Pictured, Karen Shelp, director of human resources at Tioga Downs, talks about job opportunities that are coming with the expansion of Tioga Downs. Shelp was on-hand on Monday and during a career summit held at the casino located on West River Road in Nichols, N.Y. More information about the proposed job openings is available online at www.tiogadowns.com/expansion. (Photos by Wendy Post)
Joe Sullivan of Endicott, N.Y., pictured, arrived at the career summit held at Tioga Downs in Nichols, N.Y. on Monday. The summit offered applicants a chance to learn about the positions that will be available at Tioga Downs once the full gaming license receives the final nod from the state. Sullivan, who is unemployed, has hotel management experience and is hoping to land a position at Tioga Downs.
On Monday, Tioga Downs was host to a career summit at their casino located in Nichols, N.Y. that introduced prospective job seekers to positions that will be available when the gaming license gets full approval at Tioga Downs.
On Monday, Tioga Downs was host to a career summit at their casino located in Nichols, N.Y. that introduced prospective job seekers to positions that will be available when the gaming license gets full approval at Tioga Downs. In mid-October, Tioga Downs was given the nod on a fourth full gaming license to be awarded and is awaiting final approval from the state.
The final nod will give Tioga Downs the green light to fill 445-plus positions within the first phase of the casino’s expansion plans. According to Karen Shelp, director of human resources for Tioga Downs, the 445 positions will be mostly full-time, and some part-time, and will range from food and beverage positions to desk services and dealers for the gaming tables, among others.
Shelp noted that many of the positions would be based on tips, so an individual’s hospitality skills will be important. “We are hoping that the license will come shortly,” she added, noting that the prospective job openings will be filled by July 1, 2016 and once they are in full compliance with New York State Gaming Commission regulations.
For dealer positions, she explained, there will be a free “dealer’s school” offered at the former elementary school on Roki Boulevard in Nichols, N.Y. Upon completion of the course, she added, the individual would then qualify as an applicant for a position.
In a release received prior to the summit, Tioga Downs’ officials explained that out of the many positions that will be available, over half of them are dealers for poker and the other table games that Tioga Downs will offer.
The first part of the expansion, in which construction is underway, includes the table games, Virgil’s Real BBQ & Honky Tonk Bar, and PJ Clarke’s Restaurant. Hotel development and other amenities will follow the first phase of the expansion.
Tioga Downs currently employs approximately 300 during the off racing season, and over 350 during the summer months. They are currently in the process of building a database of potential future applicants, and those interested in applying may do so by visiting www.tiogadowns.com/expansion.
Shelp noted that the career summit on Monday was the first of several, and that they initially wanted to get the word out. After that, Shelp explained, they will be expanding their reach into other communities to get the information out to the untapped workforce.
On Monday, over 60 showed up within the first half hour of the summit to learn more about potential career opportunities. “We had a pretty good turnout so far,” said Stephen Donnelly, Dynamic Innovation Group.
Shelp is encouraging people to get on the website and apply, stating they are hoping to have at least 700 applicants in the database. “It’s a fun place to work,” said Shelp.
