Name:

Age: 23

Position: DayDream Pool Club Ambassador

On any given day, you can find Kip Cottner displaying his signature smile as he mixes and mingles with guests at our adult pool club, DayDream. He artfully moves from cabana to daybed to lounge chairs greeting guests and making sure they’re having a great time. As a DayDream Pool Club Ambassador, Kip is tasked with creating an atmosphere and delivering a level of service (four-star) that will make you want to come back again and again.

As a newbie to the Vegas pool scene and to our resort, we wanted to get to know him more so we caught up with him poolside to talk academics and why he loves this city.

Vegas native…No. I’m originally from Missouri. I moved to Vegas in December because my older brother lives here.

What I you love about Las Vegas is…The weather. I love being outside and Vegas has the perfect weather.

When I’m not working, I’m…Going to school. Right now, I’m attending UNLV and getting my Master’s in healthcare administration. I have my undergraduate in business management and I’m hoping to combine both and eventually become a director at a hospital. 

When I’m not at school or working, I like working out and competing in body building shows. Last August I won the St. Louis Gateway Naturals competition placing in the Collegiate and Novice categories.

Something interesting about me is…I broke my neck while playing football in college. I played safety at Southeast Missouri State University and during a game I ended up suffering a pretty major neck injury. I had to have my spine fused and I was in a neck brace for two and half months. The recovering was really hard, but I thankfully I made a full recovery. 

The Vegas pool scene is….fun. I love working at DayDream and love working at the M. The environment that we’re creating is one that is very personal and local-oriented. In fact, one of the things that attracted me to the M and to DayDream specifically was how team-focused it is. It’s a lot of fun coming to work every day.

Favorite drink…Vodka water with a lime

People should visit DayDream because….we’re a service-oriented dayclub that always has locals in mind. We want our guests to come back again and again because of the service, the experience, and the people they meet while they’re here.

Name:

Age: 56

Position: Beverage Manager

Morning, noon, and night Ziggy is bound to be somewhere at the M Resort, whether on the casino floor or even back of house. After all, he handles an entire division of 90 cocktail waitresses, bar backs, and bartenders whose job it is to assist guests and provide four-star service on a daily basis.

Not new to our city or new to the food and beverage industry, Ziggy is a staple at our resort and likely someone you may already be familiar with as he was once our assistant manager at Anthony’s Prime Steak & Seafood. We wanted to know more about this fun and likable beverage manager. Here’s what we learned:

Vegas native… No, but I’ve been in Las Vegas for 22 years. I live in Boulder City and I am very happy there.

When I’m not working I’m… There are so many things! Right now my house is in a constant remodel. We most recently worked on our kitchen and our living room. I also love to drive, which is probably why I don’t mind the commute from Boulder City to the M. And, since I love music, you might find me at Saint Joseph, Husband of Mary Roman Catholic Church. For 12 years I was the Choir Director for the 2 o’clock mass. I spend a lot of time with my dog, and my partner, too.

Nevada Tartan Emblem

Something interesting about me is… I designed the Nevada State Tartan. Each color in the plaid represents Nevada and what makes it unique and beautiful. I’m also a licensed minister. I love marrying people! It’s always an honor to be a part of something so special. And, I design lights to music. It’s a lot of fun and it’s truly enjoyable.

How did you get your start in food and beverage? I started in high school as a porter. I cleaned the commissary dining room, and you tend to gravitate to what you’re familiar with. I enjoy working with guests, so it’s always been a good fit for me.

Which do you enjoy more… food or beverage? I like both. They are very challenging in different ways. When I was in food, I worked more directly with guests, and now that I’m in beverage, I work directly with our team members.

You’re a workaholic aren’t you? Let’s just say I’m not happy until the work is done, even if it takes forever and a day!

Favorite drink is… a vanilla milkshake.

What do you like best about working at M? I appreciate having a team that supports what I do and gives me the opportunity to grow.

Darren Webster: 2012 General and Administrative Team Member of the Year

It has been said that Darren Webster’s value is immeasurable. Having started as a Field Officer for our Security team, he is now a Security Lead. He has been recognized several times within his own department and can often be seen staying late and coming in early when there aren’t enough officers to cover. He understands that the safety of our guests is number one, and continues to work hard to achieve his goals.

