The Godfather's Executive Brief – Some of you have been on the newsletter list for 20 years; others are brand new this month. Welcome one and all! This newsletter is published monthly for my friends, clients and business partners. Just my way of staying in touch. Distribution is 7,000+ executives worldwide. Free of charge: No advertisements, press releases or advertorials. Not available by subscription or to the public. Follow me on LinkedIn and/or Twitter (@GodfatherWaym) for the latest industry announcements.

Opt Outs - If you do not wish to receive the newsletter, simply opt out. I certainly don’t want to spam anyone! Not offended, but once you opt out…you are OUT. Don’t send me your resume in six months. Life is about relationships, not transactions.

BREAKING NEWS!: Gaming Control Board Says Allegations Against RWLV President Scott Sibella Unfounded - Which came surprise...to no one. There is an important lesson here. Just because you say something, especially on the nightly news, does not make it true. There is a second lesson as well. Disclose, disclose, disclose! When Resorts World Las Vegas became aware of the conflict, they immediately disclosed it to the NGCB.

BREAKING NEWS!: Monkey Knife Fight Bites the Dust - Bally’s shuttered Monkey Knife Fight a little more than two years after paying $90 million for the fantasy sports platform — a deal that will go down as one of the bigger corporate missteps in legalized gambling history.

BREAKING NEWS!: EKG Slot Awards - I was a presenter at the annual EKG Slot Awards last week. The category: Best Performing Game by an Emerging Supplier. The winner, as I announced from the stage, "He is emerging no longer. It's Devil' Lock, Bluberi and my main man...ANDREW BURKE!" Congratulations! EKG also highlighted a great charity that provides a free summer camp for children with heart disease, Camp del Corazon. Find out more HERE.

What the World Needs Now – No politics, protests or Pandemics; just a few positive thoughts to start your day. Y’all seem to love these, so I’ll keep them coming.

Quote of the Month – This is not a dress rehearsal for the real thing. This IS the real thing…so enjoy it. (W.C. Fields)

Client Quote of the Month – The Executive Assistant you found me is wonderful and professional. She (and you) have significantly improved the quality of my life. (Renato Ascoli, CEO Global Gaming, IGT)

Job Seekers: Advice for the 2023 Recession (Article of the Month) – As the economy slows, five things to keep in mind when seeking a new career opportunity.

The Godfather’s Sit Down (May, Red Rock Resort) – My semi-famous client mixer in the Penthouse at Red Rock Resort. Appetizers, adult beverages and 100+ friends, clients and business partners. Thank you to our Sponsors: John Connelly (Interblock), Nick Khin (IGT) and Sanjiv Goyal (Droisys).

Hiring Update: The Great Resignation is Now the Great Regret – Payrolls increased by a stunning 517,000 in January, far exceeding expectations. Let’s be crystal clear: These are NOT new jobs. A little louder for those in the back of the room: NOT NEW JOBS. This is 517,000 people forced back to work due to historic inflation. The CPI and PPI, measures of inflation, came in higher than expected. The Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index, the government’s preferred measure of inflation...surged. Translation: Fed interest rate hikes to date had almost zero impact. Expect three more hikes this year. Here are a few of the headwinds:

Help Wanted: Open Jobs – Here are a few of my newer searches. Full list can be found at the end of the newsletter. If you are currently looking for a new career opportunity, shoot me over a resume to mwayman2@cox.net. Always on the hunt for top talent!

Known Associates: Executives for Hire – Have several new high quality candidates in my stable. If you are looking for A+ talent, you came to the right place. If you would prefer to review quality candidates instead of shuffling unqualified resumes, give me a call.

To Whom Much is Given, Much is Required – My Dad used to say, “Those that take the elevator to the top have an obligation to send it back down for the others.” A portion of each executive placement is donated to charity. THANK YOU to our clients that allow us to give back. This quarter’s featured charities:

Executive Recruiting: Hire the Right People...the First Time! – Clients engage me for two reasons. First, I have access to 7,000+ high quality executives. Second, I know why everyone got fired the last 20 years. For more information: mwayman2@cox.net.

