Next Level Careers Powered by San Manuel

Jennifer Anthony, Senior Vice President of Property Marketing at Yaamava’ Resort and Casino at San Manuel shares insights from her 20 years of experience in the casino and hospitality industry in financial planning, analytics, and marketing. In this episode, Jennifer talks about the core qualities needed for senior leadership, advice to people just starting out in their careers, the value of good vendor partnerships, and the importance of building good relationships throughout one’s career.

Jason Brown, President and CEO at Marketplace Chaplains, has spent over 20 years with the company starting out as the CMO, and brings a great deal of experience in sales, marketing, branding, and strategic initiatives. In this episode, Jason talks about what it takes to be a great leader, creating your own opportunities, the importance of making sure your team knows you care, and what it means to be a great coach and mentor.  

Anika Howard, President and CEO at Wondr Nation has 20 years of experience in the gaming and entertainment industries with a focus on leveraging emerging technologies. In this episode, Anika provides insight into her career in both Tribal and corporate gaming as well as her experience working on the supplier side of the industry. She touches on what she looks for when hiring, the skills needed to be successful, the biggest changes in the gaming industry since she started, and tips for women who aspire to be a CEO.

Lauren Seiler, Founder, CEO & Principal Consultant of Global Gaming Advisors, LLC, has 20 years of experience in senior corporate development, business development, strategy, and investor relations in the Casino, Gaming, iGaming, and Sports Betting industries.  In this episode, Lauren discusses her career path from Wall Street to the corporate side of casinos and gaming, advice on what it takes to succeed, the importance of seeking out mentors, maintaining your integrity, and embracing change.

Sarah Webster, the VP of Accounting and Finance at Yaamava’ Resort and Casino at San Manuel, has been with the company for over 23 years and brings a unique perspective on what it took to grow and progress in her career while staying with the same company. In this episode, Sarah provides valuable insight into the skillsets she looks for when hiring, the importance of having a good mentor, keys to building a good team, how accounting has evolved in the casino industry and the importance to not just focus on your career but to also take care of your personal wellness.

Dominic Orozco is the President & CMO of Gila River Resorts & Casinos and has over 20 years of experience in casino marketing and operations.  In this episode, Dominic provides valuable insights on how having a background of diverse work experience has helped him in his role today, having passion and creating a winning culture as a leader, the characteristics of people who make a difference, and empowering people to do great work,  how marketing and operations together create a good brand, and buying into the mission and vision of your company.

Hannah Tooker is the SVP of Customer Engagement & Experience at LaneTerralever and brings over 10 years of experience in content marketing and brand strategy. In this episode, Hannah discusses the significance of audience engagement and authenticity, combining creativity and data in marketing strategies, tips for interviewing, and the various sources that inspire her creativity.

Andrew Economon is the General Manager for Downtown Grand Hotel & Casino and has over 30 years of extensive experience in the food and beverage, entertainment, hospitality, and casino industries. In this episode, Andrew touches on the importance of creating a guest experience that sets you apart, having great communication with all levels of team members, having passion for what you are doing, and building great relationships.

Kari Stout-Smith is the General Manager for Cache Creek Casino Resort and has over 25 years of extensive experience in the casino industry.  In this episode, she provides valuable insight into the evolving casino industry, strategies for hiring the best talent, and finding the place that will allow you to stay true to yourself!

Bernstein's photography has appeared in thousands of newspapers and magazine covers worldwide, as well as significant advertising campaigns, for nearly forty years. He is a Hall of Fame photographer and arguably the best sports photographer ever. In this interview, we unpack the key to longevity, how to master your craft, what he learned from Kobe, and how that led to the creation of the best-selling book "Mamba Mentality," and so much more!

Julie Uhrman, the Co-Founder and President of Angel City Football Club, has had an extensive career as an entrepreneur with experience in investment banking, video and mobile gaming, technology, and now in direct-to-consumer entertainment with women’s soccer.  In this episode, Julie touches on key topics such as executing your ideas and speed with purpose to creating a positive impact in the community and having good work-life harmony.

