Season 4- Episode 29: Maria Jose Gatti Artwork

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Southern Nevada’s counties of Clark, Nye, Lincoln and Esmeralda are aligning workforce development to their economic development strategies in order to meet the needs of business and industry. Listen to different stakeholders and learn how their efforts are helping cities like Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Henderson and Boulder City remain an attractive place to do business.

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Season 4- Episode 29: Maria Jose Gatti

September 09, 2024 • Workforce Connections • Season 4 • Episode 29

In this episode, Maria Jose Gatti, Vice President of Philanthropy & Community Engagement - MGM Resorts International, shares her remarkable journey from Ecuador to Las Vegas. Moving to the U.S. at 14, Maria graduated from Clark High School and began her career as an executive assistant at the Culinary Training Academy, where she gained invaluable insight into the hospitality industry. With a finance degree, Maria realized that while she enjoyed working with numbers, her true passion was working with people. This led her to MGM Resorts, where she started in guest services and steadily climbed to her current leadership role.

Maria gives us a glimpse into her daily responsibilities, overseeing corporate giving, the MGM Resorts Foundation, and employee volunteer programs, all of which contribute to community involvement and partnerships. She discusses her philanthropic efforts, focusing on hunger relief, workforce development, and education. One notable initiative is the Feeding Forward program, established in 2016 with UNLV and the local government, which donates untouched convention food to the community through Three Square. Additionally, Maria highlights a partnership with CCSD that offers culinary students real-world experience in some of MGM's largest convention kitchens.

While Maria has received recognition for her contributions, she values being recognized for her impact on the community and her team. She reflects on the mentors who have guided her throughout her career and shares her involvement with organizations like Jobs for Nevada Graduates. Maria also talks about her experience taking a sabbatical through an MGM program designed for employees to reset, during which she explored temples and beaches and enjoyed new culinary experiences. In her free time, Maria loves walking her dogs, watching soccer (especially Argentine teams), and spending quality time with family and friends. She advises young adults to be patient with themselves, take risks, and always align their career choices with their values.

MGM Resorts Foundation:
The MGM Resorts Foundation