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.
- >
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.
- >
Richard White - >
Mr. White has been a Managing Director and head of Private Equity Investment Department of Oppenheimer & Co. since 2004. Prior to that position, Mr. White served as President of Aeolus Capital Group, LLC and as a Managing Director of CIBC Capital Partners. Mr. White is currently a director of ActivIdentity Corporation, Escalade Incorporated and G-lll Group, Ltd.
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.
