A PUBLICATION OF THE INNOVATION GROUP
IN THIS ISSUE

FEATURES
The Young & The Restless: The 2020 Class of the ELG 40 Under 40 Geolocation
Reprinted with permission from our ELG 40 Under 40 partners at
Global Gaming Business magazine.

The young leaders of the gaming industry are making themselves known. The nominations for the 2019-2020 class of the Emerging Leaders of Gaming 40 Under 40 numbered almost 200 people. Interest in the program was at a historical high, with nominations pouring in from around the world.

Produced in conjunction with The Innovation Group (TIG), founders of the ELG program, the ELG 40 Under 40 represent a slice of today's next-generation leaders, recognizing young professionals already making significant impacts in the casino gaming industry. GGB magazine launched the 40 Under 40 program seven years ago, and combined it with the Emerging Leaders of Gaming three years ago.

Selected from nominations driven by an open call to the industry, the newest class of honorees embodies all aspects of gaming, including commercial and tribal casinos, manufacturers, law, regulation and entertainment.

"The ELG 40 Under 40 has become the most important vehicle for recognition of rising leaders in the gaming industry," says Roger Gros, publisher of GGB magazine. "With a record number of nominations, the list was very difficult to narrow. It's a testament to the bright future of the industry just how competitive the process has become."

Michael Soll, president of The Innovation Group, is encouraged by ELG's continued growth. "For the seventh consecutive year, we've seen enthusiasm and interest for this program grow," says Soll. "New leadership can serve to invigorate an industry, and we're excited to play a key role in identifying individuals with the talent and creativity to lead gaming into the future."

The Emerging Leaders of Gaming 40 Under 40 was honored at a cocktail event during G2E.
The 2020 Class of Emerging Leaders of Gaming 40 Under 40

Filippos Antonopoulos , CEO & Founder, Vermantia
Stewart Baker , Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, Inspired Entertainment, Inc.
Phil Bernard , Vice President, Gaming Equipment, Eilers & Krejcik Gaming, LLC
Steven Brody , Digital Compliance Manager, William Hill US
Brian Bulko , Compliance Manager, Speaking Rock Entertainment Center
Lucas Cai , Director, Casino Operations, Marina Bay Sands
Shawnna Castellano , Region Director, National Indian Gaming Commission
Amy Castro , Gaming Operations Analyst, Ocean Downs Casino
Teri Chan Palomaki , Vice President, Financial Planning & Analysis, Scientific Games
Dan Cherry , Vice President of Gaming Operations, Penn National Gaming
Dan Farnon , Director, Strategic Accounts, IGT
Jessica Feil , Senior Director, Government Relations, American Gaming Association
Josh Ford , Chief Information Officer, Jamul Casino
Kevin Fulmer , Vice President, Digital Sports, Caesars Entertainment
Daniel Hanson , Executive Director, Snoqualmie Gaming Commission
Harry Jackson III , Associate, Fox Rothschild LLP
Lana Kotur , Vice President of Customer Success, VizExplorer
Afshien Lashkari , Engineering Manager, New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement
Brandon Loeschner , Partner, National Practice Leader, Gaming Services Group, RubinBrown LLP
Meredith McEvoy , Engineering Operations Director, AGS
Max Meltzer , Chief Commercial Officer, Kambi Group Plc.
Bhavishi Patel , Vice President of Employee-Owner & Guest Experiences, Eureka Casino Resort
Lukas Pesek , Vice President of Food & Beverage, Excalibur Hotel and Casino
Samantha Powell , General Manager, GLI APAC (Australia and Macau) Region
Guillermo Ramirez Carmona , Mechanical Engineer, Incredible Technologies
Danielle Rankin , Director of Business Development, Konami Gaming, Inc.
Loren Rosenberg , Vice President, Product & Market Strategy, Everi Holdings, Inc.
Karl Rutledge , Partner, Chair-Commercial Gaming Group, Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie LLP
Ryan Sawyer , Vice President/Project Director, Analytical Environmental Services
Allen Schultz , Director of Slot Performance, San Manuel Casino
Lindsay Slader , Vice President, Regulatory Affairs, GeoComply
Nicole Stewart , Vice President/Transportation Engineer, Urban Systems, Inc.
Kelly Sullivan , Director of Global HR & Development, Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment
Diana Szorc , Digital Marketing Manager, Rush Street Gaming
Rishi Tirupari , Vice President, Sustainability, Wynn Resorts (Macau)
Simone Tyree , Assistant Casino Manager, Caesars Entertainment (Paris LV)
Luciana Van Sickle , Global Strategic Sourcing Manager, Aristocrat Technologies
Adam Wexler , Chief Executive Officer, Performance Predictions
Christopher Wilcock , Executive Director of Casino Optimization, The Venetian Resort Las Vegas LLC
Brian Wyman , Senior Vice President, Operations & Data Analytics, The Innovation Group
Snapshots from ELG at G2E 2019Snapshots

