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Saturday
February 24, 2007 |
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Poker Biz
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Visionary Women in Poker
" On the felt, or behind the scenes, women like Kelly O'Hara are growing poker.
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Kelley O'Hara, Director of Marketing, Bicycle Casino
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Sunday, August 20, 2006
While attending the World Poker Tour Ladies Night hosted by the Bicycle Casino, we had the pleasure of spending some time with Kelley O'Hara, Director of Marketing for the Bicycle Casino, the second largest card casino in California, which is the poker capital of the world. Often times women behind the scenes don't get credit for being some of the major players in poker and Kelley is definately one of them!
Kelley has been with the Bicycle Casino for almost 7 years. She came to the casino when she came to pitch a project to Haig Kelegian, one of the partners of Bicycle Casino and he invited her to stay on as the marketing director. She had already come with high recommendations since her mother, the late Billy Brown who was in the same position at the sister casino Ocean's Eleven Casino was known for her amazing ladies events. "My mom created the California State Ladies Championship which is in it's 13th year. She definately knew how to throw a fabulous party!" said O'Hara.
O'Hara brings years of experience to the Bicycle Casino considering she her unique marketing techniques and corporate relationship building skills developed while operating her event production company, O'Hara Event Group, founded in 1992. In addition to overseeing 140 promotions and events each year, she broke the traditional barrier, sponsor reticence concerning the gaming industry, by spearheading the introduction of major corporate sponsorship to the world of recreational gaming. She created partnerships with companies including Pepsi, Budweiser, Chevis Regal, XTRA Sports, and Winston Tires. In addition, O'Hara's coordination of efforts between gaming businesses and the cities where they reside, as well as fundraising for non-profit organizations, are unprecedented in the industry. As the result of her directing the Bicycle Casino's participation as a charter member in the now famous World Poker Tour, poker is now viewed as a mainstream, internationally televised sport.
When asked about how it's been working in a casino as a female she said, "It's been challenging. But, working for Haig Kelegian with his willingness to take risks, he let me do things that I didn't know couldn't be done in poker. But, mom showed him it could be done so he has been super with me and the projects I bring to the casino."
She shared how women in poker has completely changed. The growing numbers of women have changed the atmosphere in the casino considerably. "Women are the connective tissue in life. Now that we see women on the poker floor, men have had to change thier games and it's actually 'fun' at the tables" she said.
Although O'Hara knows how to play poker, she claims she is social player. In fact, she shared one of her most memorable experiences which took place at the CA State Ladies Championship. She was dealt her cards and when it was her turn to act, she folded. She was the Big Blind in the hand so they teased her unmercifully since she was from a poker family claiming "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree".
We asked her about her vision for women in poker in the next ten years. "Women will be 'owning it' (poker), we'll be going global as we see women stepping into business positions. Wherever women go, men will follow. Women know how to hold hands, build things together and enjoy doing it together. It will be an amazing time."
Kelley O'Hara and her team, continue to be influential in evolving poker, pioneering synergistic relationships with on-line gaming partners, and creating new avenues of influence with high profile projects like "Live At The Bike", a live poker webcast streamed directly from the floor of the casino. She is one of the creators and owners of the technology which live at the Bike uses. O'Hara has brought a fresh perspective and powerful vision that has enabled her organization to become leader in the gaming industry.
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