Mohegan Sun Palmer News

The four Western Massachusetts Counties are a key component of any expanded gaming in Massachusetts, and a destination casino resort in Palmer is projected to create 1,000 to 12,000 construction jobs, 2,500-3.000 permanent jobs, and hundreds of other indirect jobs.

    

Please join us for refreshments and a discussion on one of the most significant economic opportunities for our region.

Visit the Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place Hotel on Tuesday, October 27th, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, located on the third floor of 1 Monarch Place, Springfield 01144. View map »

As one of the highest revenue generating casinos in the world, Mohegan Sun hosts thousands of visitors every day who come to experience all this resort has to offer.

What is it like working at a premier entertainment destination that features everything from top casino games and fine dining to some of the best performers of our time - from Taylor Swift to the Boston Pops?

"Working at Mohegan Sun is different from any other place I've worked," said Brenda Schafer, benefits specialist at Mohegan Sun who has been with the company for almost 13 years. "It's given me a lot more experience and ability to try different things."

That's part of the core philosophy of Mohegan Sun, which places the highest value on offering the best to employees. "We reach out to all of our employees and we spend a lot of time with them," said Bruce Bozsum, vice chair of the Mohegan Sun Tribal Council. "When you meet an employee at Mohegan Sun, you feel like they are part of this tribe, part of a family, and part of a large community."

A high-quality destination casino resort like Mohegan Sun requires many skills to succeed. In addition to frontline casino jobs, such as those in the hospitality and service industries, there's also a variety of behind-the-scenes positions in management, advertising, marketing, finance and human resources.

"That's what is great about destination casino resorts like ours, which are really about daily performances on many levels," said Jeff Hartmann, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Mohegan Sun. "What we try to do is prepare our workers to interact with guests and give them all the skills and training they need to put on that great show every day."

Mohegan Sun is one of Connecticut's five largest employers, and training includes everything from an introductory three day session on company core values to a variety of offsite courses, tuition reimbursement and management training programs. And the results show in the everyday product.

"Come visit Mohegan Sun," said Schafer. "Enjoy the casino atmosphere and experience our customer service. Our service is top standard. What you see here at Mohegan is the best."

'We can rely on the company'

Mohegan Sun opened its doors thirteen years ago and more than twenty percent of Mohegan Sun employees have remained with the company since day one. Marisol Transcri, environmental shift manager at Mohegan Sun, is one of those people. She began working in the coin department and was promoted to supervisor within a month.

"This company works for you. They give you so much here," she said. "I enjoy the environment. Thirteen years and I never have regretted working here."

Transcri lives within miles of Mohegan Sun, another common ingredient among employees. Mohegan Sun values the local community, and the first job fair it ever held was for local residents only.

"They were offering employment to Uncasville residents first and I was an Uncasville resident at that point," Schafer said. "I took a job here full-time and I haven't looked back."

Other employees have similar stories. At one time Connecticut was a major hub for the defense industry, and Mohegan Sun is located on the former Site of United Nuclear. By the time the casino arrived in 1996, most of the jobs were gone and many people were out of work.

Such is the case for Jim Pepin. He had the unique experience of working on the current Mohegan Sun site for 33 years - the first 20 at United Nuclear before being laid off when the facility closed.

He's been with Mohegan Sun since day one and is thankful for the stability the company has provided to him and his family.

"We can rely on the company," he said. "It's helped me provide for my family and get my daughter through college."

As chief supervisor in Environmental Services, Pepin successfully made the transition from the defense industry and now oversees the maintenance of the casino and some of the 375 employees that work in the department. Pepin said he enjoys the benefits and relaxed atmosphere.

"It's just a nice place to be and I'm very happy," he said. "I have a nice, big family here. They really take care of us."

A Family Affair

For the Longsdorfs, Mohegan Sun is truly a family affair. Charlene Longsdorf and her husband are both employed by Mohegan Sun, while their children help at the casino during college breaks. Charlene Longsdorf currently serves as shift manager at Leffingwells Lounge and has been with Mohegan Sun since the very beginning in 1996. She became interested in the casino after being laid off from Electric Boat, where she worked for twenty years.

"I worked since I was thirteen, and didn't know what it was like not to work," she said. "I remembered driving home [after I got hired at Mohegan Sun] and saying 'I got a job, I got a job.'"

Longsdorf took advantage of a variety of training programs and offsite classes to work her way up to a management position with Mohegan Sun.

"Mohegan Sun gave me the opportunity to make more money, to go to school and to work in a totally different environment from where I was before," she said.

"Our training approach is very simple," said Hartmann. "If you have the right attitude and want to be a worker in the casino industry, we'll teach you the skills.

Mohegan Sun's Chief Executive Officer Mitchell Etess said that the quality of the casino depends on the success of employees and the local region.

"We're creating new ways for people to stay in the region and develop a career and learn," said Etess. "And it's working at a place where employees are truly valued. We really take care of our employees."

With forty towns involved in the chamber and literally hundreds and hundreds of people from a variety of places, can you give us an idea of the impact that Mohegan Sun has had on the region?

