Season: 2019

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) Board of Directors named Steve Hill CEO on September 1, 2018. Hill is the ninth leader of the LVCVA, succeeding the retiring CEO, Rossi Ralenkotter.

A Las Vegas resident for more than 30 years, Hill founded Silver State Materials in 1987 and supplied concrete and aggregates for many projects in the community. After selling Silver State, Hill was appointed by Governor Brian Sandoval to serve as the first Director of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED) in 2011, where he guided the development of “Moving Nevada Forward,” the plan for diversifying Nevada’s economy.

During his tenure with the GOED, Hill helped create numerous programs, including Workforce Innovations for the New Nevada, the Battle Born Venture Fund, and the Knowledge Fund. His work with GOED played a role in bringing business such as Tesla, Apple, Solar City, Barclaycard, Amazon and Hyperloop One to Nevada.

Governor Sandoval went on to appoint Hill as the Chairman of the Southern Nevada Tourism Infrastructure Committee (SNTIC), which was charged with reviewing and recommending major economic development projects to the Governor and Legislature for approval.

The SNTIC reviewed several proposals and recommended approval for both the Las Vegas Convention Center District expansion and renovation project as well as the Raiders Stadium. Hill was also chosen as the chair of the Las Vegas Stadium Authority, which provides oversight of the construction and operation of the stadium. He is also a member of the Southern Nevada Sporting Event Committee, which will recommend a process in which to attract major new events to the destination.

Hill takes over the LVCVA as the organization is about to get under way on the largest infrastructure project in its history, the expansion and renovation of the Las Vegas Convention Center. The project will add 1.4 million square feet of new space, with at least 600,000 square feet of usable exhibit space. The project will allow the destination to attract more business and allow existing clients to continue to grow their conventions.

John Hemberger is the senior vice president of table products for AGS. Hired by President and CEO David Lopez to create a table games division for the company in the summer of 2014, Hemberger has grown AGS’ table games portfolio to include more than 25 game titles and a competitive array of table game equipment with more than 1,800 total product installations across the world. In his role as senior vice president, Hemberger is responsible for business development, sales, R&D, and product management for all AGS table game products. He also led the acquisition efforts of some of the company’s most successful and award-winning products to date—including Buster Blackjack, War Blackjack, Criss Cross Poker, Bonus Spin, and In-BET. Hemberger was named one of the gaming industry’s “40 under 40” by Global Gaming Business magazine in 2017.

As general manager of AREA15, Jim Heilmann, oversees day-to-day operations, drives strategic growth objectives, manages tenant, artist and event integrations and spearheads long-range planning to build strong community partnerships. Heilmann’s expertise in managing large-scale retail centers will be instrumental in cementing AREA15’s reputation as Las Vegas’ leading experiential entertainment and retail complex.

With over 20 years of experience in retail, Heilmann most recently served as the senior general manager of Fashion Show mall on the Las Vegas Strip. In this capacity, he aggressively led a team interdepartmentally to innovate, drive revenue, create operational efficiencies, and improve best-in-class standards and consumer experiences. Under Heilmann’s leadership, Fashion Show mall grew to be one of the nation’s largest, most productive and iconic shopping centers. Prior to his position at Fashion Show mall, Heilmann managed a variety of retail complexes owned by the real estate company, General Growth Properties, now Brookfield Properties Retail Group. He has an extensive history of assembling and leading high-performing, multi-discipline teams through many challenges and high-profile projects, program launches, events and initiatives.

Heilmann earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Northern Illinois University. He lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with his wife and two daughters.

Earle Hall is CEO of Axes Network. He is Chairman, Blockchain Committee for the Gaming Standards Association as well as a GSA Board Member. He is also a Member Of The Board Of Advisors for Walker River Resources.

Prior to his present positions, Hall spent 11 years at DEQ Systems Corp. holding various positions including President & CEO, Compliance Committee Chair and a Board Member.

Hall holds a Bachelor of Arts in Administration and Canadian Studies from the Royal Military College of Canada/Collège militaire royal du Canada; a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Walden University; and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the École nationale d’administration publique.

Travis Hackney developed an early interest in hospitality when he became the Project Manager to MGM Resorts for US Foods. After spending over 10+ years in the industry, his fluency in developing strategic partnerships among large hospitality groups and contract accounts has most recently brought him to ​Sysco as Vice President of National Accounts – Gaming. ​Travis manages multiple Nationwide gaming partnerships across the United States and leads the local Las Vegas Gaming distribution for Sysco. He works to develop cohesion between distributor and operator by providing solutions not just in supply chain, but in concept and menu development as well.

After earning a B.S. in Political Science from UNLV, Travis moved to Carson City, Nevada where he served as a congressional intern. Realizing that politics was not his passion, he moved back to his hometown of Las Vegas and began his career with food distribution. Being from Las Vegas and having a natural affinity for the business of gaming and hospitality has encouraged Travis to accumulate professional accolades such ​as Casino Account Executive of the Year, multiple years in a row.

