51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Class Notes are printed in every issue of 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Magazine. Alumni can submit to Class Notes using the online form.
1970s
Henry Apfel, '70 BS Education, recently changed careers after 38 years in the corporate travel industry. He now works for HelmsBriscoe, the largest hotel and meeting venue-location company in the world. He has five children and four grandchildren. His youngest son serves in the U.S. Army and has been deployed to Afghanistan. He lives in Longwood, Fla.
Patrick Deeley, '71 BS Special Education, is retired after a career that included working as a keno writer, keno shift boss, and pit boss at the Sands Hotel & Casino and as a police officer in Chicago. He has served as a basketball referee for 43 years. He and his wife, Silke, have four children, Robert, Patricia, Joseph, and Alyssia, and four grandchildren, Anjelica, Hannah, Matthew, and Alayna. The couple lives in Leesburg, Ga.
Bruce Sames, '71 BA Sociology, recently retired as a vice president with JPMorgan Chase. He began his banking career with Bank of Las Vegas (Valley Bank of Nevada) in 1969 while still a 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ student. After 11 years with Valley Bank, he relocated to Carmel, Calif. His hobbies include hiking, traveling, reading, and doing volunteer work. He now lives in Pacific Grove, Calif. His son is Keith Sames, '05 Film.
Herb Steege, '71 MBA, retired from Bank of America in January 2000. He had specialized in lending to the gaming industry. His volunteer activities include participation in the Clark County School District's Payback program, which encourages middle school students to stay in school and work toward attending college. He also coordinates the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace program at his church and provides financial guidance to church members.
Robert Lapp, '72 BS Hotel Administration, is a registered nurse in the operating room at Intermountain Medical Center in Salt Lake City. His hobby is building a 1965 Cobra replica. He is married and has two grown children, a daughter and a son.
Dale Wellman, '74 AS Radiology, '81 BS Allied Health Professions, '03 JD, is a radiographer at University Medical Center. He previously worked at Valley Hospital and Southwest Medical Associates. He also worked as a radiation protection technologist at the Nevada Test Site. His hobbies include target shooting, archery, self-defense practice, and reading.
Niki Nolles, '76 BA and '80 MA English, teaches full-time at Red Rocks Community College in Lakewood, Colo. A faculty member there since 1992, she is chair of English, literature, and reading. In the 1990s she studied at the Shakespeare Institute. Her hobbies include attending plays, hiking, and traveling overseas. Recent destinations have included Mexico and England. Reading her favorite authors -- including Mark Twain, Shakespeare, David Sedaris, and (thanks to 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Distinguished Professor Darlene Unrue) Henry James -- is another pastime. She plans to retire to Las Vegas someday.
Randall Campanale, '77 BS Business Administration, is senior vice president and senior portfolio manager for Northern Trust.
Randy Dockter, '77 BS Physics, is a senior scientist and IT specialist with Intera Geosciences & Engineering. He also has worked as a scientist/programmer supporting weapons testing experiments at the Nevada Test Site; as an IT specialist working on Yucca Mountain; and as a scientist/programmer at Hanford. He is married with three children and two grandchildren. He lives in Richland, Wash.
Charles Doughty, '77 BS Mechanical Engineering, works with submarine control system embedded software and simulation software/hardware. He has started his own company, Rough Country Robotics, for robotic simulation software and mobile robots. His hobbies include computers, robots, and reading science fiction. He lives in Gales Ferry, Conn.
Michael Plyler, '77 BA American Studies, is the director of the Zion Canyon Field Institute for the Zion Natural History Association in Zion National Park. He also teaches photography courses for the institute. His third book with writer Logan Hebner, Southern Paiute: A Portrait, recently was published by Utah State University Press. He has conducted photographic workshops across the United States, in Europe, and in Guatemala. He became a professional photographer following seven years working for the Clark County Fire Department. His hobbies include drinking wine, hiking, and woodworking ("not all at the same time"). He and his wife, Sandy Bell, live in Springdale, Utah.
Rick Dreschler, '78 MBA, was a bank manager in Nevada for 35 years. He last worked at Sunwest Bank as executive vice president. His hobbies include golf and traveling. He is married to Ann Nissen Dreschler, '78 BS Business Administration. They live in Henderson.
Jim Mikula, '78 BS Hotel Administration, was named managing director of the Hotel Madeline & Inn at Lost Creek in Telluride, Colo.
1980s
Dennis Luppens, '81 BS Education, has worked in public administration for California local governments since graduation. He lives in Santa Clarita.
David Patterson, '81 BS Hotel Administration, has worked as director of sales at the Palm Mountain Resort & Spa in downtown Palm Springs, Calif., for 10 years. His hobby is detailing his black 1993 BMW 325 convertible, which just passed the 200,000-mile mark. He and his wife, Madelene, have two dogs.
Christine Deschaine, '82 BS Business Administration, is a principal of Lee & Associates-LA North/Ventura, a full-service commercial real estate company. A retail specialist, she has more than 18 years' experience in tenant and landlord representation and has worked extensively in the area of urban redevelopment. She ranked among the company's Top 10 performers and was recognized in the President's Circle of Excellence in 2008. Among her many awards was the 2010 Commercial Real Estate Award in the category of Landlord Representative-Restaurants by the Los Angeles Business Journal. This year she won her company's Jack Cadillac Award for her commitment to volunteerism. In 2009 she traveled on a small medical boat on Brazil's Amazon River, assisting a team that provided dental extractions to people living in remote villages. More recently, she volunteered in Uganda. She worked with Bringing Hope to the Family, which is affiliated with Global Support Mission. She again worked with a dental team, this time assisting children who have been orphaned by violence or HIV/AIDS. She lives in Sherman Oaks, Calif.
