From Maryland, where Melonie Johnson is president and COO of MGM National Harbor, to Atlantic City, where Borgata’s Deborah Pellegrino is the first female executive chef at a resort-casino, to Massachusetts, where Encore Boston Harbor President Jenny Holaday is the first woman to run a Bay State casino, women are in charge throughout the East Coast gaming industry.
In their own words, a few of the many exceptional women from the region share their career influences, ambitions, strategies for success—and the rewards of leadership.
Melonie Johnson, President & COO, MGM National Harbor
“My parents worked hard to support our family. As a child, helping them out of necessity with my siblings, household chores, homework and bringing structure to our home became part of my DNA and leadership mindset. I have always had a strong desire to learn, be challenged and lead projects, and develop people.
Little did I know how those skills would elevate my career. My early goals included learning as much as possible and making positive contributions as an employee. I was ecstatic when I was first promoted to manager, after which I aimed to become a chief financial officer.
To advance my career, I built my personal brand through partnerships, taking on projects, seeking understanding and being present and available. Today, my leadership pillars include emotional intelligence, collaboration, courageous and transparent conversations, team development and driving strategy.
I get the most pleasure from developing up-and-coming talent and watching them progress in their careers. I also take pride in building strong and effective teams who own the business and make great decisions.”
Deborah Pellegrino, Executive Chef, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Atlantic City
“From a young age, I loved baking and experimenting with recipes. My father, a police officer, took my baked goods to the station, where they were well received . This early experience of sharing food sparked my passion for the art of cooking.
At 22, after taking a baking course at The Academy of Culinary Arts, I made a career-defining decision to work abroad on a super yacht. Pushing me professionally and testing me personally, this challenging experience resulted in great strides forward while giving me a global perspective on cuisine.
Back home in Ocean City, New Jersey, I immersed myself in high-pressure casino kitchens to expand my expertise in pastry. Earning recognition and awards in pastry competitions further pushed my creative boundaries and advanced my career.
As executive chef, I foster a positive, collaborative and supportive environment where we learn and have fun while working hard. I empower my team to lead by making decisions and taking risks. Valuable lessons from running my own chocolate-making business include encouraging initiative, which creates a sense of ownership and boosts team morale.
I am deeply fulfilled by making everyone feel valued and motivated, and contributing to their personal and professional evolution into confident leaders.”
[Related: East Coast Casinos Offer Exceptional Dining Experiences for Meeting Groups]
Margherita Falks, Senior Director of Hotel Operations, Harrah's Resort Atlantic City
“My mother’s household leadership instilled my desire to take charge, which is how I approached starting out in the New York City hospitality industry. Determined to take the initiative and create my own opportunities, I crafted and mailed a compelling résumé and cover letter to 50 properties across the city. I started out in limited-service properties that fostered a culture of taking on multiple responsibilities, which ignited my drive to learn and do more.
I believe in setting an example by taking on any task, from mundane to complex. I proactively, calmly and collaboratively solve problems while empowering my team to be confident, positive and take risks through teaching, mentorship and recognition. And I earn respect and loyalty by cultivating a reputation for integrity, honesty and support. This combination has allowed me to naturally and credibly assume leadership roles.
As a leader, I prioritize collaboration, fairness, accountability and development. To foster ownership and buy-in, I involve my team in decisions, set high expectations and celebrate achievements while addressing areas for improvement. I take pride in our collective successes and consistently credit the team for their vital roles in achieving our goals.”
Martha Morales, Vice President and General Manager, Valley Forge Casino Resort
“My mother, a guest room attendant, and my father, a construction worker, inspired me with their work ethic and grounded me with their humility. With that foundation, taking a hospitality class in high school opened my eyes to an industry where I could grow and make a difference.
From the outset, my ambition centered on representation and impact, I aimed to lead in luxury hospitality and break barriers in an industry where few looked like me. I wanted to prove that someone from humble beginnings could rise, while creating space for others to grow, be seen and feel valued.
Earning my degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and an MBA from the University of Southern California, I asked questions freely, learned from those around me and approached each opportunity with humility.
Building strong relationships—from hourly staff to executives—keeps me grounded in my purpose. I lead with authenticity and a commitment to inclusion. Driven by curiosity and empowering others, I create collaborative space for every voice to be heard. My greatest reward comes from inspiring confidence, opening doors and helping others see what’s possible for themselves.”
Kimberly Simone, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Mohegan Sun
“My late mother, who passed away from cancer a few years ago, was my true inspiration. Following her example, including the effortless way she connected with people, and how she met people where they were and treated everyone with respect, became the core of who I am.
Competitively driven to excel, I have always held high standards and ambitions for myself. I believe in communicating career aspirations, never settling into a role and consistently striving for more responsibility.
Having learned about this industry by traveling to tradeshows and building a network of industry peers, I advanced by seeking feedback and being adaptable. My leadership qualities are simple: share and teach my knowledge, hold people accountable, communicate my expectations, celebrate the wins and always say thank you.
