Small town native finds new home at The Ogden

Conrad Donovan was born and raised in a small town in Montana, but his larger-than-life ambitions drew him to the glittering lights of Las Vegas. After living in the southwest valley for nearly two years, Donovan literally made the move up and is now a proud owner of a penthouse at The Ogden in downtown Las Vegas.

Having visited Las Vegas only a few times before making the big move, Donovan is not one to shy away from taking leaps of faith. With a self-starter attitude, coupled with bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering, the entrepreneur created an online marketing business known as 8X Marketing Incorporated.

"About five years ago, I had this idea to develop a search engine marketing service, and I've dedicated my efforts to the business ever since," he said. "I am able to work from anywhere I want, and I chose Las Vegas as my home base because I love the city's nightlife scene, restaurants and culture. I am especially impressed and energized by all that's happening downtown."

But his former experience in the suburbs nearly drove Donovan out of the city earlier this year.

"Over time, I realized I had mixed feelings about living in Vegas because of the far drive to the Strip, and I felt disconnected from all the things I liked about the city to begin with," Donovan said. "I packed up most of my belongings, sold a lot of it and drove to both San Diego and Phoenix where I considered moving. Funny enough, leaving Las Vegas made me realize just how much I missed and appreciated it."

Donovan decided to give the city another chance and began touring model homes in high-rise properties. When he visited The Ogden and saw the breathtaking views from the penthouse level, he was sold on making it home. He was also attracted to The Ogden's around-the-clock security, friendly staff and walkability to Downtown Las Vegas' classic casinos.

"I play professional poker on the side and enjoy playing in 'old-school' casinos because of their quirky vibe and authenticity," Donovan said. "I love The Ogden's central location, particularly compared to other high-rises. I couldn't have found a better place to call home. My neighbors actually say hello, which never happened in the suburbs."

Some of Donovan's favorite eateries include Pizza Rock, where he claims serves the best pizza he's ever tasted. He also frequents O Face Doughnuts to satisfy his sweet tooth.

"Every morning I wake up and walk out on my balcony to enjoy the view," Donovan said. "This is definitely where I plan to set up permanent shop and focus on my business. I've only lived here a couple weeks, but I know I made the right choice staying in Las Vegas."

Homes at The Ogden range from a one-bedroom, 815-square-foot residence for $229,000 to a three-bedroom plus den 2,044-square-foot home for $629,000. Residences feature a modern design aesthetic in keeping with the architecture and the lifestyle vibe, private balconies and expansive views of downtown Las Vegas, the Strip and the mountains that frame the valley.

The Ogden's single-story, open floor plans offer flex spaces that can serve as a home office, den or yoga room, extra bedrooms for accommodating multi-generational family and guests, and spacious windows that fill interiors with natural light.

For more information, visit The Ogden's onsite sales center at 150 Las Vegas Blvd. North or online at Ogdenlv.com.