of a no-brainer. The dayclub is going to be something else.” Oh, and there’s that other musical project he recently completed, the fulfillment of a lifelong dream that could catapult his career in an exciting new direction. Alesso is a big-time Batman fanatic, and the filmmakers behind new installment The Batman invited him to contribute to its soundtrack. The result is moody, ominous cut “Dark,” which can be heard in the movie. Scoring a big blockbuster has “always been a goal and a dream,” he says. “The opportunity to do this came, and … I said yes right away. I got to go to the premiere and see the film, and hearing the song then was a different kind of happiness I’ve ever felt before. In the future, I definitely want to do more of that.” For our full conversation with Alesso, go to lasvegasweekly.com. ALESSO April 2, 10:30 p.m., $30-$50+. Omnia Nightclub, events.taogroup.com.
NIGHTS
“It’s not a classic showroom; it’s a showroom and discotheque,” Amy Saunders says of Cheapshot, the 99-seat variety club opening in Downtown’s former Don’t Tell Mama space. She considers a moment, then adds, “It’s kind of like a bawdy old bar.” It will no doubt be that, thanks to its host and impresario. Saunders, known locally for the former Bally’s hit The Miss Behave Gameshow, can make any space a showplace. As a gold lameclad master of ceremonies she can sweet-talk even the most drunken and obnoxious of crowds into rapt submission, and she holds a Guinness World Record for sword swallowing. But Cheapshot, a collaboration between Saunders and Ryan Doherty’s Corner Bar group, is specifically built to be the kind of variety cabaret space the British-born Saunders has become accustomed to performing and producing shows in around the world. To a degree, the bawdiness is baked-in. And Mavericks, Saunders’ “high-speed cornucopia of comedy, burlesque, circus, singing and more,” which opens at Cheapshot on April 1, should deliver the kind of sexy madness the once and future Miss Behave can bring with a hand tied behind her back. “We’re starting with what I think that venue—and Downtown—could really use, which is a good old-fashioned variety show, just done faster,” Saunders says.
22 6
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
3.31.22
BY AMBER SAMPSON
C U L T U R E
NOISE
LOCAL SPIN
New music from Ted Sablay, Ted Rader and more
Ted Sablay You’ll Be Back Here Soon
XXYYZZ Waxed Pulp
Kat Kalling “Wish U the Best”
Neon “No Smoke”
The pandemic might have postponed The Killers’ latest world tour, but it also gave touring guitarist Ted Sablay the momentum he needed to finish his first full-length solo album. On You’ll Be Back Here Soon, Sablay, who has performed with The Killers for the past 15 years, steps wholly into his own musical identity here, presenting strong, harmonious vocals and catchy, can’t-get-them-outof-your-head hooks. Sablay holds nothing back on this 10-track LP, oscillating between regret, sadness and love like a swinging pendulum of catharsis. It’s an impressive debut that warrants immediate, repeated plays. tedsablay.com
From The Mad Caps to The Magic Family to Inhuman Again, singer, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Ted Rader has proven time and again that he’s a musical world-builder worthy of our attention. He recently launched electronic project XXYYZZ with Magic Family mate Jose Torres—also known for his work with Vegas acts Leather Lungs and The Acid Sisters—and the pair recently released debut EP Waxed Pulp. “Jose and I have been getting together for about a year experimenting with hardware synthesizers and sequencers,” Rader says. “The inspiration was really to make music with just those tools and to avoid the use of computers.” Rader and Torres accomplish it with expert precision. Whispery vocals drown in distortion under synthesized dance beats, while wobbly waves of sound reverberate. It plays like an evening out in space, a lift off from the gravity of our lives into something far more infinite and free. linktr.ee/theexxyyzz
Singer-songwriter Kat Kalling finds clarity on this emotional ballad, supported by simple keys and a steady, throbbing beat. She reigns listeners in with powerful storytelling and an even greater lesson in self-care, as her voice coasts through the chorus like a skipped pebble, creating something of an echo—and an earworm. She exhibits just the right amount of vocal control here, equal parts vulnerability and strength. linktr.ee/katkalling
The latest single from this Vegas artist, whose influences include Solange, Erykah Badu and Missy Elliot, demands your attention—and your presence on the dancefloor. “No Smoke,” featuring local MC Kenyadda, plays like a fresh, ’70s-inspired classic. At its essence, the song is an anthemic plea to remain drama-free. “Just keep it cool/Don’t act like a lame/Keep it a bop/I’ll do the same,” Neon sings over funky guitar licks, breezing through the dance-driven pop number with style, soul and substance worthy of her muses. linktr.ee/neon1
Theo “Swing in Peace” & “Chose Violence” The North Las Vegas rapper with the fleet-footed flow returns with two singles produced by locals QuixkMadeIt and Noize. “With ‘Swing in Peace’ I wanted to capture a feeling that lets you escape reality for a few minutes,” Theo says. “We created a whole bounce vibe that lets you close your eyes and be a superhero.” Throughout the track, Theo rapidly burns through bars about Spider-Man, building energy and desire to just “swing in peace.” Meanwhile, on “Chose Violence,” the rapper unloads pent-up aggression with Vegas battle-rap master Miles Low. Both tracks are well-produced and indicative, Theo says, of more music to come. Theonlvmusic.com
T H E U LT I M AT E
WEIGHT
LOSS PROGRAM
▶ Initial Medical Consultation ▶ Full Body Composition Analysis ▶ EKG (if required) ▶ RX for (3) month Appetite Suppressants ▶ (12) Weekly B12 Injections ▶ Bi-Weekly Body Composition Analysis ▶ Medication for (3) month treatment
395
$ $
NEW PATIENTS ONLY, CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH OTHER OFFERS.
2
www.iuventusmedcenter.com (702) 919-1099
CONVENIENT LOCATIONS
3365 E. Flamingo Road, Ste 2 Las Vegas, NV 89121 4966 S Rainbow Blvd STE 100 Las Vegas, NV 89118
IMPROVE THE WAY YOU LOOK, FEEL & PERFORM! TRT SPECIAL OFFER
$149 INCLUDES: Medical Consultation Physical Exam Full Body Composition Analysis Lab Work (CBC, PSA Total & Reflex, Total & Free Testosterone Levels) ▶ Follow-Up Consultation for Labs Interpretation ▶ Initial Dose of Medication ▶ ▶ ▶ ▶
2
www.iuventusmedical.com (702) 457-3888
CONVENIENT LOCATIONS
3365 E FLAMINGO ROAD STE 2, LAS VEGAS, NV 89121 4966 S RAINBOW BLVD STE 100, LAS VEGAS, NV 89118
24
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
3.31.22 UKRAINIAN BENEFIT SHOW March 31, 9 p.m., $65-$90. V Theater, vtheaterbox office.com.
C U L T U R E
THE STRIP
Jenny and Vittorio Arata (Courtesy)
SHOW OF SUPPORT
Ukrainian performers raise money for humanitarian aid with a show at Planet Hollywood
BY SHANNON MILLER Local Ukrainian performer Jenny Arata says she would be overcome with grief, if it weren’t for the support of her community. The past several weeks have been very hard emotionally, as she watches the violence of the Russian military invasion unfold in her home country, where some of her relatives remain. After surviving a bombing raid, Jenny’s sister and her children fled to Poland,
leaving their husband and father behind to abide by President Volodymyr Zelensky’s order for men age 18 to 60 to stay and aid in Ukraine’s military efforts. Relatives and friends who didn’t escape are taking shelter in basements, and helping their neighbors as best as they can. “We’re aware, every hour, of what’s going on and what they’re doing. And we’re just so passionate to help them as much as we can,” Jenny says. She and husband Vittorio Arata, who perform together as the Skating Aratas in V – The Ultimate Variety Show at the V Theater at the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood, say rallying for Ukraine and humanitarian aid is giving them motivation to put one foot in front of the other during this crisis. Having raised $55,000 in partnership with their church earlier this month, the Aratas are just getting started in their show of support. They’ve assembled eight Ukrainian performers for a March 31 show at V Theater to benefit humanitarian efforts. Cast members from Absinthe and Cirque Du Soleil shows were eager to participate. When introduced to the audience, each act will have an opportunity to highlight their organization of choice. In the show, and throughout the ongoing
conflict, the Aratas are focusing on Republic Pilgrim, an orphanage in southern Ukraine that they say has become “a war shelter” not just for children, but anyone who needs help and medical attention. The couple also hope to send more funds to volunteers “on the ground”—friends with whom they are communicating as often as possible. They say one of their friends in the restaurant business in Kyiv has organized a group of people to make 3,000 meals a day for those who are homebound. “That’s why we are trying so hard to raise the money directly, because we have people there already,” Vittorio says. The Aratas say they’ve felt support not only from their circle of colleagues, but also from audiences cheering at the sight of a Ukraine flag, and from the city in general. “I have goosebumps, and tears in my eyes,” Jenny says of her reaction to audiences “screaming” for the flag and Ukrainian performers, “as hard as it is to be onstage and perform … because all I want is to just be, crying, pretty much, and depressed. But as soon as I come out onstage, and I feel that energy and support, it gives me that drive to go—just to go in and finish strong.” Those unable to attend the performance but interested in donating can do so at bit.ly/3Llxiou.
A PLACE THAT CAN TAKE YOU ANYPLACE Embark on an African safari. Explore the depths of space. Sip cocktails in a Tokyo night market. Immerse yourself in the world’s most extraordinary experiences, at AREA15 in Las Vegas. Through the combination of state-of-the-art technology such as 4K interactive projection, 360° audio, in-floor vibrations, and scent systems, Illuminarium allows you to experience cinematic immersion like never before.
ILLUMINARIUM.COM/LASVEGAS
TICKETS ON SALE NOW PUBLICATION: LAS VEGAS WEEKLY
TRIM: 9.375" X 5.3125" BLEED: .125" ALL SIDES SAFETY: .25" ALL SIDES
FINAL MELTING POINT EX TRACTS
FOLLOW US FOR A
CHANCE TO WIN $100 GIFT CARD! DON’T SETTLE FOR ANYTHING BUT THE BEST.
ELEVATE YOUR STANDARD AT THESE DISPENSARIES TODAY:
@mpx_us
26
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
3.31.22
C U L T U R E
Kusa Nori’s misoyaki black cod, crab Kryptonite, poke salad, kanpachi carpaccio, pork tomahawk and more (Wade Vandervort/ Staff)
QUIETLY
T REFINED Don’t sleep on Resort World’s Japanese spot, Kusa Nori BY EVELYN MATEOS
he competition for the unofficial title of most extravagant casino on the Strip is fierce. One of the most important components is fine dining, one Resorts World clearly takes seriously. Kusa Nori, its stylish Japanese bistro with a sushi bar and teppanyaki grill, could help the resort’s lineup rise to the top. The dimly lit modern space is an experience of its own. Diners will be enchanted by the oversized fish and paper crane sculptures hanging overhead, along with
the painting of a black octopus stretching its tentacles behind the sushi bar. Begin your evening with the kanpachi carpaccio ($28), a refreshing starter with fresh slices of the Hawaiian yellowtail along with grapes, watermelon radish, ponzu, micro shiso, shiso oil and squid ink. Another great starter is the crab Kryptonite ($28), a mouthwatering mix of king crab and snow crab with tobiko, shiitake mushrooms and pearl and green onions in spicy mayo. The crab meat dynamite is set inside the
carapace of a crab, creating a memorable visual experience. Dive into the main event with the nori sashimi moriawase ($75), a selection of the chef’s choice of 10 pieces of sashimi. Featuring bright shades of orange and creamy pinks, this dish will confirm just how fresh Kusa Nori’s seafood offerings are. There’s a solid selection of maki and specialty rolls. Take a break from the California roll and try the Silver State ($32) instead, with king crab, avocado, cucumber, arare rice cracker, tobiko and premi-
3.31.22
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
27I
KUSA NORI Resorts World, 702-6766965. Tuesday-Thursday, 5:30-10 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 5:3010:30 p.m.
