LAS VEGAS, June 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ameristar Casinos, Inc.(Nasdaq: ASCA) today announced the appointment of Brent Willits as Senior VicePresident and General Manager of Ameristar Council Bluffs, effective June 16.
Willits replaces current Senior Vice President and General Manager TeresaMeyer, who will retire at the end of the month after 13 years with thecompany.
'We're thrilled to have Brent join the Ameristar team,' said AmeristarSenior Vice President of Operations Michelle Shriver, to whom Willits willreport. 'Brent is an experienced casino executive who has worked in a varietyof roles that give him a wonderful perspective on growing an already strongbusiness and offering its guests unparalleled service. He's been recognizedfor his ability to inspire teams to achieve significant goals in guestservice, employee satisfaction and financial operations, which are all areascritical to Ameristar's continuing success.'
Willits joins Ameristar from Harrah's Entertainment, Inc., where he servedas Vice President of Operations at the company's Horseshoe property in BossierCity, La. In that position, he was responsible for overall operations at themarket-leading, full-service casino and hotel, which produced annual revenuesin excess of $275 million. He was promoted to that position from the post ofRegional Vice President of Slots for Harrah's Northwest Louisiana operations.
He began his professional career as a Captain for the American RiverTransportation Company and worked for two other casino companies beforejoining Harrah's in 1993.
'Ameristar Council Bluffs is a successful property in a competitive andvibrant gaming market,' Willits said. 'I am excited to return to my nativeIowa to help lead Ameristar Council Bluffs to an even stronger market positionby building on the company's legacy of fantastic guest service and productquality.'
Willits holds a master's degree in Organizational Psychology fromLouisiana Tech University, and a bachelor's degree, cum laude, in BusinessManagement from Mid-Continent University. He also holds a Commercial PilotLicense and an Unlimited Masters License in the Merchant Marine, the highestlevel of professional qualification among mariners.
Willits is currently involved in many volunteer activities for the UnitedWay, was a member of the United Way Pillar Society and is a volunteer aviatorfor LifeLine Pilots, which provides needy individuals with free airtransportation on small aircraft to distant health care facilities.
