>> WE ARE HERE AT THE BEAUTIFUL PALMS CASINO RESORT LAS VEGAS FOR A VERY SPECIAL "NEVADA WEEK IN PERSON".

OUR GUEST IS GENERAL MANAGER CYNTHIA KISER MURPHEY.

[MUSIC] >> SUPPORT FOR NEVADA WEEK IN PERSON IS PROVIDED BY SENATOR WILLIAM H. HERNSTADT.

>> SHE WAS ONLY 17 YEARS OLD WHEN SHE FIRST ARRIVED HERE TO FABULOUS LAS VEGAS FROM KANSAS CITY TO ATTEND UNLV.

SHE NEVER LEFT.

AND, BOY, WHAT A CAREER SHE'S HAD.

SHE'S MADE HISTORY.

AND ALSO MAKES A DIFFERENCE HERE IN THE COMMUNITY SHE LOVES.

GENERAL MANAGER FOR THE PALMS CASINO RESORT LAS VEGAS, CYNTHIA KISER MURPHEY.

WHAT AN HONOR TO BE SITTING NEXT TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

IT'S SUCH AN HONOR TO BE HERE WITH YOU TODAY.

>> I DO HAVE TO SAY I'VE HAD THE HONOR OF KNOWING YOU FOR GOING ON 30 YEARS.

BACK IN OUR DAYS, THE MGM, WAY BACK IN THE DAY.

AND AS A YOUNG GIRL ATTENDING UNLV AS WELL, GO REBELS, I REMEMBER SEEING YOU STANDING UP THERE, THE ONLY FEMALE WITH ALL THE MEN UP THERE IN MANAGEMENT.

AND THERE YOU WERE, CYNTHIA KISER MURPHEY, AND I CAN TELL YOU IT HAD AN IMPACT ON MY LIFE.

SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND WORDS.

IT'S CERTAINLY BEEN A FUN CAREER HERE IN LAS VEGAS.

YOU KNOW.

>> WE'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR CAREER IN A BIT, BUT LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHERE WE ARE.

THIS BEAUTIFUL PROPERTY WITH SO MUCH HISTORY NOW.

HISTORY-MAKING.

THE FIRST LAS VEGAS RESORT OWNED BY A NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBE.

THAT'S PRETTY SPECIAL.

>> IT IS SO SPECIAL.

WE MADE HISTORY BY OPENING THE BEAUTIFUL PALMS OWNED BY SAN MANUEL GAMING HOSPITALITY AUTHORITY.

WE'RE AT 11 MONTHS, COMING UP TO OUR ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY.

SUCH A FANTASTIC YEAR IT'S BEEN.

SO EXCITING.

THE PALMS IS A VERY, VERY SPECIAL PLACE, WITH REALLY AMAZING PEOPLE.

AND OUR TRIBE, OUR OWNERS, ARE TRULY COMMITTED TO HOSPITALITY, COMMITTED TO LAS VEGAS.

AND SO THIS HAS BEEN REALLY, REALLY A SPECIAL, SPECIAL PLACE AND A SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY.

>> AND CINDY -- I'LL CALL YOU CINDY BECAUSE I'VE KNOWN YOU FOR SO LONG.

CINDY, I HAVE TO SAY THIS REALLY TOUCHED MY HEART, WHEN I WAS WATCHING THE VIDEO OF THE GRAND OPENING, GRAND REOPENING, I DID NOTICE ONE OF THE MOMENTS I HAD TO REWIND IT SEVERAL TIMES, BECAUSE IT TOOK MY BREATH AWAY AND GAVE ME GOOSEBUMPS WAS WHEN THE MOAPA BAND OF PAIUTES AND THE SAN MANUEL BAND MISSION INDIANS, BIRD SINGERS AND TRADITIONAL DANCERS, WE BOTH HAVE ATTENDED MANY GRAND OPENINGS WAY BACK, FROM THE '90s AT THE MGM, TO NOW.

AND THAT WAS JUST SOMETHING SUPER SPECIAL.

JUST, AGAIN, IT TOUCHED MY HEART.

I CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE WHAT YOU WERE FEELING BEING THERE DURING THAT MOMENT, TO BE SURROUNDED BY THESE BEAUTIFUL TRADITIONS.

