About

Each opportunity to meet someone new in your industry is another opportunity to advance your knowledge, develop your career, expand your thinking or just increase your professional connections.

The Hyatt Regency was specifically selected to create a relaxed atmosphere. You will enjoy views of the Pacific Ocean while you are able to openly discuss relevant gaming topics, emerging technologies and “CONNECT” with peers representing more than 40 non-competing properties from around the country.

In addition to informative sessions, speakers and networking opportunities; there will be a demo room and for those of you who have gift based loyalty marketing programs, there will be a 3,000 + square foot showroom merchandised with over 85 new continuity and gift programs

This is a must-attend event if you are tired of the old conference format, recycled content and being stuck inside.

Click here to see what you missed in 2021

Reservations

Please contact your Account Executive for more information &
your discount code before registering.

Presenter Bios

Mark Ditteaux

President and COO, Mark-it Smart

As President and CEO of Mark-it Smart, Inc Mark Ditteaux brings 21 years of sales and marketing experience to the company he founded. Mark-it Smart is the top loyalty marketing and incentive merchandise supplier in the gaming industry, serving more that 196+ corporate and Native American casino clients. Mark has traveled the country extensively, developing and implementing data driven loyalty marketing programs, specifically for the gaming industry. Mark-it Smart has been recognized by INC.5000 and the Orange County Business Journal as one of the fastest-growing private companies 3 years running. Mark is a graduate of Radford University in Virginia with a BA in Marketing, as well as minors in Mathematics and Psychology. Mark currently resides in Southern California with his wife of fifteen years and their two children. When not working with casino clients around the country or attending industry events, Mark enjoys traveling with his family, surfing around the world and skiing the deep powder of Utah.

Brooke Fiumara

Cofounder & Co-Chief Executive Officer, OPTX

Brooke Fiumara is a marketing maven that leads the vision, evolution, and overall operations for OPTX. She brings a wealth of gaming industry experience and leadership to OPTX, having shaped, and defined the casino marketing success for a wide range of notable hospitality and resort properties across the country. Prior to cofounding OPTX, Brooke served as the Chief Marketing Officer for Warner Gaming overseeing all marketing and business intelligence operations for Warner Gaming’s managed and owned properties, from Four-Diamond destinations to local gaming and tribal properties. Brooke also served as the Director of Marketing for Red Rock and Green Valley Ranch Resorts, the premier off-strip, luxury hotel, spa, and casino properties in Las Vegas.

Brooke is a proud alumni of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and uses her vast knowledge and expertise of casino and hospitality marketing to master all components of marketing including advertising, entertainment, public relations, casino marketing, player development, promotions and events, direct marketing, planning and analysis, players’ clubs, and loyalty program development.

Brooke is a member of the nonprofit organization Global Gaming Women which supports, inspires, and influences the development of women in the gaming industry. Brooke is a moderator of a lean-in circle, one of the organizations mentorship programs and a member of the marketing committee which helps plan and execute the organization's marketing strategy.

Steve Bright

Vice President of Data Science, OPTX

Steve Bright will lead OPTX's Data Science team, which designs, develops, tests, and monitors new Artificial Intelligence (AI) features for OPTX's data modules. The data intelligence used by OPTX creates actionable recommendations for casino operators, provides real-time individualized insights to ensure that no actionable player is missed, and empowers teams to spend less time compiling the data and more time implementing strategies that increase guest visitation, revenue, and profitability.

Prior to joining OPTX, Steve Bright worked as a Data Scientist in many different industries, and has over 30 published papers in fields ranging from Experimental High Energy Physics to Pharmacovigilance (Drug Safety). He also has several years of experience applying Data Science to problems in the Gaming Industry, including Machine Learning (ML) algorithms to forecast and optimize slot floor performance.

Steve holds a B.S. in Physics from the Georgia Institute of Technology and earned his M.S. and Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Chicago. Steve is also a recreational poker player, gambler, and an avid runner. Steve is a long-time resident of Las Vegas where he lives with his girlfriend Julie, and two German Shorthaired Pointers, Vonnegut and Joey, who are often running together in Las Vegas, training for the next half marathon.

