Marlin F. Torguson

CHAIRMAN & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
TORGUSON GAMING GROUP, INC.

Marlin F. Torguson is the Chairman and CEO of Torguson Gaming Group, Inc., with headquarters in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi.  Mr. Torguson is perhaps one of the gaming industry’s pre-eminent visionaries and is considered one of the founding fathers of gaming in Mississippi. He founded Casino Magic Corp., and opened the first barge-concept casino in the world at Bay St. Louis on September 30, 1992. The Company’s 1992 IPO was widely recognized as the most successful IPO of that year.  The company quickly expanded and unveiled its Biloxi property on June 5, 1993.  Serving as president and CEO, and later as chairman of the board of directors, Torguson further oversaw the opening of Casino Magic properties in Greece, Argentina and Bossier City, Louisiana. 

Following Casino Magic Corp.’s acquisition by Pinnacle Entertainment, Inc. in 1998, Torguson became a member of Pinnacle Entertainment’s board of directors, with his term ending May 4, 2004. Pinnacle Entertainment is the holding company for Casino Magic properties in San Martin de los Andes and Neuquen, Argentina, Boomtown Casino Bossier City, Louisiana, Boomtown Casino New Orleans & Boomtown Casino Reno, Belterra Casino, Indiana, L’Auberge du Lac Hotel and Casino in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and Lumière Place in St. Louis, Missouri.

Prior to founding Casino Magic Corp., Torguson successfully spearheaded the advent of American Indian gaming, as he expanded Jackpot Junction Casino in Morton, Minnesota, from a bingo hall to what was the largest gaming facility between Las Vegas and Atlantic City in 1990. In 1991, Torguson converted a landmark building in Deadwood, South Dakota, into Goldiggers Hotel & Casino, which was operated by Casino Magic Corp. until it was sold in 1996.

Prior to entering the gaming industry, Torguson owned and operated several restaurants in Minnesota. He gained his experience in the food and beverage industry working at his family’s business, Torgy’s on the Lake, in Glennwood, Minnesota. Torgy’s on the Lake was founded in 1948 by Torguson’s father. Torguson went to work there in 1966, and today is its sole owner. Marlin F. Torguson has contributed considerably to the advancement of the U.S. gaming industry, and stands poised to continue in this role.

Jerry St. Pe’

FORMER PRESIDENT OF INGALLS SHIPBUILDING & RETIRED EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT OF LITTON INDUSTRIES

Jerry St Pe’ is former President of Ingalls Shipbuilding and retired Executive Vice-President of the shipyard’s parent company, Litton Industries.

A native of New Orleans, Jerry St Pe’ came to Mississippi in 1958 as a newspaper reporter for the then Pascagoula Chronicle Star (now the Mississippi Press). In 1961 he joined the public relations staff of the Ingalls Shipbuilding division of Litton Industries and in 1967 played a major role in the Ingalls/State of Mississippi partnership that resulted in the construction in Jackson County of the first totally new shipyard built in America since World War II. The project not only introduced new concepts for more efficient production of ships in America, but also pioneered a new level of public/private partnership for statewide economic development. The new shipyard project remains today as one of Mississippi’s most successful economic development programs.

In 1971, Jerry was appointed Director of Public Relations for Ingalls, and in 1975 was named Vice-President of Public and Industrial Relations. In 1985, he became President of Ingalls and was elected a Corporate Vice-President of Litton Industries. In 1998 he was named Corporate Executive Vice-President of Litton Industries with overall responsibility for Litton’s shipbuilding operations, a $2-billion enterprise with 18,000 employees in Mississippi and Louisiana. He retired in October 2001 following the completion of the transition of Northrop Grumman’s purchase of Litton Industries in April 2001.

Through his professional career, and continuing today, Jerry has been active in community, state and national affairs. He is a past President of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and continues to serve on the Chamber board. A former member of the Jackson County Port Authority, he is one of the founders of the Jackson County Economic Development Foundation and today serves as Vice Chairman of the Foundation’s Board of Directors. He was founding member of the Mississippi Partnership for Economic Development and served as its Chairman. 

In 1996, Jerry was named a Laureate in the Mississippi Business Hall of Fame for his contributions to Mississippi economy, and in 1998 the Navy League of the United States awarded him the Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz Award, the League’s highest honor, for his service to America’s naval shipbuilding. He served in the United States Marine Corps.

Jerry is a retired member of the Board of Directors of the Southern Company (the parent company of Mississippi Power Company), and currently serves as a Senior Advisory Director of the Merchants and Marine Bank. the Board of Directors of Jackson County Economic Development and the Board of Directors of the Gulf Coast Business Council. Under an appointment by former Mississippi Haley Barbour he served eight years as Chairman of the Mississippi Gaming Commission. 

Following his retirement he formed St Pe’ and Associates, LLC through which he engages in private business interest and volunteer work.

Jerry resides in Jackson County with his wife Joann, a native Mississippian. They have two children, Prudence Graham and Laurin St Pe, and five grandchildren.     

James R. Maida, Esq.

PRESIDENT & CEO
GAMING LABORATORIES INTERNATIONAL, LLC

James R. Maida, Esq. is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Gaming Laboratories International, LLC (GLI®), headquartered in Lakewood, New Jersey. Mr. Maida began his career in 1985, testing gaming equipment with the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement. In 1989, he opened an independent game testing and consulting business with co-founder Paul J. Magno.  Today, GLI employs over 1,500 professionals and consults and tests for more than 46 state agencies, 250 tribal gaming commissions, 475 jurisdictions, and 1,000 equipment suppliers from its 24 offices located on six continents. 

Mr. Maida has testified as an expert witness in numerous gambling cases on both the state and federal level and has appeared before the U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, and the National Indian Gaming Commission and state legislative committees. 

Mr. Maida has been named one of the “25 Most Influential Persons in the Gaming Industry” and one of the “Most Influential People in Gaming.” He was also the 2013 recipient of “The Arthur E. Armitage, Sr. Distinguished Alumni Award” from the Rutgers School of Law.

In August 2016 the 16th Annual Saratoga Institute on Equine, Racing and Gaming Law honoured Mr. Maida for his lifetime of achievements in the overall gaming industry.

The Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association honoured Mr. Maida in July 2018 as a recipient of the organization’s prestigious Modern-Day Warrior Award.

James Maida was recently selected as recipient for the 2019 New Jersey Ernst Young Entrepreneur of The Year award.  Widely considered one of the most prestigious business awards programs in the U.S., the program recognizes entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies who are excelling in areas such as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities, while also transforming our world.

Mr. Maida is a member of many charitable boards, including the Lehigh University’s Board of Trustees; the Rutgers University Foundation Board of Overseers; the Monmouth Medical Center Board of Trustees; and is the trustee of his own family foundation, The James and Sharon Maida Foundation.  

Mr. Maida resides in Newtown, Pennsylvania with his wife, Sharon O. Maida, Ed.D.