Board of Directors and Board Members

Ken Johnson

Executive Director of Food & Beverage, Four Queens/Binion’s

Ken Johnson joined HCF in 2010. With a passion for mentorship and education, Mr. Johnson has made it his goal to encourage students to achieve their dreams through hard work and determination.

Mr. Johnson currently serves as the Executive Director of Food and Beverage for Four Queens and Binion’s Gambling Hall. Mr. Johnson began his hospitality career as a Front Desk Supervisor for Four Queens in 1982. Other previous experience includes Beverage Manager for Four Queens in 1992, Assistant Director of Food and Beverage for Four Queens in 1997 and Director of Food and Beverage for Four Queens in 2000.

A native of Kenitra, Morocco, Mr. Johnson earned his bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of West Florida.

Sherri Pucci Sosa

Michael Scafuto

CEO, M&M Group Entertainment

Michael Scafuto, CEO & President of The M&M Group Entertainment, is a 2nd generation entertainment industry executive and a 4th generation US Military veteran, serving in the US Navy as an Air Crew Survival Specialist (PR2 AW/SW).

Michael has spent his entire life in the entertainment industry, from walking music festivals at the age of 8 with his father to becoming one of the leading casino talent buyers in the US. The M&M Group, now 40-year company, is a well-known multi agency that has both venue and artist clients and maintains one of the largest Latin rosters in North America. With more than 300 shows annually, with over 150 different artists of every genre imaginable, the M&M Group’s extensive knowledge and dedication continues to bridge the gaps in all areas within the entertainment industry.

He is most excited to join HCF to effectively contribute and assist in guiding young people through their time with the foundation. He looks forward to being a positive role model and setting a great example for these emerging young professionals.

In his spare time, Michael is a full-time family man and spends 99% of his time with his daughter Penelope, son Michael IV, and wife Kaylyn. Michael and his family also spend many weeks boating from Alaska/Canada to the southern parts of Latin America or in the desert riding dirt bikes, sand rails and camping. He is always trying to teach his children that living life through your eyes and doing things will always better than watching it on TV.

Michael Kennedy

Director of Food Operations, South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa

In 2010, Mr. Kennedy joined Hospitality Charitable Foundation to support and mentor the next generation of hospitality professionals. After serving as Executive Committee Secretary for 2013-14, he held the title of Chairman of the Board for 2015-19. As chairman of the board, he was responsible for working closely with the HCF executive committee and board of directors to enhance member recruitment and oversee all community-based fundraising and grant efforts.

Mr. Kennedy is the Director of Food Operations at South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa. In his role as Director, he oversees South Point’s Food and Beverage Department as he works to implement strategic plans, guest relations, process improvement and create food and beverage promotions for the property. Mr. Kennedy oversees the hotel’s 13 venues including dining, fast-casual, concessions and the hotel’s wine program. With more than 24 years of experience, he continues to expand his expertise in analyzing, developing and implementing policies to drive his department toward higher achievement.

Mr. Kennedy enjoys quality time with his two wonderful children and their two golden doodles.

Travis Hackney

Vice President National Accounts - Gaming, Sysco Corporate

Travis Hackney developed an early interest in hospitality when he became the Project Manager to MGM Resorts for US Foods. After spending over 10+ years in the industry, his fluency in developing strategic partnerships among large hospitality groups and contract accounts has most recently brought him to Sysco as Vice President National Accounts - Gaming.

After earning a BS in Political Science from UNLV, Travis moved to Carson City, Nevada where he served as a congressional intern under Marilyn Kirkpatrick, current Chairwoman of the Clark County Commission. Realizing that politics was not his passion, he moved back to his hometown of Las Vegas and began his career with food distribution. Being from Las Vegas and having a natural affinity for the business of gaming and hospitality has encouraged Travis to accumulate professional accolades such as Casino Account Executive of the Year, multiple years in a row.

Travis attended UNLV while continuing to pursue a career in hospitality foodservice. Growing up in a Las Vegas household with a single mother also in the industry, he is highly motivated to give back to the Las Vegas community. A true, proud product of Las Vegas, UNLV, and hospitality he enjoys sharing his experience with others.

