John Marz
Mr. Marz has over 30 years of senior executive and corporate level experience in marketing and advertising. John was Senior Vice President of Marketing and Events for Mandalay Resort Group, overseeing all marketing for a $4.6 billion, 13-property destination entertainment company. was over all branches of marketing, which included market communications, market research, database marketing and internet marketing. Mr. Marz was previously owner and president of DRGM Advertising & Public Relations in Las Vegas and Reno, where he built the second-largest ad agency in Nevada. worked with gaming companies to strategize branding launches for MGM Grand and IGT’s Megabucks. John has served as Commissioner of the Nevada Commission on Tourism where he oversaw the marketing committee.
Walt Hawkins
Walt Hawkins recently retired from IGT, the worlds largest gaming machine and video lottery terminal provider. In his 25 years there he was amongst other things, responsible for the roll-out and operations of the first wide area progressive program, then called Megabucks, now referred to as MegaJackpots. More recently he was responsible for the identification and development of new market and business opportunities for the company. His primary focus was video lotteries and assisting pari-mutuel locations in the development of alternative forms of wagering entertainment. Additionally, Walt helped develop and manage IGT’s racing and gaming sales and operational efforts, as well as other related video lottery operations throughout North America in the Public Gaming division. Walt has a business degree from the University of Nevada, Reno.
Mark Hurst
Mark Hurst is a 30 year veteran of advertising and marketing. He owned and operated an ad agency in Salt Lake City for 20 years and sold it in 2000, to a Silicon Valley firm where he was involved in strategic brand planning for a variety of technology and business-to-business clients. worked in the Bay area for 5 years becoming Director of Brand Planning for DDB, one of the largest agencies in the world and managed clients out of their San Francisco office. Currently, he is living back in his home-town of Salt Lake City and manages that local office for Probe from there. He is engaged in the discovery and brand architecture planning for a variety of clients around the country.
Chris Brogan
Mr. Brogan has over 13 years experience in marketing research providing-decision makers with the details and insight to take decisive marketing direction. Chris was Vice President of Strategy and Research for Fontainebleau Resorts (Las Vegas and Miami) and previously President of Marketing Research of Mandalay Bay Resort Group. Prior to this he served as the Manager of Survey Operations for Abt Associates where he directed projects for the Centers for Disease Control and prevention, The National Institutes of Health, and other government clients. Mr. Brogan began his research career at VNS where he created the Voter Exit Poll Operations for ABC, AP, CBS, CNN, Fox and NBC. In this capacity, managed an operation that delivered same day results from over 1600 exit poll interview locations scattered throughout the U.S. on a typical national election day. Mr. Brogan holds an M.B.A. from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and has dual degrees in Mathematical Methods in Social Science and Political Science, also from Northwestern University.