Horseshoe Casino Cleveland seeking employees with great attitudes and enthusiasm – Plain Dealer (blog)
Chuck Crow l The Plain DealerMarcus Glover, general manager of the Cleveland Horseshoe Casino, says that there is no guarantee that people who pay for classes to learn casino skills, will get a job in the new Cleveland casino. The company relies on in-house training. CLEVELAND, Ohio — The new Horseshoe Cleveland Casino is looking for employees with great personalities - a trait that can’t be taught, the general manager says. “We want people with great attitudes who want to come in and deliver a great guest experience and customer service,” manager Marcus Glover said.
While at least one for-profit school has opened to train card dealers and Cuyahoga Community College may offer programs to train casino workers, Glover said his company primarily relies on in-house training for its employees.
“If you don’t go through formal training programs it will not exclude you from opportunities in the casino,” he said. We want people with great attitudes who want to come in and deliver a great guest experience and customer service.”
Glover said he would not discourage or encourage people to take courses in gaming or hospitality management before hiring begins later this year. And he plans to meet with Tri-C President Jerry Sue Thornton to discuss educational partnerships.
He said he could not comment on the Ohio School of Casino Dealers, which opened three months ago in Warrensville Heights, because he is not familiar with it. The school charges about $1,200 per course in table games including blackjack and poker.
“If someone returns to Cleveland who has worked in Las Vegas and has the technical skills, it will help you,” Glover said. “If not, we will train you internally on how to deal cards.”
The Horseshoe Cleveland Casino will employ about 1,600 when it opens early next year in the former Higbee department store. It is the first phase of a larger downtown casino project that will ultimately see a $600 million, 16-acre casino complex on nearby Huron Road.
The Higbee’s casino will have 2,100 slot machines, 65 gaming tables, 25 poker tables in a “World Series of Poker” room, two bars and a 400-seat buffet-style restaurant.
Glover said the two or three large hiring events will be held throughout the city later this year. Those seeking jobs should check the casino’s website, for information.
David Stevenson of Cleveland said he is eager to apply for a job and his skills as a flight attendant will transfer to a casino.
“I’d like a job as a floor manager or in hospitality where you take care of regular customers,” he said.
Stevenson, 50, said he lost his job with USA 3000 two years ago when he chose not to relocate to Florida.
“I want to be a part of the casino because I love Cleveland want to see the city succeed,” he said. “I am ready to train to do any kind of work where they need me.”
A casino offers numerous jobs in management, financial, gaming operations, food and beverage and information technology.
In a recent interview Thornton said Tri-C would propose offering technical, training and hospitality courses tied to casino jobs. The college’s Hospitality Management Center recently opened on Public Square across the street from the Higbee’s building.
Community colleges in Pennsylvania, which allowed table games in casinos in 2010, offer casino-related courses including dealer training and casino gaming machine repair technology.
Universities near casinos offer management programs. The University of Nevada Las Vegas’ International Gaming Institute is a non-profit academic and research facility for professionals in the gaming industry. Tulane University in New Orleans offers a Casino Resort Studies Program.
Jill Vangen, co-owner of the dealer school in Warrensville Heights, said she plans to meet with Horseshoe Cleveland officials to make sure graduates qualify for jobs.
About 50 men and women have signed up for courses, which take about 120 hours at a schedule set by the student, she said.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: kfarkas@plaind.com, 216-999-5079
Hello, My name is Dean Booker. I’m a native Clevelander. In 2005, I moved to Las Vegas Nv, to to the decline of jobs in the greater Cleveland area. While in Las Vegas, I’ve held several position in the Casino Industry, Banking Industry and Security Protection Industry. I’ve taken to opportunity to futher educate myself in the area of Security Protection, Security Observation, Casino Gaming Surveillance and I have knowledge of several Casino Table Games and Slot Machine Operations. I worked since i was 18-yrs of age for a Corporation in Cleveland called T.R.W. I.N.C. for over 24-yrs. Due TO to NAFTA, My company like many other Companies inthe Midwest decided to ship operations over seas and all empoyee’s were eliminated permantly. To this date I’ve tried to Re-Educate myself to become a more valuble candidate for employment. When i heard that my home town of Cleveland, Ohio would be passing a bill to allow Gambling in the state of Ohio, I was over-joyed. Now i’ve ran into many obsticales with not being given the proper information as to how i could get in contact with Recriuters assigned to Cleveland, Ohio for the chance to become apart of Ceasars HorseShoe Casino. I worked for the Harrahs Organization in Las Vegas for 1-yr in the Department of Security Protection. I believe that My past Experience and Knowledge of Surveillance and being a Native Clevlander would afford Me the chance to become a valueble part of this Great Organization. What i’m asking for is if some one could past this on to Mr. Marcus Glover or Ms. Karen Karninski or even a Recriuter for Gaming Surveillance, I would be very much Appreciative. I would just like a fair chance for a position in which I feel that i’m strongly Qualified for. Thank – You, for Your time & Consideration in this matter. Sincerly ; Mr. Dean Booker. P.S. – I can be reached at anytime at (702)-689-7891 or by Email at june28vegas@yahoo.com .