Monthly Archives: September 2021

RIT professor on $15M effort to resurrect the wooly mammoth by Harvard scientists – RochesterFirst

Posted: September 20, 2021 at 8:20 am

HENRIETTA, N.Y. (WROC) A company and project called Colossal has received $15 million dollars in funding, according to CNN, to do one thing with a big goal: Resurrect the woolly mammoth.

The project hopes that the reintroduction of the animal that has been extinct for more than 4,000 years can reform the Artic, tundra, and the Steppes to help combat climate change.

Colossals website has this to offer: It is a science that has been developed and mastered by George Church, Ph.D. and his lab. With a 99.6% genetic match in the Asian elephant, intact Mammoth DNA, and modern genetic engineering, the task is well underway.

This comes on the heels of a full genetic sequence taken from a discovered mammoth fossil, and the project says that they can use CRISPR technology to essentially pick which genes were present in the mammoth and then splice them into the Asian elephant genome.

Our goal is to have our first calves in the next four to six years, said tech entrepreneur Ben Lamm, a backer of Colossal also said to CNN.

To offer some perspective and insight on this project, Robert Rothman, RIT Professor Emeritus of Life Sciences who is both familiar with the project and the technology used in this project discussed with News 8 his reaction to the feasibility of the project, its mission, practicality, the amount of funding, and more.

To get funding quickly out of the way:

I would say seems pretty slim, right? he said. Just to sequence it and and the cloning is probably going to require a lot of manpower I would guess thats barely scratching the surface of what it would cost.

And as for the mission itself, Rothman gives an overview for us.

Its an idea called rewilding, Rothman said. The goal is to replace a missing keystone organism to re-introduce a modern population [and] if thats not possible to introduce either a closely related species or a species that fills a similar ecological niche.

Rothman equates it to the re-introduction of gray wolves to Yellowstone Park animals that were there, but the project increased the number or in his area of expertise, tortoises on the Galapagos. While both of these projects invovled extant, rather than extinct, animals, Rothman draws parallels to the captive breeding programs, as well as their timelines and difficulty.

He discusses the Espanola tortoise, which at one point only had 15 remaining animals. They were all brought back to a station in 1971, and over 30 years later, the population he says is over 2,000. But that was a decades-long process, unlike the 4-5 timeline the Colossal project laid out.

So thats kind of the comparison that I look at now, if you put this in the context of the elephants, it takes about two years for a fertilized egg to mature into a baby elephant, Rothman said.

He credits the Colossal team for being well-researched and having exceptional ability to do the actual gene splicing work with CRISPR, but says that birthing these mammoth-esque animals has other complications, namely how the animal will develop, specifically how it will be rasied and socialized.

If its born in a tube, how will it grow up and socialize? If the fertilized egg with the mammoth analogue, would the Asian elephant be willing to raise its alien offspring? Rothman says theres no way to answer these questions until the project begins.

He also adds that in the case of the tortoises, since they were a product of the captive breeding program and thanks to an industrious tortoise named Diego, who according to the Galapagos National Parks may have sired around 40% of the new population the current population is fairly homogenous, and may lead to inbreeding issues down the line.

As for the overall goal itself, Rothman has his doubts. While he cited two examples that have worked, rewilding doesnt always work, saying that often solutions to one problem create others.

The classic example are cane toads in Australia, he said. I think its a huge problem (They) were introduced about a hundred years ago to deal with pest insect pests that attacking sugar cane, but the frog population exploded. And theyre poisonous. If you touch them, I think you you get a bad reaction, but if a dog (eats) one (it can get) sick or die.

But with these examples, these creatures are extant; they currently exist on Earth, and are moved someplace else, or their numbers are increased. In this case The woolly mammoth has not trundled across the Steppes in 4,000 years. Rothman says mammoths arent around for a reason, saying that they were animals who thrived in cold weather, and with a warming planet, their odds of survival dont intuitively feel promising.

Finally, Rothman addresses the ethical concerns of recreating species, and extensively editing the genes of current ones. He points out that some say that this technology is so powerful that it could be possibly be used to help current elephants populations, but instead being used to recreate old ones. He does add one more philosophical concern of many:

We shouldnt play God,' he said, echoing those concerns.

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RIT professor on $15M effort to resurrect the wooly mammoth by Harvard scientists - RochesterFirst

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Makana Therapeutics Awarded KidneyX Artificial Kidney Prize for Innovation in Xenotransplantation – Yahoo Finance

Posted: at 8:20 am

EAGAN, Minn., Sept. 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Makana Therapeutics today received a $650,000 KidneyX Artificial Kidney Prize for their work to increase the supply of kidney donor organs through pig-to-human xenotransplants. Xenotransplantation is the process of transplanting organs or tissues between members of different species into humans, thus addressing the crisis of organ shortage we are facing today.

