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Tag: Cassie Stratford

  • GGW Announces New Leadership Team

    GGW Announces New Leadership Team

     

    Global Gaming Women (GGW), the gaming industry non-profit dedicated to supporting, inspiring, and influencing the development of professional women, announced the appointment of Lauren Bates to President of the Board of Directors. A longtime senior executive in the industry, Bates most recently served as the organization’s 1st Vice President—a role now held by Siobhan Lane, Light & Wonder Inc.’s EVP & Group CEO, Gaming. Brandi Ellis, SVP of VIP Marketing at Caesars Entertainment Inc., has been named to the position of GGW’s 2nd Vice President, where Lane had prior served. These appointments went into effect January 1, 2024, and run until 2026.

    “Lauren’s demonstrated work ethic and determination has had a huge impact in promoting the recent growth and success of Global Gaming Women, which I’m looking forward to seeing continued under her leadership as President,” said Cassie Stratford, outgoing Global Gaming Women President and current Boyd Gaming Corporation SVP of Legal Operations and Regulatory Compliance.

    “It has been incredibly rewarding to work with so many to advance GGW’s vision for the betterment of our industry, and thanks to the support of our sponsors and community, this new leadership team will bring their incredible energy to bring our mission to new levels in the years to come.”

    Additionally, Global Gaming Women has appointed Samantha Huff-Schlueter, Senior Manager – Assurance Services Group at RubinBrown LLP, as Treasurer; Kate White, Vice President of Intelligence & IT Program Management at PENN Entertainment Inc., as Secretary; and Kelci Binau, Attorney at McDonald Carano, as General Counsel. GGW has also approved the following new members to its Board of Directors for 2024-26: Karin Bernkopf, Senior Director of Marketing, Gaming, IGT; Adi Kasunic, Vice President of Human Resources, The Venetian Resort Las Vegas; Tashina Lazcano, Director of Marketing & Communications, Konami Gaming, Inc.; Cortney Luvera, Senior Manager, The Coca-Cola Company; Suzanne Trout, EVP & CMO, Cordish Gaming Group; and Julie Woodruff, Vice President of Finance, Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee and Seminole Brighton Casino.

    “Since 2011, the focus of Global Gaming Women has been to support, inspire, and influence the development of women in gaming. Today, every member of GGW’s Board of Directors is centered on that same mission. With the investment, success, and geographic expansion achieved in the last two years by outgoing president Cassie Stratford, GGW has a solid foundation for even greater growth, which I aim to accomplish,” GGW President Lauren Bates said.

  • AGA Announces Gaming Hall of Fame Class of 2023

    AGA Announces Gaming Hall of Fame Class of 2023

     

    Anoatubby, Miodunski, Murren, Whittemore to be Inducted

    The American Gaming Association (AGA) announced the Gaming Hall of Fame Class of 2023, honoring four leaders for their significant contributions to the industry:

    * Bill Anoatubby, Governor, Chickasaw Nation
    * Robert Miodunski, Former Chief Executive Officer, American Gaming Systems; Former President and Chief Executive Officer, Alliance Gaming and President, Bally Gaming
    * Jim Murren, Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, MGM Resorts International
    * Ellen Whittemore, Executive Vice-President, General Counsel and Secretary, Wynn Resorts

    “This year’s Gaming Hall of Fame class enshrines industry leaders that have positively transformed businesses and communities through their contributions to gaming,” the President and Chief Executive Officer for the AGA, Bill Miller, said. “From leading casino and supplier operations to advancing industry regulation and tribal gaming, Bill, Ellen, Jim and Robert’s far-reaching impacts on gaming are indelible and undoubtedly worthy of inclusion in the Hall of Fame.”

    Since 1989, the Gaming Hall of Fame has recognized gaming legends, pioneers and business leaders for their lasting impacts on the industry. The Class of 2023 will be honored during an invitation-only induction ceremony at the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) in Las Vegas this October.

    “The Gaming Hall of Fame honors the diverse ways gaming leaders elevate our industry,” said AGA Chairman of the Board and Hard Rock International Chairman and Seminole Gaming Chief Executive Officer Jim Allen. “This year’s class epitomizes this principle and we look forward to celebrating their accomplishments at G2E 2023.”

