“ I am thrilled with the difference we make .” The community relations process is multifaceted .
Evans says every senior director is mandated to sit on at least two nonprofit boards . Ideas ultimately filter through this body , sparking the blending of efforts between corporate and city leaders .
That ’ s how projects like the Severn Center in Maryland , 30 years in the making , come to fruition . Cordish contributed $ 12 million to the facility , which includes a state-of-the-art Boys & Girls Club , gymnasium and Teen Club . Opened in 2023 , it has a Senior Activity Center , and educational programs and classes in art , history , crafts , computer use , dance and physical fitness .
There are no comps , bonus codes or bus trips to a casino location .
But Evans , representing Cordish , did hand out 400 turkeys just before Thanksgiving . He believes many people will thrive if given a chance . That ’ s why the 50-year-old shares the chance he had for a better life 30 years ago .
“ I grew up in the inner city of Baltimore , with a single mother and in poverty ,” Evans recalls . “ Fortunately , there was something out there to help me , which was the culinary world .”
Evans jumped into that space and later opened the door to followers . He launched a culinary academy at Cordish for those who could otherwise not afford it . Four of the students became executive chefs at Cordish , he says . All the students were given an alternative to the streets .
“ Hurt people hurt people ,” he asserts . “ Healed people heal people . Of all the things I ’ ve done , my greatest career highlight is all the chefs I have produced in my 26-year career in that area .” It ’ s been an extensive road . A veteran chef and Baltimore native , Evans joined Live ! Casino & Hotel Maryland as director of culinary operations in spring of 2015 . His culinary career spanned more than two decades , including oversight of culinary operations at the casino with a particular focus on expanding food and beverage offerings and enhancing quality .
He could have spent decades in this industry , perhaps become a celebrity chef . Emeril Lag-Evans ? Nah , this is a better calling .
Evans loves the fact he ’ s cooking with gas , and that it has nothing to do with food . — Dave Bontempo
Sweet Home Chicago
Danielle Kristensen , Vice President of Technology , Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures
In late 2011 , Illinois native Danielle Kristensen was living in Las Vegas when she decided to answer a LinkedIn ad for a position at a gaming tech startup , despite not having any formal experience in the industry . More than a decade later , this happenstance turned out to be the beginning of a fruitful career in gaming , with subsequent stops at Aristocrat , GAN and Raketech .
Kristensen was appointed to her current role as vice president of technology for Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures ( MLCV ) last summer , where she manages a host of services , including “ IT , infrastructure , support , networking , security , and the intricate web of gaming , hospitality and business systems engineering .”
MLCV is the business arm of Minnesota ’ s Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe tribe — in addition to its Grand Casino properties , MLCV also oversees ventures in hospitality , in-district investing and government contracting .
For the year ahead , Kristensen will have her hands full as she looks to navigate “ our new world of AI and machine learning ” as well as the myriad of “ possibilities , challenges and responsibilities that come along with them .” This balance has perhaps never been more important , especially for tribal entities such as MLCV that are concerned not only with growth , but also with sustainability and preservation .
In addition to new possibilities , however , she must also be on the lookout for “ ways to leverage our existing solutions ” to perform better and more efficiently , which is never an easy task in an uber-competitive world such as gaming .
Despite her expertise with complex technologies and systems , Kristensen notes that in retrospect , the value of human relationships has been perhaps the most important factor in her professional success thus far .
“ I learned quickly that the gaming industry is extremely close-knit , and relationships are vital ,” she notes . “ In this industry , everyone knows everyone . It ’ s critical to protect and foster relationships , because you are almost certain to come across the same people multiple times in different positions as you progress throughout your career . This is actually one of the things I love most about being in this field , the people I get to work with .”
Similarly , in addition to hard work , her biggest recommendation is to always retain a sense of individuality and authenticity : “ You may not be everyone ’ s cup of tea , and that ’ s OK . You may stumble and make missteps along your path , but if you stay true to yourself , you ’ ll end up exactly where you need to be .”
Having returned to the suburbs of Chicago , Kristensen enjoys spending time with her husband and their three young children , as well as the horses and other animals at the Hooved Animal Humane Society of Illinois , where she volunteers . — Jess Marquez
JANUARY 2024 www . ggbmagazine . com 23