Meet Dominique!

April 19, 2013 in Kirvin Doak News | No comments

DominiqueAs KDC’s Controller, “Keeper of Coin” and my fellow Prius partner in eco-friendly crime, Dominique Del Sarto handles so much more than your mileage and paychecks. Think of her as a big gear that keeps this well-oiled machine running. She monitors cash flow, pays the bills and basically handles anything with a dollar sign attached to it.

So where are you from? What brought you to Vegas?

I’m from Phoenix and moved here with my parents at 18 when my dad took a job at The Tropicana. I went to UNLV.

So when you’re not busy keeping the lights on at KDC, what do you love to do?

I’m a cyclist. I love to ride…and play with MegaBloks. I have a 12-year-old son, Holden, and we try to spend as much time together as possible so lots of MegaBloks. We also have a beautiful blue-eyed cat named Queen Penelope Rodriguez.

That’s exciting! So where are some of your favorite places to ride? Do you take any dangerous trails?

The river mountain loop in Henderson is one of my favorite road rides and my new favorite for off road is the McCullough Trail that just opened last month in Henderson.  Cottonwood, which is west of Red Rock, is another of my favorites for mountain biking.  I’m headed to Oregon in September to “Ride the Rogue.” I’ve done the Viva LV and The Tour de Palm Springs. I’m not at all competitive when I ride. For me it’s all about spending time with friends or just riding alone to clear my head.  I’m not fast, but I can ride for hours.  I’m hoping to ride my first century, 100 miles, before I hit 50. The most I’ve done is 65.

So what other passions do you have?

I’m a rock ‘n’ roll critic. I love classic rock music. I’m always going to concerts. My son is the same way. Right now, he’s really into Johnny Cash. When I was a kid, KISS was huge. One time my mom took me, my younger brother and a bunch of the neighborhood kids to KISS. It was a blast.

Since you’ve been in Las Vegas for so long, I bet you’ve got some great stories or awesome moments to share.

When I was a kid, my dad worked for Ramada which owned Tropicana at the time. I can recall lots of times when my parents would go gamble and tell me and my little brother to stay in the room. That didn’t happen. We had so much fun playing and terrorizing the hotel. And another time, right after I moved here, my mom and I were at Saks Fifth Avenue, and we got there just in time to see Liberace descending their grand staircase. It was quite a sight.

Dominique: Cyclist. Rocker. “Keeper of Coin.”

˜Jarrett Clark

 

 

 

 

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Bid on Scholarship: Check Out UNLVino’s Amazing Auction Prizes!

April 17, 2013 in Client news | No comments

For the second post in our UNLVino blog series, Charra Montenegro, a UNLV student and one of our fabulous interns, gives a special preview of the awesome auction prizes you can bid on at the 39th UNLVino. The big event arrives this week, April 18 – 21, and it’s looking to be the most impressive to date! Get your tickets at www.unlvtickets.com.

Can you believe UNLVino is this weekend? The main purpose of this time-honored tradition is to continue Southern Wine & Spirits of Nevada’s mission to raise millions of scholarship dollars for students in UNLV’s William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration. But how do the students raise this money at UNLVino, you might ask?  One way is through event ticket sales, and the other is by soliciting donations to be auctioned off at the four incredible UNLVino tasting events.

UNLVino has always offered impressive items to be auctioned off; however, I think the items we are offering this year are by far the best!  As guests sample tantalizing cuisine and sip exquisite beverages, they will have a chance to participate in a silent auction. For instance, attendees can bid on a romantic “Vegas Nights” helicopter flight for two, donated by Maverick Aviation Group. If they are a foodie, they may want to place a bid for dinner at Gordon Ramsey’s BurGR, Fleming’s Steakhouse, Carrabba’s, Kona Grill, Rounders Bar and Grill, and Due Forni, amongst others.

