Program as of 5/18/09
Seminars are presented concurrently in each track:
Strategy Sessions
Operations Sessions
Sponsored by 
Technology Sessions
Tuesday, May 19
1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Resort Management Forum
Wednesday, May 20
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
General Session
Sponsored by 
Keynote Speaker: Tim Stanley, President and Founder, Tekexecs
10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Networking Break
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Concurrent Sessions
Strategy: End-to-End Solutions: Does One Size Really Fit All?
Casino IT systems are often a hodge-podge of different applications from different vendors running on different platforms. But a new trend is emerging that promises to make everyone’s life much easier: one vendor with end-to-end solutions. Many companies offer these types of solutions but rarely do they encompass key gaming resort components such as hotel and point-of-sale. Recent mergers and acquisitions have created vendors that can now provide these end-to-end solutions to gaming clients. Hear from some of the companies in this genre and how they are changing the way casino resorts plan and purchase IT solutions.
Moderator: Jim Nickerson, Director, WhiteSand Consulting
Speakers: Ed Chapel, Vice President National Accounts and Hotel Casino Division, MICROS Systems, Inc.; Jonathan D. Pryor, Director of Sales, InfoGenesis Solutions, Agilysys Hospitality Solutions Group
Operations: Doing More with Less: Surviving the Slashed IT Budget
The economy has been ravished and gaming is not immune this time. Revenues are down all around the country and casinos are cutting staff and budget. In these lean times, we are forced to deal with the harsh reality of less staff and less money. But is there a way to do more than before? Has this cut back on red-tape and meetings, freeing us up to actually work? Hear how working with a smaller group can actually make you more productive in this down market.
Moderator: J. Brett Basara, Consultant, WhiteSand Consulting
Speakers: Steve Curry, Senior Data Systems Engineer, AdvanTel Networks;
Todd Dalton, Region Sales Manager, Juniper Networks; Michael Wood, President, The Natural Intelligence Group
Technology: Mobile Technologies and Gaming
Mobile gaming is a potentially promising addition to the casino industry, with the ability to offer patrons new modes of wagering as well as an enhanced customer experience. However, it has been plagued with lingering questions concerning technical feasibility, regulatory hurdles, infrastructure costs and general acceptance by the public. This session will explore the current state of affairs, recent and upcoming developments, and the future of mobile gaming in Las Vegas and other jurisdictions.
Moderator: Benjamin Ettinger, Senior Consultant, WhiteSand Consulting
Speakers: Jeff Millar, Manager, Business Development, IGT; Ron Rushin, Chief Information Officer, Cantor Gaming and Cantor G&W (Nevada) L.P.
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Luncheon Keynote Address
Sponsored by 
Keynote Speaker: Greg Shay, President and Chief Executive Officer, VCAT
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions
Strategy: Server-Based Gaming Update
Although server-based games have yet to roll out widely in any casino property, their presence in new casino developments is inevitable. With new casino properties wiring for the technology, and some touting that their floors will only offer this product, server-based games loom on the horizon as the new slot technology of choice. Come hear about the current state of the technology, new developments, and potential ramifications this technology will have on customers and operators.
Moderator: Charles Anderer, Group Publisher, Gaming, BNP Media
Speaker: Eric Lancaster, Manager, Network Systems Product Management, IGT
Operations: IT Assessments: Where Are You Now and Where Are You Going?
CIOs need to articulate at least a five-year plan and with technology changing on an almost daily basis it’s more important than ever to understand where your organization is and where you want to take it. This session will illustrate the importance of capturing a “snapshot” of your IT infrastructure and help develop the plan to keep your organization growing in the right directions and make the best use of your IT budget and resources.
Moderator: Al Mercer, Senior Project Manager, WhiteSand Consulting
Speaker: Bill Candow, IT Director, Cosmopolitan Resort & Casino
Technology: Point Of Sale: New Developments to Increase Profits and Efficiency
Tracking a customer’s gaming habits only offers one perspective on their spending propensities. Today’s POS systems allow casino properties to not only track several other facets of how their customers allocate their budgets across the resort, but provide a mechanism to capture their customers and drive them to the Internet for incremental revenue opportunities. From hotel rooms and food and beverage outlets, to entertainment venues, retail shops and engaging online applications, POS systems provide an invaluable tool to acquire and track a patron’s spend throughout the property and online. However, obtaining, extracting and analyzing this data often poses a challenge. Come learn about the latest advancements in POS technology and the new opportunities these solutions provide.
