Mariel Zagastizabal—Sham-wow!

Hometown: Boston

Age: 24

Profession: Cocktail server, Daydream Pool Club, M Resort

Profile: Mariel doles out the good stuff poolside: frozen cocktails, cold towels and fresh-fruit kabobs. She also wields a mighty sunglasses-repair kit, complete with mini screwdriver, lens cleaner and a super-soft chamois. At 11 a.m., this self-proclaimed neatnik sets up her station before the bathing beautiful arrive to dot the Daydream pool deck.

Why I Do What I Do: “I’m meeting great people, all in the industry, and you never know where that may take you. We definitely have a great crowd, a lot of locals, and we have a DJ that provides a good vibe and good atmosphere.”

Personal Tidbit: It must have been a strong northeasterly wind that drove this Framingham State grad west from Massachusetts to Las Vegas. Thanks in part to a sociology degree and a natural curiosity, Mariel’s study of why people are the way they are bleeds into her daily work. “The culture here is interesting,” says Mariel of Las Vegas. “Everyone has a different story.”

What I’m reading: High Fidelity, by Nick Hornby

Latest Accomplishment: The hospitality industry has been great to Mariel, making her friends all over the world, and affording her travel opportunities—South America, Cuba, Harbor Island, Exuma, yachting the Berry Islands in the Bahamas and Peru, where she was born.

Motto: “I’ve learned people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” –Maya Angelou