After that of Husband and Father, his favorite title is House League Hockey Coach for the Las Vegas Ice Center. Travis also volunteers as a Coach for “Spectrum on Ice,” and teaches children and young adults with developmental disabilities to ice skate and play hockey. Travis has played hockey his entire life and is pleased to be teaching the youth of Las Vegas about teamwork and working hard. He believes these two attributes are crucial to the success of every facet ​of his life. ​Travis also volunteers on the NHLA of Nevada F&B Committee and looks to provide opportunities for professional development for anyone looking to get into the hotel industry.

John Glaser has nearly 30 years of experience in gaming sales and marketing, with a proven track record of building successful sales, service and marketing teams.

He joined GSL Gaming Group in 2018 as Chief Operating Officer. Prior to working for GSL, Glaser served as Director of Sales and Service – North America for Ainsworth Game Technology, and as COO and VP of Sales and Marketing for Cash Systems Gaming Solutions.

Glaser has held executive sales positions at a number of top gaming companies, including Konami Gaming Inc., Global Cash Access, Cash Systems Inc., Bally Technologies and IGT.

Glaser holds a Bachelor of Science degree from The Ohio State University and is an Advisor with the ExecRanks Certificate of Continuing Board Education.

Phyllis Gilland has 30 years of legal, compliance and business experience, in several industries, including gaming, banking and insurance. Since October 2017, when Golden Entertainment, Inc. acquired American Casino & Entertainment Properties, LLC, she serves as senior vice president and general counsel of Golden Entertainment, Inc. Previously she was senior vice president, general counsel, secretary and chief compliance officer of American Casino’s & Entertainment Properties, LLC (ACEP) since October 2008. At ACEP she was corporate and gaming Compliance Officer. In addition, she oversaw all corporate legal matters, compliance, and regulatory human resources, including benefits, and surveillance, and was responsible for the retail, risk management, including insurance, and security investigations departments. Since 2008 she has been instrumental in reduction of guest incidents and costs and legal fees as well as streamlining of risk management processes.

Gilland has developed and implemented the legal strategy for many companies in the areas of regulatory and business compliance, contract review, negotiation and management, litigation management, corporate governance, claim management, real estate matters, risk management and financial matters, including financings, and mergers and acquisitions. She also has experience operating businesses with responsibilities for overseeing sales, marketing, finance and human resources departments.

Prior to joining ACEP, from 2000 to 2007 Gilland served as general counsel and chief financial officer for Taylor Construction Group Companies, headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa with affiliates around the United States.

Prior to Taylor Construction, she served as general counsel for Principal International, Inc. from 1999 through 2000 where she oversaw legal, regulatory and business development matters in the U.S. and internationally. In this capacity, Gilland had responsibility for numerous successful large business acquisitions and divestitures in conjunction with investment bankers and senior management.

Gilland was also an associate general counsel for Principal Financial Group from 1994 through 1999 where she handled national and international mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, as well as claims resolution, litigation management, regulatory matters, and contract management. In addition, Gilland has held positions with the Resolution Trust Corporation as director of special assets and as a tax manager with international accounting firm KPMG.

Raised in Northern Nevada, Buddy Frank has been hooked on gaming since he used crayons to mark his mom’s Keno tickets (while dining on “Awful Awful” burgers at the Sparks Nugget). He started covering casinos as a TV journalist in Reno after graduation from UNR. After a decade of reporting, he made the transition first to casino marketing and eventually slot operations. After 30 years with various casinos, he recently retired from Pechanga Resort & Casino in southern California to spend more time with his wife and three new granddaughters. He now runs a consulting service (BF Slot Strategies) where his focus remains on slot performance, systems, analytics and team training. He has taught classes on gaming/marketing in the past with San Diego State and now is doing the same with UNR. His non-gaming interests are cycling, photography, model trains, Nevada history, UNR sports, and fixing his ever-broken sprinkler system.

Rick Fields has been a leader in Casino Operations for nearly 40 years. His most recent position was as Senior Vice President, Gaming Operations for Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino (MGM Resorts), a position he took up in 2005.

Fields has had a long and impressive career with MGM Resorts, having served as VP of Casino Operations, Player Development, Food and Beverage and Golf Operations for Primm Valley Resorts and as AVP Casino Operations for New York New York Resort and Casino.

Prior to joining MGM, Fields served as VP of Table Games at Aladdin Resort and Casino and VP of Casino Operations for Station Casinos. He began his casino career at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas as a Casino Administrator.

Fields has been an Executive Board Member at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Las Vegas since 2002, and has served a three year term as Board President. He holds a BS degree in Business Administration and Human Resources from the University of Las Vegas, and an Associates degree in Casino Management from the College of Southern Nevada.