Harrahs San Diego

Robert Wagner Brings Fun to Annual Chamber Awards Dinner

“Our annual meetings are usually stodgy, but this year everyone was laughing and enjoying themselves,” Rosen said of the awards night at Maderas Golf Club in Poway dedicated to honoring local businessmen and women.

Among those laughing were this year's award winners, which included local businesses and individuals, who were recognized for their work in nine business categories. The winners were chosen by a panel of judges from various media organizations, separate from the chamber, Rosen said.

“The winners are recognized as the brightest business leaders and companies in the region,” Rosen said.

This year’s Visionary Award went to San Diego City Councilman Carl DeMaio for his efforts against Proposition D, the proposed half-cent increase to San Diego’s city sales tax.

“Without our efforts to shoot down that proposition, we would not be celebrating such accomplishments tonight,” DeMaio said.

Debbie Dorsee was given the Volunteer of the Year award, followed by Rosemary Duff Florist, who won the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Business of the Year award went to ESET, an IT security company that was founded in Bratislava, Slovakia but now has branches in San Diego and across the world.

“It feels great to have an award dedicated to our efforts,” said Darin Andersen, a San Diego representative from ESET. “I'm happy to see them recognized.”

Ira Leavens of Coastline Office Solutions, an office supply company, was awarded the Entrepreneur of the Year award.

This year's business leader award winners were Liz Frauman, and Janet Beronio of Harrah's Rincon Casino, who was awarded the Exemplary Business Leader award.

“It is terrific to be honored by the chamber,” Beronio said. “It's a great reflection of our company.”

Winners in the non-profit category were: The Elizabeth Hospice, the Center for Compassionate Care and the Family Justice Center Alliance.

Recipients in the Women in Business category were Tracy Sekhon for her work in Sekhon Insurance, and Laurie Edwards-Tate for her home care aide business.

“I am touched and grateful to the San Diego North County Chamber,” Edwards-Tate said. “We are proud to do our part for women in business."

Winners in the small business category were: Athens Market Cafe in Carmel Mountain Ranch and San Diego Car Care.

7 March 2003 --- Tribal Casinos Seek More Slots - lesliebrodie's ...

By Liz Benston

LAS VEGAS -- Two tribal casinos in California managed by Las Vegas companies may seek an increase in the number of slot machines they are allowed under existing state compacts, representatives say.

Harrah's Entertainment Inc. manages the Harrah's Rincon Casino and Resort near San Diego for the Rincon San Luiseno Band of Mission Indians. Station Casinos Inc. will manage and is developing the upcoming Thunder Valley Casino near Sacramento for the United Auburn Indian Community.

Both tribes have recently joined a coalition of 21 California tribes that became the first in the state to formally announce their desire to discuss sharing casino revenue with the state in exchange for expanding the number of slot machines at their casinos, among other issues.

California tribes now may offer up to 2,000 devices each.

In a letter to California Gov. Gray Davis last month, the coalition said it recognizes that "the exercise of rights triggers responsibilities, including the obligation to fairly mitigate off-reservation impacts of future development."

The coalition -- representing a cross-section of tribes with both large and small casinos as well as tribes without casinos -- expects to negotiate a variety of issues with the governor beginning this month. It also aims to distance itself from other tribes that have been critical of the governor's plan to extract $1.5 billion in revenue from the state's tribal casinos.

The Auburn tribe may ask for more slot machines because it is closer to urban areas that can support greater demand, said Howard Dickstein, a Sacramento attorney representing Auburn and other coalition tribes.

John Currier, chairman of the Rincon tribe, said it expects to negotiate the ability to add more slots at some point in the future when the property has matured.

Fees for new slots must be reasonable, however, Currier said.

"If another (tribal casino) open for 10 years is willing to pay more, we wouldn't be able to afford it at this time."

Slots have start-up costs and may only be profitable during peak weekend periods, he said. And competition has intensified.

The Rincon casino is within a 20 mile radius of five tribal casinos -- the most dense casino market in California.

"It used to be, 'Build it and they will come,' " Currier said. "Conditions have changed. You really have to go out and find new customers. It's very difficult to get existing casino customers to go to your casino.

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