Keynote Speaker

Mitchell Grossinger Etess
President and Chief Executive Officer, Mohegan Sun
Chief Executive Officer, Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority (MTGA)

Mitchell Grossinger Etess brings a lifetime of experience in the hospitality industry to his role as chief executive officer of the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Commission and president and chief executive officer of Mohegan Sun, the Northeast’s premier entertainment destination. He joined Mohegan Sun as a member of the casino’s pre-opening team in 1996 as senior vice president of marketing. Shortly thereafter, he was promoted to executive vice president of marketing and was responsible for marketing, food and beverage, sports and entertainment and hotel operations. In August 2004, Etess was elevated to president and chief executive officer to oversee the overall management and operation of Mohegan Sun.
In April 2006, Etess was appointed chief executive officer of the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority (MTGA), an instrumentality of the Mohegan Tribe who own and operate Mohegan Sun. In this position, he assumes responsibility of the overall management and operation of Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, a harness racetrack located in Plains Township, Penn., and five off-track wagering facilities located elsewhere in Pennsylvania.
Etess also serves as chief executive officer of the Connecticut Sun, the WNBA’s professional women’s basketball franchise, which is owned and operated by Mohegan Sun and calls Mohegan Sun Arena home. With the Connecticut Sun, he oversees team operations on behalf of the Mohegan Tribe, representing the ownership in all matters pertaining to the day-to-day functioning of the franchise on both the administrative and basketball sides of the organization.
Prior to his career at Mohegan Sun, Etess served as vice president of marketing at Players Island Resort Casino & Spa in Nevada. Earlier, he was employed at Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, where he rose through the ranks from public relations manager to senior vice president of marketing. He also was a partner in the advertising and public relations firm of Gordon Etess & Associates in Pinehurst, N.C., after serving as general manager at CCA/Holly Inn in Pinehurst.
Prior to 1985, Etess worked in virtually every capacity—and finally as general manager—at his family’s Grossinger’s Hotel in Grossinger, N.Y. It was here that Etess, who was raised at the hotel, got his early training in the hospitality industry.
He is a graduate of Columbia University.