from Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park

Northfield, OH — Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park has announced new members of its executive team, including Douglas Hoppe as vice president of marketing, Jeff Michie as vice president of finance, Mike Babinski as director of slot operations and Karen Ellington as human resources manager.

In preparation for the late 2013 opening of Hard Rock International’s first ever Rocksino, to be located in Northfield Park, Ohio, the new executives will contribute to developing, managing and successfully delivering the brand’s iconic image to the region.

“Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park demands passionate, qualified executives as it becomes the premier entertainment and gaming destination in the area,” said Jon Lucas, president of Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park. “We are proud to announce the additions to our incredible team and look forward to working together to deliver an unmatched, authentic guest experience for the region’s residents and visitors.”

Douglas Hoppe, who previously opened Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa and helped expand it into the sixth largest casino in the world, will take on the role of vice president of marketing for Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park. His duties involve overseeing and driving all aspects beneath the marketing umbrella, from advertising and direct marketing, to loyalty programs and promotions. Hoppe has worked on the Hard Rock team since 2003 and understands the keys to success in the casino industry.

New Vice President of Finance Jeff Michie brings 24 years of gaming experience and a wealth of industry knowledge to the property. Most recently the executive director of finance at Rising Star Casino in Rising Sun, Ind., Michie will take his passion for the industry to the position to build a cohesive, strong and well-connected group that is dedicated to making the Rocksino a success.

Mike Babinski, director of slot operations, brings 22 years of industry knowledge to the Rocksino, most recently with Pinnacle Entertainment in St. Louis, Mo. His duties include analyzing slot floor performance, developing new techniques and strategies for optimization, managing resources and closely monitoring the overall gaming experience at the Rocksino.

Karen Ellington, with eight years of expertise, takes on the role as human resources manager and will be a huge contributor to a successful operation of the highly anticipated Hard Rock Rocksino Northfield Park. In addition to providing assistance and guidance to the Rocksino workplace, Ellington, under the leadership of Vice President of Human Resources Michelle Scott, aims to maximize the quality of guest relations and implement programs to enhance management of personnel and ensure delivery of unmatched guest service.