Consumer >> CEO Interviews >> August 30, 1999
FRANK J. FERTITTA III has more than 15 years of experience in the gaming
industry, having learned the business from the ground up. He began his
career in management training at the Bingo Palace in Las Vegas, the
predecessor to the Palace Station Hotel & Casino, where he held numerous
positions ranging from dealing craps, blackjack and roulette, to working
in various other departments including slots, keno, racing and sports,
marketing, finance and accounting. After graduating from the University
of Southern California in 1984 with a degree in Business Administration,
concentrating in the area of Finance, Mr. Fertitta was named Vice
President and Director of Palace Station Hotel & Casino. In 1985, he was
promoted to Executive Vice President and functioned as the general
manager of the hotel/casino. In 1986, he was appointed Executive Vice
President and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Fertitta held those positions
until his election to President in 1989. In 1992, he was appointed
Palace Station's Chief Executive Officer. Upon the company's
reorganization in February 1993, Mr. Fertitta was elected Chairman of
the Board of Directors. The reorganization resulted in the change of the
company's name to Station Casinos, Inc. During the time, Mr. Fertitta
was managing Palace Station, his entrepreneurial skills were also
utilized in co-founding Southwest Services, Inc. in 1986; Southwest
Gaming Services, Inc. in 1990 and St. Charles Riverfront Station, Inc.
in 1992. He serves as Chairman of the Board of St. Charles Riverfront
Station, Inc. Mr. Fertitta was first licensed by the Nevada Gaming
Commission as a gaming operator in 1985, and has been licensed in other
capacities and in association with other gaming entities on numerous
occasions. He is also licensed as a Gaming Operator in Missouri and
Louisiana. In addition to managing Station Casinos, Inc. and its
operating subsidiaries, Mr. Fertitta has served on numerous business,
charitable and educational boards. From 1988 to 1989, he was chairman of
the Nevada Resort Association's public relations committee. He served on
the Board of Directors of the Nathan Adelson Hospice from 1990 to 1992.
Currently, he serves on the parent Board of Opportunity Village, an
organization assisting the mentally and physically challenged in Las
Vegas, Nevada. Profile
Casinos, the company's history, activities, customers, those kinds of
things.
Mr. Fertitta: Station Casinos started in