HARDCORE HANDMADE
(left) Treats at Fatty’s; (insert, from left) Allyson Yaecker, Julio Cerda and Savannah King (Christopher DeVargas/ Staff)
Arts District bakery Fatty’s doesn’t compromise on quality BY SHANNON MILLER
(salted, pickled ginger). Add the Cherry Blossom cocktail to your meal, built on Japanese Roku gin and as brisk as its name implies with a flowery finish. It’s the perfect drink for spring. Then wrap it all up with the Rakkasei Layer Crunch Bar ($15), a decadent dessert with peanut butter layers, Valrhona cremeaux and praline crunch. It’s basically the fanciest Snickers bar you’ll ever try, with a bonus side of vanilla bean ice cream. You’ll be deeply satisfied after a night at Kusa Nori.
to buttermilk biscuit breakfast sandwiches—is handmade. “When we come to work, it’s not work to me. It’s what we love to do,” Yaecker says. “Not to be cliché, but there’s literally love in everything, because we’re the ones doing it. There’s no machine—it’s just our hands.” Quality control also applies to the people behind the food. Yaecker and co-owner Savannah King and baker Julio Cerda say they couldn’t have reopened in December 2021 without support from one another. From buying ingredients to baking, assembling, selling and advertising, the three amigos take care of all aspects of business. The self-proclaimed “black sheep” of local bake shops is planning a fourth anniversary celebration in April. Find more details on Instagram @fattyslv.
FATTY’S 1015 S. Third St., 702-971-2323, fattysdtlv.com. Tuesday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
FOOD & DRINK
um sweet soy. Or consider the Battle Born roll ($34), which includes seared yakitoro, Japanese cucumber, Welsh onion, toro tartare, chili garlic and yuzu aioli. This section of the menu will have diners humming, but don’t skip over the entrées. The misoyaki black cod ($38) took chef Ryan Nuqui seven years to perfect, and the result is worth the wait. It offers pleasing tastes and textures, tender fish covered in a crunchy wakame arare crust, with yuzu sake foam, edamame, carrots, pearl onions and hajikami
n When Fatty’s moved into the Arts District in 2018, it didn’t receive a very warm welcome. Surprise road construction crushed the bakery’s retail sales for a year. Then, on the same day that Fatty’s was set to reopen its storefront, the governor announced mandatory business closures to slow the spread of COVID-19. “It was the deciding factor— do we close the doors? Or do we reinvent it and finally do the bakery we want?” says co-owner Allyson Yaecker. At the height of quarantine, the punk-rock bake shop dug in its heels, developed recipes and doubled down on its DIY style. Cupcakes like the best-selling churro flavor are stuffed with cream and literally flipped on their heads. Each of the walls inside the shop features a different local graffiti artist. And everything— from cake mixes and toppings
28
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
3.31.22
C U L T U R E
LIGHT IT UP Las Vegas’ United Soccer League franchise returns to action, and game days are wilder than ever BY RAY BREWER
O
range County SC’s Abraham Romero jogged over to the goalie box for the start of a road game against the Las Vegas Lights and was immediately greeted by playful banter from the home team’s support group. That’s how it goes at Cashman Field, where the Lights’ biggest fans neither sit nor stay silent. They’re always front and center on game day, impacting the match by chanting fight songs, waving flags, shooting off colorful smoke bombs and, as the netminder Romero learned, talking some
friendly trash. “A game day in Vegas is not easy,” Romero says. “The fans really get into it, and I love that. I’ve never been one to take anything personally, and they make it more fun. But they can get under your skin.” That enthusiastic crowd will be in support of Romero instead of against him this year, since he’s now the Lights’ primary goalie. Romero made a big first impression when he tallied 20 saves in a 2-1 victory against the Phoenix Rising, one of the league’s consistent powers, in Las Vegas’ home opener
3.31.22
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
29I
Lights midfielder Danny Trejo (10) prepares to fire a shot during a March 19 win against Phoenix. (Courtesy Las Vegas Lights)
LIGHTS’ UPCOMING HOME GAMES April 9 vs. Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, 2 p.m. April 16 vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds, 7 p.m. April 23 vs. LA Galaxy II, 7 p.m. May 14 vs. Oakland Roots SC, 7 p.m. May 27 vs. El Paso Locomotive FC, 7 p.m. Tickets: $15-$50 at lightsfc.com/tickets, 702-728-4625 or tickets@lasvegaslightsfc.com.
MLS does arrive, it will have a built-in support system thanks in large part to his work with the Lights. Some wondered whether the franchise could draw a crowd to an older Downtown venue, but the Lights have consistently ranked in the top 10 for USL attendance. They averaged 6,092 fans in 2020 before the pandemic shut down the season. “What I really like [from the franchise] is that we are unique,” coach Enrique Duran says. “This is a unique environment for a game. It helps keep the fans engaged and coming back.” Duran and Lashbrook also hope the Lights’ play on the field keeps fans turning out. The franchise has yet to reach the playoffs—and suffered through a 6-23 record last season—but things are looking up. The Lights followed their opening win against Phoenix with a 5-4 victory at El Paso, with Jennings scoring twice. “What I am enjoying from this team is there is always an improvement from the players,” Duran says. “There isn’t a week where we go backwards.” Romero, who won a USL championship last season with Orange County, raves about the talent on the Lights’ roster. And, he says, “We have a fantastic locker room and team leaders. That will make this team worthy of competing in this league.”
SPORTS
March 19. Game days are never boring in Las Vegas, and that won’t change in the Lights’ fifth season. They put on one of soccer’s most unique productions, with Sports Illustrated having called the Lights “the most interesting team in the world” in 2018. That was after one of the franchise’s most notable productions, when a helicopter flew over the field at halftime and dropped $5,000 in small bills for select fans to scoop up on the field. It was one of many initiatives Lights CEO/owner Brent Lashbrook looks
back on with pride—and aims to top going forward. One of the unique stunts planned for this season: April 16’s Great American Doggie Derby, for which dogs will be permitted onto the field at halftime and after the game. One week later, on April 23, the Lights will host a halftime pillow fight on the field, with eyes on breaking the current world record of 7,681 participants. It could be said that the Lights’ field, which is open after each game for autograph sessions, truly belongs to the fans. Seven postgame fireworks displays are also on the schedule, and memorable mascot Dollie the llama is always around. “You always see players on the other team checking out the llama,” says Cal Jennings, the Lights’ top player. “That’s awesome.” Lashbrook, who previously served as chief operating officer for Orlando City SC, where he oversaw the club’s transition from USL to Major League Soccer, has never shied away from pushing the envelope for his team’s game-day experience. He strives to provide the casual fan with extra incentives to attend, with hopes they’ll fall in love with the team and the sport. According to reports, Las Vegas is in line to land an MLS expansion team in the coming years. Lashbrook isn’t commenting on that, because he’s not involved, but if the
AMY VILELA FOR CONGRESS · NV01
BECAUSE WE DESERVE MORE! A CHAMPION FOR WORKING FAMILIES ENDORSED BY
THE UNDERGROUND
Anniversary Party SATURDAY, APRIL 9 | 8 PM - MIDNIGHT
In 2020, Amy Vilela led the charge for Bernie’s landslide victory in the Nevada caucus. Now in 2022, she’s running for Congress herself to represent the people of Nevada’s First District.
Impeccably made cocktails, moonshine tastings and live jazz will transport you back in time to one of the most extraordinary eras in history.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
THEMOBMUSEUM.ORG • 702.229.2734
AMY VILELA’S CAMPAIGN IS 100% GRASSROOTS POWERED BY THE PEOPLE & CORPORATE-FREE!
CONTRIBUTE TODAY » AMYVILELA.ORG
@AMY4THEPEOPLE
Paid for by Amy Vilela for Congress.
3.31.22
LV W C OV E R S T O R Y
C H R I STO P H E R BY P H OTO G R A P H S
2 0 2 2
D E VA R G AS
A N D
WA D E
VA N D E RVO R T
“I used to think, ‘Who is going to let me?’ Now, I think, ‘Who is going to stop me?’” –Mary Bacon
31I
WAY E H T E G N A H C
YOU SEERLD THE WO
U O Y S E E S D L R O THE W
AY W E H T E G N A CH
TIONS OREES A L U T A R G N CO HON hool Executive MBA 0 4 R E D N U 2022 40 ds at UNLV Lee Business Sc n from your frie
Make the Executive Decision (702) 895-2628 | unlv.edu/emba
3.31.22
LV W C OV E R S T O R Y
2 0 2 2 SPECIAL NOTE
If the recent years have taught us anything, it’s to learn to get comfortable with change. I believe change is a good thing. It allows us to move forward in life and experience new and exciting adventures. Embracing change also gives us the opportunity to grow into a better version of ourselves—and creates a better, more engaged community. This year’s 40 Under 40 publication highlights the emerging business and community leaders who have risen to the challenge of these changing times and are paving the way for what’s next. Even better, they use their collective power for good—as changemakers in our community. There is certainly no shortage of exemplary talent here. Our call for nominations resulted in hundreds of entries and our panel of judges read every submission. They carefully considered each nominee’s business acumen, charitable spirit and future potential. They looked for standouts in professional achievements, community service and overall influence on their respective industries. It’s never an easy task. The result is a list of the Valley’s most influential and accomplished young business leaders—entrepreneurs, innovators, advocates and philanthropists—all under the age of 40. Spanning nearly every industry, this year offers an incredibly diverse and dynamic group. These honorees are eager, dedicated and passionate young professionals. And while each offer something unique, they all bring a refreshing and encouraging promise of what’s to come. We are extremely thankful to UNLV Lee Business School Executive MBA Program for making our 2022 40 Under 40 publication a reality. A special thank you as well to Azilo Ultra Lounge at Sahara Las Vegas for hosting the celebration where we honor these trailblazers making Las Vegas a better place to work and live. Vegas Inc is proud to share their stories and celebrate their accomplishments. We hope you enjoy reading about them and get inspired by their passion—I know I did.
On behalf of the Lee Business School Executive MBA Program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, I would like to congratulate the 2022 40 under 40 honorees. You are Southern Nevada’s innovators, business leaders, entrepreneurs and philanthropists leading Las Vegas into the future. This year, professionals, like you, at the forefront of their industries will commit to the 18-month Executive MBA Program at UNLV to gain the skills necessary to advance and lead in an ever-changing business environment. The UNLV Executive MBA is a transformative learning experience designed to build better leaders, critical thinkers and strategists within the Las Vegas business community. Because the EMBA brings business leaders together to complete the program as a cohort, they experience the power of alternative ideas; build a lifetime of professional connections; and learn new ways to think about themselves, their organization and the world. 2022 is the year to invest in your future and prepare for your next career opportunity. The EMBA 18-month format is optimized and designed for maximum learning. We are currently accepting applications from qualified candidates for our next cohort that will start on June 3. The application deadline is April 15. Starting your program this year means you will complete your degree by December 2023. If you are looking to change the way you see the world and change the way the world sees you, contact me to discuss how the Executive MBA Program at UNLV can help you achieve those goals.
