The Business Press honors up-and-coming professionals with annual Rising Stars Awards

The Las Vegas Business Press’ Rising Stars of Business Class of 2013 is a diverse one. We received more than 100 nominations from every industry in the valley and found far more than 10 up-and-comers worthy of recognition.

Our honorees show determination and passion, visible in their career achievements, philanthropic efforts, community involvement and past tribulations. They have made tremendous headway in a relatively short time, and their upward trajectory is apparent. After careful consideration, we present to you our 10:

Scott Emmer, state president, Nevada, Mutual of Omaha Bank

Scott Emmer may have been born in Baltimore, but he considers himself a Las Vegas native after living in Sin City for most of the last 36 years.

“We moved to Las Vegas in 1977 when I was 15,” Emmer said. “We were considered outsiders, and moving into a new high school was tough, especially in my junior year. I left Las Vegas for college and law school, but this is really my home.”

Emmer studied economics and politics at Arizona State University before attending University of Maryland law school.

His ties to the community run deep. Emmer’s wife, Christa, is from Las Vegas and his first job in banking was in the early 1990s with the former Valley Bank of Nevada.

Today, Emmer is Nevada state president for Mutual of Omaha Bank. Yes, the insurance company from Omaha, Neb., that sponsored Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom for decades is in the banking business.

Emmer oversees nine branches, with four in Las Vegas, and 72 employees. Mutual of Omaha, which entered Nevada in July 2008 when it acquired the deposits of failed First National Bank of Nevada, operates 47 branches in 10 states.

“I used to tell my bosses not to tell people I’m also a lawyer,” Emmer said. “The last thing I want them to do is hate me twice.”

Emmer, who describes himself “as a numbers kind of guy,” admits getting his start in the banking business was easier than he expected.

“I started with the old Valley Bank in 1992 right before they were sold to Bank of America,” he said. “I walked in to open a checking account and walked out with a job. There was a long line and branch manager Marilyn Mack asked if she could help me.”

She talked with me and got human resources on the phone. That same day, Emmer had an interview as a credit analyst and spent a year and half with Bank of America.

Emmer’s banking career was briefly interrupted by law school, followed by a stint as an attorney. He returned to Bank of America in the late 1990s, before stops at HSBC, Wells Fargo, and Northern Trust.

— Chris Sieroty

Lisa Corbett, program manager, Three Square Food Bank

Lisa Corbett and food banks go way back.

Corbett’s parents taught her the importance of community service, and the lessons she received growing up in Southern California included picking potatoes at Camp Pendleton for food pantries in San Diego.

But Corbett took a roundabout route to her position as program manager of Three Square Food Bank. After earning a bachelor’s in business administration from California State University, Fullerton, she worked in accounting for a security company, then took jobs in promotion and management for Babies “R” Us. Over three years, she opened nine stores and found meaning in helping expectant moms get through a “scary but exciting” time in their lives, but she wanted a career change. A friend suggested Three Square .

She started about three-and-a-half years ago as an agency relations specialist, working with community partners in the food bank. Within a year or so, she was the group’s program manager.

Since she took over in April 2010, Corbett has substantially expanded programs at Three Square. Its Kids Cafe, which provides after-school meals to children who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches, has gone from nine locations to more than 80. Where it used to serve 900 meals a week, it dishes up 15,000. Partly because of that growth, the program now runs more efficiently, so it can do more with less money.

For Corbett, boosting food assistance has become a calling.

“On a personal level, it’s fulfilled my need to be a part of something bigger than myself,” she said. “It’s a real gift to be able to work in a place where everyone comes from very diverse backgrounds, but they all have the same values in that they believe giving back to the community is important. Even though we call each other coworkers, it really is like a family, because we have that common view that what we do matters.”

In addition to adding even more Kids Cafe locations, Corbett is mulling programs to serve seniors, as well as looking at how to feed needy kids over the summer .

As she continues to build relationships with community partners to launch new programs and expand existing initiatives, one thought drives Corbett’s efforts.

“I know that if I don’t work as hard as I can to do what I do, maybe a family won’t have enough food to eat this weekend.”

— Jennifer Robison

Marek Bute, attorney, Snell & Wilmer

Marek Bute learned at an early age what it meant to give back to the community.

His father, Richard, a professional goalkeeper in Poland, immigrated to the United States to pursue a soccer career and a new life for his wife and young family in Memphis, Tenn.

Richard Bute’s effort to reunite the family in Tennessee received help from a large community of friends, as well as the Major Indoor Soccer League, Memphis officials and the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw.

