Tuesday, March 18, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.
THERE'S MORE than one reason why Mirage Resorts was chosen by Fortune magazine as the second best company in the United States.
When it comes to showing appreciation for employees, few major companies come close.
The annual Employee of the Year dinners, held at each Mirage property, are smashing themed galas that reward and recognize the chosen staffers for their outstanding job and people skills. That is, of course, a simplification of Steve Wynn's philosophy that good employees are the most important part of any organization, but it is a point of view that inspires the generous reward and recompense that comes with the recognition.
Just for being named, each month's nominees receive $200, a day off with pay, dinner for two at The Mirage or Treasure Island, free play in the Mutiny Bay Arcade and a photo at On Location. The Crew Member of the Month winner gets an additional $500, a Treasure Island logo jacket, gift items from On Location, a reserved parking space for one month and becomes eligible for Crew Member of the Year.
Crew Member of the Year nominees receive a gold Gucci watch (men) or a 3-carat diamond tennis bracelet (women), and $1,000.
Additionally, the winner receives one week's vacation, with pay, anywhere in the world, $1,500 and a parking place for one year.
Treasure Island's recent awards dinner honored the 12 "crew" member nominees with an event that will long be remembered. Its theme, "What is Excellence?," was a celebration of the qualities that made each chosen crew member a standout -- warmth, strength, determination, motivation, encouragement, pride and perseverance.
Vying for the singular honor were: Marcella De Vivero, Candy Reef cashier; Rodesno Rivas, buffet food server; Lisa Askin, black jack dealer; Anthony Westbrook, guest service rep; Lora Kinimura, senior sign maker; Jeff Ward, Buccaneer Bay Club master cook; Sharon Ruesch, slot club rep; Thelma Martini, guest-room attendant; Denise Caron, Saflok coordinator; Tom Mace, Buccaneer Bay Club shop, stock clerk; Taryn Archer, Captain Morgan's Lounge bartender; and Walter Narvaez, Buccaneer Bay Club food server.
Each had the opportunity, via videotape, to share their innermost feelings about their jobs and their personal lives. Some had reached this point in their lives against all odds.
Jack Perkins, who hosts "Biography" on cable's A&E channel, interviewed each one using the same format for the Treasure Island video. It was fascinating to hear what each had to say about their early beginnings and the road that led them to Treasure Island.
This special, private edition of "Biography" was named "Faces of Inspiration" and segued into Perkin's introduction of the guest speaker, Maya Angelou. Angelou is an author, poet, entertainer, civil rights activist and historian. Perkins called her "one of the most powerful voices of inspiration in his lifetime." She is also a humorist, with a subtle wit that sometimes is so profound it takes a minute to absorb, but it is not quickly forgotten.
For 40 minutes, she recalled stories of her own beginnings, relating them through song and poetry. She opened by singing a few lines from one of her poems, making biblical references and tying it all together -- when clouds obscured the sun, she sang, making it appear that the sun would shine no more, then the Almighty put a rainbow through the clouds.
Throughout her talk she related people to the rainbow. When she met the nominees she "felt their energies" and knew all 12 were rainbows. Angelou's own life was a series of hardships mixed well with love and rainbows. The stories she told were priceless bits of an American quilt pieced with bittersweet memories.
She ended her talk with a piece written for the United Nations, "A Brave and Startling Truth."
The dining room reflected the rainbow theme of Angelou's segment. Pastel chair covers were accented with perky bows; crinkled satin fabric in shades of violet, tea green and rose dressed the tables; cloud plates with silver beading trim were a gorgeous touch.
Floating votive candles illuminated the glass globes holding color-coordinated roses and greens. Accenting it all were the large photos of nominees encased in plastic sheaths. The effect was stunning.
Dinner was symphony of color and taste. Smoked chicken ravioli was masked with a light artichoke, roasted bell pepper and mushroom citrus sauce; a tomato and mozzarella Napoleon was accompanied by an avocado-sourdough crouton and field greens with a champagne vinaigrette; the entree of wood-roasted veal was sliced and accompanied with a petit filet mignon atop a parsnip-pear pancake (crespelli) -- included were baby vegetables and a sage-infused red-wine sauce.
Dessert was a sublime sculpture that included artistic additions of chocolate pots de creme, chocolate biscotti, white and dark chocolate mousse Napoleon, hazelnut-chocolate ice cream and a dramatic accent of chocolate ganache. It was beautiful to behold and delectable.
All of the Mirage Resort executives attended, including Elaine and Steve Wynn, Treasure Island President John Strzemp, and matriarch Zelma Wynn.
And the winner was ...
Denise Caron, Saflok coordinator.
Caron moved to Las Vegas after graduating from Northeastern University. She began her career with Mirage Resorts in 1980 as a security sergeant at the Golden Nugget. In 1993, Caron became the Saflok coordinator and almost single-handedly programmed Treasure Island's nearly 3,000 hotel room locks before it opened. Caron's skills and her knowledge of the Saflok electronic key system are remarkable.
Previous Crew Members of the Year are: Amie Khounphithack, room reservations supervisor (1994); and Paul Femia, Captain Morgan's Lounge bartender (1995).
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