2023-03-30-Las-Vegas-Weekly

GUMMIESSODASINFUSED DRINKS

PUBLISHER MARK DE POOTER mark.depooter@gmgvegas.com

EDITOR

SPENCER PATTERSON spencer.patterson@gmgvegas.com

EDITORIAL

Senior Editor GEOFF CARTER (geo .carter@gmgvegas.com)

Editor at Large BROCK RADKE (brock.radke@gmgvegas.com)

Sta Writer SHANNON MILLER (shannon.miller@gmgvegas.com)

Sta Writer AMBER SAMPSON (amber.sampson@gmgvegas.com)

Contributing Writers GRACE DA ROCHA,HILLARY DAVIS, MIKE GRIMALA, CASEY HARRISON, KATIE ANN MCCARVER, DANNY WEBSTER

Contributing Editors RAY BREWER, JUSTIN HAGER, CASE KEEFER, DAVE MONDT

O ce Coordinator NADINE GUY

CREATIVE

Art Director CORLENE BYRD (corlene.byrd@gmgvegas.com)

Senior Designer IAN RACOMA

Photo Coordinator BRIAN RAMOS

Photographers CHRISTOPHER DEVARGAS, STEVE MARCUS, WADE VANDERVORT

DIGITAL

Publisher of Digital Media KATIE HORTON

Web Content Specialist CLAYT KEEFER

ADVERTISING & MARKETING

Publisher of Branded Content & Special Publications EMMA WOLFF

Special Publications Editor SIERRA SMART

Senior Advertising Managers MIKE MALL, ADAIR NOWACKI, SUE SRAN

Account Executives DEREK EIGE, LAUREN JOHNSON, ALEX TEEL, ANNA ZYMANEK

Sales Executive Assistants APRIL MARTINEZ, NANCY RAMOS

Events Director SAMANTHA PETSCH

Events Manager HANNAH ANTER

Events Coordinator ALEXANDRA SUNGA

PRODUCTION & CIRCULATION

Vice President of Manufacturing MARIA BLONDEAUX

Production Director PAUL HUNTSBERRY

Market Research Manager CHAD HARWOOD

Production Manager BLUE UYEDA

Associate Marketing Art Director BROOKE EVERSON

Marketing Graphic Designer CARYL LOU PAAYAS

Production Artist MARISSA MAHERAS

Senior Tra c Coordinator DENISE ARANCIBIA

Tra c Coordinator ALEX HAASE

Distribution Relations Liaison JIDAN SHADOWEN

Fulfillment Operations Coordinator CASANDRA PIERCE

Route Administrator KATHY STRELAU

GREENSPUN MEDIA GROUP

CEO, Publisher & Editor BRIAN GREENSPUN

Chief Operating O cer ROBERT CAUTHORN

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ADVERTISING DEADLINE EVERY THURSDAY AT 5 P.M.

Your daily events planner, starring Depeche Mode, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Steve Angello, the Great Vegas Festival of Beer and more.

NOISE

SCENE

A Nevada-based drug manufacturer is on the front lines in the legal battle over abortion medication.

Behind the scenes with the local Latin psych-rockers of Viaje Nahual.

Drilling into the brain of Troy Heard to learn what inspires the director behind Majestic productions like Clown Bar and The Sandman.

SPORTS

Drinking and dining at Table 34, and preparing our palates for the life-changing sandwiches coming to UnCommons.

The Raiders took a relatively cautious approach to free agency. How might it play out?

Photographer Christopher DeVargas

Viaje Nahual’s Cindy Espinosa (Wade Vandervort/Sta )

SUPERGUIDE

ARTS

FOOD + DRINK COMEDY

DISNEY ANIMATION: IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE

Following its world premiere in Toronto in December, this touring exhibition, created by Lighthouse Immersive in collaboration with Walt Disney Animation Studios, has already visited major cities across the country this year leading up to its arrival on the Las Vegas Strip this week. Anyone who considers themselves any sort of Disney fan will need to visit the Lighthouse ArtSpace at the Shops at Crystals, formerly home of Immersive Van Gogh and Immersive Nutcracker: A Winter Miracle, to take in the brand’s iconic characters and stories displayed in projection and environmental installations, including responsive designs that move with the audience. From Encanto to Frozen to The Lion King, expect to interact with all your favorites in a new way. Thru 9/3, times vary, $46, Lighthouse ArtSpace, disneyimmersive.com. –Brock Radke

(Photo Courtesy/Disney)

MIRANDA LAMBERT 8 p.m., & 4/1-4/2, Zappos Theater, ticketmaster.com.

NGHTMRE 10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, events.taogroup.com.

AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE: VISUAL VOICES Thru 4/6, Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m.5:30 p.m., Las Vegas City Hall Chamber Gallery, artslasvegas. org.

MUNICIPAL WASTE

With Sacred Reich, Creeping Death, 6 p.m., Eagle Aerie Hall, seetickets.us.

HELL With Glasghote, Plague Doctor, Necrospectre, 8 p.m., Dive Bar, eventbrite.com.

SUNDANCE INDIGENOUS SHORTS 7:30 p.m., Beverly Theater, thebeverlytheater.com.

WOMEN WHO ROCK THE ROOF Ft. Troielle, Dezi Marie, Jan Jan, Tanna Marie, Nidia Martinez, Deejay Ivy May, 6 p.m., Taverna Costera, tavernacostera.com.

ONYX

With R.A. the Rugged Man, Open Minded, Donnie Menace, 6:30 p.m., Backstage Bar & Billiards, ticketweb.com.

JONAS BLUE

With Dee Jay Silver, 10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com.

DEPECHE MODE

Dave Gahan and Martin Gore have been making music as Depeche Mode for nearly 43 years. They’ve had their personal and professional ups and downs, most recently the May 2022 death of their friend and bandmate Andy Fletcher. They’ve packed stadiums, secured a spot in the Rock and Roll of Fame and inspired an enormous legion of followers. (The “Influenced

By” list of their AllMusic entry ends, modestly, at 84 bands.) They’ve more than earned the right to a valedictory lap, and even the title of their new LP, Memento Mori, suggests a clock that’s running down. Only problem with that theory is that Depeche Mode has arguably never looked back—has never played the ’80s nostalgia circuit or re-recorded old hits (looking at you, U2), and the group’s latest single, “Ghosts Again,” is as affecting and tuneful as any of their classic songs. Head to T-Mobile and catch up with Depeche Mode, still in progress. With Kelly Lee Owens. 7:30 p.m., $50+, T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.

–Geoff Carter

(Photo Courtesy/Anton Corbijn)

BARRY MANILOW

Thru 4/1, 7 p.m., Westgate International Theater, ticketmaster.com.

OOSTIL 10 p.m., Commonwealth, seetickets.us.

TEXAS HIPPIE COALITION

With Gravel, John Zito Band, 7:30 p.m., Count’s Vamp’d, eventbrite.com.

SHIVERZ

With Dovahkyn, Zendtri, 10 p.m., We All Scream, seetickets.us.

JAY LENO

8 p.m., Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com.

CEDRIC GERVAIS

11 a.m., Tao Beach Dayclub, events. taogroup.com.

SLAUGHTER

8 p.m., Golden Nugget Showroom, ticketmaster.com.

PUDDLE OF MUDD

With Saliva, Crashing Wayward, 7:30 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, concerts.livenation. com.

FRENCH MONTANA 10 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, draisgroup.com.

MAROON 5 8 p.m., & 4/1, 4/5, Dolby Live, ticketmaster.com.

LUKE BRYAN 8 p.m., & 4/1, Resorts World Theatre, axs.com.

ALESSO 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, events.taogroup. com.

HALIENE 9:30 p.m., Area15 Portal, area15.com.

FAT JOE 10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, events. taogroup.com.

FOREIGNER 8 p.m., & 4/1, 4/5, Venetian Theatre, ticketmaster.com.

THE BRONX WANDERERS

Thru 4/2, 7:30 p.m., South Point Showroom, ticketmaster.com.

LOUIS THE CHILD 10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com.

THE NEGATIVE NANCYS With Blvd Bullies, Muertos Heist, Desert Island Boys, 10 p.m., Double Down Saloon, doubledown saloon.com.

ROSE LEVEE

With the Crimsons, Silent Movie Cinema, 9 p.m., Vegas Stand Up & Rock, vegas standupandrock.com.

CHEAT CODES Noon, Ayu Dayclub, zoukgrouplv.com.

STEVE ANGELLO

The revival continues. The Swedish House Mafia reunion residency at Wynn, which began in August at XS, has a date on the 2023 calendar, but it’s not until September 16. Whether or not the legendary dance music trio lands on the Strip before Labor Day, you can bet some of the group’s spectacular sounds will be booming at the iconic megaclub this weekend, when Steve Angello makes his solo return to Las Vegas. The 40-year-old, Athens-born DJ and producer recently released music with SHM mate Sebastian Ingrosso as Buy Now and arrives in town fresh from the Tomorrowland Winter festival in France. Angello is also working on his Size Records’ 20th anniversary celebration in May, so we’re somewhere in the middle of a new creative peak for this influential dance music artist. 10:30 p.m., $40-$60+, XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com. –Brock Radke

(Photo Courtesy)

SUPERGUIDE

SATURDAY

RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS With St. Vincent, King Princess, 6:30 p.m., Allegiant Stadium, ticketmaster.com.

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. MINNESOTA WILD 7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.

APR.

1

DANE COOK 8 p.m., the Chelsea, ticketmaster.com.

LAS VEGAS PHILHARMONIC: NIGHT AT THE OPERA 7:30 p.m., Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter.com.

AFROJACK 11 a.m., Wet Republic, events.taogroup.com

LOOLOWNINGEN & THE FAR EAST IDIOTS With Same Sex Mary, Luxury Furniture Store, Spring Breeding, 8 p.m., Cornish Pasty Downtown, eventbrite.com.

DAVID GUETTA 11 a.m., Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com.

DEADMAU5 10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com

JAI WOLF 9:30 p.m., Area15, area15.com.

STING 8 p.m., & 4/5, the Colosseum, ticketmaster.com.

PROFESSIONAL FIGHTERS LEAGUE 3 p.m., Theater at Virgin, axs.com.

ZEDD 11 a.m., Ayu Dayclub, zoukgrouplv.com.

GREAT VEGAS FESTIVAL OF BEER 3 p.m., Downtown Las Vegas, eventbrite.com.

(Courtesy)

ILLENIUM

11 a.m., Tao Beach Dayclub, events.taogroup.com.

ERIC BELLINGER

7 p.m., 24 Oxford, etix.com.

DIPLO

10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com.

STEVE AOKI

10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, events.taogroup.com.

VEGAS VIPERS VS. SAN ANTONIO BRAHMAS Noon, Cashman Field, ticketmaster.com

2 CHAINZ

10 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, draisgroup.com.

A$AP FERG

With Eric D-Lux, 11 a.m., Ayu Dayclub, zoukgrouplv.com.

(Photo Courtesy)

DILLON FRANCIS

11 a.m., Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com.

SOFI TUKKER

11 a.m., Tao Beach Dayclub, events. taogroup.com.

YOUNG ARTISTS ORCHESTRA: THE MUSIC OF STAR WARS

2 p.m., Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter. com.

SIDEPIECE

FORTUNE FEIMSTER

What better way to celebrate April Fools’ Day than with a night of comedy? First known as a writer and panelist on Chelsea Lately and for her role in The Mindy Project, comedian-actress Fortune Feimster has released two Netflix comedy specials since 2020. Her latest, Good Fortune, dropped last fall, and weeks ago, Netflix released the teaser for FUBAR, an action flick in which she’ll star along with Arnold Schwarzenegger, coming in May. The North Carolina native brings a down-toearth, Southern charm to topics like growing up and relationships to her Live, Laugh, Love! tour stops. 8 p.m., $40-$100, Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com.

–Shannon Miller

11 a.m., Marquee Dayclub, events. taogroup.com.

MONDAYS DARK 8 p.m., the Space, mondaysdark.com.

MICKI FREE’S VEGAS JAM 8 p.m., Backstage Bar & Billiards, dice.fm.

E-ROCK 10:30 p.m., Jewel Nightclub, events.taogroup.com.

KATHLEEN DUNBAR

With Dustin Ybarra, Jackie Fabulous, Dean Delray, Gabriel Rutledge, 7 & 9:30 p.m., Comedy Cellar, ticketmaster.com.

THE JOHN ABRAHAM PROJECT 7 p.m., Maxan Jazz, maxanjazz.com.

FOR MORE UPCOMING EVENTS, VISIT LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM.

7 p.m., Dollar Loan Center, axs.com.

KATY PERRY 8 p.m., Resorts World Theatre, ticketmaster.com.

UNLV CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

7:30 p.m., Clark County Library, thelibrarydistrict.org.

THE COMPOSERS SHOWCASE

9:30 p.m., Myron’s,

6:30

DODGERS

If you’re the sort of Aviators fan who can check o the team’s entire starting nine and/or discuss which Las Vegas players have the best chance for a call-up to the parent Oakland Athletics, full respect. For the rest of us, a new Triple-A season means a fresh chance to soak up 70s springtime temps, sip on tall beers and see how massive that pile of peanut shells by your feet can grow, while marveling that men can turn around 100-mileper-hour pitches and send them 400 feet over 10-foot walls. And in a world where $250 concert tickets seem normal, you can do all that for less than $20 a seat. Thru April 9; Tuesday-Saturday, 7 p.m.; Sunday, noon; $13+, Las Vegas Ballpark, ticketmaster.com.

–Spencer

Patterson

LAS VEGAS AVIATORS VS. OKLAHOMA CITY

HENDERSON SILVER KNIGHTS VS. TUCSON ROADRUNNERS

thesmithcenter.com.

KYLE WALKER With Sean Sabien, Keo, 10 p.m., We All Scream, weallscream.com.

BOURBON DINNER SERIES 7 p.m., Yardbird, runchickenrun.com.

LAS VEGAS YOUTH ORCHESTRA SPRING CONCERT

p.m., Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter.com.

LINDSEY HERBERT 10 p.m., La Mona Rosa, lamonarosalv.com.

