Feb 20, 2018 | Breaking News, Employment, General News, Uncategorized
WILKES – BARRE, PA (February 20, 2018) – Puerto Rico native Kenneth J. Fernandez has been named Vice President of Human Resources for Mohegan Sun Pocono (MSP). Having last served at the San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino in Puerto Rico, Fernandez brings along a wealth of experience, knowledge & skills in the casino & resort industry to MSP.
“Kenneth Fernandez is a true professional, with a very impressive background, having various fields of expertise, which in addition to Human Resources, expand into Employee Relations, Business Development, Recruitment, Talent Management, Capital Improvement, Customer Service, Finance, and Advanced Leadership, many of which will be utilized greatly at Mohegan Sun Pocono. Needless to say, we’re thrilled to have him joining our Executive Team.” said Mohegan Sun Pocono President and CEO, Anthony Carlucci.
Kenneth J. Fernandez holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Management-Human Resources from the Inter American University in Puerto Rico and has additional studies in finance, human resources, labor relations and advanced leadership from the well-known educational institutions; Harvard University Business School and University of Michigan Business School. He joins Mohegan Sun Pocono with over 30 years of business and HR experience.
After joining The Ritz-Carlton, San Juan Hotel, Spa & Casino in Puerto Rico in 1997, Fernandez was named Regional Director of Human Resources for McDonald’s Corporation (Puerto Rico & Caribbean) in 2000.
Fernandez’s career remained upward from there, when in 2004 he was named Human Resources Director for the U.S. multi-national medical devices corporation; Stryker Instruments in Puerto Rico, eventually becoming in 2005 the Director/Plant Manager for the manufacturing facility. In 2013, he returned to the hospitality industry and became the Director of Human Resources for the San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino. A position he held until joining Mohegan Sun Pocono, one of the largest & foremost casino & entertainment destinations in Pennsylvania, which currently consists of over 1,500 team members.
Fernandez’s professional awards include; “HR Best New Talent” (Marriott International CALA Region), being named to Latin America’s Who’s Who in Latin America Professionals & Executives, Site Excellence Award (Stryker Corporation), Ray Kroc Golden Hat Award (McDonald’s Corporation Caribbean Region) and “Leader of the Quarter” (The Ritz-Carlton, San Juan Hotel, Spa & Casino).
Fernandez is also the father of two daughters and his leisure time takes him to the golf course and practicing kitesurfing.
ABOUT MOHEGAN SUN POCONO
Mohegan Sun Pocono, owned by Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment, is one of the most distinctive and spectacular entertainment, gaming, shopping and dining destinations in Pennsylvania. Situated on 400 acres in Plains, Pennsylvania, Mohegan Sun Pocono features a 238-room hotel with on-site spa and adjacent 20,000 square-foot Convention Center. It is currently home to 82,000 square feet of gaming space including 91 live table games, 2,300 slot machines and electronic table games, a variety of dining and shopping options, nightlife, entertainment and live harness racing. Mohegan Sun Pocono is within easy access of New York, Philadelphia, New Jersey and Delaware. More information is available by calling 1.888.WIN.IN.PA (1.888.946.4672) or visiting our website. Connect with us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram, download our app and view us on YouTube.
Jan 27, 2016 | Culture & History, Employment
La Center, Wash., – January 27, 2016 – The Cowlitz Indian Tribe, in collaboration with their partner, Mohegan Sun, announced today that Kara Fox-LaRose has been appointed General Manager of the Cowlitz Project, the $500-million-dollar casino project that will be the West Coast’s premier gaming, dining, entertainment and meeting destination. With over 20 years of gaming and hospitality experience, Fox-LaRose will be responsible for day-to-day operations of the facility slated to open in spring 2017.
