FINANCE
• Enterprise Bank & Trust, the banking subsidiary of Enterprise Financial Services Corp., has named Vjollca Tarjan to the position of Las Vegas market president.
A proven and trusted commercial banker with more than two decades of industry experience, Vjollca brings demonstrated leadership skills in successfully managing client relationships and driving sales growth in competitive markets including Las Vegas.
In her new role, Vjollca will build upon a culture of excellence, integrity and continuous improvement with the experienced and knowledgeable banking team at Enterprise. She will provide informed guidance in the development and implementation of innovative financial solutions to meet the evolving needs of small and midsize businesses.
“Vjollca is a seasoned banking leader who is highly respected throughout Las Vegas and the surrounding region, and we’re excited for her to build on the momentum of the business and brand Enterprise Bank & Trust has established in the region,” said Jeff Friesen, president, West Region. “She is a highly respected expert and community leader who will be an excellent representative for us among organizations and business leaders looking to grow.”
Vjollca will focus on driving Enterprise’s organic growth in Las Vegas and the surrounding region through the evaluation of business prospects, execution of growth strategies and active pursuit of the bank’s community-focused objectives.
Enterprise Bank & Trust offers a range of business and personal banking services, wealth management services and a variety of specialized banking services. Enterprise Financial Services Corp., with approximately $15.6 billion in assets, is a financial holding company headquartered in Clayton, Missouri. Enterprise Bank & Trust operates more than 40 branch offices in Arizona, California, Florida, Kansas, Missouri, Nevada and New Mexico, along with SBA loan production offices and deposit production offices throughout the country. Additional information is available at enterprisebank.com. Member FDIC.
NONPROFIT
• Communities In Schools of Nevada, the nation’s leading evidence-based stay-in-school organization serving 118 Nevada schools with regional offices in the Clark, Elko, Humboldt and Washoe County school districts, announced the appointment of new board members: Nelson Araujo of R&R Partners, Casey Flair of Aristocrat Gaming and Leslie Goicoechea of Nevada Gold Mines.
— Araujo serves as vice president of community affairs and partnerships for R&R Partners, leading efforts to bring a new large-scale studio to Las Vegas and spearheading a communitywide coalition to welcome another major league sports team to Southern Nevada. As a former state legislator, he forged coalitions to pass impactful laws, and as chief of staff for a U.S. senator, he managed diverse constituencies across cultural, demographic and political lines.
— As director of corporate social responsibility and corporate affairs for Aristocrat Gaming, Flair has more than a decade of experience working in various nonprofit leadership positions with organizations including The Just One Project, Hakkasan Group, Goodie Two Shoes Foundation and After School All-Stars Las Vegas. Flair graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and played football for UNLV where he broke multiple records.
— Goicoechea is the community engagement and development manager for Nevada Gold Mines. No stranger to CIS, she previously served as the executive director of the CIS of Northeastern Nevada affiliate and worked in various roles within the organization for over eight years. She holds an associate of applied science degree in general business.
CIS places full-time and professionally trained site coordinators in 118 Title I and high-needs schools across Nevada to support more than 100,000 students in grades K-12 who face barriers to their success. The organization taps into a statewide network of more than 120 community nonprofits, partners and agencies, bringing the community into the school to get students whatever they need to overcome the barriers they face that prevent them from achieving academically. From eyeglasses, dental care, health care and professional counseling to food, school supplies, clothing and housing, CIS identifies student needs and finds a way to address them, closing the gaps they experience in their everyday lives. CIS’s long-term vision is for every child enrolled in a Title I or high-needs school to access a CIS site coordinator and their evidence-based model of integrated student support, otherwise known as wraparound services. The graduation rate for CIS case-managed high school seniors in Nevada for the 2023-2024 school year was 97 percent. For more information, visit cisnevada.org and follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
TECHNOLOGY
• Acoustic Design Systems (ADS), Las Vegas’ industry leader in commercial and residential home automation and security solutions, has appointed Sean Goldfinger as its field operations manager, a new executive-level position designed to bridge the gap between operations and sales as the company continues its rapid growth.
Previously a member of the ADS sales team from 2017-2022, Goldfinger now steps into his new role to oversee field operations, optimize installation processes and ensure seamless coordination between departments to enhance efficiency and customer satisfaction. His leadership will play a critical part in aligning project execution with sales objectives, streamlining workflows and maintaining high-quality standards.
“With our continued growth, we saw the need for a dedicated role to connect operations and sales, ensuring our projects run smoothly from proposal to completion,” said Christopher Sterle, founder and CEO of Acoustic Design Systems. “Sean’s expertise in operational efficiency and team leadership makes him the perfect fit to elevate our processes and drive long-term success.”
Goldfinger brings extensive experience in home automation and security solutions, with expertise in process improvement, team management and delivering exceptional customer experiences. Acting as a liaison between sales, leadership and internal teams, his focus on accountability, training and innovation will help Acoustic Design Systems further refine its operations and contribute to driving the company’s continued success.
