Veteran's Affairs Plus W/ David L. Washington

Wesley Knight 0:00
This is a Kun V studios original program. The content of this program does not reflect the views or opinions of 91.5 jazz and more the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, or the Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education. You're listening to special programming sponsored by making moves, life coaching services. The content of this program does not reflect the views or opinions of 91.5 jazz and more the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, or the Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education come

Gene Campbell 0:42
up to Well, good morning, Good morning, good morning. Las Vegas is Gene Campbell. I'm sitting in for my good friend, Mr. David L Washington. David had another appointment today, so he asked me to sit in for him, and today I have a special guest and and friend and co worker, but before I introduce her, just want to shout out to David, as he's also going to be mourning the passion of his sister in law, Ava, in Houston, Texas, so he'll be traveling down there. So anyway, Welcome this morning, and this week, we have another great guest. You know, Veterans Affair, plus, oftentimes, we talk to veterans about veterans issues, as well as talk to other people throughout our community about what's going on in Las Vegas. So today we get a twofer. We get a two for Miss. Melanie Wallace is the director of health and safety for the MGM corporation. So that's quite a large corporation, over 100,000 employees in the state of Nevada, and a big, dominant President up, up and down the strip and around the country and around the world. So good morning, Melanie. How are you

Melanie Wallace 2:11
good morning? Gene, I'm doing fine. Thank you. And how are you? I'm

Gene Campbell 2:14
doing outstanding. And so Melanie, today we we're going to touch a little bit on your career in the Air Force. We're also going to touch on a little bit about who Melanie Wallace is, and tell us a little bit about your career. So let's just start off with who is Melanie Wallace. Okay.

Melanie Wallace 2:33
Well, thank you gene, and my condolences also to David in his absence. Well, I am a very proud Air Force veteran, a mom, wife, me, me to our nine year old grandson. I can say very proud of being a woman of God entrepreneur alongside my husband, we have a commercial maintenance business here in Las Vegas, and I just enjoy life. Gene, I'm so glad I'm was raised in a very positive family. Feel that way in my day to day walk. I enjoy reading, fitness, traveling. I'm on a nursing ministry, which, which I really, which I really love. And I love to go shooting. To say the least, I love to go practice at the range.

Gene Campbell 3:25
Wow. Well, Melanie, we'll have to talk a little bit about shooting. We've never talked about that. We've talked about your husband and the family business and the girls, and you delved in a little bit about the grandkid, but you haven't talked to me about the shooting piece. And on one of our shows, I talked, I think we had another individual, former Major, Laban Green, who got me into trap shooting. And so we'll have to talk a little bit about trap shooting, because tomorrow night's Wednesday night, and we start the spring trap shooting event. So maybe we have to get you out there and you show us how to do some trap shooting.

Melanie Wallace 4:05
Absolutely, I would. I would enjoy that gene. Thank you. Great.

Gene Campbell 4:10
So you know, Melanie, what we do too is we talk to veterans about veterans issues. And so I know you've had an experience in the military. Could you tell us a little bit about your your your military experience, maybe where you went, what you did, and some, some, some experiences that you'd like to share with our guests?

Melanie Wallace 4:29
Sure be glad to. Well, I my FC FSC was originally 70250 very popular one, right? And that we live in a 702 area code, right? It is. But while in tech school, I was at Keesler Air Force Base, I had the opportunity to apply for a special duty assignment, and the locations, the options were Denver, the Pentagon or Los Angeles. So there was a long line of those who wanted to go to the Pentagon. I get it, but being from Cleveland, as you know, Gene My dream was to live on the West Coast one day. So I applied for the Los Angeles position only, and it was only one position available. The other locations had several. So an Air Force Colonel and a civil service African American female director came down. They interviewed me. I went to a second interview, and I was hired on the spot. Wow, so I know I was just very stoked at that time. So I began my career with a special projects of the Air Force in one of the aerospace buildings in Los Angeles. So basically that was my career for my entire four years. And then I had the opportunity, because all the aerospace agencies across the country were our work for you know, worked for us. I was able to interview with several, which is one of the reasons why I did get out. The opportunity was very great for somebody very young, and learned a lot. And so I ended up working for several Martin Marietta Harris, Hughes Aircraft Corporation, McDonnell Douglas, and learned a lot, you know, just from my military background in that aspect while I lived out there. So that was really the just of my career there, and it where I'm at today and where I become today was definitely through that training,

