Harrison new GM at Boomtown

Wiggins native moves up at Penn

BILOXI – Chett Harrison, a native of Wiggins, is the new general manager at Boomtown Biloxi.

He replaces Pat Murphy, who recently announced his retirement but will continue to work for Boomtown as a consultant.

“A lot of people have always said that most of the people in this industry in management positions come in from other locations,” Harrison said. “I don’t think that’s the case any more. Most of the people in this hallway with me are local people who are directors. We’ve learned this industry and learned how to navigate through it. I think you will see a lot of people from the Gulf Coast starting to move up in even higher positions.”

Harrison, 39, has more than 13 years of experience in casinos. In August, he became Boomtown’s assistant general manager after having served as director of marketing since January 2001. He previously worked in the same role for the Palace Casino. He began his career at the Copa Casino.

“I’ve been very fortunate,” he said. “Early on, I got the opportunity to be around some great people in this industry, who somehow saw something in me and allowed me to grow and prosper in the beginning. The work ethic that was bestowed upon me from my parents and my family, just being from Wiggins, I kind of concentrated a little harder and worked a little harder. You don’t ever make it to this point without the support of people around you. I’ve had some great people around me, Pat being the primary one.”

Leonard M. DeAngelo, executive vice president of operations for Boomtown’s parent company, Penn National Gaming, praised Murphy for his leadership. Murphy assisted with the opening of Boomtown in 1994 and served as general manager for the last 4½ years.

“Having worked at Boomtown for six years and directly with Pat for five, Chett understands the property, the Biloxi market and our customers and is ideally qualified to assume the position of GM at Boomtown Biloxi,” DeAngelo said.

Penn National, which also owns Hollywood Casino in Bay St. Louis, operates 16 properties in Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ontario.

Source: By TOM WILEMON

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