Successful gaming and entertainment design requires understanding of the business and speed to market

David Melroy is IMEG’s Vice President of Gaming and Entertainment, leading the firm’s client development and strategic direction in this ever-growing market sector. President of MSA Engineering Consultants in Las Vegas before MSA joined IMEG in 2021, David is a licensed electrical engineer with more than 40 years of experience. He shares his thoughts on the gaming and entertainment sectors in the following Q&A.

Q. IMEG Corp. was recently ranked #2 in the casino sector in Building Design+Construction’s 2022 Giants 400 Report. To what do you credit IMEG’s strong presence in the gaming and entertainment sector?
A. “MSA had successfully worked in the gaming and entertainment market sectors for over 40 years. During that time, we had developed strategic long-term relationships with virtually every leading gaming and entertainment company. Joining IMEG brought the enhanced ability to provide additional engineering design services beyond MSA’s MEP and technology offerings. Our clients have responded favorably to IMEG’s ability to perform structural and civil engineering design services, and our multiple geographic locations help minimize travel time and expense.”

Q. How did you, personally, come to specialize in this market?
A. “In the early 1980s through the mid-1990s, I had the opportunity to work with many of gaming’s pioneer leaders from Harrah’s, El Dorado, The Sands, Sparks Nugget, Caesars Palace, Tropicana, and Station Casinos. I took the opportunity to listen to what was discussed and use these leaders as mentors to enhance my understanding of gaming operations and how it applies to engineering design.”

Q. How has the gaming and entertainment market changed over the years?
A. The gaming and entertainment market has changed over the past two decades, going from privately owned businesses to corporate entities. The decision process has been impeded by requiring multiple approvals in a corporate setting as opposed to an individual making key decisions.”

Q. As an engineering consultant, what do you believe is key to successful relationships with clients in the gaming and entertainment market?
A. “To have true success you must provide speed to market through phased engineering services and understand the business of gaming and entertainment. When a gaming company decides to spend a few hundred million dollars or perhaps a few billion dollars on a project, ownership expects the design professionals to be able to respond quickly as business consultants, assisting in making the proper decisions for the future operations of the property without the benefit of input from operations personnel.”

Q. What is on your bucket list, either personally or professionally?
A. “I have been blessed by having an amazing career where bucket lists were achieved periodically, and a new bucket list put together. Highlights include successfully completing the design of a 15,000,000 ft.² mega gaming hotel, casino, and entertainment resort (Venetian and Palazzo), being registered in 44 states, and designing facilities and headquarters for my favorite sports team, the Las Vegas Raiders. What’s left on my bucket list to be done? Mentoring other success-oriented engineers to have the best career possible.”

For more information, visit IMEG’s gaming and entertainment page or contact David Melroy.