Joseph R. Flores is the executive chef for catering and banquets of the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Joseph R. Flores with wife Gigi.
Joseph and Gigi with their children.
A MOUNT Carmel School graduate now runs the fifth largest convention center in the world.
Joseph R. Flores, who obtained his associate of occupational studies degree from Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Las Vegas, is the executive chef for catering and banquets of the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Mandalay Bay has one of the largest convention centers on the West Coast, with over 2.1 million square feet of selling space that generates more than $120 million in annual revenue.
Flores, 40, has been the hotel’s executive banquet chef for over three years now. He began his journey to success as a student at San Vicente Elementary School on Saipan. After completing his secondary education at Mount Carmel School, he attended a couple of semesters at Northern Marianas College before taking the path of culinary arts by enrolling and successfully completing his associate of occupational studies degree at Le Cordon Bleu in 2011.
He started working for smaller local casinos in Las Vegas but said he always knew that the kitchen “is where I wanted to be.”
Flores said his inspiration is his grandmother, Merced Villagomez Reyes, also known as “Nan Che,” who was always in the kitchen, “feeding people, but most importantly, instilling the importance of hard work and gathering the family and making memories.”
Flores played a role in the opening of the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas, working for Jose Andres, an internationally recognized culinary innovator.
Flores worked for Andres for a couple of years as a prep cook and eventually became a lead cook. He learned “the art of intricacy and building the palate with vision then flavors.”
His first managerial role was as an assistant chef for commissary in the main kitchen, then as a “garde-manger” in the cold kitchen where he expanded his knowledge and understanding of production batch cooking.
He was later promoted to the banquet chef’s position at the Luxor Hotel where he realized that banquets were his passion. Banquets taught him the art of planning and being able to serve a burger and then caviar in 60 seconds, he said.
“I am truly blessed to run one of the largest convention houses on the West Coast and the fifth largest in the world,” Flores said. Mandalay Bay just hosted the city of Las Vegas’ first ever Super Bowl, “which was very humbling,” he added.
Flores said, “Generating record numbers and successfully supplying the demand will forever be embedded within myself.”
“We are also very active in the community with donations and social responsibility in sustainability practices and creatively finding ways to cater to the less fortunate schools around the Las Vegas Valley. It is not always about the big things — everything matters including the small wins,” he said.
Despite his success, Flores said he never forgets his humble beginning and roots on Saipan.
“I look back at the journey and of hardships and dedication it took to get to where I am at now. My family has always been supportive, but I also have to thank my beautiful wife Gigi, who has been by my side since day one, taking chances and plunging into the abyss of the unknown,” Flores said.
They are the proud parents of Alayna Raine, Esther Jo, Bentley Rose and Joseph Iseyah.
Flores is the son of Joseph Torres Flores, who is married to Alva Dela Cruz Flores. Joseph Flores’ mother is Antonia Villagomez Reyes. He has two sisters, Jeannae and Kalena, and a brother, Keli Boy.
Looking back, Joseph Flores said, “You will never know the outcome until you jump.”
He said building a legacy and being able to tell his story to his children and the people of the CNMI is his motivation. Anyone with the right mindset and work ethic can make it anywhere, he added.
“We have so much talent and heart in the islands. I hope my story can spark a flame in someone to build their own legacy for their families and continue to inspire the people of the CNMI,” he said.