"We see a future where xenotransplantation will allow end-stage renal disease patients who need a kidney transplant to have one immediately, without the years of waiting and uncertainty they currently face," said Matt Tector, chief scientific officer of Makana Therapeutics.

Every year more than 100,000 new patients are deemed to need some form of renal replacement, yet fewer than 25,000 kidney transplants are performed annually due to a shortage of suitable donors.

To meet this increasing demand, Makana has developed a "triple knockout" pig with kidneys viable for human transplant by inactivating three separate genes to reduce expression of pig molecules on the transplanted kidney that are targeted by human antibodies. By eliminating these three genes from pigs, it is possible to reduce, and in some cases, eliminate human antibody binding to the pig cells which typically lead to organ rejection or other complications. Makana estimates the "triple knockout" pig will be a suitable kidney donor for as many as 70 percent of kidney failure patients.

Makana, a subsidiary of Minneapolis-based life-sciences company Recombinetics, is strategically placed to bring this innovation to market leveraging both Makana's strong intellectual property and pre-clinical success as well as Recombinetics leadership in large animal genetic engineering and animal husbandry expertise.

"We believe there are no remaining scientific unknowns for us to get to our clinical trial. Our remaining efforts will be geared towards gaining FDA approval for the trial and continuing to improve our technology so we can meet our goal of providing a transplant to every patient in need," said Dr. Joe Tector, founder of Makana.

Story continues

As a pre-clinical stage company, Makana expects its first-in-human trial to commence as early as 2022 and could be to market as soon as 2025.

About The Artificial Kidney Prize

The Kidney Innovation Accelerator (KidneyX), a public-private partnership between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the American Society of Nephrology (ASN), is accelerating innovation in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of kidney diseases.

The Artificial Kidney Prize is a competition to accelerate the development of continuous kidney replacement therapies that provide transformational treatment options beyond current dialysis methods. For this competition, artificial kidneys may be wearable, implantable, bioengineered, developed as a xenotransplant or chimera organ, or other approaches not yet conceived.

About Makana Therapeutics

Founded in 2009, Makana Therapeutics is focused on developing swine with reduced xenoantigen expression, making human transplantation of cells, tissues and organs from these animals possible. Makana's focus on simplified genetics, optimized pig cloning techniques and careful patient selection is expected to streamline product development and result in safer more efficacious products.

About Recombinetics

Founded in 2008, Recombinetics Inc. is a recognized global leader in the development, deployment, and commercialization of genetically engineered animals. Its three subsidiaries, Regenevida, Surrogen, and Acceligen, have delivered hundreds of animals to: enable drug, device, and therapeutic discovery; generate transplantable cells, tissues, and organs; and provide improved health, well-being, and productivity in agricultural animals.

PR/Media ContactContact: Nikki Rockstroh, 318939@email4pr.com 612.727.2000

Cision

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SOURCE Recombinetics Inc

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Makana Therapeutics Awarded KidneyX Artificial Kidney Prize for Innovation in Xenotransplantation - Yahoo Finance

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HIV, VSV, and Zika Virus Suppression in Just One Protein – Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News

Posted: at 8:20 am

Scientists at Ohio State University provide evidence that members of a class of proteins called serine incorporator proteins, best known for curbing HIV infection also promote other antiviral activities that increase the production of type I interferons and proinflammatory cytokines. By promoting these signaling pathways of innate immunity, the SERINC restriction factors SERINC3 and SERINC5, protect cells from infection by HIV-1, vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), and Zika virus.

The authors show SERINC5, usually present in the cell membrane, moves to the outer mitochondrial membrane protein where it forms a protein complex with an adapter protein, MAVS (mitochondrial antiviral signaling), and TRAF6, an E3 ubiquitin ligasean enzyme that degrades proteins.

Reducing the expression of SERINC5 in target cells, the authors note, increases cellular infection by HIV-1, VSV and an endemic Asian strain of Zika virus. This demonstrates SERINC5 mediates direct antiviral activities in host cells in addition to the indirect inhibition of HIV-1 reported in earlier studies. Probing further into the mechanism, the authors show SERINC5s antiviral activity depends on its ability to stimulate the expression of type I interferons and NF-kB inflammatory signaling.

These findings are reported in the Science Signaling article, SERINC proteins potentiate antiviral type I IFN production and proinflammatory signaling pathways.

Senior author of the paperShan-Lu Liu, PhD, professor of virology in theDepartment of Veterinary Biosciences at The Ohio State University says, Viruses can get around direct antiviral effects, but if this protein can also modulate key pathways without acting directly on the virus, then a virus may have limited capacity to counteract it.

Restriction factorsproteins produced by host cells to restrict viral infectioninterfere either with the entry of virus particles into healthy cells or viral replication mechanisms in the host cell. Earlier studies have shown the restriction factor SERINC5, found in the host cell membrane incorporates into HIV-1 virus particles, blocking their entry into the host cell.

