Corporate Challenge wraps up

Heather Rawlyk

Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2003 | 9:21 a.m.

The 18th annual Las Vegas Corporate Challenge finished up Saturday with tug-of-war finals and announcement of the winners in the monthslong competition.

Corporate Challenge is a competition among company-sponsored teams loosely patterned after the Olympic Games. One of the largest amateur athletic events in Southern Nevada, it includes 26 different events in four categories and various age groups.

The top three winners in each division were awarded either a bronze, silver or gold medal.

Division A: First place, Bellagio; second, Nellis Air Force Base; third place, The Mirage.

Division B: First place, Yucca Mountain Project; second place, Southwest Gas; third place, Nevada Power Co.

Division C: First place, G.C. Wallace Inc.; second place, Wackenhut Services; third place, GES Expo Services.

Division D: First place, PBS&J; second place, EEA; third place, Carter & Burgess.

The ceremony also recognized the Corporate Challenge Person of the Year Award to two participants.

Spokesman Perry Coyle explained that participants were able to nominate a co-worker who has gone above and beyond their duty to see that the company had the best Corporate Challenge experience possible.

Coyle said the Corporate Challenge Task Force, which makes up the governing body of the Corporate Challenge, narrowed down six finalists from over 40 nominations.

Two of the six finalists were named Person of the Year. The winners were Kathy Healey of Bally's LV and Toelau Tito of Caesar's Palace.

Other finalists included: Tammy Bryan of ADT Security, Dana Wilson of Bank of America, Sue Harper of Golden Nugget and Roy Lawson of Las Vegas Fire and Rescue.

The award for best T-shirt was given in each division. Park Place Entertainment, which includes Caesars Palace, Flamingo Hilton, Paris Las Vegas, Bally's and the Las Vegas Hilton, won for Division A. International Game Technology won Division B, GC Wallace won for Division C and Desert Research Institute won Division D.

The Director's Sportsmanship Award was given to the top three companies that showed the best sportsmanship throughout the Corporate Challenge.

In first place, Four Queens, followed by GC Wallace in second and ADT Security in third.

Opening ceremonies began with a parade of companies, giving companies an opportunity to create and display floats. Awards were given to different companies for several categories.

Most Patriotic award went to Las Vegas Fire and Rescue. Best Small Float went to Sprint. Most Original Reader Board went to Lotus Broadcasting. Best Use of Costumes went to Park Place Entertainment. Best Use of Company Theme went to Sierra Health. Best Use of Self Promotion, Nevada Care. Most Creative went toThe Venetian.

United Blood Services awarded companies that organized the largest blood drives.

In Division A: First place, the Mirage. Second place, MGM Grand. Third place, Nellis AFB.

In Division B: First place, Yucca Mountain Project. Second place, Southwest Gas. Third place, Medco Health.

In Division C: First place, GC Wallace Inc. Second place, KB Home Nevada. Third place, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

In Division D: First place, PBS&J. Second place, Carter Burgess Engineering. Third place, Nevada Care HMA.

For more information about Corporate Challenge, or to register a company for next year's event, call Jana Salsbury at 229-6706.