Gina Espinosa: 2012 Hotel Team Member of the Year

Gina Espinosa can be seen in the hallways of our hotel as a member of the M’s Housekeeping team. She keeps our hotel rooms clean and looking fabulous every day so our guests are able to enjoy themselves as soon as they arrive. She is meticulous in her work and an amazing and supportive team member. She is truly a joy to work with and our guests think so too, having received numerous commendations throughout her time at the M.

Dean Elliot: 2012 Gaming Team Member of the Year

Dean Elliot is a team player. He likes his work and loves his guests. He has set a tremendous example for other Table Games team members by working with all levels of management in both his own department and other departments. He is helpful to all team members and is constantly offering new ideas to improve the guest experience and the efficiency of his team.

Ralph Cua: 2012 Food & Beverage Team Member of the Year

It is always an honor to recognize those team members that fully understand that there really is no “I” in “TEAM.” Ralph Cua is that person. He is friendly, helpful, respectful, and gives 110% all the time to his team and its success. He’s as special to our guests as he is to us, having been mentioned many times in guest commendations over his two years at the M.

If you recognize any of these team members, share a time when they made your stay incredible.

Photo Credit: Jerry Search

Now that she’s off the ice, you can find Erin in our wine cellar Hostile Grape. There’s always something new to try with our selection of over 160 wines available to be sampled by the glass. Gleason helps each guest navigate our vast wine selection with knowledge, passion and enthusiasm.  She enhances the overall experience by suggesting and providing individually tailored wine pairings to accompany any meal or palate.

A wine vineyard Gleason visited in Aquileia, Italy.

In addition to managing the Hostile Grape, Gleason oversees the entire resort’s wine storage, procurement, and wine cellar rotation. Her current personal favorite is Le Plus de la Fleur de Boüard 2005, a 100% Merlot wine from Bordeaux’s right bank, atop the coveted plateau of Pomerol and close to Saint-Emilion. Le Plus reveals itself in an Indian ink hue infused with purple tinges and rich nose of blackberry liqueur, port, baking spice, and milk chocolate fudge. The palate delivers an immense layer of seductive concentration across flavors of blackberry jam, vanilla, and hints of vintage port across an assertive finish. Le Plus delivers an exceptional wine that you are certain to enjoy!

Gleason at the Taj Mahal.

With over a decade of professional experience, Erin developed her business experience and wine stewardship internationally. She has traveled all around the world racking up more than one million miles in air travel and upwards of 600 nights in luxury four and five star hotels – Through these experiences, she understands first-hand the importance of delivering exceptional service and experiences to our guests.  Gleason is also fluent in Italian, having studied Italian Constitutional Law and International Marketing at the Università degli Studi di Genova in Genoa, Italy.

Gleason is a professional member of the Guild of Sommeliers, the International Sommelier Guild. She has also captured many of her experiences in her wine blog Swinging by the Vines. Stop in and visit Erin at Hostile Grape during your next time at M!  She’ll recommend the perfect wine for your evening!

Nita N.

I'm so thankful for this Thanksgiving because my family is always there to support each other. With all the economic problems, I've been blessed that I still have a wonderful job, family and friends. Thanks to almighty God for giving me these abundant blessings. Peace to everyone and Happy Thanksgiving!

Dorcas F.

I am most thankful for the strength that my daughter, also named Dorcas, has. She has not had an easy life. She was born with Hirschsprung's disease and had to endure multiple surgeries up to the age of 9 to correct it.

At the age of 16 she was diagnosed with lung cancer and had to have a lung removed. If that wasn't enough, at the age of 20 she had a bout with ovarian cancer and had major surgery. She has been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and she is only 23 years old.

My daughter has never complained at anytime about what she has had to go through. She has done nothing but worry about how her family was holding up. My daughter works three different jobs and one of those is being a caretaker for others. She lives in Buffalo, NY and never lets the cold bother her.

She is coming to see me in November and as a treat for her I am taking her to Disneyland – her first trip to California ever. As a parent, watching a child suffer is the worst but she has taught me so much and I would be so lost without her.

Ikram B.

I'm thankful for my family, my friends and life. Most of all I am thankful for my job because I was granted a second chance and there are always people who support me.

Victor H. C.

I thank God for my family, my children and the blessing of having such an excellent job. I hope you are able to spend a day giving thanks for your family and everything you have like I am.