Joe Domina, '82 BS Hotel Administration, is a regional director of operations for Morrison Management Specialists. He lives in Westfield, Ind.
Christopher Gist, '82 BS Management Information Systems, is a senior IT customer support specialist with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. He works with desktop hardware and does software support in the field. Other jobs have included being a COBOL programmer, doing database and systems design and development, working as an IT manager, and designing network infrastructure and serving as network administrator for a local company. A self-described "computer geek," he also enjoys riding his Harley. He has two children, Sam and Liz.
Gregory Hall, '82 BS Education, retired from the FBI last year after more than 23 years as a special agent. Previously, he served in the U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne Division during the Vietnam War and the Cold War. He appeared as a military historian in a World War II documentary on the History Channel, Rescue at Dawn: The Los Banos Raid, and is the author of a novel, Not Forgotten, depicting the same event. He lives in Boulder City.
Dannette Trivisonno, '82 BS Business Administration, is vice president of investments for UBS Financial Services. Watching soccer is her hobby. Her son attends San Diego State University.
Michael Bagstad, '83 BS Engineering, '94 MS Engineering, has joined Klotz Associates as the department manager of the municipal services department with the public works practice. A registered professional engineer in Nevada, Arizona, and Texas, he has 30 years' experience in marketing, planning, design, and program management. He has worked on projects with the city of Houston, the Harris County Flood Control District, and the Fort Bend Toll Road Authority. He lives in Spring, Texas.
Gregory Goussak, '84 BS and '94 MS Hotel Administration, is an assistant professor in the MBA program at the University of Southern Nevada. He earned a doctoral degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix in 2009. He and his wife, Cindy, have two children, Ariel and Alyssa. The family lives in Henderson.
Paul Weinstein, '85 BA Communication Studies, is a regional contracts administrator for AT&T. He negotiates site license agreements for AT&T Antenna Solutions Group. His hobby is traveling to five-star resorts in Las Vegas. He lives in Chicago.
Amy Wills, '85 BS Special Education, '92 MA History, a 25-year veteran of the Clark County School District, is a special education facilitator in the special education management systems department. She is the daughter of the late Paul Harris, 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ professor emeritus of theatre. Her son, Geoffrey Gardner, is now studying computer engineering and computer science at 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ. Her daughter, Saundra Gardner, is a student at the school district's Virtual High School. She lists her hobbies as riding her Harley-Davidson, watching her children grow up, and being a huge alumni booster. The family lives in Henderson.
Kathleen Mills Crow, '86 BS Business Administration, works as an employment specialist. She recently became the first Kansan to receive Association of Community Rehabilitation Educators (ACRE) certification for people who provide employment services to people with disabilities. This nationally recognized certificate documents that the provider completed a minimum of 40 hours of training or professional development. She lives in Lenexa, Kan.
Ralph Gaddis, '86 AS Radiological Sciences, '91 BS Healthcare Administration, is a marketing professional in the health care IT industry. He was one of the first two students to receive a bachelor's degree in healthcare administration from 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ. He said he and his fellow graduate recently "held a 20-year reunion on the telephone." His hobbies include hiking, skiing, and staying in touch with friends across the country. He lives in Centennial, Colo.
Carmen Henriquez Gigar, '87 BS Marketing, is chair of the Water Conservation Coalition for the Southern Nevada Water Authority. She also works as director of advertising and public relations for MetroPCS. The job has her finding ways to use new tactics that stretch her creative skills to generate brand awareness and sales. She is also a member of the 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Alumni Association Board of Directors. She is studying for her MBA at the University of Phoenix.
Larry Fry, '88 BS Hotel Administration, a real estate agent for Remax Los Cabos, says he helps people secure their "dream property" in paradise. He also maintains his Utah real estate license, having spent 30 years in the ski resort business. He and his girlfriend, who operates a pet hotel, have two golden retrievers. They live in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico.
Danna Botwick Nordin, '88 BA Secondary Education, '94 MBA, is a senior human resources professional. She married Cary Nordin in 2008 and has a daughter, Lucy Botwick, a student at the College of Southern Nevada.
Dierdre "Dee" Riley, '88 AA, '07 BS and '10 MS Nursing, is a nursing instructor at Nevada State College. She is married with six children and two dachshunds. Her hobbies include gardening and scuba diving.
Karen French Avalos, '89 BA Secondary Education, retired from her job as an English teacher with the Clark County School District.
Jeff Grace, '89 BS Finance, reports that his company, NetEffect, ranked in the top 10 in the In Business Best Places to Work list for the second year in a row, moving to fourth place from eighth. He is the company's president and CEO.
1990s
Jay Coates Jr., '90 BS Biology, is an associate professor with the University of Nevada School of Medicine. He is program director for the surgical critical care fellowship and serves on the admissions committee. He also serves as vice chairman for the trauma department at University Medical Center, Nevada's only Level I trauma center, and was named medical director for the Lions Regional Burn Center at UMC.
