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Meet Your Neighbor: Bruce Rowe
By Callie Thomas
If there were a single piece of advice or life inspiration that 89074 resident Bruce Rowe would pass along to others it would be to just “press on.” Simply put, success in life is not about talent, genius or education. “There is nothing more common than unsuccessful men with talent,” Rowe says. “The world is filled with unrewarded genius, and education does not provide guarantees, either.” Instead, persistence and determination are the essential ingredients that have led to a successful and fulfilling life for Rowe and for the countless others throughout the community that he has quietly supported with his unwavering efforts.
Rowe is a natural leader with charity toward others seemingly in his DNA. His leadership skills are continually put to the test in his position as Senior Vice President of Strategy & Customer Consulting for Bally Technologies. Rowe’s career in the gaming industry spans over 30 years, and he has created a successful body of work through the variety of positions he has held and the sixteen casinos he has helped to open. He also puts his skills to use in the community to assist others. Rowe, his father and grandfather were all in the Atlantic City Rotary Club, marking the first time three generations of local Rotarians had served the organization. He also grew up around scouting, with three generations of Rowe men having also served as Scout Leaders.
His passion and talent have been best put to work through his efforts as a Board Member of the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation (NCCF). Rowe also served as Chairman of the Board of The Caring Place, whose mission is to provide services to those who struggle with cancer. We had an opportunity to talk about Rowe’s aspirations, his support of charity organizations and what he believes makes him successful.
What first attracted you to become involved in The Caring Place?
“My best friend in life died of cancer at a young age. At the time and where he was, there was not a support network to care for his family and children, who too were diseased by cancer in a different way. When I was asked to be a founding member of The Caring Place, there was a chance to make this journey, which all of us will face in some form, a bit more tolerable and understandable. I have seen this come to fruition and the effects it has on those we serve and also how fulfilled the people are who serve them.”
The Caring Place organization recently merged with NCCF. What brought about the union?
“There was such an obvious benefit to combining the services provided to the children by NCCF and those provided to adults by The Caring Place. There are no cost programs and services to support, educate and empower those who have or have had cancer, their family members, friends and caregivers.”
You’ve also been heavily involved in scouting. Growing up, you were a scout too?
“Yes, but when I was a scout, most boys came from a home with a mother and father. When I became a leader, more than half the boys had no father at home. As leaders, we had moved from augmenting what fathers taught at home to being surrogate for those who did not have that influence at home.”
Of your accomplishments, what makes you most proud?
“Three things come to mind: my family—my wife Sheral and our kids Christopher and Courtney (they live here in Vegas – yea!) and knowing that their values, faith and hearts will always guide them; seeing all the people I have had a chance to work with and mentor achieve great things; and the personal values I have learned in church, scouts and from my parents that I live by every day.”
