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Hydi Mitz Verduzco, '91 BS Hotel Administration, is co-owner of East by Southwest, the premier sushi restaurant in southwest Colorado. Previously, she was general manager of Eagles Bar and Grille in Telluride, Colorado; bar manager at Hotel Bel-Air Costa Carayes in Mexico; and assistant bar manager at the Las Vegas Hilton. In 2012 she was named the Outstanding Restaurant Professional for Colorado. In 1992 she married Sergio A. Verduzco, '92 BS Hotel Administration, and moved to Mexico. The couple has four boys who have been raised in the restaurant industry. All the boys play a part in their current business while attending school. The couple enjoys scuba diving and family time. They have travel to Thailand, Hawaii, Roatan, Utila, Mexico, and other places to enjoy to the natural beauty of the ocean. The family lives in Durango

Bryan Thornhill, '04 BS Hotel Administration, is in his ninth year in the education field. He is a regional principal for opportunities for learning in South Central Los Angeles. As a high school math teacher, he developed a passion for helping students and families in underserved communities. Now that he is a principal for students in grades 7-12, he says he strives to inspire his staff to uncover their talents and determine how best to utilize them to eliminate the existing economic and achievement gaps. The area he serves includes Torrance, Watts, Hawthorne, Vermont Knolls, and Crenshaw Square. He describes his job as a dream come true and says he hopes to bring about an educational revolution that focuses on meeting the social-emotional needs of students so that they can focus on learning. He and his wife, Joy, have a 2-year-old-son, Trent. His hobbies include listening to books on Audible, attending professional development programs, and taking his son to the playground. The family and their pug, Stella, live in Long Beach.

Trevor Hewitt, '11 MS Hotel Administration, is the co-owner of Pizza Rock. For the second year in a row, Pizza Rock was awarded Best Pizza by the Las Vegas Weekly. He and his wife, Megan, are expecting their first baby in January.

Angie Phillips, '03 BS Hotel Administration, is the front desk training supervisor for Primm Valley Resorts  She lives in Primm.

David Porter, '93 BS Hotel Administration, recently was awarded the 2015 Aloft Hotels General Manager of the Year by Starwood Hotels and Resorts at the annual conference held in Phoenix. Past awards include 2009 and 2010 Aloft Hotel of the Year. He is also a board member for Travel Portland. His hobbies include traveling, entertaining, cooking, and spending time with family. He is married and has a 5-year-old daughter who loves to travel and play "lobby" when visiting new hotels. The family lives in Camas, Washington.

Anthony Hernandez, '16 BS Hotel Administration, is in his second year working as assistant general manager of the pool at the LINQ. Previously, he worked as a cabana host. While in college, he worked in limos and valet at the Bellagio and also in clubs, including Marquee Dayclub and Drai's Beachclub. Last year he married his college sweetheart, Shawnee Corey Hernandez, '12 BS Business Administration - Accounting. His hobbies include golf, traveling, cooking, beer, and wine.

Rebecca Falk Gschwend, '09 BS Hotel Administration, has worked for the national nonprofit consulting firm of Campbell & Company for more than six years. Her hobbies include horseback riding, hiking, gaming, candle making, knitting, scrap booking, and reading. She is married and has a 2-year-old son. The family lives in Wood Dale, Illinois.

Anthony Lai, '08 BS Hotel Administration, is the student affairs program manager for The International School of Hospitality. He oversees students as they embark on their externships, assists them with the first steps of launching their careers, and provides assistance with resume writing to providing career coaching and networking opportunities. Previously, he was guest services manager at LINQ Hotel and Casino, where he trained, coached, and motivated team members to successfully meet company expectations along with their career goals. His hobbies include playing tennis and traveling around the world.

Rob Taylor, '06 MS Hotel Administration, has worked in the lodging industry since 1999 and currently is assistant controller for Davidson Hotels & Resorts. His hobbies include historical and genealogical research, literature, poetry, art, opera, live symphony orchestra music, foreign languages, astronomy, physics, space exploration, economics, big data quantitative analysis, camping, hiking, fly fishing, and sports of all kinds. He and his wife, Eva, have been married since 1993. They have three children, Sean, Brad, and Chloe. The family lives in Cincinnati.

Gary Vallen, '79 BS Hotel Administration, is a founding faculty member at Northern Arizona University's (NAU) School of Hotel and Restaurant Management. He now is in his 29th year as a professor. He said that since its inception in 1988, the school has grown in size and reputation to be considered one of the top programs in the country. After graduating from UNLV he earned an MBA from UNR and a doctoral degree in educational leadership - hospitality from NAU. He also has owned and operated a successful industry consulting practice performing numerous feasibility studies, mystery shopper services, and casino management contracts. Additionally, he serves as an expert witness on an assortment of industry-related legal cases. He recently completed work on the 10th edition of Check-In Check-Out (Pearson Publishers), a textbook he shares with his father, Jerome Vallen, the retired founding dean of UNLV's William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration. He says he is a great skier and a horrible golfer. He and his wife of 29 years, Kim, have three daughters, Jessica, Sarah, and Laura, and three grandchildren. They live in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Michelle "Shelley" McWhorter Ellis, '04 BS Hotel Administration, was appointed general manager of the Visalia (California) Convention Center in January. She directs all aspects of the convention center's operations and will work with the city to provide direction to increase the success of the center. Previously, she was associate director at the Three Rivers Convention Center, Toyota Center, and Toyota Arena in Kennewick, Washington. She graduated from the International Association of Venue Managers Graduate Institute program in 2015 and the Venue Management School in 2013. Her hobbies include running, hiking, exploring new restaurants and great beer, and going to the beach. She says she and her husband are enjoying all the exciting new things California has to offer. They have two children, Sydney and Parks. The family lives in Visalia.

Michael Dube´, '96 BS Hotel Administration, transitioned from a hotel general manager to hotel brokerage four years ago. He now is a vice president at HREC's (Hospitality Real Estate Counselors) headquarters in Greenwood Village, Colorado. He said he enjoys hiking, camping, biking, music, tennis, and anything else that can be enjoyed in the great state of Colorado. He is a single dad with a son, Ryan, who enjoys soccer, and daughter, Keira, who is passionate about music. The family lives in Centennial.