>> WELL, IT'S VERY, VERY SPECIAL TO WORK FOR SAN MANUEL.

AND WHAT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO BLESS THE BUILDING AND HONOR THE PAIUTES AND SAN MANUEL COMING INTO THE LAS VEGAS COMMUNITY, AND FOR ALL OF US, ALL OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS AND FOR THE COMMUNITY, IT'S REALLY A LEARNING EXPERIENCE BECAUSE NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES COMING TO LAS VEGAS AND COMING TO THIS AMAZING ENTERTAINMENT EXPERIENCE WE OFFER IS NEW.

SO WE'VE SPENT A FAIR AMOUNT OF TIME IN THE LAST YEAR EDUCATING OUR TEAM, EDUCATING OUR MANAGEMENT, AND IT REALLY TAKES TIME TO LEARN THE RICH AND IMPORTANT HISTORY OF OUR TRIBE AND OF THE NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURE.

>> AND I NEED TO READ SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY SPECIAL AS WELL.

THE SAN MANUEL GAMING AND HOSPITALITY AUTHORITY, THE CHAIRPERSON, LATISHA CASAS SAID, "IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, OUR TRIBE IS WELL KNOWN FOR BEING A SUCCESSFUL CASINO OPERATOR AND RECOGNIZED AS A COMMUNITY LEADER AND AN EMPLOYER OF CHOICE.

WE LIVE BY VALUES PASSED DOWN BY OUR ANCESTORS.

OUR VALUES DEFINED US.

IT WAS IMPORTANT TO OUR BOARD THAT WE FIND A LEADER FOR THE PALMS WHO SHARES OUR VALUES, PERSONIFIES OUR COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY AND EXHIBITS A LEADERSHIP STYLE THAT PUTS PEOPLE FIRST.

UPON MEETING CYNTHIA, IT WAS CLEAR THAT SHE HAS ALL THREE AND MORE."

WHEN YOU HEAR THAT, WHAT GOES THROUGH YOUR MIND?

>> WHEN I MET OUR GHA BOARD, I KNEW I WANTED TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY.

THEY REALLY, REALLY ARE COMMITTED TO PEOPLE IN A PROFOUNDLY UNIQUE WAY, AND FOR ME THAT WAS JUST AN UNBELIEVABLE HONOR AT THIS POINT IN MY CAREER TO GET TO WORK FOR A FAMILY, A TRIBE, AN ORGANIZATION WHO PUTS PEOPLE FIRST.

THE TRIBE, THE COMMUNITY, OUR TEAM MEMBERS, OUR GUESTS.

IT'S REALLY AMAZING.

>> AND WHEN YOU DID GET THAT CALL, WALK US THROUGH THAT MOMENT.

>> WELL, WHEN I FIRST MET THEM, I NEVER WORKED IN NATIVE AMERICAN GAMING.

MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE.

AND SO I KNEW THAT THAT WAS GOING TO BE A LEARNING EXPERIENCE.

SO I THOUGHT GOING TO MEET THEM IS PROBABLY A LONG SHOT.

AS SOON AS I MET THEM, I KNEW I WANTED TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY.

>> AND WHEN THEY OFFERED THE JOB?

>> I WAS REALLY EXCITED.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT -- IT'S EXCITING -- YOU ARE COMING UP ON A YEAR.

HARD TO BELIEVE IT'S BEEN A YEAR SINCE YOU'VE REOPENED.

>> YES, YES.

AND WE WERE VERY DELIBERATE.

WE OPENED QUITE QUICKLY BECAUSE IT WAS IMPORTANT TO GET 1400 NEVADANS BACK TO WORK.

AND VERY SYMBOLIC BECAUSE MOST ALL THE OTHER MAJOR RESORTS HAD ALREADY REOPENED FROM THE PANDEMIC.

SO IT WAS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT FOR US TO GO AS FAST AS WE COULD.

AND YET WE WANTED TO BE VERY DELIBERATE AND OPEN IN A WAY THAT OPERATIONALLY WE COULD HANDLE.

SO WE'VE NOW GOTTEN SCOTCH EIGHTIES OPENED SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

OUR BEAUTIFUL SWIMMING POOL HAS JUST REOPENED.