Gene Campbell 6:32
right, right? So, Melanie, tell us a little bit. Didn't you do something like with the with the investigative unit, or maybe work alongside of the, what is it, the OIS, or kind of like the, can you tell us a little bit about that time, that experience? Yeah,

Melanie Wallace 6:48
so even during that time, so pretty much, after training about a year and a half or so, I did go, what they was, they will call really, really undercover, and didn't wear uniform the remaining couple of years of my career. There is because we did have to do investigations of countries that you know dealt dipped into espionage and things like that. So they didn't expect, I think somebody young, a female, African American. So I was probably not the typical person to be in that position, which made it a very, very successful project that we were on for those two years, and we were able to do a lot of good in a very, very short period of time. Wow.

Gene Campbell 7:40
Wow. Well, Melanie, I'm gonna, I'm gonna tease into another portion of this, because I believe what you discuss about your experiences, your ability to rise up, excel in a position and have some creative fun, as well as an impact on the Air Force, is what are a lot of our guests want to have done or want to do as they transition from the military. Because one of our one of the things we talk about is transition. If you've been in the service, you've been overseas, you've been in some of these positions, and you're looking to transfer or get out. I know that there's something about your corporation that really loves veterans, and maybe you could talk about your experience transitioning into the private sector and then again, into some other positions, because sometimes people have to hear somebody else's story to understand their story is similar, and they it could be them too sure,

Melanie Wallace 8:38
and That's a very valid information that you, that you mentioned, and again, very proud of MGM Resorts, who's very, very supportive of veterans and veterans and spouses of veterans. And so I do sit on our veteran Eng engagement team and group here in town. And the one thing that I really enjoy doing is we get on calls for veterans across the nation, actually across the world, and share in some how they can transition. Some of them are two years out. They can be two months out. And it's a program that we offer to be able to assist veterans as they get in town something similar to what they were doing over something that knew they want to do. So they fill out information for us, and we look at we share and support and guide them in jobs that the company offers that's affiliated or if it's something else brand new. What's nice about being a part of our program is you already have referrals, so to speak. And so we assist veterans, those who are getting out of the military, and like I said, some are two years, two years out, and they still contact us and stay connected. Us through LinkedIn, through our emails, and we really develop relationship with them. We go into separate rooms. Our HR team oversees that for the veterans, and then we go into separate rooms even on the call and any questions they may have. So it's very up to date, very open and personal. And I think, yeah, I wish that was around when I first got to town and so, you know, which was 28 years ago, but since I've been with the company, I've been very heavily involved in that. And it's a, it's a really, really, it's a win, win for those and we advertise it so we communicate that throughout the Vegas valley that we offer that for veterans and their spouses. So that's really a double pleasure. Wow.

Gene Campbell 10:48
That is just wonderful to hear. And that's really what our guest we're here at K, U N, V 91.5 FM, and we're discussing what's important to veterans. So if I was a veteran and I was listening in on this, on this call, or I was overseas, because you can pick up this call, you can over the internet, listen to all kind of radio programs around the world, where would somebody go look at and find out about if they were interested in getting involved in that mentorship program for veterans?

Melanie Wallace 11:20
We mentioned it on our website. It'd be on the MGM Resorts website, and so it gives information who to contact. There's some emails and some contact numbers to reach out and to really join the program, be a part of that program. It's, it's for anyone those who, like I said, maybe not be separating for a couple of years. And for those we have, we've had some just in a few months. And so we guide them to from a really around the nation, some call from they're getting out of the military, and they're in North Carolina, and rather, it's a Las Vegas move forum, or we have properties like you had mentioned gene in the beginning. We have properties in Maryland and Michigan and Ohio and Mississippi. So we try to guide them and reach out to our counterpart of MGM to assist them in the process. Well,