Entertainment Booking - Representing a dozen great tribute bands, artists and performers. Ticketed or VIP shows. Venues of 500 to 2,500. Looking for outstanding entertainment that will sell out your venue? The Godfather is your man!

Anne Wayman (Alera Insurance Group) – The Pandemic has resulted in the largest insurance rate hikes in history. You need an expert with a lifetime of insurance experience to get you the right coverage and the best rates. My wife ANNE WAYMAN is with The Alera Group, specializing in Property/Casualty, E&O, Workman's Comp and Group Benefits. Anne can be reached at 702.496.1065 or Anne.Wayman@aleragroup.com.

Las Vegas Strip: Good News, Bad News - Visited The Strip twice this month. First, the good news, business is solid. It was crowded everywhere I went. Now the bad news: Very tough customer demographic. Thought we were past all this. There were actually two gun related shootings in the last 30 days. Let's be careful out there!

Gaming Insurance: Tales from the Trenches - My wife Anne is an expert on gaming insurance, and occasionally she highlights real life examples of why business insurance is so important. Direct comments an questions to Anne at Anne.Wayman@aleragroup.com.

Osage Investigates Former CEO BYRON BIGHORSE’S Lavish Expenses – Watch the video. Beluga Caviar and $1,800 bottles of scotch. Over 1,000 pages of documentation. Time for a career change.

Epic $10,000,000 Gambling Spree at Wynn Las Funded by Fraud Scheme – On a future episode of “American Greed”, Sara Jacqueline King of Orange County stole $10.2MM, moved into the Wynn Las Vegas hotel/casino and gambled 24/7. She currently has $11.98 in her bank account.

Lawsuit: Wynn Las Vegas Blackjack Dealer Continued to Deal as Man Had Heart Attack – A man experiencing cardiac arrest and later died was slumped over a blackjack table at Wynn Las Vegas for more than 15 minutes while the dealer continued to deal cards to another player, according to a wrongful death lawsuit filed this week in District Court.

NFL Players Indicted in Cromwell Brawl – Let’s party at a nightclub they said. It will be fun they said. Ain’t alcohol grand?

Nevada Governor Declares State of Emergency Over Gasoline Leak – The leak, which was resolved in less than a day, created hours’ long lines in Las Vegas. I knew we had Bighorn Sheep in Boulder City, but was unaware of how many resident sheep we have.

Red Rock National Park Turns Away Visitors: SOLD OUT – Be sure to make a reservation if you plan to visit the park.

Woman Steals $100,000 in Cash, Casino Chips and Jewelry From Las Vegas Strip Customer – Please stop picking up hookers at the casino bar.

Las Vegas Home Sales Plunge; Down 37% Year Over Year – One survey showed 75% of homebuyers the last two years now regret their decision.

MSG Sphere President is Gone – Reportedly due to cost overruns. That’s what we really need in Las Vegas: Another arena.

US Uses $400,000 Missile to Shoot Down $12 Balloon – A balloon declared “missing in action” by a hobbyist club has emerged as a candidate for explaining one of the three UFOs shot down U.S. fighter jets. Your tax dollars at work.

The Fleecing of America: $560B in COVID Fraud – Donald Trump and Joe Biden gave away over $5T dollars during the Pandemic. I don’t care about the politics – there is plenty of blame to go around. What I do care about is the bar tab we left for our children and grandchildren. Of that $5T, over 10% ($560B) was fraudulent, in many cases by criminals not even from this country. What a sad legacy to leave future generations.

Blame the CEOs at Google, Facebook, Amazon and Salesforce for Layoffs – Tech CEOs screwed up, but employees pay the price. For the record, SUNDAR PICHAI, CEO of Google parent company Alphabet, made $280,000,000 in compensation in 2019.

Amazon Employees Express Anger and Dismay About Return-To-Office Policy – Would you like some cheese to go with your whine?

CDC Says Teen Girls Caught in a Wave of Extreme Sadness – One solution is to spend less time on social media comparing yourself to others. Many people paint a false picture of their lives. That $100,000 car…is leased. That expensive house on the hill…was debt financed, and soon may be in foreclosure due to rising interest rates. That expensive vacation was…debt financed on a credit card, and that person may be forced into bankruptcy due to rising interest rates. Being happy doesn’t mean having it all. It means being thankful for all you have.

