HARRAH HOTEL COLLEGE Defining Excellence in Hospitality Education Premier the Official Magazine of the William F
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A WILLIAM F. HARRAH COLLEGE OF HOTEL ADMINISTRATION PUBlicatiON ISSUE 1 VOLUME 9 PPREMIERFall/Winter 2013 HARRAH HOTEL COLLEGE DEFINING EXCELLENCE IN HOSPITALITY EDUCATION PREMIER The official magazine of the William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration OFFICE OF THE DEAN Robyn Hadden, ’05 MS, Box 456013 Director of Alumni & College 4505 S. Maryland Parkway Relations Las Vegas, NV 89154-6013 Margaret Walsh, (702) 895-3161 Director of Administration & hotel.unlv.edu Budget Sherri Theriault, ’07, Stowe Shoemaker Director of Advising & Academic Dean and Michael D. Rose Affairs Distinguished Chair Jim (James) Busser Alumni Chapter Associate Dean for Academic Affairs OFFICERS: Billy Bai Senior Assistant Dean for Chris Smith, ’98, President Academic Affairs Caesars Entertainment Jean Hertzman, ’06 Ph.D. Holly Mae (Sparks) Lindsay, ’99, Assistant Dean for Operations Vice President Delmonico Steakhouse Tony Henthorne Associate Dean for Research and Marco Benvenuti, ’02, Secretary Graduate Programs Duetto Research Pat Moreo, ’69, ’83 Ed.D. Tracee Nalewak, ’02 MS, Associate Dean for Strategic Treasurer Initiatives Angel Management Group Richard Linstrom DIRECTORS: Associate Dean and Managing Bobbie Barnes, ’93, ’05 MS Director of UNLV Singapore UNLV Career Services Bo Bernhard, ’99 MA, ’02 Ph.D., Adam Gordon, ’04 Executive Director of International Las Vegas Visitors and Convention Gaming Institute Authority Clark Kincaid, ’99 MS, ’03 Ph.D., Sandy Kim, ’11 Director of Executive Education/ Bellagio Hospitality Research and Development Center (HRDC) Michael Pius, ’10 MS The First Tee of Washington, D.C. Rhonda Montgomery, Director of Student Success Vicki Savini, ’92 Table 23 Christopher Cain, Director of the Professional Golf Executive Members Management Program Guy Fieri, ’90 Dan Abdalla, ’97, Food Network/Johnny Garlic’s Director of Development Restaurants Bobbie Barnes, ’93, ’05 M.Ed., James Germain, ’75 Director of Career & Student Services Bill McBeath, ’86 Robyn Campbell-Ouchida, ’00 Anthony Santo, ’84 MA, Sal Semola, ’81 Editor of Premier Magazine Warner Gaming Advisory Board Members Debi Benedetti Jordan Meisner Beyond the Possible Hyatt Hotels and Resorts Elizabeth Blau Bill Paulos, ’69 Blau & Associates Cannery Casino Resorts Russ Dazzio, ’73 Thom Reilly R & R Global Hospitality Caesars Foundation Paula Eylar-Lauzon, ’89, ’97 MBA Patricia (Trish) Sahlstrom Boyd Gaming Corporation A&W Food Services of Canada, Inc. Deirdre Flynn Christopher Silva North American Association of St. Francis Winery & Vineyards Food Equipment Manufacturers Susie Southgate-Fox Frank Fahrenkopf, Jr. Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, Inc. Douglas K. Fryett Arch Stokes, Chairman Fryett Consulting Group Stokes, Roberts & Wagner, ALC Robert N. Grimes Robert L. Van Ness, ’83 Premier would like to hear from you! Please submit your ConStrata Tech Consulting Preferred Hotel Group story ideas and letters to the editor. Here’s how to contact Anne Hanson Senior Advisors CamCris LLC Taketoshi Takemoto the appropriate person for your needs: Barbara Kane ACE Denken Co., Ltd. Ecolab Ex-Officio For information about the For information directly Edward A. Mady Christopher Smith, ’98 Alumni Association and events: related to Premier: The Beverly Hills Hotel Caesars Entertainment Editor Dean McClain Eric Dutt Director of Alumni McClain Consulting Group Harrah’s Entertainment & College Relations Robyn Campbell-Ouchida UNLV appreciates the leadership and support Robyn Hadden [email protected] of our Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents. [email protected] Kevin J. Page, Chairman Mark W. Doubrava, M.D. Dr. Jack Lund Schofield Rick Trachok, Vice Chairman Jason Geddes, Ph.D. Allison Stephens Dr. Andrea Anderson Ron Knecht Michael B. Wixom For information about making a donation to the college: Robert J. Blakely James Dean Leavitt Scott G. Wasserman, Chief Director of Development Cedric Crear Kevin C. Melcher of Staff and Special Counsel Cover photo by R. Marsh Starks. IFC/TOC photo credit: Scott Harrison. Dan Abdalla Design and production by Reprographics/Design Services 702-895-2934 [email protected] UNLV is an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer Committed to Achieving Excellence Through Diversity 331145_A.indd 2 8/12/13 7:50 AM In This Visit us at: unlv.edu/ hotel Issue 6 15th International Conference on Gambling and Risk Taking 8 Defining Excellence in Hospitality Education 20 Donor Honor Roll 32 Vallen Dinner of Distinction Departments Dean’s Message ....................................... 2 News Briefs ............................................... 4 Student Spotlight .................................... 