VERONICA QUINTERO
REGIONAL GM
SAVOR… SMG
HOMETOWN: Long Beach, Calif.
FIRST INDUSTRY JOB: I started working here at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center as a senior in high school. Both of my parents worked in F&B. My dad was a regional executive chef for a large restaurant group and my mother was a director of catering, so I swore I would never be in food and beverage.
WHAT YOU WANTED TO BE WHILE GROWING UP: All throughout high school I thought I wanted to be a doctor.
MENTORS: Our past VP for SMG F&B Dan Morrison helped me to become the GM that I am today. Also, SMG’s CEO Wes Wesley has really brought innovation to SMG. He’s helped set us apart from other food service companies.
FREE TIME FUN: It’s all about family time. I have five children, so my free time is spent doing something with them. I have three-year-old twins, and my oldest is 26.
BEST ADVICE: This was from Dan. “In decision making, sometimes there’s no democracy.” He was probably telling me that when I was questioning one of his decisions. Once you’ve made a decision, have conviction.
GUILTY PLEASURE: Any kind of potato chips. I don’t need to eat chocolate and I could care less about cookies, but I love something salty.
(562) 499-7565
DANNY TORGERSON
CEO
MONSTER TRUCK ENTERTAINMENT
HOMETOWN: Harmony, Minn.
HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE BUSINESS: My father started a truck pull and monster truck company called Torgerson Motorsports and I began working with him when I was 15.
FAVORITE PART OF THE JOB: We have expanded internationally and it’s been incredible — this year we did our first show overseas in Moscow. There was so much excitement, it reminded me of the days when monster trucks first came out. The buzz was just incredible — we’re going back next year and doing five cities in Russia.
HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR CAREER: My dad sold the company in 2001 and I tried a few different businesses, including a water jet cutting business. We had a $300,000 machine that could cut through steel. It was interesting, but we couldn’t make any money at it. After 2007, I got back into motorsports and eventually bought my dad’s company back in 2012. To have the motorsports division back in family hands was a huge milestone for me.
HARDEST PART OF YOUR JOB: Maintaining the same quality of show from the days when you first started. We’ve grown so fast and I’m constantly focused on maintaining a high bar so that people keep coming back.
HOBBIES: I have two sons, 7 and 10, and both race go-carts and they both just locked up championships. Whenever I’m not at work, I’m with them and we’re usually doing something motorsports related.
ONE THING PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT YOU: Arena managers are often surprised that I attend a lot of my own events, even when they’re right on top of each other.
(480) 773-6822
RAJ KAPOOR
DIRECTOR
SHANIA: STILL THE ONE
HOMETOWN: Edmonton, Alberta
FIRST INDUSTRY JOB: Two weeks after college, I moved to California to be a professional dancer. I worked with Paula Abdul and Cher and did a lot of music videos, award shows and TV commercials. When I finished working as a dancer, I started working as an assistant director and later as a choreographer. My first directing job was with 19 Entertainment, running the American Idol tour.
FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB: Every day is a new challenge and there’s always a new project to work on. Prior to the Shania show, I had worked with AEG Live’s Paul Gongaware on a private event for video game company Activision at Staples Center. We had booked Eminem, Usher, Rihanna and Will.i.am to play alongside a 75-piece orchestra and 300-member choir. We blew the doors off that place and we only had 21 days to produce the entire thing from scratch.
SOMETHING PEOPLE WOULD BE SURPRISED TO LEARN ABOUT YOU: I’ve seen every single show in Las Vegas, minus one or two. Shows like O and La Reve stand the test of time, but some of my favorite performances capture the excitement of old school Vegas. I love Frankie Moreno’s show at the Stratosphere.
(323) 933-7339