New York vs. Florida, by the Numbers – This Wall Street Journal Article shows the stunning fiscal differences between New York and Florida. Despite have 3,000,000 more residents, Florida’s state budget is less than half that of New York. The difference is even more dramatic when you look at taxes. The state of New York imposes a 10.9% state tax rate, and the blended state/city rat in NYC is 15.4%. Do you know what the blended Miami, Florida rate is? ZERO. A little louder for the people in the back of the room: ZERO. To summarize, Florida has a zero state/city tax rate, yet requires less than half the state budget of New York. In what the New York Post called, “A staggering exodus”, over 61,000 New Yorkers relocated to Florida in 2021, and another 65,000 fled to Florida in 2022.

California’s Population Drops by 500,000 in Two Years as Exodus Continues – Oppressive taxes, rising crime. What’s not to like?

Orlando Most Expensive Destination for Family Vacations – Disneyland and Disney World is for rich people.

Golden Knight Goalie ROBIN LEHNER Files Bankruptcy - Golden Knights goalie Robin Lehner and his wife, Donya, owe creditors $27.3 million against personal property of $5.1 million, according to documents filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Las Vegas.

Astounding 53% of Students Have Cheated with ChatGPT – Growing up, my Dad told me, “Your reward in this world is equal to your contribution.” I have worked like a sled dog since I was a teenager. There have always been people that try to game the system; however my experience is the situation has escalated since the start of the Pandemic.

Las Vegas Ticket Prices Soar – The only show I ever attended worth $300 was Celine Dion. Here are a few upcoming Las Vegas shows, along with their ticket prices. Ringo Starr at the Venetian ($550), Franki Valli at The Westgate ($525) and Barry Manilow ($330). Egads!

Things I’m Obsessed With This Month – A few of my thoughts on major headlines and topics of interest.

Godfather on a Roll! – Several executive placements the last 30 days. As my friends know, I’m not a sales or business development person. Executive Recruiting is what I do to help my friends and fund a dozen local and national charities. Trust me, executive recruiting is a pretty thankless business. Rarely get a thank you, so it’s always humbling to actually get a note of appreciation. This is from the head of Human Resources from a recent client engagement, “I have been very appreciative of your services, your outstanding sense of this business, your quality candidates, and mostly your great sense of humor during this time. They said you were the best, and I am a believer.” THANK YOU to the clients and candidates that make this possible!

Fontainebleau Las Vegas Biggest Project in the U.S. – For those that are trying to figure out what’s going on at Fontainebleau Las Vegas, my understanding is STEPHEN SINGER (CFO, friend of the family) and BRENT MUFSON (promoted to President CLIFF ATKINSON’S old role) are running the show. Don’t know them, never met them. Rumor is they tried to recruit BILL MCBEACH, and then SCOTT SIBELLA. Nope! FBLV loaded up on Cosmopolitan and MGM Resorts executives. They are trying to open in time for Formula One this November, but one insider told me, “They would be lucky to be open by the Super Bowl in February 2024.” We’ll be rooting for you!

Talking Stick Resort and Casino Arizona Have a New CEO: JOHN DINIUS – John was previously with The Sycuan (17 years) and Table Mountain (3 years). Congratulations John!

Aruze Gaming Files Bankruptcy – Aruze has never been the same since CEO KELCEY ALLISON left. They are a former client that treated me poorly and liked to litigate over frivolous issues. Do I celebrate their BK? I do not. Do I think karma is the most patient gangster ever? I do. Heard former President Rob Ziems already landed at AGS.

CAMERON STEINAGEL is the new CEO at Table Mountain.

LEE FENTON, formerly CEO at Bally’s Corporation…has left the building. ROBESON REEVES will succeed him as CEO.

ADAM CHIBIB is Chairman of the Board at AGS – American Gaming Systems.

SHANE VALENTINE was promoted to GM at Maverick Gaming.

MICHAEL CLIFFORD is SVP, Casino Operations at Fontainebleau Las Vegas.

ADAM PACKER is SVP, Legal & Compliance at PrizePicks. He was formerly with IGT.

