Cynthia Alexander, a member partner in the Las Vegas office of Dickinson Wright, has been reappointed by the Supreme Court of Nevada as a trustee of the Nevada Bar Foundation.
Gary Wilson, 79, and Brenda Chobanian, 77, were the first two Nevadans to receive mitral valve repair procedures using the MitraClip system. The procedure was performed at the Heart Center at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center and led by interventional cardiologist Nayab Zafar of the Heart Center of Nevada and cardiovascular-thoracic surgeon Bashir Chowdhry.
Melissa May is executive vice president and partner at Bruce Merrin’s Celebrity Speakers & Entertainment Bureau.
Kevin Karo is BDO USA’s west region managing partner of assurance services.
Eide Bailly added consulting firm JW Advisors and hired accountant Bryce Wisan. Kirk Jacobson, managing partner of JW Advisors, will become the partner-in-charge of Eide Bailly’s Las Vegas office. JW Advisors also ranked No. 1 in the small-firms category of Accounting Today’s “2016 Best Accounting Firms to Work For. Fair, Anderson and Langerman was No. 10 on the list.
Johanna Halosz is a loan officer at Caliber Home Loans.
The Las Vegas Business Academy accepted two UNLV graduate degree scholarship recipients. Caitlin Lorelli and Michael Matzke are pursuing juris doctorates at UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law and are expected to graduate in May 2017. They join Mackenzie Warren, also pursuing a juris doctorate; Steven Brody, pursuing a master of business administration; and Hunter Davidson, pursing a juris doctorate and a master of business administration.
Eight home health agencies in Nevada were honored for their commitment to improving and promoting patient-centered care. The 2016 HealthInsight Quality Award home health recipients are Mountain Crest Home Health, Reliance Health Care, Healthy Living at Home, Faith Home Health Care, Life Wellness Home Health Agency and Advent Home Health, all of Las Vegas; and New Horizon Home Care of Elko and Mesa View Home Care of Mesquite.
The Mill in Las Vegas received $50,000 as a winner in the Small Business Administration’s third annual Growth Accelerator Fund Competition.
Dignity Health-St. Rose Dominican Siena Campus was presented a 2016-17 Consumer Choice Award by National Research Corp. The award identifies U.S. hospitals that health care consumers choose as having the highest quality and image. The Siena facility was the only local hospital to receive this award.
Novomatic, a European gaming company, and Traffic Generation, which has an office in Las Vegas, rolled out the TraffGen Hub Pro marketing platform in the Casino Admiral San Roque in Spain.
NeuroRestorative Nevada opened. It is a community-based, specialized rehabilitation program for adults who have experienced traumatic brain injury or neurologic impairment at 7240 W. Oakey Blvd., Las Vegas.
Opened at Town Square Las Vegas are: Lazy Dog Restaurant and Bar, Sleep Number, A’Gaci, Ulta Beauty, Verizon Wireless and H&M Expansion.
Sunset Station renovated its 450-plus guest rooms and suites. The refresh included new wall coverings, carpet, bathroom upgrades, lighting and all new furniture including headboard, beds with pillow top mattresses, nightstands and dining table and chairs. Suites also received new art, mirrors and window drapery, while all bathrooms received new artwork and wall finishes.
Big Mess Bar-BQ is open at Sam’s Town.
Burkes Outlet is expanding to Las Vegas. Two outlets opened in October, at 3145 E. Tropicana Ave. in Las Vegas and 625 S. Green Valley Parkway in Henderson. A third outlet, encompassing 17,068 square feet at 4700 W. Sahara Ave., is expected to open in spring 2017. Burkes was represented by Newmark Grubb Knight Frank in the real estate deal.
