Mark Serry Email & Phone Number

Greater Chicago Area

★ 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐝𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 & 𝐞𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧. Partner with executive leadership on 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩-𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠-𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡, 𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲, & future-state vision. 𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐏&𝐋 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, including oversight of all functional areas.• Led planning for new & existing gaming locations resulting in enhanced sales, profitability, & business growth objectives, while maintaining standards for internal process effectiveness & regulatory reporting.• Directed the creation of new roles and trained teams in Account Management, Marketing, Business Development, significantly expanding marketing footprint, refining targeted campaign strategies.• Manage relationships and regulatory compliance with key bodies including the Illinois Liquor Control Commission, Department of Justice, Illinois Department of Revenue, and municipal authorities.• Negotiate and structure contracts for all independent sales agents, successfully reestablishing ties with the most lucrative agents and enhancing partnership agreements.• Introduced third-party loyalty program across all locations, incorporating tablet/kiosk check-in systems to boost customer engagement and retention.• Advocated at various governmental levels (U.S. Senate, state representatives, local mayors, and municipal boards) to secure gaming licenses for new locations through ordinance changes or new license classes.• Led the business development team to sign more use agreement contracts in 2022/2023 than the previous 4 years combined.• Secured contract extensions with two major corporate partners, Pilot/Flying J, and Road Ranger, by leading multiple in-person meetings at their headquarters to engage with executive teams, resulting in extensions for 19 Road Ranger and 3 Pilot Travel Centers, and an additional gaming opportunity at a fourth Pilot location.

Greater Chicago Area

★ 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬. 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫, 𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐤𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡.• Conceptualized and executed the strategic growth vision. Authored roadmaps, KPIs, and scalable growth strategies. Identified acquisition targets and market opportunities, conducted due diligence, and optimized internal processes and procedures.• Served as a bridge between internal teams, acquisition decision-makers, and external agencies, ensuring alignment, regulatory compliance, effective bid development, and negotiations.• Full financial accountability, including budget management, cost controls/outside spend, acquisition financial/ROI analysis, and valuations.• Established the organization's multi-unit corporate account acquisition and marketing strategy.• Instituted and maintained relationships with key sponsorships and corporate partners (e.g., Platinum Sponsorship of Illinois Restaurant Association).• Spearheaded strategy and focus on the potential emerging market of the City of Chicago.• Mobilized strategic and future partners in lobbying the local government to expedite legislation leading to an ordinance change allowing gaming within city limits.• Led company to operate 36% of the top 100 locations in the state (over 8,000 locations); 250% greater than the subsequent terminal operator, with only 5% of market share statewide.

Chicago, Illinois, United States

★ Directed Delaware North’s transition into the convenience gaming space after the acquisition of G.E.M. Gaming.• Implemented complete overhaul and restructure of sales, account management, corporate accounts, compliance, and contract negotiation.• Solely responsible for contract negotiation and contract structure• Restructured and optimized Use Agreement contract.• Leveraged existing relationships within all Divisions through Delaware North Corporate, President of Delaware North Gaming, and Corporate Business Development to create Strategic Partnership opporunities corporate accounts (e.g., Top Golf, Yum Brands, Buffalo Wild Wings, Little Caesars, Live Nation, etc.)

Chicago, Illinois, United States

★ Led the identification and evaluation of acquisition, investment, and partnership opportunities for rapid growth acceleration.• Produced $1.2 million in 2016 through organic contracts signed. Projected total revenue of 2016 signings of ~$12 million.• Developed protocol for quickly assessing, narrowing, and locating qualifying locations remotely via online acreage tools and County GIS systems.• Independently developed and orchestrated meetings and created exclusive Strategic partnerships with industry-specific organizations (e.g., Illinois Petroleum Marketers Association, Illinois Restaurant Association, Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association, and the 7-11 Franchise Owners Association of Chicagoland.)• Established and maintained Strategic Partnerships and maintained relationships with corporate partners and potential new partners (e.g., Denny’s, BP, Speedway, Texor Fuel, Minute Man, Grahm – C Stores, Hucks, Kroger).• Researched and developed and sold a more lucrative concept of multiple-location gaming establishments to investors. Took them from concept to locating optimum sites, design and construction.

