Directors and Officers
Senior Management
Lyle Berman - >
Lyle Berman Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, is a 1964 graduate of the University of Minnesota with a degree in Business Administration. Mr. Berman began his career with Berman Buckskin, his family's leather business. Over the next 16 years, he helped grow the business into a major specialty retailer, with 27 outlets.
When Berman's was sold to W.R. Grace in 1979, he continued as President and Chief Executive Officer and led the company to become one of the country's largest retail leather chains, with over 200 stores nationwide.
Mr. Berman led a management buyout of Berman's in 1987, and in 1988, the company was sold to Melville Corporation and combined to form Wilsons The Leather Experts. In the spring of 1996, Mr. Berman participated along with current Wilsons' management, in the purchase of Wilsons from Melville Corporation.
In 1990, Mr. Berman participated in the founding of Grand Casinos, Inc. Mr. Berman is credited as one of the early visionaries in the development of casinos outside of the traditional gaming markets of Las Vegas and Atlantic City. Grand Casinos became a leader in this segment of the casino entertainment industry, known as "emerging gaming," and in less than five years the company opened eight casino resorts in four states. In 1995, Grand Casinos was named the Fastest Growing Company in America by Fortune magazine.
In 1998, Grand Casinos completed transactions when Grand Casinos' Mississippi assets were merged with the gaming division of Hilton Hotels Corporation to form Park Place Entertainment Corporation now known as Harrahs Entertainment. In 1999, Lakes Entertainment, Inc. was formed as a result of Grand Casinos Indian Casino Management business not being acquired by Park Place Entertainment.
In 1994, Mr. Berman financed the initial development of Rainforest Cafe, an integrated restaurant and retail concept. He served as the Chairman and CEO from 1994 until 2000.
As Chairman of the Board and CEO of Lakes Entertainment, Inc., Mr. Berman was instrumental in creating the World Poker Tour. The symbol is WPTE. In three short years, World Poker Tour revolutionized the game of poker throughout the world.
In October 1995, Mr. Berman was honored with the B'nai B'rith "Great American Traditions Award," in April, 1996, he received the Gaming Executive of the Year Award, and in 2004 Mr. Berman was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame.
Mr. Berman has been instrumental in the creation, development and leadership of several public companies, including:
Chairman of the Board & Chief Executive Officer, Lakes Entertainment, Inc. (LACO.PK)
Chairman of the Board, World Poker Tour Enterprises (NASDAQ: WPTE) until 2009
Chairman of the Board, PokerTek, Inc. (NASDAQ:PTEK) until 2011
When Berman's was sold to W.R. Grace in 1979, he continued as President and Chief Executive Officer and led the company to become one of the country's largest retail leather chains, with over 200 stores nationwide.
Mr. Berman led a management buyout of Berman's in 1987, and in 1988, the company was sold to Melville Corporation and combined to form Wilsons The Leather Experts. In the spring of 1996, Mr. Berman participated along with current Wilsons' management, in the purchase of Wilsons from Melville Corporation.
In 1990, Mr. Berman participated in the founding of Grand Casinos, Inc. Mr. Berman is credited as one of the early visionaries in the development of casinos outside of the traditional gaming markets of Las Vegas and Atlantic City. Grand Casinos became a leader in this segment of the casino entertainment industry, known as "emerging gaming," and in less than five years the company opened eight casino resorts in four states. In 1995, Grand Casinos was named the Fastest Growing Company in America by Fortune magazine.
In 1998, Grand Casinos completed transactions when Grand Casinos' Mississippi assets were merged with the gaming division of Hilton Hotels Corporation to form Park Place Entertainment Corporation now known as Harrahs Entertainment. In 1999, Lakes Entertainment, Inc. was formed as a result of Grand Casinos Indian Casino Management business not being acquired by Park Place Entertainment.
In 1994, Mr. Berman financed the initial development of Rainforest Cafe, an integrated restaurant and retail concept. He served as the Chairman and CEO from 1994 until 2000.
As Chairman of the Board and CEO of Lakes Entertainment, Inc., Mr. Berman was instrumental in creating the World Poker Tour. The symbol is WPTE. In three short years, World Poker Tour revolutionized the game of poker throughout the world.
In October 1995, Mr. Berman was honored with the B'nai B'rith "Great American Traditions Award," in April, 1996, he received the Gaming Executive of the Year Award, and in 2004 Mr. Berman was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame.
Mr. Berman has been instrumental in the creation, development and leadership of several public companies, including:
Chairman of the Board & Chief Executive Officer, Lakes Entertainment, Inc. (LACO.PK)
Chairman of the Board, World Poker Tour Enterprises (NASDAQ: WPTE) until 2009
Chairman of the Board, PokerTek, Inc. (NASDAQ:PTEK) until 2011
Timothy Cope - >
Mr. Cope, is the President, Chief Financial Officer and Director of Lakes Entertainment, Inc. and has been with the organization since the company was formed in December 1998. Prior to that time, Mr. Cope held the positions of Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Director of Grand Casinos, Inc., the company he joined in 1993. While at Grand Casinos, Mr. Cope was involved with the development, financing and management of eight different casino resorts.
Mr. Cope has over twenty-five years of broad-based gaming resort experience with such companies as Bally's Entertainment and MGM Grand, in various operational areas such as table games, slots, keno, cage and credit, food and beverage, and hotels along with the finance and accounting areas.
