EXPERIENCE OF CAYUGA'S
CASINO GAMING GROUP CONSULTANTS
William
J. Callnin (Virginia Beach)
Cayuga Chairman and Managing Director, with
over thirty years experience in casino development and operations in
the U.S., the Caribbean, Bahamas and Australia. Opened Bally’s
Park Place Casino Hotel in Atlantic City as Vice President-Operations,
and assisted in the development of eight other casinos on behalf of clients,
typically major international hotel-resort companies in their first-time
entries into casino gaming. Casino design, operating procedures and internal
controls, operations analyses, management-performance reviews, regulatory
compliance audits, casino lease / management contract negotiations, asset
management. Group Leader for Cayuga's Casino Gaming Group.
John
T. Bowen (Houston)
Dean of the Conrad N. Hilton College at the University of Houston. Former UNLV Professor in Casino Marketing and Customer Development Strategies for the Casino and Gaming Industry. Expert in the areas of: market research and positioning; public relations; marketing of gaming operations; player development programs; customer satisfaction audits and surveys; executive development courses and seminars; and development of distribution systems to attract desired market segments. Instrumental in helping DataDesigns, a supplier of database software to the gaming industry, develop a marketing research division.
Carl
G. Braunlich (Las Vegas)
Associate Professor in the Hotel Management Department at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Director for Service Quality Research (SQR), a consulting firm specializing in performance-based instructional design, training protocols and creative training assessment techniques for multi-unit, high volume gaming entertainment organizations. Contributing consultant for the development, design and implementation of performance-based training programs for the pre-opening training of 10,000 employees for the Bellagio resort in Las Vegas. Served as consultant for service quality management programs for the Showboat Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City. Authority on compulsive gambling issues and responsible gaming program development.
George
W. Carmona (Atlantic City)
Over 23 years’ experience in senior casino executive positions and as a consultant for casino developers and operators. Operational, financial and audit responsibilities with casinos in the U.S. and the Caribbean, with broad experience in development, regulatory approval and implementation of systems of accounting and internal control. Consultant for casinos in Yugoslavia, the Bahamas and for Indian tribal casino operations in the Western U.S.
Scott Cooper (Palm Desert, CA)
Senior executive in the gaming industry, with 30 years experience in land-based, riverboat, racino and Native American casinos, from General Manager for individual properties, to COO providing multi-property oversight. Particular expertise in: casino start-up and expansion projects, having opened nine start-up operations in six jurisdictions; improving underperforming casino profit margins; and growing property revenue market share. Expertise includes all aspects of casino operations, including management performance evaluations, marketing, staffing, turnaround transitional management, and strategic planning.
Mike DiCillo (Las Vegas)
An independent casino design specialist and graphic designer, Michael is an accomplished
design veteran with over 15 years of slot and gaming industry focus. As a senior
gaming floor design consultant for International Game Technology (IGT), his
specialized skills and expertise in gaming, casino marketing graphics, spatial
design and AutoCAD application resulted in significant competitive advantages
for the company in marketing, customer service and sales. Having successfully
contributed to the design and development of numerous gaming floors for casino
operators that include Pinnacle Entertainment, Cannery Casino Resorts, Penn
National Gaming and Delaware North Companies, Mike is recognized by gaming
executives and publications as a valuable resource for issues related to casino
design. His graphic design background is well versed as he has won “Best of
Category” awards for Art Direction in the screen printing industry and his
casino marketing graphics have been effectively used in casinos across North
America for many years.
David
P. Hanlon (Las Vegas/Reno)
Chairman, Empire Gaming. Highly experienced senior level executive: Rio Suites Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas; Merv Griffin’s Resorts International properties in Atlantic City and the Bahamas; Harrah’s Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City; and Caesars World Incorporated. Former President of International Game Technology, the world’s leading manufacturer of microprocessor based gaming machines.
Chris R.
LeSourd (Seattle)
Over thirty-five years experience as an executive and consultant in the foodservice industry, providing financial evaluations, market and operational analyses, concept and project development, and strategic repositioning, litigation support and expert witness testimony. Provided conceptual planning and development of the food and beverage facilities for the Tulalip Indian Tribe Casino Complex in Washington State. Designed, documented and installed a comprehensive food cost control system for Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
Steve Murphy (Las Vegas)
Over 25 years experience in the technology and operational arena. Steve's background includes software development experience with both GTE and Lotus/IBM. Senior level operational positions with Hyatt Hotels, MGM Mirage, Wynn Resorts, and the Cosmopolitan Resort and Casino. Steve has managed over two hundred different applications required to run operations for a $10 Billion publicly held company. In doing so he was responsible for successfully negotiating all contracts and support agreements for the organization. He has both Six Sigma and PMI background experience with property opening experience at Bellagio, Beau Rivage, Fallsview, and the Cosmopolitan Resort. Steve serves on the Board of Directors for Hospitality and Gaming Magazine and the Gaming Summit Group. He has also served on the Hospitality and Technology advisory board.
Jerry
Najman (Dominican Republic)
General Manager of the new Casino Dominicus in the Dominican Republic.
Twenty-five years’ hands-on casino opening and operations experience
in Nevada, the Caribbean and South America. Served as General Manager/Vice
President/Director of Casino Operations of seven major Caribbean or Native
American casinos and played integral roles in the grand opening and/or
complete renovation of eight major casino projects. Also served as a consultant
to Cirsa International, Wyndham International and Hilton International. Litigation
support services offered in the area of casino operations.
Steve
Sherf (Minneapolis)
With over 30 years of operational and consulting experience, Steve is President of the Hospitality Consulting Group, providing analysis, valuation and brokerage services to the hospitality industry. He has prepared market studies and financial projections for all types of hotels in both large and small markets throughout the U.S. He has also worked on more than 150 gaming projects located in 27 states and three Canadian provinces. These projects include feasibility studies for both new and expanding casinos and racinos, market studies for casino amenities, business diversification studies, market share analysis under different competitive scenarios, and new market development potential assessments. Steve has particular expertise in lodging assessment, gaming demand modeling, financial projection modeling, and financial statement analysis. His broad background of consulting assignments for income producing real estate developments include market studies, valuations, appraisals, acquisitions and sales. A Certified Public Accountant (inactive), he has provided expert witness testimony relating to the valuation of hotels and restaurants as well as business interruption damages for casinos.
Jim
Tennyson (Atlantic City)
Founder of XCEL Business Technologies, LLC, offering 30 years experience as a Senior IT Executive. Services include: aligning technology with business objectives; business process improvement; and application modernization. Background includes five years as the top IT Executive at the Trump Corporation, five years as Director of IT with Harrah's, as well as Senior IT Executive positions with CSC (Computer Science Corp.), AIG, IBM and Home State Holdings.
Victor
T. Weclew (Ft. Lauderdale)
Over twenty years as a casino gaming executive and consultant involved with land-based, cruise line and riverboat casinos; operatively involved in the startup of over twenty successful casino operations. Well-versed in casino games and regulations; highly skilled and effective in budgeting, marketing, personnel selection, staff relations, equipment acquisition, floor plan layout, security and multi-property management. As Vice President of Casino Operations for Players International, oversaw development of Players I, II and III, and the Showboat Star Riverboat Casinos; also part of the pre-opening teams for Players Islands in Missouri and Nevada.