Chicago, Illinois, United States

★ Lead relationship manager for the entire City of Chicago as a territory with 237 locations.• Applied and maintained Terminal Handler’s license issued by the Illinois Gaming Board for 4 Consecutive years.• Signed five (5) Ten-year contracts (industry-standard was 5 years) within the first 25 days. • Within the first 5 months had 30 Ten-year contracts in the City of Chicago and ended with over 50. • Led the entire company in 2014 with a total of (51) ten-year agreements signed. • Obtained multiple organic contracts (new business, competing business, etc.) • Co-developed the build-out of a separated sales force; only had account representatives and independent contractors at that point. • Developed and wrote the first version of a New Hire protocol and Employee handbook, including scheduling for training via rotating through different departments such as sales, service, HR, Legal, Call Center, etc. • Placed in a Management position of New Chicago Program within 1 week of the introduction of concept; wrote guidelines, and immediately sought out, interviewed, and hired eligible representatives and coordinated their training. • Promoted to Director of Corporate Business Development for the entire company.

Greater Chicago Area

★ Managed day-to-day operational aspects of multiple projects, while working with a team of innovative developers overseas. Delivering projects on time and within budget while accomplishing project goals.• Created and executed project plans on an ongoing basis, while ensuring all client objectives were met. • Coordinated the cross-functional collaboration of key team members while identifying resources needed to complete specific tasks and ensure effective project delivery. • Managed all aspects of investor relations communications, including status reports, web portal demonstrations, and feedback gathering. • Coordinated frequent regression testing in order to identify development problems as they arose.• Ensured requirements documents were complete, current, appropriately stored, and within compliance guidelines.• Key participant in creative meetings among management and staff. • Successfully managed all aspects of financial planning for the organization such as quarterly forecasts, and long-range plans, as well as advising both client and firm leadership on impending budgetary events. • Increased usability and functionality of websites, utilizing metadata and other methods to optimize search engine positions.• Remained current on emerging web and social media technologies through relevant blogs, listservs, and relevant events.

Greater Chicago Area

★ Managed a group of public relations specialists for activities involving community, customer, and investor relations, both nationally and internationally. Cultivated investor relationships and managed the company's public relations archives.• Served as the primary media contact directing all publicity and consumer awareness for the company. • Developed all media press kits, public releases, and oversight of community events. • Addressed complex, sensitive issues in collaboration with the Marketing Director and executive management. • Evaluated advertising and promotions to ensure all campaigns aligned with the strategic goals and messaging. • Conducted market research and presented findings to execute team for approval.

Greater Chicago Area

★ Responsible for all aspects of deal structuring, which included performing all the necessary due diligence as well as ensuring a seamless closing of the transactions. • Negotiated property acquisitions, joint venture agreements, and the marketing/sales of investment properties. • Responsible for asset and risk management, identification of issues, as well as the development and implementation of strategic plans to reduce risk, which enhanced property values, returns, and profits. • Experienced in owning and managing SFR and multi-unit properties as well as buy and holds, refinances, and short sales. • Managed several projects at one time while holding contractors to tight schedules and ensuring all corporate initiatives and timelines were met. • Prepared formal presentations to secure potential investors and delivered them in a compelling manner. • Aggressively marketed properties via MLS, web marketing, and social media which lead to the average home sold in 6-8 weeks upon completion.

Medical Doctorate Program

Activities and Societies: • Member of the American Medical Association.

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Biology And Anthropology

Activities and Societies: • President of Alpha Epsilon Delta, premedical Honor Society. • Recipient of Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

Masters Of Natural Sciences

• Chosen by the Professor and Executive Officer of the Department of Biological Sciences to be a research assistant for a pivotal study.

Education record