Kansas City Chiefs Win Super Bowl – Down 24-14 at the half with the possibility that Patrick Mahomes was injured and out of the game, the Kansas City Chiefs took it to the Eagles in the second half. For those say that last Eagles pass interference play should be a non-call, I say that fourth quarter Philly pass was a catch, a fumble and a KC touchdown. Anybody can win. The test of character is being gracious in defeat. By the way, you know what the profit margin was at Las Vegas sports books? 3.6%.

All the Lonely People, Where Do They All Come From? - Las Vegas gained 300,000 new Residents during the Pandemic, or about 8%. This chart shows where people are coming from. About one third move her from Los Angeles, but you already knew that based on our traffic and dangerous driving conditions.

State of the Union: BIDEN Vows to Outlaw Resort Fees – Finally, something the two of us can agree upon. As a customer, just tell me how much the room is – one price, no additional fees. What I see on your web site…is what I pay. Don’t care if it’s $100 a night or $1,000 a night. Customers want to compare apples to apples. RESORT FEES are perceived as sneaky and greedy.

Vic’s Las Vegas - I hate to give away my trade secrets, however this new jazz club and restaurant is sensational. Owned by our friends PAUL/SUE LOWDEN, it will be our new “go to” when attending Broadway shows at the Smith Center. The Lowden's previously owned The Sahara, Hacienda, Pioneer and Santa Fe casinos. They are also one of my wife Anne’s insurance clients. Congratulations on the opening kids!

ALBERT MENCHACA is GM at Coyote Valley Casino.

VANESSA CARNOWSKI was promoted to Director, Recruiting at Everi.

SONJA RAEZ is VP, Finance at Margaritaville Resort Casino.

LINCHUL SHIN was promoted to Sr. Director, Food and Beverage at Yaamava’ Casino.

BEN BREUNIG was promoted to Sr. Director, Central Region Sales at IGT.

RONALD MOORE is Director, Marketing at Rain Rock Casino.

DERIC BROWN was promoted to Sr. Director, Operations at Derby City Gaming for Churchill Downs.

Wind Creek Hospitality acquired Magic City Casino in Miami.

Station Casinos opened The Wildfire on Fremont in Las Vegas.

BURT BACHARACH, Oscar Winning Composer, 94.

RAQUEL WELCH, Actress, 82.

RICHARD BELZER, Actor – Law and Order SVU, 78.

TIM MCCARVER, Major League Baseball All-Star, 81.

CONRAD DOBLER, NFL Star, 72.

BOBBY HULL, Hockey All-Star, 84.

Elevate – My friend ROB JENSEN asked me to be on his podcast. Rob is specializes in high end Las Vegas real estate. He is also a world class rock climber. In this episode we discuss my background, client events, charity and what Las Vegas can expect in 2023.

Faces of Gaming: Mark Wayman (CDC) – Thank you to long-time marketing executive TOM OSIECKI for this interview. He asked great questions, and the interview gives a nice high level summary of my business model.

The Truth About Social Security – No one is cutting Social Security. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever. Not Republicans, not Democrats. It would be political suicide, and career politicians are obsessed with retiring on their government pensions. Social Security increased by 8.7% this year. For those that retire recently, your timing is impeccable!

The Good Life: World’s Longest Scientific Study Determines #1 Happiness Factor – In “The Good Life”, authors Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz recap the world’s longest happiness study; 85 years by Harvard Adult Development. The key to happiness and well-being is RELATIONSHIPS. With your family, spouse, children, friends and co-workers. My whole life I have said, “God, family and friends…everything else is a bonus.” I was not wrong.

New Captain, New Sailors – A major Las Vegas Strip casino is laying off, and it gives me the opportunity to reiterate an important business lesson: New Captain, new Sailors. If you think you are indispensable - wrong. If you think your company can’t live with you - wrong. On the other hand, if you think the new President is going to hire all his buddies…THAT is correct!

