Page 7 - Mississippi/Louisiana Gaming News - Winter, 2025

Outstanding Citizen
Rich Chase, director of hotel operations and player services at Silver Slipper Casino Hotel, was recently named one of Hancock County’s Top 10 Outstanding Citizens at the Hancock Chamber of Commerce Centennial Gala. Chase is widely recognized as one of the county’s leading ambassadors for tourism and community engagement. A longtime member of the Leadership Hancock Steering Committee and chairman of the popular Bud & Burgers in the Bay event, he has contributed countless hours to promoting Hancock County and supporting local causes. Chase is pictured with his wife, Karen.
Beau Rivage gives out service award
BILOXI — Emily Ferrer, senior manager general restaurant, has been recognized with the Beau Rivage Regional Volunteer Service Award for the third quarter of the year. Ferrer volunteers with the Institute
for Marine Mammal Studies
(IMMS), a nonprofit organization dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and research of marine mammals and sea turtles.
Ferrer’s volunteer work spans various impact activities, both in the field and through public outreach, and, as of November, she had recorded more than
Emily Ferrer
128 volunteer hours. And with her involvement in Beau Rivage’s volunteer match program,
she has also secured $600 in matched donations for IMMS.
As part of IMMS’s Sea Turtle Patrol, Ferrer walks predetermined routes along the beach to monitor for sea turtle tracks and nests, as well
as looking for sick, injured, or deceased
sea turtles and marine mammals. She also participates in public education events such as the Biloxi Boat Show, where she helped raise awareness about marine conservation efforts.
Achievement Award
Tosha Tousant (center), vice president of casino operations at Boomtown Biloxi and Hollywood Gulf Coast, received the 2025 Woman of Achievement Award in the corporate division from Lighthouse Business & Professional Women. The award was presented to Tousant at BPW’s recent Karen Sock Woman of the Year event. Additionally, Destyni Tran (left), who Hollywood partners with as owner of Azalea Spa & Salon at the property, was selected as a finalist for the
Entrepreneurship Award category. The two are pictured with Boomtown and Hollywood’s Lydonyial Welch, event chair for the LBPW.
Big Win At Shrimp Fest
Island View Casino Resort chefs, led by executive chef David Crabtree, netted prizes at the Fourth Annual Gulf Coast Shrimp Cook-off and Festival. The four-person team won first place in three categories: house specialty, people’s choice and pasta. Along with Crabtree, participating chefs included Trey Cowan, banquet chef; Calvin Lipe, room chef, Dockside Deli; and Eric Spencer, assistant executive sous chef.
WINTER 2025
MISSISSIPPI GAMING NEWS 7