Photos by Creative Elements Productions
From the boardroom to the casino floor, women drive revenue, lead teams, solve complex problems and shape guest experiences at casinos. But as LuAnn Pappas, chief operating officer of Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort, points out, women continue to be underrepresented among gaming executives — although 50-plus percent of guests are female.
“As female leaders, we have a responsibility to coach, mentor and provide insight into some of the challenges facing women in gaming,” says Pappas, who entered the business after leaving a court-reporting career 41 years ago. “We need to provide open, honest communication about what it takes to become a leader in the gaming industry.”
Angi Truebner-Webb, vice president and general manager of the Silver Slipper Casino Hotel and industry veteran of more than 25 years, agrees that women in gaming can be overlooked — perhaps not intentionally, but structurally.
“Gaming has historically been a very male-dominated industry, especially in senior operational roles,” she says. “Many women are doing critical work behind the scenes, but they may not always be the loudest voice in the room or the person most naturally considered for the next opportunity.”
These realities prompted Pappas, Truebner-Webb and Cathy Beeding, president and general manager with Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, to launch the We See You: Women Leading Gulf Coast Gaming initiative. This first-of-its-kind, cross-state program was created to recognize, connect and elevate women in the gaming industry.
The program kicked off with an inaugural brunch recently at the Silver Slipper, which bought together approximately 100 female executives, directors, managers, supervisors, emerging leaders and industry partners from gaming and hospitality organizations across the Gulf Coast.
“What we wanted to accomplish above all was connection,” Truebner-Webb explains. “We wanted women to walk into the room and realize they are not alone. We wanted them to meet other women who understand the pressure, the responsibility, the opportunities and the challenges of this business.”
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS, OPENING DOORS
Beeding, who has worked in the industry for 26 years, including as the inaugural general counsel for Island View Casino Resort, says she’s encouraged by the event’s impact so far – especially in terms of starting conversations about women in leadership.
“I think (Truebner-Webb) said it best: We are trying to create a space for women in our industry to share experiences and best practices to carry forward the knowledge and experiences that brought us to this point,” she says. “We also want to provide opportunities to make authentic connections among professionals of all different levels and skillsets.”
BRUNCH IS JUST THE BEGINNING
When the trio founded We See You, their goal was not just to have a single brunch, but to begin something much larger.
“But beyond somewhat esoteric hope, we know we will have the event again next year; I think we will need to find a larger venue!” Beeding says. “It was so gratifying to see so many females in and around the industry at our event, and it is valid prod that there is a high degree of interest in these types of events and empowerment tools.”
Truebner-Webb says the broader vision is to grow the event into a year-round platform, which could include additional networking events, smaller leadership conversations, mentorship opportunities, recognition programs, community initiatives and continued partnership with Global Gaming Women. Most importantly, she wants future generations of women entering gaming and hospitality to have examples of leadership who look like them.
“This first event was about recognition. The future is about impact,” she says.