Stephen Lind is an Associate Professor of Clinical Business Communication at USC's Marshall School of Business, where he teaches courses in business communication. His teaching encompasses strategic messaging, technology in touch, consulting, and refining speaking and writing skills for business contexts. He is an expert on the relationship between anxiety and communication.

Heather Jimenez is the Learning & Development Manager for San Manuel and has dedicated over 13 years to team building, educational advancement, and employee retention. In this episode she discussed the power of self-awareness, how to build relationships to maximize team efforts, and her passion to serve others.

Melanie Johnson has had an expansive career across hospitality as a people-first leader. Serving most of her career in operations, Melanie brings a unique perspective on the role of HR and how leaders can be successful in today's environment. In this episode, we discuss retention, people development, having conversations with your team, and so much more!

Drew Dixon has made a life's work putting on some of the most amazing shows throughout the world. Drew currently is the VP of Entertainment Operations at Yaamava' Resort & Casino at San Manuel. In this episode he discusses tips on how to succeed in the entertainment business and how a heart of service is at the core of all meaningful events.

Margie Ferree Jones is the interim dean of The Collins College of Hospitality Management. Dr. Jones has been a member of the college faculty as a professor at Cal Poly Pomona since 1990. She has a Ph.D. in Educational Studies from Claremont Graduate University, a master’s degree in Hotel Administration from Cornell University, and a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Indiana University.

Perhaps best known as “the wine professor”, Dr. Jones is a certified wine educator (CWE) and a certified sommelier (CS). She has taught courses in strategic leadership, marketing, special events, food & beverage, and hotel/resort planning & development. 

Jim Michaelian is the heart and soul of the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, an original employee who at age 32 in 1975 embraced Chris Pook’s vision of bringing a Monaco-style motorsports event to Southern California’s port city. In this episode, we discuss planning a large scale event, keys to success in motorsports, the changing landscape of media to promote activations and much more!

Kate is one of the emerging leaders in gaming with a proven track record of success with innovation & business intelligence. In this conversation, we do a deep dive into emerging AI, the changing landscape for operators in gaming, tips to optimize business outcomes, quilting, and much more!

Afsi Bird has 30+ years in the hospitality industry and has been a leader at providing service excellence at properties across the globe. In this candid discussion, Afsi provides insight on what is required to build a culture of service, lessons from early in her career, tips to team building, and much more! 

Bronwen Gregg, one of CDC Gaming Report's 2023 "10 Women Rising in Gaming", leads the Gaming & Casinos portfolio for Insight Global, one of North America's largest Talent Solutions firms. Bronwen’s biggest personal passion is advocating for equality, especially gender equality in the US workforce. She currently serves as President of WISE (Women in Sports & Events) Las Vegas as well as Membership Co-Chair and Lean In Moderator of GGW (Global Gaming Women). In this episode we discuss Bronwen's career story, what fuels her non-profit work, qualities of great leaders, GGW, what a toxic culture looks like, and much more!

Lori Ware is the SVP of Finance at Yaamava' Resort & Casino, the 2nd most visited property in all of California. This podcast discusses the power of asking for help, a deep love of math, how to communicate data, and more!

CKM is one of the most respected leaders in the industry and currently oversees the Palms in Las Vegas. In this special podcast, we dive into her career story, how to spot talent, key nuggets for upcoming leaders, and the exciting opportunities with the iconic Palms property. 

Laurens Vosloo is the CEO of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians. In this conversation, he covers his career journey, the keys to leading during uncertainty, fostering growth, the 2023 outlook, and much more! 

Ryan is the CMO at one of the top Casino/Hotels in the nation (as recognized by USA today). In this conversation Ryan discusses his journey from PD host to CMO, the misconceptions in gaming, implementing technology that drives revenue, building a culture and much more!  

Steve Neely is a trusted source in gaming with 20+ years of leadership experience across multiple markets. Currently, he is the GM for Rolling Hills Casino in California. In this episode, Steve discusses lessons learned from different markets, how to maximize value at conferences, networking, spotting talent, marketing, and much more! 