Yes, and in fact the entire state has seen positive impacts from Mohegan Sun. The employment opportunities are quite significant and Mohegan Sun's contribution - not just through the payroll process - but also to the various nonprofits in Eastern Connecticut, have been extraordinarily generous.

How would you describe Mohegan Sun as a neighbor?

Excellent. They are all local people. They grew up in Eastern Connecticut, and have a genuine interest in the community. The policy and philosophy of Mohegan Sun and the Mohegan Sun Tribal Authority fits well with the values of our region. They are very involved in the community, and therefore have re-engaged the community in many different ways.

Can you give me some examples of how Mohegan Sun has been involved with the local community?

Since joining our community, Mohegan Sun has been a major donor to local and regional nonprofits. The Chamber of Commerce holds an annual fundraiser at the Mohegan Sun, and each year the Chamber raises over $100,000. All of the proceeds are donated to various nonprofit boards and agencies across Eastern Connecticut. This is a huge commitment, and is a perfect example of Mohegan Sun taking an active role in their local community.

From your perspective, what has been the effect of Mohegan Sun on local businesses?

Our economy has actually grown in Eastern Connecticut. ...For example...the level of entertainment we have now is ten-fold from what it was. Prior to Mohegan Sun, we'd have to go to New York, and perhaps Boston, to have the kind of entertainment that we now have. The level of entertainment is world class and has had a hugely positive impact. ...We were once a fairly quiet corner of the state. We had essentially two industries - Pfizer and Electric Boat. We now have a much more diverse economy because of the gaming industry. The people who come here spend money, not just at the casino, but elsewhere also. For example the hotel industry has seen a huge growth outside of the casino property in Eastern Connecticut.

You mentioned the entertainment, which has the capability to draw a variety of groups and people at each performance. How has that affected the region?

The positive side of it all is the level of entertainment that we now have is superb. The accessibility of the entertainment is hard to beat. I can leave my home in Waterford, CT and in fifteen minutes I can see a world class show. I could not do that before Mohegan Sun came to Connecticut.

The mission of the Chamber is to enhance how residents live, work, and play in Eastern Connecticut. Work is about life and family, but entertainment and enjoying life is just as important. It can't be all about work, and now we have balance in the region.

If you look back fifteen years ago, the defense industry in this part of Connecticut, which had been thriving, was starting to wane. As the industry was starting to deteriorate and starting to cause economic problems, Mohegan Sun came to the area. What did their entrance mean to this part of the state?

It had a huge impact - and in fact, it actually saved the area. The transition from the defense industry to the entertainment industry was very timely. For example, Electric Boat went from 22,000 employees down to 8,000 employees. That shift was enormous, and it would have been devastating without Mohegan Sun and their growth during that same period.

With the thousands of people that Mohegan Sun employs, what does that mean to the businesses that belong to the Chamber and across the forty towns that the Chamber represents?

It has probably forced some of our businesses to sharpen their pens a little because there is more competition, but competition is good. It is a positive ripple effect throughout the community because of the amount of money that is spent on local goods and services. Mohegan Sun is always willing to help their community, the ripple effect from their purchasing is enormous in Eastern Connecticut, and in the entire state of Connecticut.

There are lots of people who have local jobs and live in the area, but there are also many people who come here from all across the Eastern seaboard between New York and Boston, and even farther away. What has that meant to this local area as far as exposure, and as far as revenues for the region?

Well, it's been huge. We were once a fairly quiet corner of the state. We had essentially two industries - Pfizer and Electric Boat. We now have a much more diverse economy because of the gaming industry. The people who come here spend money, not just at the casino, but elsewhere also. For example the hotel industry has seen a huge growth outside of the casino property in Eastern Connecticut.

If you were to put into words what Mohegan Sun has meant to this area, and to the state itself, how would you say it?

Well I think it has really has helped us maintain our quality of life in Connecticut. Connecticut is a rather expensive place to conduct business and the contribution Mohegan Sun makes to the state coffers is huge, plus the contribution through the employment process. Through various ways, Mohegan Sun has made a contribution that has been enormously helpful to the entire region and to the state.

In addition, I'd like to highlight how well Mohegan Sun treats their employees. I would ask anyone who has any concern to walk up to any of the people who are working here - whether it be a security guard, or a restaurant worker - and ask them if they like their job. You will find that the vast majority love working at Mohegan Sun. They love working here because not only do they have a great wage, but they also have a significant benefits package - a package that many companies are dropping all over the country. I feel that the way that a company treats its employees speaks volumes about the company, and I think it should be a factor that needs to be considered into the scenario as communities look at what Mohegan Sun can do for them.

Last question: There are wonderful places to go from a tourist standpoint, Mystic Aquarium, Mystic Seaport, and others in this general area. When Mohegan Sun came in, what effect did it have on tourism in this region?

I'd say by far it had a positive impact. People now enjoy coming to Eastern Connecticut and spending a long weekend or a week here to visit, take in a show at Mohegan Sun and at other types of local entertainment here. They are able to go take in a day at Mystic Seaport, Mystic Aquarium, and stay at a local hotel. We have greater flexibility and opportunity to put together packages that support these very concepts. We are now a destination because of the Mohegan Sun; we were not a destination beforehand.

