Culinary Academy Of Las Vegas Makes Top-level Appointment To Oversee Food And Beverage Operations At The Smith Center For The Performing Arts

The Culinary Academy of Las Vegas (CALV)is pleased to announce Chris Fava has been appointed Vice President of Food and Beverage and Chief Operating Officer. The announcement was made today by Steven Horsford, CEO of CALV.

Fava will be responsible for the food and beverage operations at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts. In this role, he will oversee all culinary, beverages, bar, catering, and concessions functions at the facility, ensuring excellent product quality and customer service standards are met. He will manage all food and beverage staffs, oversee all venues and events, develop and monitor budgets, maintain customer satisfaction, and employee productivity.

Upon its opening, The Smith Center will become the centerpiece of cultural life in Las Vegas offering a blend of performances by resident companies as well as first-run touring attractions. More than 26 must-see shows are part of its inaugural season. The 5-acre cultural campus will feature three performance spaces: the 2,050-seat main performance area in Reynolds Hall, Boman Pavilion's 258-seat Cabaret Jazz, and the 250-seat Troesh Studio Theater. It will also be home to the 1.7 acre Symphony Park, which can be used for outdoor concerts. Located in downtown's 61-acre urban development, The Smith Center will open in March.

Fava has nearly 20 years of high-level management experience in the hospitality industry. Most recently he served as vice president of food and beverage operations for Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, where he had leadership responsibility for 2,700 staff members and 55 restaurants and bars. Previously, he held the positions of vice president of hotel and food and beverage operations at the MGM Grand Detroit and vice president of food and beverage, New York-New York Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas.

"Chris Fava has the ideal combination of food and beverage knowledge and management expertise for this key position," said CEO Steven Horsford. "I'm confident he will ensure successful concessions and catering operations at The Smith Center."
About Culinary Academy of Las Vegas

Founded in 1993, Culinary Academy of Las Vegas (formerly the Culinary Training Academy), the country's leading nonprofit culinary and hospitality training institute, was developed through a joint labor-management trust representing private sector employers, the Culinary Union Local 226 and the Bartenders Union Local 165. The academy is licensed by the Nevada Commission on Post-Secondary Education and trains several thousand students per year for participating employers in the hospitality industry. Offerings include a 50-seat bistro-style restaurant, Westside Bistro, and a 400-seat banquet and events center located at the 710 West Lake Mead Blvd. campus. The academy is the caterer of record for The Smith Center for the Performing Arts and operator of the cafe and catering services at Springs Preserve. Culinary Academy of Las Vegas is an equal opportunity employer/program. For more information, call 702.924.2100 or visit www.theculinaryacademy.org. Stay up to date on happenings on Facebook and Twitter.

About Culinary Arts Catering (CAC)
Culinary Arts Catering, a division of the Culinary Academy of Las Vegas, is the premier local non-profit industry leader offering the highest and most professional quality event planning and catering services in Las Vegas. No matter how small, large, elegant, or casual your event, CAC's personal service will meet your budget and exceed your expectations. Culinary Arts Catering is the exclusive caterer for The Smith Center for the Performing Arts and the Springs Preserve. For more information or to book an event, call (702) 924-2182 or email catering@culinaryartscatering.org. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.