Gene Campbell 12:22
that is just beautiful, and I really appreciate you sharing that today, Melanie, now, one of the things I know that you do, especially because I know who you are and guests, I tell you what you're missing, the treasure there with Miss Melanie Wallace, because she's very energetic. She's a go getter. Just, you know, she gets up early in the morning. I won't give her a whole day out, but I tell you what, she's Go, go, go, go, go. I've never seen her not go on go. And so I'm just wondering, Melanie, what kind of tea you drinking? What kind of green tea mixture you got going on? Because you definitely have some energy there? Yes, ma'am, could you explain to us, as you interview people, or you start looking at different positions, what kind of skills would you say really helped you excel, and what things do you think our listeners would should invest in when they come to interview it, even if it's not an MGM, what are some things, some trends you're seeing, and where are people excelling, and where are some opportunities for people to improve? Okay, so,

Melanie Wallace 13:29
yeah, two part question for me, but I asked for the first part on knowledge and skills or abilities that helped me in my career. Of course, as a veteran, you know, discipline is always first. I think that's why our company really looks at a resume and go, Oh my gosh, oh my goodness. They served in their armed forces. Okay, we're going to pull that aside. They automatically know if we don't have anything else, we have discipline and integrity. That's huge. I would say, you become very positive. And I think the military teaches you that just some confidence and positivity, I know I train very heavily in two vastly different skill sets. One was logic, logic and strategic thinking. The other was understanding personality traits. Now you wouldn't put both of those together. Most people think when you're very strategic, you're a little stoic, you're a little militant, but on that other side, which is extremely important and Gene me and you've worked together long enough to know, my biggest pet peeve is not to be able to engage with people your approach. So when I learned personality traits, it was, it was to learn how to talk to them in five minutes, and what my approach would be, or my continued conversation would be. And engagement is everything. When you really learned how to engage with people, and even even if you're an introvert, you can. Earn this, how to gain and buy, get that buy in and that trust, and then, boy, you can lead anybody at that point. And I had learned that that was significant for me, and I've taken that to every position that I've received since I've gotten out the military. And I thought it was so crucial. I love the fact that they balance that scale. They went from the technical side, which you're hired for your background, but they also balanced it with the interpersonal skills and how important that is, and especially today, even more important is that engagement piece. So the second part of that would be, everyone has a brand. They have a talent that they bring. And even out of the military, where things were a little bit more standard, don't be afraid to one, I know, with our company. But even if it's not in Las Vegas, even if it's not MGM, to brand yourself. You know, things that you have learned put down on a piece of paper, and that's what I did. What are my strengths? What I truly think my strengths are, and what are my weaknesses? The weaknesses is what I want to zone in on to study more. It's so much available today. It's, I don't know how to approach people. Study that it's you can Google it. You can do podcasts. You can do you can YouTube on what does it take? And you'll be surprised, what's really, really deep down inside you. If you want it bad enough, you can you can gain it. You can attain it. I promise you, that is

Gene Campbell 16:37
beautiful. Sometimes. Melanie on these calls, we also reach out to or we're able to touch through the shows youth, youth who look to see somebody, they might see you in the community. They might see other people in the community and say, hey, you know what? I really like them, especially on these career days, we have different executives that go out, including yourself, that you know, interacting the community that work with a lot of charities I know we do the Food Bank and the different things, the sneaker giveaways that we do with in conjunction with some local non charity a charity organizations. What advice would you give to our youth? Maybe they're in a ninth grade, 10th, 11th grade, to get themselves ready for their their careers, and on the backside, how should they come if they're going to do an interview or an internship there, there's an internship that's coming up. Maybe they're here on campus. They're a freshman or and they're working in the school hotel education, and they're, they're wanting to do an internship. How should they show up? What some? What are some advice you give for those different people, either the youth that are trying to prepare for careers, or maybe somebody looking for an internship, how should they be prepared when they come see you? No,

