Melonie Johnson rose from the small town of Lacombe, Louisiana, along Lake Pontchartrain, to top leadership positions in several major resort casinos. Her success has resulted in several historic firsts.
She became the first black person to lead a casino in Maryland when she was appointed President and COO of MGM National Harbor in 2017. She was the second black woman to lead Gold Strike in Tunica, Mississippi, first as general manager and then as president and COO.
She also became the first black woman to serve as president and COO of the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa in Atlantic City in 2020. She is now MGM Casino and Resorts’ first black president and CEO.
According to a press release, Johnson will oversee the property’s day-to-day operations as well as provide strategic direction and a focus on employee engagement and community relations in her new role.
“I am thrilled to be back in Maryland where I look forward to re-engaging with our employees and reconnecting with the Prince George’s County community,” said Johnson. “I was able to witness many of our resort’s successes during my previous three and a half years there, and I’m looking forward to working with the team towards many more in the years to come.”
Johnson reflected on her 25-year career in the gaming and hospitality industries, noting that her family valued education. She was told to go to school and excel, despite the fact that she had no idea what she wanted to do in the future.
“There were hard times for me, but I had two parents that I could talk to. They told us if you’re going on a job – they were old school – to keep your head down, don’t get into trouble, and do it the best of your ability because no one owes you anything,” she told WUSA 9.
After high school, she proceeded to the University of New Orleans, where she graduated with a degree in accounting. However, she struggled to find a job after graduating, owing to the color of her skin.
“I was a person of color and in the ‘80s, a person of color really struggled to find a career. And it was deflating. I ended up going to a headhunter and they sent me on an interview at a bank. I landed the job. I made a whopping $9,600 a year,” said Johnson.
Her turning point came when she took a chance with a staff recruiter and it paid off. She began her career in banks before pursuing a career in casinos.
She’s also proud of where she came from; Johnson says the strong women in her family provided the foundation for her later achievements. Today, Johnson considers how far she has come and admits that she is not proud of herself.