Experience

Harrah’s Entertainment Regional Director of Purchasing
2008 to 2010 Atlantic City, New Jersey


Responsibilities
Procurement, Receiving, Storerooms, Warehousing and Records Retention for 5 casinos encompassing over 100 food and beverage outlets as well as hotel and gaming facilities in Harrah’s Atlantic City Region, including: Caesars, Harrah’s Resort, Showboat, Bally’s, House of Blues, Harrah’s Chester. Worked with operating personnel to determine food, beverage, MRO, hotel and gaming purchasing needs and requirements. Development, implementation and administration of standardized RFP and RFI. Responsible for evaluating regional spend and analyzing cost savings opportunities through various sourcing efforts. Operating budget of over $1 billion.

Key Accomplishments
• Initiated cost-savings programs saving over $35 million in 12 months.
• Innovator in finding alternate sources of capital in economically challenging times through novel vendor programs.
• Leader in LEAN activities resulting in efficiencies and staff reductions.
• Fund raising initiatives raising $300, 00 for a host of local charities including United Way and Richard Stockton College.


Lakes Entertainment Vice President of Purchasing
2006 to 2008 Minnetonka, Minnesota


Responsibilities
Part of team responsible for the design, construction and operation of 8 new and existing casinos, including Four Winds Casino & Hotel in Michigan, Red Hawk Casino in Sacramento and Cimarron Casino in Oklahoma.

Pre-opening responsibilities include the establishment and monitoring of a construction and preopening budget of between $400 million and $600 million per property includes product selection, procurement, delivery and installation of gaming, hotel, public space and back-of-house capital items and supplies in a wide spread geographic area. Liaison with construction staff to sequence deliveries, staff selections and opening schedule. Establish budgets for procurement in these areas as well as personnel levels and required start dates, policies and procedures for Purchasing, Receiving and Warehousing. Establishment and procurement of all operating supplies required for function of property. Writing and administering RFPs for all service contracts.

Post opening responsibilities includes initiating and implementing corporate purchasing programs for all operating casinos with procurement goals and review with property level Executive Committees. Reviewing property budgets for operating, staffing and capital.

Key Accomplishments
• Openings and renovations occurred on time and at or under budget.
• After opening, successful record of improved profitability through continuous improvement.


Aztar Corporation (Tropicana Entertainment) Assistant Vice President of Purchasing
1996 to 2006 Atlantic City, NJ

Responsibilities
Developed and implemented corporate procurement, warehousing and distribution strategies for Tropicana’s parent company, the Aztar Corporation’s five hotel/casinos encompassing over 5800 hotel rooms and more than 25 food & beverage outlets in widespread geographic areas.

Key member of expansion project team constructing 502 new hotel rooms and highly themed 200, 00 sq. ft. retail, entertainment and dining complex called The Quarter opened fall 2004. Coordinated construction bidding, specified and purchased furniture fixtures and equipment for highly successful project.

Managed leased retail and restaurant space for 42 national tenants including The Palm Restaurant, Cuba Libre, White House/Black Market and Chico’s.

Completed construction of 624 new hotel rooms in 1996, 250 rooms in 1999. Key member of hotel operations department coordinating room repairs in Housekeeping, Engineering and Front Desk.

Spearheaded fundraising programs for local hospital and political candidates raising over one million dollars.

Key Accomplishments
• Improvement profits by initiating cost savings of over $20 million of operating expenses.
• Completed numerous construction and renovation projects in casino, hotel and food & beverage outlets on time and at or under budget.


Trump Taj Mahal Director of Business Development
1994 to 1996 Atlantic City, NJ


Responsibilities
Negotiating procurement, sponsorship sales and leasing agreements.

Key Accomplishments
Successfully negotiated over $60 million for retail and restaurant space leases for Donald J. Trump with tenants including Hard Rock Cafe, Rainforest Café, AllStar Cafe, Starbucks, Cinnabon, and Host/Marriott.