Wednesday, June 15, 2005 | 8:18 a.m.
The UNLV William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration paid tribute to hospitality industry executives for their outstanding contributions to the college at its annual "Dinner of Distinction" Thursday at Treasure Island.
Dean Stuart Mann presided and introduced Dr. Jerome Vallen, founding dean of the college, and Vallen's wife, Flossie, co-authors of "The Right Place: An Anecdotal History of the UNLV College of Hotel Administration."
The Vallens signed copies of their book during the cocktail hour.
Dinner honorees included Bill McBeath, president/chief operating officer of Bellagio (Alumnus of the Year); Richard Melman, founder-chairman of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises (Food & Beverage Management); Steven Hacker, president of the International Association for Exhibition Management (Tourism & Convention Administration); and Stan Bromley, regional vice president of Four Seasons (Hotel Management).
The William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration is the largest hotel college in the nation, with approximately 2,000 undergraduates and more than 7,000 alumni representing 50 states and many nations.
Supporters in attendance included Tola and Marcia Chin, Michael and Denise Severino, Paula Eylar, Mark Scheiner, Gus and Sarah Tejeda, Rebecca Vallen Gabriel, UNLV Chef Jean Hertzman, Julia Bromley, Oscar Portillo, Mike Unger, Scott Sibella and Ed Manley.
Wynn hosts summit
Wynn Las Vegas hosted the 2005 Gaming & Hospitality Summit -- an outreach effort touting the major training and support programs available in Southern Nevada -- on June 8.
The summit was presented by the Southern Nevada Workforce Investment Board and led by Barbara Robinson, chairman of the Gaming & Hospitality Task Force, and special planner Sandy Peltyn (Desimone Consulting Engineers).
The morning presenters were Artie Nathan (Wynn Las Vegas), Tomas Dowd (U.S. Labor Department), Kelly Karsch (Nevada JobConnect.com) and Terry Johnson (Nevada Department of Employment and Rehabilitation).
Later, Terri Lanni, chairman/chief executive of MGM Mirage, gave an insightful luncheon presentation that addressed diversity in the workplace, along with the need for external and internal training and mentoring, the value of employee retention and new definitions for employee benefits.
Seen in the crowd of hotel executives, human resource directors and vocational trainers were Janet Blumen (F.I.T. -- Foundation for an Independent Tomorrow), Workforce Investment Board members Nancy Allf and the Rev. Chester Richardson, Helicia Thomas (GNJ Training Center), Christian Correa (Lady Luck Casino), Cass Palmer (Boyd Gaming), Vicki Jackson (Golden Nugget), Dr. Donald Lee (Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce) and Punam Mathur (MGM Mirage).
Vincent Desimone, whose engineering firm has been awarded contracts for MGM Mirage's 66-acre City Center Project, was among those seen at the luncheon table with Lanni, discussing the impact of gaming around the globe.
First impressions
Matthew Hileman, managing director of the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art, hosted Thursday's preview of "The Impressionist Landscape from Corot to Van Gogh." The evening, a benefit with all proceeds donated to the Las Vegas Chamber Music Society and KLVX Channel 10, was an ideal occasion for viewing the 34 masterpieces on loan from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Entertainment was elegantly provided by Shakeh Ghoukasian (violin), Elena Kapustin (cello) and Polya Bankova (piano), musician members of the Las Vegas Chamber Music Society. Assisting with the event was Linda Littell, KLVX's major gifts and planned giving director, joined by volunteers Madelene Johnson, Mary Ritzberg, Barbara Silver and Greggory Bruce. Also present were chamber music society officers Oscar Carrescia, Robert Stewart and John Clare.
Each person touring the Bellagio Gallery was provided a personal audio narrative device providing details and historical context to the masterworks by 16 of the world's renowned artists, among them Renoir, Gauguin, Cezanne and Monet.
Open to the public daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., the exhibit will remain on display through Jan. 8. Seen in the mix of hotel guests and visitors were local residents George and Maureen Walker, Marie Clark, Angela Crisp, John and Felice Miller, Thomas Birkin with daughter Christine, Georgina Miller, David Clark and Carter and Linda Harris.
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