2004 GREAT WOMEN OF GAMING
Proven leader

Marianne Boyd Johnson

Vice Chairman and Senior Vice President
Boyd Gaming Corporation

 

"I think there are a lot of advantages to being a woman in today's business," says Marianne Boyd Johnson. "There's no question the number of women in key executive positions is growing and I think as time goes on, we'll see more and more in leadership positions." She should know. She has been involved in gaming her entire life.

Johnson's family first came to Las Vegas when her father (William Boyd, chairman and CEO of Boyd Gaming) moved there with his parents in 1941. "At that time, there were only about 10,000 people in the valley," she says. "Growing up around the business, as my dad did and as I did with my two brothers, it's easy to see how we ended up working in the family business. To that end, the greatest influence in my life probably goes without saying, but that would be my dad."

As a teenager, Johnson worked in virtually every aspect of gaming properties, from the back of the house to the front desk. "I have a good understanding of how it all works," she says. "I have been fortunate to have role models like my dad and my grandfather. They taught me the importance of integrity and hard work. While I never really worked directly with my grandfather, as I have with my dad, he was still an important influence."

Johnson believes that women are coming into their own in today's gaming world. "I think women offer a different perspective and for the most part, companies just recently began to realize that, and we're seeing more women in key positions," she says. "At our company, we have many women key executives at both the corporate and property levels. When you think about it, the gaming industry really didn't get going until the 1990s when proliferation created opportunities for new companies, public traded companies and new markets."

In fact, Johnson's memory spans over a valuable portion of gaming history. According to Johnson, gaming has changed greatly over the years, but one thing still stays constant: "the casino business was always about fun," she says. "And today, the casino entertainment product is so much more than just the gaming— it includes great restaurants, celebrity chefs, great rooms, world class shopping, amazing golf courses and a variety of shows and name entertainment. I don't think any of us, including my grandfather, had any idea gaming would become so widespread, having some form of gambling in nearly every state, and mean so many different things, in terms of entertainment."

Is the growth of the industry helping the proliferation of womenin gaming? "It's evolving, there's no question," says Johnson. " I remember when my grandfather was the first to hire women dealers. That gave way to more women working in the business, and eventually, making their way up the ladder to today, where we have many women in key positions throughout the industry. As time goes on, I think we'll see more (women in key gaming roles)."

Her perspective includes not just employers, but the entire market demographic as well. "In the early days, even the casino customer demo consisted almost entirely of men," says Johnson. "Not until casino operators began to see the slot business take off did the business really start to reach women. Considering that most casino customers are women today, it seems only natural that women play a more integral part of operating the business."

Typical of women in gaming today, Johnson is obviously very quick to credit those around her. "I think gaming is moving in the right direction, and I'm proud of where our company is today in that regard," she says. "As an example, Judy Campbell leads our most successful riverboat operation, the Blue Chip Casino and Hotel in Michigan City, Indiana. She has been an employee for more than 20 years and has worked her way up over that time. I believe her story of success helps to create opportunities for other women throughout the industry, as well as our company. I think in a male-dominated industry, the more examples we have like Judy the more opportunities there will be for women in the future."


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