By day, he’s the founder of a growing IT consultancy. By night, a cybersecurity professor inspiring the next generation of tech leaders. And before all that? David Shultis was a singing waiter and a Mirage butler.

Not exactly the typical journey to the front of a university classroom.

But for Shultis, every chapter of his career has been connected by three things: curiosity, connection, and a desire to give back, especially to the university that helped launch his professional life.

David and Susanna Shultis at their EMBA graduation ceremony.

Photo from UNLV website.

A Rebel from the Start

A proud member of the first graduating class of international business at UNLV (’99 BSBA), Shultis’s story began long before cybersecurity became a buzzword. But after years in hospitality and a growing interest in technology, he knew he wanted to lead, not just operate, his own company.

That realization brought him back to his alma mater. In 2020, Shultis and his wife, Susanne Daniela Shultis, enrolled in UNLV’s Executive MBA program together, becoming the first couple to complete the program side-by-side.

“It made the journey even more meaningful,” he says.

Susanne brought her own impressive resume: executive assistant to the CEO at Yamagata Enterprises Family Office, founder of Shultis Photography, and now a partner at their shared venture, the RedPanda Systems.

From Consulting to Clarity

Before the EMBA, Shultis was already running a modest IT consultancy. But something was missing.

“I felt I lacked the knowledge of how to run a company, instead of just working for one,” he explains.

The EMBA experience changed everything. Inspired by his marketing coursework and new leadership insights, Shultis rebranded Las Vegas IT Consulting into RedPanda Systems, a name that reflects the company’s agile, curious, and bold personality.

Since then, RedPanda Systems has grown to 11 employees and serves clients across the western U.S.

“Every year since then, we’ve doubled our profit,” he says. “We found our identity. It took an EMBA to do that.”

Returning to the Classroom

For Shultis, success wasn’t a finish line. It was a launchpad. The classroom called again, this time as a professor.

Today, he teaches cybersecurity compliance at UNLV, a field that’s often overlooked but increasingly vital in today’s digital economy. His course quickly became a student favorite, not because compliance is glamorous, but because Shultis brings it to life.

“Some students tell me they want to change their whole career path after this class,” he says. “That’s what I love, watching the lightbulb go off.”

His teaching philosophy? Teach the “why,” not just the “what.”

“You can memorize all day long,” he says, “but if you don’t understand the bigger picture, you’re not really learning.”

Championing Las Vegas Talent

Shultis’s impact goes beyond the classroom. He volunteers for mock interviews, helps students with job placements, and serves on the advisory board for the cybersecurity program. His goal: show students that a meaningful tech career doesn’t require leaving Las Vegas.

“Vegas has been good to me,” he says. “I want to help others build their future here, too.”

He’s passionate about bridging the gap between academic theory and real-world application. “Students want more than a degree. They want purpose, meaning, and a pathway. I try to provide that.”

Demystifying Cyber

Shultis also makes it a point to break down the misconceptions around cybersecurity.

“Cyber isn’t just hacking,” he says. “It’s compliance, risk, operations… there are so many directions you can take. You’ve got to be willing to pivot, be curious.”

He emphasizes the importance of lifelong learning in this ever-evolving industry.

“If you're going to be good at this, you'll study in school and out of school,” he says. “Education will always be part of the job.”

It is a mindset passed down from his father. A man who valued people’s stories and treated everyone with respect. “I try to do the same,” Shultis says.

Building the Future From the Inside

As a mentor, advisor, and entrepreneur, Shultis is committed to growing local industry talent and building lasting connections between the university and local companies.

“It never crossed my mind that I’d come back as a professor,” he says. “But once I saw the direction the program was heading, I wanted in. Not just to advise, but to do.”

He adds, “I don’t want to just hear about progress, I want to be part of it. I want to put my feet on the ground and help.”

From singing on the Las Vegas Strip to guiding students into the tech industry, David Shultis is living proof that careers don’t follow straight lines. But when they’re rooted in passion, they always come full circle.