The current study notes SERINC5 also inhibits viral infections by promoting intracellular innate signaling pathways that involves its binding to the adaptor protein MAVS at the mitochondrial membrane. This binding results in MAVS oligomerization and activation of downstream transcriptional regulators that promote the expression of genes that encode antiviral type I IFNs and proinflammatory cytokines like NF-kB.

The aggregation of these proteins means they need each other, says Liu. A big complex like this can recruit additional molecules, enhancing the efficiency of the signal transduction pathway.

The researchers are currently testing whether this function is also effective against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

If this family of molecules can do this in animals and humans, then you may think about whether it could be used in a broad antiviral therapy, says Liu. He is optimistic that the efficacy of SERINC proteins in inhibiting viral infection will extend to suppressing the COVID-19 virus.

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Sleep Token Deliver Brutal Introspection With ‘Fall for Me’ Video – Loudwire

Posted: September 17, 2021 at 9:18 pm

The mysterious Sleep Token are back with their latest video for "Fall for Me" from the forthcoming This Place Will Become Your Tomb album and this latest clip serves as a brutal introspection about our overall needs and desires.

The video centers on a solitary figure stumbling across a barren landscape as messages occasionally interrupt the action occurring onscreen. "The truth is I am due a harsh lesson," reads one message, later adding, "in truth itself and how bitter it can be." "The truth is, I am ugly, I am inadequate, I am lost," continues the messages, later added, "The truth is, I want, to want, to live."

The song itself is a more somber piece of music, further masking the band's unidentified vocalist with a more electronic sounding delivery. And as the video plays out, our central figure emerges from the barren wasteland to eventually find the coastal waters in which he will soon be submerged.

"Fall for Me" will join the previously released "Alkaline" and "The Love You Want" on the highly anticipated second album from Sleep Token, This Place Will Become Your Tomb. The album is set to arrive Sept. 24 and pre-orders can be taken via the band's website.

Look for the group returning to the road in November, hitting stops in the U.K. and Europe along the way.

Loudwire's picks for the best metal songs of 2021 so far.

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Sleep Token Deliver Brutal Introspection With 'Fall for Me' Video - Loudwire

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Kat Tatz brings a bit of her ‘Wonderland’ to the Las Vegas Strip – KTNV Las Vegas

Posted: at 9:17 pm

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) If you think Las Vegas is a trip, Kat Tatz is inviting you to go deeper down the rabbit hole.

The homegrown artist recently won Park West Gallery's first-ever Made in Vegas art competition, beating out nearly 500 impressive submissions.

And true to its name, Tatz is a longtime Vegas local inspired by the city where she grew up.

SIMILAR: What's the difference between the 2 'immersive' van Gogh exhibits in Las Vegas?

Bringing the Fantasy to the Reality

"With all the neon signs, I mean, that's the first thing that I remember when my mom drove me into Vegas when I was four," she recalled. "The turquoise color of Caesars Palace was unbelievable. It was night."

"I use that color in a lot of my paintings now," she said. "Even to this day. It's like one of my favorites."

UNLV Special Collections and Archives

A common theme in her work? Lewis Carroll's fantasy tale "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland."

"A lot of my paintings depict a different viewpoint of Alice in Wonderland. Like, I'll have her a lot of times transitioning," she explained.

In the piece below and to the far right, for example, Tatz says she painted Alice transitioning into the White Rabbit. "She's growing the fur and she has the ears coming down, but she's still Alice."

Tatz's style is broad and her work uses a wide range of techniques.

SIMILAR: Pretty Done makes his mark in Vegas with Life is Beautiful, interactive installation, free art drops

"I do pop surrealism art, lowbrow art, I kind of like the fantasy and a lot of impressionism as well. So I like to change up a bit when I get bored," she said with a laugh.

Just look at her submissions for the Made in Vegas competition.

Kat Tatz/Park West Gallery

The portrait of Stevie Nicks, on the far left, could almost have been painted by someone else when compared to the two "Alice in Wonderland" pieces on the right. It was not, of course. All three were made by Tatz.

In one of her submissions, centered above, the painting continues from the canvas onto the frame.

"I like to take the fantasy and bring it out to the reality, which is the frame to me," she said. "It gives me an opportunity to tell another story that's separate from the painting."

A Hospital Stay

When she submitted her work for Made in Vegas, she says it didn't go down as you might assume.

"You're gonna laugh," Kaz said with a smile. "I had a hospital stay a couple of months ago." (At this point, I can't say I was laughing just yet.)

"You know, I was so out of it and I was scrolling through Facebook because there's nothing else to do," she chuckled. "And I saw the Made in Vegas art competition."

"Right then, I'm like so delirious, right? But I'm applying for it." It was at this moment when she sent in her three pictures of choice.

"When I got accepted and they told me that I was one of the ten finalists," Katz said holding back laughter, "I couldn't remember what I sent in! I was so out of it."