BUKEZ FINEZT & COMMODO 10 p.m., Discopussy, discopussydtlv. com.

JOHN CAPARULO 9:30 p.m., Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club, ticketmaster.com.

ROB GUSON 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, events. taogroup.com.

(Steve Marcus/Sta )

DDS | David A. Hornbeck, Law Offices | Hoy Vallas

Chrissinger, PC | Imbib Custom Brews | Jeff Lock Nature Photography | Knit | KRICO Productions | Laughlin River Tours | Las Vegas Cyclery | Laughing Planet | Lee Canyon | LGA Architecture | London Bridge Jet Boat Tours | Buddy Miller, Law Offices | Ms. Squaw Indian Handcrafts & Jewelry | Mt. Rose – Ski Tahoe | Nevada Conservation League | Nevada Offroad Association | Nevada Outdoor School | Nevada Outside Photography | Nevada Wildlife Federation | North American Embroidery | Patagonia | Peaks & Pedals Gear Exchange | Shane Piccinini, Photographer | Pola Poke Bowls | Race178 | RE Editorial Services | Red Rock Audubon | REI | Rocky River Adventure Center | Big Jim Sage Jr., Cowboy Trail Rides | Save Red Rock | Ann Scarff, Real Estate Broker | Brian Shapiro, Law Offices | Sierra Nevada Journeys | Silver Sage Center for Family Medicine | Smith & Harmer | Silver Stage Government Relations | Southern Nevada Bicycle Coalition | Southern Nevada Climbers Coalition | Spirit of Nevada | Star Village Coffee | Tahoe Timber | Tahoe Trail Bars | Take a Hike Vegas | Tanner Law & Strategy Group | Tom Clark Solutions | Toiyabe Group | Trashy Trail Runners | Truckee Meadows Bicycle Alliance | TTR Motorsports | Vegas Hike Life | WashoZephyr Consulting | Wenzel Haus | Wild Ones Collective

PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHRISTOPHER DEVARGAS +WADE

Every year, Vegas Inc recognizes 40 locals under 40 years old for their leadership skills, business prowess and community involvement. Every year, the people who are selected showcase the best and brightest of Las Vegas. There’s no shortage of talent and ambition in Southern Nevada, and these 40 individuals prove it. I hope they will inspire you as they have inspired me.

Over the past few months, I have had the privilege to meet and talk with each of these 40 honorees. These individuals represent an incredible array of accomplishments and industries and are responsible for creating growth and opportunity in our city.

I have been so impressed with the honorees’ adaptability to their ever-changing environments and their positive and progressive attitudes. Their creative approaches to problem-solving and leadership inspire their teams and invigorate their work. These honorees are leading the community through mentorship, hard work and service. With a record number of nominations this year, the competition was fierce, but these individuals set themselves apart. They are guiding us towards the future.

I would like to extend my gratitude to the UNLV Lee Business School and Lapis & Oak Spa and Salt Lounge for supporting this publication and helping us recognize these individuals and their accomplishments. I would also like to express special thanks to Sahara Las Vegas for hosting an event to celebrate the recipients of the 2023 40 Under 40 award.

Congratulations to all the honorees of Vegas Inc’s 23rd annual 40 Under 40 awards. Thank you for your dedication to your work and community. May there be many more successes in your futures.

SIERRA SMART Special Publications Editor

LETTERS FROM OUR SPONSORS

On behalf of the Lee Business School Executive MBA Program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, I would like to congratulate the 2023 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.

2023 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 2. The application deadline is April 14. Starting your program this year means you will complete your degree by December 2024.

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. Director, O ce of Executive Education Lee Business School University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Finding success early in your career, well, that's something to celebrate! On behalf of the hardworking professionals at Lapis & Oak Spa and Salt Lounge, I congratulate the 2023 40 under 40 honorees. You stand out amongst hundreds of professionals for your achievements, entrepreneurial spirit and unabashed drive to improve our community—for that, we thank you!

Honor, wisdom, authenticity and strength are the core values of Lapis & Oak Spa, and I implore you to keep these truths close to you in all you do. These values are necessary for our business to stand out amongst the crowd. These values are essential for our company to impact the many lives we touch; it is where our success lies. Every individual working for Lapis & Oak Spa must remain passionate, driven and educated in everything they do to continue to deliver their best every day. That is why you are receiving this great honor, and with this mindset, you will continue to achieve great success for yourself and the people around you!

In 2023, I challenge you to look at your personal vehicle (your body) and recognize that you have one opportunity to treat and maintain it kindly. You will undoubtedly face many challenges as you continue to rise in your industry, and unknowingly, your biggest challenge will be taking care of yourself. So, I challenge you to do just that. We are here to help you put yourself first and to remind you that the time and e ort you put into maintaining your health will pay great dividends to you and the people you surround yourself with.

From the Lapis & Oak family to yours, we remind you to take care of your body; it's the only place you have to live. To transform how you see your health and enhance your physical well-being, contact us to discuss how we can personalize your wellness journey and support you in achieving this goal.

Sincerely,

Misty J. Maher, CEO, Lapis & Oak Spa

Trenton Alenik

Executive Director, The Inspiring Children Foundation Age 34

First Job Bus boy at Pasta Shop Ristorante

Trenton Alenik does it all. He’s the executive director at the Inspiring Children Foundation; he helps run his family’s business, Pasta Shop Ristorante; he’s a national championship winner in both tennis and pickleball and a community leader and philanthropist. Alenik leads with humility, integrity and hard work, all of which are reflected in his accomplishments.

Genuine human connection is at the core of everything Alenik does. He recognizes that community is the antithesis of loneliness, isolation, sadness and addiction, and actively tries to provide community through his work at the Inspiring Children Foundation. Having originally made a two-year commitment to the foundation, Alenik has now been there for 12 years.

During that time, the foundation’s budget has grown 10 times, 185 students have gone to college on scholarship, and curriculum and programming have been developed to reach millions of people online.

Alenik spearheaded the #notalone challenge that went viral on social media and turned into a mental health campaign that provides free resources and an online support community for people who live in mental health deserts around the United States. He also hosts extraordinary fundraising events. In connection with the foundation, Alenik provides mentoring to youth, helping them develop mindfulness and leadership skills.

(Christopher DeVargas/Sta )

Hilary Billings

Hilary Billings describes her career as incredibly unconventional. “From being a graduate school reject to an international travel blogger, lion trainer, burn-survivor-turned-beauty-queen, national journalist, red carpet host, celebrity interviewer, personal brand strategist, viral content creator and agency owner, I feel like each step has prepared me for the next,” Billings said. Today, she is the co-founder of Attentioneers, a company that seeks to help entrepreneurs share their message on social media.

Billings came into the world of viral video creation after studying the psychology of attention and how to capture interest on- and o ine. After finding success in this initiative, she began teaching others how to do the same and created Attentioneers with the goal of helping others connect authentically to their target audience.

A former Miss Nevada, Billings came into pageantry after su ering second- and third-degree burns from a malfunctioning firework. As she fought to reclaim her self-confidence, she found an opportunity in the world of pageants. “I didn’t expect to win, but I was so grateful to leverage the title to advocate for burn survivors, work with local charities like the Firefighters of Southern Nevada Burn Foundation and help break stereotypes of what it meant to be a beauty queen,” Billings said.

Min

Kim

Executive Chef, Mizumi at Wynn Las Vegas

Age 37

First Job Apprentice in his dad’s restaurant

Creativity is the flagship of Min Kim’s working philosophy. Kim spent years learning from the masters—first his dad, from whom he inherited his love of the restaurant industry, and later from legendary chefs in Japan who taught him to di erentiate himself by being innovative and creative. From his mentors and his personal experience, Kim has developed a world-class work ethic and brought traditional Japanese training and cuisine to Las Vegas.

Kim has led the kitchens of Michelin-starred and five-star restaurants across the globe. As the executive chef of Mizumi at Wynn Palace Cotai, he took the restaurant from opening to five stars in just two years. In the coming years, Kim aims to make Mizumi one of the best recognized Japanese restaurants in the country.

Giving back to the community is important to Kim. He’s a believer in education and opportunity and strives to help the less fortunate. He volunteers with local organizations like Three Square, UMC and the Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada and has also hosted master classes with nonprofit chefs. He also gives guest lectures for UNLV’s culinary program and plans to expand his demonstrations to the Clark County School District.

Co-Founder and Chief Executive

Morgan Waldron

Director of Marketing and Communications, Goodwill of Southern Nevada

Age 38

First Job Line production in a small machine shop

As the director of marketing at Goodwill Southern Nevada, Morgan Waldron finds fulfillment in providing service and resources to the community. After studying finance in college, Waldron found her superpower in a marketing class while learning about moving large audiences to take specific action. She’s still inspired and challenged by the opportunity to motivate communities through communication.

In 2021, Waldron created the program Kids in Need Shopping Sprees to help inneed children and families. It is now a biannual event that occurs in July and December. To-date, the program has served more than 400 children and their families.

As a Las Vegas native, Waldron is passionate about giving back to the community. In her role at Goodwill, she’s able to host resource fairs that provide career information and food distribution services. She also partners with Junior League Las Vegas Fashion Forward to educate high school students about sustainable fashion.

Outside of work, Waldron enjoys spending time with her fiancé, son and new puppy as they travel and volunteer together. She looks forward to continuing her career at Goodwill of Southern Nevada and furthering her footprint within the community.

Brian Kline

Regional General Manager - West, House of Blues

Age 37

First job Dishwasher at an Italian restaurant

Brian Kline gives 110% to everything he does. He describes himself as a music person with the desire to create shows that leave a lasting impact on audiences. “Some of my best life experiences have been going to di erent shows,” Kline said. Today, his favorite part of his job at House of Blues is creating lifetime memories for fans.

After recently becoming a regional manager for House of Blues, Kline not only creates unforgettable experiences for guests, but also has the opportunity to help other venues grow and thrive. His team knows him as a leader who is thoughtful, motivating and the type of boss you want to make proud. He’s driven by the unique challenges of live venues and the many opportunities for problem-solving—including those presented as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

With a 3-year-old at home, Kline is constantly on the move, and enjoys building and crafting in his free time. He’s also active with House of Blues’ philanthropic endeavors, including work with Three Square Food Bank and Carlos Santana’s foundations. Always looking to the future, Kline says he’s excited for the next accomplishment, and to continue growing and moving forward.

Caitlin Shea

Vice President of Development, Discovery Children's Museum

Age 36

First job Cashier at Joann Fabrics

Caitlin Shea has had a passion for service from a young age, and she has followed that lead throughout her career, working in nonprofits for the past 14 years. Her thoughtful approach to fundraising has yielded incredible results. In 2018, Shea’s first year at Discovery Children’s Museum, contribution revenue increased from 30% to nearly 70% in one fiscal year. Since then, she has continued to push forward and contribute to the organization’s growth.

“Connecting people to important causes and showing them how their time, talents and treasure can create a lasting impact is not only exciting work, but it is truly humbling to play a small part in strengthening our community,” Shea said. “When I have the chance to bring community members, donors and volunteers into our building, I feel so proud to share the work that we do and to show the direct impact that their contributions make on the future leaders of our community.”

Shea is inspired by children, and working with them at Discovery Children’s Museum leaves her feeling hopeful about the future of Southern Nevada. Always looking for ways to help, she also volunteers for many other organizations, including Rotary Club Las Vegas West, Miss Nevada Scholarship Organization, Delta Zeta National and more.

(Morgan Waldron by Christopher DeVargas/Sta ; Brian Kline and Caitlin Shea by Wade Vandervort/Sta )

TRENT ALENIK!

The Inspiring Children Foundation would like to thank Greenspun Media for honoring our Executive Director Trent Alenik. Trent has inspired and changed countless lives with his mentorship and extraordinary example. Trent’s leadership helped us create our revolutionary youth development and mental health wellness program!

Sabrina Borghoff

When Sabrina Borgho started at Martin-Harris Construction 10 years ago, she was often the only woman at the table. Now she gets excited walking through the building and seeing that over half of the associates are women. In a traditionally male-dominated industry, Borgho is grateful for the opportunity to empower the next generation of women.

As an advocate for women in STEM, Borgho is an ambassador for the ACS ResearcHERS campaign advocating for women-led cancer research. Her philanthropic e orts also extend to nonprofits including Make-A-Wish, St. Jude’s Ranch for Children and the USO of Nevada.

Borgho ’s passion for making people smile isn’t limited to her volunteer work. She’s a smart and savvy businesswoman who leads from a place of understanding and kindness. Borgho has found that authenticity allows her to build trust and develop relationships. Those relationships are critical to cultivating collaborative partnerships. She helps her clients build their portfolios while also maintaining diverse revenue sources for her business.

Despite maintaining a busy schedule, Borgho finds time to mentor the next industry leaders. She currently sits on the NAIOP National Forum Group, Real Estate Development Trends, and has formerly served as Committee Chair of NAIOP Spotlight Awards and NAIOP Developing Leaders Institute.

Vice President of Business

Development, Martin-Harris Construction Age 40

Playful

Chris Griffin

Chief Financial O cer, Treasure Island and Circus Circus

Las Vegas Age 39

First job

McDonald’s

Chris Gri n has spent nearly 20 years in finance for the hospitality and gaming industry. He’s been a banker, an auditor and has held numerous positions in middle and upper management covering accounting, strategy, yielding, development and more. Today, Gri n is the chief financial o cer for two megaresorts on the Strip. And he’s only getting started.

With a breadth of technical knowledge and a penchant for common sense solutions, Gri n takes on challenges with the goal of fixing the problem and improving processes moving forward. He’s result-driven, numbers-oriented, has led several large-scale transactions and has developed teams of hundreds of employees. Through it all, Gri n is a servant leader who is deeply invested in the people with whom he works.

“I am most proud of seeing former team members prosper, multiply and go on to develop teams of their own,” Gri n said. “There are some incredible transactions that I have been a part of throughout my career, but nothing beats the feeling of accomplishment when your employees succeed and get promoted.”

Gri n’s biggest inspiration is his father, whom he describes as humble, patient, kind and tenacious. Gri n is involved with several of Treasure Island’s philanthropic e orts and fosters dogs in his free time.

