2007 GREAT WOMEN OF GAMING
Proven leader
Virginia McDowell
President and Chief Operating Officer
Isle of Capri Casinos
From her start as a publicist at Bally's Park Place Casino and Hotel in Atlantic City to her recent appointment to president and chief operating officer of Isle of Capri Casinos in St. Louis, Virginia McDowell has worn many hats in the gaming industry. But even as the scenery changed from Atlantic City to Illinois to Missouri, one thing remained constant for McDowell: her family's support. "I've worked in the gaming industry for nearly three decades and have had the full support of my family throughout my career," she says. "I have been blessed with the most talented and diverse series of mentors that any professional could ever ask for—men and women. They have taught me many valuable lessons over the years and provided many opportunities to broaden my horizons. But I would not have been able to take advantage of these opportunities without the support of my husband and children. I consider this a team honor."
Among the top 10 publicly traded gaming corporations in America, McDowell is the only female president and chief operating officer. Her 27 years of experience in the gaming industry have prepared her for the challenges that come with being the top executive in a corporation. She got her start in Atlantic City, working 16 years as a publicist, public relations manager, vice president of business development, and general manager at various casinos and gaming systems companies. In 1997, she moved on to become the senior vice president of Argosy Gaming in Alton, Ill., before moving back to Atlantic City in 2005 as the executive vice president and chief information officer of Trump Entertainment. In July 2007, she was named president and chief operating officer of Isle of Capri Casinos.
McDowell's journey has prepared her for her current role, as her various duties have honed her skills in many areas. "I made lateral moves several times in my career because I was able to acquire a strategic skill set and supervise several departments outside my areas of professional expertise," she says. She recommends aspiring professionals looking to take leadership roles in the industry prepare for challenges by augmenting their abilities. "Take advantage of any opportunity to learn, to network, and to grow personally and professionally, but do so with honor, integrity and a sense of humor. … Be willing to stray outside of your comfort zone in order to strengthen your resume. And understand that this is a business about people—knowing how to listen and respond to our customers, and creating opportunities for employees to grow and learn."
Away from the office, McDowell gives back to the community as president of Gilda's Club – St. Louis, an organization that provides networks of support for cancer patients. She has also been a board member of Winning Women in St. Louis, served as vice president and later president of AMC Cancer Research in St. Louis, and was a steering committee member of the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City.
McDowell's vision for the future of women in the gaming industry is simple: "That we will see more women in leadership roles, including board seats of publicly traded companies; that women will take a more active role in mentoring; that women will become more active in sharing their significant talent and experience through civic and charitable activities; and that more young women will consider gaming as a career because of the wide range of opportunities available."
As for the opportunities she was presented with, McDowell says she is thankful to have come to the industry when she did. "I began my gaming career in Atlantic City in 1981," she says. "Gaming had only been legalized in New Jersey a couple of years earlier and was growing very rapidly. As a result, there were a multitude of opportunities for talented professionals who were willing to work hard.
"I never perceived gender to be an issue in Atlantic City, and note with great satisfaction that there are many senior executives in the gaming industry throughout the United States who began their careers in New Jersey."
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