After that of Husband and Father, his favorite title is House League Hockey Coach for the Las Vegas Ice Center. Travis has played hockey his entire life and is pleased to be teaching the youth of Las Vegas about teamwork and working hard. He believes these two attributes are crucial to the success of every facet of his life.

Lesley Bowman

CFO, Elite Golf Management

Lesley received her undergraduate degree in Business Administration, Finance at UNLV and her Master’s in Accounting and Financial Management at Keller Graduate School in California. Lesley is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensed in the state of California. Lesley has over 20 years of Accounting/Finance experience, 11 of them being in the golf industry and 8 being in the travel industry. She is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for Elite Golf Management and is owner of Accounting4Me, an accounting firm targeted to help small businesses.

Lesley joined HCF in March of 2021 to give back to the community, spearhead HCF’s accounting, and be involved in a charity that gives scholarships to deserving recipients. Lesley has become the accounting tutor for our HCF students, which she loves and finds very rewarding.

Lesley is a new mom to a baby girl and a dog mom to Marvin, Evie, and Storm, which are a Frenchie/Boston mix. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling (especially to the beach), going to Vegas Golden Knights games, golfing, going to concerts and volunteering at other local charities.

Jason Wade

Vice President of Sales, Wine & Spirits, Breakthru Beverage Group

Jason Wade is a Vice President of Sales, Wine & Spirits for Breakthru Beverage Group. In this role he works with F&B operations throughout Las Vegas, to help them create cutting edge beverage programs, and build relationships with key suppliers and influencers in the industry. After graduating from the William F. Harrah College of Hospitality at UNLV Jason began a 20 year career in hospitality, centered around wine and beverage. Prior to his last position as Director of Beverage for The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Jason managed wine and beverage programs for high profile restaurants at Wynn Las Vegas, Bellagio and the Four Seasons.

During his time at Wynn Las Vegas, Jason began volunteering for Three Square, a charity in which the property was heavily involved. This sparked his desire to give back to the community which he has called home for 25 years, and he has since continued his volunteer work with the Nevada SPCA, Sunshine Nevada and Project 150. He joined the HCF in 2021 to continue working with Nevada’s young adults and help inspire the students of his alma mater.

Jason grew up in Hawaii surfing the beaches of Oahu, and still loves to spend his free time in the outdoors. He cherishes his time with his family, hiking, snowboarding and mountain biking whenever possible.

Megan Archambeault

Vice President of Sales

Megan Archambeault is the Vice President of Sales overseeing the MGM Grand, The Signature at MGM Grand, New York-New York and the Excalibur Hotel & Casino. She is responsible for the strategic direction, vision, and performance of the Sales, Convention Services, Catering, and the Group Dining departments, supporting all four campuses. Megan works closely with the Banquets & Culinary team and is focused on delivering a world-class F&B experience for Group and Convention guests. Megan is known for her strategic approach to drive profitability, curating customer experiences, and a continual focus on employee morale and culture.

While starting her love for hospitality in Ohio in 2001 in a local Banquets facility, she felt that her career truly started in 2004 when she moved to Las Vegas and joined the Bellagio sales team. From there, she went on to hold numerous sales management and event operations positions within Bellagio, The Light Group, and MGM Resorts International. In 2016, she rejoined MGM Resorts International as the Executive Director of Sales at MGM Grand where she played an instrumental role in the development and planning of the $130M Conference Center Expansion.

She believes strongly in developing our future hospitality talent and giving back to an industry that has given her so much. Megan holds a Hotel Administration degree from the University of Las Vegas, Nevada and has actively participated in the Mentorship programs offered through UNLV, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, and currently MGM Resorts. Megan is a recipient of the 2016 Connect Meetings 40 under 40 Innovators and Influencers Honor and the 2021 Innovator Award for Smart Women in Meetings.

Megan currently resides in Las Vegas with her husband David and their two daughters. In her spare time, you will find Megan and her family traveling and participating in unique events, as she believes money is best spent on experiences and memories with her loved ones.

Amber Jung

Senior Executive of Business Development & Strategic Activations, Edison Interactive

Amber loves helping people create memorable experiences in a unique way. With over 10 years of experience in the casino industry, she is experienced in a wide range of marketing facilities including brand marketing, casino marketing & events, and hospitality marketing with a focus on food & beverage and hotel.