Alexandra “Allie” Amato Campaign Director, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Age 31

First Job Kid Zone Counselor for the City of Henderson

Allie Amato is dedicated to improving the lives of others, and she works to inspire the next generation to do the same. As the campaign development director of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Student Visionaries of the Year program, she leads high school students through fundraising e orts with the ultimate goal of finding a cure for cancer.

“Having the opportunity to mentor, teach and lead high school students to achieve their personal, professional and philanthropic goals has been indescribable,” Amato said. “We had four students raise a little over $50K in 2018 … [and now] we have 19 teams of 24 candidates raising over $1.27 million in seven weeks in 2022.”

During her tenure with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, she has worked with more than 500 volunteers to raise more than $2.2 million during the past five years. And Amato says that’s just the beginning. Ambitious and future-focused, she hopes to continue using her expertise to drive philanthropic e orts and give back to the Las Vegas community.

Amato is personally active with other nonprofits, including Hope Means Nevada, Animal Foundation, Alzheimer’s Association and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

(Christopher DeVargas/Sta )

Cindy Rivelli

The UNLV Foundation warmly commends Cindy Rivelli, Senior Associate Vice President of Development and Principal Gifts, for being named one of the 2023 40 under 40 by Las Vegas Weekly.

CONGRATULATIONS ADAM CIOTTI

on making Vegas Inc’s 40 Under 40

Kelly K. Campbell Smolen Director of Event Sales,

Area15

Age 34

First Job MICROS Systems, Inc (now Oracle)

Kelly Campbell

Smolen is a creative powerhouse, a dynamic businessperson and an approachable, humble leader. Originally from Maryland, Smolen is a former professional football player in the LFL, which originally brought her to Las Vegas. She went on to work on the special events team for House of Blues where she says she found her calling in the entertainment industry. She is now the director of event sales at Area15. In less than a year, she has more than doubled event revenue, client lists and built a high-performing team.

“I ventured out to Vegas in 2013, with only what I could fit in my car and an open heart,” Smolen said. “For only being here for a decade, I am proud of the roots and impact I've been able to make in Vegas. To be able to create this fulfilling life, by building a career and a family from scratch, has made the younger version of me very proud.”

Smolen is looking forward to expansion—both in her professional and personal life. Area15 is continuing to expand its footprint in Las Vegas and will soon break ground on a location in Orlando, something Smolen is thrilled to be a part of. She also has a young daughter at home and hopes to continue growing her family.

(Christopher DeVargas/Sta )

A dam

Ciotti

Executive Director Business

Partner Relationships

and Executive

Associate to

Board, Palms Casino Resort Age 37

First Job Restaurant industry

As executive director of business partner relationships for Palms Casino Resort, Adam Ciotti values the connections he makes and strives to foster a sense of community within the resort. With more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Ciotti is passionate about creating unforgettable experiences for others and continues working toward developing new concepts, implementing better service and making the resort a must-visit destination in Las Vegas.

Ciotti says that his participation in the opening of Palms, the first Native-owned and operated resort in the city, is one of his proudest professional accomplishments to date. His 16-year career with the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians has been filled with hard work, dedication and success. From public works to project management, Ciotti has taken a people-first approach to each role he has held, allowing him to become deeply immersed in the company’s culture from the very beginning.

Devoted to making a positive impact, Ciotti proudly works for a tribe that values philanthropy. Recently, under the leadership of the San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority, he participated in the launch of Palms Cares, a program dedicated to giving back to Southern Nevada.

Dustin Iannotti

Founder and Chief Executive O cer, Artisans on Fire & HighRanking.com Age 39

First job Professional wrestler

Dustin Iannotti has always been a creator at heart. “As a kid, I used to write scripts for my WWE action figures. I ran a student-run ad agency in college. I used our home printer to produce my own magazine at age 10,” Iannotti said. With this drive and desire to create, and relentless focus on service for every client, he founded Artisans on Fire in 2015. Today, it’s a full-service agency specializing in emerging markets, including cannabis, online gaming, fantasy sports and more.

Iannotti's vision was to build an agency on the principles of diversity and creativity, and he prides himself on helping develop young, hungry talent. “I am very selective, because I want to find people who want to be extraordinary and like being a bit uncomfortable, because that is how you grow,” Iannotti said.

Artisans on Fire played an integral role in the development of Battle 4 Vegas, a charity softball game pairing the Vegas Golden Knights versus the Las Vegas Raiders, which has become one of the Valley’s largest annual community service events. It raises funds for di erent charities, including Communities in Schools, the Maximum Hope Foundation, Grant a Gift Autism Foundation and more. In 2022, the Battle 4 Vegas II TV special received an Emmy Award.

Ramya Pulipati

Senior Director, Global Product Management, International Game Technology

Age 39

First Job Management trainee

Ramya Pulipati fell in love with casino gaming systems early in her career. She started out as a software engineer, and 17 years later, she continues to use her creative problem-solving skills to improve gaming technology and inspire her team. These days, she gets to work with the data and numbers with which she was so fascinated in the beginning, while participating in the larger vision of company-wide goals and strategy.

Pulipati finds fulfillment in creating experiences that engage guests in a personal and authentic way. Authenticity is a character trait that Pulipati brings to all her endeavors. As a team leader, she works hard to maintain quality personal communication between teams and clients. She’s also part of an internal diversity and inclusion committee at IGT, helping to hold her company responsible for providing a diverse and inclusive workspace.

Personally, Pulipati is involved in Global Gaming Women and Lean In Communities, organizations that are working towards advancing women in the workplace and helping them achieve their goals. In her spare time, she enjoys music and gardening—activities that energize her mentally and physically.

(Wade Vandervort/Sta )

Domenica Richards

President, J.P. Morgan Private Bank

Age 33

Domenica Richards is one of the co-founding advisors and vice president of J.P. Morgan Private Bank’s first Las Vegas o ce. She has had an interest in financial literacy from a young age and began investing young. After starting a finance blog and writing industry articles for Forbes, she was recruited into the private banking and financial services industry, where she has been for nearly a decade.

Richards is a trusted advisor to ultra-high net worth individuals and families seeking to preserve and grow their wealth for future generations. One of her areas of specialization is business succession planning, through which she helps her clients develop and implement a plan for exiting a family business. Alongside her clients’ professional advisors, she helps navigate the complexities around transferring wealth and assets to heirs and planning for clients’ next endeavors following a business sale.

Community-focused and a local Las Vegan, Richards is on the Grant Screening Committee for Nevada Women's Philanthropy, a member of the Finance Committee for The Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada and a member of the Executive Women's Council for the Vegas Chamber. She spends her free time with her husband, hosting dinner parties for family and friends and trying new restaurants.

Vice

President

and Regional

Field Sales Manager

–Nevada/ Northern LA, City National Bank

Age 38

First Job Construction worker

Scott Sellers wears many hats at City National Bank. He drives sales initiatives, coaches colleagues and assists with consumer and commercial deals. As the vice president and regional field sales manager, Sellers spends a lot of time traveling between Las Vegas and LA, building connections with clients and peers alike. Because of these relationships, Sellers can use his leadership and creativity to customize sales approaches for his teammates based on their strengths and weaknesses.

One of his proudest accomplishments was establishing Paycheck Protection Program loans for people as the pandemic created an unstable financial future for businesses and families.

“I remember working a month straight, which included long days and nights, to ensure we helped as many business owners obtain PPP funds,” Sellers said. “These funds flowed down to help so many families and individuals at a time where we didn't know what was going to happen next.”

As an active participant in the community, Sellers has served as vice chair for Neighborhood Housing Services of Southern Nevada for the past four years and on the Morlon Greenwood Foundation for more than a year.

Scott Sellers

Vice

Thrive Aviation congratulates innovator, colleague, friend, and our CEO, Curtis Edenfield, on being recognized among 2023’s Vegas Inc. 40 under 40. www.flythrive.com

Glenn Light Partner, Lewis Roca Age 39

First job

Worked at his dad's barber shop

Throughout Glenn Light’s childhood in England, he and his family regularly attended horse races, where his interest in the gaming industry was piqued. In law school, Light was the only person in his class to write his dissertation on gaming law.

The chair of Lewis Roca’s Commercial Gaming Practice Group, Light’s expertise in this complicated and high-stakes world is invaluable to his clients. He has worked with a variety of gaming and transaction matters for land-based and interactive casinos, sports betting and, of course, horse racing. Every day brings a new challenge, and he welcomes all the complexities that the industry has to o er. “The gaming industry is rife with innovation. Every day it seems like a client has a new idea,” Light said. “The tough part is navigating innovation through regulation, which often cannot keep pace.”

Light, who regularly appears before the Nevada Gaming Control Board and the Nevada Gaming Commission, has also authored more than 50 publications including articles and law review journals. He has participated in a wide range of gaming matters in tribal, state and foreign jurisdictions. He looks forward to continuing to grow Lewis Roca’s Gaming Practice Group and spending any spare moment with his family.

Heather Brown President, StartUp Vegas Age 37

First job Administrative assistant

Heather Brown enthusiastically embraces the new opportunities and challenges that come her way, and that attitude has helped inform her professional trajectory. Growing up in a military family, Brown split time between Las Vegas and Saudi Arabia. “I was navigating new life experiences that shaped my identity and helped me develop a nuanced understanding and appreciation of cultural di erences, and made me more adaptable and open-minded,” Brown said.

After graduating from UNLV, Brown went on to work in the political sphere of Washington, D.C., before becoming an entrepreneur—the path that ultimately brought her back to Las Vegas. As the president of StartUp Vegas, Brown promotes startup culture in Southern Nevada and advocates for entrepreneurs.

“One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is witnessing the transformative power of entrepreneurship in the broader Las Vegas economy,” Brown said. “The passion and drive that entrepreneurs bring to their work is truly contagious, and it is a privilege to work alongside them as they strive to create new avenues for growth and diversification.”

Brown is also a newly elected University Regent representing District 6 in Southern Nevada, giving her the opportunity to help strengthen and fortify higher education institutions in our community.

As We Honor this Year’s Top 40 Under 40, All of Southern

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Kirk Reed Marketing Director, Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas & Co-Founder, We the Beat Age 32

First Job Busboy

Marketing director at Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas and co-founder of We the Beat, Kirk Reed is helping build the music industry in Las Vegas, which to him is nothing short of a dream come true. Reed realized in high school that music would be his life’s mission and has been working in, or adjacent to, the scene ever since.

In 2013, Reed and his best friend, Blake Nania, launched their own concert promotion business, We the Beat, in California. He prides himself on booking artists before they make it big and has been gratified to watch many music careers grow over the past 10 years.

The opportunities that Reed created for himself at We the Beat led him to Brooklyn Bowl. He masterfully balances his responsibilities as he heads the Brooklyn Bowl marketing team and continues to grow the brand here in Las Vegas. Reed is passionate about keeping the arts community strong and tries to book local bands on every show. Ultimately, he’s inspired by the people. “Watching a crowd let loose is magic. A lot goes into pulling o a sold-out show, but the smiles leaving the venue make everything worth it,” Reed said.

Dr. Vishisht Mehta

Director of Interventional Pulmonology, Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada

Age 34

First Job Current

Dr. Vishisht Mehta works at the intersection of lung diseases and cancer with a focus on the early detection and diagnosis of lung cancer. Mehta is passionate about people, and it is reflected in his work. He participates in local community outreach by meeting with patients and other physicians and spreading information about early detection of lung cancer. He also co-founded the Lung India Foundation, a nonprofit that focuses on rural lung health.

When Mehta decided to pursue medicine as his career, he knew that it would mean a lifetime of learning and teaching. Mehta is constantly learning to keep his education up to date. He is specifically interested in the use of AI in medicine and creating less invasive techniques in diagnosing and treating lung cancer. He recently launched the robotic bronchoscopy program and performed the first such procedure at MountainView Hospital. His teaching extends from his community education initiatives to his leadership in residency, as medical students make rounds with him on a regular basis. As he makes strides in the medical industry, Mehta is also a busy man at home. Mehta looks forward to watching his kids grow up and sharing their interests. He also hopes to advance medical care and make screenings safer and more accessible.

(Christopher DeVargas/Sta

Kayla Fishman has been working in radio for more than a decade and considers her tenure in the industry one of her greatest gifts.

“My biggest passion in life is making people smile; that's why I'm on the radio. You can hear it in people's voices when they call in to win a contest or to contribute to a topic. You can hear their face light up, and there is no greater sound on Earth in my opinion,” Fishman said.

An integral part of The Chet Buchanan Show—the No. 1 branded morning show in Las Vegas—for the past seven years, Fishman has been met with successful ratings and has become a popular on-air personality. Her high energy and sense of humor are just some of the qualities that bring listeners back each morning.

Fishman is active within the community, regularly hosting and participating in charity events, and working with organizations including HELP of Southern Nevada, Friends of Red Rock, Springs Preserve, Humane Society, Habitat for Humanity, St. Baldrick’s and Project 150. She credits her passion for community involvement to her late mother, whom she says taught her everything she knows.

It was a leap of faith that landed Jacob Tiranno in the world of virtual reality and in his role as Director of Programming at VRLU. With a history in marketing and video production, Tiranno had little experience in virtual reality, but he jumped in headfirst and never looked back.

“It was an extreme learning curve filled with frustrated meetings, sleepless nights and countless mistakes, but now, only four years later, we managed to create the world's largest education repository of virtual reality content,” Tiranno said. Mission-driven, VRLU seeks to provide a place where people can access valuable knowledge and learn from industry-leading experts, and Tiranno is proud to report they’ve done just that. Working with celebrities, professional athletes, top CEOs and more, Tiranno has helped the VRLU team film more than 200 unique VR experiences, producing more than 1,500 VR episodes of immersive content.

Inspired by many individuals in his life, Tiranno counts VRLU founder James Hsu as a mentor and someone who inspires him to elevate others in his orbit. Tiranno is a huge film bu and spends his free time enjoying cinema in all forms. He is family-focused and spends as much time with his wife and family as possible.

