On the Move
Departments
On the Move
Who’s going where and doing what in the gaming industry
AMERISTAR CASINOS
Paul Eagleton has been named senior vice president of marketing. In this role, he will continue to lead the organization’s strategic marketing capabilities, overseeing all of Ameristar’s marketing functions, including advertising, market research, direct mail and player development. In addition, he will identify key expectations and standards that define the Ameristar brand. Eagleton joined Ameristar in 1999 as vice president of marketing and he was promoted to chief marketing officer in 2003.
Cynthia Mercer has joined the company as vice president of human resources. In this role, she will lead the organization’s human resources function, including recruiting, training and development, team member relations, compensation and benefits. Mercer, with more than 16 years of human resources experience, most recently held the position of vice president of human resources for The Cheesecake Factory. There she led all aspects of talent acquisition, talent development and talent relocation for 25,000 employees at the upscale casual-dining concept.
BALLY TECHNOLOGIES
Bruce Rowe has been named senior vice president of business development for the Las Vegas-based gaming equipment and systems manufacturer. Rowe previously served as corporate vice president of business strategy, gaming solutions, and general manager of Nevada operations for GTECH Holdings Corporation, a global information technology company specializing in the lottery industry. Prior to joining GTECH, Rowe was a senior executive with Harrah’s Entertainment for 23 years and served as corporate vice president of slot operations, research and development as well as corporate vice president of information technology. At that time, Harrah’s owned or managed more than 42,000 slots.
CASHCODE
Joe Wilcox has been named director of business development, for the Toronto-based company’s North America gaming division. Wilcox will remain based in Las Vegas, Nev., where he will spearhead CashCode’s expansion in the North American gaming market. Wilcox has broad management experience in both the payment solutions and gaming OEM markets. He has been affiliated with such gaming-related companies as Sigma Game Inc, Paul-Son Gaming corporation, TCS America, and United Gaming Inc. (now Bally Technologies). Prior to joining CashCode, he was chief operating officer/general manager at Astrosys International, Ltd. and AstroSystems, Inc. He was also chief operating officer at Gaming Systems International and MIS, USA.
FOXWOODS RESORT CASINO
Hospitality veteran Dennis Khanh has been named the new vice president of food and beverage for the Mashantucket, Conn. property. Khanh brings over 35 years of experience to the position including tenures as director of food and beverage at the five-star, five-diamond Breakers Resort in Palm Beach, Fla., and as executive assistant manager and director of food and beverage at the San Juan Hotel & Casino in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Khanh has also served as vice president of food and beverage at The Mirage in Las Vegas and as vice president of food and beverage at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino. Most recently, Khanh served as managing partner of k & p ventures, a coffee franchise based out of Flushing, Mich.
ISLAND VIEW CASINO RESORT
Ed Layton was recently promoted to vice president of food and beverage and hotel operations. In his new position, he will be responsible for all front- and back-of-house hotel operations, including group sales, reservations and valet. Layton, who joined Island View Casino Resort as director of food and beverage before the property opened in September 2006, will continue to oversee all daily operations of the resort’s 350-seat buffet, room service for the 562-room hotel and beverage service on the casino floor. He will also continue to manage all plans for Island View’s spring and summer opening of second-phase food and beverage amenities. Prior to joining Island View Casino, Layton, who has 18 years of gaming-industry experience, served as vice president of food and beverage for Grand Casino in Biloxi, Miss.
Rich Chase was recently promoted to director of hotel operations. Chase, who joined the property prior to its September 2006 opening as an executive host, will be responsible for the day to day operations of valet, bell services, concierge, front desk, housekeeping, sales and PBX and reservations. Chase, who has more than seven years experience in the gaming industry and 15 years experience in hotel management, previously served as operations manager for Skyway Airlines in Kansas City, Mo. and executive host with the Isle of Capri Casino Resort also in Kansas City. He also held various positions, including general manager, with Marriott Hotels at their Kansas City and Chicago locations.
LAS VEGAS GAMING INC.
Jon Berkley has been named president and CEO of the Las Vegas-based company. Berkley is a gaming industry veteran, most recently serving as senior vice president and business manager of Global Gaming and Lottery for TransAct Technologies, and as a member of the board of directors and executive committee of the Gaming Standards Association. Berkley was integral to the growth and success of TransAct Technologies’ Global Gaming and Lottery business, having grown their market share internationally. During his tenure at TransAct, the company was able to secure exclusive contracts with such gaming icons as Harrah’s/Caesars, Foxwoods and Wynn. With Berkley’s appointment, LVGI’s acting CEO, Bruce Shepard will resume his original role as the company’s CFO.