Within a few months, and just before his third birthday, Bute immigrated to the United States and was reunited with his family. Today, his mother and father still live in Memphis.

“My dad started a soccer clinic in Memphis,” Bute said. “He’s been very giving to a town that brought his family together.”

Bute, 33, acknowledged that he didn’t get a lot of his dad’s soccer talent, but he does enjoy watching the game. Bute said he didn’t start out to be a lawyer, but graduated from Pepperdine University with an advertising degree.

“I started thinking about law school after taking a media law class,” Bute said. “With the advertising market the way it was I decided to take the LSAT and go to law school.”

After attending Roger Williams University School of Law, Bute found himself in Las Vegas as a law clerk for Clark County District Court Judge Lee Gates. He joined Snell & Wilmer in 2006 in the business and commercial litigation division.

“I came here in 2005 and have been here ever since,” Bute said.

The struggle that led to his family’s reunion is what motivates him to donate his time as a pro bono attorney, taking a wide range of cases, from representing children in family court to spending four years helping an elderly disabled man regain possession of his home.

Bute said he has always been service-oriented, which began in elementary school with an environmental club. He graduated to donating his time as a pro bono attorney for the Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada; and as a children’s advocate though the Court Appointed Special Advocate program.

In August, Bute was named president of Aid for AIDS of Nevada, an organization that serves 4,000 clients a year.

— Chris Sieroty

Kimberly Daoust, principal, Tandem

Before Kimberly Daoust founded her hospitality interior design firm, Tandem, in 2005, she was the creative director of interior design for Paul Steelman Design Group.

Although she worked there off and on throughout her career, this time, Daoust was there about two years before she left to open her firm.

“It was just time,” Daoust said.

A self-described control freak who’s passionate about design, Daoust operates a boutique firm with 17 employees. She’s involved in every project, which is something that’s extremely important to her.

“We try not to be too trendy in our designs because being trendy doesn’t last,” Daoust said.

And her firm is busy.

Tandem is working on the renovation and rebranding of Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon. And she’s working on Victor Drai’s new club. She’s working with The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on projects.

Also, Daoust and company are designing projects for Hard Rock International in Mexico, where the company is rebranding existing hotels into the Hard Rock brand. And she’s helping create a new hotel tower for a longtime client in Colorado.

“Hospitality work is like a fairy tale, because you don’t have to live in it,” Daoust said.

In the future, the business owner wants more of the same.

“I want to work on more great projects. I like to work on hotels and casinos,” Daoust said. “And I want to stay in touch with the clients.”

— Laura Carroll

Sean McBurney, vice president and assistant general manager, Bally’s, Paris, Planet Hollywood

Sean McBurney was close to completing his master’s of business administration from Stanford University when he thought a job interview with the then-Harrah’s Entertainment Corp. would be good practice.

After all, McBurney had interviews lined up with Google, Nissan and Home Depot, and his real goal was returning home to Ohio to work for General Motors. He had already spent time as a mechanical engineer for the automobile manufacturer.

The interview changed everything and turned out to be “the best decision I ever made.”

At age 32, McBurney is now vice president and assistant general manager of three of the company’s Strip hotel-casinos — Bally’s, Paris Las Vegas and Planet Hollywood Resort.

“I can tell you that being a country boy from Ohio, I never dreamed of running casinos in Las Vegas,” said McBurney, who grew up in Youngstown, a 90-minute drive from Cleveland.

McBurney joined Harrah’s (now Caesars Entertainment Corp.) after finishing his Stanford studies in 2006 as a President’s Associate, which is a high-level intern program.

A job in casino marketing, which included helping Planet Hollywood transition into Caesars’ Total Rewards program, led to the position of regional vice president of casino marketing. He oversaw programs for casinos in Las Vegas, Missouri and Iowa.

“The great thing has been that you move around quickly with the company,” McBurney said .

In his role, McBurney oversees the gaming, food and beverage, surveillance, risk management and retail departments.

He balances his time among the three properties. Recently, he’s been focused on Planet Hollywood, which just launched the “Loberace” show starring singer-entertainer CeeLo Green. This summer, he expects to spend a large amount of time at Bally’s, which is announcing several changes and renovations.

McBurney said there are similarities between the gaming-hospitality industry and the automobile manufacturing business.

“You need great people and great processes with both industries,” McBurney said. “An assembler has to use good processes. Same with gaming-hospitality. We must have great processes to flawlessly check-in guests and service that guest. The one difference is there is a tremendous amount of passion and energy in gaming-hospitality.”

— Howard Stutz

Angela Douglas, associate director, UNLV Center for Entrepreneurship

In a city full of entrepreneurs, Angela Douglas provides a vital service.