•••
Public Relations Awards
The Public Relations Society of America Las Vegas Valley Chapter recently recognized achievement in that industry at the 2016 Pinnacle Awards. Honorees were:
• Senior Practitioner of the Year: Jeremy Handel, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority
• Newcomer of the Year: Greg Thilmont, BrainTrust
Best of Show – Tools and Techniques
• Provenance Healthcare – Uncracking the Code to a Healthier You; B&P Advertising Media Public Relations; James Stover, George McCabe
Best of Show – Public Relations Programs
• Project 150 / KLAS-TV Channel 8 News Now Community Pride Partnership; B&P Advertising Media Public Relations; Juliet V. Casey, George McCabe
Media Relations – Consumer Services
• Pinnacle Award: Palms Casino Resort Television Coverage on CNN’s “Morgan Spurlock: Inside Man,” Palms Casino Resort, Kirvin Doak Communications, Alana Litavis, Alex Acuna, Kate Whiteley, Allee Bennett, Taylor Fisher
• Pinnacle Award: Plaza Hotel & Casino Turnaround Story, Faiss Foley Warren, Amy E. S. Maier
• Award of Excellence: Silver State Health Insurance Exchange Open Enrollment 2016; Faiss Foley Warren Public Relations Agency, Penna Powers; Melissa Warren, Cherryl Kaopua, Karen Griffin, Stephanie Miller, Patty Halabuk
• Award of Excellence: SLS Las Vegas News Article in The New York Times; SLS Las Vegas, Kirvin Doak Communications; Michael Bertetto, Krystle Anttonelli, Kate Whiteley, Taylor Fisher, Cassandra Down
• Award of Excellence: Vegas VR Worldwide; R&R Partners, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA); Jessica Murray, Emily Wininger, Erin McCleskey, Devin Aaron, Tamara Rocha, Allie Edwards, Courtney Fitzgerald
MEDIA RELATIONS – BUSINESS TO BUSINESS
• Pinnacle Award: SR Construction Media Relations; Trosper Communications; Elizabeth Trosper, Kelsey Hand
MEDIA RELATIONS – NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS
• Award of Merit: Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman’s Great Escape Display at the Mob Museum; the Mob Museum – The National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement; Jonathan Ullman, Geoff Schumacher, Ashley Miller, Brenda Hengel, Misha Ray, Erika Pope
FEATURE STORIES
• Award of Excellence: “Matt Goss is Sinatra, New Vegas and Telecaster Cool”; Catalina Media Group; Juergen Barbusca
• Pinnacle Award: Provenance Healthcare – “Uncracking the Code to a Healthier You”; B&P Advertising Media Public Relations: James Stover, George McCabe
WEBSITES
• Award of Excellence: Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority Newsroom; Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority
• Pinnacle Award: Support Las Vegas Dome; MassMedia; Casey Floyd, Zachary Krassin, Paula Yakubik, Georgeann Pizzi, Justin Woolard
SOCIAL MEDIA
• Pinnacle Award: Ethel M Chocolates Acts of Sweetness; BrainTrust
• Award of Merit: Las Vegas Digital Influencer – Tyler Oakley; R&R Partners, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority; Jessica Murray, Erin McCleskey, Devin Aaron, Emily Wininger, Allie Edwards, Tamara Rocha, Courtney Fitzgerald
• Award of Excellence: Las Vegas Firefighters, Local 1285 Social Media; Trosper Communications; Elizabeth Trosper, Frank Fuentes, Kelsey Hand, Bailey Farrell
• Pinnacle Award: Las Vegas Springs Preserve Social Media Program; Las Vegas Valley Water District, Las Vegas Springs Preserve; Ashleigh Matview, Will Ward, Renee Grayson, Colleen Curran, APR, Lisa Story, APR, Bruno Bowles
• Award of Excellence: NDMV Online Transactions Increase by 21% with Help From Spanish Facebook Efforts; Nevada Department of Motor Vehicles, Penna Powers; Kevin Malone, Britni Brozo, Nick Giustino, Erico Bisquera
• Pinnacle Award: Pahrump Tourism International Page Likes Facebook Ad; BrainTrust
• Award of Excellence: SLS Las Vegas #MyVegasStorySocial Media Campaign; SLS Las Vegas, Kirvin Doak Communications; Michael Bertetto, Krystle Anttonelli, Richelle Rice, Sarah Nguyen, Shaina Chambers
• Award of Excellence; Southwest Medical Associates – Social Media Growth; B&P Advertising Media Public Relations; James Stover, George McCabe
• Pinnacle Award: Support the Las Vegas Dome; MassMedia; Jason Holte, Jared Sena, Casey Floyd, Kelly Jensen