Moderator: Benjamin Ettinger, Senior Consultant, WhiteSand Consulting
Speakers: Ed Chapel, Vice President, National Accounts and Hotel Casino Division, MICROS Systems, Inc.; Tony Fontaine, President, ProPick Racing, LLC; Joe Jensen, General Manager, Embedded Computing Division, Intel Corp.
2:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Networking Break
2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions
Strategy: Hotel Room of the Future
Rapid advancements in technology are creating exciting new opportunities to maximize the in-room experience. Guests, both business and leisure, are becoming significantly more discerning and personalized experiences are a way for a resort to differentiate itself and instill loyalty. Come hear industry experts discuss trends in technology and the potential hotel room applications including room access, light and temperature control, concierge services, food & beverage options and entertainment.
Moderator: Kyle Reardon, Senior Consultant, WhiteSand Consulting
Speakers: James R. Gist, Vice President, Global Hospitality, Control 4; Shawn Harris, President and Chief Executive Officer, Skywire Media Inc.
Operations: Tribal Casino and Tribal Nation IT Management
Is your casino property IT department also managing the technology needs of the tribal organizations and other commercial and governmental efforts? Or do you have two competing, often redundant IT departments competing for scarce budget while moving in different directions in an uncoordinated manner? Learn how to manage these conflicting goals in an orderly manner while moving forward within a common vision in a cost effective manner.
Moderator: Joseph S. Basara, Director, WhiteSand Consulting
Speakers: Bill Oliver, Executive Director of Information Technology, Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians; Jeff Pepple, General Manager, Spa Resort Casino
Technology: WiFi Security: How Secure Are Your Public and Private Wireless Networks?
As ubiquitous as slot machines, wireless networks are a must-have in today’s casinos. For both public and private use, they allow staff to be mobile and guests to be connected. Wireless LANs are now widely deployed and have often introduced an explosion of security issues and unique vulnerabilities. It still appears that many available wireless networks are not being properly secured. Learn to integrate secure wireless environments in your existing infrastructure and assess Wi-Fi network security.
Moderator: Jim Nickerson, Director, WhiteSand Consulting
Speakers: Paco Hope, Technical Manager, Cigital, Inc.; Michael Wardrope, Senior Technology Consultant, WhiteSand Consulting
3:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Networking Break
4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions
Strategy: North American Emerging Markets
With every state facing severe budget deficits, gaming is likely to be passed in more states than ever before. This session will provide an update on the new and emerging jurisdictions and what technologies will be legal. VLTs, central systems and automated table games are all considerations in these new gaming markets.
Moderator: Charles Anderer, Group Publisher, Gaming, BNP Media
Speaker: Buddy Roogow, Director, Maryland State Lottery
Operations: Social Networking: Fad or Fabulous?
From Facebook to Twitter and MySpace, social networking has provided society with a new way of locating, updating, and communicating with each other. At the same time, many industries have leveraged these new technologies to strategically market to target segments of their customers. While some companies leverage popular blogs to update their customers, others build Facebook profiles or groups to attract “friends” or “fans” of their company, thus allowing these companies to update a key psychographic group. Learn about these exciting new technologies and how they can provide a new marketing tool for your operation.
Moderator: Kyle Reardon, Senior Consultant, WhiteSand Consulting
Speakers: Mark A. Birtha, Vice President Development and Project Manager, Marriott International Lodging Development; Justin Cohen, Partner, Internet Marketing Inc.; Josh Hannah, General Partner, Matrix Partners
Technology: IT Planning for New Casinos and Expansions
Some of the largest new casino development and expansion projects were initiated prior to the current recession. Today, some continue and some do not. The IT planning for these mega resorts and even smaller expansions requires new thinking about how to approach IT. Learn how the IT executives responsible for these properties are using fiber optics, wireless technologies, mobile computing, VOIP, facial recognition, integration, and more to change the way guests experience today’s casino resort.