Noah Azlan Director of Marketing, AEG Presents

Las Vegas

Age 30

First Job

Social media manager

Growing up in both Pakistan and Las Vegas, Noah Azlan developed a love for music and live entertainment early in life. Azlan recognizes the power that performance can have to create connection, energy and lifelong memories, which he strives to create in his role as senior marketing manager at AEG Presents.

After the pandemic brought live entertainment to a temporary halt, Azlan was a member of the team responsible for bringing music back by launching Allegiant Stadium’s first concert in 2021. In his day-today work, Azlan enjoys the challenge of finding unique ways to connect directly with audiences.

Azlan feels a strong connection to both his Pakistani cultural heritage and the magnetic energy of Las Vegas. He stays engaged with both by supporting philanthropic e orts both locally and globally. He’s especially proud of his work to help raise money for Vaseela-E-Raah, a campaign that provides aid to the flood-affected regions of Pakistan.

Inspired by singer-songwriter and philanthropist Hadiqa Kiani, Azlan seeks to assume the responsibility of shaping his own future. In his mission to positively impact his community while sharing the gift of live entertainment, Azlan finds joy and fulfillment in doing what he loves in the service of the city that he loves.

Amalie Zinsser

Director of Community and Belonging, UnCommons

Driven by purpose and human experience, Amalie Zinsser firmly believes that it takes a village. Her role at UnCommons is to foster an environment that instills a sense of belonging and encourages meaningful community connections—something about which Zinsser is personally passionate.

Age 34

First Job Waitress at Mustang Sally’s

“The desire to belong and connect with others is a basic human instinct, and I look forward to helping develop the UnCommons community into one that is ripe with genuine connections and where everyone feels welcome, valued and involved,” Zinsser said. To this end, she facilitates community partnerships with nonprofits across the Valley and has launched multiple community-oriented events for business owners, local artists and more. Personally, she gives back to several organizations including the Las Vegas Rescue Mission and Communities in Schools.

Born and raised in Las Vegas, Zinsser spends her free time with family and friends, training for marathons and going on ice cream dates with her 5-year-old daughter. She stresses the importance of taking care of oneself, as she believes that is the foundation of being able to care for others. And care is what Zinsser does—across her career, community and beyond.

ALLIEAMATO

TOP40UNDER40

YOUR LLS FAMILYISSO PROUDOFYOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS!

A ndrew Pacheco

Nightlife

professional Age 37

First Job Server

“Don’t let anyone outwork you” is the best advice Andrew Pacheco has ever received, and that mentality has led him throughout his career. Beginning as a lunch server, he steadily rose through positions before entering the nightlife arena and becoming one of the highest-revenue-producing VIP hosts in Las Vegas. It was this dedication, hard work and remarkable standard for high-end customer service that propelled him throughout his career.

Described as a great leader, Pacheco is people-focused and humble and nurtures every relationship and guest experience. He’s skilled in building high-talent and e cient teams. And, of course, he refuses to be outworked.

“At this point in my career, my favorite thing is making an impact on the next generation pursuing a career in Vegas nightlife. I have been blessed to work for amazing people who have given me incredible opportunities, I want to pass that on and pay it forward,” Pacheco said.

Outside of work, Pacheco is a father and prides himself on the life he’s built with his family. He volunteers as a mentor in the Clark County School District and initiates corporate philanthropic opportunities.

Aida Correa

Director of Marketing, Clique Hospitality

Age 39

First Job Sticker sales business in elementary school

Aida Correa has a lot on her plate. The restaurant marketing director for Clique Hospitality oversees five di erent venues, and she thrives in a challenging and creative environment.

Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, Correa received a law degree at the University of Guadalajara before moving to Las Vegas and experimenting with marketing strategies to aid local restaurants in finding success. As she furthered her marketing experience, Correa found a deep interest in the dynamic nature of the profession. She uses her 16 years of experience to cater to Clique venues’ unique audiences, while maintaining consistent brand values.

Since holding her first management position in 2008, Correa has had a hand in developing and organizing marketing campaigns, hiring and managing more than 100 brand ambassadors and developing new restaurants. The expertise she gained along the way, combined with her innovative marketing strategies, helped turn Clique Hospitality restaurants into household names.

Doing her part for the community is important to Correa. Whether it be through everyday e orts like recycling and donating blood, or through volunteer e orts like serving as a translator for Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada and assisting victims of domestic violence through SafeNest, Correa is tireless in her e orts to give back.

(Andrew Pacheco by Christopher DeVargas/Sta ; Aida Correa by Wade Vandervort/Sta )

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ACHIEVEMENT

MGM Resorts is proud to celebrate our VP of Ticketing for Entertainment & Sports, Lauren Lopez. She is recognized among other elite individuals as a 2023 40 Under 40 Honoree.

Kristen Santero Manville Director of Entertainment

Marketing, Caesars

Entertainment Age 31 First Job Los Angeles Clippers Community Relations Intern

As a child, Kristen Santero Manville loved boy bands and basketball. She was a tennis player, a musician and a DECA competitor. Today, she’s the director of entertainment marketing at Caesars Entertainment and is humbled to be combining her childhood passions in her chosen profession.

Manville describes her job as “creating unforgettable moments.” The entertainment industry in Las Vegas is expansive and sometimes risky, but she enjoys the creativity and confidence that she and her teams have developed while presenting standout experiences to the local community and visitors from all over the world.

In addition to her professional endeavors, Manville serves multiple groups, including OCA Las Vegas, the Asian Community Steering Committee within UNLV's School of Public Health and Nevada DECA that advocates for minorities and the next generation of leaders. She’s a strong believer in speaking for those who do not yet have a voice.

When she isn’t working or advocating for the AAPI community, Manville can be found planning her next Disney trip, watching reality TV with her husband and sheepadoodle, or obsessing over One Direction. She’s excited about the growth Las Vegas has experienced over the past 10 years and looks forward to being a part of the future of our city.

Suzanne Steelman Taylor

Vice President of Strategy, Steelman Partners

Age 36

First Job: Restaurant hostess

Growing up, Suzanne Steelman Taylor remembers traveling the world with her father to visit famous architectural buildings. Seeing the world through his interests shaped her own, and as a mother, Steelman now looks forward to sharing her interests and adventures with her son.

During her time at Steelman Partners, Taylor has had the opportunity to live and work in many places, including spending three years at the Steelman Partners Macau office, but she has always called Las Vegas home. Since moving back, Taylor has had the opportunity to help shape the skyline, most notably through her work at Circa. As a member of the design team, Taylor helped bring Circa to life and transform Downtown Las Vegas.

Taylor is personally committed to keeping up with and giving back to the community that she calls home. She and Steelman Partners participate in the Magical Forest at Opportunity Village and donate to St. Jude’s Hospital. Taylor is particularly interested in using her specific skill set to find a way to help improve the housing crisis. Of the future, Taylor said, “I am very excited to help the company maintain its modern edge and steward the next generation of architects into leadership.”

Ryan Christiansen

Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Ntooitive Digital

Age 39

First Job Electrician’s apprentice

Ryan Christiansen is a proud father who applies parenting principles to his work as the co-founder and CEO of Ntooitive Digital. His philosophy to dream big and be unafraid to fail has led Christiansen and his team to success, with Ntooitive Digital honored three times on Inc. 5000’s fastest growing companies in America list.

Working in print news early in his career opened Christiansen’s eyes to the growing migration to digital media and inspired him to embrace emerging technologies and help other news sources to implement digital strategies. Of this transition, Christiansen said, “We’ve never lost sight of the importance of responding with urgency to the winds of change.”

As a goal-oriented leader, Christiansen values the power of positivity and hard work. In both his personal and professional aspirations, he has honed the ability to measure, improve and work until a solution can be found. Christiansen tries his best to instill these values in young people, too. In addition to mentoring his daughters, Christiansen creates opportunities for young people by providing paid internships for high school and college students. His foresight allows him to invest in the future.

Lauren Lopez

Vice President Ticketing Operations, MGM Resorts Entertainment & Sports

Age 39

First Job Dress runner at David's Bridal

For many, the business of Las Vegas is show business, and Lauren Lopez knows it inside and out. Lopez began working at the Luxor while she was still a student at UNLV, and her time at the box office there led to a 17-year career with MGM Resorts. During her time at MGM, Lopez was empowered and given the opportunity to cultivate a well-rounded understanding of the entertainment business. “Cross-functional knowledge is really underrated and, in my experience, has always come in handy in the nick of time,” Lopez said.

As the vice president of ticketing operations for arena and midsize venues, Lopez works across many industries as she helps manage the abundant entertainment offerings in Las Vegas including sports, music and production shows. She loves the opportunity to collaborate with so many people in her role and looks forward to the results of evolving technology that will help more people connect and to provide a better event experience.

Lopez also prioritizes giving back to the city that she feels has given so much to her and her family. Over the past decade, she has enjoyed supporting Opportunity Village’s holiday activations, the Magical Forest and HallOVeen.

(Suzanne Steelman Taylor and Lauren Lopez by Wade Vandervort/Staff; Ryan Christiansen by Christopher DeVargas)

Melisa Hooper

Vice President of Booking, Allegiant Stadium

Age 34

Melisa Hooper is the vice president of booking at Allegiant stadium, and from her perspective, every event is like a puzzle. It takes a lot of coordination to piece together each project, and Hooper is a pro at problem-solving and fitting everything into the big picture.

One of Hooper’s favorite parts of the job is working at the intersection of so many passionate teams. From her own team at the stadium to the artists and their fans, people are the driving force of this industry. Bringing 60,000 of them together might sound like an impossible task, but for Hooper, orchestrating that kind of magic is a gift.

In addition to managing Allegiant’s busy booking calendar—the stadium was recognized as both Pollstar and Billboard’s top stadium in the world in 2022—Hooper is also actively engaged in community service. She supports Ronald McDonald House Charities and assists in developing and hosting community events at the stadium that focus on supporting underserved youth in Southern Nevada.

Hooper loves the ever-changing entertainment landscape of Las Vegas and looks forward to promoting its growth. She also cherishes Nevada’s natural landscape and can be found wakeboarding during lake season and snowboarding in the winter.

Michael Naft Clark County Commissioner

Age 36

First Job Runner for a law firm

Michael Naft chose a career in public service to improve the community. As County Commissioner, Naft is in a unique position to have handson participation in a wide variety of industries. Day to day, he is involved in healthcare, public safety, transportation, social and family services, and travel and tourism.

Even though community involvement is his job, Naft finds ways to continue his service to the community on his own time. In addition to his responsibilities on the Las Vegas Convention and Visitor's Authority Board of Directors, the County's Debt Management Commission, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Fiscal A airs Committee, and as Chairman of the Big Bend Water District and Clark County Audit Committee, he is also on the Board of Directors of the Anti-Defamation League.

Naft has specific interests in transportation and tra c safety. Working on the team that created the Clark County O ce of Tra c Safety, Naft helped implement life-saving policies like the Safe Sidewalk Ordinance. Naft is looking forward to developing a high-speed rail to Southern California to connect communities, decrease tra c and CO2 emissions, and boost the Las Vegas economy. Outside of work, Naft and his wife keep busy with two young children.

Nathan Drane Senior Vice President Global Product Management, Light & Wonder Age

36

Nathan Drane is an innovator by nature. Over the past 15 years, he has watched the gaming world evolve while the online gaming space has experienced accelerated growth. As the senior vice president global product management of Light & Wonder, Drane looks forward to using the real-time feedback and data from online gaming to make land-based gaming faster, with a better ability to manage content and player engagement.

Drane is always pushing for progress at Light & Wonder, and he achieves it with his willingness to fail forward. Chief Product O cer Rich Schneider taught Drane that mistakes are inevitable but that they aren’t remembered as much as how a person responds to failure. As a product strategist, Drane has learned that strategies almost never go as planned, but it’s problem-solving and recovery that matter.

By contributing to a culture of creativity, Drane helps inspire those with whom he works. He understands the value of a quality network and has developed the skills to collaborate and communicate well with his peers. His bold business acumen has contributed to growth within the company. Drane takes pride in watching talented individuals under his mentorship thrive within the industry.

Associate Vice President, Development and Principal Gifts,

Cindy Rivelli is a seasoned fundraiser and manager who found her calling while studying and working abroad. After graduating from the University of Oregon, she taught English in Lille, France, before moving on to pursue her master’s degree in international relations at King’s College London. While there, Rivelli stumbled into fundraising after taking a job at UNICEF UK.

Rivelli went on to spend several years as a campaign fundraising consultant before moving to Las Vegas in 2011 to work at UNLV. “Not only do I love the mission of UNLV and the students we serve, I have had so many opportunities to see the impact of the work I am doing change lives,” Rivelli said. “The biggest challenge is probably that every day is di erent. It makes for really fun, dynamic work, but no two days are ever the same.”

Under Rivelli’s leadership, more than $50 million was raised during the 2021-2022 fiscal year, with an additional $13 million in gifts of service and in-kind donations. She is described as innovative and visionary in her quest to create an advancement model that other universities can adopt as well. With two young daughters at home, Rivelli looks forward to traveling the world with them and her husband.

Sandra Jauregui

Majority Leader, Nevada State Assembly Age 39

First Job Conroy’s

Sandra Jauregui has dedicated her life to improving the lives of Southern Nevadans. As a first-generation American, Jauregui watched her parents sacrifice and persevere to provide her with every opportunity to succeed. She now uses her position in the Nevada Assembly to provide those same opportunities for others.

“Meeting constituents and families from across the state and working to help improve their lives and our communities is really my favorite part of this job,” Jauregui said. She believes that conversation, compromise and working together will show the people of Nevada that the government can help solve problems.

Jauregui has been a staunch advocate for including marriage equality in the Nevada state constitution and helped lead the charge to repeal the 2002 ban on same-sex marriage. She has also dedicated herself to combating gun violence. After surviving the October 1 mass shooting, Jauregui helped to pass comprehensive gun safety legislation, including the enactment of red flag laws, child safe storage laws and universal background checks.

In addition to her love for the people of Nevada, Jauregui also loves the land itself. She spends her free time exploring state parks and hiking our beautiful landscapes.

