2023-02-23-Las-Vegas-Weekly

PUBLISHER

MARK DE POOTER

mark.depooter@gmgvegas.com

EDITOR

SPENCER PATTERSON spencer.patterson@gmgvegas.com

EDITORIAL

Senior Editor GEOFF CARTER (geo .carter@gmgvegas.com)

Editor at Large BROCK RADKE (brock.radke@gmgvegas.com)

Deputy Editor EVELYN MATEOS (evelyn.mateos@gmgvegas.com)

Sta Writer SHANNON MILLER (shannon.miller@gmgvegas.com)

Sta Writer AMBER SAMPSON (amber.sampson@gmgvegas.com)

Contributing Writers GRACE DA ROCHA,HILLARY DAVIS, MIKE GRIMALA, CASEY HARRISON, KATIE ANN MCCARVER, DANNY WEBSTER

Contributing Editors RAY BREWER, JUSTIN HAGER, CASE KEEFER, DAVE MONDT

O ce Coordinator NADINE GUY

CREATIVE

Art Director CORLENE BYRD (corlene.byrd@gmgvegas.com)

Senior Designer IAN RACOMA

Photo Coordinator BRIAN RAMOS

Photographers CHRISTOPHER DEVARGAS, STEVE MARCUS, WADE VANDERVORT

DIGITAL

Publisher of Digital Media KATIE HORTON

Web Content Specialist CLAYT KEEFER

ADVERTISING & MARKETING

Publisher of Branded Content & Special Publications EMMA WOLFF

Special Publications Editor SIERRA SMART

Senior Advertising Managers MIKE MALL, ADAIR NOWACKI, SUE SRAN

Account Executives DEREK EIGE, LAUREN JOHNSON, ALEX TEEL, ANNA ZYMANEK

Sales Executive Assistants APRIL MARTINEZ, NANCY RAMOS

Events Director SAMANTHA PETSCH

Events Manager HANNAH ANTER

Events Coordinator ALEXANDRA SUNGA

PRODUCTION & CIRCULATION

Vice President of Manufacturing MARIA BLONDEAUX

Production Director PAUL HUNTSBERRY

Market Research Manager CHAD HARWOOD

Production Manager BLUE UYEDA

Associate Marketing Art Director BROOKE EVERSON

Marketing Graphic Designer CARYL LOU PAAYAS

Production Artist MARISSA MAHERAS

Publication Coordinator DENISE ARANCIBIA

Distribution Relations Liaison JIDAN SHADOWEN

Fulfillment Operations Coordinator CASANDRA PIERCE

Route Administrator KATHY STRELAU

GREENSPUN MEDIA GROUP

CEO, Publisher & Editor BRIAN GREENSPUN

Chief Operating O cer ROBERT CAUTHORN

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SUPERGUIDE

PLAN YOUR WEEK AHEAD

FOOD + DRINK

GABRIEL & DRESDEN 10 p.m., Discopussy, seetickets.us.

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. CALGARY FLAMES 6 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.

CHRIS PORTER Thru 2/26, 7:30 p.m. (& 9:30 p.m., 2/24-2/25), Jimmy Kimmel’s Comedy Club, ticketmaster.com.

A NIGHT AT THE MOULIN ROUGE

7 p.m., Mob Museum, themobmuseum.org.

UNLV WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VS. UTAH STATE 6:30 p.m., Cox Pavilion, unlvtickets.com.

KENIA OS 7 p.m., House of Blues, concerts.livenation.com.

Gabriel & Dresden (Courtesy)

UNLV SYMPHONIC WINDS 7 p.m., Ham Concert Hall, unlv.edu.

HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS 7 p.m., Thomas & Mack Center, unlvtickets.com.

SHOWTEK 10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com.

PIECING IT TOGETHER: COCAINE BEAR

If a bear hoovers up a large quantity of cocaine, does it go on a killing rampage in pursuit of more blow? Such is the plot of Elizabeth Banks’ horror-comedy Cocaine Bear, and incredibly, it’s based on a true story. (The real-life bear ingested the coke, but overdosed before he could kill anybody; authorities nicknamed him “Pablo Eskobear,” and his body was purchased by Waylon Jennings. Pablo is now on display in a Kentucky mall, because why not?) Such a uniquely American story deserves a panel discussion, and thanks to podcaster David Rosen, it’s getting one. Rosen will conduct a live recording of his Piecing It Together movie podcast immediately following a screening of Cocaine Bear at Maya Cinemas, discussing the film’s real-life and cinematic antecedents with comedian Luella Chavez, filmmaker Michael Keene and Awesome Movie Year co-host Jason Harris. The live podcast is free with the price of the movie ticket. 7 p.m., $13. Maya Cinemas, mayacinemas. com. –Geo Carter

BARRY MANILOW Thru 2/25, 7 p.m., Westgate International Theater, ticketmaster.com.

READING: JEAN CHEN HO 7 p.m., UNLV’S Beverly Rogers Literature & Law Building, unlv.edu.

CRIZZLY

With Amethyst, Praxis, 10 p.m., We All Scream, seetickets.us.

BLACK HISTORY SHOWCASE

6 p.m., Whitney Recreation Center, clarkcountynv.gov.

SHEN YUN

7:30 p.m., & 2/25 (& 2/25, 2 p.m., & 2/26, 1 p.m.), Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter.com.

USHER

9 p.m., & 2/25, 3/1, Dolby Live, ticketmaster.com.

TIËSTO

10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com.

BIG GIGANTIC

With Tvboo, Ahee, 8 p.m., Area15 A-Lot, area15.com.

UNLV MEN’S BASKETBALL VS. AIR FORCE

6:30 p.m., Thomas & Mack Center, unlvtickets.com.

JACK JOHNSON With Paula Fuga, 8 p.m., & 2/25, Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com.

AFROJACK 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, events.taogroup.com.

NEVADA CONSERVATORY

THEATRE: SHE KILLS MONSTERS

7:30 p.m., & 2/25 (& 2/26, 2 p.m.), UNLV’s Black Box Theatre, unlv.edu.

CONTEMPORARY WEST DANCE

THEATRE: BLACK HISTORY MONTH CELEBRATION

7:30 p.m., & 2/25, West Las Vegas Library, lvdance.org.

ADELE

8 p.m., & 2/25, the Colosseum, ticketmaster.com.

BLXST

10 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, draisgroup.com.

KATY PERRY

8 p.m., & 2/25, Resorts World Theatre, axs.com.

MICHELLE GRAVES: THE ALCHEMY OF RESISTANCE CLOSING RECEPTION

6 p.m., Core Contemporary, corecontemporary.com.

CHICAGO

8 p.m., & 2/25, 3/1, Venetian Theatre, ticketmaster.com.

BENNY BENASSI

10:30 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, events. taogroup.com.

THE HIGH CURBS With King Shelter, Desert Island Boys, Pure Sport, 8 p.m., the Space, thespacelv.com.

LAS VEGAS DESERT DOGS VS. CALGARY ROUGHNECKS

7:30 p.m., Michelob Ultra Arena, axs.com.

THE JAMES With Dotwav, Silent Movie Cinema, Still Life Replica, Xander & Sean, Camden West, 6:30 p.m., Taverna Costera, tavernacostera.com.

DILLON FRANCIS

10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com.

AMERIKAN MADE With Just Because, The HasKnots, 10 p.m., Double Down Saloon, doubledownsaloon. com.

STEEL PANTHER

Are you ready to feel the steel? LA glamrock parody act Steel Panther is on the prowl, bringing salacious metal mayhem to the House of Blues with Pennsylvania groovers Crobot and New York tribute rock band Tragedy. With hits like “Gloryhole,” “Poontang Boomerang” and “Death to All but Metal,” Steel Panther has makes each live performance a spandex-stretching spectacle, heavy with hammer-on riffs and debaucherous humor. Shredding in the tradition of icons like Mötley Crüe and Def Leppard since the early 2000s, Steel Panther pays tribute to the hair-metal zenith of the ’80s, for those ready for a ridiculous ride. 7 p.m., $25$75, House of Blues, concerts.livenation.com.

–Amber Sampson

SUPERGUIDE 25

DEADMAU5 10 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com.

UMPHREY’S MCGEE 7 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketweb.com.

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. DALLAS STARS 7 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.

RICK ROSS 10 p.m., Drai’s Nightclub, draisgroup.com.

DFL With Guilty by Association, The Pugilistics, Lean 13, 1/2 Ast, 8 p.m., Jackpot Bar & Grill, jackpotbarlv.com.

DIPLO 10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com.

UNLV WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VS. SAN DIEGO STATE 2 p.m., Cox Pavilion, unlvtickets.com.

UNLV DANCE: DYNAMIC GARDENS 7:30 p.m., & 2/25, 2:30 & 7:30 p.m., Judy Bayley Theatre, unlv.edu.

3 DIVAS 8 p.m., M Pavilion, ticketmaster.com.

STEVE AOKI With Regard, 10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, events. taogroup.com.

THE GROUCH & ELIGH With Amp Live, 8 p.m., Backstage Bar & Billiards, seetickets.com.

ELEPHANTE KING With White Noise, Hunter’s Briefcase, Ted Sablay, Michael Richter, 5:30 p.m., Taverna Costera, tavernacostera.com.

MARTIN GARRIX With Justin Mylo, 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, events. taogroup.com.

ROCK ’N’ ROLL LAS VEGAS

MARATHON Times vary, & 2/26, the Strip, runrocknroll.com.

(Courtesy/Donald Miralle, Rock ’n’ Roll Running Series)

Given the current flavor of pop and the dance music influences of the most enduring chart-toppers of today, it’s a pretty good time to be a deep-house DJ from Chicago. But Hot Creations label founder Lee Foss has been refashioning his classic house heritage with hints of R&B, disco, hip-hop and electro since he broke out more than 20 years ago, cutting his teeth with sets at Chicago’s Spybar, the Standard in LA and Fabric in London. Like frequent collaborator Jamie Jones, Foss has stayed true to his sound throughout the ebb and flow of mainstream acknowledgment. One of his latest tracks, “Free” (with A-Trak and Uncle Chucc) puts it all out there, a familiar groove that feels like it’s always been playing and you just now joined the party. Don’t also be late to this RVLTN Events party on the Strip. With Tobehonest, Isaac Civil, 10 p.m., $20-$75, Hard Rock Live, seetickets.us.

–Brock Radke

UNLV JAZZ: JOE WILLIAMS SCHOLARSHIP CONCERT

3 p.m., Ham Hall, unlv.edu.

MORTEN 10:30 p.m., XS Nightclub, wynnsocial.com.

SUNAMI

With Big Boy, Extinguish, 6 p.m., American Legion Post 8, seetickets.us.

DJ FIVE 10:30 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, taogroup.com.

VEGAS VIPERS VS. DC DEFENDERS

4 p.m., Cashman Field, xfl.com.

DJ CLA 10:30 p.m., Jewel Nightclub, events. taogroup.com.

AFRICAN FASHION

SHOW

The fashion industry owes so much to Black culture. Many of the trends we see today, and that were popularized in the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s, can be traced back to the Black community. In recognition of that influence, Las Vegas’ chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Inc. will host its fifth-annual African Fashion Show, educating attendees on the history of Black fashion and the importance of the African American image. Claytee White, director of UNLV’s Oral History Center, will guide the conversation as a guest speaker, joining designers, fashion boutique owners and market vendors in a celebration of Black heritage. Attendees should plan to arrive in their best African attire for a chance to win a Best Dressed award—and bragging rights throughout Black History 1 p.m., $75-$125, Paris Las Vegas’ Champagne Ballroom, eventbrite.com.