Founded in 2003, Acoustic Design Systems is the industry leader in commercial and residential home automation and security solutions. With nearly 60 expert technicians and more than 30 service vehicles, ADS specializes in providing revolutionary, custom-designed solutions to fit every lifestyle, including integrated room controls, audio and visual entertainment systems, security and monitoring systems, controlled access, acoustic panels, lighting and shade control, thermostat control and much more. The company offers support from start to finish, including design consultations, installation and tech support.
ADS is the exclusive home automation and security partner for Toll Brothers in Southern Nevada and has partnerships with Christopher Homes, Landon Miller Homes, Blue Heron, and several other boutique custom homebuilders and developers. ADS has worked on dozens of commercial projects throughout Las Vegas for organizations including Southern Glaziers, Las Vegas Design Center, Caesars Entertainment, many local restaurants, bars, and commercial shopping centers, as well as all of the Picerne Residential luxury apartment communities.
ADS is a certified luxury integrator with the Home Technology Association (HTA) and is actively involved with a number of local and industry organizations, including Home Technology Specialists of America (HTSA), Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA), Consumer Technology Association, Southern Nevada Home Builders Association (SNHBA), Professional Women in Building of Southern Nevada (PWB), Better Business Bureau, Henderson Chamber of Commerce and formerly the National Advisory Board for Snap One. For more information, visit ADSLV.com, and follow on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
• Cashless payments trailblazer Marker Trax has added longtime gaming industry executive Michael Daly as its chief operating officer.Daly brings more than 20 years of executive leadership experience in gaming technology, digital and business growth. He will report to Marker Trax President Charlie Skinner and oversee the company’s strategic expansion, technology teams and the deployment of Marker Trax’s innovative cashless credit solutions across multiple verticals, including the rapidly growing iGaming sector.
“Michael’s track record of driving technological innovation and business growth in the gaming industry, both land-based and online, makes him the ideal leader to help scale our operations,” Skinner said. “His expertise in both traditional gaming and digital platforms will be invaluable as we continue to revolutionize cashless gaming solutions.”
In his new role, Daly will play a crucial part in aligning company initiatives with primary partner Euronet Worldwide, ensuring seamless integration between the teams and vendor networks. His appointment comes at a pivotal time as Marker Trax accelerates its expansion into new markets and verticals.
Before joining Marker Trax, Daly held several prominent positions in the gaming industry, including CEO of Catena Media, where he successfully led market expansion initiatives and digital transformation efforts. His experience also includes executive roles at GAN and other leading gaming technology companies, where he consistently drove product advancement, market growth and revenues. He is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and earned a master of business administration degree from the University of Utah.
Marker Trax is a cashless, digital alternative to the traditional casino marker. The product is the first of its kind to offer regulatory-compliant casino marker technology that takes inefficiency out of issuing advances and provides operators with the tools to manage their in-house credit underwriting and repayments. Developed and patented by the company’s founder, Gary Ellis, in 2018, Marker Trax makes for a more efficient gaming experience for players. The Marker Trax system integrates into casino management systems and allows players to be approved and given access to issued markers in minutes. For more information, visit markertrax.com.
REAL ESTATE
• Suffolk, one of the largest and most innovative real estate and construction enterprises in the country, announced the opening of a Las Vegas office to support the increasing development in gaming and hospitality projects throughout the region. Suffolk also hired seasoned construction veteran Chris Anderson as the new general manager of the Las Vegas operation who will report to Pete Tuffo, Suffolk’s president of the Gulf Coast Region and National Gaming, to lead Suffolk’s strategic expansion into the region.
The establishment of a Las Vegas office further positions Suffolk at the epicenter of the gaming industry, where the company will continue to successfully deliver complex, large-scale hospitality and entertainment projects that will bring significant value for regional clients. Suffolk’s flat organizational structure and private ownership model led by sole proprietor, Chairman and CEO John Fish, allow for more streamlined, efficient decision-making on projects. Suffolk’s business model also provides clients with an unparalleled level of personalized service and efficient execution on projects in a market where speed and precision are paramount. Suffolk was recently chosen as the general contractor for the Four Seasons Private Residences just south of the Las Vegas Strip in Henderson, Nevada.
“Las Vegas is a growing and dynamic market for gaming and hospitality and Suffolk’s streamlined approach to managing complex, sophisticated projects positions us well to add even more value with an office on the ground,” Tuffo said. “As more of these projects come to market, we are excited to serve the city and surrounding region by delivering high-quality development and construction efficiently that will enable the region’s commerce and tourism to continue to thrive.”
Anderson joins Suffolk with 40 years of business development, financial management and pre-construction executive experience. He brings regional expertise and strong relationships in the gaming sector, having successfully managed projects for clients including Wynn Resorts, MGM, Mohegan Tribal Gaming, Limited, Caesars Entertainment, Inc., and the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. He has overseen construction on extensive and complex projects in Las Vegas and the surrounding area, including CityCenter and the Luxor Las Vegas.