Bill Pedigo is a longtime leader and executive in sports with experience working for the Chiefs, Ducks and more. He currently helps oversee the ocV!BE expansion project that will be a game changing entertainment & cultural destination in California. In this interview Bill discusses his career journey, the art of making a deal, innovation in the entertainment sectors, and much more! 

Knapp is the Academic Director of the Master's of Science in Entrepreneurship and Innovation and an Associate Professor of Clinical Entrepreneurship at the Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies. His teachings encompass all facets of entrepreneurial studies, including Venture Management, Feasibility Analysis, Business Planning, and Launching. In addition, Knapp developed the "E"-Challenge and a new course for students involved in a family firm: Entrepreneurial Family Business. A three-time Golden Apple Award winner for outstanding teaching as voted on by the student body. Knapp is the founder of Club Sportswear and Honolua Surf Co, an Action Sports Industry leader, and a partner in Blue Jay Bay Ventures, a real estate investment firm.

Brigitte Saria is a results-oriented and highly accomplished top Human Resources Executive with proven experience in human resources leadership and business management. In this episode she speaks to the constantly changing state of recruitment, how relationships are at the heart of success and lessons from 30 years in the business of people. 

Erica Kosemund is the Senior Director of Gaming Brand & Partnerships for Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. She oversees the creative and strategic team that drives brand and marketing initiatives for all the Choctaw Nation businesses which include, 20 gaming sites, 16 travel plazas, several restaurants, and 65,000 acres of ranches and farmland. In this episode Erica discusses the advantages of having an influencer social marketing strategy, key lessons from over 15 years in casino marketing, how to create an impactful brand and so much more! 

Today is a special episode where we pack in powerful advice in 10 minutes! This is a mix of some of our first guests giving advice on how individuals can take their career to the next level. We hope you enjoy! 

Bob Boughner is one of the most respected names in the casino & hotel industry and has 40+ years of executive leadership experience at the Boyd Gaming Corporation. Bob is well known for successfully opening & operating the Borgata and for being an innovative leader who oversaw business development and operations for multiple properties. In this interview, Peter Arceo had a chance to talk about keys to success, tips for new and current leaders, lessons learned over 40 years, and much more!

Cara is a trusted resource that companies utilize in the subject of retention. Cara and her incredible team of experts give leaders the resources to implement solutions that keep team members longer and help foster loyalty. In this interview, Cara discusses common misconceptions about generations in the workplace, the new world we live in, trends leaders need to be paying attention to, and more! 

Shondra brings 14+ years of product and customer service experience with IGT. She is a pro at understanding all facets of gaming product operations, but what is most impressive about Shondra is her dedication to serve, lead and inspire others in the gaming industry. In this interview we discuss her keys to success, how to maximize project communication, trends in slot product development, hiring traits managers should look for and much more!

Dr. Bryan K Williams strives to bring the best out of people through servant leadership. Bryan provides training and consulting expertise to hundreds of organizations across the globe, in over 20 industries ranging from Healthcare to Luxury Hotels. In this episode Bryan touches on converting challenges into strengths, investing time with your top talent, and how you can level up your company culture. 

With a career spanning over 30 years, Kenji has a passion for the casino & hospitality industry that is unmatched. He currently serves as the COO of Yaamava' Resort & Casino and in this episode discusses lessons, tips, trends, engagement and much more!

Grant Irons played five seasons in the NFL and was an academic athlete of the year. In this conversation, Grant discusses his relationship with Warren Buffet, lessons from Notre Dame, his growth mindset, and how he has transitioned to having successful businesses after the NFL. 

Jasmine Takeshita is the ultimate pro at spotting talent and hiring talent for numerous verticals within the casino & hospitality industry. In this episode, she discusses how her team hired for a 3,000+ team member expansion project during a pandemic, lessons learned in recruitment, empowering a team, and much more. 