SIMILAR: How Blue Man Group's Chris Wink created an art 'funhouse' in Las Vegas to delve into

Over and Over and Over and Over

Another thing about Tatz, she's largely self-taught and has been practicing for decades.

"My dad and my mom got divorced when I was four, so he very rarely came to see me," she said. "But the one memory that I do have is he taught me how, at four years old, how to measure out a face, and what the dimensions were and how to line it out."

"Then, when he left--I had a hero worship on him by the way--when he left, I just did that over and over and over and over."

Kat Tatz

Her mom was also an artist.

"My mom was a doll sculpture, so she would make porcelain dolls and compete in competitions," she said. "She always won."

Tatz studied at UNLV and has received additional formal training by attending artist workshops around the country, which overlaps with another passion of hers.

"I like to travel. That's like my favorite thing."

She even has an international presence with work on view at Art Space & Design in Canada.

She also has work featured at Las Laguna Gallery in Laguna Beach, California.

Closer to home, you can find her work at Animazing Gallery inside the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian, ART2art Gallery inside Tivoli Village, inside Allegiant Stadium and of course at Park West Gallery inside the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace.

The Pandemic

Tatz used to have her own gallery, Wonderland Gallery, which she owned for several years.

"I feel like I learned so much from owning a gallery."

But then, COVID-19 hit Las Vegas right as her lease was up. She didn't renew.

"I got really lucky," she said. "It just worked out. I'm starting to turn around."

Tatz says business actually got busier when she increased her online presence after closing the brick-and-mortar location down.

"I kept the name because I love--even my website--I love it. WonderlandGallery.com."

The pandemic, only emphasizing one of the reasons Tatz says art is so important for society.

"I think that art is incredibly historical in a way," she said. "It shows where the current trends are."

If you look closely at one of her Park West paintings, you'll find characters of "Alice in Wonderland" wearing masks, the White Rabbit, dangling his from his fingers.

Where to Find Her Work

You can follow Kat Tatz on Instagram at @kattatz. Find her artwork here:

Learn more about Tatz's work at WonderLandGallery.com.

This story is from our "Las Vegas Art Scene" segment in our newly-launched dedicated digital show "How to Vegas." Watch "How to Vegas" at 10:30 p.m. on Fridays -- and throughout the weekend -- using the KTNV app on your favorite streaming device.

Kat Tatz brings a bit of her 'Wonderland' to the Las Vegas Strip - KTNV Las Vegas

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Las Vegas Sands and Wynn Shares Mixed as Wall Street Sentiment Sours on Macau – Barron’s

Posted: at 9:17 pm

Macau's government is reviewing casino concessions, weighing on U.S-based operaters with a big presence in the Chinese enclave. Here, a light, water, and sound show at the Wynn Palace casino in Macau. Isaac Lawrence/AFP via Getty Images

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Analyst sentiment on Las Vegas Sands and Wynn Resorts continues to deteriorate over concerns that impending casino concession renewals in Macau will be more onerous.

However, stocks of U.S. casino companies with ties to Macau were mixed Friday morning. Las Vegas Sands (ticker: LVS) was up 1% in early trading; Wynn (WYNN) was off 0.6%; and MGM Resorts International (MGM) up about 1%.

The casino concessions allowing companies to operate in Macau are set to expire next June. Earlier this week, members of the Macau government said that they were beginning the process of reviewing the concession renewals and examining a law that oversees that business. The Macau government said in part that by revising the law, it expects to strengthen supervision of the holders of those casino concessions.

Against this backdrop, Jefferies analyst David Katz on Friday downgraded Las Vegas Sands to Hold from Buy, partly owing to the pending uncertainties around the Macau concession and its growth and return prospect.

For U.S. investors, one of the biggest concerns about these companies is that the new concessions will be much less favorable in terms of taxes, capital spending mandates and local ownership requirements, among other things.

While Las Vegas Sands and Wynn are both based in Las Vegas, more than half of their revenues come from Macau in normal times. Macau is the worlds largest gambling market.

In his note downgrading Las Vegas Sands, Katz also cited the persistent restrictions from Covid, which could continue in a zero-tolerance context.

He already had a Hold rating on Wynn but lowered his estimates and dropped his price target to $83 from $104.

The recent developments in Macau around concession renewals implied tighter restrictions on the gaming industry going forward, Katz wrote.

The stock closed at $84.37 on Thursday, down about 17% for the week. Las Vegas Sands was off about 10%.

MGM Resorts International , which has a presence in Macau but is more focused on U.S. properties, was down about 2% this week through Thursday.

Write to Lawrence C. Strauss at lawrence.strauss@barrons.com

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Las Vegas Sands and Wynn Shares Mixed as Wall Street Sentiment Sours on Macau - Barron's

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At North Las Vegas event, congressmen push the case for ‘Break the Cycle of Violence Act’ – Las Vegas Sun

Posted: at 9:17 pm

Yasmina Chavez

SeanJerrion Coleman-Rabb speaks during a Break the Cycle of Violence Act roundtable at North Las Vegas library Monday, Sept. 13,2021.

