Sycuan Welcomes New Director of Sales and Director of Operational Strategy

(San Diego, Calif.) – April 24, 2018 – Sycuan Casino welcomes James Decker as the Director of Sales and Patrick Daugherty as the Director of Operational Strategy.

James Decker comes to Sycuan with over 20 years of hotel and sales experience. Prior to joining Sycuan, he was the Director of Sales, Marketing and Events at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa & Marina.

Decker began his career as a Sales Manager at Hyatt Hotels in Washington, DC, which led to his position as the Sales Manager for the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Hotel, followed by the Resort Sales Manager at Universal Orlando Resort. He later returned to Hyatt Hotels in Orlando while earning his MBA at Rollins College, and shortly after was promoted to the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego, and later to Mission Bay.

As the Director of Sales at Sycuan Casino, Decker will be responsible for leading all aspects related to the development and operations of the hotel sales department. The sales team will be responsible for identifying group business opportunities that will be able to enjoy Sycuan’s existing and new resort offerings.

Left to Right: James Decker, Director of Sales and Patrick Daugherty, Director of Operational Strategy

Patrick Daugherty brings a breadth of knowledge and vast industry expertise to the Sycuan team. Most recently, Daugherty was the Director of Financial Planning at The Mirage in Las Vegas. During his tenure in that role, he was instrumental in leading numerous improvement projects throughout the resort with a heavy focus in hotel departments that led to increases in revenue generation and diligent management of expenses.

Daugherty’s previous roles include the Assistant Operations Controller at Treasure Island Casino and Financial Analyst at The Mirage. In addition to earning the degree of Bachelor in Business Administration at James Madison University, he has recently earned the distinction as a Certified Management Accountant (CMA).

As the Director of Operational Strategy, Daugherty will be responsible for leading and supporting all hotel departments in the development of operational processes and procedures that maximize efficiency. Additionally, he will ensure strong financial performance within each department by guiding department managers and maintaining effective operations through detailed analysis, development of operations reporting, creation of productivity standards, development of scheduling practices and other projects as needed.

“The addition of Patrick and James makes for an exciting time and signals the next step in the process of bringing life to the resort through the addition of energetic and service-oriented people,” said Andrew Kerzmann, vice president of hotel operations at Sycuan Casino. “Both bring a unique background and expertise that will complement our growing team and contribute to the development of a luxurious guest experience as we open our expanded doors in early 2019.”

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About Sycuan Casino 

Sycuan Casino began as a humble Bingo Palace in 1983. Now more than 34 years later, it has become a community landmark. Undergoing a massive renovation in 2012, Sycuan features 2,000 exciting reel and video slot machines, more than 40 gaming tables, including poker and bingo and a variety of restaurants. Non-smokers will also enjoy over 800 slots and table games in the comfort of San Diego’s first and largest fully-enclosed non-smoking room, complete with a separate entrance and Paipa’s Buffet. The GameDay Sports Bar & Grill has 39 wide-screen TVs, including five 90-inch TVs, bar-top slot machines, a stadium-sized menu with over 30 beers on tap, a Party Pit complete with three blackjack tables, an extensive collection of sports memorabilia and a high-energy atmosphere. Sycuan’s intimate 452-seat entertainment venue, Sycuan Live & Up Close, features national musical acts and comedians year-round. Open 24 hours daily. For more information about Sycuan Casino visit www.sycuan.com or call 619-445-6002.