A full list of Mr. Bright's published works may be found at: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9250-3729

Eric Newman

Entrepreneur, Speaker, and Visionary, Roc Solid Foundation

Eric D. Newman is a passionate entrepreneur, speaker, and visionary leader. In 2009, he founded Roc Solid, an organization that inspires hope for every child and family fighting pediatric cancer. Roc Solid partners with more than eighty five children’s hospitals to deliver Ready Bags for families and has built more than one thousand play-sets for children throughout the country who need a safe place to play and a reason to smile. A husband, father, and pediatric cancer survivor himself, Eric understands the battle a family faces when their child is diagnosed.

• Serial entrepreneur - the “What’s Never Been Done” guy
• Nonprofit experience
• Has studied leadership concepts for 12 years
• Motivational speaker
• Author

Trevor Taylor

Managing Member, BizOp

Trevor is an established executive in the gaming and hospitality industries with over twenty - five years of experience in profit able business development.

He is a strategic operations and marketing expert. His successful experience is based on his sole focus on quantifiable marketing programs and strategies . He improve s the financial performance of gaming assets through revenue generation and expense reduction.

Before rising to executive level leadership, Trevor repositioned gaming properties as a V.P of Development and Operations, COO, General Manager, Assistant General Manager, Marketing Director and Director of Player Development.

During his tenure as Vice President of Development and Operations with Nevada Gold Casinos, Inc., Nevada Gold owned, operated and acquired thirty - six gaming assets and operated three high - profile management contracts in the USA.

Trevor’s track record of proven success in the financial performance of casino hotels in competitive regional markets is due to his ability to create and implement plans for clients that require a competitive edge and are seeking premier placement for their property.

Adding to Trevor’s skills, he has he ld the position of VP of Operations for MGT and VP of Managed Services for Viz Explorer.

Francesca Voorbrood

Managing Member, BizOp

Francesca Voorbrood started her career as a gaming analytics expert over seven years ago on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Her career has most recently landed her in Albuquerque, New Mexico as a Managing Member of the Profit Builder, which focuses on Analytics in Action! She has filled the role of a Casino Executive Host, Database Specialist, Promotions Manager, Financial Analyst, and an Event Planner. Her approach is to center all decision making on database dissection, this is what she truly enjoys. Prior to her role in the Gaming & Hospitality Industry, Francesca worked for a Fortune 500 Company as a Budget & Performance Analyst & a Project Manager. Francesca is a first generation American, which gives her a unique perspective of the American dream.

Josh Williams

Director Of Client Services, Catalyst Marketing

Josh’s unique insight into casino operations originated from more than a decade at Table Mountain Casino. He is passionate about utilizing the latest technologies to reach and engage casino guests. Josh truly understands casino metrics, how to analyze, report and identify actionable items that can impact a casino’s bottom line.

Presentations

What’s going on in your world?

Moderator: Josh Williams – Director of Client Services -  Catalyst Marketing

Panel discussion with a leading industry executive discussing everything from emerging from the Pandemic to competition and where we go from here.

“Understanding Player Intent”

Moderator: Brooke Fiumara – Cofounder & Co-Chief Executive Officer – Optx
Moderator: Steve Bright – Vice President of Data Science - Optx

During this session we will explore common approaches properties use to build their marketing calendars. From there, we will deep dive into how AI can be used to understand the impact of layering your marketing calendar and how to better understand player intent to attribute play to promotional profitability.

What Hope Looks Like

Presented by: Eric Newman, Founder of Roc Solid

Dropping the "F Bomb"
No, not that "F Bomb." We're talking about Fear.
It's easy to let fear get in the way of taking a big leap or trying something that has never been done before. Fear can leave you feeling paralyzed. What would you dare to do if you could learn to navigate fear in your everyday life and leadership? Eric Newman has been making big moves as the Chief Play Officer of Roc Solid Foundation since he founded the organization in 2009. He's raised some eyebrows with his approach to leading and growing the nonprofit that is now building hope for kids fighting cancer all over the U.S. through its playset and Ready Bag programs. He's learned that fear isn't always a bad thing unless it prevents you from taking action. Hear how he's navigated that "F" word as a nonprofit leader.

Who gets the Golden Ticket?

Moderator: Brooke Fiumara – Cofounder & Co-Chief Executive Officer – Optx
Moderator: Steve Bright – Vice President of Data Science – Optx

During this session we will discuss how AI can be used to determine the optimal player worth and review the difference between incentives based on past behavior and future behavior and how it can materially change the way you market to your guests.

