The Casino Association of New Jersey, Inc. (CANJ) Board of Trustees announced today that Mark Juliano, the outgoing Trump Entertainment Resorts, Inc. CEO, will resign as CANJ President and Trustee effective November 15, 2010 and, on that date, will be succeeded in those positions by Robert F. Griffin, the newly appointed CEO of Trump Entertainment Resorts, Inc. Mr. Griffin will serve as CANJ President for the unexpired balance of Mr. Juliano’s two year term, which will end on June 30, 2012.
Griffin, age 51, has thirty years of experience in the gaming and hospitality business. Since November 2008, he has been President and CEO of MTR Gaming Group, Inc. which owns and operates casino and racetrack facilities in West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio. From 2004 to 2008, he was Senior Vice President of Operations of Isle of Capri Casinos, Inc. with responsibility for sixteen casinos and racing facilities and, from 1999 to 2003, was Vice President/General Manager of several of those properties. From 1992 to 1998, he held senior management positions with the Trump Marina Hotel Casino in Atlantic City.
Bob Griffin said, “I thank Mark Juliano for effectively guiding CANJ as a Trustee and especially through the past very busy four months as its President and thank the Board and each Trustee for their votes of confidence in me. The close working relationship that has developed among the members in recent years is a real asset of this Association. I expect to rely upon contributions from each member in the busy months which lie ahead and to continue the path the Board has set for CANJ.”
Mark Juliano added, “The revitalization of Atlantic City tourism is the right program for the industry today and working together with Governor Christie and our Legislative Leaders is the best way to get that done. CANJ is on the right track and will play an important role in strengthening the industry and the economy of this State.”
Joseph A. Corbo, Jr., CANJ’s Vice President and immediate past President, also commented, “I first want to thank Mark Juliano for the fine job he did in his tenure as a CANJ Trustee and then as President. While his time as President was short, it was during a very intense period. In addition, we appreciate that Trump Entertainment is willing to offer its new CEO, Bob Griffin, to fill the role as CANJ President, which demonstrates its commitment to CANJ and to the State of New Jersey at this very important time for our industry.”
CANJ is the primary representative of the New Jersey casino industry, which is one of the largest sectors of the New Jersey economy. More than 34 million people visit Atlantic City every year. The industry directly employs 38,000 New Jersey residents with an annual payroll of $1.7 billion and currently supports more than 95,000 direct and indirect jobs statewide. The eleven New Jersey casino resorts annually purchase more than $2 billion in goods and services from more than 2,000 companies in every New Jersey county and annually pay $900 million in State and local taxes and fees.