Christina Ellis began working at Ellis Island — the family business — when she was 12 years old.
“I was a hostess with a mouthful of braces,” said Ellis, who found her niche in marketing at the property, owned by her father, Gary Ellis.
Christina Ellis, who obtained a degree in fine arts from the University of Southern California and is currently pursuing an MBA at UNLV, took on the role of director of marketing in June 2014 for all properties, including Ellis Island, Village Pubs and the Mount Charleston Lodge.
“I oversee all advertising, events, branding, promotions, community partnerships, direct mail, public relations, design and social media,” Ellis said. “Daily responsibilities include the standards, like checking our Twitter and monitoring event sales, but can also include fun projects like sampling our seasonal beers, picking out interiors or driving up to the Mount Charleston Lodge for a photo shoot.”
Ellis has been instrumental in raising the property’s visibility through community events and beer festivals, and has also grown the company’s online presence through social media and advertising. She played an integral role in last year’s 50th anniversary as well as in the acquisition of the Mount Charleston Lodge. She’s also tackling from nuts to bolts the launch of a new beer garden at Ellis Island.
“This year, we’re opening the Front Yard, our new beer garden concept and the largest expansion on the property since 1997,” said Ellis, who is active with Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation, serves on the advisory board for Mayor Carolyn Goodman’s Fund for Las Vegas LIFE, and is a member of CreativeMornings Las Vegas and Nevada Women’s Philanthropy.