MULTIMEDIA GAMES
Randy S. Cieslewicz has been appointed chief financial officer of the Austin, Texas-based company. Cieslewicz has been serving as Multimedia Games’ interim CFO since May of 2006. Prior to assuming the role of interim CFO, Cieslewicz served as Multimedia’s vice president of tax, budget, and corporate compliance since July 2005. He joined Multimedia in 2002 as vice president of tax and budget. Before joining the company, Cieslewicz worked in public accounting from 1994 through 2002, last serving as a tax manager for BDO Seidman, LLP.
SANTA ANA STAR CASINO
Chris Archunde has been promoted to marketing manager of the New Mexico tribal gaming facility. With more than eight years industry experience, Archunde will manage and oversee the casino’s day-to-day marketing operation. Archunde will be responsible for managing Santa Ana Star Casino’s print, radio, television, and outdoor advertising; Esparza Advertising, the casino’s advertising agency; and the casinos promotions and sponsorships including Santa Ana Star Center, and the University of New Mexico Lobos. Prior to being promoted to marketing manager, Archunde was Santa Ana Star Casino’s promotions manager overseeing its players club’s promotions and events.
Bill Carrington has been named director of food and beverage. With 40-years industry experience, Carrington is responsible for the casino’s entire food and beverage operation. Prior to joining Santa Ana Star Casino, Carrington was the food and beverage director for Muckleshoot Casino in Auburn, Wash. and a food and beverage consultant for Tulalip Casino in Marysville, Wash. Carrington began his food and beverage career in 1967 with a Sambos franchise and worked his way into the casino business.
SPA RESORT CASINO
Bill Duke has returned to the Palm Springs, Calif. property as director of table games after a one-year hiatus. A Nevada native, Duke has more than 27 years experience in the gaming industry. He began his career as a dealer in Carson City, Nev. in the 1980s. From there, Duke joined Caesars in Lake Tahoe and then Las Vegas, where he parlayed his experience into management positions including managing director and director of international gaming. He was also general manager of a large property in South Africa before joining the Spa Resort Casino in 2002.
SENECA GAMING CORPORATION
Robert Victoria has been named senior vice president of marketing. He is responsible for the overall marketing strategy for Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel in Niagara Falls, N.Y. and Seneca Allegany Casino & Hotel in Salamanca, N.Y. Victoria joined Seneca Gaming last year as vice president of marketing at the Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel. A gaming industry veteran with more than 15 years experience, he previously worked for Harrah’s Entertainment, where he was the company’s vice president of casino marketing in the Mid-South region. Victoria also spent nine years at the Mohegan Sun Resort & Casino in Connecticut, during which time he served in the capacities of vice president of casino marketing, vice president of player development and director of casino hosts. He started his gaming industry career at Foxwoods Resort & Casino in 1992.
Mann Lien has joined the management team of the Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel as vice president of Asian marketing. Lien is the first Asian marketing professional hired at the property since it opened in 2002. Prior to joining Seneca Niagara, Lien had spent his entire career in New Jersey, serving in vice president and Asian marketing capacities for the Tropicana, Trump Marina, Trump Castle, Sands and Showboat properties. He most recently served as vice president of Asian marketing at the Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino.
TRANSACT TECHNOLOGIES
Stephanie Ayers has been named director of marketing. In her new role, Ayers will report directly to Tracey Chernay, senior vice president of sales and marketing, for POS and banking, and will assume responsibility for directing and overseeing TransAct’s marketing policies, objectives, and initiatives. Additional responsibilities include brand and product positioning/messaging; new product launches; tradeshow planning and execution; public relations and media planning; Web site design and maintenance; marketing ROI and company collateral. Ayers joined TransAct Technologies in January of 2005 as marketing communications specialist and was quickly promoted to the position of marketing communications manager.
Tracey Chernay has been promoted to senior vice president, of sales and marketing for all TransAct markets including gaming, lottery, kiosk, POS and banking. In her new role, Chernay will be responsible for sales and marketing of all TransAct printer products worldwide. Chernay joined TransAct in May 2005 as senior vice president of marketing and was promoted to the position of senior vice president of sales & marketing for POS and banking in July 2006. She has been responsible for all marketing initiatives at the company as well as responsible for leading and directing the domestic and international sales and marketing activities for the POS and banking markets. Prior to joining TransAct, Chernay held the position of manager of sales operations with the Xerox Corporation.