Stephen Tremblay, '90 BS Radiological Sciences, teaches and performs as a diagnostic medical sonographer in the clinical arena for Scottsdale Healthcare and at Carrington College. In 2010 he earned a master of education degree at Northern Arizona University. He lives in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Matt Engle, '91 BS Business Administration, graduated from the 10-month Leadership Las Vegas program of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce in June. The program is devoted to strengthening and educating community leaders by providing in-depth insights into a variety of issues impacting residents. He is the immediate past president of the 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Alumni Association. He led a 25-member board of directors with the key missions of connecting alumni to 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ for life and being leaders in the community.
Dennis Gradillas, '91 BS Hotel Administration, is the executive director of Las Ventanas, an upscale active adult community and health center. Previously, he was general manager of the Platinum Hotel & Spa. He is president of the Hotel College Alumni Chapter Board of Directors and is a board member of the 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Alumni Association. He is the proud father of three children, Preston, Peyton, and Madison.
Rand Higbee, '91 MFA, wrote a play, The Head That Wouldn't Die, which was published by Eldridge Publishing Co. The play spoofs old, bad science fiction movies. It debuted at the 2007 Last Frontier Theatre Conference in Valdez, Alaska, and has been produced several times since, including once in the United Kingdom. He lives in Hager City, Wis.
Curtis Miller, '91 BA Hotel Administration, is director of sales and marketing at the Gateway Hotel and Conference Center. He lives in Ankeny, Iowa.
Dawn Larsen Garner, '92 BA Art, '00 BS Interior Architecture, is a senior interior designer. She is working on the Hard Rock Hotel Tulsa at Worth Group Denver for the Cherokee Nation. Past experience includes work with Parker Scaggiari, Marnell Corraro Associates, MGM Mirage Design Group, and Scott Avjian. Her design projects included guest rooms, suites, and casino areas for the Bellagio as well as king rooms, tower suites, and corridors for the Mirage. Her hobbies include tennis and traveling. She lives in Fort Collins, Colo.
Larry Lee, '92 BS Business Administration, '96 MBA, is deputy director of the Washington State 529 Prepaid Tuition Plan. The fastest-growing plan of its kind in the nation, it is helping 135,000 students save for college. Married with two children, he earned a master of public administration degree from the University of Washington. His hobbies include scuba diving. He lives in Olympia.
Kimberly Stein, '92 BS Business Administration, '95 MBA, has joined the law firm of Howard & Howard. She earned her law degree from Boston University.
Suresh Vishnubhatla, '92 MS Electrical Engineering, is senior vice president and chief technology officer of Pharmerica Corp. He lives in Louisville, Ky.
Hank Hope, '93 BA Communication Studies, is a media manager for American Casino Entertainment Properties.
Nancy Banner, '94 BS Hotel Administration, is a classically trained chef. In her book, Chef Nancy's Recipe for Health, she advocates for moving from SAD, the standard American diet of processed foods, toward GLADD, her whole foods, anti-inflammatory, lifestyle diet. The book teaches eaters how to transition their meal choices to prevent and reverse disease with tasty recipes that are dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free, and low-glycemic. She lives in Mesa, Ariz.
Shawn Danoski, '94 BS Architecture, and Bryce Clutts, '03 BS Business Administration, are the leaders of the full-service general contracting firm Danoski Clutts Building Group, which was founded in 2001. The firm announced the completion of Lick within the Shoppes at Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino. The store offers a full selection of candies and sweets.
Ehab Ibrahim, '94 BS Hospitality Administration, is restaurant manager at the Wequassett Resort and Golf Club. He lives in Pompano Beach, Fla.
John Kotek, '94 BS Electrical Engineering, has been promoted to president of Lawyer Trane, Las Vegas, a leading commercial HVAC firm established more than 40 years ago. A company employee since 1995, he is spearheading the company's overall strategic corporate development. During his years with the firm he worked directly with building owners, consulting engineers, and mechanical contractors before moving into sales management and then general management.
Rick Arpin, '95 BS Business Administration, is senior vice president and corporate controller for MGM Resorts International. His hobbies include golf, reading, and traveling.
Sean DeFrank, '95 BA Communication Studies, is an associate editor at Vegas Seven magazine. His hobbies include sports, music, and travel. He and his wife, Melissa, live in Henderson.
Jennifer Hammett Francis, '95 BA Communication Studies, is an account director working in advertising, marketing, and communications for SK+G Advertising.
Alison Evans Boring, '96 BS Hotel Administration, is employed by Project Kindle as the director of Camp Kindle. She lives in Moorpark, Calif.
Lori Ciccone Brazfield, '96 BA Communication Studies, works as director of system-sponsored programs and EPSCoR for the Nevada System of Higher Education. She works with faculty and students on grants focusing on increasing research within the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and college access programs. She enjoys scrapbooking, reading, and taking family vacations. She and her husband, Symaron, have two sons, Christopher and Andrew.
Simaan Hawa, '96 BS Hotel Administration, is director of national accounts-West Coast for Pelican Hill. He lives in San Clemente, Calif.
Zane Marshall, '96 BA Environmental Studies,' 06 MA Science, is director of the environmental resources department of the Southern Nevada Water Authority. He lives in Henderson.
Scott Mills, '96 BS Hotel Administration, started M Hospitality, a Beverly Hills-based, full-service hospitality consulting firm. Previously, he spent four years as general manager with the Viceroy Hotel Group and 11 years as an executive with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. His hobbies include golf, wine, and travel. Married with one son, he lives in West Hollywood, Calif.
Robert Bonghi, '97 BS Business Administration, is post-harvest operations director for Andrew-Williamson Fresh Produce. He lives in Beaumont, Calif.
Anthony Llanos, '97 BS Hotel Administration, is controller at the Chancellor Hotel on Union Square in San Francisco.
