Leading Experts in Experts in the Leisure & Lodging Council

Bill Fishman is the Director of Slot Operations at Palace Casino in Mississippi, where he has worked since September of 2004. The casino has 815 slots and 14 table games, as well as 3 restaurants and a hotel with 237 rooms. Previously, Mr. Fishman has served in the same position at Copa Casino in Gulport,...

Chicke Fitzgerald is the Chief Executive Officer of the Solutionz Group, a consulting company specializing in travel industry which she formed in 1995. She is also the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of LeisureLogix, a technology company providing game changing integrated trip planning, booking,...

Richard Fitzhugh is the Corporate Vice President Slot Strategy for American Casino & Entertainment Properties, an operator of four casino hotels in Las Vegas, where he has worked since 2006. Previously, he was the Vice President of Casino Operations at Connection Gaming, a gaming consultancy based in...

Kenneth Free is currently the President of Straightline Hospitality Corporation, where he has worked since 1992. Straightline has operating subsidiaries Straightline Real Properties Group and Straightline Advisors. The various Straightline entities are involved in hotel consultancy, asset management,...

Gary Freund is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer at Freund and Associates, a hotel consultancy firm, where he has worked since 1981. The company advises clients in all aspects of lodging, restaurants, food, and beverage, totaling over $10M in annual consulting revenue. Clients have...

Steven Gallaway is a Principal at Gaming Market Advisors, where he has worked since 2005. Previously, he served as Vice President at The Innovation Group, a casino and gaming consultancy firm, from 2001 to 2005. At GMA he provides clients with market feasibility studies, primary research, due diligence,...

Lee Gelwicks is the Director of Slot Operations at Viejas Casino, a Native American casino, where he has been working since 2000. He is responsible for managing the Viejas project of removing grey gaming devices and installing 2000 Class III slot machines for Viejas Casino. He is the department head...

Andrew Green is a Professor of Finance at Wofford College, where he has taught since September 2006. Previously, Mr. Green was Chief Financial Officer at Denny's, a restaurant company with over 1,500 units nationwide, where he worked from 1996 through 2005. At Denny's, Mr. Green helped lead a business...

Martin Grossman is a member of the Career College Association and a consultant specializing in For-Profit Postsecondary Education. He was the Senior Vice President of Marketing and Investor Relations for ITT Educational Services, a company providing technical education services, until September of...

Fredric Gushin founded Spectrum Gaming Group in 1993. Mr. Gushin formerly served as Assistant Director and Assistant Attorney General with New Jersey's Division of Gaming Enforcement. In the public sector, he has overseen the openings of 12 Atlantic City casinos. In the private sector he has led teams...

Ken Heit is the Director of Sales of Worldwide Cruises, a subsidiary of American Express Travel specializing in the cruise industry. He oversees $30 million in annual cruise sales revenue and supervises 25 employees. Mr. Heit has more than 20 years of experience in the travel industry. As a result of...

Michael Hutchins is the owner of his own health club consulting company, where he has worked since 2005. Previously, Mr. Hutchins was a Department Manager and Sales Trainer at Bally Total Fitness, a fitness center operating company of 420 gyms, from 1999 to 2005. At Bally Total Fitness, Mr. Hutchins...

J. Erik Hvide is the Principal of HMS Consulting, where he has worked since 2000. HMS Consulting specializes in the offshore energy services and the cruise industry. Here, Mr. Hvide is responsible for strategic and M & A consulting for industry participants as well as institutional investment managers....

Dennis Kessler is Co-Owner of Kessler Restaurants LLC, a Rochester, NY based owner and operator of 21 Burger King and 46 Friendly's restaurants. Mr. Kessler has 28 years experience in restaurant ownership, employs approximately 3,000 workers and is the largest Friendly's franchisee in the country. He...

Christopher Kraus is SVP in charge of the Bozeman, MT office at PKF Consulting, an international firm of management consultants, industry specialists, and appraisers who provide a full range of services to the hospitality, real estate, and tourism industries. His areas of expertise include market feasibility...

Ron Lodge has most recently served as a Senior Marketing Executive with the Venetian Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Mr. Lodge oversaw marketing development efforts on behalf of the luxury casino. He has more than 40 years experience in the hotel and gaming industries and has served as a Senior Marketing...

John Macaluso is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Cornell Management Group, a full-service advisory and strategic planning company, focusing on the restaurant and food service industry. Mr. Macaluso has over 30 years of operational experience in the restaurant industry, both as a corporate...

Stephen Magrill is an Adjunct Professor at UNLV and The University of Phoenix, where he has worked since 2004. Previously, he was Vice President of Global Club for Sunterra Corporation (now Diamond Resorts International) until January 2004, where he oversaw all marketing and club operations for more...

Ian Manning is Vice President Global Due Diligence Investigations and Business Development for Australia and Asia at Spectrum Gaming. Mr. Manning is an executive regulator of casinos in Australia for 20 years and was instrumental in the development of casinos on behalf of governments in Melbourne, Canberra,...

Mark Manuszewski is the President of GIC Management Services Corporation, a gaming consultancy firm, where he has served since 1991. Previously, he was Director of Puerto Rico - 7, a 7-11 franchise in Puerto Rico, from June 2007 to March 2008. Mr. Manuszewski has more than 30 years of experience in...