Director of Event Marketing, Tao Group Hospitality

Andrew Insigne joined Tao Group immediately after graduating from UNLV, and he has never looked back. With a background in events marketing and expertise in crafting perfectly executed and detail-oriented events, Insigne has made a name for himself in this competitive industry. Over the past 12 years with Tao, he has held several di erent titles and worked on an endless array of different projects, all of which have led to the growth and development of Tao’s event programming.

Age 32

First Job Celebrity assistant

Insigne seeks to create electrifying experiences for guests. “I chose to work in the hospitality industry with a focus on entertainment, because I've always been a party producer at heart,” Insigne said. “Hospitality and entertainment are the heartbeats of Las Vegas, and Tao Group Hospitality has allowed me to flourish within these sectors of the industry in my current role.”

Insigne is actively involved with Tao’s charitable organization, Tao Group Hospitality Cares, and works with several local nonprofits through that vehicle, including the Inspiring Children Foundation and Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth. He’s also involved at UNLV as a director for the Harrah College of Hospitality's Alumni Board. Looking forward, Insigne is excited to be a part of Las Vegas’ entertainment footprint, especially with the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix and Super Bowl LVIII fast approaching.

Andrew Kyle Insigne

Senior

(Christopher DeVargas/Sta )

Tiffany Mondell

Co-producer, Stabile Productions

Age 39

First Job Hostess at an Italian restaurant

Tiffany Mondell says that growing up in show business was her “entertainment college.” Mondell inherited her love of entertainment from her parents Angela and Matt Stabile, the co-producers and directors of Stabile Productions.

As a co-producer and manager, Mondell has made significant contributions to some of the longest-running shows on the Strip including X Burlesque, X Country and Piff the Magic Dragon. Mondell has an eye for talent and continues to grow the brand.

True to the motto “the show must go on,” Stabile Productions led the way in reopening entertainment after the pandemic when X Country and Piff the Magic Dragon were among the first shows on the Strip to reopen in October 2020.

Mondell lives and breathes entertainment.

When she’s not working on her own shows, she’s attending others. She loves seeing concerts, cheering on the Golden Knights and hanging out with friends and family.

Outside of business, Mondell’s proudest accomplishments are her two children. In addition to balancing her responsibilities at work, she makes time to volunteer as roommom at her kids’ school. She also enjoys volunteering at her favorite yearly charity event, the KLUC Toy Drive.

Sean Walker President, The Taffer Companies Age 34

First Job Augusta National

“A cocktail requires the perfect ratio of three parts: spirits, sweetness, and sourness,” Sean Walker said. “It’s called the golden ratio. I feel a leader also requires the perfect ratio of three parts: authenticity (spirits), ability to empathize (sweetness) and just the right amount of adaptability (sourness). I work hard every day to find that golden ratio within business, personally and in my community.”

When Walker received a call from Jon Taffer offering him a position, he jumped at the opportunity. Walker loves hospitality and the ability he has within it to bring a smile to peoples’ faces. Though the pandemic hit hospitality and dining services especially hard, Walker and his team were able to open the Jon Taffer restaurant franchise during it all.

Being inventive is part of the job. Walker’s creativity and determination have set the scene for success in a difficult economic climate. Walker exceeds industry standards while empowering and motivating his teams. His leadership is visible through the success of his endeavors.

Walker encourages everyone to volunteer their time and resources to strengthen the community. Personally, he has served with organizations including Relay for Life, Social CirKish, R&R Partners Foundation, Grant a Gift Autism Foundation, The Animal Foundation and charitable giving within Jon Taffer's organizations.

Tyson Harding

Vice President of Casino Marketing, Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino

Age 37

First Job Front desk agent

For Tyson Harding, mentorship and community service go hand in hand. “Being involved with your community is important because you’re providing support for others that need it. We all have needed help at one point in our lives,” Harding said. “It’s important to remember that a small amount of your time can have a large amount of impact on someone else’s life.” This support takes many forms in Harding’s life, from coaching youth soccer teams to mentoring casino hosts into leadership roles.

Leadership through mentorship is a consistent theme of Harding’s career. When asked about his professional goals for the next five to 10 years, Harding said he wants to help his colleagues achieve their goals. As the vice president of casino marketing at Westgate, Harding has the opportunity to plan and implement long-term strategy, motivate and inspire his team, and watch their hard work manifest itself in the user experience on the casino floor.

Harding aims to blend the classic Vegas experience with modern analysis and technology. He has successfully helped restore several properties and has worked for four Las Vegas casinos that are more than 50 years old. In only a year and a half at Westgate, Harding has increased overall memberships and casino revenue.

(Tiffany Mondell and Tyson Harding by Wade Vandervort; Sean Walker by Christopher DeVargas/Staff)

Curtis Edenfield is a self-described aviation nerd who has been around the industry his entire life—both parents worked in aviation, and his brother Stuart is a pilot and one of the co-founders of Thrive Aviation. “I was destined for a career in aviation from the time I could walk, and I wouldn’t change it for the world,” Edenfield said.

Edenfield, his brother and a third partner founded Thrive in 2018. Over the last five years, it has grown from several employees to more than 150, occupies about 80,000 square feet of hangar space and has grown revenue into the high millions. The business is entirely locally owned and operated, with a full-scale global impact.

Stressing the importance of company culture, Edenfield says that building the brand and brand values has been extremely rewarding. “The biggest challenge is managing growth while running a 24/7/365 global operation. Every day is a new puzzle piece, aligning flights, passengers, crew and more,” Edenfield said. Looking forward, Edenfield is personally excited to grow as a husband and father of two children. Professionally, the growth of Thrive is top of mind. He wants to create a meaningful experience for his employees and for everyone to be proud of the work they do.

Kat Klehm says she was born to teach. She moved to Las Vegas in 2008 to pursue a career in education, and during that time, she began her physical fitness journey and started training others, too. Connections that she made through training ultimately led her to the Lincoln Dynamic Foundation.

Known for her can-do attitude, Klehm threw herself into her role at Lincoln Dynamic Foundation. She studied successful foundations, identified local nonprofits in need of support and pinpointed countless other ways to help the foundation grow. “With the foundation, I am connected to many local and national nonprofit organizations,” Klehm said. “My job is to network, brainstorm new ideas and enhance our community.” Under Klehm’s leadership, Lincoln Dynamic Foundation received the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Award for Outstanding Corporation of the Year in 2022.

In addition to her work at Lincoln Dynamic Foundation, Klehm is still active in the fitness community. She teaches classes in Southern Nevada and is the CEO of Kat K Fitness. She strives to make the world a better place in all facets of her life. “I believe that positivity is contagious, so hopefully, I have helped this community become a happier place,” Klehm said.

ADELE EXTENDS RESIDENCY

The blockbuster concert residency Weekends With Adele will continue at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, the singer announced during her March 25 performance. Registration for tickets opens April 2 at Ticketmaster Verified Fan, and the 34 new concerts will run June-November.

NEWS

GILBERT ENTERS PORTAL

Keshon Gilbert, who started 29 games for the UNLV men’s basketball team this season, announced his decision to transfer March 20. He was the squad’s second-leading scorer at 11.4 points per game and would have been the program’s top returning scorer and assist man. 1

CCSD POLICE CALLED TO EXPLAIN ACTIONS BEFORE STATE SENATE

Clark County School District Police Chief Mike Blackeye gave a rundown to state lawmakers March 22 of departmental policies on arresting, referring, searching and using force against the people they encounter in and around schools—many of whom are minors.

But, state Sen. Dallas Harris said after the chief’s presentation, “I did not hear the term ‘student’ once.”

“The court cases that you train on all involved adults and their decision-making capacity, not children at school,” said Harris, D-Las Vegas. “We’ve got to treat children a bit differently. I think your policies could equally be Metro’s policy, and I believe that that’s a problem.”

Blackeye, along with CCSD Superintendent Jesus Jara, appeared at a joint hearing of the Nevada Senate Education and Judiciary Committees to discuss school police procedures in the wake of a February incident in which cellphone video was captured of a CCSDPD officer slamming a Black teen to the ground and kneeling on his back outside Durango High School.

The meeting started with the video, but the hearing wasn’t to scrutinize that incident, as it remains under internal investigation, said Education Committee Chair Roberta Lange, D-Las Vegas. It was, rather, to get a general picture of existing protocols.

Blackeye said officers receive training on use of force, deescalation, crisis

intervention training, implicit bias, racial profiling, interacting with people with mental illness and restorative justice.

Officials are on track to investigate far fewer use-of-force incidents this year, he said. Last year, the first full year of in-person learning since the coronavirus pandemic closed campuses in spring of 2020, police recorded 90 uses of force, 52 of which involved pepper spray.

So far this year, police have investigated 38 use-of-force incidents—the drop coming almost entirely because officers have used pepper spray only eight times so far. Blackeye said the department reviewed pepper spray use after last year’s peak.

Blackeye told lawmakers that the department has investigated about five officers in the past three years for excessive use of force, but did not reveal the outcomes of the investigations.

Nor has the department said what will become of the officer at the center of the recent incident outside Durango High.

Although Wednesday’s hearing wasn’t to dissect the Durango incident, and he framed the question generally, Sen. Edgar Flores, D-Las Vegas, asked if students can record school police.

CCSD Lt. Steve Hewitt, who joined Blackeye in answering questions, said that anybody can openly record police—“from a safe distance.”

–Hillary Davis

FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR, NOT A SINGLE NO. 1 SEED ADVANCED TO THE MEN’S FINAL FOUR.

RECORD-BREAKING FEBRUARY

Harry Reid International Airport saw more than 4 million travelers last month, breaking its passenger record for February. That builds on a recent trend of the airport breaking passenger records, after it saw a high of 52.6 million people travel through it in 2022.

CHATTING WITH THE COUNTY’S NEW REGISTRAR OF VOTERS

Lorena Portillo, who this month officially took over for Joe Gloria as registrar of voters for Clark County after his 10 years of service, is the first woman of color to hold this position. She has 25 years of experience and hopes to bring more voter education and voter accessibility to the

THE KILLERS, KENDRICK LAMAR, ODESZA TOP LINEUP F OR LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL FEST

Life Is Beautiful will celebrate its 10-year anniversary by reaching into its past for its 2023 headliners— Vegas-born rock band The Killers, hip-hop giant Kendrick Lamar and electronic duo Odesza—all of whom have previously played the Downtown music and arts festival.

county.

She sat down with the Las Vegas Sun, the Weekly’s sister publication, to discuss her new role, tackling election misinformation and voting in minority communities.

Here are a couple of noteworthy quotes from the conversation:

n “We’d love to invite voters to come in and observe. We do have a very extensive observation program. We love to work with the community one-on-one and answer their questions on the spot. We hire ambassadors to help us with that program, and we give them training beforehand to make sure they understand the protocols here in the office before they actually enter the different areas where we verify the signatures and where we tabulate.”

n “I don’t see how mail-ballot fraud could happen with all the processes we have in place, all the laws that we have in place and the checks and balances. We don’t just accept any mail ballot; we have to go through the signature verification process and check the voter record. So, there’s different steps that we have to take to ensure that each ballot and each envelope that we receive with that signature is properly verified.”

n “I feel very extremely honored that anyone can see me as an inspiration, but I do want to let everyone know that if you have a strong work ethic, you believe in what you do, and you hold the integrity of the process that you do to a very high standard, this is what it requires here.”

–Grace Da Rocha

“We are thrilled that all three headliners will be returning to the festival,” Craig Asher Nyman, LIB’s director of music, programming and development, said in a statement. “It’s pretty special to have this collection of artists who have all been so instrumental to music over the lifespan of Life Is Beautiful.”

Among more than 50 other acts on the bill for the festival’s ninth edition, scheduled for September 22-24 on the streets of Downtown, are: Khalid, The 1975, Flume, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Nelly, Omar Apollo, Kim Petras, John Summit, Ferg, Madeon, Dayglow and Cigarettes After Sex. Additionally, cast members from Las Vegas shows including Cirque du Soleil productions, Jabbawockeez, Magic Mike Live, Piff the Magic Dragon and Tape Face will participate, as will art collective Meow Wolf. Tickets, starting at $380 plus fees and taxes, are on sale now at lifeisbeautiful. com. –LVW Staff

The marquee sign shows the Horseshoe name March 24 during the grand opening of the rebranded Horseshoe Las Vegas, formerly Bally’s Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Staff)

(Wade Vandervort/Staff)

HEALTH CARE IN COURT

over abortion pills

BY SHANNON MILLER

Across the country, legal battles are brewing over medication abortion. In the nine months since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the “abortion pill”—which is actually a combination of the drug mifepristone followed by a second pill, misoprostol, approved for abortions within the first 10 weeks of pregnancy—has been critical for patients who live in states where it has been outlawed.

As of 2020, medication abortion is the method used in more than half (53%) of all “facility-based” abortions in the country, according to a census of known providers by Guttmacher Institute, a nonprofit leading research on abortion data.

Since the Dobbs decision in June 2022 that overturned the constitutional right to abortion under Roe, more than a dozen states have enacted bans or restrictions on abortion, taking away legal pathways for millions of patients.

However, the mailing of prescribed medication abortion remains legal under federal law, despite Republican attorneys general who have said it violates laws in states with abortion bans.

Jennifer Oliva, a University of California law professor and scholar in food and drug policy, says the policy patchwork has created a chaotic legal landscape for all parties.

“We’ve never been in a more complex, dicey situation for providers, patients, pharmacies, drug manufacturers [where] everybody is litigating all kinds of things [that were] triggered by the Dobbs decision,” she explains.

That’s what Las Vegas-based company GenBioPro has done in West Virginia. The manufacturer of generic mifepristone filed a lawsuit in January, claiming that West Virginia’s abortion ban violates the Constitution’s commerce clause and supremacy clause (which gives the Food and Drug Administration authority over states to regulate drugs). According to a GenBioPro spokesperson, the company has seen a 100% decline in generic mifepristone sales in nine states with abortion bans or with no abortion clinics in operation.

“GenBioPro was founded out of a deep conviction that all people, regardless of income level, race, sex or geography are entitled to

the benefits of evidence-based medicine and state-of-the-art medication,” reads a statement from GenBioPro CEO Evan Masingill. “We have sought to make mifepristone more accessible through commercializing the first FDA-approved generic version of the medication. And, consistent with our commitment, we are challenging laws in the state of West Virginia that in effect ban mifepristone, a drug that is safe and effective and which Congress and FDA have subjected to a specific regulatory regime.”