Jiebing Wang, '97 PhD Physics, is vice president of central engineering for Exar. He lives in San Jose, Calif.
Rob Bone, '98 BS Business Administration, '00 MBA, was promoted to senior vice president of North American sales for WMS Industries, manufactures video and mechanical reel-spinning gaming machines, and video lottery terminals. He oversees day-to-day sales accountability and predictability, the sales implementation of new networked gaming applications, and efforts to increase customer touch points. A WMS employee since 2000, he has had primary responsibility for the company's key corporate accounts in Las Vegas and has managed the day-to-day operations of the more than 130-person Las Vegas office.
Robyn Lemon Chapman, '98 Bachelor of Music, is teaching music in kindergarten through eighth grades in Corvallis, Ore., as well as assisting with the Oregon State University marching band. She taught elementary school music in Snohomish, Wash. (2002-05) and middle school band in Las Vegas (1998-2002). She and her husband, Christopher Chapman, '98 Master of Music, have one daughter, Cecilia Noel. The family lives in Albany.
Mark Knoblauch, '98 MS Kinesiology, is a postdoctoral fellow at Taylor College of Medicine in the Texas Medical Center in Houston. He received a Ph.D. in kinesiology from the University of Houston in August.
Daniel Loring, '98 BS Hotel Administration, is chief operating officer of Honeydrop Beverages. He lives in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Erik Okland, '98 BS Business Administration, is an escrow officer with Inter Valley Escrow in Burbank, Calif. He has extensive experience in residential and commercial escrow transactions is the Los Angeles area. He lives in Glendale.
Jessica Perez, '98 BA Political Science, was the 2011 president of the Board of Bar Commissioners, the governing board of the New Mexico State Bar, and president of the Sandoval County Bar Association. She is employed as a field representative for U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., primarily handling health care issues. Previously, she worked as an assistant attorney general and as an analyst for the New Mexico State Senate. She was in practice for five years with her father and brother, both attorneys, and her mother, who served as their paralegal. A bar commissioner since 2003, she is past chair of the Personnel Committee and a member of the Bylaws and Policies, Annual Meeting Planning, Bench and Bar Relations, Finance, and Governmental Affairs committees. She and her husband, Al Park, have one daughter. The family lives in Bernalillo.
Victoria Richards, '98 MA Science, joined the faculty of the Frank H. Netter, M.D., School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University in Connecticut as an assistant professor of basic medical sciences. She will teach pharmacology as well as develop curriculum. Quinnipiac has begun the accreditation process necessary to establish a medical school with an emphasis on primary care and plans to enroll its charter class by fall 2013. Previously, she served as an assistant professor of pharmacology at the A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona. She lives in North Haven.
Jason Roth, '98 BA Communication Studies, graduated with an MBA from the University of Southern Nevada (USN) in June. In July he was promoted to vice president of communications and public relations at Roseman University of Health Sciences. The USN became Roseman University of Health Sciences on July 1. He lives in Henderson.
Chris Smith, '98 BS Hotel Administration, was promoted to director for corporate human resources at Caesars Entertainment. His previous positions included manager of human resources and director of training and development for Caesars Entertainment. He serves as vice president for the Hotel College Alumni Chapter Board of Directors.
Nicholas Anderson, '99 BA Communication Studies, has worked in marketing with a high-tech security company for the past nine years. He has traveled extensively, visiting Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Costa Rica, and Argentina. In 2012 he expects to visit Chile, Uruguay, and Argentina. His hobbies also include blogging, thrill seeking, golf, and developing entrepreneurial ideas. He lives in Newport Beach, Calif.
Chad Belding, '99 BS Business Administration, started his second hunting-related television show, Dead Dog Walkin', which, along with his first show, The Fowl Life, airs on the Sportsman Channel and Wild TV. The Fowl Life combines heart-pounding hunting action with in-depth instruction. In the new show, he and his team hunt coyotes and other predators that are threatening domestic sheep and cattle herds. His company, Banded Nation, encompasses several ventures, including Banded Gear, Last Call Ringtones, Banded Hunts, Banded Calls, Banded Retrievers, and Banded University. He has won national competitions in duck and goose calling. A former Rebel baseball player, he lives with his wife, Melanie, and their daughter, Alyssa, in Reno.
Roni Benenson de Sterin, '99 BS Hotel Administration, opened up The Pitch Factory, a small marketing consultancy agency providing integrated marketing solutions in English, Spanish, and Hebrew. The company takes clients from idea to execution, no matter how small or big the concept. The Pitch Factory assists its clients with a variety of projects, including marketing deliverables, branding, and strategy. She previously worked as a marketing communication director. She lives in Tel Aviv, Israel.
Sarah Harmon, '99 BS Business Administration, was promoted to partner of the Las Vegas law firm of Bailey Kennedy, where she's worked for five years in civil litigation of class actions, product defects, tobacco cases, business torts, and commercial and corporate law. Previously, she was an associate with Lionel Sawyer & Collins. She also is on the editorial staff of the Nevada Civil Practice Manual. She earned her law degree at the University of San Diego.
Richard Kimbrough, '99 BA Communication Studies, was named chief development officer for the Mayo Clinic Health System in southwestern Minnesota. He lives in North Mankato.
Charles "Mike" Prince, '99 BA Elementary Education, is a rancher and middle school teacher. He authored Toquop the Warrior Stallion, which won the Will Rogers Medallion for best Western novel for juveniles and young adults in 2008. He and his wife, Alma, have been married for more than 50 years. He enjoys farming, raising beef cattle, and working with 4-H youths. He lives in Alamo.
