Kevin Lowry has worked at Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun casino for more than a quarter century, ever since graduating Marietta College with a degree in business management. In an industry known for turnover at every level, such a record is cause for celebration.
“What has kept me here is the culture of our organization and the people that I have worked for and worked with over my career,” Lowry says.
A native of Groton, Connecticut, Lowry had a short 20-minute jaunt from home to Mohegan Sun. The close proximity piqued his interest in applying.
“I consider myself lucky that Mohegan Sun was being built near where I grew up. In all honesty, I never imagined when I was hired here that I would still be here 26-plus years later.”
Currently assistant general manager, Lowry is involved with almost every aspect of the property: gaming operations, finance, retail and materials management, tenant relations, and even the CT Sun (the WNBA team).
“Each day can be vastly different than the previous day, which makes coming to work enjoyable,” he says.
In all those years with Mohegan, Lowry cites the pandemic as the most difficult period.
“Without a doubt, the period from March to June 2020 when we had to figure out how to close this facility, and then reopen in an entirely new world with Covid restrictions, safety protocols, and everything else to consider with the pandemic,” he explains.
With the exception of one year, Lowry has spent all his time in the flagship property. He moved from Connecticut to Pennsylvania’s Mohegan Sun Pocono in December 2008 as CFO.
“It materialized rather quickly once I found out there would be an opening,” he says. “Executives Jeff Hartmann and Bobby Soper asked if I would be interested in taking the position, and I jumped at the chance. I believe they were both looking for someone with an analytical background and thankfully they looked internally, and I was fortunate enough to be offered the position.”
At his request, Lowry returned to Connecticut a year later.
“Both Hartmann and CEO Mitchell Etess were instrumental throughout my career, and I owe much of where I am today to the two of them,” Lowry says. As for Soper, CEO of the Pocono property at the time, “what I take most from my time working with Bobby is his ability to build relationships and how to treat people.”
Other mentors that guided Lowry’s career to date include:
Gina Ladocsi, vice president of finance early in his career. “She provided me the exposure to upper management. That exposure gave me a better understanding of what an executive has to manage.”
Gary Van Hettinga, CFO. “He brought a different perspective to the table, and I learned more about this industry from him than probably any other person.”
Ray Pineault, CEO of Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment. “He really made me so much better at my job by challenging everything and asking all of the pointed questions.”
Jeff Hamilton, current president of Mohegan Sun Connecticut. “Developing relationships, treating people with respect. I am so much better now at considering that perspective when dealing with any issue after having worked alongside Jeff for so long.”
For Lowry, action speaks louder than words when it comes to his young staffers. “I am not sure I impart words of wisdom, but I hope that they see how I treat people regardless of title. We spend so much time at work, our co-workers become our second family. I try to keep things as lighthearted as possible,” he says.
