On the Move
Departments
On the Move
Who’s going where and doing what in the gaming industry
AQUARIUS CASINO RESORT
Terry Maines has been named director of slot operations for the Laughlin, Nev. property. Maines has more than 19 years experience in the gaming industry. Prior to the Aquarius Casino Resort, Maines served as corporate director of operations for Ellis Gaming—Hopland Shokawah Casino in Hopland, Calif. and Elk Valley Rancheria in Crescent City, Calif. Maines left Ellis Gaming as the acting general manager. Maines has also managed a major expansion at Valley View Casino in Valley Center, Calif. Additionally, he held management positions during the opening of the Venetian Resort Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas and the Pala Casino in Pala, Calif.
EPIC GAMING
Michael Bonakdar has been named chief operating officer of the Las Vegas-based company. In his new position, Bonakdar is responsible for providing leadership and direction for all casinos and properties under Epic Gaming’s management. He joined Epic Gaming’s senior management team in July 2005 as senior vice president of operations. Bonakdar has held executive positions with MGM Mirage, Park Place Entertainment, Caesars Entertainment, and Harrah’s Entertainment. Prior to joining Epic Gaming, Bonakdar was the vice president of slot operations at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, where he played a key role in revamping the casino from early 2001 to 2005.
FONTAINEBLEU RESORTS
Howard C. Karawan has been named chief operating officer. A widely-respected veteran of the leisure and gaming industry, Karawan will oversee the operations of the company, including the $2.9 billion Fontainebleau Las Vegas being built on the Las Vegas Strip, Fontainebleau Miami Beach, which is currently undergoing a $500 million renovation, and potential future destination resorts. He also will be responsible for marketing, human resources, retail and information technology initiatives. Previously, Karawan was president of Kerzner International’s destination resorts business.
FUTURELOGIC
Alan Rea has been named vice president of quality assurance for the Glendale, Calif.-based thermal ticket printer manufacturer. A certified Master Six Sigma Black Belt, ASQ certified Quality Engineer and Certified Quality Auditor, Rea brings more than 20 years of quality management experience to FutureLogic. Working with both domestic and international operations, Rea has managed and implemented a wide variety of quality management systems, including ISO-9001, ISO-13485, QS-9001, TS-16934, AS-9000, Mil-9858A, Design For Six Sigma (DFSS), Six Sigma Quality, as well as product transfer, test lab and supplier development programs. His background includes key management positions with Medtronic, Zebra Technologies, Eltron International, and Kodak (Datatape Corporation).
KERZNER INTERNATIONAL
Bonnie Biumi has been named executive vice president and chief financial officer of the Paradise Islands, Bahamas-based company. She assumes her new position in October concurrent with the retirement of current Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, John Allison. In her new role, Biumi will be responsible for the overall finance and accounting functions of the company. Biumi last served as executive vice president and chief financial officer of Norwegian Cruise Lines, a position she held since July, 2005.
Richard Mirman has been named executive vice president and chief marketing officer. Mirman was most recently with Harrah’s Entertainment, where he served in several executive marketing roles, including chief marketing officer. In his new role, Mirman will be responsible for the overall marketing strategy for Kerzner, including the overall strategic sales, marketing, e-commerce, and brand management for all the individual Kerzner brands. Mirman will also be closely involved with the overall strategic planning for the company.
PALTRONICS
Sam Johnson has been named senior vice president of business development for the Las Vegas-based company. He will be responsible for creating and leveraging Paltronics’ array of advanced technology and IP for the gaming industry and assessing how it can be applied in other verticals. Johnson holds three U.S.-issued patents with more than 15 pending in the field of digital media and gaming. For the past two years Johnson held the post of chief technology officer for Las Vegas Gaming, Inc. Prior to LVGI Johnson founded and was chief executive officer of AdLine Network, and in 1992 he founded and was chief executive officer of Mobile Security Communications.
PENN NATIONAL GAMING
Frank Quigley has been named general manager of the company’s Empress Joliet Casino and Hotel in Joliet, Ill. He will oversee all daily operations of the property. He previously served as the general manager of the company’s Argosy Sioux City property and as general manager of the Argosy Casino-Baton Rouge, which Penn National divested in 2005. Prior to joining Argosy, Quigley was an executive with Harrah’s Showboat Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, N.J., where he served as vice president of slot operations.
Kees Eder will replace Quigley as general manager of Argosy Sioux City. Eder most recently served as vice president and assistant general manager at Penn National’s Hollywood Casino Tunica. He has been employed with Hollywood Casino since October 2000 and has worked in the hospitality industry for 37 years.
SENECA NIAGARA CASINO & HOTEL
Kathy George has been named general manager of the Niagara Falls, N.Y. property. She will be responsible for the day-to-day operation of Seneca Gaming Corporation’s flagship gaming property. George joined the company in 2005, and has served as vice president of hotel operations at Seneca Niagara since last year. As vice president, George was responsible for the operation of the 604-room luxury hotel, its full-service spa and salon and the Seneca Events Center. In her new position, she will oversee all of the operating departments and the nearly 3,000 employees at Seneca Niagara.