By Ricardo Torres-Cortez (contact)

Friday, Sept. 17, 2021 | 2 a.m.

Even after being shot, then-17-year-old SeanJerrion Coleman-Rabb had a cavalier attitude toward life.

At that moment, I was like, if its my time to go, its my time to go, said Coleman-Rabb, who was hanging out on a corner near Torrey Pines and Vegas drives in Las Vegas when he was shot in the face.

Eventually, however, he connected with a community group and mentors who helped him change his outlook and the course of his life.

Three years later, he is a youth advocate and a gun violence prevention activist. God gave me a second chance, and Im just here to make sure I make right by it, Coleman-Rabb said.

Coleman-Rabb, 20, recently attended a roundtable discussion in North Las Vegas sponsored by U.S. Reps. Steve Horsford, D-Nev., whose district includes North Las Vegas, and Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., who were promoting their Break the Cycle of Violence Act.

If the bill were signed into law, the Department of Health and Human Services would appropriate $5 billion in grants for programs focused on community-based violence intervention. Another $1.5 billion from the Department of Labor would be earmarked for job training, education and apprenticeship programs.

The bill is still in committee, and House members are expected to make recommendations in the coming weeks, said Horsford, who sponsored the legislation.

Horsford and Jeffries planned the roundtable to hear from young people and community activists about how the money could be spent. Suggestions included making after-school activities, such as sports, more affordable and enlisting young adults with experience on the streets as mentors.

Everyone shared a personal story.

Horsford said the day he and 62 House co-sponsors introduced the bill was the anniversary of his fathers slaying some 30 years ago. The elder Horsford was an employee at a convenience store when he was gunned down.

I never got the chance to say goodbye to him or for him to see me finish school, start my family, go out and serve this community and now be a member of Congress, Horsford said.

Jeffries, who grew up in Brooklyn in the midst of the crack-cocaine epidemic, which saw gun violence and homicides skyrocket, spoke about many people ending up in prison or dead.

It is easier to build strong children than it is to repair broken men and broken women, he said, paraphrasing abolitionist and social reformer Frederick Douglas.

Investing in youths in at-risk communities can help prevent violence and better respond to the trauma when it does occur, the lawmakers said.

In an interview, Coleman-Rabb said he was placed in foster care after being taken from his birth mother, who was addicted to crack. Later, he was adopted.

It was hard, he said. Growing up, it was hard because I was wondering where I came from. I wondered who my mom and my dad were.

He eventually fell into the streets and after he was shot, he was introduced to Nevada Partners, which provides college and career support for people struggling with poverty and other issues.

Coleman-Rabb is a coordinator with the organizations WildN-Out Wednesdays, which he described as a program for those ages 16 to 24 that teaches skills in leadership, community service and civil participation.

Horsford said he spent his youth at the same library where the roundtable was conducted, participating in programs that shaped who he has become. Its crucial, he said, for young people to know their voices are important and that they see themselves as leaders.

Its really like being home, Horsford said.

Las Vegas police offer tips to prevent burglaries after Sun City Summerlin hit by break-ins – FOX5 Las Vegas

Posted: at 9:17 pm

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Las Vegas police offer tips to prevent burglaries after Sun City Summerlin hit by break-ins - FOX5 Las Vegas

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Meet the Las Vegas women of MGM Resorts International who are breaking the glass ceiling – Lasvegasmagazine

Posted: at 9:17 pm

The stage is set. The acts have been booked. The lighting and sound perfected. All the logistics organized. The curtain rises and the eager crowd roars. The Las Vegas hotels and venues in the MGM Resorts International portfolioMandalay Bay, Luxor, Excalibur, New York-New York, MGM Grand, Park MGM, NoMad Hotel, Delano, Bellagio, Aria, Vdara, The Mirage and T-Mobile Arenaoffer some of the best entertainment in the city. From concerts and festivals to sporting events and special experiences, the worldwide corporation creates lifelong memories for visitors, but it doesnt just happen. A large network of MGMRI employees work together to launch that entertainment. While thousands of employees work for the corporation, Las Vegas Magazine is turning the spotlight on five top female executives in the company who have shattered the proverbial glass ceiling in their field and work tirelessly to piece together the moving parts in this entertainment scene. Learn a bit about their personal lives, jobs, career highlights and thoughts on being a woman in a male-dominated industryand discover the humbleness, hard work and dedication that have led them to the top of their game. And the next time you take your seat in Vegasbe it seeing your favorite singer, sports star or showremember that its these women who help make it all happen.

