Thursday September 17, 2020
Dear ECF Family and Supporters,
The staff and board at ECF are excited to welcome you all to the new school year and introduce you to our newest class of recipients: Kanaelah Harper, Diana Loaiza, Valerie Nava, and Erik Tran. They boast a collective 3.99GPA and you can learn more about them below.
As the situation related to the COVID-19 pandemic is still currently unfolding and the future of limitations is unknown at this time, our ECF board was faced with the difficult decision of postponing our M.E.N.U.S. event scheduled for October 2 until 2021. While this was a difficult decision, we remain hopeful that we will be able to hold the event once the social distancing restrictions have been eased.
We are excited to be holding our 5th Annual Golf Classic on Monday, November 2, 2020 in conjunction with current health guidelines. We will be making modifications to our tournament and holding it with an abundance of caution and are expected to be sold out. More event details are below.
Our work is far from finished and we have the opportunity to come out of this better than we were before. We send our sincere thanks to our amazing Members, Donors, and Friends. We are here for you and we are all in this together.
Stay safe and healthy!
Best,
Kevin Ball
Chairman of the Board
GOLF 2020- NEW DATE, NOVEMBER 2, 2020
ECF's NEWEST CLASS OF RECIPIENTS
Kanaelah Harper, ECF/UNLV Class of '24, plans to be manager of hotel operations due to her love of hotels and seeing everything come together to form a great and unforgettable experience for everyone involved. Kanaelah graduated from a performing arts school and is multi-talented. Kanaelah cannot wait to meet more professionals in the industry, especially the hotel industry, and make lasting connections and friendships that will help her successfully navigate the hospitality industry and reach her goals.
Diana Loaiza, ECF/UNLV Class of '24, is a hospitality major whose dream is to someday be general manager of MGM Resorts. She studied culinary for three years at Southeast Career Technical Academy and loves to bake. She is looking forward to learning as much as she can from her mentor Martha Morales and expanding her network!
Valerie Nava, ECF/UNLV Class of '24, is a hospitality major who dreams of creating her own wine brand named after her mother's last name because she hopes to make a legacy in her family yet contribute to others' happiness when they toast in celebration. She is currently Vice President of the UNLV College of Hospitality Wine Society. She has recently become a member of UNLV's NSMH and the Epicurean Society. She looks forward to getting to know her first mentor Kevin Ball and his knowledge of the hospitality industry!
Eric Tran, ECF/UNLV Class of '24, is a hospitality major who dreams of becoming a chef and opening up his own restaurant, which will be Vietnamese themed so others may experience the unique culture and cuisine of Vietnam. He has graduated from Durango High School with an impressive 4.7 GPA and ranked in the top 2% of his class! His hope is to open up the restaurant of his dreams through the people he meets and the connection he makes, like his mentor Michael Kennedy, who is the Vice President of the Epicurean Charitable Foundation and the Director of Food Operations at South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa!
STRIKES FOR SCHOLARSHIPS
This year at our student run event, Strikes for Scholarships, students and guests made the best of the current situation and raised money for our students’ scholarships through bowling and winning raffle prizes. With 50% capacity, we maintained a safe event with all precautions taken to make sure our guests were safe to attend. It was a really fun morning that helped everyone get out and have a good time while being safe and raising over $6,000 for a great cause.
WINE OF THE MONTH- SEPTEMBER
ECF’S BOARD IS GROWING!
Welcome new board member Jody Lawrence, Director of Strategic Accounts & Activation for Breakthru Beverage Group
Welcome new board member Mark Gilbert, President at A Bettor Company
Welcome new board member Megan Humphreys, Vice President Food & Beverage Strategy for MGM Resorts International
Welcome new board member Michael Scafuto, CEO at The M&M Group
Welcome new associate board member Corinne Burton, Employee and Labor Relations for The City of North Las Vegas
Welcome new associate board member AJ Song, Managing Director of Charlton Medical Supplies, CEO of Spheo LLC, and Channel Partner of Scylla A.I.
Welcome new associate board member Ivana Cvejic, Co-Founder of Renhead
Welcome new associate board member Keith Oliver, Sr. Vice President, Commercial Division Corp., Preventive Pest Control
Welcome new associate board member Shaina Graham, Assistant Director of Events and Marketing for Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits
Welcome new associate board member Sandra Hinklebein, Owner, Market Right Wines
Welcome new associate board member, ECF/UNLV Alumna, Alexandria Von Mohr, Attorney at Howard & Howard Attorneys PLLC
Welcome new associate board member, ECF/UNLV Alumnus, Ben Sison, Food Server, South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa
Welcome new associate board member, ECF/UNLV Alumna, Candace Kozell, Rooms Coordinator for The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
Welcome new associate board member, ECF/UNLV Alumna, Kim Zhou, Owner of Ni Hao Tea
Welcome new associate board member, ECF/UNLV Alumna, Maria Miranda, Supervisor at Violette’s Vegas
Welcome new associate board member, ECF/UNLV Alumna, Anna Tymoshevska, Hotel Operations Manager at SKYLOFTS at MGM Grand
Welcome new associate board member, ECF Alumnus, Ciro Fodera, Chef de Cuise at Capo Restaurant and Supper Club
Welcome new associate board member, ECF Alumna, Emily Hewett, Corporate Chef for Culinary Development and Events for Chobani Greek Yogurt
BOARD UPDATES
Board Treasurer, Robert Chiti raised $3,072 for scholarships through his Facebook birthday fundraiser. His restaurant, Mama Bird has been nominated for best of Las Vegas in a few categories!
Congratulations ECF Board of Director, Colleen Birch. She is UNLV Alumna of the Year!
Congratulations ECF Board Vice President and past Chairman Michael Kennedy for having all South Point Hotel, Caino & Spa restaurants reopened.
GOOD THINGS ARE HAPPENING FOR OUR STUDENTS AND GRADS
ECF/UNLV Students Jaslin Estavillo & Sol Gonzalez have created their own podcast. They talk about people’s success stories in hospitality, business, and entrepreneurship. Check them out: https://flow.page/justsayin.site
Anna Tymoshevska, ECF/UNLV Class of ‘19, has successfully started working on her MS in Applied Economics and Data Intelligence and hopes to be a data scientist or analyst in the hospitality industry!
Valerie Nava, ECF/UNLV Class of '24, was appointed as Vice President of the UNLV College of Hospitality Wine Society.
Miriam Munoz Gonzalez, ECF/UNLV Class of ‘23 got a part-time as Front Desk at TownePlace Suites in Henderson by Marriott.
Adolfo Ramirez, ECF/UNLV Class of ‘23 got a position as Front Desk at TownePlace Suites in Henderson by Marriott.
ECF students had the opportunity to “beat the heat” and socially distance on board member Eric Brady’s 75’ houseboat and water toys. Thank you Eric!
For more information, please contact Melissa Arias at 702.932.5098, melissa@ecflv.org or visit the ECF website at www.ecflv.org.
