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Keynote Speakers
L. Ronald
Forman A past president of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, Ron Forman began his tenure with Audubon Park and Zoological Garden in l972 as City Hall liaison. Made Deputy Director in l973 and Executive Director in l977, the major transformation of Audubon Zoo from an "urban ghetto" to an "urban Eden" was under way. During the 80's, the Audubon Nature Institute, Inc. evolved from the Friends of the Zoo organization and assumed operation of Audubon Park and Zoo. Plans were made, with overwhelming voter support, for a downtown park and aquarium. Woldenberg Riverfront Park opened in l989 and was followed in l990 by the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas. Forman serves locally on the boards of the New Orleans Business Council and the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau. Nationally, he is on the Board of Directors of the American Association of Museums. He is also on the Advisory Committee of Chimp Haven and a Senior Fellow at Georgia Tech Center for Conservation and Behavior, Forman is a New Orleans native and a graduate of Louisiana State University. Married to the former Sally Gelpi, he is the father of three, Dan, Cassidy, and McClain and grandfather of one, Jack.
W. Owen Nitz W. Owen Nitz is the Managing Partner of Nitz, Walton & Heaton, Ltd. in Las Vegas. His practice areas include gaming law, construction law and real estate development law. Nitz was recently named co-recipient of the inaugural IMGL Gaming Executives of the Year award, along with Jeffrey M. Cooper, CPA with Bradshaw Smith & Co. in Las Vegas. Together they are the co-trustees of the former Imperial Palace, now IP Biloxi. Nitz was admitted to the bar in 1960 in Colorado and Nevada. He has earned degrees at South Dakota State College of A&M. Arts and University of Denver (B.S., 1958); and University of Denver (LL.B., 1959). Phi Delta Phi. His career began as anAssociate Municipal Judge, City of North Las Vegas, 1964-1971. President, Clark County Legal Aid Society, 1967-1968. Member: Clark County and American Bar Associations; State Bar of Nevada (Member: Committee to Study Incorporation for Lawyers, 1963-1976; Civil Practice and Procedure Committee, 1963-1975; Mechanics Lien Committee, 1972-1977). Practice Areas: Gaming Law; Construction Law; Real Estate Development Law; Condemnation.
Jerry St
Pe’ Jerry St Pe’ is the chairman of the Mississippi Gaming Commission. He is a former president of Ingalls Shipbuilding and retired executive vice president of the shipyard’s parent company, Litton Industries. He played a major role in the Ingalls/State of Mississippi partnership that resulted in the construction in Jackson County of the first new 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. St Pe’ 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 chairman of the Foundation’s Board of Directors and as chairman of the Foundation’s Partners in Progress campaign for public/private financial support for economic development. He was founding member of the Mississippi Partnership for Economic Development and served as its chairman. St Pe’ was named a Laureate in the Mississippi Business Hall of Fame for his contributions to Mississippi economy, and 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.
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