Maria A.

This year I am thankful that my sister in Texas is doing better. She has been treated for cancer in her right arm. I am also thankful that all of my grandkids are doing well.

Yadimir S.

I want to say I'm thankful because I have a beautiful family and I have the opportunity to be alive and see my daughter grow up. I have a very good job with amazing coworkers and managers and I have a wonderful God who supports my family and my whole life every single day.

Eileen B.

I am thankful for my job and all the wonderful people I work with everyday.

Erica S.

I am thankful for my family and friends. I am also thankful for the new people I meet here at work and to have a job I enjoy.

Jeanie H.

I'm thankful that all my family has their health and we all have a home when so many do not.

Carlos M.

I am thankful for the chance to work in this beautiful hotel.

Mayra S.

I thank God for everyday of my life, for the amazing family I have and for giving me the job I have.

Hector G.

I am thankful for everyone at the M Resort for giving me a job. I am really happy to work here with all of my coworkers.

Michelle M.

I am thankful for my health, still being here on Earth, working at M for the third Thanksgiving. I am also thankful for being able to smile and laugh with my coworkers.

Isabel T.

Fourteen years ago my daughter was born with a heart condition and was given a 25% chance of living. Today she is a strong and healthy child. Eight years ago my husband was nearly killed in a car accident, and today he is much healthier than ever. I am thankful for those things as well as my job, my home, my family and friends. I thank God today and forever.

We would like to wish all our readers a very happy Thanksgiving and a special thank you to our Team Members for their submissions. We encourage you to share what you're thankful for in our blog comments below.

Dana Bell (left) and Manny Silvas (right) pose with their award from the Las Vegas Security Chiefs Association.

One of the things we love about our blog is the opportunity to showcase our Team Members who truly are the heart and soul of our resort. We've profiled many of them and shared their unique stories, but today we're proud to acknowledge two of our Team Members who were recently recognized for their exceptional work. They went above and beyond their normal call of duty to save a guest's life.

Security Manager Dana Bell and Security Officer Manny Silvas have been recognized by the Las Vegas Security Chiefs Association (LVSCA) as the November Professionals of the Month. They received their award on Thursday, November 3 during the association's monthly meeting. Dana and Manny are responsible for saving the life of a guest in September by performing CPR for 10 minutes and utilizing an AED (automated external defibrillator).

Their award was no easy feat; nominations for the prestigious recognition are reviewed by the Board of Directors of LVSCA. The decision of measuring excellence is a difficult one since almost everything is expected of security officers on a daily basis and as part of their job requirements. "In this specific incident the guest was without a pulse and the officers could have easily given up but they did not," said Maria Tamayo-Soto, Executive Director of Security, Surveillance and Safety at M Resort. "They did everything and anything they could do to keep this guest going until rescue arrived."

Both Dana and Manny and all our security personnel go through CPR training every two years with refresher courses periodically before their shifts begin in CPR, AED and other safety techniques. We are happy to have Dana and Manny as part of our team at M and would like to congratulate them on their award.

Cathleen has been a Casino Host at the M since the resort opened in 2009. "I'm proud to work at the M and I think that pride translates to my guests and through my work. We're a very accommodating resort and there's nothing more rewarding than having guests that not only look forward to coming back to M but also look forward to seeing me." According to Cathleen, it's all about the personality when it comes to hosting. "A great host always has a smile on their face! Personality is key and being able to talk with guests and maintain that connection with them is vital."

Many Casino Hosts start off working in different jobs in the hospitality industry. "I knew once I starting working at a casino that I wanted to stay in the business." Cathleen began her career cocktailing and loved the contact she had with guests. "Hosting has continued to allow me the guest interaction and given me an opportunity to grow in the hospitality industry."

Hosting isn't always just about giving out comps. "One of the most common misconceptions about my job is that I can just extend certain comps to guests anytime I want. Ultimately, the comps are up to the guests themselves and how much they spend in turn qualifies them for certain rewards."

Cathleen and the other M Casino Hosts go the extra mile for their guests. . "I knew one of my guests loved the pillows we have in the rooms at M, I was able to find out where we purchase them and I sent pillows to her as a special gift for her birthday." While pillows are a bit unusual for a host to give out, common things include buffet and food and beverage credits, room stays, VIP line access, car service and more. Getting in touch with a casino host is as simple as stopping in to our VIP Lounge (located next to our casino cage) or picking up any of the house phones around M and requesting to speak to the host on duty.