–Amber Sampson

NBA G LEAGUE IGNITE VS. IOWA WOLVES

7 p.m., & 2/28, Dollar Loan Center, axs.com.

RICH VOS

With Jim Flannigan & Kathleen Dunbar, thru 3/1, 8 p.m., Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club, bradgarrettcomedy.com.

CHARLOTTE BLAKE ALSTON, & DIANE

MONROE:

FIDDLIN’ WITH STORIES

2 p.m., Clark County Library, thelibrarydistrict. org.

ADAM HUNTER

Thru 3/1, 8:30 & 10:30 p.m., Laugh Factory, ticketmaster.com.

FOR MORE UPCOMING EVENTS, VISIT LASVEGASWEEKLY.COM.

LEE FOSS

HENDERSON SILVER KNIGHTS VS. CALGARY WRANGLERS

2 p.m., Dollar Loan Center, axs.com.

(Photo by Steve

Henderson Silver Knights center BRENDAN BRISSON

events.

Month.

Marcus/Sta )

SHAPING THE NEXT GEN

Jeff Jones gets a lot of calls from students at his alma mater, Grambling State University in Louisiana.

Core’s Jeff Jones helps put kids on a path to greatness

BY AMBER SAMPSON

He’s the kind of man who always answers. “‘Hey Mr. Jones, somebody told me to reach out to you,” he recalls a student telling him once. “‘I’ve got one year left of college, and I don’t know how I’m gonna pay for it.’”

“So I got on my phone. And this thing right here? It’s my superpower,” Jones says, waving his smartphone up on a Zoom video call. “I called and started getting people to donate $20 or $30. We raised her tuition for the whole year.”

She wasn’t the first student Jones has helped, not by a long shot. A native of Las Vegas’ Historic Westside, the ex-Army vet and juvenile justice professional has nearly 30 years of experience advocating

for Las Vegas youth. He was also the first Black man to lead Las Vegas’ Spring Mountain Youth Camp for troubled teens.

Today, Jones is the executive director of Core (corewecan.org), a local nonprofit that aids under-resourced students through a longterm leadership program for success. Core follows students from grades 6 through 12 and into post-graduation, and it boasts a 100% graduation rate and a 100% college acceptance rate for its cohorts. Families also receive support from Core’s “two-generational” model, which provides parents with such educational opportunities as learning English if it isn’t their first language. The Weekly caught up with Jones to chat about Core and how he found his calling.

What put you on the path to wanting to help kids in such an impactful way? I grew up in a place called Casa Rosa, which was subsidized housing. It was a dedicated apartment [run by] this nonprofit called Kids on the Move, and they had all these different activities for us to go to around the city. It was something to keep us busy and off the streets. That was the hub of where I draw a lot of this from. I also had great parents who gave back to the community. My mother was a nurse; she used to see the elderly in

the hospitals and pray with them and whatnot.

Then I ended up going to Grambling State, where I was a criminal justice major, and my internship was at a place called the Methodist Children’s Home in Ruston, Louisiana. In that place, I found my niche, I found my purpose. My direct supervisor was a guy named Keith Rhodes, who is now the president and CEO of Red Cross [North Texas Region]. The first day he saw how I interacted with the kids and said, ‘Man, you’re a natural at this.’ People like to be recognized for their gifts. They like to be recognized for what they do well, because there’s so many times that people beat us down for things that we can’t do well. That just fed my hunger for continuing to do it.

When you were leading at Spring Mountain Youth Camp, you partnered with CCSD to help more teens graduate. Did you know then it might lead you toward an educational nonprofit?

I didn’t have any idea that I was going into education, but I know that education changed my life. Before that, I was a guy running the streets in Las Vegas, and I didn’t have a direction. When I went to Grambling State, the slogan was, ‘Where everybody is somebody,’ and I’ve always wanted to be somebody.

[Later,] I realized that I had become somebody just by graduating. I needed people to see that education could change your life. It gives you a reset that you can draw from, and it’s something that no one can ever take away from you.

When did you find Core, and what compelled you to join?

Core came into my life roughly two and a half years ago. There was a

point in the juvenile justice system where I found that locking kids up really wasn’t working. That’s why I started collaborating with the education system. … We’ve got to give them something more, something that’s sustainable.

As I was planning to retire, I was looking to get on a board that was education-based but also youthbased and family-based, and Core’s principles lined up with my core principles.

I had no thoughts of coming out of retirement. I was traveling every three weeks. My life was great—I was exercising, my skin was beautiful (laughs). But I started thinking, why does this position sound like me? You’re the face of the community. You’re an advocate for youth and families.

How are you adjusting to the role? My skill sets allow me to see the field from a different perspective … I can direct traffic better. I know what’s coming, what the pitfalls are, what the challenges are for these families, because I was one of these family members. I know what great caseworkers look like, great advisors and great social, emotional champions.

I’ve seen it over and over in my life, where young people have come back to me as grown people. There’s a kid that bought a house across the street from me that I had in my dorm when I was working in juvenile probation. But that’s where life takes us. You never know the impact you’re going to have on somebody’s life.

Core Executive Director Jeff Jones, center, with Brinley Middle School students during a pep rally (Wade Vandervort/Staff)

Core came into my life roughly two and a half years ago. There was a point in the juvenile justice system where I found that locking kids up really wasn’t working. That’s why I started collaborating with the education system. … We’ve got to give them something more, something that’s sustainable.”

PHOTOGRAPHY BY WADE VANDERVORT

A LETTER FROM OUR EDITOR

Congratulations to the honorees of the 2nd annual C-Suite Honors!

Operating at such a high level of industry is an accomplishment in and of itself, but these individuals have set themselves apart as exemplary leaders. As I read through the nominations for each of these executives, I was impressed with the many ways leadership takes shape. These men and women exhibit leadership through motivation, determination and foresight as they create innovative spaces where opportunity and economy thrive.

In this publication, we honor executives from a wide range of industries, all of which are integral to the community of Southern Nevada. While each faces challenges that are unique to their field of business, they all participate in the community to find solutions for our shared struggles. Their commitment to serving the community is matched by the responsibility and loyalty they feel for their teams.

I would like to extend my sincerest gratitude to City National Bank for supporting this publication and joining us in our recognition of these exemplary leaders. I’d also like to express our appreciation to Resorts World Las Vegas for hosting the 2023 C-Suite Honors event at Zouk Nightclub. And a special thank you to our other sponsors—Fair, Anderson and Lagerman; SIOR; UNLV Lee Business School; and Southwest Medical, Part of Optum. We’re able to celebrate this incredible group of individuals because of the generous support of our sponsors.

Congratulations again to the 2023 honorees. I am grateful to live in a city influenced by these individuals. Their passion and drive are pushing the limits of achievement and paving the way for a better tomorrow.

Sierra Smart Special Publications Editor

A LETTER FROM OUR SPONSOR

you shaping the future of your industries and connecting with other diverse groups of business and community leaders.

At City National®, we make it our business to be personal. Since our founding in 1954, we've always prioritized helping our clients, colleagues and communities flourish. Our legacy of integrity and unparalleled client relationships continues to drive strong growth today. Our commitment to people and relationships has remained the starting point for everything we do, leading the way up.

City National Bank is proud to sponsor Vegas Inc's 2nd annual C-Suite Honors. For the last 15 years, the Greenspun Media Group has given organizations and leaders in the community the space to highlight their fantastic and inspiring work.

Strong leaders empower others to make dynamic strides in their careers and industry. The talent and dedication of this year's honorees bring a wealth of experience, expertise and vision to their respective organizations. Each honoree has been instrumental in driving innovation and growth. We're thankful to see so many of

Congratulations to all the honorees! It is truly an honor to celebrate with you all this year. We call many of you our friends and enjoy working with each of you. Your work inspires many, and your leadership will continue to have a lasting impact on the Southern Nevada community.

Ford

On behalf of Fair, Anderson & Langerman CPAs and Business Advisors, we’d like to congratulate Vegas Inc C-Suite Honors award recipients. The responsibility of leadership and the ability to lead well takes skill, intuition, intellect and a fair amount of grit. All qualities that are surely shared by our talented slate of honorees this year.

President John Quincy Adams famously noted, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” So, we honor Las Vegas’ top executives whose leadership of their people and their organizations has been inspiring and impactful.

When we were presented with the opportunity to sponsor the C-Suite Honors Award, we immediately agreed. In our CPA and advisory practice, we work alongside business owners and C-suite executives every day to minimize their tax burden aggressively and responsibly. We’re in our clients’ corners as they seize new opportunities to grow their businesses, and we’re the “watchman on the wall” helping them protect what they’ve spent a lifetime building.

So, to all the “builders,” thank you for your leadership.

Meghan McLean Managing Partner Fair, Anderson & Langerman

On behalf of the Lee Business School Executive MBA Program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, I would like to congratulate all Vegas Inc C-Suite Honors award recipients.

You are Southern Nevada’s most accomplished business leaders being recognized for your exceptional leadership and dedication to progressing the Las Vegas business landscape.

This year, professionals like you at the forefront of their industries will commit to the 18-month Executive MBA program at UNLV to gain the skills necessary to advance and lead in an ever-changing business environment. The UNLV Executive MBA is a transformative learning experience designed to build better leaders, critical thinkers and strategists within the Las Vegas business community.

Because the EMBA brings business leaders together to complete the program as a cohort, they experience the power of alternative ideas; build a lifetime of professional connections; and learn new ways to think about themselves, their organization and the world.

2023 is the year to invest in your future and prepare for your next career opportunity. The EMBA 18-month format is optimized and designed for maximum learning.

We are currently accepting applications from qualified candidates for our next cohort that will start on June 2. The application deadline is April 14. Starting your program this year means you will complete your degree by December 2024.

If you are looking to change the way you see the world and change the way the world sees you, contact me to discuss how the Executive MBA program at UNLV can help you achieve those goals.

Sincerely,

Nadine Bentis, Ed.D. Director, O ce of Executive Education Lee Business School University of Nevada, Las Vegas

SIOR’s Southern Nevada Chapter would like to congratulate this year’s Vegas Inc C-Suite Honors award recipients. It is a privilege to be amongst the highest level of accomplished driven business leaders serving as role models to their peers, and we are honored to be a sponsor of this prestigious event.

The Society of Industrial and O ce Realtors® is the leading professional commercial and industrial real estate association. Real estate professionals who have earned the SIOR designation are recognized by corporate real estate executives, commercial real estate brokers, agents, lenders and other real estate professionals as the most capable and experienced brokerage practitioners in any market. Like those executives from public, private and non-profit companies being honored by Vegas Inc., SIOR’s are the Best of the Best in the real estate industry.

The prestigious SIOR designation is a professional symbol of the highest level of knowledge production and ethics in the real estate industry. The professionals who carry the SIOR designation are not just successful brokers, but partners, thought leaders and mentors, all required to adhere to the industry’s highest production and ethical standards, and each has been vetted to meet SIOR’s unmatched standards of excellence and honesty.

If you are interested in becoming an a liate member of SIOR, please contact us.