West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrissey in February filed a motion to dismiss GenBioPro’s lawsuit, asserting that the state’s abortion law did not ban mifepristone and allows for the use of the drug in cases of legal abortion—“rape, incest or to protect the life of the mother.”

Attorneys general from 21 conservative states have joined an Arkansas-led amicus brief defending West Virginia’s abortion law, claiming federal approval of a drug does not preempt state laws restricting the drug.

In a statement to the Weekly, Democracy Forward, which is representing GenBioPro in the West Virginia litigation, acknowledges that its legal battle is playing out alongside a suit against the FDA in

Texas District Court.

“GenBioPro’s marketing of mifepristone is regulated by the FDA. GenBioPro has long been dedicated to making evidence-based medication available for those who need it and is committed to continuing to lawfully making its product available and accessible,” reads a statement from president and CEO of Democracy Forward Skye Perryman. “GenBioPro is not a party to the Texas litigation but is monitoring the matter. GenBioPro has no plans to discontinue marketing of its product and will continue to abide by FDA’s guidance.”

MEANWHILE, IN TEXAS

Oliva has joined 18 other food and drug law scholars in an amicus brief in an Amarillo, Texas District Court case that could trigger a dramatic aftershock to abortion access following 2022’s initial round of bans.

The case Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA was filed in November 2022 by a group of anti-abortion physicians and organizations represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom, which played a key role in the Dobbs case. It seeks to reverse the FDA’s approval of mifepristone based on claims that the agency “failed” to follow scientific and legal protocols for safety.

In its legal response, the FDA has denied the accusation that it accelerated the testing and approval process for mifepristone.

The food and drug law scholars’ “friend of the court” brief argues that the plaintiff’s motion “mischaracterizes FDA’s drug approval process,” and that enjoining would “destabilize the drug approval process far beyond the context of mifepristone’s approval.”

“No judge has ever enjoined an

A Nevada drug manufacturer is on the front lines in the battle

“That a group of folks with moral objection to abortion [can] go in and challenge the

approved drug from interstate commerce in the history of the United States,” Oliva tells the Weekly. “And the concept that a group of folks with moral objection to abortion [can] go in and challenge the science here and be successful is really mind-boggling.”

Approved by the FDA in 2000, mifepristone has been found to be safer than Viagra and penicillin. After completing a review in 2021, the agency determined it was safe to remove the in-person dispensing requirement for the drug, allowing the abortion pill to be dispensed via mail and at retail pharmacies.

The FDA has since outlined a process for retail pharmacies to become certified to dispense abortion medication. Several pharmacies including CVS, Rite Aid and Walgreens have announced the intent to become certified.

“The confounding thing there is the FDA has repeatedly found over the last 23 years, on numerous occasions that the drug is safe for its intended use, and the bene ts grossly outweigh the risks,” Oliva says, adding that plainti s’ arguments have not met the expected standards for challenging the agency’s approval of a drug.

Some reports have suggested the Texas case could have “immediate” impact on the availability of medication abortion, even in states where abortion is legal, but Oliva says the FDA would have to follow a process prescribed in statute for reversing approval of a drug.

Final arguments for the Texas case were heard on March 15. The FDA has said it would le and appeal an emergency stay if an injunction is granted in the case, Oliva says.

CONSEQUENCES FOR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE

What does all this legal turmoil mean for patients’ understanding of and access to safe abortion care and miscarriage management options?

Bans on medication abortion can “jeopardize” providers’ ability to treat patients who have miscarriages, says Dr. Bill Powell, senior medical scientist for Ipas, an international organization focused on increasing access to abortion and contraception. In addition to medical abortion, mifepristone is also used for miscarriage management and other medical diagnoses including “missed abortion.”

“Each of these diagnoses can be treated by other abortion procedures … but then these medical procedures require speci c equipment, skilled health care providers, and supportive facilities

as well,” Powell said in a partial statement.

In the event that mifepristone is unavailable, abortion providers may use misoprostol only—an approved and “nearly as e ective” method that can have more side e ects than the two-pill combo, Powell says. “One di erence with misoprostol-only is that it can take longer. And for some people, there can be more pain, and more bleeding because of the lengthened time, which is why the combination is preferable.

“That said, given enough time, the e cacy is nearly the same as the combination method. From our perspective, the key is to have a safe abortion—and pills can pro-

vide that, even without mifepristone,” he says.

As patients and providers follow the legal twists and turns, Democratic state attorneys general have led a “countersuit” to the one in Amarillo, Texas. On February 24, Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford signed onto the multistate lawsuit against the FDA, “for excessively burdensome regulation, despite ample evidence that the drug, mifepristone, is safer than Tylenol.” The suit asks the court to remove the requirement for pharmacies to get certi ed to prescribe mifepristone, and the requirement for patients and providers to sign an agreement that is then stored in medical records.

“Democratic attorneys general are really concerned about patient privacy. If someone goes out of state … from Mississippi to California and does this, this gets put in their electronic health record, and then their home state of Mississippi somehow [getting] access to that record,” Oliva explains, adding that the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) doesn’t fully protect patients from law enforcement or courts accessing medical records.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says the restrictions “do not make care safer; are not based on medical evidence or need; create barriers to clinician and patient access to medication abortion and medical management of early pregnancy loss; and disproportionately burden communities already facing structural barriers to care, including people of color and those living long distances from a health care professional.”

At press time, the multistate attorney generals’ suit was scheduled for a hearing in Washington District Court on March 28.

–Jennifer Oliva, University of California law professor

science here and be successful is really mind-boggling.”

SECOND SESSION

Hanging with Vegas’ reborn Latin psych-rockers Viaje Nahual

BY AMBER SAMPSON

The carpeted staircase leading up to the Alamo Rehearsal Studios landing has seen some things. It’s a prismatic pattern of fabric, endearingly retro and visibly shabby from years of use—nearly 30, to be exact.

Miguel Flores, vocalist and guitarist for Las Vegas Latin psych band Viaje Nahual, explains the history as we make our way inside the mission-style Downtown studio on a Thursday night. The Alamo has been a bedrock for aspiring local musicians since the early ’90s. It’s a vast rehearsal hall, one that Viaje Nahual, formerly known as Kurumpaw, has been frequenting since November.

It’s here that I meet Cindy Espinosa (vocals/bass/synths) and Ricky Hernandez (drums), two other original members of Kurumpaw, along with Jonathan Flores (guitarist) and Fernando Galarza (percussion), the newest additions since Viaje debuted in 2021.

“Do you mind if I smoke?” Galarza asks from behind his set of drums. The rehearsal room’s dark, but a glow of sapphire string lights illuminate his inquisitive face.

No one objects to the percussionist from Lima, Peru. If anything, they

want this timekeeper comfortable and keyed in to his craft, because “my main role is to be the salt and pepper,” Galarza tells me, “a little bit here, a little bit there, a little bit spicy.”

The spice comes through on the next song, “Ahuicyahui.” Galarza’s percussion ts in lock step with Hernandez, who can’t hide a smile as he hammers down on the toms.

Though they’re not related, Miguel and Jonathan Flores act as twin ames, supplying the track with bright, groove- lled melodies as Espinosa swoops in with rhythmic bass ri s that drive the sonic narrative to completion. Aurally, it’s an adventurous composition in the tradition of so many di erent styles—Peruvian chicha, ’60s and ’70s psychedelic rock and, most certainly, cumbia.

“It just feels natural when we all put it together,” Galarza says after a run-through of “Fuego.” “I have more of a background in salsa, merengue and Latin tropical jazz, but this was something new. It was a challenge I liked.”

Some of Kurumpaw’s musical makeup still lingers in Viaje Nahual, partially because that band ended prematurely. Kurumpaw was riding

high after the 2019 release of debut album Biónico Cósmico, before getting cut o by the pandemic. “We were in the middle of recording our newest album, and we had to stop,” Miguel Flores remembers. Soon after, half of the band’s six members departed.

Miguel Flores, Espinosa and Hernandez vowed to return to their roots with Viaje Nahual. “We were like, ‘What did we listen to when we were little? What were our parents listening to?’” Miguel Flores says. “A lot of it was cumbia. We were very drawn into that, and it’s very tropical.”

The band’s name also departs from Kurumpaw, which was drawn from the 1898 Ernest Thompson Seton

tale “Lobo, the King of Currumpaw.”

“We’d tell this story of the black wolf of Currumpaw, but here’s the thing: We’re not from New Mexico,” Miguel Flores says. “It was just a story that caught our attention, and we were like, that’s beautiful.”

“It was a good story,” Espinosa agrees, “but we just didn’t really connect to it anymore.”

“And personally,” Miguel Flores continues, “If I’m gonna tell a story, I should tell my story.’”

In Mexican folklore, a nahual is a shamanic brujo (wizard) rumored to be a shapeshifter. But to Miguel Flores, a nahual represents a person in pursuit of a higher consciousness

through plant medicine, magic and sometimes psychedelics. Viaje also translates to “journey” in Spanish. That’s where the “shaman’s journey”—or, Viaje Nahual—originates.

Now, with Galarza and Flores along for the trip, the group sounds more refined than ever. Jonathan’s transition was especially easy, considering he’d jammed with Miguel Flores in the Latin rock group Lunero.

“I had already stolen this fool from another band, so I figured I’m gonna steal him from my other band,” Miguel Flores laughs. “In my mind, he’s one of the best guitarists in Las Vegas. I want the best in this sh*t.”

If Kurumpaw’s end felt like a

blown tire, Viaje Nahual’s beginning feels like an engine revving up. Miguel Flores says the band has started playing shows outside Las Vegas for the first time, and Viaje Nahual has a jam-heavy album in the works, recorded live at Naked City Audio’s secret desert location, “the Dome.” Additionally, Miguel Flores says, Kurumpaw fans will get to hear the music the band never finished.

“We’re in the midst of finishing the mixing and mastering, and we’re gonna put it out as a gift to our listeners as Kurumpaw featuring Viaje Nahual, because we were in there,” he says. “As far as Kurumpaw, I think that’s our goodbye.”

VIAJE NAHUAL linktr.ee/viajenahual (Wade Vandervort/Staff)

Infused prerolls include cannabis concentrates, such as crumble, diamonds or wax to create a more potent product. “The infused ower blend typically creates a more intense experience for the consumer,” said Staci Martinez, Extraction Supervisor at Deep Roots Harvest. With a higher THC percentage, the popularity of infused prerolls continues to soar among cannabis consumers. Here’s everything you need to know about this convenient and powerful product.

Make sure you’re being mindful about the THC percentage in each infused product you try. The concentrate and flower separetely contribute to the potency of the preroll.

Infused prerolls are great for consumers who enjoy the experience and convenience of prerolls, while desiring an extra potent punch. They’re also an easy way of consuming concentrates, as they don’t require specific tools for consumption like dab rigs. “Infused prerolls are the best of both worlds. They perfectly capture the true essence of the plant like your traditional preroll but present higher THC percentages, which allows users to consume less and still experience the great e ects of cannabis,” Martinez said.

ADVERTORIAL PRESENTED BY DEEP ROOTS HARVEST

Most often, solid concentrates, such as kief, are added to the flower before rolling it into a cone. However, some products infuse the cone or rolling paper itself, saturating it in cannabis oil distillate, before rolling it around flower. Because of the array of concentrates available, infused preroll variations are plentiful as well.

“Our infused flower blends contain a mixture of high-quality cannabis flower and concentrates of many forms, concentrated from fresh, frozen and cured cannabis,” Martinez said. “Once these materials are properly homogenized for batch consistency, cones are filled and double weighed for accuracy.

“Concentrate forms used in Firebirds include crumble, honeycomb and THCa Diamonds. They’re unique because of the large strain library and the quality of the flower and concentrates. Cannabis for Firebirds is hand selected from each harvest, so we know we’re only using the highest-quality raw materials. We have just over 15 active strains in our cultivation facility. Consumers will always have a variety of choices.”

The THC percentage in infused prerolls is highly variable because it includes flower as well as di erent amounts of concentrate. The THC percentage in noninfused prerolls is usually 16-24% whereas infused prerolls can be anywhere from 25-50%. “Infused prerolls should be used cautiously by the consumer. The intense e ects produced by the infused flower in comparison to a traditional preroll can be overwhelming for inexperienced users. We recommend infused prerolls for experienced users,” Martinez said.

Photo by Sam Steinborn

BACK? GUESS WHO’S

BY BROCK RADKE

He’s a nightlife legend in Las Vegas, but you probably don’t know his name. Not anymore.

Lee Vlasteris is DJ Hollywood, a pioneering open-format DJ who played and programmed the rst- and second-generation nightclubs that laid the foundation for the epic scene of today—the Drink, Ra, Rain, Pure and many others.

But he’s also Wooddrowe, a dance genre-dabbling DJ who has risen out of the pandemic and is setting clubs on re on the East Coast and in Miami. The name is a combo of the Hollywood moniker and his rst name, Leandro, and now he’s bringing the party back to Las Vegas.

Vlasteris moved back east in late 2020, a decision that helped solidify his life and family after months of working his way through his young son’s health issues, a divorce and the “extinction level event” that was COVID’s impact on his career.

“It was catastrophic for my business,” he says. “[But] I had been smart enough over the years to save and invest … [and] I did the thing I’d never had the opportunity or the time to pursue—produce.”

As Hollywood, Vlasteris had charted a top 10 track on Billboard’s dance rankings in 2017, more of a foray into house- avored electronic music than the hip-hop and popstacked sets he would spin in Vegas, Miami and Atlantic City. During the downtime, he realized it was time for something of a fresh start.

DJ Hollywood returns to the dance scene as Wooddrowe

“The EDM world can be very picky about producers. After doing open-format in Vegas for so many years, it would be di cult to sell myself to that world,” he says. “I have so much respect for the dance world, and I wanted to show that. I wanted to be a new artist and to be treated that way, to release all my music that way, and maybe for someone to come up and say, ‘This is cool, welcome to the game,’ and not know I’ve been in the game for 35 years.”