Sincerely, Nadine Bentis, Ed.D. Jennifer Inaba Special Publications Editor jennifer.inaba@gmgvegas.com
Interim Executive Director, Executive Education Lee Business School University of Nevada, Las Vegas
33I
34
LV W C OV E R S T O R Y
3.31.22
Age: 33 Hometown: LA/Las Vegas First Job: Tilly’s
FOOD
PENNY CHUTIMA Managing Partner, Lotus of Siam lotusofsiamlv.com @LotusofSiam Penny Chutima was born into the restaurant business. And though she tried to fight it, she’s found that it’s exactly where she belongs. Chutima has taken the reins of Lotus of Siam to bring the restaurant into the next era, while upholding her family’s legacy and tradition. Her goal is to not only create a beautiful cultural atmosphere for guests, but to also educate them about the food and the experiences of Thailand. Under Chutima’s leadership, Lotus of Siam continues to be a celebrity and foodie mecca, earning praise from a parade of respected food critics and industry leaders. With a people-first mentality, Chutima made it a priority to provide the Lotus team with fully-paid medical insurance and more than a living wage. She treats the staff as an extension of her family, with respect and care. Outside of the restaurant, Chutima and her family have organized a backpack drive for Whitney Elementary School for the past decade, providing students with school supplies.
(Wade Vandervort/Staff)
SAVOR YOUR FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS M U S I C .
C O C K TA I L S .
V I B E .
36
LV W C OV E R S T O R Y
3.31.22
HOTEL/GAMING
ASHLEY FA R K A S Executive Director of Public Relations, MGM Resorts International mgmresorts.com @ashleyafarkas Age: 37 Hometown: Westland, MI First Job: Public Relations Coordinator at The Venetian Ashley Farkas planned to be a broadcast journalist, but she found her joy in the world of PR. It’s probably no surprise that her favorite aspect of her job is media relations— the perfect marriage of her intended and actual career. She thrives on building buzz, creating awareness and driving business for brands. With MGM Resorts International, Farkas works with journalists and news outlets around the globe to share its world-class experiences and amenities when it comes to entertainment, restaurants, accommodations, attractions and more. And while securing a great placement exhilarates her, Farkas is most proud when witnessing the professional and personal growth of her team. To mentor and help them achieve their goals gives her purpose. Farkas’ giving spirit doesn’t stop at her day job. She regularly volunteers at Three Square Food Bank to pack lunches for those in need and she is an advocate for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Las Vegas Chapter and Be The Match Southwest District.
L AW
KARL RILEY Las Vegas Office Managing Partner, Cozen O’Connor cozen.com @korileyesq Age: 37 Hometown: Las Vegas First Job: Delivering Newspapers Karl Riley chose to become a lawyer because he wanted to help others, and he has spent his career doing just that. A commercial litigator and Las Vegas Office Managing Partner at Cozen O’Connor, Riley’s accomplishments are vast and impressive, but when asked about his career, he leads with the hundreds of hours of pro bono work he’s proud to do—including advocating for neglected and abused children with the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada. In the past year alone, Riley has successfully handled several major appeals and cases, including arguments before the California Court of Appeals and United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He has been recognized regionally and nationally for his work, including being named Trailblazer of the West by The American Lawyer in 2021. In addition to his extensive pro bono work, Riley serves as a mentor to others, with the goal of increasing the 5% of African American attorneys currently in the legal profession.
3.31.22
LV W C OV E R S T O R Y
37I
“I was once that student who benefited from nonprofits and community organizations, so it's only natural to give back what was once given to me.” –Johnny Dominguez
JOHNNY DOMINGUEZ Chief Program Officer, Q3 Student Partners q3studentpartners.com @q3studentpartners Age: 32 Hometown: Las Vegas First Job: Laborer
A first-generation college student himself, Johnny Dominguez has dedicated his career to increasing the percentage of first-generation students accessing, and ultimately completing, institutions of higher learning. And like a true community advocate, he’s more than happy to work behind the scenes to watch students reach their full potential and shine. As Q3 Student Partners’ first chief program officer, Dominguez is poised to help students even further by building a first-of-its-kind, community-based living learning program, offering affordable student housing with wrap-around support to pave a path for first-generation students from college to career. Dominguez never shies away from an opportunity to mentor and guide the younger generation. He’s a member of the Industry Leader Advisory Council, which advises the UNLV College of Liberal Arts dean’s office on professional development initiatives for undergraduate students. The council provides sustainable career education opportunities, as well as enhances the local Las Vegas hiring pipeline to promote students’ successful post-graduate careers.
NONPROFIT
SHANICE STEVENS Director of Education, Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada jasnv.org @jasouthernnv Age: 32 Hometown: Las Vegas First Job: Student Tutor – Homework Hotline on PBS
Shanice Stevens chose her career path to be a support system for minority communities, and she has made it her mission to help educate and uplift others. A true agent of change, Stevens is not only an advocate for education— she’s an advocate for the children and teenagers of Southern Nevada. Stevens is a principled leader who empowers her team and creates a collaborative working environment for everyone. One of her proudest accomplishments was being able to pivot operations during the pandemic and provide virtual resources for educators, students and their families. Stevens looks forward to the day Junior Achievement programming is a statewide, implemented curriculum for all K-12 students. Active in the community on all levels, Stevens is involved with many local organizations. Among others, she’s on the executive board of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Las Vegas Alumnae Chapter and is on the board for Code Switch: Restorative Justice for Girls of Color.
(Christopher DeVargas/Staff)
E D U C AT I O N
Congratulations
STEPHANIE CAPELL AS Vice President of Public Relations for being honored as one of Vegas Inc’s 2022 40 Under 40
CONGRATULATIONS TO DINISHA MINGO, CEO & DIRECTOR OF M.H.S. BEHAVIORAL SERVICES, INC. FOR BEING A VEGAS INC 40 UNDER 40 HONOREE
We see market leading excellence Congratulations Aaron West Vegas Inc’s 40 Under 40 Thank you for empowering our professionals to be enterprising,
MHS BEHAVORIAL SERVICES, INC. provides outpatient therapeutic counseling services to help those dealing with behavioral, emotional, and mental health needs to learn coping techniques to stabilize themselves. MHS also specializes in Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) working with children who have diagnoses on the Autism Spectrum.
NOW HIRING!
Contact us to learn more.
(702) 848-1696
www.MHSBehavioralServices.com 2715 East Russell Road, Las Vegas, NV 89120
exceed expectations, and deliver innovative client results.
Managing Director | Las Vegas
Feel like your provider isn’t setting you up for success? Switch to one who will. • 24/7 support and network monitoring • Internet with 99.9% network reliability • Voice solutions you can manage from any device, in and out of the office
50 Mbps Internet & IP Centrex Select
$
84
/mo*
with a 1-year term agreement
Get a $300 Cox Business Visa® Prepaid Card After online redemption.† Mention “reward promo” to qualify.
Call (702) 939-1146 or visit coxbusiness.com to switch today *Offer ends 9/30/22. Available to new commercial data and voice subscribers (excluding gov’t agencies and schools) in Cox service areas. $84/mo includes Cox Business Internet SM 50 and IPC Select. Price based on 1 yr. term agreement. Early term. fees may apply. Standard rates apply thereafter. Price excludes equipment, professional installation, construction, inside wiring, taxes, surcharges and other fees, unless indicated. Offer is nontransferable to a new service address. All Cox services are provided subject to Cox Business General Terms (including mandatory arbitration provisions), Acceptable Use Policy (including Cox’s right to terminate service for abuse of network), and other policies, which may be found at www.cox.com/aboutus/policies/business-general-terms.html. CB Internet: Uninterrupted or error-free Internet service, or the speed of your service, is not guaranteed. Actual speeds vary. Rates and bandwidth options vary and are subject to change. DOCSIS 3.0 or higher modem may be required, unless indicated. See www.cox.com/internetdisclosures for complete Cox Internet Disclosures. IPC Select: 15-seat maximum. IPC Select is limited to direct-dialed domestic calls and is not available for use with non-switched-circuit calling. Desktop app included; physical handsets may be purchased separately from Cox. Access to E911 may not be available during equipment or extended power outage. Telephone services are provided by an affiliated Cox entity. Services are not available in all areas. Discounts can’t be combined or added with other promotions nor applied to any other Cox account. †Visa prepaid card available with qualifying new services ordered and activated between 4/1/22 and 9/30/22 with min 1 yr. term agreement for Cox Business Internet SM and IPC Select. Must mention “reward promo" when placing order. Account must remain active, be in good standing, and retain all services for a min of 30 days after install. Online redemption req’d by 10/31/22 and must follow instructions rec’d after service activation. Limit one card per customer, total not to exceed $300. Allow 15 days after redemption for delivery. Card is issued by MetaBank®, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. No cash access or recurring payments. Can be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted. Card valid for up to 6 months; unused funds will forfeit after the valid thru date. Card terms and conditions apply. Other restrictions apply. © 2022 Cox Communications Inc. All rights reserved. PAD108433-0002
40
LV W C OV E R S T O R Y
3.31.22
“I have learned to recognize that the risk is usually worth the reward and when it feels right in your gut, take the leap.” –Stephanie Capellas
HOTEL/GAMING
STEPHANIE CAPELLAS Vice President of Public Relations, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas cosmopolitanlasvegas.com @cosmopolitan_lv @scapellas Age: 37 Hometown: Cleveland First Job: Advertising Assistant
For more than 15 years, Stephanie Capellas has been making her mark in Las Vegas. Working for world-class organizations such as Cirque du Soleil and Hakkasan Group led her to her current role with The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, where she delivers impactful public relations campaigns, global brand awareness, reputation management and billions of earned media impressions annually. At just 37 years old, Capellas is one of the youngest VP-level executives on the Las Vegas Strip. During her tenure at the Cosmopolitan, Capellas has spearheaded the strategic rollout of major capital investments, including the resort’s $500 million redevelopment under Blackstone Group’s ownership, the introduction of first-to-market concepts for the resort’s world-renowned Restaurant Collection and the unveiling of 21 exclusive Boulevard Penthouses. Capellas serves on the board of directors for Nevada Public Radio. She is also part of The Cosmopolitan’s Charitable Committee and Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force, and since 2019, has been mentor in the Public Relations Society of America national mentorship program. (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
Cozen O’Connor congratulates and applauds our colleague Karl Riley and all of the 2022 Vegas Inc. 40 Under Forty honorees. 775 attorneys | 31 offices | cozen.com © 2022 Cozen O’Connor
The Emerald Island Casino and Rainbow Club Casino congratulate Courtney and are proud and assured of her continued success! MJ Dean Construction, Inc. would like to congratulate Michael Sukeyasu for being selected to the Vegas Inc 40 Under 40 Class of 2022. www.mjdeanconstruction.com
Congratulations, Ashley! St. Jude’s Ranch for Children already knows what a phenomenal woman you are and now the valley does too! Thank you for being a St. Jude’s Ranch for Children Board Member, our Wine Women & Shoes event emcee, a community leader, and a force for good. Cheers to all the 2022 40 under 40
honorees! honorees!
Learn more about us! stjudesranch.org
Courtney Garland Director of Operations Emerald Island and Rainbow Club Casinos
LV W C OV E R S T O R Y
3.31.22
TECHNOLOGY R E TA I L
VLADI BERGMAN CEO & Founder, Karma and Luck karmaandluck.com @karmaandluck @vladibergman Age: 39 Hometown: Haifa, Israel First Job: Grocery Store Vladi Bergman was always fascinated by diverse cultures. After traveling extensively across the globe, he was inspired to open Karma and Luck, a space for spirituality in retail and e-commerce where customers could tour his favorite parts of the world through unique jewelry and home décor. What Bergman started as a modest kiosk in 2015 has grown into an award-winning, multimillion-dollar international brand with nine national locations—with New York, Miami and Los Angeles slated for 2022. Karma and Luck was recognized as one of the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies in 2021. Giving back is foundational to good karma and it is at the core of Bergman’s work. For every Feng Shui Tree sold, Karma and Luck donates a portion of the proceeds to Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada, donating almost $25,000 to date. Bergman also created the Red String Protection bracelet to support Three Square. Each bracelet sold provides three meals to feed the hungry in Southern Nevada—and the bracelets have helped nearly 35,000 families thus far.
