Marcus Threats is still looking for the high school guidance counselor who dismissed his college aspirations, suggesting he instead learn a trade. With six college degrees under his belt, it鈥檚 safe to say Threats proved her wrong.
鈥淚t really just comes from never giving up,鈥 Threats said. 鈥淎nd knowing that nothing is impossible.鈥
It certainly wasn鈥檛 easy for Threats growing up at a time when African-Americans weren鈥檛 allowed to work or visit the Strip. Still, the young Las Vegas native dreamt of running a casino.
鈥淭he hotel-casino industry always fascinated me,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 looked at the Kirk Kerkorians and the Steve Wynns of the world, and thought, 鈥榃hy not me?鈥欌
Education was the answer for Threats, who earned two associate degrees from community college and then a bachelor鈥檚 degree from the Hotel School at 性视界传媒. But a call from the U.S. Navy pilot program temporarily steered Threats away from his hospitality career to pursue another childhood dream.
鈥淲hen I got selected for flight training, it was an opportunity I couldn鈥檛 say no to,鈥 said the former lieutenant, who went on to complete 187 carrier landings throughout his seven-year military stint.
Following his service, Threats continued to defy the naysayers by earning an MBA and two law degrees, eventually finding his career niche in hotel development.
鈥淵ou can do anything if you set your mind to it and just follow your dreams,鈥 Threats said.
If anything, his string of life successes highlight one truth: Sometimes high school guidance counselors get it wrong.