Mr. Cope is a Licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of Nevada and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from the University of Nevada, Reno. In addition, Mr. Cope holds certificates in computer programming and industrial engineering. He has served as Treasurer and Chairman of the Board of what was then the Bally's Employees Federal Credit Union, President and Director of the Better Business Bureau of Northern Nevada and has worked with many service, church and non-profit organizations throughout the course of his career.
Mr. Cope has over twenty-five years of broad-based gaming resort experience with such companies as Bally's Entertainment and MGM Grand, in various operational areas such as table games, slots, keno, cage and credit, food and beverage, and hotels along with the finance and accounting areas.
Mr. Cope is a Licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of Nevada and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from the University of Nevada, Reno. In addition, Mr. Cope holds certificates in computer programming and industrial engineering. He has served as Treasurer and Chairman of the Board of what was then the Bally's Employees Federal Credit Union, President and Director of the Better Business Bureau of Northern Nevada and has worked with many service, church and non-profit organizations throughout the course of his career.
Board of Directors
Larry Barenbaum - >
Mr. Barenbaum retired from Christopher & Banks Corporation, a large national specialty retailer of women’s apparel in February 2012 having served as Chairman of the Board of Directors since March 1992. Since November 1991, Mr. Barenbaum has engaged in investment activities and has provided consulting services to various companies in the specialty retail and services industries. From 1986 to November 1991, Mr. Barenbaum was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Lawrence Jewelry Company, a fashion, wholesale jewelry distribution company he founded in 1970. He is currently serving as President and investor of Transitions Home Care, a Minnesota corporation.
Lyle Berman - >
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Lakes Entertainment, Inc. since June 1998 and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Grand Casinos, Inc. (the predecessor to Lakes) from October 1991 through December of 1998. Mr. Berman served as President of Lakes from November 1999 until May 2003. Mr. Berman also served as the Executive Chairman of the Board of Ante4, Inc. (formerly WPT Enterprises, Inc.) from its inception in February 2002, and had served as its Chief Executive Officer from February 25, 2005 until April 1, 2005. Mr. Berman was Chairman of the Board of PokerTek, Inc. from 2005 to 2011, and he remains on the board today. Mr. Berman served as Chief Executive Officer of Rainforest Café, Inc. from February 1993 until December 2000. Mr. Berman’s qualifications include his 20 years of experience in the casino industry, his extensive executive experience running large national companies, and his particular strengths include strategic operations and strategy, food and beverage, and retail sales.
Neil Sell - >
Neil I. Sell, has been a director of Lakes since the inception and was formerly a director of Grand Casinos, Inc. Since 1968, Mr. Sell has been engaged in the practice of law in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with the firm of Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand, LLP.
Ray Moberg - >
Mr. Moberg, retired from Ernst & Young, having served thirty-three years with the firm. He was Managing Partner for the firm's Reno office from 1987 through the date of his retirement.
His experience in the public accounting profession included providing accounting and auditing services and financial and management consulting to clients in numerous industries, including gaming industry companies.
Ray has been active in professional and community affairs, serving as a past President for the Nevada Society of Certified Public Accountants, and as a board member for the University of Nevada Reno Accounting Circle, the University of Nevada Reno College of Business Administration Advisory Board, the Reno Philharmonic Association, and the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada. He has a B.S.B.A. degree in accounting from the University of North Dakota, instructed at numerous national Ernst & Young seminars, and served as Office Director of Audit. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Nevada Society of Certified Public Accountants.
His experience in the public accounting profession included providing accounting and auditing services and financial and management consulting to clients in numerous industries, including gaming industry companies.
Ray has been active in professional and community affairs, serving as a past President for the Nevada Society of Certified Public Accountants, and as a board member for the University of Nevada Reno Accounting Circle, the University of Nevada Reno College of Business Administration Advisory Board, the Reno Philharmonic Association, and the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada. He has a B.S.B.A. degree in accounting from the University of North Dakota, instructed at numerous national Ernst & Young seminars, and served as Office Director of Audit. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Nevada Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Timothy Cope - >
Mr. Cope, is the President, Chief Financial Officer and Director of Lakes Entertainment, Inc. and has been with the organization since the company was formed in December 1998. Prior to that time, Mr. Cope held the positions of Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Director of Grand Casinos, Inc., the company he joined in 1993. While at Grand Casinos, Mr. Cope was involved with the development, financing and management of eight different casino resorts.
Mr. Cope has over twenty-five years of broad-based gaming resort experience with such companies as Bally's Entertainment and MGM Grand, in various operational areas such as table games, slots, keno, cage and credit, food and beverage, and hotels along with the finance and accounting areas.
Mr. Cope is a Licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of Nevada and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from the University of Nevada, Reno. In addition, Mr. Cope holds certificates in computer programming and industrial engineering. He has served as Treasurer and Chairman of the Board of what was then the Bally's Employees Federal Credit Union, President and Director of the Better Business Bureau of Northern Nevada and has worked with many service, church and non-profit organizations throughout the course of his career.
Mr. Cope has over twenty-five years of broad-based gaming resort experience with such companies as Bally's Entertainment and MGM Grand, in various operational areas such as table games, slots, keno, cage and credit, food and beverage, and hotels along with the finance and accounting areas.
Mr. Cope is a Licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of Nevada and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from the University of Nevada, Reno. In addition, Mr. Cope holds certificates in computer programming and industrial engineering. He has served as Treasurer and Chairman of the Board of what was then the Bally's Employees Federal Credit Union, President and Director of the Better Business Bureau of Northern Nevada and has worked with many service, church and non-profit organizations throughout the course of his career.