18 In the Kitchen .......................................... 28 UNLV Global – Singapore ....................... 39 Alumni Updates ...................................... 46 Congratulations ...................................... 48 1 FALL/WINTER 2013 PREMIER From the Dean’s Desk elcome to this issue of Premiere variety of reasons. One is that the State of Wmagazine, my first issue as the new Nevada has committed to help fund our new dean. These are exciting times here in our academic building. You will continue to hear college, but to paraphrase Charles Dickens: much about this new building in the future. “It is the times with the most challenges and This building represents the bridge to the the times with the most opportunities.” future because it will provide a state-of-the- It is the times with the most challenges art facility that incorporates the learning styles because hospitality education is at a of today’s student. crossroads. The traditional community A second reason is the incredible support colleges, once a source for AA degrees, we receive from our various constituents who are beginning to offer four-year degrees. are not alumni of the college. The number of For-profit brick and mortar institutions and congratulatory messages I received when the for-profit online universities are also offering announcement of my appointment was made degrees in hospitality. All these organizations was overwhelming. I soon realized they were offer easier access, have strong contacts not applauding me as much as they were with the industry, provide what appear to be showing their love for our college, their sense similar courses, and are often less expensive of ownership, and their hope for the future. than traditional universities. Many of these A third reason it is also the time with the institutions train students for their first jobs. most opportunities is because of you, our As the costs for traditional four-year incredibly strong and proud alumni. You programs continue to rise — due to a are the foundation upon which we will build decrease in state funding — both parents the future. I will be seeking your counsel and students look for alternatives, especially and insights as we begin to address the if they believe a similar education can be challenges facing our college and our desire earned elsewhere. to create the lifelong success of our students. These challenges require us to ask how A fourth reason is the dedication of those the Hotel College can create an environment working in our college. Each person works and a curriculum that transforms education tirelessly to ensure the future success of our from “helping students find their first jobs” to students and the industries we serve. one that “instills both a desire for learning and Finally, although Don Snyder is no longer prepares students for the challenges facing the dean, he will still be very much involved hospitality leaders of the 21st century.” The with our college. Don started the idea of the answers will not only help the Hotel College bridge to the future with his leadership over differentiate itself from other schools but, the last three years. It is my honor to follow more importantly, will also lead to the lifelong Don and lead the Harrah Hotel College. I also success of our students. look forward to serving you — the alumni and Despite these challenges, it is also friends of the William F. Harrah College of the time with the most opportunities for a Hotel Administration. 2 PREMIER FALL/WINTER 2013 s the now former dean of the William F. AHarrah College of Hotel Administration, it is with mixed feelings that I write this letter. In my three years as dean, I gained a tremendous respect for the mission of a college that has such a rich history and is so important in preparing the future leaders of the hospitality industry. I also have gained tremendous respect for the faculty and administrators who have committed themselves to that mission. It has clearly been a pleasure to be afforded the opportunity to bring a nontraditional background to serve this college as dean. I will miss being directly involved in providing that leadership. In these past three years, I have also gained an understanding of the challenges facing our college as we work to remain one of the world’s truly pre-eminent hospitality colleges. As Dean Shoemaker says in his dean’s letter, hospitality education is at a crossroads — faced with significant changes in both higher education and the industry we serve. While the job is not done, we accomplished some things in these past three years that are critical to more effectively addressing both the challenges and the opportunities that lie ahead. The strategic planning process early in my tenure helped us manage the most severe budget crisis ever faced by the university while at the same time positioning the college to be more agile in dealing with