As associate director of UNLV’s Center for Entrepreneurship, Douglas creates educational programs covering entrepreneurship and investing. She meets with students to help them evaluate startups to invest in through the student-run, $500,000 Rebel Venture Fund. And she collaborates with faculty and community members to promote entrepreneurship.

Douglas herself had plenty of business experience before she joined the center in November. The 1997 Green Valley High grad earned a bachelor of arts degree in communications from Gonzaga University. She then worked for an advertising agency, as well as in marketing for local credit unions and investment firms. But it wasn’t until she finished her MBA at UNLV in 2012 that Douglas knew she belonged in entrepreneurship.

“The program had a concentration called New Ventures, and it focused on writing business plans and growing businesses. I realized it incorporated a lot of what I love about business. I like to have my fingers in a lot of different things, from marketing and strategy to finance and operations.”

That interest in all facets of business came in handy in 2012, when Douglas and four classmates participated in the Donald W. Reynolds Governor’s Cup Collegiate Business Plan Competition. The team’s concept for a landscaping tool placed first in Nevada, and second in a tristate contest of groups from Nevada, Arkansas and Oklahoma.

“The whole process was a big accomplishment to me regarding teamwork, and understanding what it takes to get a business off the ground,” she said.

Officials at the Center for Entrepreneurship say Douglas has already made a difference there, doubling participation in February’s Dominic Anthony Marrocco Southern Nevada Business Plan Competition.

When she’s not promoting the center, Douglas serves as executive vice president of Veritas Business Solutions, an information technology consulting firm. There, she helps clients develop business plans, prepare financial reports and write strategic marketing plans.

At the center, Douglas hopes to help startups over their biggest hurdle — knowing where to turn for assistance. She said she sees the center becoming a clearinghouse for students, faculty and community members who need help with everything from where to go to write a business plan to how to get a business license.

— Jennifer Robison

Ray Sedey, executive vice president, McCarthy Building Cos.

While the construction industry was one of the hardest-hit sectors during the economic downturn, Ray Sedey directed McCarthy Building to another profitable year in Southern Nevada.

The 35-year-old executive vice president of McCarthy helped secure high-profile projects such as the Hakkasan nightclub at MGM Grand hotel and Brooklyn Bowl inside The Linq entertainment complex on the Strip.

Sedey said he’s “worn many hats” in his 13 years with McCarthy, from project superintendent to vice president of operations. He has managed nearly $700 million in construction projects in Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico.

His expertise on large-scale construction projects allowed McCarthy to diversify its local portfolio into health care, hospitality and gaming, education, transportation and waste water treatment.

Sedey went to work for McCarthy after graduating from Montana State University with a degree in construction engineering, starting as a project engineer in Phoenix. He also spent time in Albuquerque, N.M., before coming to Las Vegas in 2006.

“I learned quickly to embrace opportunity,” Sedey said. “To be frank, it’s taken a lot of sacrifices on behalf of me and my family, but growing up and watching my father balance both a career and family set the foundation for myself.”

Sedey said he’s been privileged to work with great leaders at McCarthy and build some outstanding projects.

“Our people are what really set us apart,” he said. “As in any leadership role, it’s the people you surround yourself with that make you good at your job.”

Because McCarthy is an employee-owned company, employees are not just there to pick up a paycheck, Sedey said. They take pride in their job and make his job fun.

Sedey works to ensure that his team meets expectations and that projects are safe and secure. He also lands future contracts. His diligence and dedication helped persevere through tough times.

“When I got here, the construction industry was booming, so I’ve definitely experienced the highs and lows and look forward to being a part of this market as it continues to turn around,” Sedey said.

— Hubble Smith

Melissa Biernacinski, director of media relations, Imagine Communications

It was May 2006 and Melissa Biernacinski was a member of the first journalism-media studies program graduating class at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Would she pursue a career in newspapers or public relations?

Bieracinski was managing editor of UNLV’s student newspaper, while working part time at a public relations company, Imagine Communications.

PR won out.

“It was a tough choice,” said Biernacinski, who turned 29 on March 3. “But at that time Imagine had won me over. I wanted to stay and be a part of it.”

Biernacinski has already spent seven years at Imagine, including the last five as director of media relations.

Biernacinski’s mother worked at the UNLV library in acquisitions and drilled the love of writing and copy editing into her daughter. The library has come full circle for Biernacinski because it’s now a client of hers.

Libraries hold a special place because her department worked to raise awareness about Henderson Libraries’ submission to the Pepsi Refresh Challenge in hopes of winning a $25,000 grant for a teen lounge at Green Valley Library.

