Global Gaming Business magazine has long brought much-needed attention to an endemic problem in corporate America generally, and the gaming industry specifically: The dearth of women in key positions and the unequal treatment of women even after they obtain such positions.
Unfortunately, a September 7 column by Richard Schuetz missed the mark. Mimicking the current climate of public divisiveness and incivility, he chose name calling and sensationalism instead of factual accuracy and decency.
He wrongly surmised that the East Coast Gaming Congress (ECGC) is the exclusive creation of a couple of smug old boys. I know how this conference operates, as I have been involved in its planning and execution for decades, and I will again be speaking this year. ECGC is a year-long collaborative effort by a team of professionals that includes the female chief marketing officer of Cooper Levenson, and both the female chief operating officer and the female vice president of marketing for Spectrum Gaming Group. I have seen these women make integral contributions to all aspects of ECGC.
Mr. Schuetz’s attacks on ECGC erupted after seeing a press release of one group of this year’s speakers who are CEOs of traditionally land-based gaming corporations that have expanded beyond the old model of single-property casinos. Presently, there are no women in such positions. Women who achieved that goal in the past, such as Virginia McDowell and Holly Gagnon, were featured speakers at ECGC. Mr. Schuetz did not mention that 13 women are speaking at ECGC this year. Nor did he mention the numerous press releases that have been issued about the Women in Gaming panel. Over its 24 successful years, ECGC has featured supernumerary women representing every aspect of gaming, finance, law enforcement, and every activity tangential to gaming.
Further, Mr. Schuetz denigrates our Women in Gaming panel by equating it to a “kids table.” Wrong. Including these discussions in major industry conferences provides female leaders the opportunity to educate, share, and promote women. The very talented women who have agreed to speak on this panel are inundated with invitations to speak on various topics at many conferences. They chose to speak on this panel at ECGC because they realize the significant impact of their presence and words. Having their decision described as a decision to be at the “kid’s table” marginalizes their efforts and the mission of trailblazing organizations such as Global Gaming Women.
As the readers of GGB know, conference organizers play a significant role in educating the gaming industry. However, we do not sit in boardrooms or make hiring decisions. Mr. Schuetz is aware of that. But instead of writing a compelling article about hiring practices that resulted in all white male CEOs, he instead uses ECGC as a scapegoat. How does this champion women? It does not. It takes the responsibility away from the companies that make the hiring decisions and places it on conference organizers. Who wins?
Those who assume that I was requested to provide a female response, my answer is a hard no. I am passionate in my advocacy for women and have called many men to task when I see injustices. If I believed that my fellow conference organizers were of the mindset Mr. Schuetz attributed to them, I would have sought other professional opportunities. I have that freedom … because I do not work with or for the Taliban.
In addition to being the most insulting, ugly and sensationalistic allegation in any gaming industry article I can recall, the distasteful Taliban analogy detracts from his purported message. Further, by comparing the conference organizers to the Taliban, Mr. Schuetz minimizes and trivializes the horrific plight of Afghan women.
Mr. Schuetz references my esteemed colleague Jan Jones Blackhurst, who has spoken at ECGC several times. Like Ms. Jones Blackhurst, I have spent 30 plus years in the gaming industry and am very disappointed in the continued systemic bias against women and the overt and the insidious ways women continue to be ignored or silenced while they continue to advocate change. But Mr. Schuetz got this one wrong.
Mr. Schuetz has decried the lack of ethics in the gaming industry and has described ethics as “doing the right thing.” Name-calling is not “the right thing.” He has written about learning from women. Mr. Schuetz, please consider this: Women do know their place. That place is in the C-suites of major gaming companies, including as CEOs. Let us work together to achieve that goal.
