p. 42 emerging:Layout 1 6/10/21 11:52 AM Page 42
EMERGING LEADERS
Casino Law to Sports Data Robert Baldassarre Corporate Counsel, Stats Perform s an undergraduate at Penn State, Robert Baldassarre majored in international political economics. It’s the kind of major you think about for a job in the State Department, not a job as a casino lawyer. But after Penn State, Baldassarre moved on to law school at Notre Dame, where he graduated in 2016. “I found law to be an opportunity to engage my specific skill set, including problem solving and analysis,” says the Philadelphia native. He landed a position with the influential Fox Rothschild law firm, working out of their Atlantic City office covering the gaming industry as part of the casino law group. According to the law firm, Baldassarre represented clients in corporate and gaming law matters and guided many of them through the intricacies of licensing, regulatory and compliance. This included representation before agencies such as the New Jersey Casino Control Commission and the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. Almost five years later, this past February, Baldassarre joined Stats Perform, a global sports data and analytics company headquartered in Chicago. He serves as corporate counsel. “I wanted to gain a greater variety of experience and exposure to legal issues and matters that comes with an in-house role,” he says. Stats Perform, with its focus on sports data and artificial intelligence as a way to create fan engagement and team performance solutions, launched PressBox in May. The online platform delivers data-driven insights, video clip discovery and data research, at a speed faster than ever before. “I cover a wide range of corporate matters, including contract drafting and negotiation, and customer due diligence procedures,” Baldassarre says. Like any profession, the practice of law has its unique share of obstacles. “Law can be overwhelming at times and affect other areas of your life. I continue to work towards a proper balancing of my career and personal life,” says Baldassarre, who relaxes on the golf course or at the beach. At Fox Rothschild, Baldassarre looked to Nicholas Casiello, a law firm partner, for guidance on issues. In addition to Casiello, his mentors include Patrick Madamba, senior counsel for MGM Resorts International. “They were instrumental in my development,” he says. “Elizabeth Cutri, general counsel and senior vice president for administration at Stats Perform, has been a terrific mentor in my transition to in-house.” While still comparatively young, Baldassarre has sage advice for those considering a career in gaming law. Be diligent. Be responsive. Both are necessary to establishing relationships with clients. “The practice of gaming law can be chaotic at times, but ensuring a connection to your client goes a long way toward building a relationship,” he says. — Bill Sokolic
A
42
Global Gaming Business JULY 2021
Swiss Army Knife Experience Brad Egnor Senior Vice President of Marketing, San Manuel Casino rom chef to emerging leader in gaming, Brad Egnor has shown the true value of building work experiences with education, having the curiosity to learn new markets, and staying dedicated to grow as a leader. Egnor’s initial passion stemmed from the culinary arts. After he worked as a chef for the 2002 Olympics, the BroAdmoor Estates, 6 Degrees in Nashville, Tennessee, and a French restaurant, The Orangery, Egnor decided to pursue a bachelor’s degree in consumer science from the University of Tennessee to further diversify his education. As graduation approached, Egnor attended a career fair where he was first introduced to the gaming industry. At the fair, Egnor met representatives from Caesars Entertainment, and with his versatile background in back-of-house operations, a culinary degree, and what was soon to be a bachelor’s degree, Egnor was offered a position in food and beverage in Tunica, Mississippi. In F&B operations, Egnor was faced with a new challenge of working directly with customers and developing the skills of running a business operation, while learning how to efficiently supervise team members. After two years as a food and beverage manager, Egnor transitioned to an analyst position in financial planning and analysis for the Mid-South Region to continue developing analytical approaches to business problems, fluid presentation skills, and the capacity to understand system architecture. Within his four years with Caesars Entertainment, Egnor had worked his way up the corporate
F
