Play Meter
Issue: 2017 September - Vol 43 Num 9 - Page 6
COIN-OP NEWS
AAMA honors David
Cohen with Lifetime
Achievement Award
AMI Entertainment
acquired by
investment firm
Three years ago, the American Amusement Machine
Association dramatically changed the way it honors its annu-
The Gores Group, a global investment firm, announced
al Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. The AAMA now
that it had completed the acquisition of AMI Entertainment.
celebrates the honoree with a Lifetime Achievement Award
The Gores Group
Souvenir Ad Journal, the proceeds
acquired AMI through
of which go to support the Ameri-
its Small Capitalization
can Amusement Machine Charita-
Partners investment
ble Foundation charities.
fund.
Over these three years, this
“We are thrilled to
souvenir ad journal has raised
partner with Gores to
over $165,000 for AAMCF Char-
continue to provide
ities. This year’s honoree, David
state-of-the-art enter-
Cohen, president and CEO of
tainment to our cus-
Firestone Financial, continues the
David Cohen (l) with
tomers,” said Mike Maas, CEO of AMI Entertainment. “We
tradition of recognizing outstand-
AAMA’s executive vice
president, Peter Gus-
look forward to working with the Gores team and benefiting
ing individuals who have made
tafson, and AAMA’s
from their expertise and financial and operational resources
extraordinary contributions to
president, Chris Felix.
as we enter the next chapter of our growth.”
industry. A GoFundMe account
Jon Gimbel, managing director of The Gores Group
has been set up to make contributing easier. It can be found
added, “AMI is a high quality leader in its space and we
at (www.gofundme.com/aamcf-cohen).
look forward to working closely with Mike Maas and the
Cohen has been affiliated with Firestone Financial since
rest of the AMI team. Our growth capital will allow the
1986 and in 2000, was appointed president and CEO.
company to continue to develop innovative products that
Today, Cohen provides direction for the strategic initiatives
their customers deserve while continuing to expand their
of the company, participates in the generation of new busi-
geographic reach.
ness development, serves as a member of the Senior Credit
“We believe that AMI is a strong platform for growth,
Committee, and leads the planning and policy making func-
both organic and through acquisitions, and our flexible capi-
tions of Firestone Financial.
tal base will allow us to execute on these initiatives.”
He’s a past AAMA chairman and is currently the co-chair
Stephens Inc. and the Peter J Solomon Company acted as
of the Government Relations Committee and president of
financial advisors to AMI Entertainment on the transaction.
the AAMCF. On a local level, Cohen previously served on
For more information, visit (www.amientertainment.com)
various non-profit community boards and is presently on the
and (www.gores.com).
Board of the New England Chapter of the Friends of the Isra-
el Defense Forces.
The AAMA hopes mem-
bers will help celebrate
Cohen by placing a congrat-
The Valley National 8-Ball League Association has announced its 2017-2019 Board of
ulatory ad in the Lifetime
Directors for its upcoming 38th annual league season. Among the new appointees is Ed Borgia
Achievement Award Journal.
of Warner Coin as VNEA’s newest president. He succeeds Jude Mehle from BMW Billiards.
The journal will be distribut-
Borgia started working for Warner Coin in Erie, Pa., in 1973. Warner Coin has been in
ed during AAMA’s Annual
business for 85 years and is currently owned and operated by Borgia and is partner, David
Meeting Awards Dinner,
Warner. Warner Coin joined the VNEA in 1982. Borgia has served as chairman of several
Oct. 5., in Northbrook, Ill.
committees and currently chairs the Junior Division on the VNEA’s Executive Committee. He
Net proceeds will go towards
also has been a Master Instructor for server years at the VNEA World Championships.
supporting children’s charities
Other board positions filled include first vice president, Marshall Kohtzs of VVS; second
including Children’s Miracle
vice president and treasurer, Scott Morgan of Aactive Coin; third vice president, Gary Benson
Network and Kids Enjoy
of BMW Billiards; charter holder director-at-large, Dace Everett; manufacturer director, Dave
Exercise Now.
Courington; and secretary, Kelye Stites of Valley-Dynamo. For more information, visit (www.
vnea.com).
