WPT
TEAM
LYLE
BERMAN
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE
OFFICER
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 Casino's Mississippi assets
were merged with the gaming division of
Hilton Hotels Corporation to form Park
Place Entertainment Corporation, and Grand
Casinos' Indian casino management business
was spun off into a new public company
called Lakes Gaming, Inc.
In
1994, Mr. Berman financed the initial
development of the Rainforest Café, and
integrated restaurant and retail concept.
He served as the Chairman and CEO from
1994 until 2000.
In
October 1995, Mr. Berman was honored with
the B'nai B'rith "Great American Traditions
Award" and in April 1996, he received
the Gaming Executive of the Year Award.
Mr.
Berman has been instrumental in the creation
and development and leadership of several
public companies including:
Lakes
Gaming, Inc., Chairman of the Board, Chief
Executive Officer
G-III Apparel Group, Ltd., Director
New Horizon Kids' Quest, Inc., Director
Wilsons The Leather Experts, Director
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