Siblings keep it all in the family as Station Casinos employees

Siblings and Station Casinos colleagues Jonathan Yalda, from left, Joe Yalda and Jennifer Comer are shown at Red Rock Resort, Friday, Oct. 16, 2020. Joe Yalda said that as soon as he was hired at Station, he knew there was nowhere else he wanted to work.

Joe Yalda has worked for Station Casinos since he was a 16-year-old sophomore at Durango High School. He was drawn to the company because it treated its employees like family, he said.

What he didn’t realize then was that his family would later become employees.

Yalda, 31, who started as a busboy and is now vice president of guest experience at Red Rock Resort, is one of three siblings who have made their careers with the locals casino company.

His brother Jonathan, 29, is director of pool operations at Red Rock, and his sister Jennifer Comer, 29, is corporate retail manager for Station properties.

“The second I started with this company, I realized that it had a family atmosphere and that there was nowhere else I wanted to go,” Joe Yalda said. “As I progressed over the years, opportunities came up to introduce my brother and sister to the company. The rest just became history.”

The siblings recently made a TikTok video re-creating a childhood photo that Station Casinos posted on social media — just like a proud family member might.

Jonathan Yalda said his older brother has always been a mentor to him and his sister.

“The best part about Joe, he’s always pushing us to be better,” he said. “We always want to get to his level.”

Born to Iraqi immigrants in Chicago, the three moved with their family to the Las Vegas Valley in 2001. They all graduated from Durango High in Spring Valley, where they still live within about five minutes of each other.

They get together on a regular basis. Whether it’s his work family or his biological one, Joe Yalda said, family is “everything” to him.

He credits the Fertitta family — the late Frank Fertitta Jr. founded Station Casinos in Las Vegas nearly 45 years ago — with creating a workplace atmosphere that fosters family, teamwork and togetherness.

“We are a family-run business and we strive every day to ensure our team members are treated like an extended version of our family,” said Bob Finch, chief operating officer for Station Casinos. “In our 40-year history, we’ve seen generations of families in our ranks and throughout our workforce. The Yaldas are a prime example of a close-knit group that brings a familial approach to their respective jobs every day.”

Joe Yalda said his ultimate goal is to run his own property. Perhaps one reason he is so driven is because he knows tomorrow isn’t promised.

Always a speed demon, he was riding his motorcycle in the desert in 2006 when he crashed. He broke both arms, among other injuries, and barely survived.

“I’ll never forget that day,” Comer said. “I was with some friends and my parents called. They said he was in an accident and that he was not doing well. They told us he flatlined and they brought him back.”

The accident, however, brought the family closer together, Comer said.

With Las Vegas now struggling through the coronavirus pandemic, Joe Yalda said he has no doubt the city will also survive and thrive.

“This city is going through a difficult time, but there’s resilient people here who will bring it back to what it was,” he said.

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