For Jeff Victor, former president of Fremont Street Experience, who has worked alongside downtown gaming magnate, Derek Stevens, since 2015 as his right-hand man, the year 2020 has been a blur, but also a whirlwind. On October 28, Stevens’ Circa resort/hotel/casino opens in downtown Las Vegas as the first new resort property to open in all of Las Vegas in over 11 years and the first new hotel/casino to be built from the ground up in downtown Las Vegas in the last 40 years.
“Circa is truly a bright spot in a difficult year,” said Jeff. “We are thrilled to create 1,500 jobs in such a fun and beautiful place. From the sports book to the pool, from a diverse array of restaurants and the lounge on the tippy top of the tower, there is so much to explore at Circa. I can’t wait for the city to experience it.”
Thanks to his beautiful Summerlin home, Jeff has a place to retreat at the end of every crazy day. A place where he and wife, Sheila Marcello, enjoy spending time in their pool, hanging with their dog, Enzo, and unwinding as they recap each other’s busy days. Jeff, who relishes the vibrancy of downtown, says he has the best of two worlds. “I love my work environment, but I also love escaping to Summerlin every day. There is no better place to live than Summerlin.”
“Summerlin is truly a sanctuary,” said Jeff, who first lived in Henderson before moving to The Ogden in downtown Las Vegas to be close to work at The D. But when he re-connected with Sheila at a Vegas Chamber Leadership Las Vegas holiday party in 2014, his world, and the place he calls home, changed – for the better, he said. The couple fell madly in love, and cemented their relationship in a quiet, private beach-side ceremony in Maui, Hawaii one year ago in September, after dating for five blissful years.
Sheila, who moved to Summerlin in 2005, is the Corporate and Community Development Manager at Make-A-Wish® Southern Nevada, located literally around the corner from their home. Jeff jokes that Sheila will sometimes take the scenic route through nearby Summerlin neighborhoods on her mini drive to work so she can listen to a full song on the radio!
“My work is so meaningful,” said Sheila, who worked for years in gaming and hospitality, opening Crystals at CityCenter, the Cosmopolitan and the Downtown Grand. “While I loved my exciting career, when the opportunity to work at Make-A-Wish presented itself, I jumped at the chance to do something near and dear to my heart, and I haven’t looked back.”
Like Jeff, Sheila loves the quiet time they spend at home, but says she and Jeff are big foodies, so they also enjoy tasting their way through Downtown Summerlin, Red Rock Resort and supporting local Summerlin restaurants, including Vintner Grill, Jing and Grape Street.
“While Summerlin is exceptional for many reasons, the fact that it has its own downtown puts the community in a league of its own,” said Sheila. She especially enjoys working with many Make-A-Wish partners at Downtown Summerlin, including Maggiano’s, California Pizza Kitchen and Macy’s – all big contributors to the nonprofit that grant magical wishes to kids battling critical illnesses. “Working with our community partners towards such a rewarding and important goal makes my job that much more fulfilling.”
When not working, dining, shopping or relaxing at home, the couple enjoys hiking at Red Rock Canyon and golfing at neighboring courses. They also enjoy spending time in the kitchen, experimenting with new recipes, and entertaining friends on the weekends.
The couple love living in Summerlin and everything it has to offer. “We live in a natural and stunning setting, thanks to Red Rock Canyon, and we’re only a few minutes away from everything we need and enjoy.” says Sheila, “We couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.”
