Halbritter honored for efforts

CNY Business Journal (1996+), Mar 02, 2007 by Gregory, Traci

VERONA - When Turning Stone Resort & Casino opened in 1993, not everyone knew what to make of the facility.

But Oneida Indian Nation Representative Ray Halbritter knew the casino would be the tool to launch the Nation into economic self-sufficiency.

As CEO of the Nation's now multiple enterprises, Halbritter's vision and leadership have guided the Nation's businesses into multimillion dollar ventures that include the resort and casino; retail operations (SavOn Stores, Name Brand Deals, and manna operations); Standing Stone Gaming; agriculture that includes the second largest herd of Black Angus cattle in the Northeast; the Villages at Turning Stone RV Park; and Four Directions Media, Inc.

For both his efforts and his vision, Halbritter has been named the 2007 winner of the Crystal Ball Award, given by the Central New York Sales & Marketing Executives (CNYSME).

"I was very surprised and greatly honored," Halbritter says of the award, which will be presented at the 31st Annual Crystal Ball/Sales & Marketing Excellence Awards Banquet at the Sheraton Syracuse University Hotel & Conference Center on March 7.

The award is given annually to a CEO, president, or director of a Central New York business that visibly impacts the progress and prosperity of the area, shows a commitment to superior quality and professionalism, expresses initiative and innovative thinking, fosters excellence in its industry, and gives back to the community. Past Crystal Ball recipients include: Nancy Cantor of Syracuse University; Arthur (Art) Zimmer of Syracuse New Times and Zimmer Motor Car Company; The Goldberg Family of Raymour & Flanigan Furniture; Jack Webb of Alliance Bank; William Pomeroy of CXtec; Joel Delmonico of Clear Channel Communications; and Mary Cotter of Time Warner Cable.

The Oneida Indian Nation enterprises of today are a far cry from a few decades ago, when the tribe was mostly faced with poverty. Under Halbritter's guidance, the Nation opened a high-stakes bingo hall in the mid-1980s. Turning Stone, the hub of the Nation's enterprises, opened in 1993, after passage of the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act.

Today, Turning Stone draws about 4.5 million visitors annually and reported revenues in excess of $300 million in its 2005 fiscal year, according to an environmental-impact statement filed with the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs. The Lodge at Turning Stone was recently given a prestigious Con& Nast Johansen "Most Excellent Resort" award.

The award is reflective of the effort that has gone into developing and creating the Nation's businesses, Halbritter says.

"The things we've created have been built with quality," he says. "A lot of what we've built was not for short-term gain, but for long term."

In that regard, the Nation now employs nearly 5,000 people, many of them Oneida Indians, and has an annual payroll of $110 million. The Nation's spending on payroll, outside vendors, and construction projects has pumped about $2 billion into the regional economy.

And the success of Turning Stone and the Nation's other businesses has allowed the Nation to provide programs and benefits for Nation members, including a health center and health insurance, tuition assistance, social programs for elders, day care for children, language and culture programs, and a home-ownership program.

Along with the tourism boon that Turning Stone has provided to the region, the Nation has also given back to the community, Halbritter says. A water facility built by the Nation was given to the town of Verona. And the Nation has handed out Silver Covenant grants to school districts and municipalities in the past.

To now have that community in which the Nation conducts its business turn around and honor those efforts is humbling, Halbritter says.

"It's the highest honor when the people in your community honor you with something like this," he says.

In addition to presenting Halbritter with the Crystal Ball Award, CNYSME's March 7 banquet will also honor area sales and marketing professionals with the Sales & Marketing Excellence Award.