If guests are looking for a weekend getaway or a staycation, then they will love this year’s live auction!  The UNLVino donations team has put together an incredible MGM Grand package that consists of a two-night stay in a Grand Suite at the MGM Grand, two tickets to KA by Cirque du Soleil, and a $200.00 gift certificate for dinner at an MGM Grand restaurant of their choice. (Fun fact: BAR-b-q’s Dom Perignon Award of Excellence honoree, Scott Sibella, is the COO and President of MGM Grand!) Bubble-Licious’ host property, Venetian/Palazzo, is donating a hotel stay and dinner for two at Wolfgang Puck’s celebrated restaurant, Cut.

These are just a few of the many auction items available at the 39th annual UNLVino. Whether you are prepared to spend a little or a lot, UNLVino will offer something that piques your interest. We invite you to “Fall in Love Again” and join us by raising a glass of an old favorite or a newly found love, and enjoy the simple pleasures of life! Get ready to take a sip for scholarship, Las Vegas!

-Charra Montenegro (UNLV Student Intern)

 

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Clara Tsang’s Career Switch

April 11, 2013 in Kirvin Doak News | No comments

Clara.pngMany people think that PR professionals have the same old story—complete an internship, graduate college, find a job in PR. Fellow KDCer Clara Tsang took a more untraditional route by way of Hawaii. Clara attended Carleton College in Minnesota to study volcanology. She interned during her undergraduate career in Hawaii and took a few courses at the University of Bristol, which helped her secure a job in the Aloha State after college. She did everything from collecting lava samples, to trekking across 15-mile craters on daily hikes to climbing on active volcanoes. Her usual transportation included helicopters—not cars.

After a brief stint in Hawaii, Clara decided she wanted to take PR classes at New York University. She was in charge of the PSAs at her job in Hawaii and enjoyed the writing. This eventually led her to Kirvin Doak Communications, where she has been a member of the team for over two years. Highlights of Clara’s job as a publicist include almost stepping on the toes of celebrity chef Bobby Flay, meeting a dolphin named Thunder at The Mirage’s dolphin habitat and being fed on-camera by celebrity chef Bradley Ogden.

As for her dream job (other than KDC, of course)? “I’d like to be a steak house critic. I love eating meat,” says Tsang.

˜Eleni Stylianou

 

Tags: volcano, Hawaii, steak

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PR Patience

April 10, 2013 in Client news | No comments

In PR, along with the perks comes the patience.  On Friday I finally got to experience what Team Untz is presented with when one of the world’s most famous superstar DJs comes to town.  The night began outside of XS nightclub as Terri, Alison, and I waited until it was time to enter.  It was clear that each of us had something completely different running through our minds as we stood there anxiously.  Alison was on a mission, trying to round up the several journalists and photographers expected to attend.  Terri was nervous because she knew it was going to be full of thousands of out of control party animals, which wasn’t exactly her milieu, and I was just excited to see what the night had to offer since it was my first PR experience at XS.

We enter the club and station ourselves in the media cabana where the various journalists gathered to enjoy a few complimentary cocktails.  Soon after we had to fight the rambunctious partygoers to get to our post, it was time to head back outside of XS to gather more media personnel.  Once we united with them, it was time to head back inside.  This time we settled outside, away from the madness, and waited patiently for the arrival of the 4th Anniversary cake, as well as the one and only David Guetta.  First, the cake appeared and the cameras started flashing.  Then, Mr. Guetta and his manager showed up for pictures with the cake before it was time he took the stage.  After a couple hours of waiting for journalists and photographers, taking pictures, and trekking through the powerful party haven, it was time to head to the stage.  We had to plow our way through flocks of fans as security lead the way.  We finally made it to the stage until Alison had to go back to the front to meet with another photographer.  I stayed put as she had no choice but to battle through the thousands of screaming people when Guetta had just began his set.  30 minutes later, she reappeared with the photographer.  We remained on stage and watched the DJ control the crowd as the shutterbugs snapped their shots.  However, the stage isn’t the only place photographers want to capture the moment.  Alison then had to leave the stage with the photographer at the peak of the DJ’s set and take her through the club so she could complete her purpose of action.  As I awkwardly remained on stage (because I knew nobody around me, and security kept asking who I was) admiring David Guetta, I received a text from Alison reassuring me that she was still alive.  Feet hurting and ears ringing, she made it back to the stage after what felt like an eternity.