Eric Sway, '99 BA Communication Studies, is sales manager at General Steel Corp. in Cleveland. He coaches soccer, basketball, and baseball for children in second through fourth grades. His hobbies include traveling, serving on his neighborhood homeowners association board, gardening, and attending professional sporting events. He and his wife, Stacee Appiano Sway, '01 BS Business Administration, met while living in the 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ residence halls. They have a son, Andrew. The family lives in Streetsboro.
Todd Weinstein, '99 BS Hotel Administration, is the director of leadership development at PetSmart. His responsibilities include leadership development strategy, programs and processes, individual and team coaching, and other efforts around building organizational effectiveness. He lives in Phoenix.
2000s
Melinda Simpson Chaney, '00 BA Communication Studies, is a State Farm agent and owner. She enjoys running, tennis, reading, traveling, and speaking at school career day events. A wife and mother of three daughters, she lives in Richardson, Texas.
Travis Huxman, '00 PhD Biological Sciences, is a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Arizona. He is the director of UA Biosphere 2, the earth science facility focused on water and energy research and public science literacy; director of UA Science: Flandrau, the university's science outreach portal and museum; and co-director of the Arizona Center for STEM teachers, which focuses on teacher training, retention, and curriculum development. He lives in Tucson.
Adam Lopez, '00 BS Hotel Management, is a project manager with Bally Technologies. He works in marketing and tradeshow events. His hobbies include working out at the gym, biking, hiking, and traveling. He and his wife had twins, Sicily and Tyler, on June 8. The family lives in North Las Vegas.
Jason Thompson, '00 BS Business Administration, '04 MBA, is community development director for Focus Property Group.
Zachary Smith, '00 Master of Science Kinesiology, '07 PhD Educational Leadership, has written a book, Making the Case for Leadership: Profiles of Chief Advancement Officers in Higher Education, which was published in January. It profiles 10 of the most successful chief advancement officers from universities such as Michigan and Johns Hopkins. He serves as assistant vice chancellor of development at the University of California, Riverside.
Michelle Sposito Atkinson, '01 BA Communication Studies, is a staff attorney in the Ohio department of education, office of professional conduct. She lives in Dublin.
Robert Bachilla, '01 BS Physics, is a quality engineer and lead metrologist for ITT Corp. Working in the defense sector, he uses state-of-the-art equipment to make precision measurements. He also uses CAD and writes technical reports. Previously, he worked in the aerospace industry in Seattle. He earned a master's degree in physics from the University of Washington. His hobbies include yoga and cycling. He lives in Salt Lake City.
Phillip Dart, '01 BS Workforce Education, is an employment and training coordinator for Experience Works. He lives in Bedford, Ind.
Josh Hudson, '01 BA Communication Studies, is a faculty member at the Art Institute of Las Vegas. Currently, he is directing and editing Is This the Face of Autism for Hudson House Films. He also is editing two feature documentaries. He has three sons.
Stacy Grasso Manobianca, '01 BA Psychology, is an attorney in the litigation department of Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis. She was re-elected chair of the Young Lawyers Division of the Essex (N.J.) County Bar Association in May. She recently moderated two continuing legal education seminars for the association, "Business & Trust Accounting for Lawyers" and "Civil Trial Preparation." Additionally, she was selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers - Rising Stars Edition 2011 by Super Lawyers magazine. She focuses on complex product liability litigation involving motor vehicle manufacturers, premises liability, and asbestos litigation. A member of the New Jersey State Bar Association and the New Jersey Women Lawyers Association, she earned her law degree at Seton Hall University. She lives Elmwood Park.
Cara Minardi, '01 BA and '05 MA English, works as an assistant professor at Georgia Gwinnett College. She completed her PhD in English (rhetoric and composition) at Georgia State University in May. She lives in Decatur.
Lisa Montes, '01 BA Psychology, works in the food and beverage department at Wynn Resorts.
Pin Tan, '01 BS Computer Science, is an intellectual property attorney with Weide & Miller. He also is working on an iPhone application called Momentous.
Rachel Choudhury, '02 BS Nursing, is curriculum dean at Chamberlain College of Nursing, where she has been a faculty member for six years. "In my career as a nursing educator, I think about my experiences at 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ and how much I grew as a person because of the nurse educators who were such great role models," she said, describing 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ's nursing faculty as "knowledgeable, professional, and approachable." She is grateful for the Lahr Foundation Scholarship she had while at 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ. She is pursing a PhD in nursing education at Capella University. She and her husband, Fayyaz, have one daughter, Zaiba. The family lives in Columbus, Ohio.
Marion Smith, '02 BS Secondary Education, is assistant principal of Madrona K-8 with the Seattle Public Schools. Previously, he was the founding director of culture at Young Scholars Frederick Douglass, K-8 turnaround school in North Philadelphia, Pa. His career began in Las Vegas where he worked for the Clark County School District for nine years, serving as a middle school dean of students, a high school English teacher, and a middle school English/language arts teacher.
Adam Villarreal, '02 BS Physics and BA Psychology, is a senior research scientist for Lockheed Martin. He lives in Avondale, Ariz.
Mehmet Erdem, '03 PhD Hotel Administration, was promoted to associate professor in 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ's College of Hotel Administration and has received tenure. In recognition of his creative use of technology in the classroom, he received the annual Innovation in Teaching Award from the International Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education, making him the second 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ faculty member to receive the award since it was established in 1993. Previously, he was an assistant professor in the school of Hotel Administration at the University of New Orleans. He lives in Henderson.