Amber joined Hospitality Charitable Foundation in November 2021 to work along like-minded professionals and brings a unique skill set to benefit both the students and organization.

In addition to her work as a marketing professional by day, Amber is a mom of three- Baily, Kylee, and Paulie, an entrepreneur, brunch enthusiast and is known for her design and creative skills.

Vildan Buric

Director of Beverage, Resorts World Las Vegas

Class of 2014

As an HCF and Cum Laude Graduate from UNLV, Vildan has continuously achieved milestones, since his first ever Food and Beverage assignment. Currently, Director of Beverage at Resorts World Las Vegas, Vildan has completed his level one Sommelier and Cicerone Certifications. Vildan is a true leader that all of our current students can call a mentor.

Vildan is now giving back to the foundation, by serving as a Board Member.

Jason Charboneau

Senior Vice President, Beer, NA and, Southern Glazers Wine, Spirits and Beer

In his role, Jason is responsible for leading and developing beer and non-alc strategy while building strong supplier and customer relationships. Jason has been actively engaged in SGWSB college recruiting program along with leading volunteer event organization and coordination, including supporting the Salvation Army Angel Tree program, Habitat for Humanity and local blood drives.

Jason joined HCF in February 2021 to help HCF offer more scholarships and guide the current students and alumni through challenges of the Las Vegas hospitality industry.

Jason is a proud Texas Tech Red Raider, graduating in 2006 with a degree in International Business. In his free time, Jason is more than likely spending time with his wife Alyssa and 3 young children, including coaching his daughter’s softball team, or out enjoying all the amazing food and entertainment Las Vegas has to offer.

Martha Morales

Assistant General Manager, Boyd Gaming

Martha is an HCF Alum and first student to become part of the HCF board.

Las Vegas raised, Ms. Morales, graduated from Rancho High School and from the University of Nevada Las Vegas with a degree in hospitality management. Ms. Morales also holds a Master in Business from the University of Southern California. Ms. Morales began her career in the hospitality industry at the age of 16 and utilized both her education and experience to develop her skills. She has worked at Circus Circus Hotel and Casino, Hilton Las Vegas, Arizona Charlies Decatur, Stratosphere Hotel, Caesars Palace, Nobu Hotel Caesars Palace and recently joined Boyd Gaming as the Assistant General Manager at the Orleans Hotel and Casino.

Ms. Morales joined Hospitality Charitable Foundation as a board member to combine her passion for empowering young women and leading others with her knowledge of the hospitality industry. Ms. Morales enjoys hiking, dancing, and participating in community outreach events. Ms. Morales is the proud mother of Jasmin.

Anthony Olheiser

Senior Vice President of Food & Beverage, Fontainebleau Las Vegas

In his role at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, Anthony is responsible for the development and execution of all F&B outlets and strategies, including menu development, culinary standards, talent acquisition, sourcing, and budgeting. He brings more than 20 years of diverse hospitality expertise to HCF, having most recently served as Vice President of Food and Beverage for Sahara Las Vegas.

Anthony was also Executive Director of The Park, and he has held leadership roles with MGM Resorts International (as Executive Director of Brand Activation), The Ritz Carlton Los Angeles and JW Marriott Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE (as Director of Food and Beverage), and MGM Grand (as Director of Entertainment and Development).

Anthony’s unwavering passion and commitment to mentorship drove him to join HCF in April of 2022 to make a positive impact on the next generation of hospitality professionals.

Anthony is an avid runner, a hot sauce connoisseur, and a loyal WWE fan. In his free time, he loves spending time with his wife Natalie and his son Anthony Jr. and their daughter Ariana.

Bruce Belcher

Director of HR, Southern Glazer's Wine, Spirits & Beer for Nevada

Bruce Belcher serves as the HR Director for Southern Glazer’s Wine, Spirits & Beer for Nevada. In this role, he provides HR leadership and guidance for the state while partnering with business leaders on strategic HR initiatives and serves as an integral champion of Southern’s culture and values.

