Dai is short for Daisaku named by Daisaku Ikeda, President of the Soka Gakkai International.   Dai’s mom is Japanese originally from Osaka and Dai’s dad’s family is from Indiana of German and English heritage, hence the name Daisaku Edward Vondran.  Born in Chicago and lived there through 6th grade. Then his family moved to Las Vegas via Virginia Beach traveling with his mother who is a singer and big band stage entertainer. She started him playing the piano at the age of 6 taking lesson for the next 11 years.  Dai attended Las Vegas High School graduating with honors and was voted Class President Junior and Senior years. He was also in Nevada All State Choir and in the entertainment group Spectrum. The University of Chicago admitted him early admission and he graduated with a B.A. in Liberal Arts majoring in Biology.  Throughout college Dai worked in an Immunology Cancer research lab and was premed but after he graduated he found taking care of people in a hotel environment was more for him. Even on summer breaks, Dai would go back home to Vegas and worked at the Marina Hotel in food and beverage. 

Dai continued his career in hospitality after college at the Golden Sails Hotel in Long Beach and the Hyatt Regency Long Beach.  San Diego was his next stop where he worked at various hotels before he finally settled down at the La Jolla Marriott.  Dai worked his way up through food and beverage to outlets manager when he was transferred to the JW Marriott in Century City now the Intercontinental Los Angeles.  He worked there a year before getting a job at the Sheraton Universal Hotel where he’s been for the last 17 years.  The first 12 years were as a bellman, where Dai had the run of the hotel but knew there was something more for him.  During that time he assisted the Concierge Desk relieving the Concierge on duty whenever they needed extra help or days off.  Dai was also an honors student at Los Angeles Valley College taking computer, internet, and finance courses that the Sheraton Universal assisted in tuition to further his career at the hotel.  He then took his mom to the Price is Right in April of 1999 where she won three cars.  He still drives the only car left of the three.  Since he lives in LA, this was the only one directly from the stage and is very special to him.

After 9-11 and the futures of the Concierge and Hospitality were uncertain, the Sheraton Universal laid off the Concierge team.  Dai stayed on and helped any way he could in his role as a bellman.  Then in January of 2003, the Sheraton Universal opened up the Concierge Desk again as part of their lobby business center and Fernando Covarrubias and Dai were hired as full time lobby Concierge under the supervision of Tony Fernandez.  The desk became so busy and popular that in 2005, the Sheraton Universal hired a third concierge, Chizuru Melendez, who fit right in with Dai and Fernando.   Dai loves his team and becoming a Concierge was definitely the best move Dai has ever made. From the start Wolf Walther his general manager encouraged him to be active in the concierge community.  He is very enthusiastic about his career and “Conciergeland”.    Dai has made many friends in the Concierge community who all enjoy his fun upbeat personality and sense of humor.

 His first year in the LACA was so amazing that he wanted to help out any way he could.   Dai was elected to the LACA Board of Directors for 2004; and is now serving his third term as LACA Board Secretary. Then, in August of 2006, Dai was admitted in as a member of the prestigious Les Clefs d’ Or.  His first congress was in Vienna this March. “It was awe inspiring to be able to network with Concierge from around the world”, says Dai; and he hopes to continue his career as a Concierge to its fullest potential. Dai looks forward to sharing his knowledge and experiences with those just starting in the position; and advises that a Concierge really has to enjoy making people happy and follow through until every expectation is met and or surpassed.   He really enjoys meeting the wide range of hotel guests that stay at the Sheraton Universal from the inexperienced traveler that may not know what a Concierge is or does, to the experienced world traveler that expects greatness from their Concierge.  Universal has them all and more!

In his spare time, Dai volunteers at the San Fernando SGI USA Buddhist Community Center.  He also continues with playing the piano and plays various “gigs” including parties and weddings. Dai has also taken several acting courses and has a dream to one day be on a sitcom.  Recently Tony Riccio of Elite Adventure tours invited Dai to do a Cardioke Class at the Hollywood Pop Academy.  Dai took the class and was interviewed by ABC 7 News.  He was also invited to be on the Ellen show when Billy Blanks Jr. was a guest star introducing Cardioke to the world.