About Our Staff


The strength of The Innovation Group team lies in the extensive experience and market-awareness of the individual personnel included on our staff.  We offer multi-disciplinary leaders with blended experience gained from roles as both senior operational managers and global industry advisors.  Together, these strengths provide The Innovation Group team with a unique understanding of today's market dynamics, including intimate insight regarding both the macro and micro opportunities and challenges facing the gaming, entertainment and hospitality industries.

Admittedly, there are many firms that provide feasibility studies and market analysis in our primary markets, but we stand alone with the comprehensive management approach that we utilize when it comes to project-specific research and analysis.  We thrive in complex and dynamic situations because they allow us the opportunity to apply the diverse backgrounds and disciplines of our experienced team members - casino/hotel operations and management, economics, accounting, urban planning, engineering, geography, demographic analysis, investment banking, strategic planning, transportation, government entities, development, asset management, brand development, political science...and even a Ph.D. in cultural studies.  In other words, while there are many entities that can research and generate data for you, none can claim to match the comprehensive methods that our team members will utilize to analyze, interpret and formulate recommendations from that data. 

The international consulting background of our senior managers provide our team with an intimate familiarity with competitive markets and a unique application of Industry Best Practices observed at hundreds of entertainment destinations throughout the world.  Similarly, the extensive operational experience of our leadership helps address a full spectrum of management needs, including such key areas as gaming and amenity mix, food and beverage strategies, market positioning, database applications and customer service programs. 


Resumes

 

Chairman,   Steven M. Rittvo
President,   Stephen J. Szapor, Jr.
Executive Vice President,   Michael Soll
Managing Director,   Paul Girvan
Managing Director,   Ernie D'Ambrosio
Senior Vice President Strategic Planning,   Thomas J. Zitt, Ph.D.
Director of Consulting Services,   James Oberkirsch
Vice President of Research,   Derris Newman

Vice President Strategic Consulting,   Matthew J. Landry

Vice President Marketing Services,   Joseph J. Witterschein
Senior Analyst,   Erika Meeske
Senior Analyst,   Amanda Allbritton
Senior Analyst, Renese Rhoden
Senior Analyst and Director of Food & Beverage, David Rittvo
Vice President of Operations,   Kimberly Arnold
The Innovation Group Associates