WE'VE NOW GOT MOST ALL THE AMENITIES, HAVING A GRAND OPENING OF THE SPA THIS WEEK.

AND WE'VE JUST REOPENED THE RESTAURANT IN PALMS PLACE.

AND WE'RE OPERATING PEARL.

WE HAVE SO MANY GREAT SHOWS IN PEARL AND KAOS.

SO A YEAR AGO WE SAID WE'RE GOING TO APPROACH THIS DELIBERATELY AND GROW INTO BEING ABLE TO OPERATIONALLY BRING THE PALMS BACK.

AND WE'RE COMING UPON THE YEAR AND GETTING REALLY CLOSE.

>> I THINK YOUR BEAUTIFUL SMILE SAYS IT ALL.

IT'S EXCITING TO SEE THIS BEAUTIFUL PROPERTY REOPEN AND THE FACT THAT IT'S BEEN EMBRACED BY, OF COURSE, TOURISTS AND ESPECIALLY OUR LOCALS ALIKE, SOMETHING THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO YOU AS WELL.

>> YES, AND IT'S REALLY FUN BEING IN A PROPERTY WHERE THERE ARE A LOT OF LOCALS.

THERE'S HARDLY A DAY THAT GOES BY THAT YOU DON'T GET A TEXT, SOMEBODY'S HERE, LET'S GO SEE THEM THEY'RE OVER AT THE UNKNOWN BAR OR SCOTCH EIGHTIES OR COMING TO THE PEARL CONCERT.

IT'S REALLY FUN TO HAVE OUR INDUSTRY COLLEAGUES AND OUR NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS COME TO THE PALMS AND TO REALLY SUPPORT US.

>> OKAY.

NOW, I NEED TO ASK YOU -- YOU'RE VERY HUMBLE I KNOW YOU DON'T LIKE TALKING ABOUT YOURSELF -- BUT I THINK IT'S SO IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO REALLY GET TO KNOW THE CINDY THAT SO MANY OF US KNOW AND LOVE.

WHEN I READ THAT YOU WERE ONLY 17 YEARS OLD AND YOU PACKED UP YOUR CAR IN KANSAS CITY, MADE IT ALL THE WAY TO LAS VEGAS -- AND ONE OF THE BEST THINGS THAT I READ WAS THAT YOUR BEAUTIFUL MOM ENCOURAGED YOU AND SAID GO FOR IT.

>> I WAS RAISED BY A SINGLE MOM.

I THINK, PROBABLY, WHEN I LOOK WHY DID I DO THIS, NOBODY IN MY FAMILY WAS IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY.

BUT WHEN I WAS 12, MY MOM SAVED US ENOUGH MONEY TO TAKE US ON VACATION, MY BROTHER AND I.

WE FLEW TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, WENT TO DISNEYLAND.

I THINK AT THAT MOMENT -- WE STAYED IN A HOTEL.

WE WENT TO THE THEME PARK.

I THINK AT THAT MOMENT THE INDUSTRY GRABBED MY HEART.

SO I WENT TO A HIGH SCHOOL CAREER FAIR AND THERE WAS -- GO IN THE GYMNASIUM, THERE'S A TABLE THAT SAYS DEGREE IN HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT.

IT WAS BAM, THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO DO.

WE PACKED THE CAR, MY FRIEND AND I, WE MOVED TO LAS VEGAS.

AND THOUGHT THAT WE WOULD STUDY HOTEL MANAGEMENT AND THEN GO SEE THE WORLD.

AND HAVE GOTTEN TO SEE THE WORLD BUT I STILL LIVE IN LAS VEGAS.

>> SO YOU GRADUATED FROM UNLV.

AND LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR CAREER.

AND LIKE I SAID, I MET YOU WHEN YOU WERE AT THE MGM.

BUT EVEN BEFORE THEN, YOU ALREADY HAD QUITE THE CAREER.

>> I STARTED IN FOOD AND BEVERAGE.

THEN I WENT INTO HUMAN RESOURCES FOR MANY YEARS.

AND GOT THE OPPORTUNITY -- IT'S REALLY A GIFT WHEN YOU GET TO OPEN PROPERTIES.

