John Guedry, who has served as CEO for Bank of Nevada and First Independent Bank for more than a decade, will retire December 31. Western Alliance Bank, parent company of Bank of Nevada and First Independent Bank, hired Robert Cerminaro, a 25-year veteran of the banking industry, as the new CEO, effective January 1. Cerminaro joined the company September 26 and will work alongside Guedry to facilitate the leadership transition. Guedry secured the high-profile commercial banking and educational partnership with the Las Vegas Raiders and Allegiant Stadium. He also oversaw the launch of the company’s Gaming National Business Line and expansion into the Utah market.
JCJ Architecture, a planning, architecture and interior design firm, has elevated Mike Larson, AIA, NCARB, MBA, to principal, and JoyceLynn Lagula, Associate AIA, to associate principal. It also hired Derek Sola, AIA, LEED AP, BD+C as design principal. Larson has over 19 years of experience in the Las Vegas hospitality and gaming industry. Lagula joined JCJ in January and has over 16 years of experience in global hospitality and entertainment interiors. Sola has over 25 years of experience, most recently with Gensler’s Las Vegas office, where he was design director, studio director and firmwide gaming leader.
WTD Development & Construction, a real estate and general construction company, named Michael Clutts president of commercial construction. Clutts was previously vice president of construction. He has more than 40 years of experience in the construction industry. He will manage all contractors, scheduling, procurement inspections, testing and closeout of commercial projects WTD Development & Construction handles for local and regional clients.
Sahara Las Vegas announced the executive team joining Balla Italian Soul, the newest restaurant by James Beard Award-winning chef Shawn McClain, set to open October 8. The executive chef will be Michael Vargas, who has more than 18 years of experience in operations for upscale restaurants and hotels. General manager will be David Grates. The assistant general manager is Dani Cachu. Jamie Gonzalez, who has more than 15 years of experience in the culinary industry, will be a sous chef, as
will Pedro Becerra-Carrizales Jr., who has nearly 10 years of experience in the culinary arts.
Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance named Amber Stidham senior vice president and chief strategy officer. She previously served as vice president of government affairs at the Henderson Chamber of Commerce, overseeing economic development, political, policy and regulatory programs.
IndiCap, a boutique commercial real estate company specializing in industrial investment and development in Arizona and Nevada, welcomed financial professional Leah Rinta to the team to oversee the company’s operational accounting, financial reporting, and related internal controls functions.
Braintrust, a certified minority-owned business and integrated marketing agency with offices in Las Vegas; Nashville, New York and Los Angeles, promoted Sunny Wanser to director of digital development.
Global Gaming Women, a gaming industry nonprofit dedicated to supporting, inspiring and influencing the development of professional women, announced Lauren Bates as first vice president and Siobhan Lane as second vice president of the board of directors. Bates is vice president of sales, Western region, at Konami Gaming Inc. Lane is interim lead of the gaming business unit of Light & Wonder, as well as gaming chief commercial officer at the company.
Click HERE to subscribe for free to Vegas Inc’s BizClick newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest business news in Las Vegas sent directly to your inbox each Monday.
This story appeared in Las Vegas Weekly.