    In a series of interviews conducted recently for a Mohegan Sun video project, community residents, business leaders, organized labor and other supporters said the prospect of thousands of new jobs for Western Massachusetts is an opportunity that must be seized.

"It's going to be a huge advantage for Western Massachusetts," said Paul Picknelly, president of Springfield-based Monarch Enterprises and Peter Pan Bus Lines. "It's going to mean thousands of jobs - not only for the construction workers - but it's also permanent jobs for people who are sorely looking for employment."

Indeed, double digit unemployment in key areas of the four Western Massachusetts counties means the region is eager for new economic development opportunities.

Monson resident George Monte, who spent three years in the casino industry when he lived in Indiana, said the job opportunities were "endless."

"They just hired thousands of people," Monte said of the casino where he worked before relocating to Western Massachusetts a few years ago. "If you wanted a job, you had a job. It was as simple as that."

Mohegan Sun officials project between 1,500 and 2,000 temporary construction jobs would be created during development of a Palmer casino, and as many as 3,000 permanent jobs created for casino operations. In addition, there is significant and measurable spinoff economic impact projected - primarily from goods and services that Mohegan Sun would source locally.

"We're at about 20 percent unemployment right now. It's tough," said Local 63 Business Manager Michael LaFleur, speaking of his fellow members in the Sheetmetal Workers Union. The Palmer casino "would mean employment and maybe the difference between them having a foreclosure."

Careful research and analysis of many potential sites by Mohegan Sun has shown that Palmer is, by far, the premier development site for a destination casino resort. Significantly, it's location in Hampden County is critical to providing the most possible economic impact to all of the four Western Mass. Counties - Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin and Berkshire.

Dan D'Alma, president of the Pioneer Valley Building Trades, said the Mohegan Sun project in Palmer has the potential to keep as many as two thousand laborers employed over a two-year period. In addition, some tradesmen such as sheetmetal workers - following initial construction - would have longer term opportunities because of regular servicing work.

"This is just the shot in the arm that Western Massachusetts needs right now," D'Alma said.

He noted that the Palmer site is the ideal location for a destination casino resort.

"I don't think there is another planned site that is near ready," D'Alma said. "Palmer's (site) they're all ready. This is going to be something. Really something good."

"I think this is a great opportunity," added Rocqueline Blazejowski of Palmer. "We need to grow, and we need to grow pretty soon."

    The Partnership - which includes officials from the Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling, Mohegan Sun, the Massachusetts State Lottery, Suffolk Downs and other organizations - was created to identify best practices in national and international responsible gambling programs, and to serve as a forum to share information on responsible gambling.

At a daylong summit sponsored by the Partnership on September 20, industry professionals from the United States and Canada made presentations on problem gambling prevention, treatment, and research. Creating the correct framework for responsible gambling practices, treatment options, training programs and other relevant considerations will be an important element of any expanded gaming legislation in Massachusetts.

"Compulsive behavior is an unfortunate reality exhibited by a small, but steady, percentage of casino patrons, Lottery players, pari-mutuel bettors and others," said Jeff Hartmann, Chief Operating Officer of Mohegan Sun. "Making sure there are adequate resources for people who exhibit compulsive behavior is one of those unique responsibilities of the gaming industry that we take very seriously."

In addition to providing funding to organizations such as the MCCG, Mohegan Sun ensures that patrons have ready access to information and resources for those may feel they have a problem with compulsive gambling. Mohegan Sun also trains managers and staff to recognize compulsive and pathological gambling behaviors by patrons and, where necessary, to appropriately intervene.

"The Partnership is an important new initiative that will help serve those in need of assistance with compulsive behavior around gambling," said Hartmann. "And for Mohegan Sun, it's an extension and expansion of the kind of things we have been doing since day one."

In recent weeks, key business leaders and public officials have said that Western Massachusetts, specifically Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin and Berkshire Counties, are a critical component of any successful expanded gaming legislation in this state. And support for such a plan is widespread. The Greater Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau voted unanimously last month to support a destination casino resort in Palmer. Ten key Western Massachusetts legislators, during a meeting with Pioneer Valley labor unions in early October, pledged to support an expanded gaming bill only if it included a casino in the four Western Counties.

Hearing October 29th

The Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies will host a hearing on expanded gaming in Massachusetts on Thursday, October 29th at 10 a.m. in the Gardner Auditorium.

As the debate continues to advance, we will work hard to let you know how unfolding events impact Palmer. Many issues are on the table for discussion, including the overall gaming regulatory structure, as well as appropriate tax rates, licensing fees and terms.

We know that residents are closely watching the issue, and we will continue to work with community leaders and political officeholders to bring you information about the path to legislative approval. At the same time, we hope our supporters let their regional and state leaders know how important this project is to the economic future of the Commonwealth. They need to hear from you.

Our Facebook page will feature news, announcements and other notes about our proposal for a world-class destination casino resort in Palmer.  Check out the Mohegan Sun Palmer Facebook page by clicking on the Facebook link for our group page: http://www.facebook.com/MoheganSunPalmer. You can choose to become a 'fan' of the group and be among the first to receive special updates and messages relating to the project.