Don Barden to Deliver Keynote Speech

Detroit's own Don Barden has been selected to deliver the keynote address at the African-American Chamber of Commerce of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware's 2006 Annual Gala, Saturday, March 4, at the Wyndham Franklin Plaza in Philadelphia. Mr. Barden has been recognized as one of the top entrepreneurs in the country by several publications and serves as chairman and CEO of Barden Companies, Inc., which annually generates $372 million in revenues, making the company one of the country's largest African-American owned businesses.

Mr. Barden owns Fitzgerald Casino Hotels in Las Vegas, Mississippi, and Colorado, which were acquired in 2001. Previously, he opened the Majestic Star Riverboat Casino in Gary, Indiana. When Mr. Barden acquired Fitzgerald, he became the only African-American in the United States to own a national casino company.

Born in Detroit, Michigan, Mr. Barden's business career spans a 30-year period, during which he founded a successful real estate development company, owned and operated a cable television system in Michigan, and owned and operated five radio stations in Illinois. He is also active in the global business arena, having established Barden International, Inc., in Namibia, Africa, in February 1996. The company, which is engaged in the automotive processing and distribution business, constitutes one of the largest private investments in southern Africa.

"Given the gaming industry's imminent arrival in the Greater Philadelphia area, we're especially pleased to have Don Barden as our keynote speaker," said AACC Executive Director John Childress. "His extensive experience in the gaming industry and his ability to speak about that industry from an ownership perspective and from an African-American perspective make his appearance here especially timely. Without question Mr. Barden represents the very highest level of entrepreneurial success in the national African-American community. There is a great deal that he should be able to share with all of us on March 4th."

In the past year, Mr. Barden has applied for a slot parlor license in Pennsylvania. He has joined with a group, PITG Gaming, and is proposing to put a facility on the North Shore, west of Carnegie Science Center, in Pittsburgh. PITG's proposal is for Barden to be the lead developer of a $300-$350 million casino on 17 acres that he owns. The development is proposed to include four restaurants, a sports bar, nightclubs, and a 1,000-seat amphitheater.

This week in Detroit, Mr. Barden is hosting a three-day party for Super Bowl XL from February 3-5 at the Music Hall Center, Center for the Performing Arts in Detroit. The party will feature stars Smokey Robinson, Little Richard, Chaka Khan and The Tempting Temptations Review featuring Dennis Edwards.

"This will be a true entertainment experience, and we expect it to be the greatest back-to-back-to-back parties in Super Bowl history," Barden said. "Big name celebrities and athletes will be partying with our hometown people. And of course, we will be the ultimate hosts."

Besides the top-line acts, partygoers on Friday and Saturday nights will also receive free parking at the Eastern Market and a complimentary shuttle to and from the Music Hall. Tickets for the concert events range from $75 to $200 and are on sale at the Music Hall and through Ticketmaster. The parties begin at 7 p.m. and stretch into the late evening hours.

From rather humble beginnings, Mr. Barden has truly developed into a national force in the casino gaming entertainment industry.