Senior Casino Finance Manager

DRA's CEO marks 1 year in role, eyes continued growth. Anthony Williams The nonprofit license holder for Dubuque's casinos this month completed its first year under the leadership of President and CEO Anthony Williams. "He's the right person for the right time," Dubuque Mayor Brad Cavanagh said. Since Williams took the reins of the DRA and Q Casino + Resort in July 2025, the DRA has overseen the completion of The Key Hotel Dubuque, Lock 11 Rooftop Restaurant and Bar and Back Waters Amp on Chaplain Schmitt Island. "Change at the top of any organization is going to create uncertainty, but our team met that moment with steadiness, launching three new organization-defining amenities while adjusting to a new CEO," said Williams, who joined the DRA after serving as the senior vice president of operations strategy/QE development for MGM Resorts International. Nicole Gantz joined the DRA executive board in 2022. She grew up in The Point and got a whole new look at her old neighborhood with the opening of the new restaurant. "Anthony gave me a tour of Lock 11 a couple weeks before we opened," Gantz said. "It was the first time I was ever able to see The Point neighborhood through a totally different perspective." She was struck by the nostalgia and thrill of seeing the bluffs surrounding the Mississippi River, Lock and Dam No. 11 and the neighborhood below. "When (Williams) joined us, we had a lot of projects going on," Gantz said. "He used his strong background at MGM in hospitality, gaming and food and beverage to pull it all together for us." Collaborative strategy. Williams emphasizes communication in steering the DRA. He met with board members one-on-one when he started in his role and is in the process of doing so again. "As a CEO of an organization, the board of directors can't effectively govern if they don't know you and if they don't understand the vision and direction of the organization," Williams said. He wants people within the organization and on the board to feel they can express concerns and share ideas in an open environment. "Anthony is incredibly collaborative," Cavanagh said. Williams "constantly" reaches out to the board and connects with city government leaders, Cavanagh said. Gantz appreciates that Williams values all the board members' backgrounds and the unique insights they have. "I have a marketing background, and he often reaches out to me about marketing issues," Gantz said. "A few meetings later, he'll reiterate something that he took to heart." Kevin Lynch joined the board in 2006 and serves as the treasurer. He met with Williams several times during his first year, both in one-on-one meetings and group gatherings. "He's been excellent at keeping communication going with board members and keeping everybody up to speed," Lynch said. Eye on the future. Williams' major priorities for the next year include launching a strategic plan, creating a plan for continued investment into Chaplain Schmitt Island and expanding on the integration of the resort. "I learned that organizations that win long term are not the ones who move fastest," Williams said. The new strategic plan, set to be initiated in 2027, will help guide the DRA from quarter to quarter and year to year, Williams said. He is working with the board to build that plan. "There are a lot of things I think could be done on Schmitt Island that would be good for the entire community," Lynch said. The next phase of the Chaplain Schmitt Island development plan takes aim at the south half of the island. "We cannot just sit back and rest on laurels," Lynch said. DRA leaders are also keeping an eye on future competition, as officials with Cedar Crossing Casino in Cedar Rapids announced last week that the new facility will open in mid-November. "We need to be constantly reinventing ourselves and adding new things to get people down there," Lynch said of Schmitt Island. "Not just to the casino, but (attracting) families, too, for various activities." The DRA is also focused on continuing to develop amenities into a fully integrated resort. "All the back-end systems need to talk and communicate because we need to be one integrated experience, so we establish a smooth customer journey," Williams said. Filling leadership gaps. Another of Williams' priorities for the year is filling out the DRA's leadership team. Q Casino's chief operating and financial officer and head of human resources resigned this year. The casino's director of hotel operations and rooms division manager also left the organization. Williams declined to comment on the nature of those departures. Cavanagh said the board received plenty of information on the departures and he is not concerned with the long-term health of the organization. He declined to comment on the specific reasons for the personnel changes. "Transitions are going to happen for all kinds of reasons," he said. "I'm confident in Anthony and the team that he has now and will continue to put together."