AND I SAY THAT WHEN I SPEAK AT UNLV OR TO OTHER STUDENT GROUPS, IF YOU GET TO OPEN ANYTHING, WHETHER IT'S A SMALL RESTAURANT, A BAKERY, OR A FULL CASINO OR A SMALL MOTOR LODGE, DO PARTICIPATE IN AN OPENING BECAUSE YOU LEARN.

YOU GET FIVE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN A YEAR.

DEFINITELY SAME HERE AT THE PALMS.

AND IT'S A REALLY, REALLY PROFOUNDLY DIFFERENT KIND OF INTENSE LEARNING.

AND WHEN THE DOORS OPEN, YOU'RE STANDING THERE AND YOU'VE GOT GUESTS COMING.

SO IT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO DELIVER THAT HOSPITALITY.

SO I HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN A NUMBER OF OPENINGS TO HELP WIN A FEW LICENSES IN NEW JURISDICTIONS.

SO REALLY HAVE GOTTEN TO SEE THE WORLD LIVING IN LAS VEGAS.

I WENT GOT MY MASTER'S AT UNLV ALSO, I'M A DOUBLE HOTEL MAJOR.

>> SO PROUD OF YOU.

YOU WERE ALSO PRESIDENT OF A STRIP PROPERTY, WHICH IS AMAZING FOR NOW TO SEE MORE FEMALES.

AGAIN WHEN YOU WERE FIRST STARTING OUT, NOT MANY FEMALES IN THE PROGRAM ITSELF AT UNLV.

AND AS PRESIDENTS OF CASINO PROPERTIES.

>> RIGHT.

IT WAS REALLY FUN GOING TO SCHOOL BACK THEN BECAUSE WE HAD A LOT OF FRIENDS, MOSTLY GUYS.

IT WAS A REALLY FUN COLLEGE LIFE.

>> NOW IT'S CHANGING A LOT.

YOU'VE MENTORED A LOT OF YOUNG LADIES AND ALSO YOUNG MEN IN THIS INDUSTRY.

GIVING BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY, I KNOW, HAS BEEN SO IMPORTANT TO YOU FROM WAY BACK IN THE DAY, OUR DAYS AT THE MGM AS WELL.

>> YES.

AND AT THE PALMS, WE HAVE LAUNCHED -- WE'RE PROUD OF OUR NEW INTERNSHIP PROGRAM WITH UNLV.

WE'VE HAD SOME EXCELLENT CLASSES.

IN FACT, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HARD TO OPEN THE PALMS WITHOUT THOSE INTERNS.

THEY WERE SO AMAZING, AND JUST PICKED UP AND HELPED US OPEN.

WE'VE HAD THREE INTERN CLASSES SO FAR.

AND IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO OUR TEAM.

AND WE WORKED REALLY CLOSELY WITH THE HOTEL SCHOOL AT UNLV AND WITH STOWE SCHUMACHER AND HIS TEAM TO REALLY MAKE THAT HAPPEN.

>> BIG PART OF PALMS CARE, CORRECT.

>> YES.

PALMS CARE IS OUR PHILANTHROPY AND OUTREACH, AND WE HAVE OUR EMPLOYEES VOLUNTEERING.

LAST WEEK WE WENT TO ONE OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND WORKED WITH GOODY TWO SHOES AND GOT OVER 500 KIDS IN SHOES THAT DAY.

WHAT A REWARDING EXPERIENCE.

SAN MANUEL IS VERY COMMITTED TO THE COMMUNITY.

IN FACT MADE MAJOR PHILANTHROPIC CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE LAS VEGAS BEFORE THE PALMS EVEN OPENED.

LAST FALL, $1.2 MILLION WAS GIVEN TO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS TO ENRICH THE COMMUNITY.

SAN MANUEL IS VERY MUCH ABOUT FINDING CAUSES THAT PROVIDE A HAND UP, NOT A HANDOUT.

AND A HAND UP SO THAT GROUPS CAN SUSTAIN WHETHER IT'S FOOD INSECURITY OR HOMELESSNESS OR TRIBAL COMMUNITIES IMPROVEMENT.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY RICH PHILANTHROPIC WORK GOING ON BY OUR WONDERFUL COMPANY.

>> I LOVE THAT.

