Phillip Flaherty, '80 BS Accounting, has been named president of PTS Global Capital Inc. Previously, he served as president of Barrick Gaming Inc. and as president and managing director of Sheraton's Desert Inn Resort and Casino. Active in the gaming community, he served as a board member of the Nevada Resort Association and chaired its Legislative Committee and Currency Reporting Regulations Committee.
Edward Joseph Malik, '83 BA Psychology, has been in private practice as an optometrist since 1988. He is president of Eyes and Optics Ltd., Oculus Ltd., and the Shade Brigade Sunglass Co. A drummer and musician, he is the owner of Turtlehead Studios in Red Rock Canyon, ScrumptDillyDisc Productions, and the Melancholics. His hobbies include history, Red Rock Canyon, and, increasingly, naps. He and his wife, Lauren Fabry, '82 AS Radiological Sciences, have two children, Paige, 9, and Ethan, 7.
Saundra Johnson, '81 BS Business Administration, was recently appointed to the Board of Directors of UNLV's College of Business Alumni Association. She chairs Vistage International, the world's largest international organization of chief executives. Previously, she managed financial functions for the campaigns of U.S. Sen. John Ensign and for Wolfgang Puck Fine Dining in Las Vegas. She has been a certified public accountant in Nevada since 1983. .
Thomas Foskaris, '83 BS Hotel Administration, is branch manager for AIG Financial Advisors in Henderson. His practice focuses on providing retirement and estate planning solutions to high-net-worth individuals and families throughout the United States. He remains active at UNLV, serving as a dean's associate to the Division of Health Sciences and as a member of the UNLV Foundation Planned Giving Council. He also is a lifetime member of the UNLV Alumni Association.
Geoffrey Combs, '84 BS Hotel Administration, is the accounting and human resource manager for the Colorado Horse Park. Located in Parker, it one of the nation's largest equestrian facilities. He lives on the eastern plains of Colorado with his wife, Gina, and stepson, Nick.
Vida Chow, '86 BS Hotel Administration, is the director of human resources at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong. She has worked in a variety of jobs during her 17 years at the hotel, including catering sales, convention services, front office, and event management. Bikram yoga is one of her hobbies.
Valarie Young, '86 BS Secondary Education and '92 MA History, teaches at the Advanced Technologies Academy. A 20-year employee of the Clark County School District, she has taught at both junior and senior high schools. In 2005 she was selected as a Milken National Educator, one of 41 U.S. secondary teachers to receive the honor. She received $25,000 and a trip to Washington, D.C., as part of the award. She and her husband, Lyn, have three children and four grandchildren.
Scott Deveau, '87 BS Hotel Administration, works for the U.S. General Services Administration. A 15- year employee, he is involved with government-owned properties and commercial real estate. A four-year resident of Anchorage, Alaska, he is in the process of adopting two boys, ages 4 and 8.
Lisa A. Symanski, '87 BA Communication Studies, is casino special events manager for Caesars Palace. She previously worked 17 years as casino special events director for Bally's & Paris Las Vegas. She transferred to Caesars Palace as the result of the merger with Harrah's Corp. She is married to former Runnin' Rebel Leon R. Symanski, '87 BS Business Management, '94 Master of Public Administration, and '01 JD. They have a daughter, Noelle. They live in Henderson.
Michael Chesley, '88 BS Hotel Administration, is the owner of a restaurant, Graze by Jennifer James, and a lounge, Gulp!, in Albuquerque, N.M. He was named 2005 Restaurateur of the Year by the New Mexico Restaurant Association. A 14-year resident of the state, he is married and has two children.
Anthony R. Griffiths, '88 BS Business Administration, is CEO of Global Presenter, a Pro-Av systems integrator in Huntington Beach, Calif. He lives in Seal Beach.
Antoinetta "Toni" Dunning Nance, '89 BS Business Administration, is a production operations manager for Mortgage Lenders Network USA in Rocky Hill, Conn. She previously worked as assistant director of banking relations for Advest Inc. Married for 11 years, she enjoys billiards, bowling, and entertaining friends. She lives in Hartford.
James P. Reza, '89 BA Political Science and Communication Studies, is vice president of Cultural Development Co., a Nevada-based retail and hospitality development firm that operates the award-winning Globe Salon. He is the founding publisher of SCOPE magazine, now known as Las Vegas Weekly. He also is the associate publisher of Vurb magazine, a new Las Vegas-based publication focusing on the renewed sense of city living in the New West. It is published by Urban Village Publishing, which he was instrumental in founding.
Joe H. Smith, '89 BS Accounting, recently was promoted to director of audits and finance for the National Indian Gaming Commission. The position entails managing the regulatory compliance auditing process and being responsible for the commission's internal accounting function. A seven-year employee of the commission, he has 25 years of experience in gaming. Previous jobs included casino internal auditor, Nevada Gaming Control Board agent, and investigator for the Clark County department of business license. He and his wife, Teresa Ann, have three children. The couple is moving from Oregon to the Washington, D.C., area.