Congratulations to all of you!

Sincerely,

Patti Dillon, SIOR President, Southern Nevada Chapter

Reached our 150,000th flight

Flew nearly 37 million miles

Provided more free commercial flights to more children than ever before.

Mark Brown pictured with Levi K., Miracle Flights 100,000th flight recipient

While attending Birmingham University earning a Business Commerce Degree, Jonathan Jossel wrote his senior thesis on gaming. The topic and industry have fascinated him ever since, and in 2007, he moved to Las Vegas to oversee the development of Tamares Real Estate’s Las Vegas properties, including the Plaza Hotel & Casino. Seven years later, Jossel became the one of the youngest non-restricted gaming licensees in Las Vegas and CEO of the Plaza.

Under Jossel’s leadership, the Plaza has undergone several major refurbishment projects, including the ongoing Main Street Reimagination project that aims to revitalize the iconic Main Street façade and make the location a must-see spot for tourists and locals. Jossel has helped transform the Plaza into a destination of growing popularity by diversifying the Downtown o erings with niche experiences and amenities.

Jossel lives and works Downtown, and he believes that what bene ts one, bene ts all. He demonstrates this attitude through community involvement, and in his dedication to Las Vegas’ growing arts and culture scene. He is a member of the Fremont East Entertainment District board of directors, the Downtown Vegas Alliance, and the Nevada Resort Association. After celebrating the Plaza’s 50th anniversary in 2021, Jossel donated a 40-year-old Plaza logo sign to the Neon Museum.

The Plaza also sponsors and does fundraising for nonpro t events such as the Great Santa Run bene ting Opportunity Village and the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Personally, Jossel is an active member in his synagogue Chabad and supports Young Jewish Professionals. He also supports the Real Men Wear Pink campaign in honor of his mother, who is a breast cancer survivor.

Jonathan Jossel

Chief Executive Officer

The Plaza Hotel and Casino

BUSINESS LEADER. COMMUNITY ADVOCATE. ROLE MODEL.

BUSINESS LEADER. COMMUNITY ADVOCATE. ROLE MODEL.

BUSINESS LEADER. COMMUNITY ADVOCATE. ROLE MODEL.

BUSINESS LEADER. COMMUNITY ADVOCATE. ROLE MODEL.

Southwest Medical, part of Optum, congratulates Chief Operating O cer Toni Corbin on her selection for the 2023 Vegas Inc C-Suite Honors. Toni’s thoughtful leadership inspires her team and engages our employees, which leads to better care for our valued patients. And, her personal and professional commitment to our community truly makes southern Nevada a better place to live.

Southwest Medical, part of Optum, congratulates Chief Operating O cer Toni Corbin on her selection for the 2023 Vegas Inc C-Suite Honors. Toni’s thoughtful leadership inspires her team and engages our employees, which leads to better care for our valued patients. And, her personal and professional commitment to our community truly makes southern Nevada a better place to live.

Southwest Medical, part of Optum, congratulates Chief Operating O cer Toni Corbin on her selection for the 2023 Vegas Inc C-Suite Honors. Toni’s thoughtful leadership inspires her team and engages our employees, which leads to better care for our valued patients. And, her personal and professional commitment to our community truly makes southern Nevada a better place to live.

Southwest Medical, part of Optum, congratulates Chief Operating O cer Toni Corbin on her selection for the 2023 Vegas Inc C-Suite Honors. Toni’s thoughtful leadership inspires her team and engages our employees, which leads to better care for our valued patients. And, her personal and professional commitment to our community truly makes southern Nevada a better place to live. ©2023

smalv.com

smalv.com

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Toni Corbin

Chief Operating O cer

Chris White has a passion for creating memorable experiences, and over the past nine years, he has been doing just that as the Chief Operating O cer at Brooklyn Bowl. Originally from New York, Brooklyn Bowl has expanded its brand to include locations in Las Vegas, Nashville, Philadelphia, and soon, Washington, D.C. White was instrumental in bringing the brand to Nevada, where it has since become a local entertainment hot spot.

White loves the can-do attitude and overwhelming sense of pride that makes Las Vegas feel like home. He has previously served as Property Development Director at Caesars Entertainment, where he led the conceptual development and nancing for the LINQ Promenade and High Roller observation wheel, and as Senior Associate of Corporate Strategy at MGM Resorts International. He also owns Blanc Canvass, Inc., which o ers consultation services and provides strategic business and real estate development services focused on hospitality, entertainment, gaming, and retail.

White recognizes that Las Vegas is an ever-changing environment that is full of potential. “Seeking out new opportunities and providing my contributions to forward the progress of the city excites me,” White said. “Whether it’s new shows or new resorts, Las Vegas has already changed so much in the past few years. As a proud local, I am hopeful and excited to see how the city will expand and change in the future.”

In addition to his work in development and entertainment, White is dedicated to helping the community. He serves on the board of Goodwill of Southern Nevada and volunteers with Junior League and HELP of Southern Nevada.

Chris White Chief Operating Officer, Brooklyn Bowl

As the rst woman to be named CEO of Southwest Gas, Karen Haller is committed to her leadership role and her e orts to close the gender gap. Haller has been at Southwest Gas for more than 25 years and has served as the Executive Vice President and the Chief Legal and Administrative O cer.

Haller leads by example—she demonstrates the value of corporate citizenship and social responsibility as she supports local volunteering e orts. She serves on the board of directors of the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada and is also a member of the Clark County Bar Association, the American Gas Association, the Western Energy Institute and the American Counsel Association. She also oversees Southwest Gas’ BLUE community partnerships, and its charitable foundation and employee giving program, Fuel for Life.

The social responsibility that she champions in the workplace extends to energy sustainability as well. In the rapidly evolving energy industry, Haller is dedicated to innovation and doing her part to ensure that Nevadans have access to dependable energy.

"As an energy corporation, addressing the energy transition is key,” Haller said. “Working collaboratively with other organizations and industries to continue forward momentum toward achieving climate goals while continuing to provide safe, reliable and a ordable energy service to our communities is at the forefront of initiatives for the energy transition.”

Haller considers it an honor to lead a company that powers Southern Nevada and provides the foundation for much of the economic development that is happening in the state. She looks forward to continuing a legacy of accountability and innovation in the industry.

Karen Haller

Chief Executive Officer, Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc.

The SIOR Southern Nevada Chapter and its past alumnis would like to congratulate all

LEGEND: Office Industrial

Paul Sweetland, IV

Mike Tabeek

Dan Doherty Chris Connell Patti Dillon Taber Thill Jerry Doty Chris Lane

Brian Riffel Grant Traub Pat Marsh

Paul Hoyt Greg Pancirov

Mike DeLew Bob Hawkins

Jarrad Katz Ryan Martin

Donna Alderson Alma Cuevas

Danielle Steffen Greg Tassi

Jason Simon

Amy Ogden

Bridget Richards Soozi Jones Walker

Eric Larkin Robert Lujan

Art Farmanali Xavier Wasiak

Jason Lesley

Bobbi Miracle

Mike Kenny Bret Davis Nicholas Barber

Jeremy Green

Kevin Higgins

Brad Peterson

Dean Willmore

Marc Magliarditi

Randy Broadhead

Dan Palmeri

Sean Zaher

Garrett Toft

Peter LaVoie

Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, Resorts World Las Vegas

Peter LaVoie was swept into the Las Vegas casino world quickly after college, and he has never looked back. A second-generation Las Vegan, he appreciates the unique pace, opportunities and history of Southern Nevada—and he is actively shaping that history at Resorts World.

As the CFO of Resorts World Las Vegas, LaVoie is responsible for overseeing the nancial activity of the most expensive resort built in Las Vegas. It’s a challenging task, but one he embraces. Some may think that nance is just calculations, but LaVoie nds the creative aspects of his job just as rewarding as the logic and accounting that he enjoys.

LaVoie has been working in nance for more than 20 years. Before accepting his current position at Resorts World, he worked at multiple properties for MGM Resorts International, including as the Senior Vice President and CFO of MGM Grand and the CFO of Luxor and Excalibur. LaVoie also served as Financial Controller and Vice President of Accounting on the CityCenter opening team. Before opening CityCenter and working at Aria, LaVoie held roles at Bellagio, Mirage and Treasure Island. Over the course of his career, he has completed many successful accounting structures and developed nancial procedures including assignments for the MGM Grand Macau and the online gaming company in the Isle of Man.

“Only in the Las Vegas casino industry can you learn so much with one company,” LaVoie said. “Accounting and nance is an extremely dynamic eld in this business. It is probably one of the only elds where you get the opportunity to work in hospitality, gaming, retail, entertainment, nightlife and so much more. It is beyond exciting.”

Leading the Energy Future.

On behalf of our Board of Directors and the employees at Southwest Gas, we would like to congratulate Karen on this well-deserved recognition by Vegas Inc C-Suite Honors for her leadership. It is truly an honor to have a forward-thinking leader who is committed to innovating balanced energy solutions which support our customers, communities, and economy.

swgasholding.com

Karen Haller President and CEO Southwest Gas Holdings, Inc.

Toni Corbin

Chief Operating Officer, Southwest Medical & Optum Mountain West Region

Toni Corbin has always had a passion for health care. That passion began early in her life as she watched her mother, a cardiac care nurse, care for patients, and evolved as she advocated for her son through a series of operations following an accident. Corbin has dedicated her life to protecting the health of Southern Nevadans.

Corbin has worked at Southwest Medical and Optum for the past 32 years. She has helped strengthen the fabric of Southern Nevada by launching two community centers dedicated to the needs of seniors and has worked to address the local physician shortage. She also serves on the board of directors of the Tyler Robinson Foundation, which helps families cope nancially and emotionally with pediatric cancer diagnoses.

Under her supervision, Southwest Medical increased its provider roster from 369 to 442 in a threeyear period. For the rst time in the company’s 40-year history, the primary care department was fully sta ed. Corbin also spearheaded the relief response at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, during which she oversaw the opening of the community’s rst COVID-19 testing platform and worked with community leaders to increase testing capabilities across the valley. She acted quickly to turn curbside testing sites into vaccination sites once the vaccine became available.

Corbin champions healthcare quality, healthcare access and community service. She oversees all Southwest Medical’s charitable giving and is a proponent and leader of employee volunteerism. As enthusiastic as she is about growth and progress, she is equally enthusiastic about recognizing and celebrating the good that is already being done within her organization and in the community.

In 1974, a young Kevin Orrock joined the accounting department at the Desert Inn Hotel in Las Vegas, then owned by Summa Corporation, predecessor to the Howard Hughes Corporation. Today, he is the longest-tenured employee in the company.

The Howard Hughes Corporation developed Summerlin, and under Orrock’s leadership, Summerlin has become one of the country’s most prestigious master-planned communities, spanning 22,500 acres along the western rim of the Las Vegas Valley. It has set the standard for quality development on a national scale and established records for home and lot sales that have not been replicated since the early 2000s. Orrock also stresses the importance of water conservation within Summerlin, embracing low water-use landscapes.

Orrock oversees the Howard Hughes Corporation’s philanthropic giving, and the company has invested millions of dollars in the community. Much of the company’s charitable focus has been on education, awarding more than $700,000 in scholarships through the Summerlin Children’s Forum and partnering with the Shaquille O’Neal Foundation to purchase 100 laptops for youth in the Historic Westside. Orrock also authorized support to Going Green for Good Health, the city’s initiative to plant more trees to combat the urban heat island e ect.