We watched David perform for a few more moments until we decided it was time to call it an evening.  In the PR world, so many people are depending on you to do your job, so they can do theirs.  XS was depending on Alison to make sure their 4th Anniversary party gets covered by the media.  The workers of the media were depending on her to guide them during the night to make sure that their job could be completed.  Alison needed to retrieve and regulate the media to secure success.  With the perks of seeing some of the best artists at the number one club in the nation, comes the patience of having to wait, whether it be for the media, the DJ, or the cake.  It’s difficult to maneuver through jumping, dancing, fist-pumping partiers who don’t care who you are and keep a cool head when you have a job to accomplish.  When working in PR in the nightlife scene, patience is pressing.

˜Spencer Flower

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Meet Janea Laudick, KDC’s Resident Bungee Jumping Expert

April 9, 2013 in Uncategorized | No comments

Janea and friends after bungee jumping off a bridge in Costa Rica during a rainstorm

Janea and friends after bungee jumping off a bridge in Costa Rica during a rainstorm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As part of KDC’s recent ‘Getting to Know…’ blog series, I had the pleasure of chatting with Account Coordinator Janea Laudick. I didn’t know much about Janea prior to our chat, and despite the fact “she really, really hates talking about herself” (that’s a direct quote), it was great to learn so many interesting details about this New Mexico native who will celebrate her one-year anniversary with KDC this June. From her affinity for green chiles and peanut butter cup ice cream to bungee jumping adventures in Costa Rica, get to know a little more about Janea below!

  • What has been your most memorable Las Vegas experience thus far?
    • There are SO many already, but I’d have to say Halloween at KDC is the most memorable so far. It was an insane week of decorating and plotting and such a fun experience. We even won the competition and Wayne Newton came to our office. It’s just one of those things I’ll never forget, and I’m sure every year moving forward will be just as memorable.
  • How did you end up in Las Vegas? Did you always want to live here?
    • I moved here for the job at KDC. I didn’t always plan to live in Las Vegas, but it’s turned out to be an amazing place to live. I absolutely love it.
  • What are some things you do to make Las Vegas feel like home?
    • My freezer is stocked with green chile. I’m a New Mexico girl, so it’s a necessity in every meal. I always make sure to steal some from home when I’m there.
  • What’s your favorite part of working in PR?
    • It may sound cliché, but I really love that no two days are the same. I love juggling multiple projects and different clients on a daily basis. It keeps me on my toes and makes every day exciting.
  • Who’s your biggest inspiration?
    • I have a lot of mentors and people in my life who I look up to, from bosses to family members to college professors, but my biggest inspiration is definitely my mom. She is the most genuine and compassionate person I know, and everything I have learned from her has had a major impact on my life personally and professionally.
  • What’s one thing about you that people never believe when they hear it for the first time? 
    • I bungee jumped off a bridge in Costa Rica (see picture!). I guess I don’t seem like much of a daredevil. People also find it shocking that my personal phone is still a Blackberry.
  • What are a few of your favorite hobbies?
    • Reading, crafting and shopping.
  • You have to listen to one song/album, watch one movie and eat one food the rest of your life. What are they?
    • Song: “Breathe” by Michelle Branch. This is one of those songs that I’ve listened to for years and I’m still not sick of it. It’s my favorite to blast in the car with the windows down.
    • Food: EASY. Peanut butter cup ice cream.
    • Movie: Dirty Dancing

 

Interviewed by Matt Guidish.

 

 

 

 

 

Matt Guidish | Account Executive

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Over the River and Through the Woods: A True Tale of a Midwestern Girl

April 8, 2013 in Just For Fun | No comments

After a mind-numbing, three-day road-trip across America, from Iowa to Nevada, I can wholeheartedly say that my drive to Las Vegas was not about the journey, but rather the destination. Through Nebraska, Colorado, and Utah, oh my, my thoughts wondered of what my new life as an account coordinator at Kirvin Doak Communications would entail. Sure, I was aware of the basic responsibilities and tasks required of me, but nothing of what awaited me.

