FINANCE
• Lexicon Bank welcomes three new members to the board of directors: Diana Bennett, Eric Houssels and Dr. Paul Johnson. The new board members join the nine previously installed members in leading Southern Nevada’s first newly chartered community bank in more than a decade.
“The new board members are an asset to the bank, making sure we’re on the right track to provide the business and banking community in Las Vegas exactly what they need,” said John Miller, CEO. “Diana, Eric and Paul bring a wealth of knowledge and experience the bank will utilize to enhance the services and experience we provide our clients. Every member of the Lexicon Bank community benefits from our board of directors, and that includes our new additions, Diana, Eric and Paul.”
— One of the most respected gaming executives and philanthropists in the Southern Nevada community, Bennett is the co-founder and chairman of the Board of Paragon Gaming. The Las Vegas-based gaming developer and operator boasts a portfolio that includes Westgate Las Vegas and Hard Rock Hotel, Lake Tahoe. Bennett has led turnaround, management and development efforts for multiple properties, including the Riviera and Sahara and River Cree Resort and Casino in Edmonton, Alberta. She serves as president of the Bennett Family Foundation, and is actively engaged in the Las Vegas community, supporting Three Square Food Bank, Noah’s Animal House, the I Have a Dream Foundation and Black Mountain Institute.
Bennett serves as vice chair of the UNLV Foundation Board and will serve as chair for the upcoming 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 semesters.
— Houssels has served as the co-founder and managing member of Houssels Capital Management LLC since 2000. He is chief investment officer of the Houssels Family LP, a partnership that manages the Houssels family office. Prior to this, Houssels worked in several capacities at Showboat Inc. and as a business analyst in the strategy division of Andersen Consulting in San Francisco. Houssels received his bachelor’s degree in economics from Stanford University and MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. He formerly served as treasurer of the Nevada Ballet Theatre and remains on the advisory board. He is a National Review Institute Regional Fellow and a CFA charterholder.
— Dr. Johnson is a physician who is double board-certified in anesthesiology and interventional pain medicine. He is the co-founder of Advanced Pain Medical Group, founded in 2007, a medical practice dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic pain conditions. Johnson also developed, constructed and managed nine ambulatories surgical centers in the Southern California area to provide higher quality, more convenient and compassionate care for patients.
Johnson has been responsible for acquisitions, management and disposition of commercial real estate assets. The real estate companies have more than 850,000 square feet under management in five states.
GAMING
• OYO has announced the addition of new General Manager Tim Kuykendall and Director of Food and Beverage Rick Giffen. Both men bring decades of hospitality experience to Las Vegas’ newly reimagined property.
— Kuykendall brings more than 25 years of experience to OYO. Most recently, he oversaw three Laughlin properties for Golden Entertainment. Kuykendall has been with the Golden Entertainment family since 2008, serving as vice president of The STRAT and multiple director roles, including director of customer excellence and director of operations and special projects.
Prior to Golden Entertainment, Kuykendall worked in Laughlin and Biloxi, Mississippi for Harrah’s Entertainment from 1994 to 2008. He began his journey in hospitality as a valet attendant at the Ritz Carlton in Phoenix. Kuykendall is an experienced leader and has handed multiple departments and implemented positive change. Kuykendall is a San Diego native and a dedicated husband, father and sports fan, cheering for the Vegas Golden Knights.
“Tim and Rick are outstanding additions to our team and bring a vast wealth of knowledge and hospitality experience with them and we are truly excited to welcome them to the OYO family,” said Abhinav Sinha, chief operating officer and partner of OYO. “Together we are committed to enabling our guests, both tourists and locals, to experience #LivingTheGoodLife in one of the world’s most dynamic hospitality markets. Renovation planning is underway, while we continue to host guests in the hotel and our restaurants.”
— Giffen has opened over 65 food and beverage concepts nationwide throughout his 35-year career in hospitality. Most recently, Giffen served as the executive chef at T-Mobile Arena. His training began at the Hotel Intercontinental in his native San Diego. He became the youngest executive chef in the Sheraton Hotel family when he took over operations in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Giffen moved to Las Vegas in 1994 and has served in executive chef roles up and down the Las Vegas Strip, including The STRAT, China Grill Properties at Mandalay Bay and Mon Ami Gabi at Paris Las Vegas. When not in the kitchen, Giffen can be found cooking, golfing, traveling and hiking with his wife, Michelle, and their two labradoodles, Molly and Snicker. Giffen is an avid golfer and Los Angeles Chargers fan.
NONPROFIT
• Project 150, a local nonprofit that provides homeless, displaced and disadvantaged high school students with basic necessities, has appointed Joseph Radetich to its board of directors.
Radetich is the president of Sysco Las Vegas. He has more than 10 years of experience working for the Fortune 500 company that serves as one of the world’s largest food service distributors. He began his career with Sysco in 2007 as a marketing associate at Sysco Arizona in Phoenix and climbed the executive ladder, being named president of Sysco Las Vegas in 2016. Radetich serves on the board of the Epicurean Charitable Foundation.
“I’m so pleased to welcome Joe as a new board member,” said Kelli Kristo, Project 150 executive director. “He will be a tremendous asset as we continue to strengthen our support system for students in need throughout Southern Nevada.”
REAL ESTATE
• McCarthy Building Cos., one of the nation’s oldest and largest privately held construction firms, has named Mark Mohning as director of design integration for its Las Vegas office. Mohning brings nearly two decades of diverse qualifications in both owner’s representation and commercial architecture to his new role and will be working with the Virgin Hotels and Circa project teams.
“Our collaborative and integrated approach to the design phase is part of our commitment to quality,” said Jeff Wood executive vice president of operations for McCarthy Building Cos. “Having Mark bring his background as an architect and as an owner’s rep to our team further strengthens our capabilities and enhances our ability to ensure each client an exceptional experience from preconstruction through project completion.”
Mohning joins McCarthy after having previously served for four years as the owner’s rep for Station Casinos design and construction group where he oversaw projects from conception through construction completion including the $690 million remodel of the Palms where he served as project manager for the majority of the entire low-rise and the sprawling casino.
A licensed architect in the state of Nevada who formerly worked with KGA Architecture for a decade, Mohning has a track record of success and a commercial portfolio with vast experience in large- and small-scale hospitality, health care, gaming, high-rise residential, entertainment, restaurant, education, detention, corporate headquarters and public works.