Moderator: Marshall Andrew, Director, WhiteSand Consulting
Speakers: Jack Braman, Managing Partner, Dolphin Bay, LLC; Steve Murphy, Consultant; Thomas Patchin, Chief Business Development Officer and Managing Partner, IP Advantage
5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Cocktail Reception
Thursday, May 21
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Concurrent Sessions
Strategy: Outsourcing Strategies
The idea of outsourcing often sends a sour note through an organization; however, in hard economic times, this strategy often must be considered. Departments from HR and IT, to marketing and even food and beverage all have areas that an operation could potentially outsource to cut associated expenses. In this session, we will discuss when it is a good idea and explore the most effective outsourcing strategies that realize the highest cost-savings for the operation.
Moderator: Joseph S. Basara, Director, WhiteSand Consulting
Speaker: Scott Walker, Portfolio Director, CSC Global Outsourcing Services
Operations: Business Intelligence - Smart Move or Oxymoron?
Although the idea of business intelligence has been around for decades, the leveraging of information technology systems over the past ten to fifteen years in order to provide accurate, timely data has revolutionized the decision making process for management. But management often suffers from information overload and cannot process the data. In this session we will review current decision support systems and the information created from the data within these systems, key performance indicators, and what the future holds for business intelligence and strategic decision making.
Moderator: Saverio R. Scheri III, Managing Director, WhiteSand Consulting
Speakers: Tammy Farley, Principal, The Rainmaker Group; Beth Hunting, Principal Sales Consultant, Oracle; Jeri Roche, Solutions Architect, SAS Institute, Inc.
Technology: Update: Aristocrat Technologies
Hear the latest updates on new versions, fixes, enhancements, and future development right from the source.
Moderator: J. Brett Basara, Consultant, WhiteSand Consulting
Speaker: Rich LeBaron, Strategic Product Manager - Systems, Aristocrat Technologies, Inc.
10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Networking Break
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Concurrent Sessions
Strategy: Latin America/Caribbean Update
With small resorts ranging from economy to high-end in service, Latin America and the Caribbean continue to develop and expand their properties. By featuring smaller casinos that act as an amenity to the property and operating in markets where demand is not as volatile as the overall economy, resorts are often more flexible in changing product and upgrading systems even during more difficult economic times. Come learn about the current state of these markets and future developments coming down the road.
Moderator: Charles Harrison, Managing Director, Harrison & Montoya Associates
Speakers: David A. Hernández, Director of the Casino Management Program, College of Southern Nevada; Gavin Isaacs, Chief Operating Officer, Bally Technologies, Inc.
Operations: Complete Marketing Solutions: Rocket Science or Finger Painting?
For years, gaming and hospitality executives have been searching for a total marketing solution that will provide them with the necessary data and tools to attract and maintain customers. Unfortunately, many operators spent significant amounts of money on solutions that failed to deliver. Industry experts and gaming executives will discuss the current state of marketing solutions as well as their personal experiences.
Moderator: Saverio R. Scheri III, Managing Director, WhiteSand Consulting
Speakers: Joe Dugan, Vice President Consulting Services - West, Capgemini;
Kathi Kulesza, Executive Director of Loyalty Marketing, MGM Mirage; Mark Mattingly, Senior District Manager, Aprimo, Inc.
Technology: CIO Roundtable
Join the industry’s top technology executives in a fascinating discussion of the issues and problems affecting the gaming industry. Learn from the best in the business how they deal with new and old issues and hear insights about how they create successful organizations.
Moderator: Marshall Andrew, Director, WhiteSand Consulting
Speakers: F. Van Baltz, Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, Station Casinos, Inc.; Michael A. Day, Chief Information Officer and Vice President of Information Technology, Cannery Casino Resorts, LLC; Rodney Luck, Vice President of Information Technology, Cache Creek Casino Resort; Jerry Sparks, Director of Information Technology, Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Luncheon Keynote Address and Award Ceremony
Sponsored by 
Award Presentation for Casino Journal’s Most Innovative Gaming Technology Products
Keynote speaker: Ramesh Srinivasan, Executive Vice President of Systems, Bally Technologies
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions
Strategy: European Update
Often thought of as the casinos of James Bond and Monte Carlo, in actuality Europe’s casinos are beginning to trend more and more towards an American style of casino with ample slot machines, additional amenities, and a more casual, relaxed environment. In addition to a changing casino product, many casinos are adopting strategic IT initiatives including player tracking, data mining, and predictive analytics. Come hear about new developments in this market and where future opportunities may appear.
