William "Si" Redd, E. Parry Thomas, and Stephen A. Wynn have been announced as the first inductees into the newly established Nevada Business Hall of Fame.
The awards and induction ceremonies are scheduled to take place on February 21, 2002, at the MGM Grand Hotel.
UNLV's College of Business and Andersen - a leading, international professional services firm - created the Nevada Business Hall of Fame to honor Nevada's top business leaders who have significantly contributed to the economic prosperity of Nevada and brought positive recognition to the state.
"It is a great honor to recognize Si Redd, Parry Thomas, and Steve Wynn as the inaugural inductees into the Nevada Business Hall of Fame," said Richard Flaherty, dean of the College of Business. "Their hard work, success in the gaming and banking industries, and leadership have made a tremendous impact on the lives of those who live and work in Nevada."
Steve Comer, managing partner of Andersen's local office remarked, "The Las Vegas office of Andersen is honored to be founding partners with UNLV's College of Business for the Nevada Business Hall of Fame. It will provide a way for our community to honor and recognize business leaders who have contributed so much of their time, energy and business acumen to help make Nevada as successful as it is today."
About the Inductees
William "Si" Redd
In 1980, Redd founded International Game Technology - the world's leading gaming machine manufacturer, headquartered in Reno, Nevada. Redd also became co-owner and developer of the Mesquite Vistas master-planned community and the Oasis Hotel-Casino in Mesquite, Nevada. Throughout his career, Redd stressed the importance of good customer service, which is best shown by the two rules printed on a card that he always carries with him. They read: "1. The customer is always right. 2. If the customer is wrong, please refer to Rule 1." In 1995, Redd and his wife were named "Philanthropists of the Year" at the Fourth Annual National Philanthropist Day conference. Together, the Redds have supported numerous charities and women's assistance programs including Temporary Assistance for Domestic Violence.
E. Parry Thomas
As Chairman of the Board of Valley Bank of Nevada (now Bank of America of Nevada), Thomas helped to create the major funding source for Las Vegas' growth during the 1960s and early 1970s. In addition to his contributions to the area's economic development, Thomas has committed significant resources to the community through his generous donations to local charities and UNLV. Along with Jerome Mack, Thomas provided $1 million to construct the Thomas & Mack arena on the university campus. Additionally, the Thomas & Mack Co., recently gave a gift of $2 million in support of the law clinic at the UNLV William S. Boyd School of Law. Thomas was honored with the "Distinguished Nevadan" award in 1975.
Stephen A. Wynn
Wynn, former chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Mirage Resorts, Inc., is widely credited with transforming Las Vegas into a world-renowned resort destination. The Mirage, which opened in November 1989, quickly changed the paradigm by which all casino hotels have since been designed. The opening of The Mirage ignited a $12 billion building boom, catapulting Las Vegas into the fastest-growing city in the United States and the number one tourism destination in the country. Wynn's latest Las Vegas Strip project, recreating The Desert Inn, is currently underway. Wynn is active in a multitude of community affairs and is a past recipient of an honorary doctorate degree from UNLV.
Redd, Thomas, and Wynn were selected for induction into the Nevada Business Hall of Fame by members of the College of Business Executive Advisory Board. Board members include senior Nevada business leaders from a variety of industries.
The inaugural Nevada Business Hall of Fame awards ceremony will take place February 21, 2002 at the MGM Grand Hotel. The awards ceremony will include a reception and dinner. Tickets for the event are $150. Corporations or individuals may purchase tables for $1,500 each. Advance tickets may now be purchased by calling UNLV's College of Business at 895-3362.
Andersen's Las Vegas office will provide support for administration and publicity, and donate more than $45,000 to UNLV's College of Business for the Nevada Business Hall of Fame.
For additional information about the Nevada Business Hall of Fame, or the awards ceremony, call Darin Hollingsworth, director of development at UNLV's College of Business, at (702) 895-3362.
Andersen was founded in 1913 as an accounting and business advisory firm. Today, it offers a broad range of professional services in consulting, assurance, tax, corporate finance and, in certain countries, legal services. Andersen, which employs more than 85,000 professionals in 84 nations, is rated among the best places to work by leading publications, including Fortune magazine, and others. It also consistently is rated first in independent surveys of client satisfaction. Andersen has enjoyed uninterrupted growth since 1913. Its 2001 revenues totaled US$9.3 billion. Learn more at www.andersen.com.