Come Monday morning I was stricken with a queasy nervousness words cannot describe. All my anxiety-ridden body wanted to do was check in to a hospital, but alas, I did not know where one was, so off to work I went. After waiting a few minutes in the reception area, my boss burst through the door, “Christine’s here!” she exclaimed before giving me a hug. At that instance, I knew I would be OK and my worries melted away.

Within an hour and a half into my first day, I was off to help staff a photo shoot for BODIES…The Exhibition at Luxor Hotel and Casino. Driving down the sunny streets of Vegas, I was overcome with excitement and all I could think was I have the COOLEST job ever (and some serious new bragging rights for back home). My first week continued with early mornings and late nights in preparation for BODIES’ kick off of American Heart Month featuring a 600-pound heart sculpture to be paraded down the Strip that Friday. In the coming weeks, I contributed to the launch of Jewels of Titanic by creating invitations for our press preview, crafting a newsbyte, and even got to transport the priceless artifacts to an in-studio segment.

With each passing day at Kirvin Doak I become more thrilled and truly grateful to be working with the best, for the best. I absolutely love living in Las Vegas and look forward to discovering all it has to offer. My colleagues are bubbly, quick-witted personalities with a quirky interoffice rapport. So far, it has been a couple of months and a whirlwind of learning experiences. I am not exactly certain where my KDC career will take me, but I know this is just the beginning of an amazing adventure and this time, it is all about the journey.

˜Christine Moorehead

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The Vegas Bucket List

April 3, 2013 in Just For Fun | No comments

My Bucket List

Before moving to Las Vegas, I spent three years in Chicago. All my time was spent working, going to school or desperately trying to avoid the nine feet of snow that we were blessed with during the winter season. Needless to say, I really didn’t get to explore the city as much as I would have liked. Now that I am living in a new city, I have decided that this time will be different. I used to joke about creating a bucket list, and the other day I decided to make one. This is my mini bucket list of “MUST Do’s” for my new home in Las Vegas.

  1. Sky Dive: I have gone sky diving twice, and both times it has been absolutely amazing. The first time was in Michigan and the second time was happened while I was living in Chicago. Sky diving over the city was absolutely amazing and now it’s time to check out the desert.
  2. Learn to rock/mountain climb: I used to consider myself a monkey when I was younger because I constantly climbed anything imaginable. Now that I am surrounded by all of these amazing parks and canyons, what would be cooler than scaling up a giant rock! I’ve heard a lot of talk about Mt. Zion – it might have potential!
  3. Check out slot canyons:  My brother-in-law travels to the desert a lot for his job, and he told me about this place called Antelope Canyon that he has always wanted to visit. Apparently you can only visit between noon and 1 p.m. because it’s so narrow that the sun has to be directly above the canyon in order to see. Seems like something that would be a really neat experience.
  4. Mountain biking: There is this bike event called Zoo-de-Mack in Michigan that I would do with my family before I moved here. The ride is a total of 54 miles of wilderness that is absolutely stunning and one of the most breathtaking sights I have ever seen.  Since I have enjoyed biking so much over the years, I have decided that it is time to check out some new sights. I’ve heard Moab is a great place.
  5. Go to the shooting range: I have always wanted to learn how to shoot a gun… some say it is crazy… but, hey, it’s my bucket list!
  6. Dining: There are so many amazing places to dine in Las Vegas that it is somewhat difficult to create a dining section of the bucket list. Instead the goal is to try at least two new restaurants a month.
  7. Ride the rollercoaster at New York-New York: What can I say, I am slightly an adrenaline junky. I don’t think it is going to compare much to Cedar Point, but you have to try it at least it once.
  8. Drive a race car: I’ve always wanted to drive a race car, and I have heard that Nevada is the perfect place to do it.
  9. Experience the entertainment: There are so many spectacular shows in this city that it wouldn’t be fair for me to just pick a few. I have decided that whenever the opportunity presents itself, I will see that show no matter what the reviews say.
  10. Zip Lining Through the Canyon: I have been zip lining down Fremont Street and the next adventure will be the ultimate zip lining experience. I have heard great things about Flightlinez Bootleg Canyon, now I just need to find the time to enjoy what I have been told is one of the most beautiful experiences ever.