While the district did not win the grant, Biernacinski’s department created so much awareness that it led to a $25,000 donation to cover the costs of opening the library teen lounge.

“That was one of my favorite moments, finding out the work you do can result in something like that happening. Other people find out about the good things people are doing and are inspired to give or support that organization,” she said.

Biernacinski looks forward to helping Imagine, a company of 11 employees and partners, grow. Her clients include Henderson Libraries, the UNLV Library, the city of Henderson Economic Development/Redevelopment and a unionized sheet metal organization.

The Las Vegas native who grew up on the city’s east side and attended Chaparral High School is married to Marek Biernacinski, who owns a business languages services company called Edited by a Pro. She is a partner in the company.

Biernacinski enjoys living in Las Vegas and despite the valley’s explosive growth considers it a city with a small-town feel.

“Pretty much where I go I know someone,” she said.

— Alan Snel

Christopher LaPorte, owner and founder, Insert Coin(s)

Before Chris LaPorte opened Insert Coin(s) at 512 Fremont St., he sold orthopedic implants and radio pharmaceuticals to surgeons and cardiologists.

After five years of wearing scrubs to work every day, the Brooklyn, N.Y., native decided to make his dream a reality. A lifelong gamer, LaPorte wanted to create a place where he’d want to hang out — not a sports bar or a nightclub. He took to Facebook and after amassing 1,000 fans on his concept page within six months, LaPorte said he had enough proof to show investors there was a market for a video game bar in Las Vegas.

“I always had the idea in my mind,” he said. “I am a huge gamer. I am a nerd.”

In 2011, LaPorte’s dream came to fruition. Last October, he opened a second location in Minneapolis and by 2014 he said he wants to open a third Insert Coin(s) in either Chicago or San Francisco.

The bars incorporate LaPorte’s favorite games, purchased from collectors around the country. One of them, Tapper, had to be picked up from a collector in Lubbock, Texas, before the 2011 opening in Las Vegas.

His all-time favorite — “Street Fighter 2 is the granddaddy of them all” — is there, along with new favorites.

“I play everything. It’s my job to stay up to date,” he said.

Inside the bars, a mix of ages from 21 on up play games and mingle in the arcade atmosphere. Since opening, LaPorte said business has been phenomenal, and he believes his bar is a large reason why downtown is experiencing a resurgence.

Eventually, he said he’d like to see an Insert Coin(s) on the Strip, but LaPorte doesn’t believe his brand is strong enough yet to survive in a casino, which is where he wants to be.

“I’m a strong believer that good things come to those who wait,” he said.

Aside from developing his bars and getting his name out there, LaPorte also said he wants to help Clark County students, perhaps by purchasing computers for schools. In the past he’s raised money for Heaven Can Wait and the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation, The Shade Tree and Noah’s House.

— Laura Carroll

Erin Kinard, clinical director, WestCare Nevada Community Triage Center

When she dealt daily with the people who came through the WestCare Nevada Community Triage Center after serious bouts of alcohol or drug abuse, Erin Kinard developed a “pretty thick skin” listening to how the patients got there.

Now, as the center’s director, she spends most of her time with administrative matters. She admits that some of the calluses have peeled off.

“I fight not to cry when I hear the stories,” said Kinard, 32. “It’s rough to see, but many things don’t surprise me anymore.”

Since she was promoted to director in June after eight years as a WestCare counselor and program coordinator, she has spent a large amount of time with government and hospital officials that pay the center’s $1.4 million annual budget. Relations had frayed as many officials had come to wonder where their money was going.

WestCare, a foundation with facilities across 16 states, had not done a good job tracking its results or setting and sticking to budgets.

She has installed financial planning to set clear goals for improving the center’s aging downtown building, once a brothel complete with hidden stairwells. Now, for example, she wants to replace the cathode-ray tube televisions and the dining room tables when free cash comes available.

She wanted to decrease the likelihood of patients leaving before completing treatments, usually a three-day regimen once it is determined they do not need hospitalization. So she started selling nicotine patch supplies for $10 to cover the entire stay. The center does not allow smoking indoors, heaping cigarette withdrawal on top of detoxification and increasing the chances of failure.

She attended Western New Mexico University on a volleyball scholarship, intending to become a criminal defense attorney. Instead, with a professor’s encouragement, she decided to use her sociology minor with an emphasis on chemical dependency.

She learned to structure finances while working as the coordinator of outpatient services; she was being prepared to take over the center some day.

“I guess I’ve always had a desire for leadership positions, not for sake of power but for the sake of improvement,” she said.

— Tim O’Reiley