MANICK BHAN CTO/Founder, LinkGraph linkgraph.io manickbhan.com @linkgraph.io Age: 34 Hometown: Baltimore, MD First Job: Investment Banking Analyst A growth hacker, data scientist and skilled programmer, Manick Bhan’s greatest passion is SEO. With LinkGraph, Bhan helps clients around the globe outrank competitors with data-driven SEO services and software—earning the title of No. 1 Start-Up Agency by the U.S. Search Awards in 2021. Bhan is constantly innovating to give brands tangible tools to grow their online visibility. And with LinkGraph’s all-in-one SEO software suite, SearchAtlas, he is effectively helping over 30,000 customers do just that. As an animal rights advocate and humanitarian, philanthropy is extremely important to Bhan and is one of LinkGraph’s core values. Bhan is the director of Animal Heroes Fund, which offers grants, free classes, software and services to nonprofit organizations working to help farmed animals. He is also a frequent supporter of Ranch Island Rescue Sanctuary. Additionally, through the LinkGraph Cares program, Bhan donates a percentage of its monthly revenue to social justice and environmental organizations—giving $100,000 to charities last year.
(Vladi Bergman by Wade Vandervort/Staff; Manick Bhan by Christopher DeVargas/Staff)
42
3.31.22
LV W C OV E R S T O R Y
“My entire career has been rooted in giving back through service. I take pride in being part of the change I want to see in the world.” –Ashley Burney
P U B L I C R E L AT I O N S
AUTOMOTIVE
FINANCE
ASHLEY BURNEY
JOSE ESPINOZA
CALEB DAWKINS
Ashley Burney is a visionary leader who inspires others to think big and believe in themselves. For the last 17 years, she has fueled the desire to help others through her work with nonprofits such as United Way of Southern Nevada, Communities In Schools of Southern Nevada, Project 150 and the Tyler Robinson Foundation. Through Heart to Heart, Burney leverages media, events, digital media and consulting services to empower, motivate and uplift women and their allies. Most recently, she partnered with the City of North Las Vegas Correctional Center to mentor incarcerated women and the Clark County School District to mentor students in elementary through high school. As a double brain-surgery survivor, Burney lives each day intentionally and to the fullest. She’s a champion for change and has dedicated her entire career to serving the community and its most at-risk. She currently serves on the board of directors for St. Jude's Ranch for Children and as chair of its development committee.
The day Jose Espinoza walked away from his corporate banking job to follow his calling and open his own automotive shop was the scariest moment of his life—and also the most exciting. Inspired by his entrepreneurial parents, Espinoza opened Heritage Auto to provide honest and affordable collision repair, general mechanic services and classic auto restorations to the Las Vegas Valley. He is now working to evolve the brand to include subsidiary businesses such as custom engine builds, towing, tint and wraps. With 14 personal vehicles and a persistent love for classic cars, Espinoza has turned his dream into a reality. Espinoza believes in paying it forward and giving back to the community. He and his family are regular contributors to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada, Saint Therese Center HIV Outreach and Nevada Youth Network. He also hosts an annual “truck or treat” car show with Sin City Crew Cabs for the community to have a safe and fun space to celebrate Halloween.
Growing up, Caleb Dawkins wanted to understand how to manage wealth, and the desire propelled his career in finance. He is now a founding member of a private bank office and a top performer within J.P. Morgan across the country. Working closely with entertainers, athletes and tech entrepreneurs, Dawkins advises clients on financial strategies designed to grow, manage and preserve their income. His passion though is educating Black and Brown families on ways to create generational wealth. Dawkins teams up with several nonprofits that teach financial literacy to help bridge the wealth gap in the United States, holding board seats at Nevada Partners and the Fulfillment Fund Las Vegas. He also works to increase the dialogue within J.P. Morgan through initiatives that include Advancing Black Pathways and the Diversity Wealth Initiative. In his free time, Dawkins enjoys hiking, boxing and CrossFit. He is also a self-proclaimed film buff who loves going to the movies.
Founder and President, Heart To Heart LLC hearttoheartspeaks.com | @hearttoheartllc @successful_one Age: 36 Hometown: Anchorage, AK First Job: McDonalds
President, Heritage Auto heritageautolv.com | @heritage_autolv Age: 35 Hometown: Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico First Job: McDonalds
(Ashley Burney by Wade Vandercort/Staff; Jose Espinoza & Caleb Dawkins by Christopher DeVargas/Staff)
Banker, J.P. Morgan Private Bank privatebank.jpmorgan.com Age: 27 Hometown: North Las Vegas First Job: Regal Theatre in Aliante Hotel and Casino
43I
LV W C OV E R S T O R Y
3.31.22
“At some point, my voice became a bullhorn, and I use that bullhorn to help ordinary, hardworking people navigate a system that has been cruel towards them.”
NONPROFIT
–Athar Haseebullah
AT H A R HASEEBULLAH Executive Director, American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada aclunv.org | @aclunv | @iamthemoolah
Athar Haseebullah chose to be a lawyer after years of bad adolescent experiences—watching his mom face discrimination in her workplace, seeing his dad denied quality medical care and personally as a Muslim American in a post-9/11 era. He wanted to be a voice for those who didn't have one. While Hassebullah is a lawyer by trade, he’s an even more extraordinary community organizer and advocate. At the ACLU, he works to advance civil liberties and civil rights through outreach, policy and legal initiatives. When he became the executive director, ACLU Nevada had the highest revenue generating year in the organization's history. Hassebullah has led two major warrant quashing events in Southern Nevada to help those who couldn't afford to pay their traffic warrants and during the Nevada Legislative Session, he was active in the passage of Assembly Bill 371, which created a protocol for racism in schools. Hassebullah also serves as president for the local chapter the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, as a board member for the Urban Chamber of Commerce, an education and youth justice pillar lead for Nevada Partners, and as a national advisor to Educate Civil Rights Now.
Age: 34 Hometown: Las Vegas First Job: Document Shredder
(Christopher DeVargas/Staff)
44
LV W C OV E R S T O R Y
3.31.22
E N T E R TA I N M E N T
T I F FA N Y MILLER (BOSMAN) Director of Marketing, AEG Presents Las Vegas @AEGPresentsLV @TiffanyRoseMiller Growing up in Detroit, Tiffany Miller has always been drawn to live music and spent her childhood going to concerts with her father. She began her career working at radio stations before moving to Las Vegas and landing in the nightlife industry. In 2017, Miller found herself called back to her concert roots and began her role with AEG Presents. High-energy, unique challenges and the variety of talent found in the live entertainment industry inspire Miller. She weathered the pandemic and was part of the team that executed the first concert at Allegiant Stadium in 2020. She plays an active role in coordinating artist involvement in various charitable organizations, including John Fogerty’s involvement on Veteran’s Village initiatives, and now she’s working to set up monthly volunteer opportunities for AEG Presents employees. Recently married, Miller is looking forward to what the future holds both personally and professionally in the constantly evolving landscape of live entertainment in Las Vegas. Age: 37 Hometown: Detroit First Job: Bakery
HOTEL / GAMING
R YA N SCOTT Vice President of Commercial Strategy – Gaming Operations, Aristocrat aristocrat.com @ryanscott19 Age: 31 Hometown: Las Vegas First Job: Special Projects Coordinator at M Resort Despite managing a major portfolio of slot titles at Aristocrat, including Buffalo, Dragon Link and Game of Thrones, Ryan Scott attributes his success to his relationships with his team and customers. Scott is a people person, and when reflecting on his career, he believes that one is the sum total of the individuals around them. Scott is described as a visionary leader and a tireless advocate for his colleagues. Continually inspired by others, one of Scott’s proudest accomplishments is how he and his team navigated the challenges of the pandemic while maintaining their core principles. Scott sits on the board of the Goodie Two Shoes Foundation and is active with Aristocrat’s Aristocrat Cares program, coordinating volunteer efforts throughout Southern Nevada. He’s also involved with UNLV’s MBA and athletics programs. During his free time, Scott enjoys traveling with his family, getting together with friends and great food.
(Wade Vandervort/Staff)
46
Congratulations, Caleb Dawkins, on being named to Las Vegas Weekly’s 40 Under 40 list.
J.P. Morgan raises the standard in private banking, delivering a uniquely elevated experience shaped around you. Whether you’re focused on building, preserving or transferring wealth, we bring you a team of specialists in planning, investing, lending and banking, carefully curated to match your goals.
Connect with Caleb Caleb Dawkins Banker, Las Vegas C.Dawkins@jpmorgan.com privatebank.jpmorgan.com/las-vegas 702.680.6180
PLAN INVEST BORROW BANK
INVESTMENT PRODUCTS: • NOT FDIC INSURED • NO BANK GUARANTEE • MAY LOSE VALUE Not a commitment to lend. All extensions of credit are subject to credit approval. Bank deposit accounts, such as checking, savings and bank lending, may be subject to approval. Deposit products and related services are offered by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. “J.P. Morgan Private Bank” is a brand name for private banking business conducted by JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its subsidaries wordwide. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and its affiliates (collectively “JPMCB”) offer investment products, which may include bank-managed investment accounts and custody, as part of its trust and fiduciary services. Other investment products and services, such as brokerage and advisory accounts, are offered through J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (“JPMS”), a member of FINRA and SIPC. JPMCB, JPMS and CIA are affiliated companies under the common control of JPMorgan Chase & Co. © 2022 JPMorgan Chase & Co. All rights reserved.
LV W C OV E R S T O R Y
3.31.22
H E A LT H C A R E
CARRIE B E D I E N T, M D Physician, Fertility Center of Las Vegas fertilitycenterlv.com @fertilitycenterlasvegas Founder, Fertility Docs Uncensored Podcast fertilitydocsuncensored.com @fertilitydocsuncensored Age: 39 Hometown: Phoenix First Job: Tutor At age 16, Dr. Carrie Bedient observed brain surgery. It was then that she knew medicine was her future. She chose the field of reproductive endocrinology and infertility, where she uses science and empathy to help guide her patients through the journey to parenthood. Bedient’s expertise extends beyond the doors of the Fertility Center of Las Vegas. She is heavily involved in medical education in Southern Nevada, serving as the director of reproductive endocrinology and infertility at MountainView Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency, in addition to being the course director for reproductive medicine at the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at UNLV. Bedient also has lectured at Touro University on fertility care for LGBTQ+ patients, and hosts annual lectures on sex education for elementary students. During the pandemic, Bedient started the podcast Fertility Docs Uncensored to further her ability to help those experiencing infertility. In only two years, it has been downloaded more than 100,000 times and has listeners in more than 30 countries.
L AW
MARY BACON Partner, Spencer Fane LLP spencerfane.com Age: 34 Hometown: Irvine, CA First Job: Paralegal From an early age, Mary Bacon knew that pursuing a career in law would give her a voice. Now, a successful business litigation attorney, she uses her voice to enact meaningful change. Bacon’s litigation practice is focused on complex civil litigation in both state and federal court, involving construction disputes, breach of contract actions and defending financial institutions. She is not just a leader in the legal industry; she is a humble and passionate community advocate. She is currently working on a case with the ACLU of Nevada and has worked with Assemblyman David Orentlicher on social justice legislation. As an active volunteer with Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada, Bacon provides more than 100 hours a year of pro bono services to low-income Nevadans. She mentors high school and college students, and is a board member of Children's Advocacy Alliance, a nonprofit committed to lobbying for children's rights.