The Gold Rush is Over: Companies are Laying Off, Not Hiring – It was fun while it lasted, yes? Huge, unjustified pay increases due to the challenging talent market. Well, my friends, the gold rush is over. Companies are no longer hiring – they are laying off. For the last 60 days I’m overwhelmed with ridiculous compensation requests from executives “in career transition.” This just in from a good friend of mine, and it is exceptional advice, “Mark, you are spot on about the market and compensation. Years ago when my company filed for bankruptcy, my VP position was eliminated. Was fortunate to get a shift manager job at NYNY (thank you Felix Rappaport!) for less than half the money I was making at my VP gig. But I was ecstatic to have a job! With a family to feed, kids going to college, a mortgage, and the cost of health insurance, I needed to work. For the next 20 years I worked my way up the corporate ladder and retired as an SVP. What you made or did in the past is irrelevant when you have obligations.”

The Godfather on Happiness: Drink Good Coffee, Eat Good Food – In “The Good Life” the world’s longest and most exhaustive study of happiness reveals a few surprising twists about happiness.

The Godfather on “Moral Compass” – Let’s face it, not everybody plays fair. I compete against Executive Recruiters that send their clients on Caribbean cruises and to the PGA Masters. They buy clients $1,000 dinners and $500 rounds of golf, followed by alcohol infused all nighters at the strip club. The most you are getting from The Godfather is a book, a cigar or an invite to my client mixer. So to every sales executive that had to compete on an uneven playing field…take the road less traveled. Because without integrity, nothing else matters.

The Two Golden Rules of Executive Recruiting – Although 85%of career opportunities come via your professional network; another 10% come through Executive Recruiters, and they tend to be the best jobs. Here are the two most important rules to remember.

When Your Work Fills in for Your Faith…That’s a Problem – Worshipping work comes at a steep price. Family, relationships, hobbies…and spirituality.

The Monkeys and the Rainstorm: 3 Strategies for Riding Out the Storm –Always take a long-term career view, value relationships and plan for a rainy day.

The Good Samaritan: Carefully Consider Your Legacy – Most of us are familiar with this parable from the Bible. Which one are you?

Your Opinion is Not Required – LinkedIn is the new Twitter. Before you start ranting about politics, consider that your boss, employer and peers can see your diatribe. Don’t do it. We call it a CLM (career limiting move).

Never, Ever Quit! - Of all the lessons my Dad taught me, this was the most valuable: Never, ever quit.

On the Bookshelf 

The Life Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck – The subtitle says it all, “How to Stop Spending Time You Don’t Have Doing Things You Don’t Want to Do With People You Don’t Like.” This is a life changing book. The primary lesson is to set boundaries. Here is your trinity: Time, Energy, Money. If you are like me, you get a dozen new requests daily. Events, meetings, phone calls, texts and hundreds of emails. Although I respond to every request, most of those are a simple “no thank you” or “I can’t add value for you.” Don’t let the energy vampires suck you into their vortex! I’m rarely on social media and I have a “no drama” clause for candidates. Read the book and take your life back.

Half Time: Moving from Success to Significance – Some of you may be wondering about the charity aspect of my business. When we sold SRD (counter-terrorism software company funded by the CIA) to IBM in 2004, I took an early retirement. A friend gave me a book called Half Time that described living a life of service. Be a giver, not a taker. Two weeks later a CEO asked if I could identify some FBI talent. He said, “You are on the Board of Make-A-Wish – donate the money to charity.” Now 18 years later we are still doing it!

Rich Dad, Poor Dad What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! – The number one personal finance book of all time. My Dad ony taught me two lessons on finance. First, spend less than you make. Second, if you can’t pay cash…you can’t have one.

The Algebra of Happiness – What's the formula for a life well lived? How can you have a meaningful career, not just a lucrative one? Is work/life balance possible? What are the elements of a successful relationship? One of my new favorites!

Game Over: The Inside Story of the Greek Crisis – This could be what happens to the US economy over the next the next two or three years. A cautionary tale for those that think socialism works.

When McKinsey Comes to Town – The poster child for, “Profits over people.”Another good for your reading list.

If 100 People Lived on Earth - Fascinating! Watch the video and understand how exceptionally blessed we are.

Internet Rallies Around 72 Year Old Pizza Delivery Woman that Fell – A GoFundMe raised $234,00 and she will be retiring!

Adventure of a Lifetime – A Grandmother and Grandson find a way to mend their relationship, one national park at a time.