That’s how Wooddrowe was born. The new persona rst performed in the northeast, Miami and Nashville, where he moved for 18 months before recently returning to Vegas. He’ll spin April 1 at the Foundation Room at Mandalay Bay, where he was a resident DJ when the rooftop club and lounge opened some 23 years ago. And he’s been working a lot with longtime friend Dee Jay Silver, leading to gigs at Resort World’s Dawg House Saloon and building a partnership with its ownership group, Cold Beer Entertainment (which is planning to expand to the Park near T-Mobile Arena on the Strip).

“It’s surreal that I’m back, because there was a time when I wasn’t really sure I would be, when there were other things that were more important,” Vlasteris says. “But now my son is doing so much better. I’m coming in as Wooddrowe, and a lot of the guys I came up with in this business have high positions at di erent casinos and in the entertainment and nightlife elds.

“But I’m still trying to do it the way I did 30 years ago,” he continues, “pounding the pavement, letting my skills speak for me. I’m not stepping in saying I only do dance music. I’m the same guy, I’m just building this name and seeing how far I get. It’s exciting.”

Vlasteris has also rebuilt his company, redeveloping it as Rising Entertainment, maintaining some of his pre-pandemic accounts and spreading into new venues and regions. He has also produced around a hundred remixes and 15 original singles over the past 18 months, he says, armed and ready for a big musical year.

“I’ve been very busy outside Vegas, and now I’m getting back to where I wanted to be,” he says.

(Courtesy/Eric Ita)

DIRECTOR’S EDITION

Troy Heard (Christopher DeVargas/Staff)

What inspires Majestic Repertory Theatre’s Troy Heard ?

BY GEOFF CARTER

Troy Heard is in rehearsal when I reach him by phone. That’s not surprising; the man works. The artistic director of acclaimed local company Majestic Repertory Theatre has staged everything from interactive, free-roaming theater productions (Horrorwood Video, The Garden Party) to ambitious musicals (The Sandman, The Craft) to provocative, politically charged works whose names alone could get them banned in Florida (Empanada Loca, Angry F*gs). And Heard’s “experiential marketing” agency, Table 8 Immersive, has designed interactive events for Usher and Cirque du Soleil, among others.

This particular evening, Heard is developing an upcoming show with Robert Taylor and Richard Oberacker, who wrote The Sandman. Fittingly, actors and musicians are warming up in the background as Heard shares with the Weekly the artistic inspirations—global and local, past and present—that fuel his prolific imagination.

What first inspired you to get into theater? It was Sweeney Todd. I was a weird little kid who was obsessed with horror movies and haunted houses, and all of a sudden there was a slasher film onstage. That was a very powerful experience.

How old were you? I was 15. I immediately became a producer-director. I was given the keys to my high school auditorium and a line item in the budget and told “make it happen.” It was a Catholic school, so it was some nativity play. But it was a little too edgy

for the school; there was a line that Herod had, telling his castle wenches to “wash their pungent undies.” Right off the bat, I was being provocative.

Who do you look to, locally, when you’re developing productions? What artists and creators fire you up? Well, No. 1 is Shawn Gatlin, [also known as] You Killed Me First, and his Cult 33 crew. I’ve collaborated with all of them for scenic design and creating pieces for the lobby. Their aesthetic is fun, and it really captures the flavor of SoCal/Vegas with their Disney influence. I like Justin Favela for similar reasons; his blending of the local culture in his piñata paper art is very inspirational. Oh, and Lance Smith! Beverly Chillz, who’s killing it with his parties. There are just so many people I look up to here in the art scene.

And, of course, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Todd vonBastiaans and Bryan McCarthy. They’re the whole reason that Majestic even exists. They gave us a home in [their Arts District gallery space] Alios, but I’d heard about them before I even met them, with the pancake pillows and the pop-up mini golf course they did. I think they really paved the way for a lot of artists here.

When I look at theater, I don’t just look at playwrights and actors. I look at how we stay in communication with the art scene of Las Vegas.

You can really see that in Majestic shows like Clown Bar, Hedwig and The Sandman The show begins even before the actors do. That’s where I’m at right now, with [Sandman’s]

Richard and Robert. We’re premiering a new show of theirs in October called The House on Watch Hill. … This one is set in 1984. It’s about a group of kids who band together to make the best neighborhood haunted house ever. Richard and I both made haunted houses as kids, so we bonded over that. One of the concepts we’re considering is creating a walk-through version of the house these kids make.

Sounds very cinematic. Do you get out to the movies much? I wish. That’s where I fall short. When I sit down to watch something, I’m usually asleep within a few minutes. But I’m excited for the Beverly Theater. I’d be remiss in not giving props to Kip Kelly. He’s just starting, but the fact that he put Leprechaun 3 in the Beverly’s programming is a hopeful portent.

Are you a big reader? If you only knew. It drives [my wife] Kady crazy; the house looks like a bookstore exploded, like the Writer’s Block just took a dump. John Kennedy Toole’s A Confederacy of Dunces is one I go back to again and again. I’m in the middle of Ghost Story by Peter Straub. … And, honestly, I’m looking at a lot of public domain literature, to see what’s adaptable right now.

Who are some local actors that inspire you? Eric Amblad and I have forged a relationship this past year; we’re hitting ‘em outta the park. I love working with Daz Weller. And there’s a crop of talented young kids coming up now through LVA [Las Vegas Academy]. This Watch Hill project uses a cast of seven kids. Every so often I’m able to see this new batch of kids grow up and leave Las Vegas with all this talent.

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DIRECTIONS

Touring Table 34’s new dishes with perfect cocktail pairings

Sesame BBQ Pork Belly with Kentucky Mule (Christopher DeVargas/Staff)

BY JIM BEGLEY

A xture of the Vegas Valley dining scene since 2004, Table 34 has successfully mixed a robust lunch business with a steady crowd of dinner regulars for two decades. Batch Hospitality—a partnership between Evan Glusman of Piero’s fame and industry veteran Constantin Alexander—recently took over as the new management group, and after undertaking a somewhat radical interior renovation, the restaurant’s revival is close to complete.

Batch was more cautious when it came to shifting the menu, so as not to alienate the southeast spot’s loyal fanbase. The cocktail program was ripe for improvement, however, and the gregarious Alexander, probably best known as the former director of beverage for Hakkasan Group, was the right man for the job.

Updates have been subtle but noticeable, ranging from a thoughtfully expanded liquor selection to a newfound focus on classics made with fresh ingredients. Stocked with a handful of house-made concoctions, the new beverage program has become a strong o -Strip option.

We asked Alexander to walk through the menu with pairings in mind. And while you might not be able to order a Buddha’s Palm—a fabulous creation from his Hakkasan days—the cocktail impresario has some ne suggestions to go with executive chef Joe Valdez’s updated dishes.

Sesame BBQ Pork Belly ($18) + Kentucky Mule ($14)

Valdez’s pork belly is rich but not unctuous, sweet but not cloying. A great way to start a Table 34 tour, the addictive appetizer’s Asian-inspired sesame-tahini barbecue sauce reminds Alexander of Southern barbecue, and that region’s Kentucky mule—a straightforward combination of bourbon, lime juice and ginger beer—could be considered a traditional pairing. The ginger cuts the swine’s fattiness, allowing you to sneak in another bite before moving on with your meal.

Baby Romaine Caesar ($13) + French Squeezed ($14)

A salad and cocktail pairing might sound unorthodox, but there’s no denying this combo. Table 34’s Caesar, arguably one of the city’s best renditions, is rife with avor, the anchovy-tinged dressing dotted with crunchy-yet-chewy herbed croutons that don’t overpower the dish. The herbal qualities of the French Squeezed—a house cocktail combining Lillet Blanc apertif with a juicy mixture of apricot liqueur, passion fruit syrup and pineapple and lime juices—balances the salad’s funkiness.

Shrimp Scampi ($34) + Basil Grapefruit Martini ($15)

If you have some French Squeezed left from your salad course, continue on—its herbaceousness parrots that of the scampi. But if you nished it, the house-made linguini, served in buttery lemon beurre blanc, pairs swimmingly with the refreshing Basil Grapefruit Martini. The cocktail’s citric acidity mirrors that of the pasta, while the drink’s basil infusion refreshes the palate.

Niman Ranch Prime NY Strip ($52) + Vieux Carre ($15)

UNCOMMON SANDWICHES

ARE ON THE WAY

Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.2 p.m.; dinner: Tuesday-Saturday, 4:30-9 p.m.

Alexander espouses the virtues of whiskey as a classic steak pairing, so for Table 34’s New York strip, he suggests a classic New Orleans cocktail—the Vieux Carre. The timeless libation blends brandy, rye whiskey, Benedictine and Carpano Antica sweet vermouth, and its sharpness complements the prime cut, seasoned simply with a salt and pepper rub and cooked in thyme, garlic, butter and sage. The accompanying steak sauce, combining co ee, honey and molasses, is quite fetching, but as is the case with most good steaks, perhaps super uous. Your Vieux Carre, on the other hand, is an essential addition.

 It’s hard to keep up with all the tasty stu set to land at the UnCommons development this year, but here’s another notable entry in your 2023 itinerary for deliciousness: The famous Florence, Italy, sandwich shop All’Antico Vinaio is expected to open near the Urth Ca e by June.

Founded by the Mazzanti family in 1991, All’Antico Vinaio was dubbed “home of the world’s best sandwiches” by Saveur long after it developed a reputation for long lines of hungry visitors craving incredible combinations of fresh ingredients stu ed into unique schiacciata bread—like a thinner focaccia with a crispy outer edge. Las Vegas’ own sandwich champion, Ismaele Romano, proprietor of Ellis Island Casino’s Via Focaccia, cited the familiar spot as one of his inspirations to create his own focaccia recipe and build beautiful sandwiches here.

After successful New York City pop-ups, All’Antico Vinaio scion Tommaso “Tommy” Mazzanti teamed with Joe Bastianich to open two locations in Manhattan during the past two years, paving the way for a West Coast expansion—and ours is the chosen land. “Only in our dreams could we have thought that we would open a location in Las Vegas,” Mazzanti said in a statement.

“We’re excited and so proud to start this new adventure at UnCommons, and look forward to serving the community when we open this year.” –Brock Radke

Stacked sandwiches at All’Antico Vinaio (Courtesy)

TABLE 34 600 E. Warm Springs Road #180, 702-263-0034, table34lasvegas. com. Lunch:

BARGAIN SHOPPING

Why the Raiders

agency,

BY CASE KEEFER

Recent NFL history is littered with teams that brought in new decision-makers who started slow when it came to acquiring big-name players in their first year before diving into the player-movement pool more aggressively ahead of their second season.

Under general manager Dave Ziegler and coach Josh McDaniels, the Raiders have done exactly the opposite. The pair, former top Bill Belichick confidants with the New England Patriots, disavowed the standard operating procedure of their former team upon arriving in Las Vegas a year ago. They emphatically stated the Raiders wouldn’t be implementing “the Patriot Way,” and at least demonstrated as much to an extent with their first moves. The Patriots have traditionally strayed from signing veterans to large contracts, but McDaniels and Ziegler traded for superstar receiver Davante Adams and gave him a $140 million deal while bringing in star edge rusher Chandler Jones for $51 million in free agency.

There were no such monumental additions during the busiest two weeks of player movement

this offseason when the new league year and free agency began March 15. The most headline-grabbing moment might actually have been a departure, when Las Vegas traded tight end Darren Waller—who set the franchise’s single-season receptions record two years ago—to the New York Giants for a third-round draft pick.

The Raiders did sign a veteran quarterback in Jimmy Garoppolo, but it was a foregone conclusion that they would bring in a passer after benching and eventually releasing Derek Carr. The only question was whether they would sign a starter in free agency and target the draft for a backup, or vice versa.

The former option evidently won out, but in true

Patriot-like fashion, the Raiders executed the plan relatively cheaply. Garoppolo signed a three-year, $73 million deal with only $45 million guaranteed, a small price compared with rising quarterback salaries across the league.

Several NFL quarterback dominoes are still set to fall through the NFL Draft, which begins April 29, and training camps this summer, but there’s a strong possibility Garoppolo will wind up as the league’s cheapest starting quarterback who isn’t on a rookie contract.

The $24.2 million he’ll make in his first year as the Raiders’ quarterback is nearly $10 million less than Carr would have been owed had the team kept him for a 10th season.

resisted splurging in free

and what it means going forward

The Raiders also found potential free agent bargains elsewhere. Their second-biggest signing was receiver Jakobi Meyers—another former Patriot, like Garoppolo—for three years and $33 million, with only $21 million guaranteed. That’s signicantly less than most projections tabbed as Meyers’ value going into next season.

Defensively, Las Vegas didn’t land anyone as notable as Garoppolo or Meyers, despite being rumored to be interested in pursuing a star or two. Instead, Las Vegas signed as many as ve new starters, none fetching more than the two-year, $12 million contract signed by former Philadelphia Eagles strong safety Marcus Epps.

That restraint leaves Las Vegas with a lot of

work to do in the draft, but it’s by design. Ziegler told reporters in March at the NFL Draft Combine in Indianapolis that Las Vegas was going to build around “a core group of players” coming in as rookies next season.

So far, every move has t with that philosophy. The Raiders currently hold an NFL-high 12 picks, which should give them the freedom to move up and down the draft order as they please via trades.

For fans, the Raiders’ approach to free agency could feel either frustrating or reassuring. It’s frustrating because the moves make it highly unlikely the Raiders will be any sort of real contender next season. There was a groundswell of support for Las Vegas as a sleeper AFC West or Super Bowl team going into last season; there will be no such buzz this season.

They’ve outwardly gotten weaker and are perceived to be by far the worst team in the AFC West, with betting odds as high as 20-to-1 to win the division.

But it could be reassuring from a long-term view, because Ziegler and McDaniels haven’t done anything that will handicap the Raiders for years to come. They have as much flexibility, if not more, than any team in the league for future seasons, without many smothering guaranteed contracts on the books.

After an underwhelming 6-11 rst season in Las Vegas, many might have expected the power duo to go all-in on winning next year to improve their job security. But their decisions not to go after highpriced players in search of a desperate quick x shows they’re con dent Raiders owner Mark Davis will be patient with their process.

