Vegas Magazine - Niche Media - There is a place beyond the crowds, beyond the ropes, where dreams are realized and success is celebrated. You are invited.
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/533211
Norm Clarke Columnist, Las Vegas Review-Journal W hat are t he most mea ning f ul ways t hat you g ive back to t he community? Helping k ids a nd animals means everything to me. All proceeds from my show "Conversations with Norm" at Cabaret Jazz go to t he Sm it h Center's educat ion a nd out reach programming. Because of our silky terriers, Rumor and Scandal, I'm an honorary board member of the Nevada SPCA . L a s Vega s ha s become t he most incredible chapter in my life. What is it about Vegas that makes this a great city to work in as a journalist? We're at the center of t he universe for enter t a inment news. Ever yone comes here to have fun—a nd ma ny ma ke inter na - tional news. Thank you, Prince Harry. Tom JiNgoli Chief Compliance Officer and Senior Vice President, Konami Gaming You're involved in quite a few philant hropic endeavors . W hic h one is t he most i mpor t a nt to you? I received my ma ster's deg ree f rom t he William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration [at UNLV] in 1996, so all the work that Konami and I do for the university is special to me. We have close to 40 employees at Konami who hold a degree from UNLV, and we actively recruit graduates. How can the gaming industry maintain its foot- hold in t he f uture? It comes dow n to developing games that the younger generation can relate to. I serve as the president of AGEM, our trade associa- tion, and we have a bill, SB 9, currently making its way through the leg islative process in Carson Cit y that would allow for elements of skill in gaming devices. ToNy HsieH CEO, Zappos What do you think Vegas does right and what can be improved? Vegas has been, and always will be, the city of possibilities. In the past, much of the focus was on tourists. It's great to see more focus being put on locals. What's one piece of advice you'd give to someone younger than you? Be unapologetically true to your- self and broadcast that to the world, and eventually your people will find you. If you're a different person on the inside compared to what you portray on the out- side, it'll be really hard for the right people to find you. What has been the most fulfilling aspect of your career? It's been inspiring and rewarding to watch employees grow both personally and professionally over the years, with many of them doing things they didn't previously imagine or think they were capable of. Hae UN lee Founder, Lee's Discount Liquor Which professional or charitable accomplish- ment are you most proud of ? Many people strive for t he A mer ica n d rea m, but ver y few act ua l ly achieve it. Most immigrants have been trying to real- ize their American dream almost their entire lives. I feel so lucky to say that my American dream has been fulfilled. I am most proud of my success as an immi- grant and for me to be able to come out of my comfort zone and f lourish. What inspired you to start Lee's Helping Hand Foundation? I feel it is my duty to give back to the community and help people in need, considering that Las Vegas has given me so many opportunities to be recognized as a successful businessman. roN lUrie Executive Vice President and General Manager, Arizona Charlie's You're ver y act ive in bot h preser vat ion a nd children's services. Really, preservation and chil- dren's services go hand in hand. I am a firm believer that the future of our city, as well as our country, will be in dire straits if we do not get back to the basics in raising our youth. I mean, teaching them the impor- tance of strong work ethics, community service, and preserving the natural resources that we have, includ- ing the water so necessary to our community. In what other ways do you enjoy giving back to the community? Being a former board member for Opportunity Village and more recently a volunteer for Miracle League has taught me to be grateful, to be humble, to work hard, and to smile. BraNdoN marsHall Linebacker, Denver Broncos In what ways do you enjoy g iving back to t he Vegas community? It's my hometown; it's a city I hold near and dear to my heart. I especially enjoy taking some time out to read to little kids and talking to high schools, because these are the kids who will be changing the world in a few years. Why is it important for athletes to give back? I feel it's our duty as public figures; we have such a big platform and we need to use it. Kids look up to us and want to be athletes themselves, and it's our responsi- bility to give back because of the inf luence we have. How do you pla n to use your own experience with domestic violence to impact others? I'd like to continue to work with different organizations to spread my story and my mom's story to give hope to people who may be going through that. I hope that it creates a change in the way we talk about it. "To be a parT of The growTh of This communiTy over The years has been an accomplishmenT ThaT cannoT be replicaTed." —kevin orrock ^ 100 vegasmagazine.com