Janie Lade, '03 Master of Education, is a licensed school counselor and a national certified counselor working with at-risk students. Her model for providing services is to look first at the student's personal and social skills followed by academic and career development. She helps students and parents cope with depression, anxiety, drug abuse, anger management, and other mental issues that overwhelm students and keep them from focusing on academics. Her philosophy is that when the man is together, so is his world. She earned her doctorate in leadership and administration at the University of Phoenix. She enjoys water activities, traveling, reading, and family time. She lives in Kannapolis, N.C.
Hwabong Lee, '03 MS Hospitality Management, is a tradeshow organizer and exhibition coordinator for COEX. He has eight years of experience organizing tradeshows in Korea and Vietnam. His hobby is driving classic cars. He lives in Seoul, Korea.
Laura Stanzione, '03 BA Communication Studies, received a master of arts in teaching degree in elementary education from Anderson University. She works as a tutor for Ortin-Gillingham. She is the mother of one son and lives in Anderson, S.C.
Tony Timmons, '03 BS Business Administration, was named head of Wells Fargo's Nevada regional banking communications team.
Camilla Brunold, '04 BS Hotel Administration, works at Animal House, a full-service pet store. She assists clients and helps with administrative tasks. She has two daughters, Tiffany and Kristen. She enjoys spending time with her family and with her cat, Cupid; working jigsaw puzzles; watching movies; and reading. She live in Pahrump.
Adam Bult, '04 JD, was elected a shareholder in the Las Vegas office of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck. He is a member of the litigation department with a practice focusing on commercial and construction litigation. His clients range from subcontractors and suppliers to owners and public entities, for which his involvement has spanned lien claims and $100 million construction disputes. He also renders pro bono counsel and direct financial assistance to Las Vegas nonprofit organizations such as Golden Rainbow, which provides housing assistance to people living with HIV/AIDS. He serves on the Advertising Advisory and Diversity committees of the Nevada State Bar Association. He is a 2010 graduate of Leadership Las Vegas.
Adam Gordon, '04 BS Hotel Administration, joined the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority as a sales executive. Previously, he was a national sales manager with Green Valley Ranch, worked at Caesars Entertainment, and was part of the opening team at the MGM Resorts CityCenter project. He is a member of the Hotel College Alumni Chapter Board of Directors.
Timothy Rainey, '04 BA Communication Studies, is director of programming as well as afternoon radio host for WNOU, RadioNOW 100.9 in Indianapolis. He broadcasts under the pseudonym "Rayne." He has won numerous awards, including the 2007 and 2009 Major Market Top 40 Program Director of the Year Award from the Street Information Network. He enjoys traveling and volunteering with local charities.
Jennifer Hartwick, '05 BA Interdisciplinary Studies, is the director of recruitment for the Greenspun family of companies, including Vegas.com, Greenspun Media Group, and the America Nevada Co. Previously, she spent 12 years with a global consulting firm focused on the recruitment of IT professionals. She is married and has two young sons.
Phyllis Hedges, '05 BA Criminal Justice, enjoys walking and taking care of her pets -- five cats and one dog.
Fred Meyer, '05 BA and '10 MA Criminal Justice, is a sergeant with the detention services division of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. He enjoys spending time with family, golfing, and fishing. He and his wife, Tracy, have two children, Caitlyn and Ethan. The family lives in Henderson.
Elio Montes, '05 BA Economics, works as CEO of the start-up Digital TV Cable in Bolivia. It is a cable television company and Internet service provider. His hobbies include photography and trekking. He and his wife, Fatyma Rivas, have two children. The family lives in Santa Cruz de La Sierra.
Gina-Marie Nissen, '05 BA Journalism and Media Studies, married Jonathan Strong, '08 BS Culinary Arts Management, in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. She works as marketing manager at Medco Health Solutions. He is a restaurant manager at Wynn Las Vegas.
Christopher Dayley, '06 Bachelor of Social Work, '09 Master of Education, is student services coordinator for Utah State University. He lives in Logan.
Junilla Kershner, '06 BA Criminal Justice, was appointed to a one-year term on the Taskforce on Outreach to Young Lawyers by the Tort, Trial and Insurance Practice section of the American Bar Association. She will work on outreach efforts to young lawyers throughout the nation. An attorney with Fowler White Burnett, she practices insurance defense. She is an member of various professional organizations, including the Florida Bar, the Dade County Bar Association, and the Cuban American Bar Association. She lives in Miami.
Dana Reitz Covotsos, '07 BS Hotel Administration, is a human resources manager for Walmart. She lives in New Lenox, Ill.
Adrian Huerta, '07 BS Human Services Counseling, is pursuing a doctoral degree in education at the University of California, Los Angeles. His research focuses on the social and academic experiences of underrepresented student populations in postsecondary institutions. Previously, he served as the assistant director of the McNair Scholars Program at the University of Southern California. He and his partner, Kristan, have a daughter, Felicia. They live in El Monte.
Pj Perez, '07 BA Journalism and Media Studies, reports that his alt-rock band, As Yet Unbroken, just released its first full-length album, Unbroken.
Samantha Stewart, '07 BA Journalism and Media Studies, is a senior content coordinator and copywriter for Zappos.com. She lives in Henderson.
Denise Balfour, '08 Master of Education, is assistant director of the office of student conduct & academic integrity at Old Dominion University. She lives in Norfolk, Va.
