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Welcome Cohort 17!
On June 1st we welcomed our 17th Executive MBA Cohort. This group of twenty-four diverse and talented leaders represent industries such as Healthcare, Gaming/Hospitality, Education, Government, Financial Services and more. We encourage you to keep an eye out for their biographies, which will be posted to the UNLV EMBA website soon.
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Student Spotlight
Sylvester Obafunwa - Cohort 16
Director of Digital/Web Analytics,
MGM Resorts International
Sylvester Obafunwa (Cohort 16), director of digital/web analytics for MGM Resorts International, is part of a larger legacy of young Las Vegas professionals who want to make a difference beyond their nine-to-five jobs by working to ensure their social impact uplifts their communities.
Balancing work, family and volunteer commitments with the rigors of an 18-month executive MBA program can be challenging. Yet, Obafunwa is determined to carve out as much time as possible to continue his volunteer work with Alpha Men & Divas of Tomorrow (AMDOT) - an organization that works towards ensuring 100 percent graduation from high school and entry into college for students in the program.
"An EMBA program teaches you to use every single minute of your day productively," said Obafunwa. Fortuitously, time management, leadership, and a drive to learn are skills and attributes Obafunwa easily shares with young people participating in the AMDOT program.
"I'm very proud of what AMDOT has accomplished," Obafunwa said. "More importantly, I couldn't be prouder of the students who graduated from high school and are now succeeding in college." Last year, AMDOT presented $50,000 in scholarships.
Obafunwa's love for sharing knowledge doesn't stop at volunteering. As a student in UNLV EMBA program and hospitality industry executive, he makes a point to share classroom learnings with his co-workers in the office.
"I've brought back presentations and given trainings to my group. I've even recommended books from the UNLV EMBA faculty," he said. "For the most part, however, I usually come into the office on Monday and announce to my team 'wait until you see this really cool thing I learned at school.' I'm committed to continuous learning and it permeates throughout my team and the organization."
Obafunwa and his MGM Resorts' team are charged with managing analytics reporting; providing insights into the "story" being told by the data, and developing business strategies across the organization impacting the ecommerce space.
Obafunwa, who will receive his EMBA in December 2018, entered the program with a goal to "soak up knowledge" and become a more well-rounded bus
iness executive. "Earning an Executive MBA is about more than just getting a piece of paper. It's an experience that provides already accomplished professionals with the confidence to become more effective and successful leaders," said Obafunwa.
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Alumni Update
Nick Berry - Cohort 11
CEO, Origin Acoustics
Taking a recent, well-deserved break from his hectic schedule as CEO of Origin Acoustics, UNLV EMBA alumnus
Nick Berry (Cohort 11) parked his RV back-stage at 2018 Coachella and kicked back at the invitation of his best friend and owner of the legendary music festival. Seems spot on for someone whose company's tag line is "it's all about the music."
The weekend respite was a rare occurrence for this talented entrepreneur, father of three, industry trailblazer, community leader and avid reader.
Berry is a founder of Origin Acoustics, industry innovators in architectural speakers. But, having a vested interest in the business didn't mean the chief executive position was handed to him on a silver platter. When the company was launched in 2014, Berry took on the role of vice president of business development.
A re-imagining of SpeakerCraft, whose founders hold numerous patents and are considered the inventors of architectural speakers, Origin Acoustics was originally based in Southern California. In 2017, Berry and the partners, including the founders of SpeakerCraft, were searching for a new headquarters' location where the company could launch expansion plans and create an innovative showroom.
A native Las Vegan with a UNLV undergraduate degree in entrepreneurship, Berry was very aware of the advantages of doing business in Las Vegas. "Aside from the obvious business- and tax-friendly environment of Las Vegas, especially compared to other regions of the country, the city offers a continuous flow of conventions and convention attendees," said Berry. "With a showroom in Las Vegas, our current and prospective dealers and customers literally come to us."
The company's showroom, or as they prefer to call it - experience center - is located at Decatur and 215 where its neighbor is the global technology company Switch. Origin Acoustics also has offices in the UK, and warehouses in California, Texas and future plans for a warehouse in North Carolina.
The rapid growth was cause for celebration and the impetus for recruiting a new CEO who was skilled in managing growth, corporate governance and budget management, while still exemplifying the passion for R&D and innovation that is the company's mantra. "The timing was right to continue reinvesting profits in the company, but also to begin providing the partners with a return on their investment," said Berry.
Berry served on the search committee for a CEO. "But, the more I reviewed the candidates' qualifications, the more I realized that my EMBA, combined with years of experience, made me better qualified for the job than many of the applicants." And, the partners agreed.
Read more
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Special Feature
EMBA Renovation - UNLV EMBA Suite Gets a Facelift
UNLV EMBA students, alumni and university leadership recently celebrated the opening of its newly renovated EMBA classroom suite during a May 4th open house.
The program expanded its meeting and classroom space to include a modernized classroom with upgraded technology capabilities. Existing classroom and meeting areas were renovated to provide EMBA students with a comfortable and flexible learning environment, including convenient space for team breakout sessions and group discussions to maximize collaboration. Kitchen upgrades provide casual dining, enabling students to eat together, socialize and focus on their studies without having to leave for a meal.
