Download - University of Nevada, Las Vegas

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FROM PROFESSORS TO HOSPITALITY EXECUTIVES TO CO-WORKERS,
BOB BOUGHNER SEEMS TO HAVE FANS EVERYWHERE.
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“Bob is one of the most valued members of the Boyd Gaming team. He started with us in 1976 as a line-level
employee, and worked his way up through the ranks, learning every aspect of our business. He helped establish
a new standard of excellence for our company in 2003, when he led the development and opening of Borgata,
a property that proved Boyd Gaming could offer a compelling luxury product. His leadership with Borgata made
him the natural choice when it came time to find someone to lead Echelon, our future resort development on the
Las Vegas Strip. Bob is a true visionary of our industry, and it is hard to imagine Boyd Gaming without him.”
—Bill Boyd, executive chairman of Boyd Gaming
“In all of the years I’ve known Bob, I’ve never known him to settle for the traditional solution to a problem. He
is innovative and fearless in his approach to implementing new ideas in human resources, training, customer
service and other management areas. He is always looking for the right answer, not the easy one.”
—Gail Sammons, UNLV professor of hotel management
“Bob Boughner has displayed to the gaming and hospitality industry the dedication and vision necessary to
be successful and continue to understand the consumers’ behaviors and react accordingly. He has also never
forgotten the fundamentals of success through education while developing the leaders of tomorrow by his support
of UNLV in many facets. He truly is a pillar in this industry as he continues to raise the bar for those pursuing a
career in gaming and hospitality. This is a well-deserved award.”
—Jeff Voyles, visiting UNLV professor and authority on international gaming
“Bob has been a tremendous friend and mentor throughout my 14 years with the company. He brings out the best
in the people he works with and does it in a very inspiring manner. He has the ability to challenge people in a very
supportive way.”
—Rob Stillwell, vice president of corporate communications for Boyd Gaming
“Bob is a great teacher and a person with very high expectations, and provides the same level of support for you
to achieve those expectations. For those of us who have been lucky enough to be associated with him, we’re
likely to follow in his footsteps in demanding excellence of ourselves and our team members.”
—Sid Vaikunta, assistant general manager of the Suncoast Hotel and Casino
“I first met Bob when I was working at the Stardust in 1983. He approached me personally when the Boyd Group
was named as the interim operator of our casino, as he and Mr. Boyd did with every employee. He introduced
himself to me and my coworkers in a very warm and friendly way. Ultimately, Boyd acquired the Stardust and
it’s been one of the best things to happen to me. It’s been the same consistent and friendly support that I
experienced during that first encounter then and today, and I’m grateful for all that I learned from Bob over these
many years.”
—Audrey Anderson, casino cage and credit manager at The Orleans Hotel and Casino
“Bob is not the type of guy who stands on the sideline. He may not be a household name to the general public,
but he is well known and respected within the industry.”
—Rossi Ralenkotter, president and chief executive officer of the Las Vegas Convention
and Visitors Authority
“Bob Boughner’s reputation for working with people in a manner that allows everyone to reach the pinnacle of
success is manifested in his interactions with us in the UNLV hotel college. His sincerity in wanting to help
students achieve their career goals is never more evident and demonstrated than when he is on campus with
the students and faculty. He is the exemplar of what all of our students should strive for. We are thrilled to be
able to award him our “Alumnus of the Year.”
—Stuart H. Mann, dean of UNLV’s William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration
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PREMIER ≤ SPRING 2009