The
Meadowlands Racetrack is pleased to announce the hiring of Valerie Harlan as
Director of Marketing for the New Meadowlands Racetrack and Winners Bayonne,
effective December 10, 2012. Valerie has considerable experience in
Casino Marketing programs, with a significant amount of that experience in
Atlantic City and Pennsylvania at various properties such as Caesars, Showboat,
Resorts, Harrah’s Chester and various Trump properties. A graduate in Marketing
from Western Carolina University, she launched her career in various roles
within Casino Gaming from Promotions/Special Events, Bus Marketing, Slots
Marketing, Direct Mail, Players Club, and Database Marketing programs. Valerie
is an award-winning marketing professional with experience in building market
presence and driving revenue growth within highly competitive markets.
Valerie
utilizes expertise in organizational leadership and customer relationship
management to identify and capitalize upon business development opportunities
and is excited to begin this new chapter of her career. “The thrill of my
first live horse race was an experience that is still not forgotten,” said
Harlan. “I recently saw a quote that struck a chord”, she added. “A
racehorse is an animal that can take several thousand people for a ride at the
same time.”
Harlan
is looking forward to bringing her experience to the New Meadowlands
Racetrack. “I am bringing over 25 years
of Casino marketing experience to the Meadowlands and hope to use that skill
set to complement and invigorate the Meadowlands customer experience. I hope to
introduce the sport to new customers and to enhance it for our regulars.”
In addition, Christopher Abraham will be joining the American Racing and Entertainment Group to assist in creating a brand and synergy with the Marketing efforts of all of Jeff Gural’s properties, Tioga and Vernon Downs, Meadowlands Racetrack and Winners. Christopher a native of New Jersey comes with significant experience in Casino Marketing. Previously, he was the Vice President of Marketing, overseeing the Golden Gaming, Inc. marketing efforts in all of its jurisdictions, including Black Hawk, Colorado, Pahrump, Nevada as well as all of Reno and Las Vegas, Nevada. Prior to joining Golden Gaming, Christopher was Assistant Vice President of Marketing and Advertising for Station Casinos. Prior to Station Casinos, Christopher served as the Senior Director of Marketing for Isle of Capri, and Colorado Central Station in Black Hawk, Colorado. Christopher received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Richard Stockton College in Pomona, New Jersey before earning a Master’s of Business Administration from Monmouth University in Long Branch, New Jersey. His marketing career has taken him to gaming companies around the country including the Showboat Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, International Game Technology in Reno, Flamingo Hilton in Las Vegas, Acres Gaming in Las Vegas, Isle of Capri Casinos in both Biloxi and Black Hawk, and Station Casinos Inc. in Las Vegas.
Abraham is looking forward to joining the New Meadowlands team saying, "I'm looking forward to working with Mr. Gural and the Meadowlands team to promote the Northeast's premier racing and entertainment experience."
Jeff Gural, Chairman and Operator of New Meadowlands Racetrack LLC
strongly believes in promoting the sport of harness racing to the younger
generation. He feels this is a move in that direction. “This winning combination of
talent to our businesses will lead us to new levels in Marketing our vision to
the public and will enhance our future by achieving results that are needed to
promote our franchise to existing and new clientele. These two hiring’s
represent our commitment to market the sport of harness racing in an effort to
attract new, younger customers which we think is a must if our sport is going
to have any long term future.”
