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Diana Bennett, of Paragon Gaming, was named president and chairman of the board of directors of Three Square Food Bank. Others appointed include: Secretary Anita Romero, of Southwest Gas Corporation; Treasurer Gina Polovina, of Boyd Gaming; and board members Michael J. Brown, of Barrick Gold Corporation, and Si White, of International Gaming Technologies. Three Square, which was established in 2007, provides food to local nonprofit and faith-based organizations, schools and feeding sites.
Gov. Brian Sandoval announced six recipients of the 11th Annual Governor’s Points of Light Awards at the Volunteer and Corporate Engagement Summit. The award recipients were: Individual Volunteer in Southern Nevada — Raquel O’Neill, of Las Vegas; Individual Volunteer in Northern Nevada — Christina Thomas, of Reno; Individual Volunteer in Rural Nevada — Fern Payne, of Pahrump; Volunteer Manager — Dustin Rains, of Las Vegas; Nonprofit Volunteer Programs — R&R Partners Foundation; and Corporate and Business Volunteer Programs — MGM Resorts International’s Employee Volunteer Program. Michael Yackira, CEO of NV Energy, and Phyllis James, vice president of corporate responsibility for MGM Resorts International, also spoke at the event.
Las Vegas Sands President and COO Michael A. Leven was presented a Lifetime Achievement Award by the American Hotel Lodging Association and Burba Hotel Network at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit in Los Angeles. The award, ALIS’s highest honor, recognizes people with exemplary records of achievement in hospitality. Leven has spent more than 50 years in the hotel business. Before joining Las Vegas Sands, he worked as president of Holiday Inn Worldwide, Days Inn of America and Americana Hotels.
Holland & Hart attorneys Stephen Peek and Patrick Reilly were recognized by Benchmark Litigation as litigation stars in Nevada. Holland & Hart also earned the publication’s highest ranking and is the only law firm in the region to be shortlisted for the 2013 “Western Firm of the Year” award in litigation.
UNLV now has a permanent presence at the College of Southern Nevada to help aspiring Rebels. CSN President Michael Richards and UNLV President Neal Smatresk last month unveiled the UNLV/CSN Transfer Partnership at the CSN Charleston campus, which includes two full-time UNLV transition advisers to help students plan the move from the two-year college to the four-year university.
James J. Pisanelli, a co-founder of Pisanelli Bice, was selected a 2013 Top Rated Lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell. Pisanelli practices health care law.
Shari Norton was named office manager at the Ed Miley Law Firm. Norton previously worked at the firm as a legal secretary.
Michael Kennedy was hired as director of food operations and Michael Libonati was promoted to director of entertainment at South Point. Kennedy, who has 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry, will oversee 12 restaurants, concession stands and dining areas. Libonati, who has more than a decade of experience in Las Vegas’ entertainment industry, will head planning and implementation of all technical and managerial event rider advancements.