Empire City Casino welcomes MGM Resorts' Management Associate Program

(PRESS RELEASE) -- Empire City at Yonkers Raceway by MGM Resorts has selected its inaugural Management Associate Program participant. Jarrett Goodness, a graduate of Cornell University and son of an Empire City employee, will serve as the first MAP candidate designated by Empire City Casino.

The Management Associate Program is a 12-month professional development program that offers recent bachelor’s and master’s degree recipients the opportunity to develop their exposure and leadership skills in the integrated resort industry. Upon successful completion of the program, Management Associates are usually placed in entry-level roles within their areas of concentration.

“MGM Resorts prides itself on providing quality opportunities and training programs for recent college graduates,” stated Uri Clinton, president and COO of Empire City Casino. “We are excited to welcome Jarrett to the MGM Resorts team and have him represent Empire City in the program. We look forward to watching his career develop as he progresses through the yearlong program.”

In 2018, MGM Resorts was recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Best Employers for New Graduates, highlighting the Management Associate Program, as well as other training programs and benefits for employees, that allow the company to attract and retain top talent. MAP also features individualized learning plans specific to the participant’s chosen area of concentration, tours of various resorts in the MGM portfolio, and discussion panels with property executives who provide insight into strategic business goals at their respective properties.

“I am honored to be selected as the first MAP participant representing Empire City Casino and look forward to gaining hands-on experience from professionals who have worked extensively in the field,” stated Goodness. “I hope to hone my leadership and analytical skills while successfully acclimating myself to the hospitality and entertainment industry. And since I am particularly fascinated by the symbiosis emerging between MGM Resorts and major league sports, this program provides a wonderful opportunity to learn about the rapidly-evolving sports partnerships business.”

Raised in Westport, Connecticut, Goodness knew from a young age that he wanted to attend Cornell’s Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management to develop his entrepreneurial and leadership skills. In school, Goodness found his entrepreneurship classes the most interesting because they allowed him to learn beyond the numbers and to think outside the box. Goodness’ father has been a security manager at Empire City Casino for seven years and is where his interest in the gaming and entertainment industry comes from. He hopes to continue his learning in MAP, gain hands-on experience from the people in the field, and hone his leadership and analytical skills.

MAP has been part of MGM Resorts’ Leadership Development initiatives for more than 20 years, with several of the company’s current leaders beginning their tenure with MGM Resorts through the program. MGM Resorts offers several programs to college students and recent graduates, such as the Hospitality Internship Program, a 10-week paid internship that introduces college students to the company and provides professional development, executive exposure, and hands-on learning experiences; and the Culinary Associate Program, which allows graduates to develop their culinary skillset in a variety of challenging kitchen environments. These programs will also be available to candidates from Empire City Casino in the future as the property develops after the procurement of a full-gaming license.

Empire City Casino was acquired by MGM Resorts in January 2019, and the company has been integrating its many employee-focused programs to Empire City employees. For example, the College Opportunity Program, which offers company employees an online college education through the Nevada System of Higher Education, and the Student Loan Repayment Plan, which matches a portion of employees’ monthly student loan debt payments, helping them accelerate full loan repayment. Both programs further demonstrate the company’s commitment to helping its 82,000 global employees, 1,200 of which are located at the Yonkers, New York property, advance in their careers.