• Pinnacle Award: Tapas by Stratta Opening; one7 communications; Dawn Britt, Carrie Giverson, Eric Gladstone
• Pinnacle Award: The Rape Crisis Center Social Media; Faiss Foley Warren Public Relations and Public Affairs; Daniella Cortez Alvarez, Marsha MacEachern Tempesta
• Pinnacle Award; Wolfgang Puck Social Media; BrainTrust
SMARTPHONE/TABLET APPLICATIONS
• Pinnacle Award: Vegas VR Worldwide; R&R Partners, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority; Jessica Murray, Emily Wininger, Erin McCleskey, Devin Aaron, Tamara Rocha, Allie Edwards, Courtney Fitzgerald
CREATIVE TACTICS
• Pinnacle Award: Dragon Noodle Celebrates 20 Years of Good Fortune; one7 communications; Dawn Britt, Carrie Giverson, Anthony DeFelice
• Award of Excellence: ICB Conference; Imagine Communications, NEMIC; Brian Rouff, Melissa Biernacinski, Tiffannie Bond, Nadia Zerka, Cynthia Carbajal, David Bernett
• Pinnacle Award: Sheet Metal Image Library; Imagine Communications, The Funds; Tiffannie Bond, Nadia Zerka, Cynthia Carbajal, James Page, Dave Bernett, Randall Krocka
PRESS CONFERENCES
• Award of Excellence: Check Your Seats in the Heat Press Conference; Trosper Communications; Elizabeth Trosper, Kelsey Hand, Bailey Farrell, Frank Fuentes, Sue Smuskiewicz
• Award of Excellence: Cox Conserves dedicates two solar projects in Nevada; Cox Communications – Las Vegas; Juergen Barbusca, Stephanie Stallworth, Susie Black
• Pinnacle Award: Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority and UNLV Kick Off First Ever Las Vegas Presidential Debate; Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
• Pinnacle Award: LVCVA Press Conference: Global Meetings Industry Day; Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority; Molly Castano, Heidi Hayes
• Award of Merit: Nevada 150 Historical Markers Legacy Project; the Glenn Group, Vero Strategies; Valerie Glenn, Veronica Meter
• Pinnacle Award: RFCD 2016 Flash Flood Safety Press Conference; Regional Flood Control District; Steven Parrish, Erin Neff, Beatriz Martinez
ONLINE VIDEOS
• Award of Excellence: Our Valley, Our Vision, Our Future Video; Southern Nevada Strong Project Team, City of Henderson, Community Development; Stephanie Garcia-Vause, Lisa Corrado, Brittany Markarian, Tom11 Productions, Councilwoman Debra March
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS
• Award of Excellence: Check Your Seats in the Heat PSA; Trosper Communications, City of Henderson
• Award of Excellence: Safe Pools Rule! PSA; Trosper Communications, City of Henderson
INTERNAL/INTRANET VIDEO PROGRAMS
• Award of Excellence: Pipeline Video Series; Las Vegas Valley Water District; Crystal Zuelke, Lisa Riess, Lisa Story
EXTERNAL VIDEO PROGRAMS
• Pinnacle Award: Springs Elemental Episode 147, August 2016; Springs Preserve; Jennifer Inaba, Lisa Riess, Joshua Tree Productions, Springs Preserve staff, LVVWD Public Information
NEWSLETTERS
• Pinnacle Award: Knife at The Highland Dallas Cuts Through the Noise; one7 communications; Dawn Britt, Nicole Bullis, H Farahi
• Pinnacle Award: Professional Firefighters of Nevada Flipboard Newsletter; Trosper Communications; Elizabeth Trosper, Frank Fuentes
BROCHURES
• Award of Merit: American Graduate Brochures; Vegas PBS Communications; Shauna Lemieux, Anthony Caruth, Caitlyn Lopez, Chuck Sinicki, Mark Nelson
• Pinnacle Award: Foundation Assisting Seniors HowRU Brochure; Trosper Communications; Elizabeth Trosper, Kelsey Hand, Ashley Campbell
PUBLICATIONS
• Tronox Arbor Day 2016-17 School Year Calendar; Trosper Communications; Elizabeth Trosper, Kelsey Hand, Ashley Campbell
PUBLIC SERVICE
• Pinnacle Award: The Rape Crisis Center’s Party Smart Campaign; Faiss Foley Warren Public Relations and Public Affairs; Lisa Robinson, Melissa Warren, Daniella Cortez Alvarez
MARKETING CONSUMER SERVICES
• Pinnacle Award: Grand Opening of the Pool at the Plaza; Faiss Foley Warren Public Relations and Public Affairs; Amy E. S. Maier
• Pinnacle Award: SLS Las Vegas #MyVegasStory PR Campaign; SLS Las Vegas, Kirvin Doak Communications; Michael Bertetto, Krystle Anttonelli, Kate Whiteley, Taylor Fisher, Cassandra Down