˜Jaclyn Dadas

 

 

 

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Behind the Scenes: The making of UNLVino—Menu Testing for Grand Tasting!

April 2, 2013 in Uncategorized | No comments

Take a peek at what Grand Tasting has to offer!

The 39th annual UNLVino is fast approaching, featuring four days of incredible culinary events taking place April 18-21. Nevada’s original wine festival will showcase an array of international beverages and continue Southern Wine & Spirits of Nevada’s mission to raise millions of scholarship dollars for students of UNLV’s William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration. Tickets are now on sale at UNLVTickets.com

 A huge component of this historic event is the student involvement that takes place to put on UNLVino. In fact, there is an entire class dedicated to the planning and implementation of this event in UNLV’s UNLVino Management Class. At KDC, we were lucky enough to get two incredible students to help us work on the PR for UNLVino, so we thought it’d be fun to have them guest blog to give you some insight on the student preparation that goes in to this time-honored Las Vegas tradition. Meet Jennifer Lee, everybody!

 What could be more exciting than having a class where you have the opportunity to taste over 30 different dishes and be the judge of what gets served at UNLVino’s biggest event?

On Thursday, March 14, UNLV’s UNLVino Management Class put on a recipe testing day for The Grand Tasting.  The Grand Tasting is the premier event for UNLVino, which will feature an incredible selection of wine and spirits, complemented with cuisine prepared by UNLV’s talented culinary students and some of Las Vegas’ favorite restaurants. To make sure that the best dishes are served, we did a tasting of the menu and recipe that our culinary team has been working on for months!  

Under the supervision of Chef Jean Hertzman, over 30 dishes and five specialty stations were set up in our classroom. There were five actions stations: Bruschetta/Antipasto, Shellfish/Seafood, Slider Station, Sandwich Station, Asian Station, and Passed Hors d’oeuvres. 

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To add to the excitement, we had several local journalists attend our testing session for upcoming stories. KLAS CBS 8 did a story about our event that ran on the 4 p.m. news!  

Our culinary team is made up of many special talents. For example, Michelle Halloway, one of our student chef managers, recently competed in the “S. Pellegrino Almost Famous Chef” competition and stunned the judges with her exquisitely prepared dish. For The Grand Tasting, she prepared Bang Bang Shrimp, a tangy, spicy shrimp dish made with delightful, mouth tingling sauce. The dish was so popular, it was gone within minutes! 

The menu testing session wrapped up with a discussion about everyone’s favorite dishes, as well as feedback and suggestions on the flavoring and portion of the food.  

There’s so much to get excited about for our Grand Tasting on April 20! With less than a month away, we as the student managers are working hard to provide the best experience to our event attendees!

˜Jennifer Lee (UNLV student intern)

 

 

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The Inner Child of Christy Miller

March 26, 2013 in Uncategorized | No comments

 

Which one is Christy Miller?

Which one is Christy Miller?

Over the past few weeks the members of Team Terri have been sticking our noses into the lives of our fellow co-workers at Kirvin Doak. Having been here for almost six months, I have realized that there is still much to learn about the many faces of this amazing company.

I was fortunate enough to get the chance to speak with Christy Miller, a true Las Vegan. Having originally been born in San Luis Obispo, Cali, Miller moved to Atlanta, GA. When Christy was five years old, she and her family moved to the vibrant city of Las Vegas. After spending her life in Sin City, Christy went on to college and graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno.

Even at 26-years-old, I like to think I am just a big kid at heart. Instead of asking the traditional questions, I wanted to take this opportunity and have some fun with Christy. So here is an inside look at Christy Miller’s inner child.

JD:          What did you want to be growing up? 

CM:        Optometrist, like my uncle & grandpa.

JD:          If you could be a fictional character, who would you be and why? 

