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Consistent with the tone established by her predecessors, Chair Kassekert is committed to ensuring the integrity of the industry while promoting growth and development of the gaming industry and its venues for entertainment and is equally committed to ensuring Atlantic City’s competitive edge in the face of growing competition.
Under her leadership, Atlantic City’s first new property in 13 years, the Borgata, opened in 2003; the Quarter at Tropicana, a themed retail and entertainment complex opened in 2004; the House of Blues at Showboat, a multi-level music hall, restaurant, and themed casino opened in 2005. Chair Kassekert has also presided over the opening of a new hotel tower at Resorts; the expansion of the beach bar concept around the city; the sale of the Atlantic City Hilton to Colony Capital; the acquisition of Caesar’s Entertainment by Harrah’s Entertainment; and the reorganization of Trump Entertainment.
Chair Kassekert serves as the Commission’s representative on the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority and holds a board membership on Cooper Hospital Health Systems. Chair Kassekert was the first woman to be named chair of the Commission.
Prior to joining the Commission, Chair Kassekert was the Associate Director of Government Relations for the New Jersey Education Association and also had 12 years of experience in various positions in state and county government. While at the NJEA, Chair Kassekert served as a lobbyist for the 179,000-member labor union which represents active and retired teachers and other professionals in the education community in the state.
Chair Kassekert spent a year as an Assistant County Counsel in Camden County in 1994 and 1995. In that position she represented the county in the state courts in litigation dealing with employment law, contracts and other governmental matters. She also represented the county on a variety of matters before bodies such as the State Merit System Board, the Office of Administrative Law and the State Public Employees Relations Commission. Between 1990 and 1994, Chair Kassekert was the Deputy Commissioner in the New Jersey Department of Personnel in Trenton and served for a period as Acting Commissioner.
Chair Kassekert holds a bachelor of science degree in political science from Gettysburg College, a masters degree in public policy from Rutgers University and a law degree from Widener University School of Law. She is admitted to practice law in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
A native of Maple Shade, she currently lives in Pennsauken.
