Meet Our Hosts
Our experienced team of casino hosts can make your visits at Cactus Petes the best they can be with a VIP experience. We provide personalized service, a genuine commitment to meet your expectations and unexpected touches that will surprise and delight you. Please feel free to contact our hosts with any questions, requests or needs you might have.Mike Mendez
Executive Casino Host
Hailing from Fort Hall, Idaho, Mike is a proud member of the Shoshone Bannock Tribes. He has 19 years of casino hospitality experience in various leadership roles, including food and beverage, sales and entertainment. With his driven customer service experience, he is ready to serve the guests of Cactus Petes. He is currently enrolled at Idaho State University where he plans on majoring in hospitality management.
Mike is also a proud veteran of the Unites States Marine Corps where he served from 1998-2002. He served with an elite Anti-Terrorism Unit and was fortunate enough to travel the world early on in his military career.
Outside of work, Mike can be found on the softball field or the golf course having fun and making memories with old and new friends or traveling with his wife of 16 years and four children.
“You are never too old to learn new tricks…”
Email: [email protected]
TAMMY BROWN
Executive Casino Host
Tammy started her career in Hospitality as a Housekeeper in Sun Valley, Idaho. It was there that “Hospitality” got in her blood; Tammy enjoyed meeting people from all over the world and decided that the Hotel Industry would be her home. After graduating from the College of Southern Idaho’s Hotel/Restaurant Program Tammy began working at Cactus Petes in the Marketing Department as the Tour and Travel Coordinator. After Jackpot Tammy moved to Elko and Winnemucca working with Red Lion Hotels and Casinos and Casino Express Airlines. It was then that she changed her focus to Hotel Operations working in multiple states for several companies. In 2000, Tammy began working for Hampton Brand Management with Hilton Hotels in Memphis, TN where she held several Corporate level positions. These roles allowed her to travel to the majority of the US while working. Since leaving Hilton in 2009 Tammy has held positions in Training, Sales, Operations and Quality Assurance for multiple companies including Marriott International and Best Western Hotels and Resorts.
In 2019 Tammy returned to the Northwestern states (she had previously lived in Nevada, Oklahoma, Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas) to be closer to her Idaho family most recently living in Lehi, Utah. Over the Summer Tammy moved back to Twin Falls, Idaho and returned to Cactus Petes after 32 years. It has been fun to be back in her old stomping grounds.
Outside of work Tammy enjoys travel, concerts, and movies. Whenever possible she visits wild animal sanctuaries and listens to live music in her travels.