Title: Vice president of bookingentertainment and sports

Shoot Location: MGM Grand Garden Arena

From Opera to Rock n Roll. Born and raised in New Jersey, Calhoun went to college for musicshes a classically trained opera singer. After college, in a very dramatic fashion, I was like, Im going to move to L.A. and be like Ari Gold from Entourage, she says. But then I realized people like that make $12 an hour, forever. So, she tried something different and worked for the company Rock n Roll Fantasy Camp. I was the owners assistant and moved into marketing, then VP of operations, talent coordination, execution of the camps operations. It was a very cool learning opportunity for me because I got to see all sides of the business.

Vegas Bound. The position at the camp brought her to Las Vegas in 2013. After a short stint in nonprofit work, I quickly realized I missed entertainment, Calhoun says. I knew I wouldnt be able to be 100% passionate about my career unless it was in entertainment. And right around that time, T-Mobile Arena was being built, and she knew that was what she wanted to be a part of. She joined MGMRI in 2015 as one of the arenas booking managers. Two years ago, she moved into her current title and now works with MGM Grands Grand Garden Arena, T-Mobile Arena and the Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay.

The Art of the Deal. When you hop on your computer and look up all the concerts across MGMRIs properties, its Calhoun who books them. I look at my calendar and all the open dates, she says. I do the deals, how each one is going to be executed. The fun partonce its booked and released into the world, we must stay that central person because were the first person and were the last person.

From Jam Band to Boy Band to Psychos. For all those Phish fans out there, thank Calhoun, who has helped book the bands acclaimed Halloween shows at the Grand Garden Arena. They dont have to come here, they can go anywhere for their Halloween shows, so its about nurturing those relationships to make them want to come back here, she says. Calhoun also grew up a huge NSYNC fan. And when she booked Justin Timberlakes Man of the Woods Tour, I was walking around the floor at T-Mobile Arena, standing there, and he was right there rehearsing SexyBack, she says. If you wouldve told 12-year-old Erin she would be booking the biggest arena in Las Vegas and standing next to Justin Timberlake and could go backstage and say hello It was just this moment where I was going to cry but I couldnt because I was in public. But that was just a really cool, I-did-it-moment. It was a personal, special moment. Heavy-metal music fans can also thank Calhoun for bringing the Psycho Las Vegas festival to Mandalay Bay. Its been fun for me to be on the ground floor with the creators of Psycho and be able to make it special to what we can do, she says.

The Quarantine Life. Calhoun has some happy news to share: shes getting married next year. I got a quarantine puppy and I got a ring, she says, laughing. As if I dont have enough concerts to plan, Im going to plan a wedding, too.

Making It a Womans World. When I first started, I was the only female booker on the team, Calhoun says. I would go out to booking conferences, and its a very male-dominated world. From the MGMRI side, I think its special that they focus on women in leadership. They want to see women grow. I have personally felt that Ive been nurtured to be the person that got promoted twice; to be a person that they invest in. To be a woman in this male-dominated worldits nice to work for a company that appreciates the diversity and supports it.

Title: Director of public relations

Shoot Location: T-Mobile Arena

It Began With a Note. Sherrer was born in South Korea and was adopted by an American couple when she turned a year old. I was left in a basket on the orphanage steps and left with a note that my mom still has to this day, Sherrer says. It says in Korean, something to the effect of, We cant take care of our daughter. We want a couple to adopt her and take her to America and give her a beautiful life. And, I was.

The L.A. Scene. Sherrer went to college in Boston for theater and costume design. She took an internship in L.A. to pursue a possible career in wardrobe design, but ended up working for Focus Features, where she had her first brush with public relations. After graduating, she moved back to L.A. and started as a junior publicist, working on movies and TV awards shows. In 2009, she applied for a job in Las Vegas with MGMRI. I started in February of 2010, she says. My goal was two years in Vegas. Cause who lives in Vegas for longer?

Its Now Going on 11 Years. In 2011, Sherrer was promoted to public relations manager and in 2018 to director of public relations. The first big arena concert she worked on was Aerosmith at MGMs Grand Garden Arena in 2010. She helped launch Jabbawockeez when they landed their first Vegas residency. She has helped direct PR for the openings of T-Mobile Arena and Park Theater and assisted with those venues major concerts and sporting events. She helped plan the Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor fight at the Grand Garden Arena. Shes assisted with the launch of the residencies Lady Gaga, Aerosmith, Cher, Queen and Adam Lambert, the Aces of Comedy series at The Mirage, the Billboard Music Awards and the Academy of Country Music awards. And shes worked closely with the Vegas Golden Knights and all their games and events.

Those Wow Moments. Remember Drakes performance on the Bellagio fountains for 2017s Billboard Music Awards? Sherrer worked on that. Have you seen Bruno Mars music video for 24K Magic when he rode a personal watercraft on the fountains of Bellagio? Sherrer was there, too.