Active in the business community, Orrock serves on the executive board of the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance and on the advisory board of directors for the University of Nevada Las Vegas Foundation. He is also the Chairman for the UNLV Lee Business School and has previously served as Chair of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce.

In 2015, Orrock was inducted into UNLV Lee Business School’s Nevada Business Hall of Fame.

Kevin T. Orrock President, Summerlin, The Howard Hughes Corporation

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Mark Brown is making miracles happen—not just in Nevada, but across the country. As the CEO of Miracle Flights, Brown leads one of the only national charities based in Las Vegas. He has helped the organization evolve from a small, local charity into the country’s leading nonpro t that provides free commercial ights to those in need of life-changing medical care, ying to and from every state.

“My favorite thing about being the CEO of Miracle Flights is being able to help families reach critical medical care and relieve some of the cost and stress of caring for a sick child,” said Brown. “Hearing the ght in the caregiver’s voice and seeing the determination they have to get the absolute best medical care for their child is inspiring. They are all ghters.”

Brown’s success didn’t begin with Miracle Flights; he’s been part of the Las Vegas community for his entire life. He has spent the past ve decades working in public relations, advertising, banking, and government. He played a key role in the early stages of developing Summerlin and managed philanthropic donations for both the Howard Hughes Corporation and Station Casinos, where he directed contributions exceeding $40 million throughout Nevada and the western United States.

In addition to his leadership and business ventures, Brown serves on the Las Vegas Chamber Government A airs Committee and the Advisory Board of the UNLV Foundation. Previously, he served as Chair of the YMCA of Southern Nevada and partnered with other charitable organizations including the Public Education Foundation, the Boy Scouts of America Las Vegas Area Council and Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada.

E. Brown

Chief Executive Officer, Miracle Flights

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Tami Hance-Lehr

Chief Executive Officer & State Director, Communities In Schools of Nevada

When Tami Hance-Lehr moved to Las Vegas at 15 years old, her mother gave her a piece of advice that she still lives by today: “Get involved, join clubs and try new things—you need to show up to nd your place in the world.” This guidance helped a young HanceLehr to t in at high school, and later empowered her to become someone who sel essly helps those who are disadvantaged.

As the CEO and State Director of Communities In Schools of Nevada, Hance-Lehr has touched thousands of lives. Communities In Schools of Nevada is a nonpro t that works with schools and students to provide e ective dropout prevention and intervention. Its mission is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. Under HanceLehr’s leadership, CIS of Nevada has become the fth-largest state o ce in the nation.

Hance-Lehr also helped elevate the CIS National Diversity Equity and Inclusion commitment by adding “belonging” to the framework of DEI, now dubbed DEBI for CIS of Nevada. For Hance-Lehr, the word belonging recognizes that being part of something bigger than oneself provides a sense of greater purpose.

“Southern Nevada is a growing, constantly changing ecosystem of opportunity,” Hance-Lehr said.

“I see new careers, new neighborhoods and museums, as well as parks, recreation, and places to meet friends and celebrate families. We are part of a community where opportunities are endless. I want our youth to see what I see in Southern Nevada.”

Through her commitment to helping children succeed, Tami Hance-Lehr is leading her organization as they work together to uplift Southern Nevada one school and one child at a time.

Richard A. Derrick

City Manager & Chief Executive Officer, City of Henderson

Richard Derrick is a true civil servant who nds joy in bettering the City of Henderson, the place he and his family call home. He became City Manager in 2018, and during his tenure, the city has received a 97% citizen satisfaction rating for quality of life, the highest in the nation for mid-to-largesize cities, a 94% citizen satisfaction rating with city services, and has been scored the second-safest large city in America. Derrick was born and raised in Henderson and now dedicates each day to making it a more mature and progressive city.

Prior to his work at the City of Henderson, Derrick worked in private sector businesses, including Caesars Palace, Deloitte, and Haskins & Sells, as well as in the public sector at the Clark County School District. Through it all, Derrick’s priority has been giving back to the community and his current role a ords him the opportunity to do so on the highest level.

One of Derrick’s proudest achievements has been helping the city navigate the many challenges of the pandemic. Under his leadership, Henderson was able to secure and manage $48 million in recovery funds that contributed to COVID-19 contact tracing, testing, vaccinations, eviction assistance, education assistance, small business economic assistance, mental health services and job training assistance.

Looking to the future, Derrick stresses the importance of being prepared for challenges as they arise. “As with any organization, our biggest challenges are adapting to the ever-evolving needs of our community, whether it is sustainability, economic development, or the growth of our services and amenities,” Derrick said. “However, turning challenges into opportunities really motivates me and has led to our achievement of positive results through our data-driven decision-making.”

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Hector Fernandez

Chief Executive Officer, Aristocrat Gaming

Hector Fernandez credits his success to his community, team and a series of serendipitous opportunities that led him to where he is today. “I am a rm believer in happenstance and that our careers lead us exactly where we need to be. The path I took to Aristocrat is exactly that and a story of twists and turns that aligned seamlessly,” Fernandez said.

With a background in accounting and nance—Fernandez is an accredited Certi ed Public Accountant—he spent his career working at health care and technology companies before joining Aristocrat as the CFO of the Americas in 2018. He went on to serve as the President of Americas & EMEA before being promoted to CEO. Fernandez says he is energized by the talent, creativity and dedication of the entire team at Aristocrat—and continually inspired by the gaming industry.

As CEO, Fernandez oversees the delivery of Aristocrat’s land-based products across the world, which includes more than 300 gaming jurisdictions. Described as an exemplary leader, Fernandez is especially proud of the company’s culture and the empowering environment that allows employees to thrive.

Fernandez sits on the board of the Association of Gaming Equipment Manufacturers, where he has been able to contribute to policy reform, responsible gaming initiatives and more. He also serves on the board of the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance, which is dedicated to economic development and infrastructure planning in the city. He is active with Aristocrat’s corporate responsibility program, which works with nonpro ts across the country for betterment in four main areas: Education and Career, DE&I, Native American Relations, and Good Business, Good Citizen.

SURPRISE VISIT TO UKRAINE

In a move meant to demonstrate American resolve to help Ukraine defeat the Russian forces that invaded a year ago, President Joe Biden traveled covertly to Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy and promise more weapons for the country’s defenders.

NEWS

LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS’ WORK CATCHES NASA’S EYE

The cadets of Durango High School’s Space Force Junior ROTC are sending their smarts to space by way of Washington.

A team of students, who learn science, technology and engineering alongside good citizenship in the Reserve Officer Training Program, crafted experiments to further space and Earth studies by seeing how wavelengths along the electromagnetic spectrum penetrate water vapor in the atmosphere.

To get that data, they submitted their project, called Project Nighthawk, to the NASA TechRise Student Challenge, and then, along with just 59 other student projects nationwide, won the support from NASA to see it through.

The students are spending the rest of the school year working with professional engineers to build the final version of the device that they will attach as a payload onto a NASA-sponsored high-altitude test balloon in May.

A professionally built prototype sits on a classroom counter to guide the students. It’s a clear plastic rectangle, about the size of a loaf of bread, filled with wires and circuits and sensors, and it excites Jodani Paris-Guzman, 17.

“It actually does, and it prepares me too, for what I’m probably gonna do in the future,” said Paris-Guzman, the group’s project manager who plans to study engineering at the Air Force Academy.

So much that is important to today’s human experience relies on electronics, and everybody should know how they work from the inside out, he said.

The Durango crew is the only one from Nevada to notch a win in the NASA challenge. The honor is a huge point of pride for their instructor, Chief Master Sgt. Timothy Jordan.

“This makes this job so worth it,” he said. –Hillary Davis

A’S STILL INTERESTED

Gov. Joe Lombardo opposes allocating public money to build a stadium for a Major League Baseball team, but the Oakland A’s have retained 11 lobbyists to represent the team during this year’s session of the Nevada Legislature.

COLLEGE ATHLETE DIES

Ryan Keeler, a Chicago native who transferred to UNLV from Rutgers and played in seven games last season on the Rebels’ defensive line, died recently, the school announced February 20. No cause of death was disclosed.

VIDEO SPARKS CALLS FOR POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY

A broad coalition of local community organizers—and youths—demanded police reform February 17 at a protest outside the Clark County School District offices in response to a school police officer slamming a Black teen against a curb outside of Durango High School and kneeling on his back.

“We are not anti-cop, we are anti-bad cop,” said Robert Bush, president of the Las Vegas chapter of the National Action Network.

“There needs to be a purge at all levels. It’s time for accountability.”

School District PD Chief

Mike Blackeye said the officer has been reassigned to administrative duties with no contact with the public until an internal investigation is complete.

Superintendent Jesus Jara has also ordered Blackeye to review the department’s use-offorce tactics, and the chief announced that the department is forming a community committee to provide feedback and reach an understanding of police operations and functions.

–Hillary Davis

ATTORNEY

GENERAL

LAUDS PHARMACIES FOR OFFERING ABORTION DRUGS

Attorneys general from 24 states, including Nevada, signed a letter February 16 applauding two of the largest pharmacy chains in the United States for offering drugs to terminate early-term pregnancies.

The letter said the move expands reproductive care for millions of women. They can also be used to treat miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies and gastric ulcers.

In their letter, the attorneys general noted the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the federal right to abortion last year. That ruling was followed by efforts in many states to ban surgical abortions and block access to medicated abortions.

Last month, CVS and Walgreens announced they would begin offering mifepristone and misoprostol after federal regulators cleared the way for pharmacies to dispense the drugs by mail. The drugs have been federally approved since 2000 and are most often used for terminating pregnancies under 10 weeks gestation, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website. –Casey Harrison

HOT SHOT

TESLA RECALL Safety regulators pressured Tesla into recalling nearly 363,000 vehicles with its “Full Self-Driving” system because it misbehaves around intersections and doesn’t always follow speed limits.

UNLV guard Essence Booker, left, Alyssa Durazo-Frescas (12) and the rest of the team celebrate with the Mountain West Conference trophy after defeating San Jose State, 77-60, on February 16 at the Thomas & Mack Center. UNLV became back-to-back conference champions with the win, which pushed their record to 25-2, including an undefeated 15-0 mark in the Mountain West. (Steve Marcus/Staff)

LAS VEGAS IS RECEIVING A GRANT TO IMPROVE STREETS IN THE HISTORIC WESTSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD TO WIDEN SIDEWALKS, PLANT TREES AND INSTALL LIGHTING AND CURB EXTENSIONS. $2 MILLION

Michelle Maese, center, speaks during a protest against police violence February 17 in front of Clark County School District headquarters. (Steve Marcus/Staff)

DRYING UP

Cracked, dry mud near the Las Vegas Marina at Lake Mead on July 3 (Steve Marcus/Sta )

BY SHANNON MILLER

Lake Mead is the fifth most-visited national park in the country. In past years, the national recreation area has welcomed 7.6 million annual visitors for hiking, biking, camping and hunting.

About 20% of the park’s visitors use boat ramps or marinas to partake in motorized boating, according to the National Park Service. That visitation has supported countless businesses in Boulder City, the park’s gateway community, and around the lake, where marinas serve millions of boaters.

But the lake’s low water level— caused by a decades-long drought and exacerbated by climate change along the Colorado River—could mean the end of recreational boating as the community knows it.