Prior to joining the Southern team, Bruce spent over 20 years with MGM Resorts where he held many leadership roles in Human Resources, including VP of Human Resources for Circus Circus Hotel & Casino and Director of HR for Aria Resort/CityCenter Campus. Bruce brings significant experience with strategic business partnering, employee engagement, employee/labor relations, employee retention and talent management.

He also earned two degrees from UNLV, his Bachelor of Science in Hotel Management/Administration as well as his MBA.

Bruce was raised in Las Vegas and has three children: Alyssa, Brynn & Brandon with his wife Ramona. Outside of work, Bruce enjoys spending time with family and friends, taking advantage of everything that Las Vegas offers, while working around the kid’s competitive soccer club commitments.

Alyssa Mendes

Vice President and General Manager, Nobu Hotel at Caesars Palace

Alyssa currently leads all aspects of operations for Nobu Hotel and is a member of the hotel leadership team at Caesars Palace, helping to drive the overall strategy of the property with respect to revenue management as well as operational efficiency and service standards. In addition, she oversees the operations of both Qua Spa and weddings at Caesars Palace.

Prior to that, Alyssa was VP of F&B at Harrah’s Las Vegas, The LINQ and Flamingo Las Vegas, overseeing both front of house and back of house culinary operations. Alyssa started her career in hotel operations where she held management positions at Harrah’s & Harvey’s Lake Tahoe and Harrah’s Resort Southern California before moving to Las Vegas as the Director of Hotel Operations at Harrah’s Las Vegas.

Originally from the San Diego area, Alyssa graduated from Sonoma State University with a BS in Psychology and enjoys outdoor activities and traveling

Nick Trujillo

Director, Global Partnerships, Vegas Golden Knights

In his role with the Golden Knights, Nick is responsible for generating sponsorship revenue for the entire family of Bill Foley owned sports enterprises. This includes the Golden Knights, Henderson Silver Knights, and Vegas Knight Hawks, as well as community facilities, The Dollar Loan Center, City National Arena, and America First Center. As well as the NBA’s G League Ignite. He previously held positions for the Las Vegas Desert Dogs and Las Vegas Raiders focused on generating revenue in hospitality focused sales roles. Combined he has over a decade of experience in the sports industry.

Nick joined HCF because the foundation supports a cause near and dear to his heart. Growing up in circumstances like the students the foundation supports, he would not have been able to attend a four-year university without a scholarship. He has seen firsthand what an opportunity like this can mean for someone’s future and wants to be a part of providing those opportunities to deserving recipients here in Southern Nevada.

Originally from the California Bay Area, Nick has lived in Vegas since 2018 and has fallen in love with the city. He is recently married and spends his free time on a golf course, exploring new restaurants with his wife, Shelbi, or taking an adventure with their dog, Daisy.

Bryan Fyler

VICE PRESIDENT OF FOOD & BEVERAGE, THE VENETIAN RESORT LAS VEGAS

Bryan Fyler, is the Vice President of Food and Beverage at The Venetian® Resort Las Vegas, where he oversees the day to day operations for the largest food and beverage portfolio in Las Vegas with over 40 restaurants and lounges. In Bryan’s role he focuses on implementing processes and strategies that improve both the team member and guest experience while driving financial results that exceed ownership’s expectations. With over 20 years experience in Food & Beverage, Bryan has held roles at prestigious properties such as The Boca Raton, The Mondrian South Beach, and The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, where he has played an integral role in both opening and leading casual and fine dining establishments.

In Bryan’s free time, he enjoys cooking for his family, hanging with his two French Bulldogs, being outdoors and binge watching Netflix series when the sun goes down. Bryan and his family love to travel and see the world whenever they get the opportunity.

Greg Van Stone

VICE PRESIDENT OF FOOD & BEVERAGE, PALMS CASINO RESORT

Please join us in welcoming our newest board member Greg Van Stone! Greg is the vice president of food & beverage at Palms Casino Resort, providing support and leadership over twelve restaurants/bars/lounges, and employing over five hundred team members.

