Marketing director
BANGOR — Hollywood Slots Hotel & Raceway’s director of marketing is moving west. Jason Birney has been promoted to vice president of marketing at the soon-to-be-opened Hollywood Casino in Toledo, Ohio. As a senior member of the Toledo leadership team, he will be responsible for analyzing Ohio markets, recruiting a new marketing team, and developing marketing strategies for a successful pre- and post-opening of Ohio’s first casino.
“Jason has done a fantastic job developing and enhancing our marketing efforts,” said John Osborne, general manager of Hollywood Slots Hotel & Raceway in Bangor. “Jason was well-known both inside our doors and throughout the community. He made his mark on Hollywood Slots through advancing our awareness and effectively increasing our business. We’ll miss him here in Bangor and we know that he will achieve great success in his new position in Toledo.”
Birney joined Hollywood Slots Hotel & Raceway in February 2009. Before that, he worked in the Atlantic City region for Harrah’s Entertainment and then was a member of the opening team at Harrah’s Chester Casino & Racetrack in Chester, Pa. Birney is a 2002 graduate of Florida Southern College with a degree in communications and expects to receive a master’s degree in business administration from Southern New Hampshire University in 2012.
“I have really enjoyed my time here in Bangor,” said Birney. “The people here have been very welcoming, and the experiences I have had at Hollywood Slots have allowed me to grow. I’ll miss the unique qualities of Maine, but look forward to new opportunities at the brand-new facility in Ohio.”
Birney will begin his new role at the Hollywood Casino in Toledo on July 11.
AARP insurance
The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. announced that it has expanded its AARP-branded auto insurance program available through several Maine independent agencies, including two offices of the Bangor-based Cross Agency, which was founded in 1954..
Agencies were chosen, according to The Hartford, for demonstrating a commitment to community service, meeting a high level of business ethics standards, and completing a training program designed to highlight the needs of the 50-plus population.
The AARP-branded auto insurance program was designed in consultation with The Hartford Advance 50 Team for the interests and needs of baby boomers and older adults.
Maine agencies selected are: Cross Insurance, Bangor; Cross Insurance, Lincoln; Russell D. Patten, Hermon; Roland Grindle Insurance, Brewer; Kimball Insurance, Guilford; GHM Agency, Waterville; The Kyes Agency, Skowhegan; Skowhegan Insurance, Skowhegan; and Galloway-Van Lierop, Waterville.
The Hartford, based in Connecticut, is celebrating nearly 200 years of service.
In 2005, AAPR Services founded AARP Financial Inc., A wholly owned subsidiary that manages the provider relationships for and performs quality control oversight for the financial products that carry the AARP name.
AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50 and older have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates.
AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. It has offices in all 50 states.