The Toll of Layoff Anxiety – Who remembers Depression 2.0 in 2008? How about MGM2020? I have always felt, “cut once, cut deep” is the best strategy for a RIF. When you drag it out of several months its soul crushing for the employees.

Parthenon Capital Acquires Global Payments – This is a BIG one for CEO Chris Justice. Congratulations!

ICE Sets Attendance Record: 40,000 – Several attendees told me the trade show was hopping.

Red Rock Resorts Revenue Stable and Healthy – The numbers were down slightly, but reflect my prediction last year: “Locals” companies (RRR, Boyd, Golden) will weather the Recession better than most due to the 400,000 Californians that retired in Las Vegas during the Pandemic. Locals casinos will be less affected by the downturn.

Macao has January Rebound - Macao reported its highest monthly gaming revenue figures in three years, and an 82.5 percent increase over last year.

Make-A-Wish – Make-A-Wish creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. We seek to bring every eligible child's wish to life because every child deserves a childhood.

Catholic Charities - Since 1941, the mission of Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada has been to serve those in need; the most vulnerable, regardless of race, religion or creed.

Adam’s Place – Support for children and families experienced loss. Mostly children that lost a parent or a sibling.

Noah’s Animal House - Noah's is a full-service pet facility located right on the grounds of a domestic violence shelter.

Central Christian Church – A place where it’s OK…to not be OK. Love the work Pastor Jud and his team perform for the Las Vegas community.

Lutheran Social Services – LSSN serves persons of all demographics such as, low-income, at-risk of homelessness, homeless, families with or without children, youth, veterans, people with disabilities, and senior citizens.

Olive Crest – Focused on child welfare and foster children, helping kids, teens and families to build a brighter future.

SVP, Sales (to $300,000, Remote) – Not a slots company, but that background is preferred.

Director, Sales – F&B ($290,000 on Quota, Remote) – Extensive background in hospitality or food/beverage. No sales experience required.

VP, Human Resources (to $275,000, California) – Must have large hotel/casino property experience.

VP, Digital Strategy (to $225,000, Northeast or Remote) – Sports betting.

Director, Casino Credit (to $200,000, Northeast) – Casino.

Director, Finance ($200,000, California) – Casino.

Director, Sales ($200,000 on Quota, Remote) – Gaming supplier.

Director, Food & Beverage ($175,000, Los Angeles) – Hospitality.

Sr. Director, Sportsbook Operations (to $175,000, Northeast or Remote) – Sports betting.

Director, Human Resources Operations ($175,000, California) – Casino.

VP, Information Technology ($175,000, California) – Casino.

Director, Information Technology ($175,000, Reno) – Casino.

Director, Slot Operations (to $150,000, West) – Casino.

Director, Table Games (to $150,000, West) – Casino.

Account Executive – Gaming Supplier ($150,000 on Quota, Remote) – Not a slot company, so non-competes are a non-issue

Sr. Director, Marketing ($150,000, Midwest) - Solid team builder and mentor that can drive the marketing function with limited supervision. Emphasis on culture, relationships and the ability to play well with others.

Senior Software Engineer, Systems ($150,000) – Class II experience is a plus, or server-based gaming, server-side mobile gaming experience.

Senior Game Designer ($150,000) – Game studio.

Software Developers (to $150,000) – Game studio.

Manager, Planning & Analysis ($125,000, Northeast) – Casino.

Artists (to $125,000) - Game studio.

Animators (to $125,000) - Game studio.

Super Bowl – If anyone is interested, a friend of mine has 2 tickets to the 2024 Super Bowl in Las Vegas. He paid $21,500 each. It includes a limo ride to and from the airport, lunch, dinner, and an unlimited bar tab. Also, backstage passes to the winner's locker room. Signed football and much more. He didn’t realize when he bought them that it would be on the same day as his wedding. If you are interested, he’s looking for someone to take his place FOR FREE. It’s at St. Paul’s church in Orlando Florida at 3:00 pm on Saturday. Her name is Ashley. She’s about 5’4’, 115 pounds. She’s a great cook, and loves to hunt and fish. She’ll be the one wearing the white dress in front of the church.

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’^[a] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”