Continuity 2.0 Rethinking and Rebuilding Your #1 Promotion

Moderator: Mark Ditteaux – President & COO – Mark-it Smart
Moderator: Trevor Taylor – Managing Member - BizOp
Moderator: Francesca Voorbrood – Managing Member - BizOp

Moderators present a host of innovative ideas where table groups discuss the pros and cons, ultimately leading to a top 10 actionable list to retool and take your continuity program to the next level.

Agenda

Sunday July 31, 2022 - DAY 1 Event Location
4:00 PM Hotel Check-In & Arrival Hyatt Regency
6:30 PM - 9:00 PM Hosted Welcome LUAU & Networking Dinner Lighthouse Courtyard
9:00 PM - 10:00 PM After Hours Cocktails and Networking Pete's Sunset Grille
Monday August 1, 2022 - DAY 2 Event Location
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM Showroom
by Appointment		 Huntington North
9:00 AM - 9:15 AM Introduction/Kick Off
Presented by Mark-it Smart		 Huntington South
9:15 AM - 10:00 AM What’s going on in your world?
Moderated by: Josh Williams, Catalyst
Panel discussion with a leading industry executive discussing everything from emerging from the Pandemic to competition and where we go from here. 		Huntington South
10:10 AM - 11:00 AM “Understanding Player Intent”
Presented by: OPTX
During this session we will explore common approaches properties use to build their marketing calendars. From there, we will deep dive into how AI can be used to understand the impact of layering your marketing calendar and how to better understand player intent to attribute play to promotional profitability.		 Huntington South
11:15 AM - 12:00 PM What Hope Looks Like
Presented by: Eric Newman, Founder of Roc Solid		 Huntington South
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Hosted Networking Lunch Lighthouse Courtyard
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM Optional Group Activities
“Building Hope” The Ultimate Team Experience
Newport Harbor Tour		 Lighthouse Courtyard
7:00 PM - 10:00 PM Hosted Network Dinner The Bungalow
Tuesday August 2, 2022 - DAY 3 Event Location
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM Showroom
by Appointment		 Huntington North
9:00 AM - 9:50 AM Who gets the Golden Ticket?
Presented by OPTX
During this session we will discuss how AI can be used to determine the optimal player worth and review the difference between incenting based on past behavior and future behavior and how it can materially change the way you market to your guests.		 Huntington South
10:00 AM - 10:50 AM Continuity 2.0 Rethinking and Rebuilding Your #1 Promotion
Facilitated by Mark-it smart & BizOp
Moderators present a host of innovative ideas where table groups discuss the pros and cons, ultimately leading to a top 10 actionable list to retool and take your continuity program to the next level.		 Huntington South
10:50 AM - 11:10 AM Break Huntington South
11:10 AM - 12:00 PM Continuity 2.0 Rethinking and Rebuilding Your #1 Promotion
Facilitated by Mark-it smart & BizOp
The interactive Workshop continues building on the first hour.		 Huntington South
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Hosted Networking Lunch Lighthouse Courtyard
1:30 PM - 5:00 PM Optional Group Activities
The Amazing Casino Connection
Newport Harbor Tour		 Lighthouse Courtyard
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM Team Games Lighthouse Courtyard
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Hosted Networking Dinner & Team Games Lighthouse Courtyard
9:00 PM - 10:30 PM Cocktails and Networking The Cove
Wednesday August 3, 2022 Event Location
11:00 AM Hotel Check-Out and Back to Reality Hyatt Regency

Here's What You Missed In 2021

Accommodations

The Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa
21500 Pacific Coast Hwy, Huntington Beach, CA 92648

Hyatt Regency - Left View
Hyatt Regency - Front View
Hyatt Regency - Right View
Hyatt Regency - Overview

Our nearest airports are:

John Wayne Airport (SNA)
18601 Airport Way, Santa Ana, CA 92707
13 miles / 20 minutes
Map
Long Beach Airport (LGB)
4100 Donald Douglas Dr. Long Beach, CA 90808
17 miles / 25 minutes
Map
Los Angeles Airport(LAX)
1 World Way, Los Angeles, CA 90045
35 miles / 45 minutes
Map

Contact

Contact

Come be a part of this exclusive invitation only event

Contact us today to learn more:

Anita Soto

714-673-6413
www.casino-connect.org

Don't miss out and book your spot today!

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