Yolanda Tuttle-Williams, '07 BS Hotel Administration, graduated from George Washington University with a master's degree in tourism administration in May 2011. She works part-time as a travel consultant in Athens, Ga. She is looking forward to moving back to the Southwest.
Cynthia Blanco, '08 BS Kinesiological Sciences, teaches ballet, Pilates, and yoga. She focuses on physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health and learning. She is starting a dance/yoga company. Hobbies include hiking, rock climbing, swimming, doing personal growth work, reading, and inspiring people. She lives in Englewood, Colo.
Katie Carney, '08 Bachelor of Journalism and Media Studies, is a production coordinator for King and Country Productions. She enjoys shopping, eating sushi, and hanging out with friends. She lives in West Hollywood, Calif.
Michael Gordon, '08 Master of Public Administration, is president of the 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Graduate & Professional Student Association for 2011-12.
John Green, '08 PhD Civil Engineering, married Margaux Byrne on Oct. 9, 2010. Following their wedding at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Naperville, Ill., they honeymooned in Kauai, Hawaii. He is senior rail civil engineer and lead track designer-North America for Halcrow Inc. in its Chicago office. The couple lives in Naperville.
Daniel McCue, '08 MA Journalism and Media Studies, launched Organic Local Social Media, a company specializing in helping businesses deepen customer relationships through social media. His second child, Johanna Verlyn McCue, was born in September. He lives in Grinnell, Iowa.
Jacob D. Montoya, '08 BS Hotel Administration, is the assistant housekeeping manager at Gila River Casinos in Chandler, Ariz.
Jason Roth, '08 BS Hotel Administration, is a catering & conference manager at The Venetian | The Palazzo Hotel. He specializes in social, public relations, and government relation events. It is the largest resort convention facility in the world with over 2.2 million square feet of meeting space. He previously worked as assistant director for alumni special events & student involvement at 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ.
Derek Schoen, '08 BA Journalism & Media Studies, was promoted to Internet marketing manager. He oversees all social media and online marketing efforts for ARIA Resort & Casino, Vdara Hotel & Spa, and CityCenter. He has worked at CityCenter for two years. He is married to Courtney Edelman Schoen, '08 BA Education. The couple has two new puppies.
Jonathan Smith, '08 BS Gaming Management, is a senior slot analyst with the Wynn and Encore Las Vegas. Previously, he was an analyst with Bally Technologies. He earned a master's degree in hospitality management from Drexel University.
Justin Dacek, '09 BS University Studies, is a video production technician for 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ's Thomas & Mack Center and for the Las Vegas 51s baseball team. He lives in Henderson.
Gordon Goolsby, '09 JD Law, is an associate with the law firm of Armstrong Teasdale, where he is part of the financial services practice group. He counsels clients about bankruptcy, distressed loans, and loan transactions. He represents both corporate debtors and creditors as well as committees. He lives in Henderson.
Justin Hebblethwaite, '09 BS Culinary Arts Management, is a food service director for Aramark. He lives in Fremont, Calif.
Lindsay Smith, '09 BA Interdisciplinary Studies, is attending law school at the University of Kansas. She lives in Lawrence.
Matthew Muldoon, '09 MS Hotel Administration, is chief development officer for Three Square, the Southern Nevada food bank. He works closely with the CEO, board of trustees, and various committees to develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy for Three Square. He supervises the marketing director, donor relations manager, director of corporate giving, director of individual giving, and grant writers.
2010s
Cassidee Shinn, '10 BS Biological Sciences, is pursuing a master's degree at the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She works at a nonprofit agency dealing with forest conservation issues. Hobbies include hiking, swimming, reading, painting, surfing, snorkeling, and traveling.
Joanna Myers, '10 JD, has joined Brownstein Hyatt Farber Shreck as an associate with the corporate and business group and focuses on intellectual property. Previously, she was an associate attorney for Greenberg Traurig and assisted in the creation and operations management of three family businesses in the forensic sciences industry. She also was a quality specialist for United Blood Services in Las Vegas, auditing blood collection and product manufacturing processes for compliance with federal regulations.
Jeffrey Walker, '10 Master of Public Administration, is a northern region emergency planner for the Virginia department of health. He coordinates preparedness and response activities for the department in its national capitol region. He lives in Herndon, Va.
Guan Wang, '10 MBA, is an energy marketing analyst with NV Energy. His hobbies include movies, hiking, and food.
Belinda Johnson, '11 BS Human Services Counseling, is interning in the field of human services/counseling. She also does volunteer work in that field. Her hobbies include community service work and church-related activities. The U.S. Army veteran lives in North Las Vegas.
Judy Nagai, '11 PhD Educational Leadership, is assistant dean for development and external relations for the Graduate School of Management at the University of California, Davis. She leads the fundraising, marketing, and alumni relations team. While working at 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ, she established the William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration alumni relations program in 2002 and served as director of external relations until fall 2011.
Alysson Thewes, '11 Master of Social Work, spent time traveling after graduation before beginning to look for her dream job. Her hobbies include going on trail rides with her horse, reading, and driving the 2011 Camaro she received as a graduation gift. She lives in Henderson.
