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Becker, Barry W.
Barry W. Becker’s father was a well-known land developer and real estate broker throughout the Los Angeles area. Howard Hughes told Barry’s father to purchase all the land they could in the West Charleston area of Las Vegas which initiated Becker Enterprises, Incorporated, in Southern Nevada and brought Barry and his family to the area in 1971.
Person
Ehlen, Tom, 1948-
Tom Ehlen has been passionate about the trumpet from an early age. He discovered his musical roots in his hometown of Kenton, Ohio and pursued that passion throughout his life. He caught his first break as a musician while studying at Ohio State University.
Person
Taylor, D. R.
D. Taylor grew up in Williamsburg, Virginia. He graduated from Georgetown University. As a new college graduate, Taylor headed west to Lake Tahoe, Nevada where he was hired in 1981 by the Culinary Union to organize workers and oversee an eleven-and-a-half-month strike. The Culinary Union then sent him to organize in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1984.
Person
Swank, Heidi
Heidi Swank grew up in Prescott, Wisconsin. After graduating Hamline University in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Heidi moved to Chicago to continue her studies at Northwestern University. Swank worked as an anthropology professor at University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Swank is a member of the Nevada Assembly representing Distric 16.
Person
Swank, Scott
Scott Swank grew up in Kansas City, Kansas. He attended Kansas State University. He moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2005 when his wife Heidi Swank was hired at University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Person
Gentile, Christina A., 1974-
Christina Gentile was born in Colorado and her family moved to California when she was a year old. After her parents divorced, her father moved to Carson City, Nevada. Christina worked in the Hotel Nevada in Ely and became a dealer there. She moved to Las Vegas and worked as a dealer at the King 8 Hotel. It was sold to Station Casinos and became the Wild Wild West Hotel and Casino, and she got into management there. Christina also worked as a table games manager at Boulder Station, Red Rocks Casino, and at the Wynn Las Vegas.
Person
Torres, David, 1966-
Dave Torres was born in San Pedro, California, in 1966. He moved to Las Vegas, Nevada with his family when he was 14 or 15. Dave started his career in gaming as a dealer at the El Cortez. He moved to the Barbary Coast, then he moved to the Stardust where he became a manager. Dave had just become a pit boss when he moved to the Rio.
Person
Friedman, Joe
Joe Friedman worked in Caesars Tahoe, first as a cashier in the nightclub and later as a dealer. He also spent six months dealing in the casino on the Cyrstal Harmony. Joe moved to Las Vegas, Nevada and worked at various casinos such as the Hard Rock, Green Valley Ranch, Wynn, Palms, and MGM as a dealer, pit manager, and an assistant shift manager.
Person
Schecter, Elliott D., 1969-
Elliott Schecter got a job dealing poker at a private club in New York City to earn spending money while he was a student at Rutgers. He worked as a dealer on a casino cruise ship, then became the shift manager in the poker room at the Seminole Casino Hollywood in Florida when it opened. Elliott also worked on the Palm Beach Princess casino cruise ship, at the Reno Hilton, in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Palms, at the Downstream Casino Resort in Oklahoma, and the Snoqualmie Casino in the Seattle area.
Person
Zender, Bill
Bill (William Allen) Zender was born April 02, 1955 in Chicago, Illinois and spent his formative years in Las Vegas, Nevada. He earned a bachelor's degree in hotel administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 1976. During his career, he worked at several casions in various positions, including blackjack dealer, pit boss, and general manger. He worked in the Enforcement Division of the Nevada Gaming Control Board and taught college courses on gaming management. He owned the business Bill Zender and Associates LLC.
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