Christopher Colwell to Serve as General Manager at Greektown Casino-Hotel (United States)
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Christopher Colwell to Serve as General Manager at Greektown Casino-Hotel (United States)
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Category: North America & West Indies / Carribean islands - United States - Careers
- Appointments
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2009-02-10
Christopher Colwell, a Senior Vice President at The Fine Point Group, will serve as General Manager at Greektown Casino-Hotel, subject to necessary regulatory approvals, officials announced today. As part of The Fine Point Group team of gaming industry veterans recently hired by the property, Colwell's responsibility will be the oversight of all operating departments.
"Christopher Colwell possesses vast experience in the gaming industry, having held senior roles on both sides of the proverbial fence - as an operating executive over gaming operations, and a senior leader with a major slot and systems provider," said The Fine Point Group's Managing Director Randall A. Fine. "He understands the issues the property is facing, and more importantly, understands the opportunities the property can take advantage of. I have no doubt that Chris is the right person for this position and that we will see outstanding results in the future as a consequence of his appointment." Three weeks ago, Fine was named Chief Executive Officer of Greektown, subject to necessary regulatory approvals.
During his tenure with The Fine Point Group, Colwell has led a major slot profit optimization program for a billion-dollar tribal gaming company and developed a new table games business for a major technology supplier startup. Prior to joining FPG, Colwell acted as Director of Project Development for Stations Casinos, Inc., located in Las Vegas, Nev., overseeing operational development for a new $10B gaming resort and casino complex. There he was responsible for cross departmental development of a 110 acre complex integrated resort including casino, hotel, restaurant, and convention business as well as for pro-forma financial analysis and phased profitability of the integrated resort.
Colwell has served as Vice President of Gaming Operations and Administration North America for one of the world's largest gaming vendors - Bally Technologies, Inc. Here he oversaw forecasting of gaming division quarterly sales volume; budgeting future expected sales; establishing Sales Executive and Director level commission plans; and asset management and sales administration of $400M annual revenue for the North America gaming division, achieving 33 percent year over year growth.
Colwell has also served as Director of Gaming Operations and Director of Slots for Harrah's Entertainment in North Kansas City, Mo., where he was responsible for executing a gaming plan that exceeded $200M in gaming revenue and $100M in operating income, resulting in a 53 percent operating income margin. Customer satisfaction scores were also improved by 5 percent as compared to the prior year and customer wait-times were reduced by 30 percent.
Before his entrance into the gaming industry, Colwell served in the United States Navy, honorably discharged after achieving the rank of Lieutenant Commander. During his time in the Navy, Colwell served as the Executive Assistant to the Auditor General of the Navy as well as a Reactor Propulsion Officer and Ordnance Officer. He was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal and Navy Achievement Medal during his service, as well as qualified as a Nuclear Engineering Officer. Colwell holds a Masters of Business Administration from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and Bachelor of Science in Civil/Environmental Engineering from Duke University.
Located at 555 E. Lafayette Avenue in Detroit's Greektown Entertainment District, Greektown Casino-Hotel opened on Nov. 10, 2000. Readers of The Detroit News and Detroit Free Press have voted Greektown Casino-Hotel Michigan's and Detroit's "Best Casino" numerous times. Greektown Casino-Hotel offers such amenities as their all-new International Buffet, the Eclipz Lounge and a VIP lounge for players. In addition to being named "Best Casino" by readers of The News and Free Press, Greektown Casino-Hotel also placed first in other categories in The News' reader survey, including "Best Slots," "Best Wait Staff Outfits," "Best Craps Tables," "Best Blackjack Tables," "Best High Rollers Area," "Best Casino Restaurant," and "Best Casino Entertainment." Greektown Casino-Hotel is set to open its new 400-room hotel tower this February.
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