Las Vegas businesspeople on the fast track

Monday, June 30, 1997 | 4:40 a.m.

McKee has more than 25 years experience in education, including 11 years in the classroom. From 1982 to 1996, she was the owner and administrator of Evergreen Academy in Seattle. Merging with Nobel Education Dynamics Inc. in 1996, McKee oversees schools in Las Vegas, Southern California, Oregon and Washington. She has a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Abilene Christian College and a master's in education from Texas Women's University.

* Behnam Bavarian has joined Mikohn as vice president of engineering.

In this newly created position, Bavarian will be responsible for hardware and software engineering and the ongoing development of Mikohn's high technology products and systems.

Bavarian most recently was director of advanced technology development at Printrak International Inc. in Anaheim, Calif. He earlier spent eight years as a professor at the University of California, Irvine. During that time, he also wrote technical articles and served as an engineering consultant for a number of high-tech companies. He has a bachelor's degree from Abadan Institute of Technology and a master's of science and Ph.D. from Ohio State University.

* David Dunham has been named senior vice president of multi-family commercial industrial development and special projects for Pardee Construction Co.

Dunham is responsible for all facets of commercial and apartment development projects for Pardee.

Dunham has been with the company for 25 years and since 1983 has been vice president, multi-family and commercial purchasing and construction. He earlier served as project superintendent, contracts administrator and area construction manager. Prior to joining Pardee, he accumulated more than a decade of experience in the development field, focusing on management, engineering and construction.

* Carole Gordon has joined Behavioral Healthcare Options as chief operating officer.

Gordon is responsible for operations, customer service, staffing, new business development, budgeting, contracting and credentialing.

Gordon has more than 10 years' experience in behavioral health care administration and has worked for Bridge Counseling Associates as executive director and Harmony Healthcare as chief executive officer. She has a bachelor's degree in social work from UNLV and has been certified as a counselor and administrator by the Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Abuse.

* Bonnie Smith and Rick Carns have joined DSLV/Lawlor Advertising.

Smith, who was formerly with Asher Gould Advertising and worked on the New York-New York account, joins the agency in account services.

Carns, who formerly directed client services for Hands Ink Advertising, has been hired for account services and new client development.

* Cookie Dreschler has been promoted to assistant general manager at Sunset Station hotel-casino.

Dreschler served as director of operations at Sunset since November and previously was director of finance at Boulder Station. She has a bachelor's degree in accounting from Canisius College in Buffalo, N.Y., and an MBA from UNLV.

* Rod Brehm has been named senior vice president for the Southwest Division of 7-Eleven stores, which is headquartered in Las Vegas.

Brehm's responsibilities will include the management of roughly 1,000 convenience stores in Southern California, Arizona and Nevada.

Brehm joined Southland in 1972 and since that time has served as a field representative, district manager, zone manager, merchandise manager, operations manager, division manager, national marketing manager, vice president of the Northwest Region and vice president of merchandising. Most recently, he served as vice president of distribution. He is a UNLV graduate.

* Rodger Bardo has joined the consulting firm of Carter and Burgess Inc. as a senior consultant for the construction management division.

Bardo will assist with business development in California, Arizona and Nevada.

Bardo has more than 20 years of construction and project development experience for transportation, facility and wastewater industries, serving on assignments for both public and private sector clients. He has a bachelor's degree in engineering management from Southwest University in Texas and an AAS degree in civil construction engineering from the State University of New York.

* Michael Townsend has joined Dermody Properties as regional manager in Las Vegas.

Townsend will oversee the development, marketing and management of the firm's 1 million-square-foot industrial portfolio in Las Vegas.

Townsend has more than 25 years of experience in real estate development, property management, financial and accounting management.

* Larry Tuntland has joined the board of directors of Norwest Bank Nevada.

Tuntland has 37 years of banking experience statewide, most recently as president and board member of First Interstate Bank of Nevada. He received his education at Arizona State University and the University of Nevada system.