New Chief Financial Officer at Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort

Mark Makley, CPA, CGMA, MAcc, is the new Chief Financial Officer at Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort. “I believe with Mark’s extensive gaming experience he will complement efforts of the executive team to get Coeur d’Alene Casino to the next level of success,” said Coeur d’Alene Casino’s CEO Francis SiJohn.

Mark graduated from Utah State University with a Master’s degree in Accountancy. Since then he has worked in the casino industry over the last nineteen years, primarily in financial roles. Mark has worked with notable gaming companies; Pinnacle Entertainment, El Dorado Resorts, and Penn National Gaming. He was a key member of the finance department that opened L’Auberge Du Lac Casino in Louisiana shortly before Hurricane Katrina hit the area. Mark commented that, “Louisiana was a great place to live until the hurricane came along. My wife and I, who are both from the West Coast, decided it was time to move inland.” Eventually Mark moved back home to Reno, Nevada and where he worked for El Dorado Resorts. Most recently, Mark was working for Penn at their Hollywood Casino in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. The Hollywood property had seen a significant increase in competition as regional gaming markets opened up in that area and his primary responsibility was to work with all the property leaders in managing financial discipline while recapturing lost market share. “The property was able to maintain its profit margins and stay profitable in this highly competitive market, while aggressively pursuing new customers,” according to Mark.

Mark stated that he was attracted to this area for several reasons. First, he has family near Coeur d’Alene, living in both Rexburg and Boise. And two, “it’s beautiful here. Who doesn’t love the outdoors, the mountains, and the lake”. He visited Coeur d’Alene Casino and recognized the beauty of the property and its friendly staff. He noted, “I believe the keys to success and generating as much profitability as possible is through financial discipline, taking care of our guests and taking care of our employees who are truly the heart of the business.”