(Carrie Bedient by Wade Vandervort/Staff; Mary Bacon by Christopher DeVargas/Staff)
48
Communities That Connect With Life We curate environments that connect with your emotions and transform every moment in your Home into a story. No matter your vision, we can articulate, design, and make it a wonderful reality. Every memory is more remarkable in a Blue Heron Home.
SHORE L INE L A KE L AS VEGAS
OAS I NEAR TOMIYAS U
PRADO WEST L AS VEGAS
Learn more about our BH Nexus communities and own a piece of the Blue Heron legacy. (702) 256-8866 | BH-NEXUS .COM
50
LV W C OV E R S T O R Y
3.31.22
GOVERNMENT
E M I LY K U Management Analyst, City of Las Vegas, Economic and Urban Development Department lasvegasnevada.gov Age: 39 Hometown: Detroit First Job: YMCA Camp Counselor
FOOD
L I S S A H A M I LT O N Area Director, Shake Shack shakeshack.com | @shakeshack Age: 39 Hometown: Rochester, MI First Job: Sandwich Shop and Pizza Parlor When Lissa Hamilton entered the restaurant industry, she realized she could have it all. It was here where she found the flexibility she needed to follow her passion for giving back, while allowing her to be present and raise her two daughters. After working her way up the ladder, Hamilton now helps the next generation of restaurant leaders come into their success. Guiding operators on how best to find the balance of running a successful business while maintaining an incredible corporate culture is something that Hamilton manages with ease—and she does so because she genuinely cares about her team and community. At Shake Shack, Hamilton has helped to found ABLED, an employee resource group that stands for the Advancement of Black Leaders and Enhanced Development; HUG Fund, which helps to financially support team members that have been through catastrophic events; and All-In, a diversity, equity and inclusion program. She also sits on the board of Lift One Up, motivating women to create a successful future through personal growth, as well as serving as a chaplain, visiting local correctional facilities to help women understand their potential.
Emily Ku left her previous careers in market research and wedding photography in search of an opportunity that gave her the ability to help advance the community— and that’s exactly what she found when landing at the City of Las Vegas’ Economic and Urban Development Department. In her current position, Ku is driving the pursuit of equitable development in certain parts of the city that are being revitalized and readdressing historical inequity in minority communities. She previously worked for the Nevada Commission on Minority Affairs where she got her professional start in community advocacy. Ku is also extremely active in community betterment in her free-time as well, volunteering weekly with several local organizations, including the Junior League of Las Vegas. Ku was also recently awarded the Outstanding Champion of Diversity Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals Las Vegas Chapter for her professional accomplishments.
3.31.22
LV W C OV E R S T O R Y
51I
NONPROFIT / E D U C AT I O N
J O S LY N H AT F I E L D
Age: 39 Hometown: Prescott, AZ First Job: Grocery Store Clerk
Joslyn Hatfield believes the world deserves kind, safe and inclusive spaces, and she’s willing to put in the work to make that a reality. For 15 years, Hatfield advocated for the LGBTQIA community in California. And that drive didn’t stop when she arrived in Las Vegas. She quickly joined the LGBTQ Center of Southern Nevada as a director and board member of Vegas Women's Fest, an annual women-focused event for LGBTQ women and allies. Soon after, she connected with Las Vegas PRIDE. Hatfield started as a volunteer and associate board member and was recently nominated to serve as vice president of the board. A writer by trade—and by day in her role for the Office of the President at the College of Southern Nevada— Hatfield also assumed the role of editor of Las Vegas PRIDE Magazine, which is published six times a year and reaches an audience of 30,000 readers monthly. Hatfield is also active in the Las Vegas Gay Softball League and was instrumental in securing the 2024 NAGAAA Softball World series in Las Vegas.
(Lissa Hamilton & Joslyn Hatfield by Christopher DeVargas; Emily Ku by Wade Vandervort/Staff)
Vice President & Editor, Las Vegas PRIDE lasvegaspride.org @pridelasvegas @joslynhatfield Senior Writer, Office of the President, College of Southern Nevada csn.edu
52
LV W C OV E R S T O R Y
3.31.22
E N T E R TA I N M E N T
MAURICIO MORALES Vice President of Marketing & Entertainment, Corner Bar Management cornerbarmgmt.com | @cornerbarmgmt Age: 35 Hometown: San Francisco First Job: Graphic Designer Maurico Morales toggles between marketing and operations in his role at Corner Bar Management—fortunately, he thrives in dynamic environments that demand he harness his many skills. With a background in graphic design and web development, Morales describes himself as having worked every job under the sun in marketing and entertainment. The intimate scale of Corner Bar Management’s venues allows Morales to take part in the conception process and see it all the way through, with the goal of bringing top-notch hospitality to Downtown Las Vegas. Morales and his team strive to make the venues reflective of the communities where they exist and express the desire to leave neighborhoods better than where they started. A proud resident of DTLV himself, Morales has a personal investment in these communities as well. With a 4-year-old at home, Morales spends his free time exploring with his family and listening to house and disco music.
R E TA I L
AUBRIANA MARTINDALE Division Corporate Affairs Manager, The Kroger Co. smithsfoodanddrug.com | @mysmithsgrocery Age: 30 Hometown: Salt Lake City First Job: Sales Associate at a Clothing Boutique Aubriana Martindale is passionate about storytelling and the power of a meaningful narrative in elevating an organization’s brand, identity and development—and has a special appreciation for food’s ability to bring people together. Working for Smith’s has allowed Martindale to merge her passion for food and community wellness. The onset of the pandemic presented many unforeseen challenges, but Martindale rose to the occasion, prioritizing the safety and wellbeing of customers and employees during a time of immense pressure on essential workers. Martindale has also been recognized within Smith’s parent company, Kroger Co., for her leadership in introducing and implementing their Zero Hunger | Zero Waste social impact strategy, a bold vision to end hunger in the communities Smith’s serves and eliminate waste across the company by 2025. Among her many accomplishments, Martindale says she is most proud of helping other women in the workforce and stresses the importance of a more diverse, inclusive workplace.
(Mauricio Morales & Sergio Garcia by Wade Vandervort; Aubriana Martindale by Christopher DeVargas/Staff)
GOVERNMENT
SERGIO GARCIA Assistant Director District Attorney, Clark County District Attorney’s Office Age: 39 Hometown: Las Vegas First Job: Legal Assistant Sergio Garcia was born and raised in Southern Nevada, starting his career with Clark County at the young age of 18. More than 20 years later, his experience spans across public safety, information technology, judicial and law enforcement sectors. As the assistant director in the Clark County DA’s office, Garcia oversees the administrative functions for the largest law firm in the state, with nearly 700 legal professionals spread across five campuses—and a yearly budget of almost $100 million. While managing it all, Garcia still finds time to give back to his community. He has served as the chair of Clark County’s Employees Activities Committee, leading the volunteer efforts for more than 10,000 employees, and coordinating volunteer events at The Shade Tree, Three Square, Miracle League and Mt. Charleston. He is also a volunteer coach and mentor to young technology students at Tech Impact and served on the board of directors for New Vista Las Vegas, Nevada’s largest nonprofit supporting individuals with intellectual and development disabilities.
3.31.22
LV W C OV E R S T O R Y
53I
FOOD
THOMAS GRIESE
TECHNOLOGY
Corporate Executive Chef, JING jingrestaurant.com @thomasgriese_01
ASHLEY BROOKE FIUMARA Co-CEO, OPTX optx.com @optxsolutions Age: 35 Hometown: Texarkana, TX First Job: Lifeguard Friends call her Ashley. Colleagues call her Brooke. Familymembers call her Ash Brooke. But whatever you call her, Ashley Brooke Fiumara answers. After rising through the ranks in casino and gaming marketing, Fiumara saw a void for a complete software solution for the industry. She may not have had the technical expertise, but she had the drive to find a solution. In 2019, Fiumara started OPTX to unite player and machine data from all of a resort’s systems and operationalize it into a single actionable view. Her ability to envision a solution, communicate the idea and organize a path from development to market has rapidly led OPTX from a start-up to a revenue-generating business. Part of her success is her inclusive leadership style—bringing together more than 35 team members with a common purpose. Fiumara is passionate about the development and growth of women leaders in the gaming industry. She moderates a lean-in circle for women in gaming and also sit on the marketing committee for nonprofit Global Gaming Women.
“When you love what you do, you tend to feel a sense of purpose and belonging.” –Thomas Griese
For Thomas Griese, food is what brings people together. Growing up, his grandparents were farmers who raised corn, soy beans and livestock. Griese fell in love with the way food nurtures and brings joy. Griese has worked his way through some of the world’s most acclaimed restaurants, learning from renowned chefs including Thomas Keller and Andre Rochat. He credits these experiences for setting the foundation of his success. At 26 years old, Griese worked with Michael Mina at the iconic Fontainebleau Miami Beach—earning a 30 under 30 recognition from Zagat for being a culinary visionary and leader. Griese also uses his culinary skills to help Southern Nevada churches with food drives and cooking for the homeless. During the pandemic, he was part of the Executive Task Force at Aria to cook over 1,000 meals a day. From environmental causes, to supporting the American Cancer Society, to raising monies to purchase iPads for Clark County children, Griese makes it a mission to give back.
(Ashley Brooke Fiumara by Wade Vandervort; Thomas Griese by Christopher DeVargas/Staff)
Age: 35 Hometown: West Lafayette, IN First Job: Subway Sandwich Artist
HOW SECURE IS YOUR NETWORK? LU XU RY LIF E S TY LE CONCIE R GE WE MAKE THE IMPOSSIBLE A REALITY. Congratulations to the 2022 40 under 40 Recipients
WWW.LUXE702.COM FIND OUT WITH A
FREE
SECURITY RISK ASSESSMENT WORTH
$500.00
Endless refills of cheesy scrambled eggs, crispy hash browns and buttermilk pancakes.
© 2022 DFO, LLC. Printed in the U.S.A. At participating restaurants for a limited time only. Selection and prices may vary. While supplies last.
Leadership from the core Leaders are people who achieve the unexpected and have the vision and integrity to create an impact that matters in their organizations and their communities. Deloitte is proud to recognize Joe Simpson, Managing Director, Deloitte & Touche LLP, as a Las Vegas 40 Under 40 Awards winner. www.deloitte.com Copyright © 2022 Deloitte Development LLC. All rights reserved.
LV W C OV E R S T O R Y
3.31.22
NONPROFIT
ALLISON MONETTE Director of Communications and Brand Management, Vegas PBS vegaspbs.org | @allicat621 Age: 36 Hometown: Lima, Peru First Job: Tennis Shop Receptionist at Las Vegas Country Club Allison Monette has covered nearly every facet of marketing and communications throughout her career, including interviewing politicians and celebrities, representing high-profile clients in public relations, developing award-winning integrated marketing campaigns and expanding into the ever-evolving world of digital marketing. Now, Monette is the Director of Communications and Brand Management at PBS, a brand close to her heart, where she’s able to use her experience in television, nonprofit and education. Monette also works as an adjunct professor at the UNLV Hank Greenspun School of Journalism. This role gives her the opportunity to share her well of expertise and help shape a new generation of marketing professionals. Originally from Peru, Monette says her biggest inspirations are her parents, who uprooted their lives to emigrate to Las Vegas. Though her two young daughters keep her busy, Monette still finds time to volunteer at a number of local organizations, including The Junior League of Las Vegas and Latinas In Power.