VNEA appoints new president
PLAY METER
6
SEPTEMBER 2017
AAMA honors David
Cohen with Lifetime
Achievement Award
AMI Entertainment
acquired by
investment firm
Three years ago, the American Amusement Machine
Association dramatically changed the way it honors its annu-
The Gores Group, a global investment firm, announced
al Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. The AAMA now
that it had completed the acquisition of AMI Entertainment.
celebrates the honoree with a Lifetime Achievement Award
The Gores Group
Souvenir Ad Journal, the proceeds
acquired AMI through
of which go to support the Ameri-
its Small Capitalization
can Amusement Machine Charita-
Partners investment
ble Foundation charities.
fund.
Over these three years, this
“We are thrilled to
souvenir ad journal has raised
partner with Gores to
over $165,000 for AAMCF Char-
continue to provide
ities. This year’s honoree, David
state-of-the-art enter-
Cohen, president and CEO of
tainment to our cus-
Firestone Financial, continues the
David Cohen (l) with
tomers,” said Mike Maas, CEO of AMI Entertainment. “We
tradition of recognizing outstand-
AAMA’s executive vice
president, Peter Gus-
look forward to working with the Gores team and benefiting
ing individuals who have made
tafson, and AAMA’s
from their expertise and financial and operational resources
extraordinary contributions to
president, Chris Felix.
as we enter the next chapter of our growth.”
industry. A GoFundMe account
Jon Gimbel, managing director of The Gores Group
has been set up to make contributing easier. It can be found
added, “AMI is a high quality leader in its space and we
at (www.gofundme.com/aamcf-cohen).
look forward to working closely with Mike Maas and the
Cohen has been affiliated with Firestone Financial since
rest of the AMI team. Our growth capital will allow the
1986 and in 2000, was appointed president and CEO.
company to continue to develop innovative products that
Today, Cohen provides direction for the strategic initiatives
their customers deserve while continuing to expand their
of the company, participates in the generation of new busi-
geographic reach.
ness development, serves as a member of the Senior Credit
“We believe that AMI is a strong platform for growth,
Committee, and leads the planning and policy making func-
both organic and through acquisitions, and our flexible capi-
tions of Firestone Financial.
tal base will allow us to execute on these initiatives.”
He’s a past AAMA chairman and is currently the co-chair
Stephens Inc. and the Peter J Solomon Company acted as
of the Government Relations Committee and president of
financial advisors to AMI Entertainment on the transaction.
the AAMCF. On a local level, Cohen previously served on
For more information, visit (www.amientertainment.com)
various non-profit community boards and is presently on the
and (www.gores.com).
Board of the New England Chapter of the Friends of the Isra-
el Defense Forces.
The AAMA hopes mem-
bers will help celebrate
Cohen by placing a congrat-
The Valley National 8-Ball League Association has announced its 2017-2019 Board of
ulatory ad in the Lifetime
Directors for its upcoming 38th annual league season. Among the new appointees is Ed Borgia
Achievement Award Journal.
of Warner Coin as VNEA’s newest president. He succeeds Jude Mehle from BMW Billiards.
The journal will be distribut-
Borgia started working for Warner Coin in Erie, Pa., in 1973. Warner Coin has been in
ed during AAMA’s Annual
business for 85 years and is currently owned and operated by Borgia and is partner, David
Meeting Awards Dinner,
Warner. Warner Coin joined the VNEA in 1982. Borgia has served as chairman of several
Oct. 5., in Northbrook, Ill.
committees and currently chairs the Junior Division on the VNEA’s Executive Committee. He
Net proceeds will go towards
also has been a Master Instructor for server years at the VNEA World Championships.
supporting children’s charities
Other board positions filled include first vice president, Marshall Kohtzs of VVS; second
including Children’s Miracle
vice president and treasurer, Scott Morgan of Aactive Coin; third vice president, Gary Benson
Network and Kids Enjoy
of BMW Billiards; charter holder director-at-large, Dace Everett; manufacturer director, Dave
Exercise Now.
Courington; and secretary, Kelye Stites of Valley-Dynamo. For more information, visit (www.
vnea.com).
VNEA appoints new president
PLAY METER
6
SEPTEMBER 2017
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).