Page 11 - Mississippi/Louisiana Gaming News - Spring, 2023

Moving Ahead
MGM Detroit.
He began his gaming career in 1995
as a front desk clerk at Grand Casino Biloxi and Hotel. During his career he has held a variety of key management positions in hotel operations, and has managed hotel pricing and strategies in multiple markets. He joined the MGM regional revenue management team in August 2020 as a regional manager of revenue.
In his new role, Royals will continue to work closely with the regional executive director of revenue management
to establish best practices, training opportunities, and to evaluate revenue potential strategies for regional properties.
Royals holds a Bachelor’s in Hotel and Restaurant Management from Arkansas Tech University.
Lee Smilek was promoted to regional director of revenue with responsibilities at Beau Rivage, Gold Strike, MGM National Harbor, MGM Detroit and MGM Springfield.
Smilek began his career with Beau Rivage in November 2016 as the front services supervisor and later transferred to the hotel management team as a hotel operations manager in October 2017. He joined the regional revenue management team in August of 2020
as a regional manager of revenue.
In his new
role, Smilek will
work closely
with the regional
executive director
of revenue
management
to establish
best practices,
training opportunities, and to evaluate revenue potential strategies for regional properties. He holds a Bachelor’s
in Business Management from The University of Mississippi and is currently serving in a leadership role for the Beau Rivage’s Emerging Leaders.
Bruce Cartwright has been promoted to director of banquets, responsible
for directing and leading all on-site and off-site catering, convention and special event functions.
Cartwright has more than 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry. The Ocean Springs native began his 17-year tenure with MGM Resorts International in 2005 as a food and beverage relief manager at Beau Rivage. He held multiple positions in hospitality at MGM Resorts International properties before being promoted to director of beverage
Lee Smilek
Bruce Cartwright
Scott Royals
at MGM National Harbor in 2018. He was also a member of the Task
Force Opening Teams for MGM National Harbor and MGM Springfield. Cartwright most recently held the role of director of food and beverage at Gold Strike Casino Resort.
In his new role, Cartwright will be responsible for banquet operations, including directing and leading all on-site and off-site catering, convention and special event functions. He will work directly with Beau Rivage’s convention and catering sales teams on a daily basis as well as the food and beverage leadership team.
In addition to many accomplishments in the hospitality industry, Cartwright was awarded his Introductory Sommelier Certificate by the Court of Master Sommeliers.
SPRING 2023 MISSISSIPPI GAMING NEWS 11
Gavin Schmidt joins Golden Nugget as VP/CFO
BILOXI — Golden Nugget Biloxi announced two new executive hires and two promotions recently. Gavin Schmidt joined the Golden Nugget executive team as vice president
and CFO, overseeing the company’s financial functions, accounting, audit, treasury, and finance.
Schmidt started his gaming industry career in 1992 as a marketing analyst at the President Casino in Biloxi.
He has held senior-level positions
in finance for three different casino operators on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, most recently serving as vice president of finance at Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.
Schmidt holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Louisiana State University.
Randy Fanugao started at the property as executive housekeeper in December 2022. He has been in
Gavin Schmidt
Randy Fanugao
Kemeeche Lori
Powell
Patterson
the casino and hospitality industry for more than 25 years and has worked for many casino and hotel properties on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The continued development of hospitality and gaming on the Coast has been a catalyst for success and growth within his career.
Kemeeche Powell and Lori Patterson were recently promoted to assistant front desk managers. Powell started at Golden Nugget in 2017 as a
hotel agent. After showing her work ethic and ability to lead a team, she was promoted to supervisor in June 2020.
Patterson joined the Golden Nugget team in April 2022. She started working in the hospitality industry in 2001 as a room attendant. Over the next several years, she worked in casinos in Lake Charles, Tunica and Biloxi, holding a variety of housekeeping roles.