Nevada Practice of Deloitte & Touche Adds Five New Partners; Extensive Gaming, Hospitality Expertise to Build On Current Practice's Strong Value

Business Wire, May 21, 2002

Business Editors

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 21, 2002

The Nevada practice of Deloitte & Touche LLP announces that it will be adding five new partners to enhance its client service capabilities in the gaming and hospitality area. Joining the firm are Tom Roche, Steve Comer, Larry Krause, and Terry Melia, who will be based in the Las Vegas office, and Wade McKnight, in Memphis, Tenn.

"We are extremely pleased with the addition of these highly talented client service professionals to our practice," said Bill Hartman, managing partner of Deloitte & Touche's Nevada Practice. "Their skills and knowledge of the industry will complement the service that we offer our gaming and hospitality clients. Our firm's mission is to become recognized as the best professional services firm in the world. The addition of these professionals is clear evidence of our leadership status as a provider of the highest quality service and as an employer of choice at both the national and local levels," he added.

New Partners Bring Gaming Expertise

With more than 22 years' experience serving clients in the gaming and hospitality industry, Tom Roche has assumed the role of Deloitte's national gaming industry director. Nationally recognized in the gaming industry, Roche spent four years as a member of the Nevada Gaming Control Board. He most recently led Arthur Andersen's Risk Consulting Practice, which provides internal control and regulatory compliance assessment services to gaming companies.

As the former managing partner of Arthur Andersen's Las Vegas office, and founder of the practice in 1985, Steve Comer has served clients in the gaming and hospitality industry for 29 years. He specializes in consulting to clients in emerging jurisdiction matters, as well as property feasibility, economic impact, market sizing, design of internal control systems, management structure, and operational reviews. Comer has authored such Andersen reports as "The Future Gaming Customer," and "What Will Happen After the Big Bang." A frequent speaker at the Nevada Gaming Conference and Workshop, he is an Executive Committee member of the Board for United Way, and Chairman of the Board of NTS Development Corporation.

Larry Krause has more than 25 years' experience serving clients in the gaming and hospitality industry, and previously served as director of Arthur Andersen's worldwide gaming and hospitality industry program. He most recently directed Andersen's Las Vegas Assurance and Business Advisory practice. Krause's extensive services to gaming clients include market studies for new jurisdictions, economic impact studies, and strategic assessment of investment in new Las Vegas Strip projects. He also authored the "Gaming Operations" section of the "Uniform System of Accounts for the Lodging Industry -- Ninth Revised Edition."

A 25-year public accounting veteran, Wade McKnight was most recently partner in charge of Andersen's Audit and Business Advisory services for its Memphis practice. He has extensive experience in the gaming, hospitality, and forest products industries, and was a member of Andersen's firmwide gaming and hospitality industry specialty team. McKnight has significant capital markets experience, and has participated in more than 125 public securities offerings. He regularly speaks to business and academic groups on accounting and financial reporting issues.

Terry Melia is a 27-year public accounting veteran who most recently led Arthur Andersen's Las Vegas tax practice. As a tax advisor to individuals and companies in public and private enterprises, Melia serves various industries including gaming, financial services, healthcare, and energy. As a former member of Andersen's financial markets core team, he has presented at the Bank Administration Institute's Annual Bank Tax Conference. Melia is a member of the Governmental Affairs Committee of the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, and former chair of its Tax Symposium subcommittee.

About Deloitte & Touche's Nevada Practice

Deloitte & Touche established its Las Vegas office in 1968, and opened its Reno office in 1986. The Nevada practice is comprised of more than 130 professionals and support staff.

About Deloitte & Touche

Deloitte & Touche, one of the nation's leading professional services firms, provides assurance and advisory, tax, and management consulting services through nearly 30,000 people in more than 100 U.S. cities. The firm is dedicated to helping our clients and our people excel. Known as an employer of choice for innovative human resources programs, Deloitte & Touche has been recognized as one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For in America" by Fortune magazine for five consecutive years. Deloitte & Touche refers to Deloitte & Touche LLP and its related entities. Deloitte & Touche is the U.S. national practice of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu is a Swiss Verein, and each of its national practices is a separate and independent legal entity. For more information, please visit Deloitte & Touche's Web site at www.deloitte.com/us.>

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