CORDISH GAMING GROUP ANNOUNCES KEY EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS IN PREPARATION FOR EXPANSION OPPORTUNITIES
Joe Billhimer Elevated to Chief Operating & Development Officer for Cordish Gaming Group; Craig Clark Named Executive Vice President & General Manager for Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia
Cordish Gaming Group, the gaming division of The Cordish Companies, today announced key executive appointments as the company prepares for the impending growth and expansion of the Live! Casino brand.
JOE BILLHIMER, who has served as Executive Vice President/PA Casinos for Cordish Gaming since 2020, has been elevated to the position of Chief Operating & Development Officer. Mr. Billhimer also maintained duties as General Manager of Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia. Leading the team at Live! Philadelphia now will be CRAIG CLARK, who has been named Executive Vice President & General Manager. Both appointments are effective immediately. Pending regulatory approval.
Prior to his new role, Mr. Billhimer was responsible for leading the company’s expansion into the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with the development of two new Live! Casino properties in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. He will now oversee operations at all Live! Casino properties in the Cordish Gaming portfolio, including Pennsylvania and Maryland, while identifying and developing new growth opportunities in other gaming jurisdictions.
Mr. Billhimer has more than 35 years of industry experience. In addition to his time with Cordish Gaming, he has served as Chief Operating Officer of Eldorado Resorts, Inc. in Reno, NV; and President of MTR Gaming, based in Wexford, PA., prior to its merger with Eldorado Resorts. Mr. Billhimer also served as Chief Executive Officer of Premier Entertainment, where he was named Casino Journal's “Executive of the Year” for his efforts in developing, and redeveloping, the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Biloxi after its destruction by Hurricane Katrina. Additionally, he has held leadership positions at Foundation Gaming Group, Caesars Entertainment’s Grand Casino Resort in Gulfport, MS., and Casino Magic Bay in St. Louis, MS.
As Executive Vice President & General Manager of Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia, located in the heart of the Philadelphia Stadium District, Craig Clark will assume oversight of all day-to-day management and operations of the property. He is also committed to maintaining and further elevating Live! Philadelphia’s profile in the community through expanded partnerships and support of all business, tourism and non-profit organizations.
Mr. Clark brings over 30 years of diversified experience within the gaming industry to his new role. He joined the Live! team in 2020 as Vice President of Finance for the opening of Live! Casino Pittsburgh, and then served as COO of Seneca Gaming Corporation.
Mr. Clark has additional experience in the Commonwealth having served as General Manager for Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where he won the 2014 Diamond Award from the Pittsburgh Business Times honoring top CEOs. His career also includes leadership roles as President of Hard Rock Ottawa; General Manager of Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, California; and Senior Vice President and General Manager of Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, New York.
“As the company prepares to experience exponential growth in the coming years, these appointments position us to maximize results at our existing operations, while pursuing development and management opportunities in other gaming jurisdictions,” said Rob Norton, President, Cordish Gaming Group. “Joe and Craig are well suited to maintain the same level of excellence and customer service our guests have come to expect at Live! Casinos and Hotels.”
About Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia
Voted Best Overall Gaming Resort and Best Overall Dining in Pennsylvania by Casino Player Magazine, Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia has transformed the South Philadelphia Stadium District into a nationally unrivaled one-stop destination to enjoy the fast-paced action of four major professional sports teams, memorable entertainment, premier dining, well-appointed hotel accommodations and world-class gaming. Conveniently located off I-95 and I-76, the facility features more than 200 luxury hotel rooms that are Sharecare Health Security VERIFIED™ with Forbes Travel Guide, a FanDuel® Sportsbook and Lounge, over 2,100 slots and electronic table games, and 134 live action table games, including a dedicated poker room. New dining and entertainment options include the Zagat-rated #1 steakhouse The Prime Rib®; Luk Fu, serving authentic Asian cuisine; Sports & Social Philly, a one-of-a-kind sports restaurant, gaming venue and social lounge; the 10th Street Market, a unique food hall featuring Guy Fieri’s Taco Joint and Guy’s Burger Joint; Philadelphia-favorites Lorenzo and Sons Pizza, Termini Bros. Bakery and Sang Kee Noodle Bar & Kitchen; Morty’s Deli and Luckie’s Liquor. A spirited nightlife scene at Center Bar and R Bar rounds out the Live! experience. The property offers more than 15,500-square-feet of customizable meeting and event space, as well as ample, secure parking. Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia was developed and remains owned and managed by Stadium Casino RE, LLC, an affiliate of The Cordish Companies, the premier developer of Live! dining, entertainment, gaming, hotel and sports-anchored destinations in the country. For reservations, call 1-833-472-5483 or visit Philadelphia.LiveCasinoHotel.com. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram - @livecasinophl
About The Cordish Companies
The Cordish Companies’ origins date back to 1910 and encompass four generations of privately-held, family ownership. During the past ten decades, The Cordish Companies has grown into a global leader in Commercial Real Estate; Entertainment Districts; Sports-Anchored Developments; Gaming; Hotels; Residential Properties; Restaurants; International Development; Coworking Spaces; and Private Equity. One of the largest and most respected developers in the world, The Cordish Companies has been awarded an unprecedented seven Urban Land Institute Awards for Excellence for public-private developments that are of unique significance to the cities in which they are located. The Cordish Companies has developed and operates highly acclaimed dining, entertainment and hospitality destinations throughout the United States, many falling under The Cordish Companies’ Live! Brand, highly regarded as one of the premier entertainment brands in the country. In gaming, The Cordish Companies has developed among the most successful casino hotel resorts in the world including the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa and Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland. Welcoming over 55 million visitors per year, these developments are among the highest profile dining, entertainment, gaming, hotel and sports-anchored destinations in the country. Over the generations, The Cordish Companies has remained true to the family’s core values of quality, entrepreneurial spirit, long-term personal relationships, and integrity. As a testimony to the long-term vision of its family leadership, The Cordish Companies still owns and manages virtually every business it has created. For more information visit www.cordish.com or follow us on Twitter.
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