CM:        Mary Poppins, she is practically perfect in every way, imagination and fun first, to heck with health and safety.

JD:          Ben and Jerry’s would like you to create a new ice cream. What would you create and why?

CM:        Lactose FREE, so I could have some.  Then a combo of my favorite peach pie with Vanilla Bean, oh, and Grandma’s Cream! Why, because it reminds me wonderful times.

JD:          If you could go on a picnic, what would be in your basket?

CM:        Wine for me, beer for the hubby, water, cold pasta salad, fresh fruit, a soccer ball, frisbee, blanket and a good book.

JD:          If your life was a movie, who would you play?

CM:        Oh my, I’ve never thought about it, Meg Ryan.

JD:          What is the best gift you were ever given? 

CM:        LIFE! I have two beautiful children and an extra special guy.

JD:          What is your favorite word? 

CM:        It must be AWESOME; I’m told I say it all the time!

JD:          If you were immortal for a day, what would you do? 

CM:        I want to fly like a bird in the air.

JD:          What songs are included in the soundtrack to your life? 

CM:        It would have to be really eclectic, I enjoy it all, from The Sex Pistols to Tchaikovsky.

Here are some of the things on my nano: The Beatles, The Eagles, Pink Floyd, Elton John, Carly Simon, Carol King, Commodores, Donna Summers, Janis Joplin, Jethro Tull, Moody Blues,  Doobie Brothers, Foreigner, Earth Wind and Fire, Ike and Tina Turner, Elvis Presley, Erick Clapton, Bon Jovi, BB Kings, Quincy Jones, Curtis Mayfield, Billy Joel, Grover Washington, Rascal Flatt, Oakridge Boys, Adelle, Barbara Streisand, Beach Boys, Bee Gees, Sondheim, Rogers and Hammerstein, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Jars of Clay, Mercy Me, Rich Mullins, Third Day, DC Talk,Tchaikovsky and Beethoven.

˜By: Jaclyn Dadas

 

 

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Meeting with Mr. Merkle

March 22, 2013 in Kirvin Doak News | No comments

fall 2011-summer 2012 019In our recent efforts to introduce our blog readers to the faces behind Kirvin Doak, I was lucky enough to pull one of my favorites for my assignment, Mr. Jeff Merkle.

Jeff works with our marketing division, and I have teamed up with him on several clients in the past. We were even in a near-death experience on a flight back from a client in Sonoma once where our little plane with propellers skidded across the runway… (Ok that could be a dramatic interpretation but seriously – we bonded.)

In addition, Merkle and I have a common tie in that we both love Notre Dame football. This makes sense considering his parents moved from South Bend, Indiana, to Florida, where he was born, but brought their Fighting Irish pride with them. His favorite ND moment was the 1993 1-vs-2 matchup with Florida State in South Bend. Notre Dame ended up winning that game by a TD, but in bittersweet fashion, lost the very next week in the last game of the year to Boston College. Even though the Irish only had one loss, FSU went on to win the national championship.

“That title’s more tainted than a Barry Bonds urine sample,” said Merkle.

The ’93 game is something no Irish fan will forget. My own father proudly displayed a bumper sticker reading, “Notre Dame: 20; National Champions Florida State: 13” for years to come.

Beyond the Fighting Irish, Jeff has a passion for sports and playing golf. You won’t find him at a roller rink however, as one of his most embarrassing moments as a kid was the first and only time he threw on skates, he fell 10 seconds in, breaking and dislocating his ankle.

“A perfect day on a summer weekend would consist of 18 holes, a large piece of red meat on the grill, watching the Mets sweep a double-header with the Braves to take 1st place in the NL East on their way to the World Series, then capping it off by getting my butt kicked by my 2 year old daughter in a game of Candy Land,” said Merkle.

He has been married to his wife Monica for five years, and they have a two year old daughter, Hannah.

When it comes to the job, he says there is no typical work day at KDC, which is what keeps him on track.

“Every day is different with its own unique challenges, and it really forces you to always be thinking and prepared.“

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