“We’re thrilled to appoint Kara Fox-LaRose to General Manager of the Cowlitz Tribe’s project,” said Bill Iyall, Chairman, Cowlitz Tribe. “She is a highly accomplished professional with deep experience in the gaming and entertainment industry, and we’re looking forward to having her leadership here in Southwest Washington. Her expertise in entertainment marketing, operational leadership and community building will be an incredible asset to our work here to advance the economy and vitality of the community.”
In her most recent role, Fox-LaRose served as Assistant General Manager of Mohegan Sun Pocono (MSP), in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Named one of ‘America’s Best Employers, 2015’ by Forbes, MSP was Pennsylvania’s first casino, opening in November 2006, and exceeding the Commonwealth’s expectation in revenues and profitability. She was directly responsible for the planning and execution of a multi-million-dollar expansion that introduced a hotel, convention center, spa and lobby bar in 2013. In addition to being named one of Northeastern Pennsylvania Business Journal’s ‘Top 25 Women in Business,’ Global Gaming Business Magazine also recently named Fox-LaRose one of their 2016 ‘25 People to Watch.’
“Kara’s experience in various levels of management throughout her career at Mohegan Sun has readied her for this opportunity to lead the Cowlitz Tribe and Mohegan Sun in our joint effort to establish a premier entertainment and meeting destination,” said Bobby Soper, President of Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority (MTGA). “Her holistic appreciation of the business makes her the ideal candidate to introduce to the project the optimal business management practices that Mohegan Sun has to offer its valued partners.”
Over the next few months, efforts will be focused on developing the property’s brand, establishing the executive management team, securing retail and dining vendors and connecting with the community.
ABOUT THE COWLITZ TRIBE
The Cowlitz Tribe, headquartered in Longview, Wash., is a federally recognized tribe with over 4,000 tribal members. Since 2015, the Cowlitz Tribe has 152 acres of reservation land in Southwest Washington. The tribe is proud to provide health and human services to its tribal members, from housing assistance to education scholarships to award-winning health programs. More information is available by visiting www.cowlitz.org.
ABOUT THE COWLITZ PROJECT
The Cowlitz Project will be a premier entertainment, dining and meeting destination in the Pacific Northwest. Located in the heart of Southwest Washington off of the I-5 La Center exit, the 368,000-square-foot casino resort will include 100,000 square feet of gaming space, over 15 restaurants and retails shops, and eventually a 2,500-seat entertainment venue. More information is available by visiting www.cowlitzcasino.com.
ABOUT MOHEGAN TRIBAL GAMING AUTHORITY
The Authority is an instrumentality of the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut, or the Tribe, a federally recognized Indian tribe with an approximately 595-acre reservation situated in southeastern Connecticut, adjacent to Uncasville, Connecticut. The Authority has been granted the exclusive authority to conduct and regulate gaming activities on the existing reservation of the Tribe, including the operation of Mohegan Sun, a gaming and entertainment complex located on an approximately 185-acre site on the Tribe’s reservation. Through its subsidiary, Downs Racing, L.P., the Authority also owns and operates Mohegan Sun Pocono, a gaming and entertainment facility located on an approximately 400-acre site in Plains Township, Pennsylvania. MTGA also manages Resorts Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. More information about the Authority and its properties can be obtained by visiting www.mohegansun.com, www.mohegansunpocono.com or www.mtga.com.
ABOUT MOHEGAN SUN
Mohegan Sun, owned by the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, is one of the largest, most spectacular entertainment, gaming, dining and shopping destinations in the United States. Situated on 185 acres along the Thames River in scenic southeastern Connecticut, Mohegan Sun is home to three unique casinos, a 34-story, 1,200 room luxury hotel, a world-class spa and golf course, over 75 shops, restaurants and bars as well as three award-winning entertainment venues including a 10,000-seat Arena. Mohegan Sun is within easy access of New York, Boston, Hartford and Providence and located 15 minutes from the museums, antique shops and waterfront of Mystic Country. More information is available by calling 1.888.226.7711 or visiting mohegansun.com. Connect with us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and view us on YouTube.
