Meet the Raving Consulting
Company Team! This is the most dynamic set of people you'll ever meet in one
office (two if you count Toby's Las Vegas spread), or so we like to
think:
"Whatever You Need. The Best You Can Get."
 Dennis Conrad
Dennis Conrad is the Founder, President and Chief Strategist of Raving
Consulting Company. He is a Stanford University Graduate with 30 years of
experience in the gaming industry, having held senior level positions at
Harrah's Entertainment Inc. and Circus Circus Enterprises (Casino Marketing
Director, Corporate Vice President of Employee Programs, Director of the William
F. Harrah Institute of Casino Entertainment). He is a much sought-after speaker
at both national and international gaming conferences and is the author of
"Conrad's Corners: Observations on Casinos, Marketing and Life" (Trafford Press,
2004). Known for his innovation and customer focus, Dennis is the soul of Raving
and the inspiration behind its industry trailblazing and business development.
 Steve Browne
Although he carries the title of Vice President and Customer Service Associate,
Steve Browne is not a Raving management employee, but instead a savvy,
independent Raving Branded Partner who has built an entire customer service business under
the Raving banner, utilizing the Raving marketing machine. Steve is a graduate
of the University of Colorado and has 25 years of experience in the gaming
industry, most notably nine years as the owner and general manager of Cactus
Jacks, a customer-focused locals casino in Carson City, Nevada. From this
incredible experience in "customer worship," Steve has created an entire suite
of Raving training products and services. His gaming savvy, extremely
motivational style, and "people focus" have quickly helped Steve to become the
premier customer service resource in the gaming industry. In five short years,
he has worked with over 50 casino clients and created and installed more service
training programs than any individual or company serving the gaming industry.
 Amy Hergenrother
Amy, joined the Raving team in January of 2007 as VP of Business Development. In her new role, surrounded by crazy marketing-minded
folks, Amy is taking Raving to that next level of development. She does this
with her unqualified customer service approach refined after 17 years with Ryder
Transportation Services as a Customer Development Manager. Amy is a graduate of
the University of New Hampshire at Keene State with a BS in Education.
When she's not with Raving clients you can find her golfing, snowmobiling,
fishing - basically wherever the open air and her convertible leads her. Amy is
proud of her involvement with the Dana Farber Cancer Center, Boston, MA and
Carroll County Hospice Program and we are proud to have Amy as part of our
Raving family.
 Christine Faria
Christine Faria joined Raving in January 2001 as the Vice President of
Operations. She is responsible for all of Raving's conferences and seminars,
direct marketing, overseeing office operations, communications, website management and
brand image. She attended California State University Hayward, majoring in
business, and while there she received invaluable experience as the President of
the American Marketing Association's Collegiate Chapter. The consummate
relationship builder with clients, prospects and vendors, Chris refined her
organizational and operational skills before joining Raving, with nine years of
senior management in the recreation and publishing industries. When she's off
work, you'll find her outside - growing and producing gourmet salsa or out
adventuring in her kayak.
 Toby O'Brien
Toby O'Brien has been the Vice President of Marketing for Raving since April of
2001 and operates the Las Vegas office. She is a graduate of the State
University of New York at Oneonta with a B.S. in Speech & Theater. She worked
for 12 years in management with the New York and Colorado March of Dimes. Her
focused and unique casino marketing experience was learned at Bronco Billy's
Casino in Cripple Creek, Colorado, where she was the marketing director for
seven years. It was at this casino market leader in this extremely competitive
environment, where Toby perfected her distinctive craft of listening to
customers and creating the ultimate in a fun, winning, gaming experience. At
Raving, Toby works in the role of developing and executing marketing plans for
casino clients, training inexperienced casino marketing executives in Raving's
signature "way of doing business," and developing new business opportunities for
Raving and its Partners.
 Becky Conrad
Becky Conrad is the Vice President of Finance and co-owner of Raving Consulting
Company. She is responsible for all accounting functions of the company
(payroll, purchasing, accounts payable and receivable, etc.) as well as dealing
with the numerous regulatory and operational entities in North America where
Raving conducts business. Becky is a graduate of the University of Iowa and has
worked in the healthcare, casino and real estate industries. She has been
married to Raving's founder Dennis Conrad for 30 years and has been with Raving
since its inception, bringing her unique blend of operational skills, infectious
personality and "whatever it takes" attitude to Raving employees, clients and
vendors. It is hard to keep Becky in the office when the snow comes however,
snow-shoeing is one of her favorite pastimes including hiking in the Sierra's so
close to Reno's home office.
 Kathy "Kat" Ballew
Kathy, or Kat as friends and family know her, joined Raving in April 2007
and is the sole Native Nevadan representative on the Raving team. Raised in Winnemucca (yes,
that's the real name), and transplanted to Reno, Kathy graduated with a B.A. in
broadcast journalism from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2004. Kathy has
since worked in both administrative and marketing fields and is now training to
become V.P. of All that is Administrative here at Raving. When away from her
training at Raving, you will find Kathy either concocting something in her
kitchen, strolling the mall or watching roller hockey (Go Wolf Pack!).
 Colleen Lenox
Colleen Lenox joined Raving in January of 2008 and comes to us after twenty
years in the hotel and casino industry – most recently at the Mint Casino in
Sparks, NV. Colleen began at Raving as our bookkeeper and has now taken on the
dubious role of Director of Production and Finance. Colleen has worked in
almost every area of hotel and casino operations and attended the Conrad Hilton
School of Hotel Management at the University of Houston. In her spare time,
Colleen enjoys cooking, reading, fishing and she is an avid Cubs fan. Born and
raised in Chicago, she has been a resident of Nevada for the last eighteen
years. Colleen has a great willingness to learn new things and will experience
the casino industry from a new view point here at Raving and we’re happy to have
her as our newest team member.
 Andy
Holtmann
Andy joined
the Raving team in June of 2008 as Vice President of Communications
after more than eight years with Casino Journal. He had been editor of
the gaming industry trade publication since January of 2006. Andy has
also held roles as Managing Editor of the Pahrump Valley Gazette and a
general assignment and government reporter for the Las Vegas Sun. He
is the recipient of more than 15 journalism awards during his storied
career, including Outstanding Journalist of 1998 — the top honor of
the Nevada Press Association. But it was through his work with Casino
Journal that Andy developed a special bond with the gaming industry
and many of the unique personas and perspectives that have shaped it
throughout the years. With Raving, Andy will be responsible for
handling the company’s day-to-day communications and public relations
operations. He will also take a lead role in developing new business
initiatives and company growth strategies. When not working to meet
deadlines, Andy enjoys a variety of hobbies and interests: he is a
musician who formerly played in a number of bands; he loves to cook
and has dabbled with culinary creations; he is an amateur storm
chaser; and is an avid baseball fan.
HOW TO CONTACT RAVING CONSULTING COMPANY
If you are interested in securing the services
of Raving Consulting Company or in implementing a Raving Promotion, please
contact:
Dennis Conrad, President and Chief Strategist
Raving Consulting Company
475 Hill Street, Suite G
Reno, Nevada 89501
Phone: (775) 329-7864
FAX: (775) 329-4947
email: dennis@ravingconsulting.com |
