Norfolk Casino hires six new leaders

Developers Boyd Gaming and the Pamunkey Indian Tribe on Monday announced that they have hired six new senior leaders to guide operations of the $750 million Norfolk Casino.

The announcement was made as the team is gearing up for the November opening of The Interim Gaming Hall, the temporary predecessor to the permanent casino. Located beside the permanent resort site, The Interim will have more than 130 slot machines on a single-level gaming floor and some food and beverage offerings.

“These talented leaders will play a vital role in ensuring we deliver an outstanding experience for our guests and a supportive workplace for our team members,” Ron Bailey, vice president and general manager of the Norfolk casino, said in a statement. “Their deep expertise and passion for excellence will strengthen our operations as we move closer to opening The Interim Gaming Hall and, ultimately, our best-in-market resort.”

Joining the team as the director of regulatory compliance is Jennifer McGowan, who will ensure the casino adheres to laws and regulations. She started her career in gaming security at Boyd Gaming’s Treasure Chest Casino in Kenner, Louisiana, in 2013 before moving into compliance roles in 2016. She was most recently a compliance officer for a racetrack casino in New Orleans. She has a bachelor’s degree in public relations from Tulane University and holds a CAMS (Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist) certification.

Meanwhile, John Wetzel has been tapped as the vice president of finance. He joins the team after previously serving as the finance director for Rivers Casino Portsmouth. He previously held leadership roles at various gaming operators. Wetzel earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Mississippi and is currently pursuing his MBA at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Other new executives include:

• Joseph Berry, director of information technology
• Keyond Gorley, director of security
• Nathan Leu, director of surveillance
• Staci Robnett, director of cage and count

According to the developers, the Interim Gaming Hall is currently hiring people for several different roles, including security officers, various cashier positions, slot technicians, IT positions and more.

Boyd Gaming and the Pamunkey Tribe plan to debut their permanent casino resort in late 2027. The permanent resort will feature a 65,000-square-foot casino with 1,500 slot machines and 50 table games, a 200-room hotel, eight food and beverage outlets, live entertainment and a 45,000-square-foot outdoor amenity deck. Construction on the long-awaited casino began in February.