Leon Symanski

Leon Symanski, ’87 BS Business Administration, ’94 Master of Public Administration, ’01 JD, is an attorney at Craig P. Kenney & Associates. Before attending law school, he worked 10 years in the hotel/casino industry. During his undergraduate years, he played for the Runnin’ Rebels. His hobbies include golf, reading, and thoroughbred horses. He is married to Lisa Gentile Symanski, ’87 BA Communication Studies. They live in Henderson.

Shannon Hume Shogren

Shannon Hume Shogren, ’87 BA History, is homeschooling her youngest child and working from home for an online event ticket company. After receiving her law degree from California’s McGeorge School of Law in 1990, she passed the Nevada Bar exam and spent eight years working for the state of Nevada as an unemployment appeals referee. She also worked in human resources for a nursing home. Her hobbies include serving as musical director for the local community theater company and sometimes appearing on stage in small character roles. Her son, Carnell Johnson, ’06 Bachelor of Music, is a gondolier at the Venetian. She and her husband have a combined family of four children. They live in Cambridge, Minnesota.

Vida Chow

Vida Chow, ’87 BS Hotel Administration, ’06 Master of Hotel Administration, is director of talent management/Asia Pacific for Hyatt Hotels and Resorts. She lives in Hong Kong.

Daniel Royal

Daniel Royal, ’86 BS Biology, ’03 JD, has patents pending for obtaining pluripotent stem cells from autologous blood. He is the medical director at Royal Medical Clinic in Henderson. 

Lisa Ransom

Lisa Ransom, ’86 BA English, has worked primarily in the field of telephone customer service. Her hobbies include travel, animal rescue, wildlife conservation, veterans’ issues, retiree issues, sewing, knitting, and crafts.

Ron Drake

Ron Drake, ’86 BS Business Administration, ’89 MBA, is managing director of sales for Caesars Entertainment. He lives in Henderson. 

Perry Todd

Perry Todd, ’84 BS Hotel Administration, is a table games supervisor. He has spent 40 years working in gaming and food and beverage, including stints as restaurant manager and food and beverage manager, with his jobs taking him to both coasts. He is a member of the Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. His hobbies include traveling and reading plays. He has been married for 16 years.

Timothy Bonenfant

Timothy Bonenfant, ’82 BA Music, ’84 Master of Music, ’05 DMA Music, gave a world premiere performance of “Persona No. 4,” composed by 51ԹϺ music professor Virko Baley, this summer in Madrid. He previously recorded an album of Baley’s works,Multiple Personae: The Family of Clarinets, which was released in 2014. He lives in San Angelo, Texas.

Barbara Phillips

Barbara Phillips, ’81 BA Communication Studies, is retired, but politically active in Clean Energy Project, an energy conservation organization, and in volunteering for 2016 Democratic candidates. Previously, she worked for the public television station KLVX. She plans to take a Danube Christmas market cruise. She and her husband, Ronald Phillips, ’73 BS Management, have spent 10 years traveling around the county in recreational vehicles. Her hobbies include art and creative floral projects.

Ken Edwards

Ken Edwards, ’81 BS Hotel Administration, owns Hotel Management Online, which holds worldwide rights to HMBookstore.com, and is managing partner for Tristar Hotel Group, which owns and operates hotels. He oversees development and acquisitions for Tristar. His hobbies include basketball, football, wine tasting, reading, cooking, and spending time in California. He lives in Phoenix.

Denise Miller Cipolla

Denise Miller Cipolla, ’80 BS Education, ’80 BA English, ’90 Master of Education, is coordinator of guidance and counseling for Conroe Independent School District in Texas. She previously spent four years as a high school English teacher and 25 years as a high school counselor. Her hobbies include traveling (38 countries so far), scuba diving, cooking, and spending time with grandchildren. She and her husband, Craig Cipolla, ’81 BA Chemistry, ’81 BS Engineering, celebrate their 35th anniversary in November. They live in The Woodlands, Texas.

Marty Gross

Marty Gross, ’79 BS Hotel Administration, is vice president for King of Cage, one of the largest mixed martial arts promotions, owned by Lucas Oil. He has spent most of his career in the casino/hotel industry, including top-level positions at Cannery Casinos, Station Casinos, M Resort, the Riviera, and tribal gaming operations. He and his wife, Bonnie, have been married 34 years and have three children.