American Gaming Association Honors Top Diverse Vendors

WASHINGTON – Six companies from across the country recently were recognized with the American Gaming Association’s (AGA) Diverse Vendor of the Year Award. The awards were presented at the Congressional Black Caucus Institute’s TUNICA 2010 Mississippi Policy Conference in August.

“When it comes to working with diverse suppliers, commercial casinos are leaders among U.S. businesses, spending hundreds of millions of dollars with diverse businesses each year,” said Frank J. Fahrenkopf, president and CEO of the AGA.  “The AGA and its member companies are proud of our commitment to diversity and pleased to honor these companies that exemplify the strength of the industry’s diverse supplier programs.”

For the second year, the AGA Diverse Vendor of the Year Awards offered AGA members the opportunity to honor top minority, woman and disadvantaged business enterprises (MWDBEs) doing business with the gaming industry. Winners were nominated by individual gaming companies. Given the varying depths and scopes of these vendor-supplier relationships, the AGA allowed its members to determine the selection criteria.

The six companies honored include:

• Las Vegas, Nev.-based Branch-Hernandez & Associates, which was selected by MGM Resorts International, is a minority business enterprise that provides insurance services and claims administration for a variety of MGM Resorts International construction projects.
• Corporate Business Supplies, nominated by Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc., is a minority-owned business supply and furniture distributor located in New Orleans, La. that has been doing business with Harrah’s since Harrah’s New Orleans Hotel and Casino opened its doors in 1999.
• Crown Vehicle Detailing, a minority business enterprise located in Tunica, Miss., was chosen by Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. for its contracted work performing daily inspections, cleaning and detailing for Harrah’s regional fleet of more than 60 limos, buses and shuttles.
• D&J Supply Company, a Memphis, Tenn.-based, woman-owned hotel/motel supply company, was nominated by Boyd Gaming Corporation for the work it does supplying Sam’s Town Tunica Hotel and Casino with paper products ranging from cups and lids to wet-naps and ice bucket liners.
• Davis Supply Company is a minority-owned business based in Kansas City, Mo. that has formed a partnership with Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc. to provide safety supplies to Isle of Capri properties in Kansas City, Mo. and Boonville, Mo.
• Midwest Game Supply Company, recognized by Ameristar Casinos, Inc., is a woman-owned business headquartered in Kearney, Mo. that supplies gaming equipment to casinos and is the only manufacturer of precision dice in the United States.

“These fine companies are examples of the strong work being done every day in the gaming industry by diverse vendors,” said Fred Keeton, vice president of finance, external affairs and chief diversity officer for Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. and chair of the AGA’s Diversity Task Force.  “Diversity is something that gaming companies take very seriously, and we work hard to consider it in every aspect of our business.”

Following the presentation of the awards, the AGA held a roundtable discussion during which the award-winning suppliers gathered to share their experiences working with the gaming industry and offer guidance to other diverse businesses interested in supplying gaming companies.

The AGA represents the commercial casino-entertainment industry by addressing federal legislative and regulatory issues. The association also serves as a clearinghouse for information, develops educational and advocacy programs, and provides leadership on industry-related issues of public concern.