Associate Board
Associate Board President
Amy Becker
Cintas
Associate Board Vice President
Sarah Scott
KeyImpact, Sales & Systems
Associate Board Secretary
Claudia Soler
The Venetian Resort & Casino
College/University: UNLV Class of 2014
Major/Minor: Hospitality Management; Lodging & Resort Management
High School: Durango High School
Mentor: Marisa Martino & Kelley Jones
Fun Fact: Claudia was born in Cuba and is fluent in English, Spanish, Italian and French. She was awarded the Avero New York City Restaurant Education Experience in 2013. Claudia is currently the Project Director for Kelley Jones Hospitality.
Vildan Buric
Green Valley Ranch Resort
College/University: UNLV Class of 2014
Major/Minor: Hospitality Management; Lodging & Resort Management
High School: Durango High School
Mentor: Michael Kennedy
Fun Fact: Vildan worked his way through school as a pool attendant at Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas, and at his family’s sandwich shop at Boulevard Mall. Born and raised in Bosnia, he is fluent in Bosnian and English. He was awarded the Avero New York City Restaurant Education Experience in 2013. He is currently the Assistant Director of Food and Beverage of Green Valley Ranch Casino.
Wendy Cooper
The Mirage
College/University: Art Institute of Las Vegas Class of 2014
Major/Minor: Culinary Management
High School: Foothill High School
Mentor: Adam Odegard
Fun Fact: Wendy serves as a line cook at Foundation Room and plans to become a kitchen manager or sous chef in the next three years. She was a recipient of the Education Foundation Scholarship and was on the dean’s list at the Art Institute of Las Vegas.
Jordan Moore
City of Las Vegas
College/University: UNLV Class of 2014
Major/Minor: Hospitality Management
High School: Valley High School
Mentor: Rene Werner
Fun Fact: Jordan recently returned from studying abroad in Madrid, Spain, and volunteers her time with the Derfelt Senior Center, speaking engagements for high school and middle school students about college and serves as a board member for Food Pantry. Jordan is currently an Assistant to the Director for The Department of Youth Development and Social Innovation for the City of Las Vegas.
Alumni Vice President
Nachely Martinez
The Venetian Resort & Casino
College/University: Graduated from UNLV in 2013
Major/Minor: Hospitality Management/Spanish
High School: Durango High School
Mentor: Luiz Oliveira
Fun Fact: Nachely graduated from UNLV in 2013 and is currently the Hotel Operations Special Projects and Hotel Administrative Manager at Venetian. She is a recipient of the Harrah’s First-Generation Scholarship.
Karen Giselle Nava
The Venetian Resort & Casino
College/University: UNLV class of Fall 2016
Major/Minor: Hospitality Management/Meetings and Events
High School: Valley High School
Mentor: Ana Marie Mormando
Fun Fact: Karen served as Chair Emeritus of the National Society of Minorities in hospitality (NSMH) and Presidential Student Ambassador. She was a Student Assistant and Events Intern for the UNLV Foundation, where she coordinated events for the UNLV donors. Events such as UNLV Foundation Annual Dinner with key note speakers like Hilary Clinton and Anderson Cooper. Karen currently works as a front desk agent at Venetian/Palazzo. She is trilingual (English, Spanish, and French) and was named one of Vegas Seven Magazine’s ‘Most Intriguing People’ of 2012.
Malek Sadri
Wynn | Encore
College/University: Graduated from UNLV in 2013
Major/Minor: Hospitality Management
High School: Coronado High School
Mentor: Ana Marie Mormando
Fun Fact: Malek graduated from UNLV in 2013 and is currently Lead Concierge at Wynn Las Vegas.
Melanie Saucedo
The Venetian Resort & Casino
College/University: UNLV Class of 2018
Major/Minor: Hotel Administration
High School: Northwest Career & Technical Academy
Mentor: Ken Johnson, Marisa Martino, Luiz Oliveira
Fun Fact: Melanie is a junior at UNLV that has maintained a 3.9 gpa and is in Honors College. She plans to focus her career in meeting and events on one of the Strip properties. Learning new languages is one of her interests and she is fluent in Spanish and French. She is currently an Analyst in the Revenue Management department at The Venetian.
Mercedes Sanchez
Four Seasons Hotel Seattle
College/University: UNLV Class of 2015
Major/Minor: Hospitality Management
High School: Valley High School
Mentor: Jason Shkorupa
Fun Fact: Mercedes is currently the Sales Manager at Four Seasons Seattle. She served as the fundraising chairwoman and Hospitality Week Chairwoman for the National Society of Minorities in Hospitality (NSMH)and was an active member of Alpha Gamma Delta. She was a recipient of the Strive for Pi Excellence Award.
Andrea Rocca Capano
The Palms
College/University: UNLV Class of 2017
Major/Minor: Hospitality Management
High School: Valley High School
Mentor: Joe Romano
Fun Fact: Andrea is an active member of Alpha Delta Pi and volunteers her time with the Ronald McDonald House charities. She placed third in a collegiate competition for DECA and made the dean’s list throughout her freshman year.
John Mautner
Keith Oliver
Lora Perez
Nestle Waters
