The Continental Basketball Association is the grand daddy of pro hoops worldwide. The CBA, founded in 1946, is the oldest professional basketball league in the world, predating the NBA by just a few months. Considered minor league play, the CBA fields ten teams, located primarily in the Midwestern US with names like the Albany (New York) Patroons, Atlanta Krunk, and the Minot (North Dakota) Skyrockets. Most CBA players try to use the league as a launching pad into the NBA, about 600 have succeeded. It also serves as the training ground for officials and coaches who want to make the jump to the big leagues.

Kinseth Hospitality began in 1963 when Ken & Cyrena Kinseth bought the Cliff House, a small hotel located in Decorah, Iowa. With a lot of hard work and support from their children, (Les, Linda, Bruce and Gary) they expanded the property into a thriving 120-room hotel and restaurant. After selling the Cliff House in 1977 the Kinseth family bought a Best Western in Council Bluffs, Iowa and then another in Clear Lake. They gained considerable experience in all areas of the hotel and restaurant industry. The four siblings set out to expand the organization their parents had founded.

Tix Corporation, an integrated entertainment company, focuses on ticketing services, event merchandising, and the production and promotion of live entertainment in the United States. The company operates in three segments: Ticket Services, Event and Branded Merchandising, and Live Entertainment. The Ticket Services segment provides ticketing services, including sale discount and premium tickets; offers group sale services; and sells premium tickets for sporting events, concerts, tours, and theatres. The Exhibit and Event Merchandising segment provides exhibit and event merchandising, such as the provision of retail specialty stores with branded merchandise for touring museum exhibitions and theatrical productions, and the ownership and operation of retail stores with custom-branded products for sale. The Live Entertainment segment operates as a live entertainment presenter, and produces and presents live theater and concerts.

These chefs are busy boiling seafood. Chefs International operates about a dozen casual dining restaurants in New Jersey and Florida mostly doing business under the Lobster Shanty name, such as Point Pleasant Lobster Shanty, Toms River Lobster Shanty, and its flagship Jack Baker's Lobster Shanty. Other locations include Jack Baker's Wharfside & Patio Bar and The Sunset Ballroom event and banquet hall. The restaurants serve a variety of seafood dishes in a casual setting. Jack Baker, a New Jersey fisherman, opened his first Jack Baker's Lobster Shanty in 1979. Chairman Robert Lombardi and his family control the company.

QMH Ltd. company is owned by a consortium of private equity investors comprised of the Whitehall 2001 Funds, Goldman Sachs, and Regina Investments Sarl. QMH is a leading operator of mid-priced hotels in the UK with a portfolio of nearly 20 properties. Most of the company's hotels operate under the Holiday Inn brand, but QMH also operates a handful of Crowne Plaza and Best Western hotels. The properties are located mostly in smaller markets, and target both business and leisure travelers with a range of amenities including business centers and conference rooms, as well as health and fitness clubs.

Atronic Americas, the US arm of German gaming company Atronic International, develops interactive video slot machines featuring 3D graphics and stereo sound used in about 1,300 casinos around the world. Atronic Americas, LLC also markets information systems used by casinos to manage their slot and table games. Atronic International sells gaming equipment and systems in about 100 countries and holds about 200 gaming licenses worldwide. Founded in 1993, Atronic International is owned by lottery technology company GTECH, itself a subsidiary of Italy's Lottomatica.

NH Hoteles company is becoming one of Europe's leading hotel operators, with a collection of about 340 owned, leased, or managed properties (totaling more than 50,000 rooms) in some 20 countries. Most of its hotels are in Europe, but the company also has made inroads into other areas, specifically Latin America. NH Hoteles operates properties ranging from four-star establishments to budget hotels. Its nhow hotel brand features a modern design and hosts art exhibits and fashion shows. The firm also owns 51% of Italian hotel operator NH Italia (Intesa Sanpaolo owns 49%); it additionally owns Italian hotel operator Jolly Hotels.

Benchmark Hospitality International is going to resort to -- but you can bet it has high standards. Benchmark Hospitality is a manager and marketer of resorts, conference centers, and hotels across the US; it also has one location in Tokyo. Its portfolio of more than 20 properties includes Scottsdale Resort and Conference Center (Arizona), Cheyenne Mountain Resort (Colorado Springs, Colorado), and Turtle Bay Resort (Oahu, Hawaii). Many of Benchmark Hospitality's resorts include luxury spas and golf courses.

PacificNet (PACT) is a leading provider of gaming and mobile game technology worldwide with a focus on emerging markets in Asia, Latin America and Europe. PACT's gaming products are localized to their specific markets creating an enhanced user experience for players and larger profits for operators. PACT's gaming clients include the leading hotels, casinos, and gaming operators in Macau, Europe and elsewhere around the world. PACT employs about 500 staff in its various subsidiaries with offices in the US, Philippines, Hong Kong, Macau, China. PacificNet's gaming products are specially designed for Chinese and Asian gamers with focus on integrating localized Chinese and Asian themes and content, advanced graphics, digital sound effects and popular domestic music, with secondary bonus games and jackpots.

Leona's Pizzeria operates about a dozen pizza restaurants in and around the Chicago area. The small casual-dining chain's menu features Leona's signature Sicilian style pizza, along with appetizers, sandwiches, lasagna, and other Italian-style entree items. In addition to dine-in seating, most of the restaurants offer delivery and catering services. Matriarch Leona Pianetto Molinaro Scemla opened the first Leona's in 1950; her family, led by Salvatore Toia, continues to own and operate the chain.

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