Congratulations. What are your thoughts on winning the award and receiving recognition from AGEM members?
Wow, what an unexpected and exciting surprise. I was very flattered that AGEM felt my contributions to the gaming industry were worthy of the spotlight.
Lori, how would you describe your career journey to date and your relationship with the gaming industry? Have you executed a plan - or has it been much more organic?
I arrived in Las Vegas in late 1995 with a few years of communications experience, no relationships in Las Vegas, and a whole lot of moxie. I had my first significant exposure to the gaming industry while at R&R Partners, through our advocacy work on behalf of the Nevada Resort Association (NRA. I also worked on behalf of the LVCVA when 9/11 happened, and the destination was greatly impacted by fear of travel. Early in my career, I knew I wanted to play a larger role in the industry. Trough my work on the NRA, I caught the attention of Station Casinos.
I was recruited into a newly created position for corporate communications at a critical growth time for the Company and was entrusted to serve as its Company spokesperson. It was a dream career opportunity to work with the Fertitta family and one that I am grateful to have had over a 14-year stint with the Company.
I have worked on everything from creating and implementing strategic plans for new resort casinos, expansions, and new product launches to blocking and tackling complex issues the Company had to navigate, most notably when it had to restructure.
As a communicator, what’s been the message you’ve sought to deliver regarding the gaming industry to the public, government and regulators throughout your career?
Te intent of strategic messaging changes frequently and is often based on the audience you’re trying to reach and what you’re trying to accomplish with them. What I find most important in messaging is ensuring we’re telling the story authentically, being transparent and truthful, and not leaving a void where others can fill it with misinformation.
You spent 15 years with Station Casino/Red Rock Resorts - how would you describe that experience and what led you to join the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority in 2019?
My experiences and time with Station Casinos were incredible, even when faced with challenges. Working for a family-owned and operated
company was unlike anything I had ever experienced. Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta learned the business from their Dad, and then they grew his vision into what Red Rock Resorts is today. Te Fertitta brothers are fiercely involved in every aspect of the business, and every meeting I sat in with them was a Master Class of sorts. I learned and grew from every interaction, opportunity, and challenge they threw my way.
My understanding and depth of the gaming industry, including operations, guest service, sales, and employee relations, was critical in my career evolution and key to stepping into my next job with the LVCVA in 2019. Knowing how the gaming and hospitality industries worked from the inside out, was exceptionally helpful to me in representing the entire Las Vegas destination and gave our resort partners confidence, knowing I knew how to understand and see things through their lens.
Your new role is with the Formula One Las Vegas Grand Prix as Senior VP of Corporate Affairs. Was this an opportunity you sought, or did the stars simply align?
Stars magically aligned, and I recognised that I needed to be nimble and opportunistic when Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix came my way. Over the three decades I’ve lived and worked in Las Vegas, I’ve been fortunate that the relationships I developed carry over and continue to grow, no matter who my employer has been. I am most proud that I have earned the trust of so many business and community leaders.
What challenged you most and what have been the standout highlights of the inaugural F1 race in Las Vegas?
I started at the Las Vegas Grand Prix in late May, so I’m relatively new to overseeing communications, government relations, and community engagement. I’m humbled that Liberty Media and Formula 1 brought me in to work in these critical areas necessary to help the event’s evolution in Las Vegas.
You’ve been part of the Vegas gaming community for three decades. What do you still love about the business - and what have been your proudest personal achievements?
It’s a real sense of pride representing the State’s largest industry, from the job creation to the economic impact on our community. To this day, it would have to be working on and opening Red Rock Resort in 2006. It was also my first-ever resort/casino opening and was the Company’s most ambitious undertaking in its evolution. I loved following Frank and Lorenzo around during construction as we toured the venue frequently. Watching and listening to them in action, always prioritising the guest experience in every decision, shaped who I am today and was one of the best career experiences.
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