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Servatius leaves Harveys

by Sally J. Taylor

Kevin Servatius, senior vice president and general manager of Harveys Resort Hotel/Casino, “has decided to leave Harveys,” casino officials announced late Tuesday.

“Kevin has stepped down and we wish him well,” said Chuck Scharer, president and chief executive officer of Harveys parent company Harveys Casino Resorts.

The announcement came one month after real estate investment corporation Colony Capital bought the company.



“The decision is not related to the recent purchase of Harveys by Colony Capital,” Scharer said, “but rather is attributable to an organizational realignment intended to provide for better continuity within our company.”

Servatius is a 20-year veteran of the gaming industry, with 12 years at Lake Tahoe. Before taking the head position at Harveys’ Stateline property four years ago, he worked as the general manager of Harrah’s Lake Tahoe.



Servatius was not available for comment.

Servatius will be replaced on an interim basis by Steve Cavallaro, Harveys’ executive vice president and chief operating officer in charge of both the Harveys Wagon Wheel Hotel/Casino in Central City, Colo. and Harveys Casino Hotel in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

“We will first look internally and then outside our company to find the best and most qualified candidate to operate the Lake Tahoe property,” Scharer said. “It is our flagship property and we remain committed to quality, profitability and our community.”

Cavallaro, who lives in Las Vegas, previously worked as Harveys’ general manager for the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas and in executive positions at Palace Station in Las Vegas and the Harrah’s properties in both Las Vegas and Atlanta.

Jim Rafferty, corporate vice president of marketing, described Cavalaro’s interim appointment as “very positive” for the company.

“We’ll continue striving for a better environment for the employee and a better environment for the customer,” Rafferty said.

With his resignation from Harveys, Servatius also leaves board of directors positions as chairman of the Tahoe-Douglas Visitors Authority Board of Directors, as vice-chairman of the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority, and on the Lake Tahoe Gaming Alliance. Harveys will be looking for replacements for those boards, Rafferty said.

“Kevin has been a great player for this community,” said Mike Weber, chairman of the bistate LTVA. “He has looked for the common ground and is good at getting things done.

“We’ll look for the best person to keep that relationship (between the TDVA and LTVA) going.”


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