Melanie Wallace 17:59
that's a really, really, great question. Gene, thank you. Please, always, and unfortunately, we have to put that mindset into adults that come and interview come dress for success the first thing come because you're marketing yourself. You know, I've had people come with air pods in their ears and sunglasses on top of the head. And you know, you're marketing. You, you want your best you, you know, so I don't care if it's a security position. We've had people come in shorts for that. I guess they're thinking, I'm gonna get a uniform and security, no, but let me tell you what happened on several of my interviews that was applying for when I first got to town, I was applying for security. I didn't have hospitality gaming background, so I figured, well, I can get a security job. I was in that security job for three months. The Chief said to me, when I saw you I was I said, Okay, that's my risk director right there. I had no clue what a risk director was, but I promise you, I learned. I learned it, and I did. I became a risk director eventually, over time. But you show up for the job that you want always you know you and look, it could be far off. I know you're in ninth grade, eighth grade. What job? What do you want to do? You show up as the CEO of that job. I don't care how young you are, and always have a resume with you, even if they have an application or whatever they have. You have that piece of paper with you prepare means just that pre have it where they don't even have to ask a question, they don't even have to ask for references, because you're going to have that when you show up and you be your best. You don't try to mimic anyone else, and again, you can Google and study how to interview and things like that, which are great. They're excellent tools. But be yourself, be confident and. It if you're showing up correctly, just like that, for the position that you want. I'm not saying, Look, you're showing up for dishwasher position. That's what many of us have started. But you want to be the chef of the kitchen, you show up as if you own that kitchen, if you own that restaurant, and I promise you, you'll be surprised on your way in or out that that will happen. This happened to me several times, and I was young when it happened. So show up, dress for success. Always bring documentation that they don't have to even act for your resume, your references, good references, and that's already I'm telling you that that knocks interviewers socks off when a young child, when a young adult is is already prepared, that's the one they want. Wow, that's

Gene Campbell 20:48
the one they want. Well, I know there's some people out there going to be listening, or somebody's going to hear this, uh, reborn cast is going to come out, and they're going to be taking that advice. And so we really appreciate you sharing that advice for somebody who's actually walk the walk. Now, Melanie, you've been exposed a lot of things. Can you give us some highlights? What you know, some things that might intrigue somebody if folks, for folks you don't know, we don't have, you can't see Melanie, but Melanie is always dressed to the lines. So for those folks that that want to have a job where you're where you're in a nice setting. There are many benefits. I won't go into those, but there are many benefits. But one thing for sure, if you're a young lady, young man, you like to dress Melanie. Can give you some careers and tell you about people that like to dress me? Can you share some fun aspects or some special things either that you did in the service, whether it was travel, whether it was Cook, what has been some, some experiences that you think have have been milestones throughout your career, and you look back on you said that was fun or that was impactful? Okay,

Melanie Wallace 21:59
well, it's been several, several incidents. I remember in the military when I had to escort her, a colonel to a particular place, I actually had to pick him up, and we were headed, you know, undercover. And the gentleman, the reputation of this colonel, was, oh my gosh, I'm glad it's you picking them up, not me. And so, you know. So, hey, that's great going in, right? And I was probably like, 2122 so I, you know, I said, Well, he's a person like me, I guess, you know. So I he's in the back seat, not no eye contact. I don't think he even said, Hello. Got in. I just wanted to, you know, I had to confirm it with him, right? And so we're driving, and I just remember looking in the rear view mirror and just asking, you know, I said, Colonel, if you don't mind me asking, you know, or if you don't mind me mentioning this, I just wanted to let you know your shirts on backwards. And he looked and this was a guy everybody said, Do not approach him. Don't speak. Just drive. Just say anything. This man busted out laughing. He said, I have been walking like this all day. He said, What is your name the sergeant, and I said, it's at the time was Melanie, when he said, Thank you for that. He says, No one said that all day long. So where are you from? And this man started having conversation, and we he gave me his card, and we exchanged information. He said, hey, if I'm ever back in Ohio, blah, if I'm back here in town, thank you for the conversation. Nobody ever conversations with me and I, you know? And I said, Well, you know what, sir, I think it's your stance. But he said, Okay, you're pushing it. Sergeant like, okay, I'm good. So to me, one of the I guess, made me feel like, Man, I guess you can be bold, but, you know, say it in a way that is still respectful. That was I could say one of the times in my career, which was, I was very I was a little nervous. People made me nervous. I wasn't at first, but it ended up being probably one of the most remember conversations I've ever had, because he was hurt in war during his time. And it was we stayed in contact, I could say, for many, many years, even when I got out of the military with this gentleman. He actually passed maybe just about 15 years ago. But I stayed, we stayed in contact with each other. And I don't know why it was. Yeah, I don't know why. Maybe because I was honest. I don't know, but I just didn't feel like he need to move further until he got himself together so