Since 2010, the water level has dropped about 100 feet, meaning the shoreline has receded more than 1,000 feet in many areas, “leaving boat ramps and other visitor facilities far from the water,” according to the park service.

Lake Mead Mohave Adventures operates marinas and boat launch ramps at Callville Bay and Temple Bar. Rod Taylor, vice president of parent company LMNRA Guest Services, says they’ve invested millions to ensure the company can continue to facilitate recreation.

“We’ve been moving our marinas at Temple Bar and Callville a long ways. … If we don’t keep ahead of it, the Bureau of Reclamation can change their releases from Powell to Mead pretty quickly,” Taylor says. “So, we have to be ready and have our docks and marinas far enough in deep water so that, when they drop the water, the marinas aren’t stuck in the mud.”

It’s not just having to move marinas and harbored boats; operators also have to worry about helping park visitors get their motorized boats in the water safely—which is difficult, given the reduced availability of launch ramps throughout the park.

Only half of Lake Mead’s launch ramps were open at the beginning of the 2022 boating season. By spring, two

ramps had closed “earlier than originally anticipated based on the Bureau of Reclamation’s initial … projections,” according to the park service.

By the summer of 2022, Hemenway Harbor was the only launch ramp open. “When it’s down to one lane … It takes forever to launch your boat down there—people are waiting in line [for] a long time,” Taylor says.

“If you don’t have launch ramps, really, there’s no access to the lake. Unless you’re launching on dirt roads— and there’s lots of people who will do that, but they’re not the majority,” he explains, adding that inexperienced boaters can damage their boats, trailers or vehicles when trying to back a boat into the water on a flat surface.

This boating season, Lake Mead currently has operable launch ramps at Hemenway Harbor and—thanks to Lake Mead Mohave Adventures—at Callville Bay and Temple Bar. In January, the company introduced Mobi-mat Bam adaptive launch ramps.

“The Park Service allowed us to put in these temporary launch ramps … that we operate and maintain. … It was a very inexpensive option to put launch ramps in certain areas, to make sure there’s a grade in the road so people can get their boats down there,” Taylor says.

The portable ramps are designed to assist heavy vehicles get across beaches and not sink into the sand. Taylor says

the company plans to put the product on a reservation system, charging customers a “nominal fee” of $20 to rent it for a week.

The ability to roll up the launch ramp (or mat) and transport it to the receding shoreline provides an alternative to entirely closing the launch areas and marinas, which is an option that the park has been considering in its Sustainable Low Water Access Plan (SLWAP) and environmental assessment.

Announced in November, the SLWAP’s purpose is to “develop strategic direction for the future of motorized boat launching and related commercial services … along with facility and infrastructure needs and related implementation actions” at Hemenway Harbor, Echo Bay, Callville Bay, South Cove and Temple Bar.

The park has said it has “spent nearly $50 million relocating and extending ramps and other infrastructure, but low water levels have caused new challenges.”

The plan presents three “preliminary management concepts”—all which included “[evaluating] the financial viability of concessioner-managed launch ramps,” such as the adaptable ramps at Callville Bay and Temple Bar.

Taylor says he and other marinas are aware of the park’s budgetary concerns and that their operations are subject to the Bureau of Reclamation, which determines the amount of water released into the Colorado River’s reservoirs including Lake Mead.

“A decision has to be made by somebody to fund the movement of the docks and marinas and add a launch ramp,” Taylor says. “You’ve got two different sides—some people [are] saying it’s not worth the money … and they’re going, ‘We’re not sure we want to keep them open.’ The other side’s saying, ‘You have a recreation area that’s invested millions and millions of dollars.’ ”

In January, Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nevada, announced that she had submitted a public comment letter to the Park Service, saying that such closures were not viable.

“While I understand the need to consider a variety of options, Concept 3—which would essentially discontinue concession services, remove facilities and infrastructure, and give no consideration to future extensions or relocations of boat launch ramps and marinas—is not a viable option,” Rosen said in a statement.

The public comment period for the SLWAP initially opened November 14 to December 23. The park then extended the period to January 22.

In a statement to the Weekly, a spokesperson for Lake Mead says the park is working with a contractor to “synthesize all public comments” and will likely hold continued public engagement in spring.

“Continued public engagement on draft, preliminary alternative management concepts for sustainable low water access planning will likely take place in late spring 2023 due to the fact that the park extended the original 30-day public comment period,” the statement reads. “The current timeline for a final decision document on long-term planning efforts is summer 2023.”

Taylor says he and the boating community will continue fighting for their businesses.

“They tend to minimize it because of the size of the casino business in Vegas. But … there’s billions of dollars that are made, including in gateway communities, all the boat shopping in town … everyone bringing people to the lake. That’s a big business,” he says.

“There’s still a ton of water out there to play on.”

Lake Mead Mohave Adventures installed a brand-new Mobi-mat Bam boat launch ramp at Callville Bay Marina. (Courtesy/Lake Mead Mohave Adventures)

Boaters, businesses try to adapt to Lake Mead’s low water level

SATISFYING SOUNDS

Techno Taco Tuesday is back to full strength at La Mona Rosa

BY BROCK RADKE

After nearly ten years of underground dance parties at occasionally unorthodox venues, Techno Taco Tuesday has come to be defined by its perseverance almost as much as an ever-changing spectrum of electronic music.

And then there are the tacos, which have returned, delightfully, to be a prominent piece of the party puzzle.

The weekly techno gathering that regularly brings international artists to edgy and intimate Vegas spots found its new home on Valentine’s Day at the new Downtown restaurant La Mona Rosa. It’s a great fit for many reasons, not the least of which being Corner Bar Management’s operational supervision, as the company that dominates Fremont East nightlife has long provided TTT with a cool venue.

NIGHTS

the right late-night social atmosphere for the DJ-focused event. Gomez and his partner Oscar Molina opened up their own venue, Juicy Beets, and moved TTT there from 2017 to 2019, then the party jumped around Downtown with stops at Artifice and Therapy.

No matter the destination, it maintained its reputation for bringing rare international and underground artists to Las Vegas, DJs you wouldn’t find spinning at megaclubs on the Boulevard.

TUESDAY

With Bloody Mary. February 28, 10 p.m., $12. La Mona Rosa, lamonarosalv.com or mntra.vegas.

Also, co-founder and MNTRA Entertainment chief Tino Gomez has been friends with La Mona Rosa co-executive chef Daniel Arias for years. “It’s full-circle,” Gomez says. “It’s super cool to see your friends who had this passion and now they’re actually making it their business. And more than anything, we’re super excited to have really great tacos again.”

Gomez and Lance Le Rok launched TTT in 2014 at Tacos & Beer on Paradise Road, a restaurant and bar that was big enough and had

Gomez says he doesn’t consider TTT to be a pioneering force in offStrip nightlife, but clearly, it is. And his team was promoting music and similar events years before this one came to be.

“We have made a huge push in the last decade and a half in Las Vegas, and [Techno Taco Tuesday] has always been pushing electronic music, techno and tech-house and house, more than anything,” he says. “I think because of those earlier events and Techno Taco Tuesday, we have more promoters in Vegas, more groups that are bringing a little different kind of sound, and the scene is growing. It’s great.

“And a lot of the people that used to go to my events in the early days are promoters or DJs now. We might have 30 DJs that became DJs be -

cause of Techno Taco Tuesday. We became a platform for a lot of kids in the city to have a place to play and express their music.”

During the pandemic, MNTRA was planning to partner with Corner Bar to launch TTT at Lucky Day on Fremont, and that happened, but while the venue was taking shape, the event took up a temporary residency at the larger Discopussy. When the smaller bar on the same block did open, it didn’t have a kitchen, so the taco element had to come from food trucks.

Once Corner Bar took possession of the former La Comida restaurant space and started making plans for La Mona Rosa, the idea was in place. “A lot of our [regulars] are super excited about the fact that tacos are back, and it’s a bigger place,” Gomez says. “At Lucky Day, sometimes you had to fight through that crowd. People feel like it’s back to how it started, a great restaurant with a soundsystem, a great bar, back to its roots.”

The February 14 opener brought Spanish house DJ Wally Lopez to the booth, then local duo Spacebyrdz took over the following week. German producer Bloody Mary, who holds a residency at Berlin’s legendary Tresor nightclub, raises the stakes this week.

And TTT is anchoring a growing partnership between the promoter and operator. MNTRA is bringing tech-house star Bruno Furlan to Discopussy on February 25, with more event announcements coming soon.

(Clockwise, starting opposite page)

SHDW & Obscure Shape at TTT, tuna ceviche, Cockfight cocktail (Courtesy/Bright Light Digital Art)

TECHNO TACO

CHILL VIBES IN VEGAS

Jack Johnson brings the islands to Encore Theater

BY BROCK RADKE

We all know about the Ninth Island phenomenon, how any given weekend can bring thousands of Hawaiian visitors to Las Vegas. They don’t necessarily require a special occasion to come celebrate, but this weekend will bring a speci c group of friends to the Strip.

“It’s funny, when we play at home in Hawaii, it’s always a good time but it’s almost like putting on a wedding—there’s so many friends coming out,” says singer, songwriter and North Shore, Oahu native Jack Johnson. “And since Vegas is the No. 1 destination for people who live in Hawaii, these shows are going to be really fun for me because a group of my best friends are sort of making a hangout of it. They’re all coming out and we’re just excited.”

The acoustically inclined artist behind eight studio albums and pop hits like “Upside Down” and “You and Your Heart” is making his debut at Wynn’s Encore Theater for two nights on February 24-25, a big Vegas weekend strategically planned after last week’s Cali Vibes fest in Long Beach and a bene t show for the Lobrero Theatre in Santa Barbara. Johnson is eager to get into the luxurious Wynn room because it’s so di erent

from his typical Vegas venue, and more intimate than the outdoor amphitheaters he’ll be playing all summer long.

“Those [outdoor shows] are like a big party and a lot of fun, but my music is acoustic-based and suited to those [smaller] theaters,” he says. “It’s always a pleasant surprise when you can really play to the room and strip things back. And I love when people yell out a song from the crowd, and if I can remember the chords, I love to play requests. It’s almost like a camp re vibe. And theaters allow you to do that, to really hear your audience.”

With Paula Fuga.

February 24-25, 8 p.m., $150-$300. Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com.

Johnson has spent much of his time back home working on a di erent project—a 9-acre community farm in the small village of Haliewa that had been dormant for 40 years. Invasive trees have been cleared and native plants and wildlife reintroduced in order to establish some wetlands and a commercial farm, and it’s all a part of Johnson’s Kōkua Foundation that supports environmental education on the islands.

Projects like that keep the musician focused on what’s in front of him, but that’s pretty easy. Johnson doesn’t like to look too down the road, especially when it comes to performing or creating music.

Johnson and his band—who have all been together long enough to call audibles onstage like that and tweak the setlist to accommodate interaction and spontaneous storytelling—will be joined by another island friend, Paula Fuga, both nights. “She basically lives down the street and we’ve played together quite a bit, so I already know it’s going to be a fun time collaborating,” he says.

After releasing Meet the Moonlight last summer and continuing a relatively heavy tour schedule,

“It sounds ridiculous but I get nervous if I think too far ahead,” he says. “It’s been a philosophy of our band to make sure we appreciate where we’re playing that night, that people decided to come out and support the music and be there with us. We’ve played those half-full clubs in the beginning and we still talk about being grateful 30 or 40 people decided to come, so we’ve always kept that thing of being appreciative we get to do this at all.”

