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Speaker Profiles

Next Meeting ~ Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2011 

Courtney Birmingham, Resorts Casino Hotel
When Dennis Gomes took over Resorts, he planned to rebrand the property. He chose a “Boardwalk Empire” theme, capitalizing on the hit HBO series based in Atlantic City. It was a natural theme for Resorts, which occupies a 1920s building that was a luxury hotel in the days of Enoch "Nucky" Johnson, Atlantic City's real-life political and rackets boss.

As Director of Advertising and PR, Courtney Birmingham helped to implement this successful campaign. Today, dealers, cocktail servers, bellhops and others dress in 1920s-period costumes. Music plays from that period, and even the drinks and casino shows have a roaring '20s theme. There is even the first gay-club at a casino hotel appropriately called Prohibition.

Courtney has been working in Atlantic City for the past seven years in various marketing capacities. Holding positions in advertising and public relations at Tropicana Casino & Resort, the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority and currently at Resorts Casino Hotel, Courtney has consistently worked to create positive messages and unique
events for visitors.

In her current role as Advertising & Public Relations Director at Resorts Casino & Hotel, Courtney is involved with all aspects of advertising, public relations, web and branding and is excited to be part of the team, led by Dennis C. Gomes, that will bring the new
Resorts back to one of the leading Atlantic City destinations.

Since coming on board as the Director of Advertising & PR, Courtney has worked with the entire Resorts team to re-brand Resorts in the 1920's theme. This includes launching multiple new venues and re-launching the property itself.

Courtney graduated from Marietta College in Marietta, OH with a degree in Communications, where she was a member of the Women's Crew Team and
Chi Omega sorority.

Mike Hauke, Tony Boloney's Pizza
Mike strives to make everything he does a win-win. He lives by the mantra that business doesn’t need to be a one-sided profit center, but it can help enhance personal experiences, social/community environments, and ultimately provide a positive outlook across the board for everyone involved.

After graduating in 2002 from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, he set out on a 10-year journey of creativity through starting his own businesses.

Now he is making his roots in Atlantic City with Tony Boloney’s in Atlantic City. Tony Boloney’s was the winner of The Food Network’s Guy Fieri’s Cheesesteak Battle, hosts the world's largest pizza eating competition, Pizza Slaughterfest, in the spring, and has launched Atlantic City's first Mobile Food Trucks (Mustache Mobile). He is currently working to develop another restaurant and non-restaurant product concepts for the local market.

Susan Adelizzi-Schmidt, Suasion Communications Group
An expert in the art of persuasion, Susan Adelizzi-Schmidt is president of Suasion Communications Group, an award-winning, full-service communications agency in Egg Harbor Township, NJ. There, she leads a team of creative professionals who execute successful brand strategy, public relations, marketing, creative design, e-marketing and web campaigns. Clients include hospitality, tourism, municipal, corporate, health care and non-profit organizations.

Susan began her career as an Atlantic City NBC affiliate anchor/reporter. She then was public relations manager for Showboat Casino Hotel. Later, she handled the marketing and public relations for her family's business, the Great American Trolley Company.

She purchased Smith O’Keefe & Associates in 2007 after working for the agency for three years, and re-branded the agency under the Suasion name.

Suasion, along with its partner The Wildwoods, is the winner of 2011, 2010 & 2009 NJ Governor’s Tourism Excellence Awards and a 2009 HSMAI Bronze Adrian Award.

Susan holds a B.A. from Arcadia University, Glenside, PA, and an M.B.A. from the Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, Pomona, NJ.

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