In the Octagon. Having no experience with UFC, Sherrer learned the ropes quickly and took on PR responsibilities for UFC events in 2012. I remember McGregor when he was on an undercard and then watching him progress, she says. Since then, shes worked almost every big UFC bout at T-Mobile Arena.

The Thing With Public Relations. Its those iconic momentsthe things that get guests excited, Sherrer says. For PR, we do this to get the word out about the event, buzz about it, to sell tickets and fill those seats.

The Bottom Line. I think that, and it goes to all the women in this story, we work so hard to make it not about it being a man or a womanits about doing your job and doing it well, Sherrer says. Were just lucky to be in a company where we have men and women that are there to support us and help us grow and guide us. Its about the work more than anything, in my opinion. I see the other ladies in this story, theyre all so excellent at what they do. Being a woman in entertainment, its very trueits male dominated and I think for me being in PR Im proud of the skill set that I bring to the table. It pushes me. Its nice to work for a company that isnt afraid to have women in top rolesbreaking that glass ceiling.

Title: Vice president of entertainment operations

Shoot Location: Park Theater at Park MGM

Running Away With the Circus. When Binette was 22, she left her hometown of Montreal and joined Cirque du Soleils touring shows as a ticket office supervisor. I toured with them for four years in the U.S., Canada and Europe, she says. It was definitely a defining moment in my career. When the job ended, she was asked to be a part of the opening of Cirques first Vegas residency show, Mystre at Treasure Island (which was a part of the MGMRI family back then). She made the move in 1993 and worked in ticketing.

More Than Two Decades. Binette moved up the ladder from ticketing into positions like director of operations for theaters at MGM Grand and executive director of its Grand Garden Arena to her current position, where she oversees operations for MGMRIs mid-size theater venues in Ohio, Michigan, Mississippi, District of Columbia, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York. In her Vegas role, shes responsible for partner and vendor relations, expenditures, assisting the team and being a liaison for guest services and security.

A Moment. During her tenure, Binette has been responsible for bringing and staging some of the biggest acts at Park Theater since it opened in 2016. Everyone from Lady Gaga, Cher and Aerosmith, to her favorite, Bruno Mars. She can also stick a feather in her cap for the Justin Timberlake 20/20 Experience Tour at the Grand Garden Arena. At the end of the show, I walked by his dressing room, Binette says. I said hello, explained that I was the general manager and he told me how incredible the experience and space was, the guest services, telling me to pass along to the staff how thankful he was. I left with the biggest smile.

Recognition. Binette was recently selected to be a part of MGMRIs Accelerated Leadership Programchosen personally by MGMRI president and CEO Bill Hornbuckle. The yearlong program helps grow talented individuals into senior leadership roles. I wouldnt be in my role currently if it wasnt for the incredible support Ive had from the many leaders throughout my career that believed in me, she says. The company gave me the tools to grow and be who I am today.

Ding, Ding, Ding. One of Binettes favorite memories over the course of her career with MGMRI was the Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquaio fight at the Grand Garden Arena in 2015. It was definitely a fight that defined boxing, she says. We only had about seven weeks to pull it together. What is so fascinating to me is the collaboration between all the different departments. And the best moment of the night is when the fighter walks out and seeing the excitement of the crowd, and knowing that this is in our house, in our home and being able to share this with the world. That sense of pride resonated with me.

Me Time. Binette loves spending time with her familyespecially when her husband and kids have their Friday-night dance parties and game nights. She also does CrossFit six days a week at 6 a.m. Its a great source of stress relief and makes me feel good and healthy, she says.

Possibilities. I think there are many women that couldve been selected for this article, so Im honored to be featured, Binette says. Its not without the help and support in my life, female and male. I just hope that I can be an inspiration to really prove that if you work hard and are really dedicated, you can make it happen.

Title: Executive director of ticketing operations

Shoot location: The Beatles LOVE Theater at The Mirage

Love Language. From a young age, Lopez had a love for the performing arts. She attended UNLV, concentrating in theater studies, studied modern British drama abroad in London and arts administration at NYU. As a senior, she was considering delving into nonprofit arts or teaching after graduation, but landed a part-time box-office attendant position for the musical Hairspray at MGMRIs Luxor in 2006. After the show closed, she heard rumblings about a new Cirque du Soleil show coming to The Mirage called The Beatles LOVE. She became a part of the opening team for that show.

The Cirque Circuit. Lopez went on to help open some of the citys most-beloved Cirque du Soleil shows including Criss Angel BeLIEve at Luxor, and Zarkana and Viva Elvis at Aria. I became the department head and part of the opening team for CityCenter and Aria, she says. It was a very special time with a very special group of people. Plus, it was the first time the Elvis Presley estate lent out his catalog of music for a show. After serving as Arias showroom manager and front-of-house operations for five years, she transitioned more into an entertainment manager role, and thats when she got into ticketing.