    Hall of Fame honorees are selected by an independent panel of gaming executives. This year’s selection committee members include:

    * Brett Abarbanel, Executive Director, International Gaming Institute, UNLV
    * Jim Allen, Chairman, Hard Rock International, and Chief Executive Officer, Seminole Gaming
    * Kirsten Clark, Executive Director, International Association of Gaming Advisors
    * John Connelly, Chief Executive Officer, Interblock
    * Brian Hansberry, President, Gaming, Delaware North
    * Bill Lance, Secretary of State, Chickasaw Nation
    * Mark Lipparelli, Chairman, International Center for Responsible Gaming
    * Cassie Stratford, Senior Vice-President, Legal Operations and Compliance, Boyd Gaming; President and Chair, Global Gaming Women
    * Howard Stutz, Senior Reporter, The Nevada Independent

    Bill Anoatubby, Governor, Chickasaw Nation

    Anoatubby has served as Governor of the Chickasaw Nation since 1987. Early in his tenure, Anoatubby recognized the important role gaming could play in advancing sustainable economic development and self-determination for the tribe. Since 1987, gaming operations have helped drive the number of Chickasaw Nation employees from 250 to more than 14,000, expanding tribal assets two-hundredfold. As Governor, Anoatubby oversees the tribe’s operation of more than 100 diversified businesses, including 24 tribal gaming locations, generating funding for 200-plus programs and services that benefit education, healthcare, housing and more for Chickasaw families, Oklahomans and their communities. Anoatubby also played an integral role establishing the Indian Gaming Association and Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association as well as negotiating the 2004 Oklahoma gaming compact that solidified the future of tribal gaming in the state. Under Governor Anoatubby’s direction,?the?Chickasaw Nation also places a strong emphasis on preserving and sharing its heritage, history, language and culture.

    Robert Miodunski, Former Chief Executive Officer, American Gaming Systems; Former President and Chief Executive Officer, Alliance Gaming and President, Bally Gaming

    As President of United Coin Machine Company (a division of publicly-traded Alliance Gaming Corporation) from 1994 to 99, Miodunski built the nation’s largest gaming route operation, totaling more than 8,000 gaming devices. He also led the development and launch of Gamblers Bonus, the first patented cardless player tracking and bonusing system for route operation in Nevada. Promoted to President and Chief Executive Officer of Alliance Gaming and President of Bally Gaming in 1999, he led a team that resurrected the venerable Bally brand to its place as one of the global gaming industry’s top casino suppliers, eventually transforming into Bally Technologies. Miodunski retired in 2004 and then returned to the industry in 2010 to head American Gaming Systems (AGS) as Chief Executive Officer, expanding the company’s footprint in Class II and Class III gaming before AGS was acquired by a private equity firm in 2014. Most recently, Miodunski served as a board member of Golden Entertainment from 2015 to 2021.

    Jim Murren, Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, MGM Resorts International

    Murren is the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MGM Resorts International, serving in the role from 2008 to 2020. During his time leading MGM Resorts, Murren guided the company through the wake of the ‘Great Recession’, overhauled the company’s healthcare policy to better serve employees, led technological innovation in gaming and drove increased tourism to Las Vegas. Following his tenure at MGM Resorts International, Murren headed Nevada’s COVID-19 Response, Relief and Recovery Task Force as its gubernatorially-appointed chairman, working closely with local government leaders and the private sector to secure personal protective equipment, establish a robust statewide testing system and ensure Nevada students were provided with the resources to learn remotely. Murren has also been an integral figure in bringing professional sports to Las Vegas, leading the construction of T-Mobile Arena, becoming a founding partner of the Vegas Golden Knights, organizing the purchase and relocation of the Las Vegas Aces and more. He currently serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection.

    Ellen Whittemore, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, Wynn Resorts

    Whittemore serves as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary for Wynn Resorts. In her role, she leads the company’s global legal affairs as well as the entirety of its philanthropic, community relations and government affairs activities. She has been instrumental in Wynn Resorts’ efforts to enhance its workplace culture as well as its corporate ethics and governance and was integral in crafting the company’s global response to the pandemic. Whittemore is also a member of the board of directors of Wynn Macau Limited. Her legal career spans more than 30 years in gaming and hospitality, during which she has represented many of the industry’s largest companies in noteworthy regulatory matters. Before her career in private and corporate practice, Whittemore served in the Nevada Attorney General’s Office, Gaming Division, where she authored several Nevada Gaming Commission regulations that remain in place today. Whittemore has long been an active community and industry leader and is the current Chair of the Nevada Resort Association and the former President of the International Association of Gaming Advisors.