Learning the ropes before taking on family business
By Jason Hidalgo, Reno Gazette-Journal
To come home, one must leave first.
And for self-professed local boy Ryan Sheltra, leaving the comforts of home made his return that much sweeter.
As the son of one of the long-time owners of the Bonanza Casino in Reno, one would think Sheltra was a shoe-in for the family business. But Sheltra wasn’t recruited by dad Russ until he finished stints at Hilton properties in Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe.
Sheltra was wrapping up a six-and-a-half-year career at the former Caesars Tahoe when he got an offer from the very man who encouraged him to learn the business outside of the Bonanza. To sweeten the pot, the older Sheltra even offered to retire.
