Board of Directors

Mr. Boyd co-founded Boyd Gaming Corporation in 1975 with his father, Sam Boyd, and has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors since August 1988. Mr. Boyd held the title of Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors since January 2008. In 2020, Mr. Boyd became the Co-Executive Chair of the Board of Directors. Previously, he served as Chief Executive Officer of the Company from August 1988 through December 2007, leading Boyd Gaming as it grew into one of the nation’s largest casino companies, with operations in major gaming markets throughout the United States. Prior to founding Boyd Gaming, Mr. Boyd practiced law in Las Vegas for 15 years. Read More

Mr. Smith has been President and a director of the Company since April 2005, and has served as Chief Executive Officer since January 2008. Mr. Smith was Chief Operating Officer of the Company from October 2001 through December 2007, and prior to being appointed President, Mr. Smith served as the Company’s Executive Vice President since May 1998. Mr. Smith currently serves on the Board of Directors of regional airline operator SkyWest Inc. He previously served as Chairman of the Los Angeles Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco; Chairman of the American Gaming Association; Chairman of the Nevada Resort Association; and Vice Chairman of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. Read More

Ms. Johnson served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors since February 2001 and has been a director since September 1990. In 2020, Ms. Johnson became the Co-Executive Chair of the Board of Directors. She has served as Executive Vice President of the Company since January 2008 and is also the Company’s Chief Diversity Officer. Ms. Johnson previously held the position of Senior Vice President of the Company from December 2001 through December 2007. From 1976 until 2001, she held a variety of management and operations positions with the Company. Ms. Johnson serves on the board of directors of Western Alliance Bancorporation.

Bailey is managing partner of Las Vegas law firm Bailey Kennedy, which he founded in 2001. Bailey has more than 30 years of legal experience, with a particular focus on commercial corporate litigation, healthcare law and gaming law. Bailey was previously a member of the Board of Directors of SHFL Entertainment, Inc., and was Chairman of its Governance Committee. He also previously served as Chairman of the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Bailey currently serves as Chairman of the Nevada State Bar Moral Character and Fitness Committee, and Chairman of the Governing Board of the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy. Bailey joined Boyd Gaming’s Board of Directors in January 2015, and is a member of the Governance and Nominating Committee.

Mr. Boyd has been a Vice President of the Company since December 1990, and a director since September 1992. From June 1987 until December 1990, he was Director of Operations at the Fremont Hotel and Casino. From 1978 until 1987, he held various administrative and operations positions at the California Hotel and Casino and Sam’s Town Hotel and Gambling Hall. Mr. Boyd serves on the board of directors of the Better Business Bureau of Southern Nevada and is Chairman of Borgata’s charitable Heart and Soul Foundation. He also serves as Chairman of the Compliance Committee.

Christine Spadafor has served as a director of the Company since 2009. Formerly a Partner at the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Ms. Spadafor is President of SpadaforClay Group, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in strategy development, operational effectiveness and board of directors advisory services.  She holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School and a Master's Degree in Science from the Harvard School of Public Health. Ms. Spadafor is the former CEO of St. Jude's Ranch for Children, a national non-profit organization serving abused, abandoned and homeless children.   Ms. Spadafor is a Visiting Executive at Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, lecturing on board operations and dynamics. Ms. Spadafor is Chair of the Governance and Nominating Committee and a member of the Audit Committee.

Thoman is the principal of Thoman International, LLC, a business advisory and consulting firm. Prior to the formation of Thoman International in 2009, Thoman was a partner with Deloitte & Touche LLP, with more than 30 years of experience working with large, complex public companies. Thoman is currently a member of the board of directors of Southwest Gas Corporation, and previously served on the boards of SLS Las Vegas and SHFL Entertainment, Inc.

Peter M. Thomas has served as a director of the Company since April 2004. Mr. Thomas served as a director of Coast Casinos from August 2002 until his election to the board of directors of the Company, and he served on the Rio Suite Hotel and Casino, Inc. board of directors from 1995 to 1999. Mr. Thomas is the Managing Member of Thomas & Mack Co. Limited Liability Company, a commercial real estate development and management company. He also served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Bank of America, Nevada from 1992 to 1995 and as President and Chief Operating Officer of Valley Bank of Nevada from 1982 to 1992. Mr. Thomas has been a member of the board of directors of City National Corp. since April 2003 and was a board member of the Los Angeles Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco from January 2003 to December 2008. Mr. Thomas is Chair of the Compensation Committee and a member of the Audit and Governance and Nominating Committees.

Whetsell is Vice Chairman of Loews Hotels & Resorts, owner and operator of 22 upscale resorts across the United States and Canada. Prior to being named to his current position in March 2015, Whetsell served as President and CEO of Loews Hotels, a position he held since January 2012.  Whetsell is a member of the Board of Directors of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, and serves on the Association’s Industry Real Estate and Financing Advisory Council.  Whetsell is a member of the Board of Directors of NVR, Inc., a multistate homebuilding and mortgage banking company traded on the New York Stock Exchange, as well as the national Board of Trustees of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Whetsell joined Boyd Gaming’s Board of Directors in January 2015. He is a member of the Compensation Committee.

Veronica J. Wilson, an independent consultant, has served as a director of the Company since October 2003. From November 2009 to June 2014, Ms. Wilson served as the Executive Director of the Blind Center of Nevada, an organization that assists people with visual impairments. Previously she served as that organization’s President and Chief Executive Officer since September 2000. From July 1993 through March 2002, Ms. Wilson served as the Chief Executive Officer of JMJ Inc., the former operator of the Aladdin Hotel & Casino. Ms. Wilson is a member of the Audit and Compensation Committees.