• Award of Excellence; Vegas VR Worldwide; R&R Partners, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority; Jessica Murray, Emily Wininger, Erin McCleskey, Devin Aaron, Allie Edwards, Tamara Rocha, Courtney Fitzgerald
MARKETING BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS
• Pinnacle Award: Ascent Multifamily Accounting Company Launch; Ascent Multifamily Accounting; Mike Ballard, Anton Tielemans, Sarah Thornton
INTEGRATED COMMUNICATIONS
• Pinnacle Award: Cannery Casino Wings & Pints Campaign; Cannery Casino; Steve Uricchio, Holly O’Brien, Cassandra McNulty, Kerry McCombe, Chef Steve Bacchetta, Ryan Paulos, Rachel Carey, Elizabeth Colosimo
• Pinnacle Award: Healthcare Partners Nevada Open Enrollment; MassMedia; Brooke Crumpler, Kassi Belz, Carmesha Thompson, Nicole King, Tommy DiGioia
• Pinnacle Award: McDonald’s Las Vegas – Eggs for Education; MassMedia; Georgeann Pizzi, Tiffany Ramsey, Shayna Moreno-Thompson, Jennifer Bradley, Jessica Lovell, Jason Holte
• Pinnacle Award: Miracle Flights 100K Flights Celebration; MassMedia; Jennifer Bradley, Dee Anna Padres, Kassi Belz, Zachary Krassin, Tommy DiGioia, Casey Floyd
• Pinnacle Award: Pink’s Hot Dogs and Haute Doggery Host National Hot Dog Day Tour; one7 communications; Dawn Britt, Carrie Giverson, Blaire Ritter, Camile Tanner
• Pinnacle Award: Sundance Helicopters’ Riviera Implosion Event Campaign; BrainTrust
EVENTS AND OBSERVANCES (SEVEN OR FEWER DAYS)
• Award of Excellence: Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada Turkey Pardon; BrainTrust
• Pinnacle Award: The Color Run Brightens Up Downtown Las Vegas; one7 communications; Dawn Britt, Carrie Giverson, Camile Tanner
• Award of Excellence: The Golden Tiki Throws a Tiki-rific Grand Opening; one7 communications; Dawn Britt, Carrie Giverson, Eric Gladstone, Rene McCullough
• Award of Excellence: Las Ventanas at Summerlin – Ronald Reagan Memory Support Suites Grand Opening; BrainTrust
• Award of Excellence: National Travel and Tourism Week 2016; Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority
• Award of Merit: Super Saturday Vegas-Style; Janet LaFevre and the Fashion Show and Grand Canal Shoppes teams, FFW Public Relations; McKinzie Cogswell, Melissa Warren
• Award of Excellence: Wahlburgers Coney Island Celebrates Grand Opening with Star-Studded Red Carpet Event; Wicked Creative; Lauren Cahlan, Stephanie Wilson
EVENTS AND OBSERVANCES (MORE THAN SEVEN DAYS)
• Pinnacle Award: Caesars Palace Celebrates 50 Years – Summer of Caesars Campaign; Caesars Palace Public Relations Team; Celena Haas, Adrienne Prather-Marcos, Kristin Soo Hoo, Chelsea Ryder, Talia Rothman, Jeff Wagner Agency
• Award of Excellence: Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada – 2016 (75th Anniversary); BrainTrust
• Award of Merit: Ethel M Chocolates Holiday Season 2015; Faiss Foley Warren Public Relations Agency; Melissa Warren, Lisa Robinson, Cherryl Kaopua
COMMUNITY RELATIONS
• Award of Merit: Check Your Seats in the Heat; Trosper Communications; Elizabeth Trosper, Kelsey Hand, Bailey Farrell, Frank Fuentes, Sue Smuskiewicz
• Award of Merit: McDonald’s Las Vegas – Make Activities Count (MAC) Grant Program; MassMedia; Georgeann Pizzi, Tiffany Ramsey, Shayna Moreno-Thompson
• Pinnacle Award: Project 150 / KLAS-TV Channel 8 News Now Community Pride Partnership; B&P Advertising Media Public Relations; Juliet V. Casey, George McCabe
• Pinnacle Award: Southern Nevada Strong: Creating Change through Community Engagement; Southern Nevada Strong Project Team, City of Henderson; Stephanie Garcia-Vause, Lisa Corrado, Brittany Markarian, Ramirez Group, Purdue Marion & Associates, Sumnu Marketing
INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS
• Pinnacle Award: 2016 Open Enrollment Campaign; JT3 LLC, ADP, and eurie creative; Nancy Weaver, APR, Victor Rodriguez, Robert Donovan, Sandra Harrison, Connie James, Alex Frazier
• Award of Merit: Cox ♥ Its Employee Volunteers Campaign: Cox Communications, Faiss Foley Warren Public Relations: Stephanie Stallworth, Nadia Basich, Susan Black-Manriquez
CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS
• Pinnacle Award: RFCD June 30 Flash Flood Event; Regional Flood Control District; Steven Parrish, Erin Neff, Beatriz Martinez