How long have you worked at the M?

I've been working for M for a little over a year now.

What's your favorite part of being a concierge?

Being a concierge is such a rewarding job. It gives me the chance to interact with and help people from all walks of life and people from all over the world. I'm able to assist guests with fantastic ways to celebrate a special event or meaningful occasion in their life. Whether it's ordering chocolate strawberries and champagne to flowers and balloons, I enjoy assisting our guests with making their stay at M special, romantic and more memorable.

What's the most unique request you've gotten so far?

Shaquille O'Neal needed long, black dress socks within hours. Not realizing until after I spoke with him that he wore a size 23 shoe, I knew I had some calling around to do. It was a daunting task but I was able to get him his socks just in the nick of time with the help of a seamstress.

How do you juggle playing for the LFL and working at M?

I'm able to handle both jobs with the help of my very understanding and awesome Management Team and Team Members at M!

Kandice (left) tackles an opponent on the Chicago Bliss.

How did you get in to playing for the LFL?

A friend of mine thought I would be interested in the LFL after she received an email about tryouts for the team they were forming in Las Vegas. At first I the thought the LFL was going to be similar to powder puff football that I had played in high school. But after doing some research on the league, I saw that it was full contact, tackle football. I was very excited about the opportunity and decided to tryout. I haven't looked back since!

Did you always have an interest in playing sports?

I've always been interested in sports even at a young age. My parents always kept me very active in various types of sports while growing up. I played club, high school and college soccer. After college I began competing in figure competitions. I really enjoy being active and I just love to compete.

What's your LFL position?

I play both wide receiver and corner for the Las Vegas Sin.

How long have you been playing for the LFL?

This is my first year playing in the LFL and I LOVE it! This is also the first year for Las Vegas to have a LFL team. It's a great feeling to be part of a team especially during their first year!

What tips would you give to girls wanting to play for the LFL?

Anyone can be taught the basics of football. Just make sure that you have some type of athleticism. It's important to be in-shape and be prepared to train hard.

Do you have any other unique hobbies?

Aside from the LFL, I compete in figure competitions and I also enjoy snowboarding.

On the heels of their first victory, Kandice's team the Las Vegas Sin beat the Chicago Bliss 32-20 in their debut game. You can see Kandice and the other ladies of the Las Vegas Sin play in their first home game on November 11 at the Orleans Arena against the L.A. Temptation.

Looking for an award winning room cleaning? Look no further than the skilled housekeeping staff here at M and all over the Las Vegas Valley. Last week, resorts up and down Las Vegas Boulevard gathered to take place in the 2011 Housekeeping Olympics. Housekeepers put their talents to the test in four events; a bed making competition, mop race, vacuum relay and a buffer pad toss. If you think cleaning your own house is hard enough try doing it while racing against skilled cleaning professionals!

The annual event kicked off with the bed making competition. Our star bed-maker Ana participated. Her bed making was judged not only on speed but also accuracy. You can see Ana demonstrate how she makes our signature beds at M in this video we posted recently on our blog.

Next up was a test of agility in the mop relay, one of the most difficult challenges of the Housekeeping Olympics. Our Team Member Norma did her best to dodge the obstacles of seven wet floor signs while maneuvering her mop around them at the same time.

Our M Olympic Team shined in the vacuum relay, scoring a second place spot! Edith showed off her fierce vacuum skills while clearing confetti from the carpet and bringing home a silver medal for the M team!

The most entertaining event was the buffer pad toss. Erica and Myra teamed up to complete this challenge. One person was blindfolded and had to toss the buffer's onto a toilet plunger which their partner was holding. This one probably isn't used in day-to-day housekeeping techniques but it's still a special skill.

Team Members from all different departments at M came out to support and cheer on our housekeeping staff as they showed off at the Housekeeping Olympics.

In this video, our housekeeper Ana shows off her professional bed making and the secret to "hospital corners," our signature M fold at the top of the bed and how we get our pillow cases looking so pristine. Ana and our other housekeeping Team Members are the reason all of our beds look as crisp and as perfect as they do! Feel free to practice on your own bed to bring a little M home with you.