Dr. Fisher, founding partner of both Convergence Strategy Group and Leisure Dynamics Research, has broad economic expertise which makes him incredibly adept with a wide range of analytical tools. He has performed feasibility studies, market analyses and economic impact assessments for casinos, hotels, theme parks, airports, arenas and convention facilities for clients in both the public and private sector throughout the world. He frequently prepares operational audits of existing casinos and hotels for the purpose of consulting on departmental inefficiencies. He also performs various asset valuations to evaluate potential property sales, purchases and litigation processes. To determine the ultimate viability of a new property, Dr. Fisher’s analyses typically require the preparation of complex, detailed operating pro formas.
Dr. Fisher’s reports played a role in securing financing for some of the world’s largest gaming resorts, including the Wynn Resorts and Melco PBL developments in Macau. His global experience also includes gaming and resort feasibility projects in: Japan; Australia; Cambodia; Canada; C.N.M.I; Cyprus; Germany; Hungary; Laos; Latvia; Myanmar; Philippines; Singapore; South Korea; Spain; Taiwan; U.K.; U.S.V.I.; and Vietnam. He has also been active in analyzing the feasibility of casino and resort developments in his regional home market on the Gulf Coast, including resort project feasibility analyses in the Lake Charles, suburban New Orleans, Biloxi and Bay St. Louis, Mississippi markets. These analyses projected gaming revenues, hotel demand and operating cash flow from operations, ultimately used for gaming license acquisition efforts and transactions such as project financing and M&A activities.
Dr. Fisher is a former co-owner of Riverwalk Casino in Vicksburg, Mississippi, former co-owner of Casino Monte Lago in Lake Las Vegas, Nevada, and was approved for an individual Nevada gaming license in 2009. Prior to forming Leisure Dynamics Research, LLC in 2009, Dr. Fisher was a partner of Innovation Capital, Innovation Project Development, and was Managing Director of the casino and leisure consulting firm The Innovation Group, a position he held from 1997 to 2009.
Dr. Fisher has a Ph.D. in Economics from Tulane University with a focus on International Trade, Industrial Organization and Public Finance and an MBA from the Freeman School of Business at Tulane University with a concentration in Finance, with Beta Gamma Sigma honors. Concurrent with the Ph.D. program, Dr. Fisher was an instructor of Public Finance, Law and Economics, Microeconomics and Macroeconomics.
Dr. Fisher serves on the Board of the Arts Council of New Orleans as well as the organization’s Finance Committee.