Moderator: Saverio R. Scheri III, Managing Director, WhiteSand Consulting
Speaker: Igor Rus, Marketing Project Manager, CRM Project, The Hit Group
Operations: Gaming Standards Association Update
Now entering its second decade of service to the industry, the Gaming Standards Association has had a profound impact. New products and applications across the gaming world are being driven by GSA standards, and its work to move the industry from SAS to G2S and S2S is resulting in a shared information exchange standard that will benefit operators, manufacturers and consumers alike. Hear from GSA's leaders on how the association's work is progressing around the world, as well as its new initiative in the area of responsible gaming.
Moderator: Peter DeRaedt, President, Gaming Standards Association
Speakers: Marc McDermott, Technical Director, Gaming Standards Association; Ethan Tower, Protocol Director, Gaming Standards Association
Technology: Changing from Black and Grey to Green in the Computer Room: Power and Cooling Trends and Directions
Computers and other technology equipment use substantial amounts of energy and contribute significantly to the overall energy costs for a resort. However, the efficiency of computing equipment has been increasing exponentially and the benefits to the environment as well as the bottom line are tremendous. The session will explore current and future developments in “green” computing and how to apply these cost-saving technologies to your operation.
Moderator: Al Mercer, Senior Project Manager, WhiteSand Consulting
Speaker: Douglas R. Ranz, Senior Architect, IBM Federal
2:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Networking Break
2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions
Strategy: Asian Update
Local factors unique to each market as well as the global economy are affecting the operation and consequently the profitability of Asian casinos, so owners are making changes to the way they do business. How will the gaming decline in the U.S. affect casinos in Asia? Will non-U.S. owners be immune or will they also be affected? Hear the latest update on gaming in Asia - Macau, Korea, Singapore, Japan, Taiwan and other Asian countries - as casinos continue to face a global turndown in the economy.
Moderator: Benjamin Ettinger, Senior Consultant, WhiteSand Consulting
Speaker: Ian Hughes, Senior Director Engineering and Client Services, Gaming Laboratories International
Operations: What to do When Your Position has Been Eliminated
It’s no secret that we often see executives move from property to property on a fairly regular basis in our industry. But in the current recession, it’s becoming harder and harder to land that perfect job, or any job at all. People who have been forced into the job market or are considering a move (or preparing for one) will learn how to locate the best jobs, create an effective resume, and nail the interview.
Moderator: Kyle Reardon, Senior Consultant, WhiteSand Consulting
Speakers: Cassie Fireman-Barajas, Chief Performance Officer, Knowledge Infusion; Debra Kaye, Senior Consultant, Lee Hecht Harrison
Technology: Update: Konami Gaming, Inc.
Hear the latest updates on new versions, fixes, enhancements, and future development right from the source.
Moderator: Jim Nickerson, Director, WhiteSand Consulting
Speaker: Jay Bertsch, Director, Systems Sales, Konami Gaming, Inc.
3:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Networking Break
4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions
Technology: Update: IGT
Hear the latest updates on new versions, fixes, enhancements, and future development right from the source.
Moderator: Joseph S. Basara, Director, WhiteSand Consulting
Speaker: Javier Saenz, Vice President, Network Systems, Product Management and Marketing, IGT
Technology: Update: Bally Technologies
Hear the latest updates on new versions, fixes, enhancements, and future development right from the source.
Moderator: Al Mercer, Senior Project Manager, WhiteSand Consulting
Speaker: Derik Mooberry, Vice President System Sales - Western North America, Bally Technologies
Technology: Update: WMS Gaming Inc.
Hear the latest updates on new versions, fixes, enhancements, and future development right from the source.
Moderator: J. Brett Basara, Consultant, WhiteSand Consulting
Speaker: Mark Pace, Vice President of Engineering Services, WMS Gaming, Inc.
