GMA appoints MD racing, director of government affairs

Wednesday 22nd of February 2017

Global Market Advisors (GMA) has announced that Jeffrey Smith has joined as managing director of racing and Brendan Bussmann as director of government affairs.

"As the hospitality and travel industries continue to grow, these two individuals bring a tremendous amount of experience and knowledge to complement and expand the existing GMA team. Jeff and Brendan bring a straightforward approach to provide the best strategy for our clients to accomplish their goals working with governments, agencies, and other stakeholders," said Steve Gallaway, GMA's managing partner.

Smith, a 30 year seasoned sports, entertainment, and gaming executive, has extensive expertise in venue management and working with regulators and lawmakers. He is a former executive of Centaur Gaming and Churchill Downs Inc. During his tenure at Centaur, Smith positioned the company for growth resulting in annual revenue generation of $250 million, $1 billion in capital raised, and employment of over 1,000 individuals. Mr. Smith also negotiated the purchase of Hoosier Park and was keenly involved in transforming Hoosier Park Racing & Casino into a successful, fully integrated gaming destination. Throughout his 18 years at Churchill Downs, Smith was instrumental in the company's evolution from a single-location operation to the premier, multi-state industry leader.

Brendan Bussmann brings over 20 years of government/public affairs and business development experience to GMA. Bussmann served as director of government relations and community development at Las Vegas Sands Corp. While at Sands, Bussmann was integral in securing gaming licenses in Singapore and Pennsylvania, overseeing ballot initiatives, and several domestic and international legislative victories. Additionally, Mr. Bussmann constructed the company's responsible gaming and community development program. Bussmann has worked in the sectors of gaming, hospitality, sports, healthcare, and energy.

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