Leadership Team
Ben Murr - President
Ben Murr was named President in June 2010. He also serves as Senior Vice President for Churchill Downs Incorporated. Murr joined Churchill Downs in March 2008, as Vice President and Chief Information Officer. In this position, he was responsible for IT systems for Arlington Park Race Track in Arlington Heights, IL, Calder Race Course in Miami, FL, Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY, and Fairgrounds Race Course in New Orleans, LA.
Prior to joining United Tote, Murr worked at General Electric for 12 years. His most recent position was Chief Technology Officer of the Americas. Murr holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s degree in business administration from Bellarmine University, in Louisville, KY.
David Ruffra - Vice-President, Sales
David Ruffra manages customer activities for United Tote’s North American clients and oversees the international sales force. Ruffra possesses more than 16 years experience working in information technology, developing software systems for race tracks and selling pari-mutuel wagering technology to the racing industry.
Prior to joining United Tote in 2004 , he served on the executive staff of The Jockey Club in Lexington, KY, as President of McKinnie Systems, which was later renamed InCompass Solutions. While at InCompass Solutions, Ruffra leveraged his business and IT knowledge to create new, state-of-the-art software solutions for race tracks; many of which are still considered to be the de-facto industry standards for the racing industry’s track automation, horseman’s bookkeeper and simulcast program production systems.
Ruffra’s past work experience also includes Strategic Accounts Manager at Digital Equipment Corporation and Sales Manager at 3M Company. He holds a bachelor's degree in information technology from Western Kentucky University.
Nate Simon - Vice-President
Nate Simon joined United Tote in April 2011 as Vice President. Prior to joining United Tote, Simon served as the Global Head of IT Operations for Süd-Chemie, a Munich based specialty chemicals company. He is a certified Lean/Six Sigma Black and Green Belt, and is well versed in ITIL process standards. Simon also possesses a solid background in project management, quality and strategy.
Simon's past work experience also includes Americas Chief Information Officer at Süd-Chemie and Project Leader at General Electric, where he graduated from the GE Information Management Leadership Program.
Simon holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Indiana University in Bloomington, IN.