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The newly renovated EMBA classrooms offer flexibility of space allowing for more opportunities for collaboration and group work.
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| A modernized look and brighter colors provide a more welcoming feel. |
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| Removal of the lockers and pub tables give the kitchen space a more open feel for catered meals and class breaks. Added cabinets allow more storage options. |
"Feedback from students, faculty and colleagues has been remarkably positive," said Nikkole Liesse, director, UNLV EMBA Program and EMBA graduate. "The new space exemplifies our commitment to the future of the UNLV EMBA program and to meeting the increasing demand from working professionals. We now have the technological tools to enhance the delivery of our program; the amenities to make students comfortable; the surroundings that enrich the learning experience, and the conveniences that create a feeling of community."
Since 2002, when UNLV welcomed its first Executive MBA cohort, 271 of Las Vegas' rising business leaders have graduated from the UNLV Executive MBA program with 21 more from Cohort 16 joining this distinguished group upon graduation in December 2018. The program's commitment to its students and the community has solidified its position as a powerful pipeline of business leaders and entrepreneurs.
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On The Move
Alumni Updates
Ray Fyler
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Cohort 15
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Director Guest Experience
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MGM Springfield
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Tony Greenway
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Cohort 8
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Market Director
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EMS Relations at UHS
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Scott Intravaia
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Cohort 14
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Account Executive
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Konami Gaming, Inc.
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Brad Masterson
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Cohort 9
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Director of Sales
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Harrah's Las Vegas at Wyndham Vacation Ownership
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Claudia Nanu
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Cohort 13
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Wealth Manager and Fiduciary Specialist
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BNY Mellon Wealth Management
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Doug Sandoval
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Cohort 5
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General Manager and Chief Financial Officer
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Mandalay Bay, MGM Resorts International
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Aerielle Smith
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Cohort 14
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Manager of Strategic Development
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Park MGM
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Michael Speagle
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Cohort 15
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Vice President Restaurant Development & Operations
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GDL Foods Inc.
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Events
TEDxUNLV 2018
June 22
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UNLV Judy Bayley Theatre
Click here to purchase tickets
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About TEDxUNLV:
This year's TEDxUNLV will feature 15 speakers, three entertainment segments, and three three-minute research presentations. Attendees will hear "ideas worth spreading" and will walk away inspired to act, change their way of thinking, adopt a new policy, or perhaps even change their lives. Tickets are $100.
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Hike and Camp Mt. Charleston, NV
June 29 -
July 1
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Mt. Charleston, NV
Meet at the Outdoor Adventures Office in SRWC (first floor near the front desk)
Click here for additional info and to purchase tickets
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This peaceful, pristine park has some of Nevada's most beautiful sites! Spend two days camping, hiking, and experiencing the wilderness of Mt. Charleston, Nevada is also famous for its stargazing and ancient Bristlecones! $75 for Students/SRWC Members $85 for Non-Members.
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EMBA Alumni Trip 2018
August 3 -
August 5
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San Diego, California
Click here for additional info and to purchase tickets
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Join us for a weekend of fun and ponies in sunny San Diego. We'll stay in Downtown San Diego and take the Coaster into Del Mar for a day at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club where the turf meets the surf. We have limited tickets, reserve yours today!
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EMBA Smiles
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We were excited to celebrate the birthday of Cohort 16's Great Nate Marsh!
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Cohort 16's Jill Archunde was queen for the day when we celebrated her birthday.
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We had three times the fun with a birthday celebration for Cohort 16 members
Lisa Reaver, Juliette Ozols and Sylvester Obafunwa. |
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Cohort 15 alumni members of Stockwell Medical, Inc. meet weekly to discuss their product Doctor Stockwell's Prenatal Vitamin. Pictured are Erica Stockwell, Scott Petsel, Elicia Babac, Dianna Klein, Jim Stockwell, Kyle Knapper and Sarath Sivadasan.
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Jill Ann Sanbrotti of Cohort 16 enjoyed a royal birthday celebration on the same day as the royal wedding in London.
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The first official class day for Cohort 17 began with EMBA 701 - Leadership and Team Effectiveness with instructor Karen Durkin.
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The Marshmallow Challenge had the new cohort collaborating while breaking the ice.
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Congratulations to the winners of the Cohort 17 Marshmallow Challenge:
Shayne Frank, Christine Theisen and Veronica Arellano. |
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| We had some fun celebrating the birthday of Cohort 16's Micah Smith. |
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It was a full house for the Cohort 17 Welcome Luncheon.
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It was a like a reunion for Cohort 14 alumni who attended the Cohort 17 Welcome Luncheon Joe Muna, Stacey Bledsoe, Aerielle Smith, Paul Trinidad and Sumeet Singh.
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| Cohort 17 student Kalen Axam is welcomed by Cohort 11 alumni Emily Willis and Jeremy Hume. |
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Esther Caruso-Golleher and Jessica Mulliner of Cohort 15 welcome Cohort 17's Christine Tonn to the EMBA family.
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Cohort 15 recent graduates Sarath Sivadasan, Jessica Mulliner and Steve Packard welcome Cohort 17 student Jason Henslee (second from left).
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