Mike Goodrich
General manager, Potawatomi Hotel & Casino
1721 W. Canal St., Milwaukee
www.paysbig.com
Industry: Casino entertainment
Employees: 2,772
Family: Wife, Kymme, and eight children
What was the smartest thing your company did in the past year?
“As we celebrate our 25th anniversary in 2016, it’s no secret that we are a much different business than we were a quarter-century ago. With that in mind, we took a deep dive into the way we conduct our business with the help of some outside expertise. From an executive’s standpoint, it’s helpful to get a different perspective and put some of those suggestions into practice.”
What’s new at your company?
“We’ve made it a priority over the last several years to update our slot floor, both with product and layout. Guests will find the latest in slot technology at Potawatomi, and the floor itself is much more inviting than it was just a few years ago. Additionally, we recently expanded our Asian restaurant, RuYi, to include a beautiful new sushi bar.”
Do you plan to hire any additional staff or make any significant capital investments in your company in the next year?
“Having just finished with the hiring of more than 200 people for the opening of our hotel, we aren’t planning any major hiring initiatives. But we’re always looking for guest-focused individuals to join our team. With more than 6 million guests annually, much of our capital investment goes to maintaining our property. Most of our focus will probably remain on sustaining the appeal of our property through upgrades to enhance our guests’ experience.”
What’s the hottest trend in your industry?
“The popularity of our business will wane if we don’t push the limits of technology. We’re well past the days of the ‘one-armed bandit’ slot machines on our gaming floor. Technology has allowed for much more interactivity, which is key in attracting new audiences. Slot machines are looking more and more like games you play on your smartphone.”
What will be your company’s main challenges in the next year?
“Training and development. Making sure our 2,700-plus employees are delivering the very best in service is consistently our top priority. Outdoing ourselves in that realm is always a challenge, but one we must meet in order to compete for our guests’ entertainment dollar.”
From a business standpoint, who do you look up to?
“The first person that comes to mind is Forest County Potawatomi chairman Gus Frank. The success he’s helped foster, both here in Milwaukee and in Forest County, is remarkable.”
Do you have a business mantra?
“We have to be agents of change. As soon as we’re comfortable, we have to look at growing ourselves and pushing the limits.”
What was the best advice you ever received?
“Leave your work at work. While sometimes that’s impossible, it’s necessary to maintain a good work/life balance. I try to instill that in our management team at Potawatomi.”
What do you like to do in your free time?
“I like to travel and explore new places. I also love to spend time on the golf course.”