Obituaries
Bert Babero, emeritus professor of zoology, died Feb. 15. He taught at 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ for 23 years, joining the university when it still was known as Nevada Southern. An internationally known parasitologist, he identified 21 never-before described species. He also taught at Baghdad University in Iraq, Fort Valley State College, Southern University, and Grambling State University. He was named a member of the Nevada Equal Rights Commission in 1967 and the NAACP Las Vegas chapter's 1968 Man of the Year. While serving as a U.S. Army medic during World War II, he protested discriminatory practices in the armed forces. Some of his letters are quoted in the book Taps for a Jim Crow Army. Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Harriett; son, Bert Jr.; and granddaughter, Jamileh Juanita.
Richard Brooks, emeritus professor of anthropology, died June 23. He taught at 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ from 1966 to 1994. He pioneered the creation of the Marjorie Barrick Museum of Natural History and served as its director. He also was director of the Desert Research Institute and cofounded Archeo-Nevada in Las Vegas and the Nevada Archeological Association. He was the widower of anthropologist Sheilagh Brooks, 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ's first distinguished professor, who died in 2008. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Carolyn Brooks-Harris. Survivors include daughter Kathleen Brooks and granddaughters Sheilagh Polk and Genevieve Brooks-Harris.
David Emerson, former dean and emeritus professor of chemistry, died Jan. 12. He came to 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ in 1981 as dean of what then was the College of Math, Science, and Engineering. He was instrumental in creating the College of Engineering. Later he served as dean of the College of Sciences. He retired in 1998. The 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Emerson Medal, which the College of Sciences awards to individuals who have made distinguished and lasting contributions to the sciences, is named in his honor. A U.S. Army veteran, he served in World War II and the Korean War. He is survived by Shirley, his wife of 57 years; three children, Richard, Eric, and Ellen; and seven grandchildren.
Anthony Ferri, professor of journalism and media studies, died June 15. A faculty member since 1985, he served as general manager of KUNV, the university's public radio station and as associate director of the Greenspun School of Communication. He was honored as Outstanding 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Faculty Member by the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents and as the Rita Deanin Abbey Teacher of the Year. One of his proudest accomplishments was participating in the graduation of his daughter, Theresa Ferri, '11 BA Psychology. Other survivors include son Steven, brother Tom, and sister Gina.
William Hilkert III, '76 BA Theatre, died December 26. He was an actor in New York, appearing in films as well as on stage and on television. He traveled to Spain as part of an actor exchange program. He is survived by a daughter, Davina Lynch.
Cathie Kelly, professor of art, died Feb. 26. The Pittsburgh native joined the 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ faculty in 1980 after receiving her doctoral degree in art history from Pennsylvania State University where she studied with professor Hellmut Hager. Her specialty was Italian Renaissance and Baroque art and architecture. Her research interests were centered in Italy, particularly Rome and Florence. In 1993 she received the Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award from 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ's College of Fine Arts. She was involved in historic preservation in the Las Vegas Valley, served on the Nevada State Board of Museums, and was a founding member of the Board of Trustees of the Neon Museum. She is survived by her stepbrother, Robert Kelly, and by several nieces and nephews.
Tony Knap, the "winningest" coach in 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ football history, died Sept. 24. Nicknamed the "Silver Fox," he came from Boise State in 1976 and won more games than anyone in school history with a record of 47-20-2 over six seasons. He led the Rebels to an NCAA Division II playoff appearance, through the move to the Division I level in 1978, and to a stunning road upset of No. 8 BYU in 1981, his final season. His coaching record was 143-53-4 in 18 seasons. He signed quarterback Randall Cunningham, who was a redshirt freshman under Knap and eventually played 16 seasons in the National Football League. The Milwaukee native was inducted into the 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Athletics Hall of Fame in 1989 and the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame in 2004. Survivors include Mickey, his wife of 70 years, and daughters Jacki Knap Wright, Angie Nelson, and Caroline Smith.
Agnes Lockette, emerita professor of curriculum and instruction, died June 5. She taught at 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ from 1972 until 1984. Before that she taught for the Clark County School District at Westside and Sewell elementary schools. Among her publications were The Preliminary Design for the Pre-School Handicapped Early Childhood and Playing, Experiencing and Growing in Language Arts. She was the first woman appointed to the Clark County Pollution Board. In 1973 she chaired the Economic Opportunity Board of Clark County. Survivors include daughter Sharon Matrisciano, son Emory Lockette Jr., and grandson Chris Matrisciano.
Ellen Cronan Rose, retired director of women's studies, died Oct. 10. A faculty member from 1994 until 2002, she oversaw the transition of women's studies from an interdisciplinary program to an academic department. She inspired research on gender and feminist scholarship, supported women in academe, and brought the National Women's Studies Association to Las Vegas. Co-editor of the Journal of Modern Literature, she also taught at Dartmouth and Haverford colleges, Drexel University, and MIT. A devoted "Phillies Phan," she moved back to her hometown of Philadelphia upon retirement. She is survived by three children, Emily Rose Hoffman, Amanda Rose, and Barnabas Rose, and two grandchildren, Madeleine Hoffman and Mason Hoffman.
Anthony Saville, emeritus dean and professor of education, died June 28. His 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ career spanned 1967-1998.He was the founding dean of the College of Education, a role he maintained for 11 years. An expert in stress, conflict, and time management, he served as a consultant to schools systems throughout the nation. He was honored by the Clark County School District with the creation of Anthony Saville Middle School. Among his many awards were the 2001 Distinguished Nevadan Award by the Board of Regents, the 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Foundation Award for Outstanding Graduate Faculty in 1996, the Alumni Award for Distinguished Faculty in 1995, and the Spanos Award for Distinguished Teaching in 1990. Survivors include Joy, his wife of 56 years.