Jack Johnson (Courtesy/ Morgan Maassen)

JACK JOHNSON

SCENE

SOMETHING OLD,

SOMETHING NEW

Vic’s brings classic Vegas vibes to the here and now

BY GEOFF CARTER

From the moment you walk in, you feel like you’ve been there before. You look around and spot your favorite barstool, your favorite table by the stage. But Vic’s Las Vegas, a stylish, 8,560-square-foot jazz club and Italian restaurant named for Downtown’s iconic neon cowboy, opened just this month adjacent to the Smith Center in Symphony Park. It only feels like it’s been here the whole time.

Interior shot of Vic’s, (opposite page) crisp half roasted chicken (Courtesy/ Ericky Hernandez)

And that, says Porchlight Hospitality CEO Chris Lowden, is by design.

“I wanted this place to have that 1970s vibe, but contemporary,” he says. “The initial image in my brain was my dad’s office at the Hacienda in the early 70s—lots of suede, walnut, mirrors, brushed brass.”

The Lowden family have strong Nevada roots. Paul Lowden Sr. once owned the Sahara and Hacienda casinos, built the casino now known

as Santa Fe Station, and is a musician and bandleader. His wife, Sue Lowden, is a former Nevada state senator. Their son Chris, a professional stock car driver, owns popular Town Square spot Stoney’s Rockin’ Country. Vic’s lounge, a cozy space with long couches and handsome fire features, is chockablock with Southern Nevada history—photos of the Lowdens with luminaries such as Ray Charles and Liberace, a keno board rescued from Laughlin’s Pioneer Hotel & Gambling Hall and even some original “one-armed bandit” slot machines.

blown away by their skill: “Frankly, they’re better than most professionals.”

“They didn’t know they were kids,” adds Porchlight vice president Paul Lowden IV.

VIC’S

Vic’s main room is a warm, wood-paneled midcentury space. It’s anchored by a low stage with tables radiating outward from it, and the walls are lined with dark brown, u-shaped banquettes. Sound-dampening touches are artfully concealed; the glass wall that separates the main room from the bar area is gently sloped to reduce slapback, and even the tabletops are lightly padded, to mitigate the noise made by plates and glasses being set down.

355 Promenade Place, vicslasvegas.com. Daily, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., 5 p.m.-midnight; lounge and bar 11 a.m.-2 a.m.

What all that means is that you can walk into Vic’s, order a round of drinks and enjoy some great jazz. If you’re not feeling up to sitting in the main room, the bar area, with its 15 gaming machines, is comfortable and smoke-free. As the evening continues, you might order some dishes from chef Miguel Magana’s kitchen—perhaps the Italian sausage, pickled peppers and onion-laden Noble Pig sandwich, or the Shrimp Fra Diavolo, sauteed in olive oil and sofrito and served in a pomodoro sauce over spaghetti.

National headliners will be peppered into Vic’s live entertainment mix—drummer and vibraphonist Chuck Redd played last week with his quartet—but on most nights, the stage will feature players from the Las Vegas Academy’s acclaimed jazz studies program, headed by Pat Bowen. Chris Lowden, who’d watched the students perform a couple nights before, was

Vic’s neatly embodies one of the original ideas that built Las Vegas—that nightlife shouldn’t be sequestered away behind speakeasy doors and velvet ropes, or patterned after what you might find in other cities. It’s a jazz club built by musicians for musicians, inside a restaurant built by Las Vegans for Las Vegans.

“If we started out two years ago and said, ‘Okay, we got to design this place for profit,’ then it probably wouldn’t have turned out like this. Instead, it was, ‘Let’s design this for my parents,’” he says. “My parents are such serious, straight jazz fans, that it makes all the sense in the world.”

LAS VEGAS

SPOTLIGHTING STORIES

Obsidian & Neon celebrates Black women who have

BY SHANNON MILLER

A picture’s worth a thousand words, the saying goes. That’s evident in a photo-essay exhibit that opened this month at Nevada State College.

The fifth-annual edition of Obsidian & Neon: Building Black Life and Identity in Las Vegas presents large-scale black and white portraits accompanied by narrative profiles of six local Black women—new “inductees” to the hall of community trailblazers featured in past exhibits.

The artists behind the portraits and profiles—local writer and educator Erica Vital-Lazare and photojournalist Jeff Scheid—say the particular style of storytelling celebrates Las Vegans who might otherwise go underappreciated.

“It’s important that the larger community know these stories,” Vital-Lazare says. “I also want them to

know how intrinsic Black life is to the everyday operation of their lives, so that the mainstream community—not only the community of color—can also take a moment to regard these figures who are so instrumental in beautiful civic work.”

She provides the example of Debbie Conway, who has served as Clark County Recorder since her election in 2007. In a 30 by 40-inch portrait, Conway stands outside the pyramid-shaped cafeteria at the Clark County Government Center, where she spearheaded the implementation of significant “technological enhancements,” according to her bio on the county’s website.

“This woman came in as the first Black woman to be elected to that position,” Vital-Lazare says. “She came in thinking 30, 40, 50 years into the

helped shape Las Vegas

OBSIDIAN & NEON: BUILDING BLACK LIFE AND IDENTITY Through June 30; Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.; free. Glenn and Ande Christenson School of Education Building at Nevada State College, nsc.edu.

future, about how to bring technology in. I think it’s important that we know this about this woman, how important it is to her that everybody’s lives in the community run with efficiency, with purpose, with an eye toward the future.”

Scheid, who has been photographing Las Vegas for more than three decades, says Obsidian & Neon has helped him not only get to know local Black leaders on a deeper level, but also to recognize the power of the city’s diversity. He says the project has the potential to educate viewers on topics of culture, history and race.

“I always joke [that] I’m the aging Baby Boomer wanting to discover what Las Vegas is and what we are as a community,” Scheid says. “Because we are a diverse city, we all really have to go out and find out more about our neighbor. In this political climate, I think it’s critical.”

Each year, the exhibit follows a “certain pattern,” Vital-Lazare says. This year’s installment focuses on Black women and their unique identities.

“We have all these layers of different professions, different lives. We have a beautiful LGBTQIA representation through Chef Natalie Young and through [Nevada State College] President DeRionne Pollard. … Black women, in all their presentations and complexities, must also be seen as women who have other identities that intersect,” she says.

Also included in this year’s exhibit: Shakala Alvaranga, director of public programs at the Mob Museum; Judge Belinda T. Harris, the first Black elected judge in North Las Vegas Justice Court; and Gwen Walker, president and founder of the Walker African-American Museum and Research Center in West Las Vegas.

Highlighting these figures is not just an act of expression but one of care and love for remarkable Las Vegans, Vital-Lazare says.

“Storytelling is very much a part of who I am,” she says. “I am a daughter of the Black South. And part of demonstrating love, really, is to know one another’s stories.”

Dr. DeRionne Pollard looks at a collection of letters at her home in Henderson.

Chef Natalie Young at Eat, her restaurant in Downtown Las Vegas.

Debbie Conway holds a photo of herself with local activist and media personality Tanya Flanagan and California Congresswoman Maxine Waters.

Erica Vital-Lazare (Wade Vandervort/ Staff)

Jeff Scheid (Courtesy)

(Courtesy/Jeff Scheid, Obsidian & Neon)

UPPER CRUST

Distinct flavors make Yukon Pizza’s brick-and-mortar something special

Yukon’s Stewart pizza, confit Buffalo wings and smashburger (Wade Vandervort/ Staff)

FOOD & DRINK

BY GEOFF CARTER

If they made only pizza, it would be enough. It would be more than enough.

The Neapolitan-style, wood-fired pie at Yukon Pizza—in a permanent location at last at Downtown’s Huntridge Center, following a smash engagement at Vegas Test Kitchen— is utterly superlative. It floats on a pillowy crust made from 125-year-old heirloom sourdough, covered with good stuff such as San Marzano tomatoes and dollops of creamy ricotta. The price is right, too: A 14-inch pie ranges from $11 to $22, depending on what and how many goodies you get on there. Slices are $4-$6 and are plenty big enough to satisfy.

made vegan.

YUKON PIZZA

1130 E. Charleston Blvd. #160, 702-509-6691, yukonpizza.com.

Wednesday-Thursday, noon-10 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, noon-midnight; Sunday, noon-10 p.m.

I need to come back to that sourdough crust for a second. It’s a blissful, mildly tangy wonder— strong enough to stand up to a New York fold, tender enough to nibble delicately like artisan bread. It’s an active flavor participant in Yukon’s specialty pies, from the confit garlic, mozzarella, Parmesan and ricotta-laden Grandpa White; to the feta, mozz, red onion, dill, parsley, gyro and tzatziki-topped Last Action Gyro; to the Wise Guy, a hearty combination of NY red sauce, mozz, provolone, basil, sausage and roasted peppers and onions. Plus, many of Yukon’s specialty pies can be

Yukon ventures beyond pizza elsewhere on the menu. It’s not always available—“If you don’t see it, we don’t got it,” the kitchen advises—but if you can order items from chef Justin Ford’s “Yukon Outpost,” consider ordering all of them. Start with the one-pound order of confit chicken wings ($15), or the vegan cauliflower option. They’re delicious and almost impossibly tender; you can lollipop ’em with ease. Ford offers them in classic Buffalo, sweet chili and as a truffle-Buffalo hybrid that was doubtlessly popular during the big game day, when Yukon sold out of wings before they even opened their doors. And is it weird to tell you to go to a pizza place and try the burger? Yukon’s cheeseburger ($10 single, $14 double) is messy perfection, piled deep with housemade pickles, caramelized onions and Ford’s own sauce, which you’ll mop up with the spicy fries without a second thought. If that idea awakens something in you, try the Grizzly Fries ($9), which come doused in the sauce and crowned with caramelized onions and American cheese.

Like the territory for which it’s named, there’s lots of gold to be mined at Yukon.

FIVE FRIENDLY AND FLAVORFUL YEARS AT NEIGHBORS

 It’s easy to get swept up in the matters of everyday life. There will always be another meeting or appointment to steal your attention. Neighbors Cafe, which is celebrating five years of serving the community in the southwest Valley this month, offers a laidback place to slow down and set your sights on brunch foods like sandwiches, burgers, salads, steak and eggs and more. A modern space with neutral-colored décor and lots of natural light immediately gives the impression of a calm and open atmosphere. Folks come in to read a good book with a Brown Sugar Shaken Espresso ($5) or enjoy a meal with friends or family.

When I stopped by for a quick lunch, I tried the B.L.A.T.C. ($15), a grilled chicken sandwich on sour-

dough with applewood smoked bacon, avocado, baby arugula, tomato, mozzarella and pesto aioli. Sandwiches and burgers come with your choice of greens, fries or sweet potato fries. I chose the latter, always one of my favorite sides, and those fries kept me noshing even after I thought I was full. I washed it down with a refreshing lavender lemonade ($5). If you’re not a fan of lavender, Neighbors also offers regular, mint and matcha lemonades.