I DO NEED TO ASK YOU A LITTLE ABOUT FAMILY LIFE.

LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR BOYS.

ARE THEY FOLLOWING IN MOMMA'S FOOTSTEPS?

>> I HAVE TWO BOYS AND A WONDERFUL HUSBAND WHO HAS BEEN SUPER SUPPORTIVE.

AND ONE OF MY BOYS IS IN HOSPITALITY SCHOOL.

RIGHT NOW HE'S STUDYING ABROAD IN LONDON AND DOING ALL THE THINGS THAT A COLLEGE KID WOULD DO, LIKE TRAVELING ALL WEEKEND, BARCELONA AND PARIS AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

AND MY OTHER SON WENT TO UNIVERSITY IN TEXAS AND SO HE'S DOWN IN DALLAS, AND HE JUST GOT ENGAGED.

>> CONGRATULATIONS.

>> SO WE HAVE A LOT GOING ON.

BUT THANK YOU FOR ASKING.

IT'S BEEN FUN RAISING CHILDREN WITH THIS WONDERFUL INDUSTRY AS A BACKDROP.

>> WE HAVE A FEW MORE MINUTES.

WISH WE HAD MORE TIME BUT I DO NEED TO ASK YOU FUN FACTS ABOUT CYNTHIA KISER MURPHEY, BKM AS FRIENDS CALL YOU, CINDY AS I KNOW YOU, YOUR FAVORITE VEGAS EXPERIENCE.

YOU'VE BEEN SO MANY OPENINGS, CONCERTS.

WHAT'S THAT ONE EXPERIENCE THAT YOU ALWAYS WANT TO TELL PEOPLE ABOUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT LAS VEGAS?

>> I REGULARLY SEND PEOPLE TO THE NEON MUSEUM, TO THE BRILLIANT SHOW AT NIGHT.

IT'S A LITTLE UNTOLD SECRET THAT IS SO SPECIAL AND UNIQUE AND IT REALLY PERSONIFIES VEGAS.

PICKS UP THE HISTORY OF VEGAS AND BRINGS IT FORWARD TO TODAY.

AND RIGHT NOW THE PALMS SIGN AT THE NEON MUSEUM IS BEING RESTORED.

SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE LIGHTING OF THAT REALLY SOON.

SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

>> THAT'S EXCITING.

AND WHEN THEY CONTINUE TO WRITE THE HISTORY BOOKS ABOUT LAS VEGAS, ESPECIALLY THE GAMING INDUSTRY, CYNTHIA KISER MURPHEY, HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE WRITTEN ABOUT IN HISTORY BOOKS HERE IN LAS VEGAS?

WHAT DO YOU WANT YOUR LEGACY TO BE?

>> REALLY ABOUT DEVELOPING PEOPLE AND DOING IT WITH GREAT ENERGY AND A REAL AUTHENTIC COMMITMENT TO MAKING PEOPLE BETTER.

AND AS FAR AS THE BUSINESS SIDE, ACTIVATION, I THINK ACTIVATION IS A NOUN AND VERB, AND TO CREATE EXPERIENCES PEOPLE CAN PARTICIPATE IN, WHETHER IT'S SMALL AND WE HAVE TWO OR THREE PEOPLE AND DO A SURPRISE AND DELIGHT, BECAUSE SOMEONE'S A VETERAN OR CELEBRATING AN ANNIVERSARY, OR IT'S A BEAUTIFUL CONCERT WITHIN PEARL WITH AN AMAZING BAND.

I THINK ACTIVATIONS ARE WHAT PEOPLE EXPERIENCE AND IT CHANGES PEOPLE'S LIVES.

YOU PUT IT ON YOUR iPHONE AND PUT IT ON YOUR HEART AND THOSE EXPERIENCES ARE UNMATCHED.

THAT'S WHAT WE DO FOR A LIVING EVERY DAY.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, CINDY.

YOU WERE AN INSPIRATION FOR ME AS A YOUNG GIRL GOING TO UNLV AND WORKING AT THE MGM.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> THANK YOU.

IT'S AN HONOR TO BE HERE WITH YOU TODAY.

>> YAY.

FOR MORE ON "NEVADA WEEK IN PERSON" GO TO VEGASPBS.ORG.

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