I was born and raised in Panama. My Dad worked at Fort Clayton around the time the Panama Canal Zone designation was ending. He worked in sort of a DMV for the US military. Mom was a cultural affairs ambassador for the US Embassy. I played baseball-pitched and played short. There were lots of hotels around us. I think that’s how hospitality got into my DNA.
At Christmas we’d eat arroz con pollo and Panamanian Tamales (we cooked ours in plantain and bijo leaves and not corn husks like Mexican tamales), and we’d open one present that was, inevitably, pajamas. The night would end with mass (painful), then fireworks (less so).
I went to school at UNLV because they had a good criminal justice program, the climate was great and I got to play softball. In that order? No.
As far as getting into the hospitality business, you could worse than a criminal justice degree.
First post-Running Rebel job was at The Tropicana Hotel as the Housekeeping Scheduler making $14 an hour and scheduling 250 housekeepers. It was a great foundation. Took a job as Assistant Executive Houskeeper (there was lots of assisting to do, there were 14 of us and near 5000 rooms).
Being an Assistant Executive Director of Housekeeping meant you made beds. And then you helped make beds. Let me tell you, I can make a bed.
I ended up at the MGM Grand as the Director of Housekeeping; one of the largest Hotels in the world. I felt a little over my head which is not an altogether bad place to be I think. I figured it out. I didn’t make beds anymore but I stayed there 3 years anyway.
I care about people. And not simply so I can get what I need out of them. I think every person that has worked for me, or I’ve worked for, has stayed with me in some capacity. They leave me with something. I appreciate that.
My favorite place to eat in Vegas is probably Chayo Mexican Kitchen and Tequila Bar inside the Linq. They make a Chicken Al Pastor taco with Chile Guajillo Salsa, pickled vegetables and grilled pineapple. How about that? A shot of Patron X Guillermo Del Toro Tequila too. ¼ of a glass maybe.
Rod Carew was born and raised in Panama. I modeled my swing after his. He lived in Gatun inside the Canal Zone not so far from where I grew up. He still has citizenship there. He used to go to bed with a Ted Williams bat that he won in a Little League Tourney. I have no idea why I know this.
Not sure what lined up to place me at Jay Peak; to place us together actually, but I feel very fortunate. It’s as special as I’ve read about. I’ve only been here a season but I can feel it. The guests and staff and management are all connected in a meaningful way but in a manner that I can’t really explain. You have to spend time here to get a sense of it.
Ok, maybe half a glass.
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