New and established gaming leaders alike gathered at SUSHISAMBA Las Vegas on Wednesday night during G2E 2019 to celebrate the newest class of the Emerging Leaders of Gaming 40 Under 40. Thanks to our event sponsors AGEM, IAGA, NIGA and RMC Legal  for their support of this outstanding evening.

Lana Kotur, Guillermo Ramirez, Allen Schultz, Nicole Stewart, and Lucy Van Sickle are some of the ELGs who celebrated with their colleagues.
Feat ured "Emerging Leaders of Gaming 40 Under 40" Featurees

Meredith McEvoy
Engineering Operations Director
AGS


Stewart Baker
Chief Financial Officer
Inspired Entertainment, Inc.

Karl Rutledge
Partner
Lewis Roca Rothgerber Christie
Diana Szorc
Digital Marketing Manager
Rush Street Gaming
Despite recently joining ELG, I have quickly been able to see the amazing networks and opportunities to get involved. Staying connected to other industry professionals can be challenging while on international assignment, and I am grateful for ELG for creating this forum."    

-- Kelly Sullivan
Director of Global HR and Development
Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment

ICYMI
Watch Video from Our Webinar, "A Closer Look: Sports Betting Operations at Tribal Casinos", with SBC GamingWebinar
Last week's ELG webinar, A Closer Look: Sports Betting Operations at Tribal Casinos, discussed how sports betting has been negotiated and launched by tribal operations to-date, offering viewers a chance to better understand how tribes or facilities can navigate the opportunity.  Click here to watch the video.
Voice of the CustomerVoice
Casinos and resorts across the country are seriously evaluating their amenities offerings. Even-maybe especially-outside of Las Vegas, properties are looking to diversify their offerings, differentiate themselves from competitors, attract new guests, and give their existing guests renewed reasons to visit. They are finding these reasons in the form of new and updated experiences, many of which reside off the gaming floor. With that in mind, we conducted a survey of 500 adults who visit casinos so that we could share actual player views. We asked respondents several questions about their perceptions, opinions, and usage of amenities. Read the full article highlighting these survey results here.
The U.S. Trajectory of Electronic Table Games  Trajectory
Gaming facilities in the United States have not seen the same ETG adoption rates as their Asian counterparts. The performance has been "lackluster," as one gaming operator so eloquently put it. But, why? Learn more in this article.
ARTICLES OF INTEREST  InterestingArticles
WHAT WE'RE UP TO

PRESS: Press

EVENTS & CONFERENCES:  Events

Look for The Innovation Group and Emerging Leaders of Gaming at these and other events in 2020.
  • ICE London, February 4 - 6
  • Indian Gaming Trade Show and Convention, March 24 - 27, San Diego
  • Betting on Sports America, April 28 - 30, New Jersey
  • ICE North America, May 13 - 14, New Orleans
  • G2E Asia, May 19 - 21, Macao
  • G2E, October 5 - 8, Las Vegas

PROJECTS:   Projects
  • TIG's socio-economic impact analysis supported the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians' effort to take land into trust for a new casino in Cathedral City

Thank you for being a part of ELG in 2019!

We wish the you all the best this holiday season  and a happy new year!

The Innovation Group

STAY CONNECTED WITH EMERGING LEADERS:
ABOUT US
Emerging Leaders of Gaming has established itself as the go-to network for young professionals assuming the next generation of leadership in gaming, entertainment, hospitality, food and beverage, tourism, and leisure. We continue to support the growth and development of these rising stars as they achieve their fast-track to success, destined to fill tomorrow's senior-level and C-suite management positions.  

For more information, contact amccoy@theinnovationgroup.com or visit our page.










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