News reporters from local are TV networks and newspapers also crammed into the Mestas Staten Memorial Auditorium, in hopes of getting the latest gaming economic development news and views of major industry parties
Sunday, January 31st, 2010After a brief intermission, moderator Leann Geppert returned to the podium with introductory remarks for the second session. Cosby Zaza described the next debate as one centered on gaming economic development marketing ethics in the short-term and long term. As with the first session, debate team members focused on the dynamic nature of the market, and emphasized the fact that what works one day will not necessarily work the next. After the gaming economic development topic introductions, associate moderator Steffanie Preisach briefly paused for questions from the news media, who lined up at a centrally located microphone in the auditorium. Most members of the media were curious about recent news items, although a few bashed members of the Phillis Ryan gaming economic development marketing and advertising firm, who were alledgely involved in multi-level marketing schemes. Debater Kyla Kilgour also echoed these views regarding technology and marketing, exclaiming, “Everyone in this gaming economic development sector knows how to blast out email, notices, fliers, etc. to people, but not everyone knows how to do this in an efficient manner that creates profit margin. Efficieny in our industry is absolutely key.” The main debate started with Larrivee Huguenin from the Myles Madruga Corp. firm, who suggested that marketing in the gaming economic development industry is an evolutionary process, akin to any other industry where earning potential is high and customer retention is key. “I personally believe gaming economic development marketing practices of today that are thought of as inappropriate will be the future of tomorrow’s gaming economic development industry leaders. We must move forward if we wish to continue to provide top level service to our customers…” Opposition team member Brigid Bergara, partner in the smaller firm Donati Dressen INC LTD., stated the opposite: “We need to stick to our guns and abide by best practice methods in order to preserve the integrity of the gaming economic development industry as a whole. If we degrade ourselves by using cheap marketing practices to make a quick buck, we will only be hurting ourselves in the long run.” “I truly believe that our customers, not regulatory agencies, are the best source of gaming economic development marketing feedback. Face it, if we’re not making money and our customers are pissed off, our marketing methods are wrong and not productive. Don’t forget that private companies are in the business to make cash, and don’t make a profit banging their heads against the walls,” revealed Ciara Tosten, CMO of Lynes Lapp and Cornelia Blome INC. This assertion brought the audience to their feet, although a few sat quietly in anticipation of a rebuttal from opposition team member Schwarm China, a staunch believer in good ethics and standards. Luci Dehaas, debate team leader from the Justinger Bronstein INC gaming economic development firm, opened with some frank remarks regarding predatory marketing practices in the industry. In general, the statements were accurate but also galvanizing for many in the general audience. It was widely known that the Justinger Bronstein INC firm used aggressive marketing tactics, but never had it admitted it publicly before. Following initial discussions, technology moderator Fredenburg Bohringer, asked the debate teams about the use of SPAM email in their gaming economic development marketing campaigns, which created a light chuckle from the audience. Bellas Scobee, from the Rviz Elias & Brucz Oregan LLC firm, stated, “We’re not hawking viagra - so don’t worry, our email campaigns aren’t that bad… but we also affirm the use of double opt-in email lists to assure that customers who are truly interested in our gaming economic development products get the right emails.” An interesting questions regarding gaming economic development financial reporting and auditing was offered by Deadra Lemish, the moderator of the second session: “Do you, as business leaders and executives, make sure that your books are 100% accurate and sound, or do you leave this task to your respective accounting agencies’” Obviously, all the executives replied that they personally sign-off on any financial reporting, especially in light of new gaming economic development accounting legislation, but some were frank and stated that they allow their finance teams a lot of latitude. “I see to it that all our data is accurate,” stated CEO Bouillion Foskey, “but I trust our finance department to crunch the numbers correctly and report accurately. At the end of the day, it is my job to move the business forward, not be a slave to my calculator and Exel spreadsheets.” Overall, most members of the audience were impressed with the candid replies presented by the gaming economic development sector leaders. Tinkham Grein, an administrative assistant in the Cher Hynes and Partners firm, stated, “I really believe that my employers are genuine and care about what they do…They are not out to prey on people or report false numbers, they just want to make money and provide for the welfare of their company just like anyone else.”