I find great reward and satisfaction in leading as I want to be led, and in positively impacting and inspiring others. I want my team to leave the office smiling and feeling accomplished.”
[Related: Inspiration Is Around Every Corner in Philadelphia and Valley Forge]
Meghan Kirk, Executive Director of Catering & Convention Services, Encore Boston Harbor
“What did I want to be when I grew up? While unable to exactly answer that age-old question early on, I knew that I wanted to succeed in a place where I loved to work. I found that in hospitality, where I saw the positive impact that I could have managing people and teams in business.
Early in my career, I took on any new experience that came my way. This purposeful exposure to a wide range of challenges and opportunities truly pushed me and contributed to my development as a well-rounded leader.
In terms of leadership qualities, being self-aware has allowed me to establish and grow trusting relationships, which goes with my focus on building strong, balanced teams. As a strategic problem solver, I think about everything that we do to succeed as a business. By investing time and energy in guiding other people’s leadership journeys, including developing specific skill sets and providing constructive feedback, we work on creating that success together. I take great pride in influencing change and progress and achieving my goals with my team.”
Noel Stevenson, Regional Director of Marketing and Communications, Caesars Entertainment
“From early childhood on, my parents and grandmothers instilled in me the belief that I could do anything I wanted in life. Each showed me in their respective ways strength, courage, and grace. Among my many lifetime role models, both male and female, they have always been my champions
Passion, more than goals, continues to drive my career in hospitality. Starting out in the gaming industry after college, I fell in love with being able to create unique experiences and lasting memories for people and sharing these stories with the world. To this day, making emotional connections motivates me the most.
Throughout my career, I grew the most from managing experiences that did not go as planned. Learning how to pivot and adapt when navigating tough situations and solve problems helped me to develop as a leader. I want my team and colleagues to know they can call me first to work out issues together. And, when they have something amazing to share. I strive to create the same strong relationships that I had with all my mentors along the way—the most gratifying part of leadership is having the ability to create opportunity for others around you.”
Plus: Visit Atlantic City’s Dynamic Duo
This August, Jessica Kasunich, director of communications, and Karina Anthony, executive director of marketing, celebrate 11 years together at Visit Atlantic City. Starting work on the same day in 2014, they immediately bonded, and through their productive “yin-and-yang ” partnership, have risen within the organization as successful strategists and storytellers for the ever-evolving Atlantic City brand.
From innovative marketing to the joys of motherhood, the dynamic duo shared the rewards of their partnership with Meetings Today senior contributor Jeff Heilman.
Take me back to that first day.
Jessica Kasunich: We clicked instantly through our shared passion for detailed work, fashion and travel. Having a woman who shared my outlook and goals was motivating too. I believe that former Meet AC (Meet AC rebranded as Visit Atlantic City in 2023) President and CEO Jim Wood recognized our similarities during the interview process and saw us as a great fit in our respective roles.
Karina Anthony: In week one, we flew to Connect in Orlando. Our services manager booked our seats apart, unsure if we would get along! We are “work besties” and lifelong friends with a shared passion for travel and tourism.
As evidenced by Atlantic City’s strong group momentum this past decade.
Kasunich: We are laser-focused on sales and marketing efforts for bringing in meetings and events, including showcasing our continuous development, product updates and new attractions.
Anthony: We continually evolve our vertical market strategies while expanding efforts like our successful Atlantic City Education Series for planners. Focal points include face-to-face strategies, positioning Atlantic City as a premier destination for sporting events as that market soars and elevating the destination through group tours, international engagement and film industry growth.
What are key takeaways from the past decade?
Anthony: Visit Atlantic City is a forward-thinking organization that empowers us to thrive in our roles. Leadership trusts us to flex our creativity and make executive decisions. During the pandemic, for example, we were among the first destinations to embrace virtual reality, which gave us a significant competitive edge during the crisis.
Kasunich: Hosting MPI’s World Education Congress in 2016 was my breakthrough moment. The planning process and hosting top-tier trade media were career-defining experiences. Speaking of trust and creativity, my proudest accomplishments include conceiving our co-hosted Atlantic City Voices podcast in 2022. Finding that few destination marketing organizations had a podcast, I pitched the idea as another content-driven avenue of visibility. Last year, we won the Award of Distinction in the Branded Series Podcast category in the 30th Annual Communicator Awards.
What are the top rewards of your partnership?
Kasunich: Communicating, collaborating and celebrating our wins together, including the special journey of motherhood.
Anthony: Our yin-and-yang balance. I thrive on generating ideas, which Jessica structures into actionable plans. Plus, we always advocate for each other.
What’s the next chapter for Atlantic City?
Kasunich: Our leisure tourism and meetings are now under one organization, unifying destination marketing and storytelling. We are digging deep into creative solutions for reaching a broader audience, driving visitation and enhancing overall extended stays.
Anthony: As we expand into leisure marketing, we're leveraging Visit Atlantic City’s “bold, playful, eclectic, celebratory and iconic” brand personality to drive our full-funnel meetings marketing, including gaining deeper insights into planner behavior by focusing on awareness, consideration and action.