FINANCE
JOSEPH SIMPSON III Audit Managing Director, Deloitte & Touche LLP deloitte.com Age: 38 Hometown: Queens, NY First Job: Auditor From a kid with an affinity for numbers, to a high school finance intern at MTV, Joseph Simpson has built a career that both satisfies his interests and challenges him—but, most importantly, that he finds genuinely rewarding. At Deloitte & Touche, Simpson leverages 16 years of accounting and professional services experience to serve public and private clients in a variety of industries including hospitality and gaming; power, utility and gas; manufacturing; and high-end consumer products. Simpson also leads the Las Vegas office Corporate Citizenship efforts to connect and educate high school and college students about the accounting profession and careers in the industry, as well as its local Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts. As a DEI champion, Simpson mentors and coaches the Deloitte team and spearheads recruiting efforts to attract diverse talent. He believes diversity can provide different perspectives, creativity and increase overall business performance. Simpson is a board of director for the Nevada Society of Certified Public Accountants and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE / NONPROFIT
MANDY TELLERIA Founder/Executive Director, The Good Deed Project thegooddeedproject.org @the_good_deed_project Owner/Interior Architect, Mandy Telleria @mandytelleria Age: 38 Hometown: Elko First Job: Frozen Yogurt and Sandwich Shop Mandy Telleria leverages her vast expertise and successful career in architecture and design to give back to the community through her charitable organization, The Good Deed Project. What began as a few pro bono jobs helping renovate the Living Grace and S.A.F.E. House shelters eventually led Telleria to launch the nonprofit in 2014. Now, The Good Deed Project provides renovations, repairs and other services to improve the living conditions for families in need. Telleria believes in the power of transforming spaces to improve peoples’ lives. Raised by a single mother who worked multiple jobs to provide for the family, Telleria says her childhood was an influence when founding The Good Deed Project. The volunteer-based organization was recently recognized with a Governor’s Point of Light Award and its impact is felt throughout Southern Nevada. Always leading with kindness and putting her best foot forward, Telleria says her mother is the guiding light for her personal, professional and philanthropic life.
(Allison Monette by Wade Vandervort; Joseph Simpson III and Mandy Telleria by Christopher DeVargas/Staff)
56
C O N G R AT U L AT I O N S
CHEF THOMAS GRIESE VEGAS INC 40 UNDER 40 HONOREE
58
LV W C OV E R S T O R Y
3.31.22
“There is so much talent, drive and determination throughout our community. I want to use the platform I have created to build on the economic and social wellbeing, and improve the quality of life to reach a place that all our residents deserve.” –William McCurdy II
GOVERNMENT
WILLIAM MCCURDY II Clark County Commissioner, Clark County, District D clarkcountynv.gov | @william_mccurdyii William McCurdy II represents the best that local government has to offer, and he’s only just begun. Having served in student government positions at the College of Southern Nevada, McCurdy eventually chose to become a public servant, originally as a representative of the Historic Westside and now as a member of the Clark County Commission from District D. McCurdy is a dynamic, hands-on leader who doesn’t hesitate to act when he feels called to service– whether it’s authoring legislation, assisting small businesses, addressing housing needs or securing both short-term and longterm resources for residents. Being available to his constituents is McCurdy’s priority, day-in and day-out. One of the laws McCurdy was proud to author and sponsor was AB 356 in 2019, legislation that helped create more equity in the justice system and allow those who have been wronged by the system to have their case re-evaluated and to petition for factual innocence. Looking ahead, McCurdy is focused on finishing law school and continuing to improve the lives of Southern Nevadans. (Christopher DeVargas/Staff)
Age: 33 Hometown: Las Vegas First Job: Father
3.31.22
LISA KALKES Senior Director of Marketing and Communications, Optum optum.com Age: 39 Hometown: Woodstown, NJ First Job: Working on Farm In addition to being a leader in health care marketing in multiple states, Lisa Kalkes is a U.S. Army veteran—serving for four years, including a 15-month deployment in Iraq. She always liked physical and mental challenges while also being a part of something bigger than herself. 2021 was a big year for Kalkes. She was the primary marketing executive for the Optum Care Specialty Care business lines, responsible for 12 clinics and more than 30 providers in Nevada. In doing so, she secured more than 35 million media impressions for the brand, developing new and user-optimized consumer-facing websites and ensuring that the business was visible on all media fronts. She also focused on physician recruitment, oversaw Optum’s clinic marketing operations throughout Arizona and added the Utah and Colorado markets to her already-packed portfolio. Kalkes is an avid supporter of the homeless and serves on the board for Straight From the Streets, a nonprofit advocating for holistic, balanced and compassionate outreach to those experiencing homelessness—helping increase donations to the organization by 67% during her first year as a board member.
HOTEL / GAMING
J O H N M U R R AY Executive Director of Race and Sports Operations, SuperBook at Westgate Las Vegas westgatelasvegas.com | superbook.com @murrayjp01 Age: 38 Hometown: Las Vegas First Job: Race and Sport Book Teller at Las Vegas Hilton Right out of college, John Murray began his career as a front-line, entry level ticket writer at the Las Vegas Hilton and today, he is the Executive Director of Race and Sports Operations at Westgate Las Vegas. In addition to working every position between ticket writer and executive, he has seen the property through its evolution. As the world’s largest race and sportsbook, the SuperBook is a momentous task on its own, but Murray is especially proud to be part of the team that facilitated the brand expansion into Colorado, New Jersey and Arizona, with additional states they’re expected to enter in 2022. Looking forward, Murray hopes to continue this rapid expansion and eventually see 25-30+ states added in the next decade. Murray is a leading member of the Westgate CareForce where he helps coordinate property-wide community service and volunteer efforts.
59I
NONPROFIT
LANETTE RIVERA Director of Engagement and Communications, Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth nphy.org | @nevadahomelessyouth @LanetteAngeline Age: 36 Hometown: LA First Job: Los Angeles Zoo Driven to make a meaningful change in the community, Lanette Rivera found her calling when she was introduced to Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth. Rivera herself was once a young person who dealt with unstable housing, and now, she’s able to help teens in the same position. Energetic, passionate and always on-the-go, Rivera is a skilled organizer who takes pride in the success of others. She says she is humbled and inspired by the young people she works with, knowing that she is helping shape the next generation of changemakers. She successfully navigated the operational challenges of the pandemic and was part of the leadership team that created the 2021 Southern Nevada Homelessness Summit. The event was attended by several hundred individuals in-person and online, including local leaders, elected officials, national experts and more. When she’s not working or volunteering her time, Rivera loves traveling, exploring new places and spending time with her Teacup Yorkie, Lucy.
(Christopher DeVargas/Staff)
H E A LT H C A R E
LV W C OV E R S T O R Y
LV W C OV E R S T O R Y
3.31.22
HOTEL / GAMING
AMANDA DUNKS VP of Brand Strategy & Creative Development, Caesars Entertainment caesars.com Age: 35 Hometown: Las Vegas First Job: Sales Associate at Abercrombie To Amanda Dunks, working in hotel/gaming means there’s never a dull moment or monotony—something that fuels her drive and creativity. Dunks has spent 10 years at Caesars Entertainment building brands for not just casinos, but also restaurants, entertainment, nightlife, attractions and more. In her role, Dunks oversees Caesar’s internal agency team, The Source, that consists of graphic designers, account executives, production artists, videographers/photographers and brand strategists. Each day she works to find the best way to position Caesar’s portfolio of brands and offerings to consumers. From rebranding its award-winning loyalty program, Caesars Rewards, at more than 50 properties, to rolling out the Caesars Sportsbook mobile betting product, to developing the brand for several celebrity chef concepts, Dunks found her passion in the variety the industry brings. Inspired by powerful women in her life, including her mother, Dunks leads with grace and empathy, always mindful of cultivating an agency environment that team members are proud to be part of.
H E A LT H C A R E / NONPROFIT
DINISHA MINGO CEO, Mingo Health Solutions mhsbehavioralservices.com | @mhsbsinc | @dinishammingo Founder, Solutions of Change solutionsofchange.org | @solutionsofchange Age: 33 Hometown: Las Vegas First Job: McDonald’s Dinisha Mingo says she fell in love with seeing change, helping people, building a team and making an impact. These are the things that drew her to a career in psychology and have ultimately kept her there. Mingo takes a compassionate, team-focused approach to running her business and prioritizes the needs of every individual she works with. As a mental health advocate, she has experience with people from many diverse backgrounds and is a champion for culturally competent health services in Las Vegas and throughout the state. She founded Mingo Health Solutions with the goal of providing mental health services to high-need and historically disproportionately impacted populations. Mingo Health Solutions recently celebrated its 5-year anniversary, something Mingo is proud of—particularly when considering the challenges of the pandemic and the critical time of need for patients. Mingo Health Solutions serves the broader community by hosting events and outreach initiatives, working with legislation for mental health advocacy, donating to a myriad of causes and providing no-cost services to those in need.
(Christopher DeVargas/Staff)
60
62
LV W C OV E R S T O R Y
3.31.22
Age: 36 Home country: Turkey First Job: Business Manager
Age: 36 Hometown: Seoul, South Korea First Job: Model
FOOD E D U C AT I O N
R E A L E S TAT E R E TA I L
NICK SARISAHIN CFO, Coral Academy of Science Las Vegas coralacademylv.org | @coralacademylv Nick Sarisahin has always wanted to help open educational opportunities for children and help shape community development. As an accomplished finance executive and CFO at the Coral Academy of Science, Sarisahin expertly manages accounting processes, budgetary control and fiscal planning for nonprofit entities. Sarisahin led the issuance and management of school tax-exempt bond financing in the amount of $35 million for CASLV’s Cadence Campus construction, with another $42 million secured for existing campuses, including Sandy Ridge, Centennial Hills, Tamarus and Nellis Air Force Base. He also secured tax-exempt bond financing for public education with a qualified investment-grade totaling $72 million and returned millions of dollars back to education by qualifying minimum interest rates. Dedication to students, especially populations with less access to quality education, drives Sarisahin. Even with limited state funding, his hard work has generated meaningful results for CASLV. He is also a founding board member at TEACH Las Vegas Charter School.
LISA SONG SUTTON Entrepreneur Sin City Cupcakes, Ship Las Vegas, Elite Homes – Engel & Volkers Real Estate, Liquid & Lace Swimwear lisasongsutton.com | @LisaSongSutton Lisa Song Sutton is a serial entrepreneur with a variety of businesses, a healthy real estate portfolio and an interest in giving back to the community. If it seems like a lot, it is. And even still, Song Sutton continues to add to her résumé. Managing several businesses and investment properties ensures that no two days are ever the same, and that’s just how Song Sutton likes it. She is proud of her companies’ successes and the jobs she has been able to provide over the years. Song Sutton also makes it a priority to encourage entrepreneurialism within the workplace and helps her staff develop leadership skills. The message of entrepreneurship is something Song Sutton shares on a broader scale, too, speaking on the TEDx stage and publishing articles about the subject. She’s also passionate about the veteran community and is involved in several philanthropic organizations.
3.31.22
LV W C OV E R S T O R Y
HOTEL/ GAMING
CONSTRUCTION
Age: 29 Hometown: Las Vegas First Job: Sales Associate at Tilly’s
Age: 31 Hometown: Henderson First Job: Newspaper Intern
MICHAEL S U K E YA S U Project Manager, MJ Dean Construction mjdeanconstruction.com Once Michael Sukeyasu began working on construction sites, he discovered his love for building, working with his hands and the comaraderie of his coworkers. An added benefit? Being able to build some of the most iconic buildings on the Las Vegas skyline. Sukeyasu is currently working on the MSG Sphere. Though very large-scale projects come with their fair share of challenges, he emphasizes the power of teamwork and the willingness of team members to roll up their sleeves and get to work. He also credits the many mentors he has had along the way to get to where he is now. Philanthropically minded, Sukeyasu is proud of the charity outreach projects he’s been able to participate in and lead for the Construction Leadership Council, including the American Cancer Society’s Construction vs. Cancer event. He is also a member of the Board of Directors within the Nevada Contractors Association.