Bakery items sit ready to be packaged and taken home at the counter, and I took advantage with the strawberries & cream pop tart ($5), which was fantastic. Even though it’s stuffed and topped with strawberry filling, it wasn’t too sweet for my low threshold. I also packed up a lemon poppyseed pound cake ($6) with a light tang that made for a nice breakfast bite the following morning.

Not every local café offers this combination of a homey space and friendly, quality cuisine. After five years, it’s obvious these Neighbors know what they’re doing. –Evelyn

Mateos

Neighbors’s apple crunch cake, chilaquiles and steak hoagie (Wade Vandervort/Staff)

The Yukon Pizza team, from left: Alex White, Dani Garcia-White, Cameron White and Justin Ford. (Wade Vandervort/Staff)

NEIGHBORS CAFE 5910 S. Fort Apache Road, #103, 702-685-1166, neighborscafelv.com. Daily, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

Zouk Group boasts two of the Strip’s newest and most technologically advanced venues, and the recently announced 2023 artist lineup is a roster of superstar talent. “Zouk Nightclub and Ayu Dayclub have quickly established themselves as the go-to entertainment venues on the Vegas Strip,” said Ronn Nicolli, Resorts World Chief Marketing Officer. “Our diverse roster for 2023 features a wide range of music for every type of fan to enjoy and brings unrivaled talent to the Resorts World Las Vegas property, continuing the momentum into the new year and beyond.”

A different kind of residency

It doesn’t stop with music— Zouk announced UFC superstar “Suga” Sean O’Malley’s residency where he’ll host exclusive UFC fight night after-parties at Zouk Nightclub, Ayu Dayclub and Redtail throughout the year.

UPCOMING SHOWS YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS KASKADE

One of Zouk’s newest residents, catch him on March 11 at Zouk Nightclub.

ZEDD

Appearing with Charly Jordan on March 25 at Zouk Nightclub, this show deserves an advanced spot on your calendar.

ADVERTORIAL PRESENTED BY RESORTS WORLD

TRAVIS SCOTT AND JACK HARLOW

Both are confirmed for 2023 shows. Travis Scott’s “Road to Utopia” is a first-of-its-kind residency that gives fans the opportunity to see Scott in an intimate and sensationally immersive experience.

Pool season begins

Pool season kicks off with Cheat Codes at Ayu Dayclub on March 10 From there, all bets are off—it’s officially a party through late October. And the Ayu lineup keeps the energy high and party going. “We couldn’t be more excited about our 2023 lineup,” said Brent Freed, Director of Programming & Entertainment at Resorts World. “We feel the lineup shows how diverse and strong the Zouk talent roster has become. With more live acts than ever before, we look forward to providing even more options for our guests this year.”

TIËSTO

The one and only Tiësto will be at Zouk Nightclub on Feb. 24, and again the weekends of March 4 and March 17

Special performances

HEAVY STAKES

BY CASE KEEFER

Combat sports often use phrases like “long-awaited” and “years in the making” to promote prize ghts, so much so that such hype has essentially lost its meaning. But in the case of the UFC 285 main event set for March 4 at T-Mobile Arena, those sorts of superlatives are unequivocally true.

Jon Jones, whom many consider the best ghter of all time after a near-decade reign as the UFC’s light heavyweight champion, rst shared his plans to move up to heavyweight in 2012. More than a decade later, it’s nally happening, in a showdown with Ciryl Gane for the UFC’s vacant heavyweight championship.

“Both are incredibly talented ghters,” UFC President Dana White said in a news conference announcing the event. “Ciryl Gane is a heavyweight that moves like a middleweight. He’s got a really well-rounded game, and Jon Jones is the best to ever do it, in my opinion. You couldn’t ask for a better ght.”

Several factors delayed Jones’ move up in weight class—a steady stream of light heavyweight contenders emerging, a string of legal and disciplinary problems, a desire to pack on more muscle for the shift and, most recently, a prolonged contract dispute with the UFC. Jones hasn’t fought since February 2020, when he defeated Dominick Reyes via unanimous decision for his 14th career title- ght victory.

White said negotiations nally ended last year, and that Jones was “literally ready to ght anyone” starting in October. But the UFC was desperate to book Jones against then-heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou, who was dealing with a contract impasse of his own.

The UFC and Ngannou ultimately decided they couldn’t resolve their di erences, with the former shockingly releasing the latter and forgoing contract-matching rights. That left Gane, whom Ngannou narrowly defeated in his nal UFC ght last year, and longtime former champion Stipe Miocic as the top remaining established heavyweights in the organization.

Miocic isn’t ready to ght at the moment, according to White, so Gane gets the rst crack at the heavyweight Jones. Miocic is expected to face the winner.

“I’m really happy to be the rst guy in this division to be ghting with Jon Jones,” Gane said in a news conference. “He’s a great athlete, so for me, he’s still going to be really strong in this division for sure.”

Few, if any, ghts all year will be bigger than Jones vs. Gane. Here’s a closer look at both ghters leading up to the clash.

JON JONES

Age: 35

Fighting out of: Albuquerque, New Mexico

Record: 26-1 MMA, 20-1 UFC (1 no contest)

Biggest strength: Well-roundedness. There’s nothing Jones does poorly in the octagon, the biggest reason he became so feared at his apex when he fought consistently in the early-to-mid 2010s. He had a wrestling background but also used freakish athleticism and an 84.5-inch reach to rack up 10 knockouts and six submissions. Biggest weakness: Size. Jones has proven he can take a punch repeatedly, but he has never taken a punch from a 250-pound man like Gane. That’s what makes this fight so fascinating. No one would ever suggest Gane has shown a stronger skill set than Jones, but facing a much-larger man for the first time comes with inherent danger for a naturally lanky fighter like Jones.

Significance of the fight: Legacy. The dwindling ranks of those who don’t consider Jones the best ever might o cially reduce to zero if he becomes the ninth fighter in history to win a title at a second weight class. Take away his issues outside the octagon, and his résumé is flawless, with his only career loss coming via disqualification for illegal strikes in a match he was dominating.

He said it: “Being out three years and in a new division, there’s a lot of questions that cause me to stay up long nights, but it keeps me sharp. It’s something that I feel like I didn’t have at light heavyweight toward the end, [when] it just felt like another day at the o ce. This doesn’t feel like another day at the o ce. This feels very di erent. The nerves, the anxiety, it’s all back. I do good when I’m under pressure,” Jones, who hasn’t yet spoken publicly since the fight was announced, told MMA Underground.

(AP Photo/Photo Illustration)

Jon Jones returns to the octagon for his heavyweight debut against Ciryl Gane at UFC 285

UFC 285

When: March 4; Early UFC Fight Pass preliminary card, 3:15 p.m.; ESPN+ preliminary card, 5 p.m.; pay-per-view main card, 7 p.m.

Where: T-Mobile Arena

Tickets: $250-$2,000 at axs.com

Pay-per-view: $80 on ESPN+

Co-main event: Valentina Shevchenko (champion) vs. Alexa Grasso for the women’s flyweight title

Main event betting line: Jones -140 (i.e. risking $140 to win $100), Gane +120 (i.e. risking $100 to win $120)

CIRYL GANE

Age: 32

Fighting out of: Paris, France Record: 11-1 MMA, 8-1 UFC

Biggest strength: Technical striking. Gane was a world-class muay thai fighter (with a 13-0 record) before crossing over into mixed martial arts less than five years ago. He’s masterful on his feet, both powerful and precise, and a class above virtually everyone he has ever faced.

Biggest weakness: Wrestling. Ngannou came into the fight with Gane as an underdog but pulled the upset by ditching his usual boxing approach and controlling Gane on the ground. Ngannou had never won by decision in his career before repeatedly taking down Gane and earning the

judges’ nods. Gane’s grappling troubles could be a big problem against Jones, though he says he’ll be more ready this time around after Ngannou’s strategy caught him completely o guard.

Significance of the fight: A second chance. The loss to Ngannou came in January 2022, and it’s rare to get another title shot so quickly o such a poor performance. Gane did bounce back to knock out Tai Tuivasa in May, but he would have been much further back in line had it not been for Ngannou’s unforeseen exit from the UFC. Gane had previously won an interim title in 2021, when Ngannou was injured, but a win over Jones would give him the real belt. He said it: “Jon Jones was one of my favorite fighters when I started MMA, because I’m a fan of every sport in MMA, and when you look at a guy like Jon Jones, you really appreciate it. He’s the [greatest of all time]. I think he’s the dream of every young fighter to go against. … This is really crazy for me.”

STATE TREASURER’S PLAN AIMS TO HELP BREAK LONG-TERM CYCLE OF POVERTY IN NEVADA

BY CASEY HARRISON VEGAS INC STAFF

New legislation being proposed by Nevada Treasurer Zach Conine aims to close the wealth gap for the state’s poorest residents by throwing a lifeline to those in need of it most.

Assembly Bill 28 calls for $3,200 bonds to be issued to Nevadans whose birth was covered by Medicaid.

Dubbed as the Baby Bonds Bill, the bonds would mature on the individual’s 18th birthday—at a sum likely higher than the principal amount—and could be used for such purposes as tuition costs, a down payment on a house or covering costs to start a business.

If passed, the program would be open to any Nevadan born January 1, 2024, or onward who met the above requirements, said Conine, a Democrat.

An estimated $80 million would be needed to fund the program through the current biennium, and the program would be managed by the Office of the Treasurer.

“So much of generational wealth in our state and in our country comes through housing,” Conine said. “And for so long we have simply had a structure that has made it really easy for people like me to get access to that generational wealth, but not really easy for other people in our community to have that access. We’re trying to fix that.”

Conine said it’s an ideal time for the legislation because Nevada has the best credit rating in state history and its rainy-day budget is at its capacity.

The only other state in the U.S. with a baby bonds program is Connecticut, which passed its bill establishing the program last year.

“If we’re able to do it, we’re going to

have a real moral obligation here to try and help individuals amongst us who have the least chance at success,” Conine said.

To be heard, the bill needs a co-sponsor in the Assembly Committee on Government Affairs.

In order to become law, it would need to be approved by both houses of the Legislature, which opened its session this month. While both chambers of the statehouse have a Democratic voting majority, in order to become law, the bill would also have to be signed by first-term Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo or secure a veto-proof majority in both legislative houses. Democrats have a supermajority in the Assembly but fall one vote short of that threshold in the state Senate.

Conine said he has heard some feedback on the bill and is optimistic it

has at least some path forward. He noted that Lombardo urged lawmakers during his State of the State address to make the type of generational investments, akin to planting a tree now for the next generation to enjoy.

“Part of our work should be planting the trees that we’re never going to see come to full growth, and baby bonds are exactly that,” Conine said. “I think our friends in the Legislature that we’ve spoken to about it are generally supportive of figuring out big transformative ways we can make the state better. I’m hopeful that the governor will feel exactly the same way.”

Connecticut’s program, which according to the state’s website will cost more than $600 million to operate over the next 12 years, came from a similar desire to narrow the wealth gap, but also “spur long-term economic growth” for residents.

The hope is that the program will entice young families to stay in-state and help them accrue wealth by investing those funds into schooling or investment opportunities that will help the state as well, Conine said.

Coupled with existing social programs such as Millennium or Opportunity scholarships, beneficiaries of the baby bond could see serious long-term benefits, Conine said. And if the program truly lifts folks out of poverty, there should be less reliance on existing social programs.

