Vice President and General Manager
Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino
BUSINESS
First job: My dad owned an auto parts store, so when I was about 10 years old, I started stocking the family auto parts store.
Favorite job: This one; it’s been a blast. People always assume what I do is fun, but they don’t realize how fun it can be.
Why the casino? I kind of fell into it. I was in public accounting, but my wife was tired of all the traveling I had to do. I wanted to be closer to home, so I took a job with Promus, who used to own Holiday Inn and several other properties. After a couple of years there, I thought the casino route sounded more interesting than hotels.
Why Maricopa? I was an assistant GM in California when the GM here left. I applied for the job and got it. Plus, it’s a nice place to live.
When did you move to Arizona? 2011
What differentiates Harrah’s Ak-Chin from its competition? We’re the only nationally-branded casino in the area, so with our Total Rewards player loyalty program, people can take the rewards they earn here and go spend them in Las Vegas or New Orleans or any of our other properties. The other thing is that our customer service is so friendly and laid-back.
What is your greatest challenge? Leveraging the Total Rewards program to get people to come down here; basically the location.
Greatest opportunity? That we can and need to grow this property. We’re bursting at the seams.
PERSONAL
Family: I have a wife and two daughters. They’re 25 and 20.
Hometown: Oxford, Mississippi
Current residence: Ahwatukee
Education: Ole Miss
Hobbies: Golf, but I’m not particularly good at it. I started golfing six years ago and thought I’d be a scratch golfer within a year. Right now I’m about a bogey golfer; I usually score right around 90.
Car: 2005 BMW 338i with 204,000 miles
Currently reading: “Never Eat Alone” by Keith Ferrazzi
Dream dinner companions (four-top): Johnny Vaught, Johnny Manziel, Hugh Freeze
I wish I was … retired and financially set so I don’t have to worry about money for the rest of my life.
I’m most thankful for … my long career with this company.
![An image of one of 56 elevation renderings submitted to Maricopa's planning department for the Elena Trails subdivison. The developer plans to construct 14 different floor plans, with four elevation styles per plan. [City of Maricopa]](https://www.inmaricopa.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/city-041724-elena-trails-rendering-218x150.jpg "Elena Trails releases home renderings")
![A blue square highlights the area of the proposed affordable housing development and "Restaurant Row" sitting south of city hall and the Maricopa Police Department. Preliminary architectural drawings were not yet available. [City of Maricopa]](https://www.inmaricopa.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/041724-affordable-housing-project-restaurant-row-218x150.jpg "Affordable apartments planned near ‘Restaurant Row’")