Gene Campbell 24:47
well, that is beautiful. Looking out for other people. Well, Melanie, we today, we've discussed a little bit about who you are, what you like to do. You're a little bit about your family. Your careers, as well as advice for the youth. Here again, we're on K, U N, V 91.5, FM, and we're coming up on four minutes left in the show. So Melanie, would you? Would you share anything else you'd like to for us to know about you? I know you've been in the Valley for over 28 years, but is there anything else you'd like to share with our guests, or just any little special tidbit that you want people to know about your career, whether it's military or with MGM properties or anything else.

Melanie Wallace 25:36
Thanks, Gene, I can say if I had to leave anything with anyone is, you know, I just don't take I know life is serious. Life hits all of us. Don't sweat the small stuff. Honestly, I love and appreciate what you said. Gene about being energetic. I get up. I was up at 330 this morning. Firstly, and I go to work out, but, you know, I go to meditate, and my life is has changed with doing that. It's just kind of being in tune, understanding what your day is like. You can't do anything about yesterday. And you know, I think too many of us look in the rearview mirror when we should look forward. You can't drive a car in the rearview mirror. You drive a car looking ahead and and being on the defense somewhat, right? We have to, no matter what city you live in. But I think having that kind of analogy is walking in expectancy of great things. And hey, if life hits a little bit, then you don't you're not falling too far. And that's what I've taken some of my grandmother told me years and years ago, 10 years old, she basically said, look forward. You can't drive a car looking in a rearview mirror and without getting into some kind of incident or accident. So that's what I do on a daily I make that time, I spend that time by myself, and even if it's 15 minutes, 10 minutes, half hour. And to really, what does Melanie want to do today? Or where do you see yourself tomorrow? It's important that we stay in tune. We're individuals first. Even as twins, you're coming out separately. So I just spend that time I do and it makes you a better person. It makes you on your toes. You're a little sharper, but you it helps to really be in tune, to know you know what's hurting you, what's making you upset, what's what makes you happy, and do those things and and be serious about it and make it intentional.

Gene Campbell 27:42
Make it intentional. Yes, yes, yes. Well, I tell you what, Melanie definitely lives just as she's spoken to you today. Guest, and it's just, it's so it's a pleasure to meet with Melanie. Melanie's very energetic. Sometimes I have to wake up myself. I got y'all. I'm going to see Melanie. Gotta get some coffee in me. But I tell you what, it's always good outcomes, and she's always got a beautiful smile. So folks, I want to, you know, share one other thing before we get off the show today, remember that you can reach out and look on the MGM website, the mentorship program for veterans, whether you're in Afghanistan or where else, if you can get to the internet, you can look it up, as well as if you're a veteran coming home and you need some some help with injuries you've sustained, some injuries you believe in the military, and you want to know what help you can get, whether it's medical care or other assistance. Please look at the state website veterans, for veterans up there. There's all kinds of resources for veterans as well as there's other organizations that can go off of their website, Veterans of Foreign Wars and so many other ones. Dave, disabled veterans and so forth. And West, where we have about 30 seconds or so, we're about 30 seconds in. So Melanie, I want to thank you for taking the time out of your day, and I appreciate it, and I hope my guests appreciate you. And I'm looking forward to seeing somebody that maybe pops up at one of the properties or reaches out to the program in some kind of way and say, Hey, that information you gave us on your show that day really helped me in this way. So money. Thank you so much for all the community out there in Las Vegas and around the world. This is Veterans Affair, plus Jean Campbell sitting in for Dave Washington. And we're hoping you're going to have the rest of a great Saturday morning. Thank you and goodbye. You.