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Steven M. Rittvo, Chairman, The Innovation Group of Companies Steve Rittvo could listen to you describe a gaming project and tell you how successful it will be. But he doesn't. Instead, this veteran of over 1000 planning studies uses the sophisticated resources of The Innovation Group to perform a variety of market studies and financial analyses to draw conclusions you can literally take to the bank. Steve and his partners founded The Innovation Group in 1993 and have built the firm into the nation's premier provider of consulting services for the gaming, leisure and hospitality industries. As Chairman, Steve is principal-in-charge, providing overall policy direction, technical oversight and manpower allocations for the company. Over the past few years, Steve and partners have formed three more affiliates which can take the recommendations and analysis of The Innovation Group full circle. The four affiliates are united under the banner of The Innovation Group of Companies, which also includes Innovation Capital, LLC, an investment bank with a practice focused on the gaming industry; Innovation Marketing, a full service marketing, advertising and public relations firm; and Innovation Project Development, an owner's representation, multi-disciplined project management services company capable of providing consulting advice or total development oversight. In the course of his career, Steve has participated in gaming studies for clients ranging from major gaming companies, such as Caesars Entertainment, MGM Mirage and Harrah's Entertainment, to riverboat and mid-cap companies to Native American casinos large and small. Government bodies around the world have asked for his analysis, as have Wall Street and the investment banking community. Steve's experience and depth of understanding of the industry have made him a sought-after resource for his opinions and insights. He's been a featured speaker at over 30 gaming conferences. He co-authored a book on the gaming industry published by University of Nevada, Las Vegas. In addition, he is often called in as a qualified expert witness in gaming project feasibility and financial analysis. The U. S. Department of the Interior recently engaged Steve as an expert witness to testify before a NAFTA tribunal, an adjunct of the World Court, in an international dispute involving a financial valuation of a casino operation. As a current member of the Casino Advisory Committee of the Casino Resort Advisory Council of Tulane University, Steve is involved in cultivating educational programs to support the region's growing gaming markets. He is also on the Advisory Committee of the School of Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management at the University of Denver. Steve holds a bachelor's degree in Systems Engineering and a master's in Transportation Planning and Engineering from the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn. He has also completed coursework toward his doctoral degree at the University of New Orleans, College of Urban and Public Affairs. | 