“ I care about people and have compassion . I make an effort to know where they see themselves in the future and I keep that in mind when I see opportunities that can help propel them forward .”
DGE , where among other tasks , she investigates and licenses individuals and organizations that do business with Atlantic City casinos , from non-gaming vendors to internet gaming and sports wagering operators .
“ I direct investigations , review contracts and related documents , conduct sworn interviews and draft licensing recommendations . Much of my day is spent fielding inquiries from those in the gaming industry who are seeking to do business in New Jersey ,” says McKelvey , who finds time to relax with a good book on the beach , a nice bonus of living in the Atlantic City area .
McKelvey cites Judge Patricia M . Wild , J . S . C . ( ret .) as a mentor . She shared a similar career path . Wild served as a deputy attorney general in the DGE before working as in-house counsel for many of the Atlantic City casinos .
“ Judge Wild has mentored me and provided guidance on being a woman in an industry that is predominantly male , to think critically , and to make decisions based on what is right , even if it is not the popular decision ,” she says .
At the DGE , McKelvey has learned much from the guidance of Director David Rebuck , Deputy Director Lou Rogacki , and Deputy Attorneys General Mike Golub and Jen Russo- Belles .
One thing seems evident : the gaming industry has a continual need for attorneys to carry out the legal necessities of the industry , especially in an ever-changing gaming world , McKelvey says .
“ I recommend that lawyers find an area of gaming they find particularly interesting and learn all they can . When you are passionate about a given topic , you naturally flourish in that area , and with hard work you can become a go-to person on that topic .” — Bill Sokolic
Remember Her Name
Agata Maher
Director of Marketing Operations , Pechanga Resort Casino
Immediately upon meeting Agata Maher , you are impressed by her confidence and enthusiasm , and it is easy to understand why she was selected as an emerging leader in gaming . Her career in the industry began 16 years ago at Harrah ’ s Resort SoCal in the San Diego area as special events coordinator . From there , she moved north to Morongo Casino Resort & Spa in Cabazon to oversee the players club and promotions as the Winners Club manager .
“ I have been so fortunate to have worked for and still work with leaders who believe I am the perfect fit for their team ,” she says . “ They invested in me and today I do the same for others .”
In 2013 , she joined Pechanga Resort Casino — the largest resort casino in California — and immediately put her management , planning and training skills to use increasing Pechanga ’ s club recruitment and enhancing the club experience for members . At the same time , she facilitated leadership courses for Pechanga ’ s managers that not only established a blueprint for the next generation of Pechanga ’ s leaders , but a footprint for her fellow leaders at Pechanga and in the gaming industry . She credits her early career success to the value she placed in herself and her abilities . “ I kept a positive attitude about my work and did my darn best to inspire confidence in others ,” she reflects . “ That combined with an enormous work ethic set me apart and allowed me to capitalize on many opportunities .”
As the director of marketing operations at Pechanga , Maher oversees departments as disparate as club membership , special events and promotions , as well as entertainment . This means if she isn ’ t overseeing a giveaway for club members , she ’ s devising new ways to facilitate better processes to enable guests to enjoy Pechanga ’ s endless list of entertainment talent .
Tackling problems and difficult situations and turning them into success stories plays into Maher ’ s strength as someone who finds levels of comfort in areas that many would not . Maher is a change agent who is the connector and lynchpin to the marketing department and other key teams throughout the company .
“ A leader ’ s duty is to care ,” she observes . “ I care about people and have compassion . I make an effort to know where they see themselves in the future and I keep that in mind when I see opportunities that can help propel them forward .” Through her strong leadership , her team is able to produce creative excellence and deliver on business and financial goals , establishing an environment of continuous capability growth and operations improvement . Her advice to other young professionals is , first , to stay true to yourself . “ As I look back on my career to date , I am most proud that through all the years , I stayed true to who I was — a Polish immigrant girl who jokes that the best way to remember how to pronounce her name is to say ‘ I-GOTTA-REMEMBER-HER-NAME .’” She also advocates building strong relationships . “ Ensure you have good , trustworthy relationships with your colleagues as well as other external stakeholders ,” she advises . “ I strongly believe that having great relationships is essential to one ’ s success and growth within an organization .” — Allison McCoy , The Innovation Group
DECEMBER 2022 www . ggbmagazine . com 37