Story by Dana Lord

The Oxford English Dictionary defines "dream" as a state of mind in which awareness of immediate reality is temporarily shut out. This is exactly the experience every guest at any of the MGM MIRAGE resorts is entitled to: a break from everyday life, an escape from the ordinary. The employees are the ones who make this possible: they are always at your service to attend to every essential detail, making your current stay even better than the time before.

Las Vegas has certainly gone through many changes in the past and will continue to do so in the future, but one thing remains constant: the fabulous employees of MGM MIRAGE are at your service to create your dream vacation.

On Wednesday, February 22, 2006, these hospitality artisans were celebrated in smashing fashion at the annual Employee of the Year gala. This year's theme, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, recreated old Las Vegas with a swanky cocktail hour before inviting guests to celebrate the future of MGM MIRAGE and CityCenter, the company's upcoming resort development.

The celebration, a beloved tradition that rewards the heartbeat of the company for their hard work and dedication, was especially touching for the Beau Rivage employees in attendance who faced dire adversity last summer as Hurricane Katrina destroyed the Gulf Coast.

Without further ado, here are the outstanding 2005 Employee of the Year Winners, honored for past proficiency, present performance and certain future excellence.

	Bellagio Mary Jeffers serves cocktails at Bellagio with a refreshing twist of enthusiasm and passion. A revered team player with 21 years combined experience at Golden Nugget, TI, The Mirage, and Bellagio, Mary thrives on guest satisfaction. Her recipe for success is an unshakable positive attitude and selflessness. Her amazing energy is an outpouring of her athletic spirit, which has earned her 15 years worth of Corporate Challenge gold medals and a company sponsorship for the Ironman competition in Hawaii. This United States Navy Veteran and recent recipient of a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice has also contributed her time to Opportunity Village and Safe House.
	MGM Grand Marcheta Stockton-Mayes is the quintessential service industry professional. Guests at MGM Grand know they have hit the jackpot the moment they come into the welcoming presence of this slot guest service representative. Her superior work ethic and ability to exceed even the highest standards set by the Slot Department translate into a payoff for the resort that recently reeled in the honor of Best Place to Work in Southern Nevada. Marcheta shares her wealth of compassion outside of work as well through MGM MIRAGE’s Voice and Adopt-A-Family programs, and other respected humanitarian associations.
	TI Rosendo Aispuro takes pride in making the AAA-Four-Diamond TI shine. Born and raised on a modest farm in Sinaloa, Mexico, Rosendo was introduced to hard work at a very early age. When he was only eight years old, his father passed away, causing him to quit school and support his mother and six siblings. Today, Rosendo is happy to spend his days polishing his craft as a utility porter. Outside TI, he appreciates time with his family, bowling or playing in the snow at Mt. Charleston, playing baseball and soccer, and enriching the community through Accion Latina.
	The Mirage John Dredla, “J.D.” is an ace at dealing the ultimate table games experience at The Mirage. The Las Vegas native holds 17 years service with the company in his hand and is proficient at shuffling work and single-parent responsibilities. His playtime is stacked with winning activities: dancing every Saturday night with his girlfriend, piano and gymnastic lessons with his kids, watching football, chess, and assisting newly divorced fathers transition into single parenting. On deck for Jim are plans to improve his dancing, finish college, hopefully marry, and continue to find pleasure in every moment of every day.
	New York-New York Ricardo Rodriguez was a part of Las Vegas’ “Manhattan” before its bright lights ever illuminated the Strip. Texas-bred Rick has excelled as a maintenance technician for New York-New York’s Property Operations team since one month before the resort’s opening in 1996, and remains a loyal asset to MGM MIRAGE. Aside from keeping this “big city’s” infrastructure in peak condition, he revels in hosting fight-night parties, fishing with his kids and family barbecues. Rick’s insatiable desire to be of service energizes him to do jobs for the elderly free of charge and volunteer time at his sons’ school.
	Beau Rivage Sardie Canaan keeps the peace at Beau Rivage with an unbreakable spirit of professionalism and cordiality. It’s safe to say this security officer is always a welcome figure of authority to guests and co-workers, many of who comment on his unguarded caring nature. Invariably up for a challenge, Sardie volunteered to tackle one of the most stressful positions within the Security Department: control room operator. Self-disciplined and forever in pursuit of improvement, he completed the Beau Rivage Supervisor Development Course and worked as an assistant supervisor. Off duty, Sardie has fun coaching his son’s basketball team and traveling.