“If a child is born, and their birth is paid for by Medicaid, they’re likely to stay on Medicaid throughout their childhood,” Conine said. “If they stay on Medicaid throughout their childhood, they’re likely to be on Medicaid and other social services into adulthood.

“If we are able to move a significant portion of this population out of generational poverty, the savings to the state, in the long term, are going to be exponentially larger than what the cost is.”

Officials in Connecticut estimate that roughly 15,600 residents born there each year—nearly half of all births—are born into poverty. Conine notes that the price tag for that program is much higher than what he’s proposing for Nevada, and about 44% of newborn Nevadans are below the poverty line.

If passed, the first recipients of the program would have bonds mature in 2042. And although the lawmakers currently in power likely won’t be in office then, Conine is hopeful his colleagues will find solace in seeing the next generation thrive because of investments made today.

“A lot of us who get to make these decisions won’t still be in office at that point because of term limits and other things, but we’re going to be able to see these kids have a better life and a chance at a better trajectory,” he said. “And that’s going to make the state better, not for just me or them. It’s going to make the state better for everyone.”

Nevada Treasurer Zach Conine (Steve Marcus/Staff)

GOOD BUSINESS ISN’T JUST TURNING PROFITS; IT’S ALSO ABOUT BEING A FORCE FOR GOOD IN YOUR COMMUNITY

BY STACY WATKINS

As business leaders, we’re often faced with a decision to balance profits with making an impact in our community.

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated a growing trend—businesses built on brand purpose, integrity and authentically delivering on its mission.

Now more than ever, businesses are expected to be purpose-driven. Consumers want brands with a conscience and are even willing to pay more for it. Richard Branson famously noted in 2021 that, “The brands that will thrive in coming years are the ones that have a purpose over profit.”

Purpose-driven brands are becoming the new marketing strategy to employ, but how do you do it?

First, it starts with leadership and setting a purpose. Lexicon Bank was started by a board of all local directors with deep roots in Las Vegas from diverse backgrounds—esteemed philanthropists, successful entrepreneurs and community leaders. The bank sought to be the bank for business, no matter the size, and, most importantly, to unleash the economic potential of Southern Nevada. The bank’s fabric started with leadership stories and values, which became interwoven into the mission, operating processes, culture and bottom line.

Next is a relentless commitment to the brand’s mission. Consumers want to know and see more than just what

is posted on your website or product label. They want to know that you really put your time and money into community-impact initiatives. Intentionality is key.

In 2020, Lexicon Bank started its Community Spotlight program which highlights a nonprofit making a difference in the community each month, in addition to its ongoing volunteer efforts.

To date, the bank has championed over 30 organizations with a dedicated marketing campaign, supply and food drives, event support and more. Past

spotlights include Junior Achievement of Southern Nevada, Three Square Food Bank, Communities in Schools of Nevada, Shaquille O’Neal Foundation, Leaders in Training, Collaboration Center Foundation, Charity Series of Poker, National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), the LGBTQ Center of Southern Nevada and many more.

We purposefully advocate for a cause internally and externally, and we give back through volunteering and often a monetary donation.

As Lexicon is dedicated to helping its

clients achieve their financial goals, we always look for ways to say yes, even when its easier to say no. A process for personalized concierge-like service isn’t cookie-cutter or the most cost-effective approach, but it’s true to our brand and mission.

Third, business leaders must champion their cause. From the board to C-suite leadership to management, all parties must be unequivocally aligned and champion the company’s mission in the community. Service companies, like banking institutions, are powered by team members who serve as an extension of the brand. It is important that team members not only know the company’s products and services but also who its brand is in the marketplace. A purpose-driven brand’s best mouthpiece is its clients, who are directly interfacing with all aspects of the organization.

In addition to making an impact on others, community stewardship also enhances the culture of the institution. It allows your team to know that they are making a difference in their community and are a part of something special, which fosters more meaningful relationships among team members.

Lexicon’s purpose is at the core of everything we do, and it’s front and center on our website, social media and when you walk into our branch at Tivoli Village. It is also consistently a part of our client experience and the stories that they tell about us truly caring for the unique needs of Southern Nevada.

My purpose is to unleash the economic potential of Southern Nevada whether through professional, a business or nonprofit. I’m a woman on a mission, representing an institution that is paying it forward.

What’s your brand purpose?

(Shutterstock)

Stacy Watkins is president and CEO of Lexicon Bank.

From the board to C-suite leadership to management, all parties must be unequivocally aligned and champion the company’s mission in the community. Service companies, like banking institutions, are powered by team members who serve as an extension of the brand. It is important that team members not only know the company’s products and services but also who its brand is in the marketplace.

VegasInc Notes

Nicholas Barber, SIOR, was promoted to executive vice president at JLL, a global real estate services company.

The Nevada State Contractors Board announced that David Behar is now director of investigations, following the retirement of Paul Rozario. Prior to joining the board, Behar worked for the Drug Enforcement Administration in Los Angeles and Las Vegas for 25 years. He served as special agent and group supervisor, partnering with numerous state and local agencies to disrupt and dismantle drug and money laundering organizations.

Optum Care Lung and Allergy Care has added a new location to help meet the need for health services in the Las Vegas community. Located at 6190 S. Fort Apache Road, this office specializes in allergy and conditions that affect the immune system.

Southwest Medical has added a new health care provider to help meet

the growing need for health services in the Las Vegas community. Marissa Murphy, PA, joins the Montecito Healthcare Center location (7061 Grand Montecito Parkway) and specializes in adult medicine.

G.C. Garcia Inc., a land planning and development services firm, hired Kelly Hughes as project coordinator. Hughes brings nearly 10 years of real estate sales and development experience to G.C. Garcia, having worked previously in both sales and acquisitions for private and public local developments.

Link Technologies, a woman-owned technology and management company specializing in governance, security, risk and compliance, was named a Top Rated Staffing Firm by Great Recruiters

Tivoli Village, featuring 370,000 square feet of tenants, retailers, restaurants and Class A office space, announced Joeleene Boutique and

JOB LISTING

Market Research Analyst for COOPER USA, LLC, F/T in Las Vegas, NV. Gather, compile and analyze data about consumers, competitors, market conditions & trends, consumer demographics, preferences, needs, and buying habits to create marketing forecasts; Interpret complex data and findings to determine pricing strategies and marketing strategies. Assess the impact and performance of the company’s existing marketing & sales programs, methods and strategies, and then propose solutions and suggestions to improve them. Master’s degree in Global Marketing Management & 12-month related working experience required.

SR Construction has been named the general contractor for Northern Nevada Sierra Medical Center’s ER at Damonte Ranch project. This ER will feature multiple treatment rooms, including fast-track exam rooms designed to efficiently triage low severity patients. (Artist’s rendering courtesy of SR Construction)

Clean & Fresh Auto Spa as two newest retail tenants. Joeleene Boutique is a locally owned mother-daughter venture by Maria Serna and Christina Ivanov. It offers handpicked pieces to empower women through basic style elements. Clean & Fresh Auto Spa offers car wash and detailing services while guests shop, dine or work at Tivoli Village.

The nonprofit organization Unshakeable, which guides women recovering

from trauma, including sex trafficking, substance addiction, domestic abuse and homelessness, to reenter the workforce and establish financial independence and self-reliant living, announced the addition of five new board members: Logan Guy, MGM Resorts International; Kelly Frey, KF Publicity; Michael O’Brien, Thrivent; Terri Rencher, TDR Consulting Group; and Cherece Vina, Royal Caribbean Group

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Behar Hughes

PREMIER CROSSWORD HOROSCOPES “CATCHING SOME WAVES”

BY FRANK LONGO

WEEK OF FEBRUARY 23 BY

ROB BREZSNY

ARIES (March 21-April 19): I think you will generate an interesting onrush of healing, Aries, if you break the dead shell of yesterdays and risk being disturbed and changed. The new frontier is calling to you. To respond with alacrity, you must shed some baggage.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Take inventory of any tendencies you might have to censor the information you expose yourself to. According to my reading of the astrological omens, now is an excellent time to pry open your mind to consider ideas and facts you have shut out. Be eager to get educated and inspired by stimuli outside your usual scope.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20): It’s really fun to fall in love. But here’s a possible alternative, Gemini: Instead of getting smitten with an endless series of new paramours, we could get swept away by novel teachings, revelatory meditations, lovable animals, sublime art or music, amazing landscapes or sanctuaries and exhilarating adventures.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): The scientific method is an excellent approach for understanding reality. In the coming weeks, set aside your subjective opinions and habitual responses. Instead, simply gather evidence. Treasure actual facts. Try to be as objective as you can in evaluating everything that happens. Be highly attuned to your feelings, but also be aware that they may not provide all facets of the truth.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): I invite you to carry out any or all of these four tasks in the coming weeks: 1. Try to become aware of shrouded half-truths. 2. Be alert for shadowy stuff lurking in bright, shiny environments. 3. Uncover secret agendas and unacknowledged evidence. 4. Explore stories and situations that no one else seems curious about.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Give names to your phone, your computer, your bed, your hairdryer and your lamps, as well as your favorite trees, houseplants and clouds. You may find that the gift of naming helps make the world a more welcoming place with which you have a more intimate relationship. And that would be an artful response to current cosmic rhythms.

2020 KING FEATURES SYNDICATE

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Are you aimless, impassive and stuck? Or are you fiercely and joyfully in quest of vigorous and dynamic success? Here is a tip to help you be strong and bold: Learn the distinctions between your own soulful definition of success and the superficial, irrelevant, meaningless definitions of success that our culture celebrates. Then swear an oath to love, honor and serve your soulful definition.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): The next four weeks will be a time of germination, metaphorically analogous to the beginning of a pregnancy. The attitudes and feelings that predominate during this time will put a strong imprint on the seeds that will mature into full ripeness by late 2023. What do you want to give birth to in 40 weeks or so, Scorpio? Choose wisely!

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): I recommend you set up Designated Arguing Summits. These will be short periods when you and your allies get disputes out in the open. Disagreements must be confined to these intervals. I believe that many positive accomplishments are possible for you in the coming weeks, and it would be counterproductive to expend more than the minimal necessary amount on sparring. Be emotionally available and eager to embrace the budding opportunities.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Actor Judi Dench won an Oscar for her role as Queen Elizabeth in the film Shakespeare in Love—even though she was onscreen for just eight minutes. I expect a similar phenomenon in your world. A seemingly small pivot will lead to a vivid turning point. A cameo performance will generate long-term ripples. Be alert for the signs.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): From what I’ve been able to determine, time is kicking your ass. What can you do to relieve the pressure? Maybe you could edit your priority list—eliminate two mildly interesting pursuits to make more room for a fascinating one.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Your fun assignments in the coming days include the following:

1. to make a shimmering dream coalesce into a concrete reality;

2. to cause a figment of the imagination to materialize into a useful accessory;

3. to coax an unborn truth to sprout into a galvanizing insight.

SNOWY SUMMMERLIN | FEBRUARY 14, 2023 | 1:41 P.M. Weekly photographer Wade Vandervort happened to be near Downtown Summerlin when an unexpected snow fell on the outdoor shopping plaza. “People were shocked, laughing. They took out their phones to film it,” he says. The snow melted as it hit the ground, once again putting this city’s dream of hosting a Winter Olympics out of reach. Coming up next: 100 degree-plus temperatures, probably in a month or so. –Geoff Carter

(Wade Vandervort/Staff)