Bill Hornbuckle appointed to Vail Resorts Board of Directors. Jul 30, 2026, 16:23 ET BROOMFIELD, Colo., July 30, 2026 /CNW/ - Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN) today announced that Bill Hornbuckle has been appointed to the company's board of directors. Hornbuckle is Chief Executive Officer and President of MGM Resorts International ("MGM"), a global hospitality and entertainment company with a portfolio of iconic, integrated brands. Hornbuckle oversees all aspects of MGM Resorts' strategy, operations, hospitality and gaming development projects. Since assuming the role six years ago, he has led MGM through transformative periods while advancing the company's evolution toward a more diversified, experience-led business model and driving growth in dining, entertainment and premium experiences. Hornbuckle brings more than 35 years of experience across hospitality, resort operations, marketing, strategy and large-scale integrated resort management. Before becoming CEO, he held a range of senior leadership roles at MGM Resorts, including president and chief operating officer, chief marketing officer and executive roles at several of the company's largest resorts. He has played a key role in leading MGM Resorts' domestic and international expansion and the launch of its customer loyalty platform. "Bill is an accomplished hospitality leader with deep experience operating world-class resorts, building guest loyalty and elevating service," said Rob Katz, Chief Executive Officer of Vail Resorts. "As we launch Epic Experience-our multi-year roadmap to make every part of the mountain journey more seamless, personalized and memorable-we are thrilled to welcome Bill to our board and know he will immediately make a substantial contribution to our efforts." "I am excited to join the Vail Resorts Board of Directors," said Hornbuckle. "Having spent my entire career in hospitality and as someone with a personal connection to the mountains, I have long admired the iconic destinations and exceptional experiences that define Vail Resorts. Throughout my career, I've been passionate about leveraging technology and digital innovation to elevate the guest experience while keeping guests at the center of every decision. I look forward to working alongside my fellow directors and the leadership team to help the company continue creating exceptional experiences and delivering long-term value for shareholders." Hornbuckle, who resides in Las Vegas, received a Bachelor of Science in Hotel Administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He currently serves as Chair of the U.S. Travel Association, a nonprofit organization dedicated to growing travel and tourism to the United States. He has also played a significant role in expanding Las Vegas' sports entertainment offerings, helping to bring the city its first professional sports franchise, the NHL's Golden Knights, in his capacity as a board member and President of T-Mobile Arena. Most recently, through his service on the Clark County Stadium Authority Board, Hornbuckle assisted with efforts to attract the NFL's Raiders to Las Vegas. With a longstanding home in Park City, Hornbuckle brings a sincere appreciation for the mountains, strong familiarity with Vail Resorts' guests and a true passion for the broader outdoor and experiential leisure sector. Hornbuckle is Vail Resorts' tenth board member, joining Reggie Chambers, Sue Decker, Rob Katz, Iris Knobloch, Nadia Rawlinson, Hilary Schneider, Peter Vaughn, Michele Romanow and Bruce Sewell. About Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN) Vail Resorts is a network of the best destination and close-to-home ski resorts in the world including Vail Mountain, Breckenridge, Park City Mountain, Whistler Blackcomb, Stowe, and 32 additional resorts across North America; Andermatt-Sedrun and Crans-Montana Mountain Resort in Switzerland; and Perisher, Hotham, and Falls Creek in Australia - all available on the company's industry-changing Epic Pass. We are passionate about providing an Experience of a Lifetime to our team members and guests, and our EpicPromise is to reach a zero net operating footprint by 2030, support our employees and communities, and broaden engagement in our sport. Our company owns and/or manages a collection of elegant hotels under the RockResorts brand, a portfolio of vacation rentals, condominiums and branded hotels located in close proximity to our mountain destinations, as well as the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyo. Vail Resorts Retail operates more than 250 retail and rental locations across North America. Learn more about our company at www.VailResorts.com, or discover our resorts and Pass options at www.EpicPass.com. SOURCE The Vail Corporation Kelsey Pietranton, [email protected]