63I
COURTNEY GARLAND Director of Operations, Emerald Island and Rainbow Club Casinos emeraldislandcasino.com | @eicasino rainbowhenderson.com | @rainbowclubcasino Courtney Garland loves turning any outcome into a win through enthusiasm, positivity and foresight. She developed a passion for the casino industry after being influenced by her parents, who dedicated their careers to gaming and hospitality. Today, Garland thrives in the fast-paced, high-volume nature of the 24/7 industry. As a young woman in a male-dominated industry, Garland values the opportunity to work with a team dedicated to promoting a culture of inclusion and innovation that has been instrumental in her early success. She has managed several large-scale projects, including the integration of a new player tracking system, multiple property expansions, the restructure of the player rewards program and, most recently, the installation of a cutting-edge and convenient digital casino credit system. Garland volunteers with the City of Henderson Animal Care and Control as a dog exerciser and an adoption counselor and is involved with the UNLV Alumni Association and the Henderson Chamber of Commerce.
(Nick Sarisahin, Lisa Song Sutton & Michael Sukeyasu by Wade Vandervort/Staff; Courtney Garland by Christopher DeVargas/Staff)
64
LV W C OV E R S T O R Y
3.31.22
K I P K E L LY Founding Creative Director, The Beverly Theater
thebeverlytheater.com @beverlytheater @kipkelly
E N T E R TA I N M E N T
Age: 39 Hometown: Phoenix First Job: Scrubbing RVs When Kip Kelly was a kid, he decided he wanted to work in entertainment, and he’s dedicated himself to that career path ever since. From a DJ, to a marketing, nightlife and hospitality professional, to the founding creative director and head of operations at The Beverly Theater, Kelly has always had an affinity for creative and dynamic challenges. The Beverly Theater, Las Vegas’ first and only independent film house and live performance theater, has given Kelly the opportunity to create uncommon cinematic, literary and live experiences. As a seasoned entertainment executive with a zest for big ideas and activations, Kelly describes this opportunity akin to being handed a golden ticket. And with it, he’s creating an entertainment experience unlike anything else Las Vegas has to offer. With more than 12 years of sobriety under his belt, Kelly also dedicates his time to helping others struggling with addiction achieve longterm sobriety. (Christopher DeVargas/Staff)
Congratulations to our “Top 40 Under 40,” Lisa Kalkes, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications As an Army veteran with deployment experience, she knows grace under pressure. As an ally for the homeless, she knows advocacy with compassion. As a parent, she knows the power of love with patience. And in her role as a regional marketing executive across Optum business lines, she knows creativity in strategy. We are proud to have Lisa on our side. Prouder still that she’s receiving the recognition she deserves. And we can’t wait to see what she can achieve next.
LV W C OV E R S T O R Y
3.31.22
Age: 39 Hometown: Las Vegas First Job: Ballet Teacher
Age: 38 Hometown: Woodland Hills, CA First Job: Local Movie Theater
“Watching clients move from guarded to vulnerable, from explosive to assertive, and from chaos to stability is very rewarding.” –Melissa Webb
H E A LT H C A R E
MELISSA WEBB, LCSW Clinical Director, Red Rock Psychological Health redrockph.com | @redrockpsychologicalhealth
Melissa Webb is on a mission to treat, educate and destigmatize a broad spectrum of mental health disorders, with an emphasis on sexual health and sexual abuse. The granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, Webb has witnessed firsthand the complexities of untreated trauma and PTSD, which led to her interest in the human condition, psychological functioning and the impact of abuse on families. Webb approaches mental health care as a right, not a privilege, and ensures that the clinic’s mental health programs exceed the current standard of care. Red Rock Psychological Health is an official agency field instructor in partnership with UNR, UNLV, ASU, USC and Baylor University, where they train clinicians to treat patients who have committed violent crimes or sexual offenses, victims of abuse and those who have sexual addictions. Active in the community, Webb serves as a board member for the Southern Nevada Children's Advocacy Center, which she describes as a hidden community gem that assists families in reporting abuse and receiving quality trauma therapy services.
R E A L E S TAT E
AARON WEST Managing Director, Colliers colliers.com
Formerly a professional golfer, Aaron West now proudly manages the most prominent commercial brokerage firm in Southern Nevada. West was named managing director at Colliers in 2021, a year that saw 752 commercial real estate deals totaling more than $1.5 billion in transaction volume—one of the most successful years in Colliers Las Vegas history. West, described as a servant leader, is known for his uncanny ability to retain some of the best professionals in the industry— and his leadership style gets results. With a portfolio comprising more than 175 million square feet of real estate assets across the globe, his team ranked within the top five highest producing global teams within the company, delivering as much as $35 million in corporate revenue annually. Outside of the office, West is an avid sports fan and prioritizes time with his wife and children, crediting his family for his work ethic and drive.
(Wade Vandervort/Staff)
66
DON’T RENT YOUR FUTURE, own it.
LOFT-STYLE CONDO LIVING IN THE ARTS DISTRICT FROM THE LOW $300s $300 s JUHLLV.COM 702.690.4944
With low down payment financing options, owning a home at Juhl is seamless. Enjoy financial stability and tax benefits while living in a community that provides a sense of home. Now is the time to take ownership of your future—welcome home to Juhl.
OWN TODAY FOR AS LITTLE AS 3% DOWN!*
LOW DOWN PAYMENT FINANCING | VA APPROVED | CALL TODAY FOR YOUR PRIVATE SALES PRESENTATION SEE LENDER FOR DETAILS. FOR ELIGIBLE PRIMARY HOMEBUYERS. LOAN TERMS AND CONDITIONS MAY VARY. SUBJECT TO UNDERWRITING APPROVAL. PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE. IMAGES MAY REPRESENT MODEL HOMES. SEE AGENT FOR DETAILS. A DK LAS VEGAS LLC COMMUNITY. NORTHCAP COMMERCIAL | LICENSE # B.0143037
DESERT CACTUS BOOTH A modern photo booth for weddings, birthdays, social events and corporate parties. Let us help you elevate your next party today!
www.desertcactusbooth.com desertcactusbooth
68
VEGAS INC BUSINESS
3.31.22
ECONOMY
WHEN TALK OF ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION BECOMES ACTION, LAS VEGAS WILL HAVE GROWN UP AS A CITY
F
BY BRYAN HORWATH VEGAS INC STAFF
or Sunshine Minting Inc., a small precious metals manufacturer in Henderson, expanding to Nevada 10 years ago was a simple decision. “The logistics, the tax structure, the diversity of the workforce here, the cost of living … there are some great assets,” said Thomas Power, the company’s president and CEO. “This area is a great place to do business.” The company, which is headquartered in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, supplies silver blanks and similar products to the United States Mint and companies around the world. The 175-employee company is one example of how the manufacturing industry is taking some pressure off the region’s tourism-heavy economy. “The manufacturing sector here in the Valley is still in its infancy, because there’s always been so much emphasis on travel and tourism and gaming,” Power said. “Look, that’s rightfully so. We were attracted here because there was, at the time, an abundance of workforce, and because of the proximity to things like the port in Long Beach [California].” A city that welcomed 32 million visitors last year—and 42 million during pre-pandemic 2019—Las Vegas will likely always have an outsized tourism component within its economic infrastructure. That said, regional leaders have long talked about how a more diverse economy can ease the sting of the next recession, which is inevitable.
In January, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, roughly 26,300 people were employed in manufacturing in Las Vegas. That’s compared with over 260,000 jobs classified as “leisure and hospitality” in the region during the same month. Manufacturing jobs in Las Vegas reached a high of 27,700 during the fall of 2006, before the onset of the Great Recession, then fell to just over 19,000 in late 2010 and early 2011. At the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance, one of the main goals for the public-private partnership organization is to help diversify Southern Nevada’s economy. “We’ve been talking about it since I
came here, which was 32 years ago,” said Tina Quigley, president and CEO of the organization and former CEO of the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada. “I’m trying to think of a nicer way to say it, but we really just need to grow up. We suck at diversifying our economy. We need to get the region together in order to make that happen, but I think that is starting to happen.” Another example that champions of economic diversity often point to lately is Haas Automation, a California machine tool manufacturer that is building a 2.5 million-square-foot plant just south of Henderson Executive Airport. The first phase of that
Sunshine Minting Inc. CEO Thomas Power holds a silver bar as a melting moderator pours molten silver into a castor in the background. (Wade Vandervort/Staff)
project is expected to be done later this year. As part of a deal with the state, Haas is set to receive $10.5 million in tax abatements, as long as it creates at least 500 jobs that pay an average hourly wage of about $24. Within five years of opening the plant, Haas expects to have close to 1,400 employees in Henderson. As Quigley points out, however, Southern Nevada needs to have the advanced manufacturing workforce available in order to attract companies. “We are seeing more companies choosing to relocate here,” Quigley said. “We have to pump out the appropriate workforce so these companies know they have a fire hose of available workforce here. It will take a little time, but we’re seeing some programs now that will help with those workforce training efforts.” Jaime Cruz, executive director of Workforce Connections, Southern Nevada’s workforce development board, said manufacturing jobs are vitally important in the effort to diversify the Las Vegas economy. As part of its “Workforce Blueprint” plan, a collaboration between the LVGEA and the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, manufacturing is one of seven target “emerging” sectors. “We see real growth in this sector right now, not just off into the future,” Cruz said. “We have Ocean Spray here for a while now, along with companies like Ethel M chocolates, Levi Strauss & Co., and Sunshine Minting. Haas Automation will have a huge presence in West Henderson.” Cruz said a collaboration between Workforce Connections and other workforce stakeholders with manufacturing industry officials will begin soon. “We’re looking at the short- and the long-term,” Cruz said. “We’re going to work with the school district, with CSN, Nevada State College, UNLV and others to produce a sustainable pool of talent. That’s never been done here in our region.”
