Top Speakers Lining Up For Southern Gaming Summit
BILOXI, Miss. (March 2, 2009) — Many of the gaming industry’s most respected individuals will be participating in the 16th annual Southern Gaming Summit, set for May 6-7, 2009, at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum & Convention Center here. The Summit is presented by The Mississippi Casino Operators Association and BNP Media Gaming Group. It is the largest American commercial gaming trade show held outside of Las Vegas and provides an unmatched local voice for the industry.
“The early response we have received from some of the brightest minds in the gaming industry is truly amazing,” said Jon Lucas, President of the Mississippi Casino Operators Association and President and General Manager of the IP Casino Resort Spa. “Speaker quality is always the most important part of any conference, and we are confident that this year’s Southern Gaming Summit will surpass all expectations.”
Nearly 60 expert speakers are already confirmed for the Summit, and they represent a broad cross-section of industry experts. Many are executives from casino resorts who will share their hands-on experiences in the areas of customer service, marketing, human resources and food and beverage. There are also leading gaming professors from Tulane University, the University of Southern Mississippi and the University of Nevada.
They include:
-Bill Eadington, Director, Institute for the Study of Gambling and Commercial Gaming, University of Nevada, Reno
-John Ferrucci, General Manager and Chief Operating Officer, Silver Slipper Casino
-John Hairston, Chief Executive Officer, Hancock Bank
-Patricia Hanes, Regional Director, Minority Business Development Agency, U.S. Department of Commerce
-Jim Kilby, Former Boyd Gaming Professor, UNLV William Harrah Hotel College
-Jon Lucas, President and General Manager, IP Casino Resort Spa
-Tony Lucas, Professor of Gaming Management, UNLV William Harrah Hotel College
-Cathy Beeding MacKenzie, Vice President and General Counsel, Island View Casino
-Bobby Moak, Chairman, Gaming Committee, Mississippi House of Representatives
-Stephen Morgan, Vice President Food & Beverage Operations, IP Casino Resort Spa
-LuAnn Pappas, Vice President of Marketing & Non Gaming Operations, Grand Biloxi Casino Hotel & Spa
-David Paster, Faculty Member, College of Business, University of Southern Mississippi
-Mike Patterson, Vice President, Table Game Operations, Barona Valley Ranch Resort & Casino
-Bradley Rhines, Vice President of Marketing & Player Development, IP Casino Resort Spa
-I. Nelson Rose, Professor of Law, Whittier Law School
-Alan Silver, Director of Casino Resort Studies, Tulane University, School of Continuing Studies
-Kari Stout-Smith, Director of Casino Marketing, Barona Valley Ranch Resort & Casino
-Catherine Timmons, Corporate Vice President Human Resources, PCI Gaming Authority
-Humberto Trueba, Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Pinnacle Entertainment
-Greg Van Stone, Director of Food & Beverage, Beau Rivage Resort, Inc.
In addition, many well-known analysts, advisors and attorneys will be on hand to examine the Southern gaming market and explore issues such as gaming’s economic impact, corporate social responsibility, cruise ship gaming and Internet gaming. The vendor community is also well represented, with top officials from the industry’s major suppliers providing updates on networked gaming and the latest in slot machine and table game trends.
A full list of all confirmed speakers is updated regularly on the Southern Gaming Summit website (www.sgsummit.com). They will lead a total of 16 hours of educational sessions, making this year’s Summit one of the strongest ever for learning opportunities.
Plenty of networking opportunities are also available at the Summit, with a large exhibit hall, and Taste of the South reception and other events for attendees.
In all, the Summit’s unique mix of education, networking and southern hospitality make it a necessary event for anyone doing business in or interested in developing business in the region. With this dynamic audience, it’s no wonder that vendors are reaching out with exhibit booths, sponsorships and advertising opportunities; contact Lesley Grashow at grashowl@bnpmedia.com for more information.
Complete conference details, including registration and travel information, are available at www.sgsummit.com.
Media Contact: Beverly Martin, Executive Director, Mississippi Casino Operators Association; WINMCOA@aol.com or (228) 388-0087.