Greg’s career spans over thirty years in senior level leadership roles in food & beverage, casino, and hospitality management. Prior to joining Palms, Greg was the corporate vice president of F&B at Pure Canadian Gaming Corporation, located in the province of Alberta, Canada. After four years in this role, Greg was promoted to general manager for one of Pure’s four Alberta casinos. Prior to this Greg has worked in various executive F&B leadership roles at MGM Grand Las Vegas, MGM Grand Detroit, Beau Rivage, Maryland Live Casino and Waldorf Astoria in Orlando. Throughout his career, he has had the opportunity to open, four casino properties and provide leadership during countless renovations and property enhancement projects.

Outside of his responsibilities at Palms Casino Resort, Greg enjoys spending time with his family and enjoying the great outdoors. Greg joined HCF because he is passionate about working together to continue making a positive impact in our community.

Maggie Jackson

Vice President, Client Relationships, Freeman

Maggie Jackson serves as Vice President, Client Relationships for Freeman. Maggie is a UNLV graduate with a BS in Hotel Management. Her local connection with the college experience through a 20+ year career in the industry will allow her to share meaningful insights with HCF students.

Maggie worked at MGM Grand Conference Center for 15 years in various roles, starting as a Sales Assistant and working her way up to Assistant Vice President of Convention Services. In 2016, Maggie switched gears and left the hotel world to join Freeman, the industry leader in global events. Her current role as VP of Client Relationships provides oversight for the West Coast, Chicago, and Canadian sales teams. Maggie takes pride in professional development and has earned both the CMP (Certified Meeting Professional) & CEM (Certification Exhibition Management) certifications.

She’s been married to Ty for 25 years and has two children, Macy (14) and Nico (10). Like many other women Maggie is a busy working mom and thrives in the chaos!
In her spare time, she’s actively involved in her kids’ sports, is an avid concert goer, VGK fan, enjoys vacationing at the beach, and spending quality time with family & friends.

Maggie is committed to applying her service industry experience to make a positive impact on the incredible students of the Hospitality Charitable Foundation.

Debby Jacobs Felker

President and Majority Owner, BUZZ LLC.

Debby Jacobs Felker serves as the President and majority owner of BUZZ LLC. With over 20 years of experience in the Event Hospitality industry, Debby has been instrumental in overseeing sales and marketing strategies for the organizations she has led. She is known for driving her companies toward accelerated growth while maintaining a commitment to excellence for clients, customers, community partners, and non-profit organizations.

Debby has been an active member of several industry associations, including the Las Vegas Hospitality Association, Financial & Insurance Conference Planners, and CEMA. She currently serves as an Advisory Board Member for the Hotel Sales and Marketing Association International (HSMAI) and has previously held roles with the MPI Foundation, US Council.

Debby is deeply committed to serving the Las Vegas community through her involvement with Nevada Women's Philanthropy, where she has participated in Events and Education committees and led the Grant Screening committee.

Her academic credentials include a Bachelor of Science Degree from UNLV in Hotel Management, with a concentration in Tourism and Convention Authority, and a Graduate Certificate in Executive Management from the UNLV Lee Business School.

An avid reader and iced coffee enthusiast, Debby can often be found at the baseball field, watching one of her three children play year-round baseball. She is passionate about giving opportunities to the future generation of the Hospitality Industry and aims to meet and mentor students, making a meaningful impact on their lives and future careers.

Kaitlin Molina

Regional Vice President of Talent Acquisition, Caesars Entertainment

Kaitlin Molina is a seasoned hospitality professional with over 20 years of experience across various sectors of the industry, including Front Office, Housekeeping, Food & Beverage, and Human Resources. Kaitlin has dedicated her life to enhancing guest experiences and nurturing talent within the hospitality field. Currently, she serves as the Regional Vice President of Talent Acquisition for Caesars Entertainment, where she is passionate about developing high-potential team members.

A proud graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Kaitlin holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Culinary Arts Management and Hospitality Management. She recently earned her Master’s in Human Resources Management from Cornell University, further solidifying her commitment to education and professional growth.

Kaitlin is a proud Las Vegan and actively contributes to her community by volunteering with several local organizations. In her personal time, she enjoys traveling, baking, and spending time with her husband, Jimmy, and their two dogs, Lulu Fox and Finito. Kaitlin is excited to bring her expertise and passion for hospitality to the Hospitality Charitable Foundation board.