3.31.22
VegasInc Notes Braintrust, a certified minority-owned business and leading integrated marketing agency, announced the promotions of Katie Stambaugh to vice president of finance and operations, and Sara Hall to vice Stambaugh president of client services. North Las Vegas hired Steve Manley, a 25-year veteran of the events and entertainment industry, as general manager of the Amp at Craig Hall Ranch Regional Park. Opened in 2015, the Amp is a largescale outdoor amphitheater, with seating capacity up to 6,800. Nathan Adelson Hospice was awarded the 2022 Top Workplaces USA award. The award is based on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by research partner Energage, a leading provider of technology-based em-
2 OFF
LAS VEGAS PAIUTE/SNOW MOUNTAIN SMOKE SHOP
$
wich Shop as the latest addition to their client roster.
ployee engagement tools. The Neon Museum announced that Mike Dini joined its executive team as director of marketing and communications. Dini brings a history of success shaping the brands of casino-hotels, gaming compa- Dini nies and entertainment offerings, as well as experience directing marketing strategies and tactics to improve brand positioning, gain market share and build customer loyalty. Sunrise Health Hospital & Medical Center, MountainView Hospital and Southern Hills Hospital and Medical Center have been named among America’s 250 Best Hospitals, placing them in the top 5% of hospitals in the country and as overall leaders in clinical excellence, according to Healthgrades. This is the first year on the list for Sunrise and Southern Hills, and the second year for MountainView. MassMedia Marketing, Advertising and PR announced Capriotti’s Sand-
15% OFF
LAS VEGAS PAIUTE CIGAR SHOPPE/SNOW MOUNTAIN SMOKE SHOP
PER CARTON* (CIGARETTES ONLY)
PREMIUM CIGARS & ACCESSORIES
*Must be 21 years of age or older. Excludes filtered cigars. Cannot be combined with other offers or discounts. Limit 1 discount given per customer per day. Must present this coupon for redemption. Cannot be redeemed for cash. No photocopies accepted. EXPIRES 4/30/2022. LVW
*Cannot be combined with any other offers or discounts. Must be 21 years of age or older. Excludes sampler packs. Excludes bundles & individual sticks from bundles, cigarettes, mass market and pipe tobacco. Must present this coupon for redemption. Cannot be redeemed for cash. No photocopies or digital copies accepted. EXPIRES 4/30/2022. LVW
N E V E R P A Y A D D I T I O N A L T A X ! - G O T O L V P A I U T E S M O K E S H O P. C O M F O R C O U P O N S
$37.99
$37.59*
FINAL PRICE WITH COUPON
FINAL PRICE WITH COUPON
$4.19 PER PACK
$4.19 PER PACK *Prices subject to change
LAS VEGAS PAIUTE TRIBAL SMOKE SHOP & CIGAR SHOPPE M-Sat 7AM-7PM • Sun 8AM-5:30PM 1225 N. Main St. Las Vegas, 89101
United Way of Southern Nevada welcomed Carl Nassib, formerly of the Las Vegas Raiders, and former MLB player Marty Cordova of Bent Pixels to serve on its board of directors. Nevada Donor Network announced Jan Jones Blackhurst was appointed Nevada Donor Network Foundation board chair and Shelley Berkley was appointed vice chair. Jones Jones Blackhurst is Blackhurst the former mayor of Las Vegas, a member of the Caesars Entertainment board of directors and sits on NDN’s governing board. Berkley is a former congresswoman and serves as the CEO and senior provost for Touro’s Berkley Western Division, the administrative and academic head of the Nevada and northern California campuses of Touro University. Hospitality executive Tony Yousfi was appointed senior vice president of sales catering and conference services for Fontainebleau Las Vegas. Yousfi
VEGAS INC BUSINESS
is leading the resort’s conference and convention division, including sales, catering, conference services, leisure sales, special events, group dining and convention marketing. NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association, honored its Southern Nevada chapter with Chapter Merit Awards, including David Strickland for Outstanding LeadStrickland ership by a Chapter President and Rod Martin for Volunteer of the Year, as well as education and legislative affairs awards for the chapter. Broadbent & Associates, an environmental, water resource and civil engineering firm, announced the addition of Evan Robinson as a project scientist. Robinson’s role will include collecting soil and water samples at job sites and assisting contractors with navigating applicable environmental procedures and regulations. All In Aviation added six certified flight instructors, including Luke Swain, Steve Booth, Cameron Braaten, Jacob Norberg, Sean Eichinger and Dayton Kurian, to its roster of 10 full-time private pilot educators. It also expanded its fleet with two new aircraft.
THE LEGAL GUIDANCE THAT YOU NEED. THE PERSONAL SUPPORT YOU DESERVE. LAWYERS... BUT DIFFERENT. • Personal Injury • Criminal Defense • Tickets • Business Law
SNOW MOUNTAIN SMOKE SHOP & GAS STATION M-Sun 6AM-7PM • Pay-At-The-Pump Open 24/7 US 95N @ Exit #99
SOFTWARE DEVELOPER II-IT Nevada Power Comp d/b/a NV Energy is looking for Software Developer II-IT (Las Vegas, NV). Duties include software development, enhancements, system reliability. Maintain, improve technology proficiency Leading the evaluation, planning, implementation of applications/systems. Requires Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in Software Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, related field plus 9 years experience as Maximo Developer including 3 years experience in test driven development, DevOps via Cl/CD, automated configuration,provisioning and deployment, in application security and identity management and related development techniques including secrets management, in relational (Oracle, SQL, PL/SQL, PostgreSQL) databases development, 1 year in testing automation tools and approaches. Please email resumes to: Tim.Lindquist@nvenergy.com
CHRISTOPHER L. BLAKESLEY II
LBCLawGroup.com
69I
JOHN C. COURTNEY
702.820.5357
70
LV W P U Z Z L E & H O R O S C O P E S
PREMIER CROSSWORD
3.31.22
“RULING PARTY” BY FRANK LONGO
HOROSCOPES
WEEK OF MARCH 31 BY ROB BREZSNY
ARIES (March 21-April 19): In 1904, Thomas Hicks took the poison strychnine, which in small doses serves as a stimulant, before the Olympic marathon. By the time he approached the finish line, he was hallucinating and stumbling. Make him your inspirational role model in the coming weeks. How might you cheat to gain a great victory? April fool! A meaningful triumph is within your reach, but you’re most likely to achieve it by acting with total integrity and following the rules—no poisons. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Science fiction aficionado Wil Wheaton suggests that all of us should have the following: 1. a nemesis; 2. an evil twin; 3. a secret headquarters; 4. an escape hatch; 5. a partner in crime; 6. a secret identity. Embark on intensive efforts to acquire them. Your deadline is April 21. April fool, sort of. See if you can at least get a secret identity and a partner in crime. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): “I hate being on my best behavior,” wrote author Colleen McCullough. “It brings out the absolute worst in me.” Avoid the danger she describes. Don’t be on your best behavior. Emulate Clint Eastwood, who said, “I tried being reasonable, but I didn’t like it.” April fool! Here’s the real truth: Being kind and generous and reasonable will be your secret weapon. CANCER (June 21-July 22): A Tumblr blogger named Alyssa complains, “I’m still peeved that I can’t fly or set things on fire with my mind.” You might share that feeling. But you could soon acquire such powers. Use them wisely, please. April fool! However, you may acquire other superpowers that are only slightly less fantastic. For example, you could change the mind of an ally who has been stubborn, or uncover a big secret, or mend a wound you thought would never heal. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Filmmaker Stanley Kubrick once asserted: “You know, it’s not absolutely true in every case that nobody likes a smart ass.” Prove his assertion. Be the kind of smart ass that people like. April fool, sort of. The truth is, you will be the kind of smart ass that people absolutely adore and get inspired by. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Here is some advice from poet Richard Jackson: “The secret is to paint your own numbers on the clock, to brush away those webs that cover the wild country of the soul, to let your star hover between the flowers of the moon and the flowers of the sun, like words you have never spoken yet always hear.” April fool! Don’t paint your own numbers on the clock, but the rest of what Jackson said is totally applicable and useful for you.
2020 KING FEATURES SYNDICATE ACROSS 1 Gilda Radner character on Saturday Night Live 9 Certain martial arts surface 16 Just OK 20 Enthusiastic reply to a request 21 Raised, as a building 22 Central point 23 British ruler applying veneer? 25 Violent anger 26 Nutrition Facts category 27 Brewed beverage 28 Great Plains tribe 29 The Devil 30 Nile goddess 33 Turkish ruler’s pungent condiment? 38 Quaint office transcribers 41 Sleep study diagnosis 42 Regarding 43 Something a French-kissing Arab ruler has? 46 Small sailboats 51 Nuptial vow 52 Really smell 53 Kind of tide 56 China’s Zhou — 57 Actress Perez 59 Hindu ruler’s radio sign-off? 65 Secretive U.S. org. 67 Tehran’s land 68 Jug handle 69 Skye of film 70 Save the Russian ruler from tumbling to the ground? 75 Actors Mineo and Landi
77 Car club inits. 78 Coin-op hole 79 Thesaurus entry: Abbr. 80 Afghan ruler caught up in a tornado? 85 Stared in amazement 89 Agate playing marble, informally 90 Lingo suffix 91 Greek money 93 Brewed beverage 94 Exam taker 96 Very easy task for a Muslim ruler? 102 Many a war vet’s affliction 105 Behave badly 106 Yellowstone gusher 107 English ruler making mouse sounds? 111 Bomb part 112 Liquid- — (Drano rival) 113 Electees 114 Iowa college 116 Louver strip 120 Hula — 121 What’s revealed by taking an X-ray of a Persian ruler? 127 Shower affection (on) 128 Butt forcefully 129 Waters north of Australia 130 Went swiftly 131 Visits during a trip 132 Car mileage recorder DOWN 1 Son of Willy Loman 2 Tibet locale 3 Bat very gently
4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 24 29 31 32 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 44 45 47 48 49 50 54 55 58 60 61 62 63 64 66 70
Emerging Actor Studi Herr’s “Alas!” Sits tight Writer Rice Pa Clampett Arg. neighbor Last mo. Golfer Lorena Volcano in E. Sicily — Fables Six-pt. plays Shredded bit Pontificate Fructose, e.g. Yoked yaks Utters breathlessly Oral Most vinegary “Understood” Sch. in the Granite State Director Ang Mai — (drink) UFO pilots Commotion Commotion Actress Mireille — Singer Paul Ending for cash Comedian Hart, casually Hoosier State Building story Part-goat god Where it’s at “It’s — real!” Boast Irritated Big name in peanut butter Break out in — Actress Berry Set to a slow speed Bow shapes Berry of Brazil Some mollusks
71 72 73 74
Loathe Oohs and — “Lord, is —?” Precursors of embryos 75 Brief parody 76 Cry of woe 81 Person crying 82 Golf gizmo 83 Kind of tide 84 Used a spade 86 Cronies 87 Model Macpherson 88 Doe or stag 92 Spaghetti sauce brand 95 GPS calculation 97 Egyptian — (cat breed) 98 Cold cubes 99 GPS calculation 100 Grape cluster 101 Visual insult 103 Slope-hitter’s headwear 104 Energetic sort 107 Small sailboat 108 Citation 109 Officiated on the diamond 110 Vessel used to lure U-boats 111 Foul-smelling 112 Profs’ degs. 115 Maestro Klemperer 117 Strong desire 118 1940s film critic James 119 “— she blows!” 121 This yr.’s grads 122 Hosp. VIPs 123 “Give — try” 124 Obtained 125 Med. group 126 DVD- —
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): “I want excitement,” declared novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald, “and I don’t care what form it takes or what I pay for it, so long as it makes my heart beat.” Make that your motto. April fool! Don’t be as extreme as Fitzgerald in your pursuit of excitement. There will be plenty of opportunities that won’t require you to risk loss or pay an unwelcome price. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): “If you can’t make fun of yourself, you don’t have a right to make fun of others,” said Joan Rivers. So if you are feeling an urge to mock people and fling sarcasm in all directions, first mock yourself and be sarcastic toward yourself. April fool! Never make fun of others. Do the opposite: Dole out massive doses of praise and appreciation toward everyone, yourself included. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): In the traditional opera performed in China’s Sichuan province, magical effects were popular. One trick involved characters making rapid changes of their masks. An old master, Peng Denghuai, once wore 14 different masks in 24 seconds. Imitate this. The more frequently you alter your persona and appearance, the more successful and popular you’ll be. April fool! Gleefully experiment with your image and vary your self-presentation, but don’t overdo it. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Work on deepening your relationships by engaging your allies in shallow conversations about trivial subjects. Or see if you can enhance your physical fitness by confining your exercise to crossing and uncrossing your legs as you sit on the couch watching TV. April fool! Take better care of your body and your relationships than you ever have. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Giordano Bruno (1548–1600) was bravely heretical in his work as a philosopher, poet, mathematician and friar. Eventually, the authorities burned him at the stake for his transgressive ideas. Beware of a similar outcome for expressing your unusual qualities! April fool! No punishment will result if you express the rich fullness of your idiosyncrasies. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Life is too complicated to accurately comprehend. There’s too much to know! Maybe the best strategy is to flip a coin or throw the dice or draw a Tarot card before doing anything. April fool! We have massive resources available on subconscious and superconscious levels: our deep soul and our higher self. Enhance your access to these mother lodes of intelligence.