Perhaps things would have been di erent had Tom Brady, who played under McDaniels as his o ensive coordinator in New England, not retired, or had the Green Bay Packers demanded less trade compensation for four-time MVP Aaron Rodgers. Both the 45-year-old Brady and the 39-year-old Rodgers were linked to the Raiders at one point, and either would have signaled more hope for putting together a single dream season than building something sustainable.

Ziegler and McDaniels chose to go the latter route, shunning their immediate approach from a year ago if not NFL norms on the whole. In contrast to their initial promises, the Raiders are beginning to look a lot more like the Patriots—and maybe that’s for the better.

THE RAIDERS’ TOP FIVE FREE-AGENT SIGNINGS

JIMMY GAROPPOLO QUARTERBACK

The 31-year-old reached one Super Bowl and came within a game of another as the starter for the San Francisco 49ers, going 40-17 in the role but often getting injured and posting more middling advanced statistics.

JAKOBI MEYERS RECEIVER

The 26-year-old is a possession receiver, spending his NFL career in the slot as a sure-handed route runner who should be a fit with Garoppolo’s strength for short, accurate passing.

MARCUS EPPS SAFETY

The 27-year-old started every game for an Eagles defense that helped the team reach the Super Bowl last year and showed a knack for pass breakups, which the Raiders lacked last season.

ROBERT SPILLANE LINEBACKER

The 27-year-old is a hard-hitting run stu er who will move from a rotational player with the Steelers to a starter—if not overall leader of the defense—with the Raiders.

DUKE SHELLEY CORNERBACK

The 26-year-old broke out as a depth defensive back last season with the Vikings, and will now get a shot at a bigger role at a position that has troubled the Raiders more than any other in recent seasons.

(Headshots Courtesy of the NFL)

New Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo takes questions at a March 17 news conference in Henderson.

(AP Photo/John Locher)

EXPANDED LOCAL FOOTPRINT WILL MAKE GAMING SUPPLIER MORE EFFICIENT

BY KATIE ANN MCCARVER VEGAS INC STAFF

Everi Holdings is expanding its footprint in Las Vegas with a new, 180,000-square-foot production facility in the southeast Las Vegas Valley.

The building, which is slated for completion in October, will consolidate the manufacturing and assembly of products from Everi, a supply company that provides gaming machines, cash access services and more to the casino industry.

The new facility will combine two existing production warehouses, including a smaller one in Las Vegas and another based in Austin, Texas. Everi continues to grow in the gaming business, the company’s CEO Randy Taylor said, and it was time to bring its manufacturing and assembly under one roof.

“At some point, when the company got big enough, it was always the intention to try to consolidate the two and—really being a gaming company—we’ve always wanted that consolidation to be here in Las Vegas where our headquarters are,” Taylor said.

Everi operates in two segments, Taylor explained. One umbrella is gaming, under which the company develops and assembles mechanical and video gaming machines, supports digital gaming through a remote game server and supports the system of video lottery terminals in New York state.

The second umbrella is FinTech—the company’s cash access arm—which assists with ATM transactions, debit, credit and check services within casinos, provides products to support patrons accessing money to play, and more.

While the Austin location is a hub for manufacturing gaming machines, the existing Las

Vegas location assembles loyalty kiosks and other FinTech products. The new facility— which Taylor noted will be environmentally friendly, complete with solar panels above the covered parking spaces and charging stations for electric cars—will consolidate and assemble both, Taylor said.

“We think it will be more e cient, because … there’s software related there,” he said. “So it should be very e cient, and we can use people that work on the kiosks to work on the games, or vice versa, depending on what type of orders we have to run through. So we think it’d be very e cient overall for the company to consolidate these two.”

The new facility, located east of the Las Vegas Strip just off Interstate 215, will not only be a hub for production but also home to labs for development of gaming hardware and software.

About 20 employees from the existing Las Vegas warehouse south of the Strip will move to the new facility, Taylor said. Everi is hopeful that some of the employees from Austin will relocate here, and Taylor noted that gaming manufacturing will transition from the old facility in Texas to the new one in Nevada over

about six months.

Everi expects to add about 50 new employees to the Las Vegas Valley, Taylor said, as the company hires new team members in both assembly and development, with additional room for growth.

“[We’ll] probably start hiring for that in the next few months—slowly higher up, because we can train some of those at the current facility so that they’re ready to go in October,” he said.

There are many bene ts of consolidating production in Las Vegas, Taylor said, not least of which is the ability of Everi development teams and manufacturers to go directly to the casinos and see what is happening or being built within the industry.

He also pointed to Las Vegas labor and the Harry Reid International Airport as bene cial to the gaming company.

Ultimately, there’s a lot the city can o er for Everi, which Taylor said he expects to continue growing.

“We really feel like we’re a growing company,” he said. “And we’ve got a lot of opportunity ahead of us. And we’re very bullish on the gaming industry and being a supplier in that industry.”

Everi financial access kiosks at the company’s Las Vegas o ce (Wade Vandervort/Sta )

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VegasInc Notes

Becoming Self Made

Monday, April 10, 2023

7:30 p.m.

Ar temus W. Ham Concert Hall

The public is invited to this FREE annual series. Admission is by ticket only on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets are limited to two (2) per customer.

Tickets ONLY available at the UNLV Performing Arts Center Box Office: Tuesday–Saturday, 12 p.m.–6 p.m. For information, call (702) 895-ARTS, but tickets cannot be reserved by phone.

UNLV faculty, staff and students may obtain tickets beginning at 12 p.m., Wednesday, March 8, 2023. The general public may obtain tickets beginning at 12 p.m., Saturday, March 11, 2023.

Gov. Joe Lombardo announced his appointment of Vaughn Hartung to the Nevada Transportation Authority and designated him as its new chair. Hartung in turn resigned from the Washoe County Commission Throughout his tenure on the commission, Hartung served as chair and held numerous board appointments, including on the Regional Transportation Commission and on the Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority (RSCVA). Prior to his service on the commission, Hartung owned a photography business and served as an adjunct faculty member for UNR Reno and Truckee Meadows Community College, where he taught photography for two decades. Lombardo also announced two judicial appointments: Paul Gaudet to the Eighth Judicial District Court, Family Division, Department N, and Regina McConnell to the Eighth Judicial District Court, Family Division, Department O. Since 1992, Gaudet has owned a general trial practice in Las Vegas, focused on family and domestic law, along with personal injury, juvenile, and criminal law. McConnell has worked as a family law attorney at McConnell Law, Ltd., since 2014. She has practiced law in Nevada since 2002 and worked at several law firms in Las Vegas, prior to her starting her own practice in Henderson.

Graham Walters, chief people officer for DraftKings, and Matter Real Estate Group partner Jim Stuart, welcomed Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman, John Brislin from County Commissioner Michael Naft’s office, Eric Cardona from U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen’s office and Art Goldberg from the Vegas Chamber to commemorate the grand opening of DraftKings’ 90,000-square-foot technology hub at UnCommons, the mixed-use development in southwest Las Vegas. Occupying much of an

entire building at UnCommons, the Las Vegas office will be DraftKings’ second-largest office in the United States.

Wahlburgers, the celebrated family burger restaurant of chef Paul Wahlberg and superstar brothers Mark Wahlberg and Donnie Wahlberg, will open a second location on the Las Vegas Strip in late March. The new Wahlburgers, located at Mandalay Bay within The Shoppes at Mandalay Place, joins the global franchise, which started in Hingham, Massachusetts in 2011.

Addie Rolnick, the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians law professor at the William S. Boyd School of Law at UNLV, has been appointed to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine’s Committee on Law and Justice. She also serves as the faculty director of the Indian Nations Gaming & Governance Program, as well as the Associate Director of the Program on Race, Gender & Policing. The committee works to influence policy, set a national research agenda to help reduce crime, and use research and evidence to amend laws and legal actions. The group focuses its work on three areas including youth and the justice system, the workings of the criminal justice system, and crime and victimization. Rolnick specializes in Indigenous rights, juvenile and criminal law, and racial justice. She has written about Native people’s encounters with tribal, federal, and state justice systems; equal protection-based attacks on indigenous rights; formal and informal policing; and indigenous justice systems.

Dr. Benjamin Chan joined Southwest Medical’s Siena Heights Healthcare Center (2845 Siena Heights Drive, Henderson) and specializes in adult medicine.

The Durango Casino & Resort by Station Casinos will include three immersive concepts by Clique Hospitality: Mijo Modern Mexican Restaurant, a fresh coastal Mexican culinary experience; Bel-Aire Lounge, a chic cocktail bar, each opening this fall; and Bel-Aire Backyard, a stylish poolside retreat, opening in late spring 2024.

UNLV’s annual series featuring nationally and internationally known guest lecturers

Rolnick

Hartung

Gaudet

McConnell

PREMIER CROSSWORD HOROSCOPES “CELEBRITY ANAGRAMS” BY

FRANK LONGO

WEEK OF MARCH 30

BY ROB BREZSNY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): What if you cancel your appointments and wander out into the wilderness to discuss your dreams with the birds? And what if, during your adventure, you’re flooded with exhilarating yearnings for freedom? And then you decide to divest yourself of desires that other people want you to have and instead boost those you want yourself to have? Will you follow through with brave actions that transform your relationship with your deepest longings?

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): You have done all you can for now to resolve and expunge stale, messy karma. There might come a time when you will have more cleansing to do, but you have now earned the right to be as free from your past as you have ever been. April fools! In fact, you still need to spend a bit more time resolving and expunging stale, messy karma. But you’re almost done.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): Businessman Robert Bigelow hopes to eventually rent luxurious rooms in space. For $1.7 million per night, travelers will enjoy accommodations on his hotel 200 miles above the Earth’s surface. You’re likely to be most excited by the idea of sailing along at 17,000 miles per hour and witnessing 16 sunsets and sunrises every 24 hours. April fools! In fact, Geminis are quite capable of getting the variety you crave and need right here on the planet’s surface.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): The coming weeks will be a favorable time for you to become the overlord of your own fiefdom, or seize control of a new territory and declare yourself chieftain, or overthrow the local hierarchy and install yourself as the sovereign ruler of all you survey. April fools! Now’s an excellent phase to increase your clout, boost your influence and express your leadership.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): In his poem “The Something,” Charles Simic writes, “Here come my night thoughts on crutches, returning from studying the heavens. What they thought about stayed the same. Stayed immense and incomprehensible.” Leos will have much the same experience in the coming weeks. So there’s no use in even hoping or trying to expand your vision. April fools! When your night thoughts return from studying the heavens, they will be full of exuberant, inspiring energy.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): If there will ever come a time when you will find a gold bullion bar on the ground while strolling around town, it will be soon. Similarly, if you are destined to buy a winning $10 million lottery ticket or inherit a diamond mine in Botswana, that blessing will arrive soon. April fools! You are extra likely to attract new resources and benefits, though not on the scale of gold bullion, lottery winnings and diamond mines.

ACROSS

1 Hindu music pattern

5 Captivated

13 Kellogg’s

2020 KING FEATURES SYNDICATE

DOWN

1 Less refined

2 Au courant

3 Top medals

4 Valved brass instrument

5 Make a gaffe

6 California wine valley

7 Have — with (be favored by)

8 Lady’s title 9 Assn. 10 “Norma —” 11 Writer Umberto 12 IHOP competitor

13 Prefix with -lithic or -zoic

14 — -lacto vegetarian 15 “Wham!”

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): All of us need and deserve at least one muse, even if we’re not creative artists. A muse might call our attention to important truths we are ignoring or point us in the direction of exciting future possibilities. You’re due for a muse upgrade. If you don’t have one, get one. If you already have a relationship with a muse, ask more from it. Nurture it. Take it to the next level.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Workers get three weeks of paid leave per year or else receive pay in lieu of time off. One added week is granted for every five years of service. So sometime soon, either take 9,400 days off work or your next paycheck will be $8,277,432. April fools! But the coming weeks should bring you a nice surprise or two concerning your job.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): William Blake (1757–1827) was a hard-working visionary prophet with an extravagant imagination. His contemporaries considered him a freaky eccentric, though today we regard him as a genius. Enjoy your own personal version of a Blake-like phase. It’s a perfect time to dynamically explore your idiosyncratic inclinations and creative potentials.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Many cultures throughout history have engaged in body modification. In parts of Africa and Borneo, for example, people stretch their ears. Some Balinese people get their teeth filed. The coming weeks would be a favorable time to change your body. April fools! My job is to encourage you to deepen and refine how your mind understands and treats your body. And now is an excellent time to do that.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Make a big change. Start calling yourself by the name “Genius.” You could even use it instead of the first name you have used all these years. April fools! Don’t do that, but you will be extra smart and ultra-wise in the coming weeks.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20):

The 69 trillion life-forms within your body are vibrating in sweet harmony with all the money in the world. Because of this remarkable alignment, you now have the potential to get richer quicker. April fools! That was an exaggeration, but I do you do have extra ability to prime your cash flow.

GONZAGA 79, UCLA 76 | NCAA MEN’S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT | T-MOBILE ARENA | MARCH 23, 2023 Peter Jackson couldn’t have scripted a better ending—Liberty High School product Julian Strawther hitting a late, long 3-pointer to lift the Bulldogs to a Sweet 16 win over the Bruins, in front of family and friends on the first day March Madness games were ever played in his hometown. Gonzaga’s run ended 48 hours later at the hands of Connecticut, but when locals remember the 2023 Vegas bracket, Strawther’s homecoming performance will forever stand out. –Spencer Patterson

(Steve Marcus/Staff)

OPEn MIC NIGHT

SEASON 7 begins April 5th at the shag room

HOSTED BY Shawn Eiferman

Wednesdays AT 8pm

Performances judged weekly. winner receives a Virgin Hotels Las Vegas 1-Night Stay.

Quarterly Grand Prize

paid performance at the shag room plus A 2-Night stay at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. Plus a $500 Dining Credit.

Must be 21 or older to participate. Weekly prizes and value may vary. All judges decisions are final. Management reserves all rights. Rules available at virginhotelslv.com