Dave Hanlon
Dave Hanlon has been a leader in the casino and entertainment industry for over 30 years. He has developed a reputation for integrity, high energy, and an aggressive hands-on style, which turned creative ideas into business solutions. As President and CEO of several leading hotel and casino companies they have realized vastly improved products, services, and profitability.
Mr. Hanlon’s professional experience began with the investment banking firm Smith Barney, later he coordinated financing for billion-dollar energy projects for the Fluor Corporation. He joined the gaming industry as CFO for Caesars later as EVP of all East Coast operations. As President of Harrah’s Atlantic City he was in charge of Harrah’s Marina and Harrah’s @ Trump Plaza. He then joined Merv Griffin’s Resorts International as CEO responsible for all operations in Atlantic City and the Bahamas. During this time he completed two complex billion-dollar corporate restructurings. As CEO of gaming machine industry giant IGT he led the expansion of the business nationally and internationally. Under his leadership as COO the Rio Suite Hotel and Casino earned a Zagat award as “the best hotel in Las Vegas”. Currently he is engaged in consulting and development for a variety of major casino, hotel, resort, and entertainment projects.
Mr. Hanlon is active in a variety of other professional activities. He has served on the boards of several public companies as well as not-for-profit organizations such as the Special Olympics of Nevada. He returned to his alma mater Cornell University as the Executive-in-Residence at the School of Hotel Administration. He also served as a member of the School’s Industry Advisory Board, as well as the Board of Directors of the Cornell Football Association and was elected to be a Lifetime member of the Cornell University Administrative Advisory Board. He was also an advisor to the Wharton Entrepreneurial Program and is currently on the UNLV Dean’s Global Advisory Board.
Mr. Hanlon is just as accomplished in his personal life. He played football at Cornell and later served on active and reserve duty as an officer in the US Army. He holds a BS in Hotel Administration from Cornell, earned an MBA in Finance and an MS in Accounting from The Wharton School, and graduated from the Advanced Management Program at the Harvard Business School.