Colorado Gambler honors long-time gaming industry employees over past 20 years

As the gaming industry and the Colorado Gambler will celebrate 20 years on Oct. 1, the Gambler wanted to recognize some of the hard working people that have served the industry. Congratulations to the casinos, employees and anyone who’s been there since the beginning – or almost.

This week the long-time employees being recognized come from The Gilpin, Riviera, Century, Famous Bonanza/Easy Street casinos and Cripple Creek. The Gambler will feature more next week, and if you’ve been in the industry for a long time, please feel free to submit your 50 word bio and photo to us at gambler@villagerpublishing.com.

Pam Nissen – Gilpin Cage Manager
In 1991, Pam Nissen was working at a casino in South Dakota when she moved to Colorado to help open the Gold Mine. Pam helped open Fitzgerald’s and The Lodge casinos. At the present, she is the Cage Manager of The Gilpin in Black Hawk, which is a sister casino to the Lodge.
As Pam said, “I have enjoyed my 20 years in gaming.”

Carolyn Burlingame – Riviera Cage Manager
Carolyn Burlingame started her career in gaming 20 years ago at the Wild Card Casino working as a Key on Duty. Twenty years later, Carolyn has watched casino’s come and go, watched all the changes that have marked the growth of the gaming industry and met some truly interesting people.

Carolyn has spent the last 11 of those years at the Riviera Black Hawk Casino.  She started at The Riv in 2000 as a Key on Duty.  Three years ago she became the Riviera’s Cage Manager.  She has worked at the Eureka, Black Hawk Station, Bronco Billy’s and Coyote Creek.  She says that one of the most intriguing things that she has witnessed over the last 20 years has been watching the industry grow into what it is today.

When you sit down and talk to Carolyn you find yourself drawing parallels between the pioneering spirit of those that first discovered gold in Gregory Gulch in 1859 and those that are still drawn to this gulch in 2011 either for work or for leisure.  The unique personalities of those that spend their days on the hill are the people that keep Carolyn coming back for the fun, entertainment and merriment. It also does not hurt that Carolyn is still working for the best-looking GM on the mountain.

Kari and Jerry – Entertainers
Kari and Jerry wanted to wish everyone in the gaming industry and the Colorado Gambler a happy 20th anniversary. Although Kari and Jerry are not actually employees of the gaming industry, they have worked in Black Hawk for more than 17 years playing music. Their next gig is set for Oct. 14-16 at the Riviera Casino.

Judy Laratta – Century
Judy Laratta began her food & beverage career at the Playboy Club in Chicago in 1967, and finished it in Colorado casinos.  In October 1991, she opened the Teller House as a bartender, in March 1992 she opened the Glory Hole, and in October 1992 she opened The Gilpin, where she stayed until 2000.  Since then she has worked at Colorado Central Station, the Mardi Gras and Easy Street.  Her final casino was the Ameristar, from which she retired this past July, after 44 years of fun.

Dianna Johnson  – Century Revenue Manager
Dianna Johnson started with Colorado gaming October 1991 as a change person. She went into the Cage as a cashier within six months, was Cashier Manager for awhile then went into Revenue Audit which is a whole different side of the casino industry. She has also worked as a Compliance Manager for about three years and now she has served as the Revenue Manager for Century Casino from 2007 to present and loves it. Dianna said there is never a boring moment in the casino industry and she has had the opportunity to meet some of the greatest people along the way.

Mickey Rosenbaum – Century General Manager
Mickey Rosenbaum has been involved in Colorado gaming since 1991.  He got his start by operating a restaurant in the Turf Club Casino in Cripple Creek.   Mickey expanded into gaming operations by opening the Old Chicago Casino in Cripple Creek as the GM and then joined the management team for Bronco Billy’s.

Mickey moved to Black Hawk in 1994 and served as the GM of Bronco Billy’s, The Gilpin and Lodge casinos from 1994-2003.  After a short career diversion in Arizona, Mickey returned in 2006 to open Century Casino in Central City where he continues to serve as the GM.

Nan Wood  – Century
Nan Wood has been involved in Colorado gaming since 1993.  In 18 years, she has been a slot club host, cashier, main banker, slot floor attendant and casino shift manager.  She says that this has been her most rewarding and exciting career, and that she loves her job and her casino, the Century.

Ann Dodson – Famous Bonanza/Easy Street General Manager
Ann, Her husband Ed and their two children Jesse and Leah moved from Davis, Calif., in 1991 to help “the family” start the Famous Bonanza Casino.  After a short stint in Human Resources, she became General Manager in November 1992 and is still GM for Famous Bonanza and Easy Street casinos.  She loves the daily challenges of her job and the opportunity to work with her daughter, Leah (who was 10 in 1992).

Brad Hentschel – Famous Bonanza/Easy Street Slot Manager, CQC
Brad helped open The Famous Bonanza in 1992.  He is married to Sue and their son Jeff is now an active member of the working “family” at the Famous Bonanza and Easy Street.  Brad wears many hats, including Slot Manager and “Chief of Quality Control.”  He actively assists in marketing, and is looking forward to playing more golf.

Dan Baader, former Cripple Creek mayor  
John Sharpe, longtime Cripple Creek resident
Former Cripple Creek Mayor Dan Baader, pictured here with longtime resident John Sharpe, did much in recent years to improve Cripple Creek’s infrastructure.

Boston – Uncle Sam’s
Everyone in Cripple Creek knew Boston, pictured here at Uncle Sam’s Casino in 2006. Boston died earlier this year from cancer, but is very fondly remembered by many.

Jeff and Missie Trenary – Bennett Station and CCDM
Jeff and Missie Trenary have worked in the gaming industry in the past. Jeff, a former blackjack dealer, now bartends at Bennett Station. Missie works at the Cripple Creek District Museum and is a former writer for The Gambler.