Punching Her Ticket. By 2014, Lopez fully transitioned into ticketing for MGMRI, focusing on four showrooms and the MGM Grand Garden Arena. I was so lucky to work with the titans of the industry at that property to really teach me, educate me and help me grow, she says. In 2016, she was promoted to director of ticketing and headed up all ticketing for T-Mobile. Ticketing is about coding and programming the tickets so they can be put on sale, then theres a marketing and service component to it because you learn about the customer journey and experience, she says. Then theres the financial side to it, legal aspect, taxation and face-to-face aspect of taking care of guests before they go in the show.

Full Circle. Anyone that knows me knows Im a huge Barbra Streisand fan, since I was a little girl, Lopez says. My very first concert ever was Barbras concert at the Grand Garden Arena in 1999. I sat in the second to last row with my mom. Its the most incredible moment. Fast forward 15 years and Barbra Streisand is playing in one of my venues (T-Mobile Arena). I helped ticket that show. I never expected that. It was incredible.

Shes a Ticket Holder. When shes not ticketing events, Lopez loves to personally support the art and entertainment community in Las Vegas as a season ticket holder to The Smith Center for the Performing Arts and The Nevada Ballet Theater.

Passing the Torch. Im so proud, and I mean that in the most humble of ways, Lopez says. Its been a lot of hard work, sacrifice and determination to get to this point, and Im so excited for whats next as well. I love that all these women are being highlighted and celebrated because we are underrepresented in the industry that is often male-dominated. I love thinking back to when I was a young person myself growing up in this city and I was looking for opportunity. So for us to potentially play that role for future generationsIm so honored to be included in that company.

Title: Executive director and general manager of Michelob Ultra Arena and entertainmentMandalay Bay and Luxor

Shoot Location: Michelob Ultra Arena at Mandalay Bay

Cruising In. Zappia, a South Wales, United Kingdom, native, was just 19 years old in 1989 when she joined the cruise ship industry. I started as a youth counselor, like a nanny to 1,800 kids, she says. I worked my way up to assistant cruise director, like Julie from The Love Boat. Zappia worked on ships until 1997, when she followed her-then musician boyfriend to Las Vegas. Once in Vegas, I landed in entertainment, which Id always wanted to do, she says. Id always loved entertainment since being on cruise ships.

For Adult-Eyes Only. Zappia joined MGMRI in 1999 as a ticketing specialist at New York-New York. After eight months, she was promoted to supervisor, and one of her first big projects was being part of the team responsible for bringing Cirque du Soleils first-ever 18-and-over show to Las Vegas. I went to Montreal when they were putting the Zumanity show together, she says. Seeing Guy Lalibertes vision come together and then watching the theater being built at New York-New Yorkit was special.

A Slam Dunk. Zappia was also responsible for bringing a fun sports tournament here. Im the person that brought 3-on-3 basketball from Spokane, Wash., down to Vegas, she says. I got together with the executive director in Spokanetheyd been doing the sport up there for 26 years every June. And I thought, How cool would that be to bring that down to Vegas? I did a lot of research, got everything together and we brought it down here during the first year that T-Mobile opened. We brought it out on the Plaza. Just to watch that come to fruitionit was huge, it was great. We took up the entire plaza with it. It was a three-day tournament. It was just so much fun, and everybody had a great time. It was one of those events that will stay really close to me because it was my first big event that I did from beginning to end.

Nights to Remember. Thats what were intomaking memories, Zappia says. If we dont make a good memory for every guest that comes in here, weve done an injustice. I want to make sure that everybody that comes to a show has a positive experience and they can leave with a beautiful memory. You can thank Zappia and her team for putting on events like the Concerts on the Beach series at Mandalay Bay, iHeartRadio Music Festival, Las Vegas Aces games, Day N Vegas, as well as working with resident shows like Carrot Top, Fantasy and Blue Man Group at Luxor and Michael Jackson ONE at Mandalay Bay.

Checklist. On the operational side, Zappia takes care of contracts for the shows, logistics for seating, expenses, production, staffing and more. I take calls 24/7, but its like second nature, she says. I want my employees to love their jobs and being here. I have an amazing team and I always want to push them forward to success.

Self-Proclaimed Tomboy. Zappia loves to camp, ride dirt bikes, shoot guns, practice archery and go hiking. When she needs a break, shell go to her 20 acres in Utah so she can spend time in nature.

At the End of the Day. Theres just so much that Ive been a part of and Im just so grateful for it all, its so tremendous, Zappia says. I couldnt wish for a better career. Im a firm believer that you get something because you work hard at it. And I think that all the women being featured are hard workers and true professionals. I feel very privileged to be featured alongside of them because I think theyre all strong, very capable, brilliant women.

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Monthly Archives: September 2021

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Meet the Las Vegas women of MGM Resorts International who are breaking the glass ceiling – Lasvegasmagazine

Report: Suspect said Las Vegas 5-year-old was ‘full of bad spirits’ before thrown from balcony – FOX5 Las Vegas

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