Luke Palladino is an expert on delivering a perfect culinary experience. Throughout his career, he has worked with some of the most iconic properties like the Wynn and Borgata, owned and operated restaurants around the globe, and currently is a strategic consultant for properties like the Palms and Yaamava' Resort & Casino. In this episode, Luke shares his story, provides insight on where the industry is going and how curiosity is the fuel of craftsmanship. 

Andy is the President of LaneTerralever, one of the fastest growing and successful marketing agencies in Phoenix, AZ. In this episode we dive into the current landscape of marketing, predictions for the future, unique challenges in the casino and hospitality space, how to optimize creative work and so much more!

Rikki is a seasoned marketing and operations leader with a proven track record of leading resorts & casinos in numerous markets. Over 20 years she has worked for MGM, Caesars, Golden Nugget, San Manuel Casino, among many others. In this episode, Rikki speaks to the importance of adaptability, strategic thinking, self-awareness, lessons as a CMO, mentors and so much more! Rikki is also a role model with her numerous philanthropy efforts and love for animals. We hope you enjoy this episode! 

Dr. Bo Bernhard is the Vice President of Economic Development at UNLV and a trusted resource in gaming & hospitality across the globe through his responsible gaming work and has been featured on CBS and ABC. He is also the Director of the International Gaming Institute where he and his super team of industry titans help develop the best minds in the industry. In this conversation Bo talks about the Executive Development Program, the story of the LA Raiders and how it all started with one bold idea in his classroom, the purpose of Blackfire Innovation, what the best in the business have in common, growing up in Las Vegas and much more!

Larry Krutchik is the Executive Vice President of H+K Strategies, one of the leading global communication companies. Larry is an expert on strategic communications with over 25 years of experience working with brands and leaders across the globe and started his career as a lawyer. In this episode Larry shares his insights on why leaders must be great communicators, pitfalls and common mistakes of communication, starting with purpose, how to address difficult conversations, the key to a personal brand, lessons learned, practical tips and so much more!

In this episode Hector shares his thoughts on the evolution of the slot gaming experience, his career journey, lessons growing up, unique partnerships opportunities that can grow your business and much more! 

Host Kyle Anderson speaks with Laura Fernandez who is a leader in the streaming audio space at SXM Media. In this conversation they discuss the key and upside to having an audio strategy, the podcast boom, tips on partnerships, the abundance of opportunity within audio and so much more! 

Host Kyle Anderson speaks with the SVP of Global Partnerships of the LA Dodgers, Corey Norkin. In this episode Corey shares his career path, the case for sports partnerships, lessons learned, career success in a fast moving industry, and future trends we should all be looking at. We hope you enjoy this episode!

To solve business challenges we have all are required to collaborate with experts outside of our field. How do we select partners and understand how we can maximize value? This panel will take the deep dive on all things partnerships.  

This panel includes:
- Corey Norkin - VP of Global Partnerships LA Dodgers  
- Gary Border - CEO Marketing Results  
- Peter Arceo - General Manager Yaamava' Resort & Casino at San Manuel  
- Matt Balvanz - SVP of Analytics and Innovation at Navigate  

Next Level Casino Careers is a free virtual event connecting individuals in and/or interested in the casino & hospitality industry, providing insights on how to take their career to the next level. Building future leaders in the greater community through connection, knowledge and experiences.  

Powered by Yaamava' Resort & Casino - now hiring: https://bit.ly/3gTqJws

Hear a diverse panel describe their unique career paths and give insight on when it is time to switch positions, how to deliberate opportunities and how switching paths can ultimately lead to greater opportunities.  

This panel includes:  
- Bill Pedigo - EVP/Chief Commercial Officer ocV!BE
- Andrew Parnell - President LaneTerralever  
- Hector Fernandez - President of the Americas Aristocrat  
- Joel Anderson - VP of Financial Planning & Analysis Yaamava' Resort & Casino at San Manuel  

Next Level Casino Careers is a free virtual event connecting individuals in and/or interested in the casino & hospitality industry, providing insights on how to take their career to the next level. Building future leaders in the greater community through connection, knowledge and experiences.  

Powered by Yaamava' Resort & Casino - now hiring: https://bit.ly/3gTqJws