Tom O'Donnell

Senior Vice President, CDI; President and General Manager, Calder Casino & Race Course

Tom O’Donnell was named president and general manager of Calder Casino & Race Course as well as senior vice president of Churchill Downs Incorporated ("CDI") in November 2008.  He is responsible for the successful overall direction, administration and coordination of all activities at Calder Race Course, including gaming and racing operations.

Tom came to Calder and CDI from Heller Gaming & Leisure, where he served as an advisor and consultant on casino operations, development and strategic acquisition evaluation. He also has over 18 years of experience with Harrah’s Entertainment.

Prior to his association with Heller Gaming & Leisure, Tom worked with Harrah’s Entertainment in a variety of executive positions, including Gulf Coast region president, where he oversaw the rebuilding of Harrah’s gaming and hotel operations following Hurricane Katrina; senior vice president and general manager of Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Hotel, the Showboat Casino Hotel and Harrah’s Joliet Casino; and operations leader on the Caesars/Harrah’s integration team during the merger of those two companies. He also served as chief operating officer for gaming development at Oneida Indian Nation and has worked with Sands Hotel Casino.

Tom holds a master’s degree from Norwich University in Vermont and a bachelor’s degree in education from Hillsdale College in Michigan.  He is married to Linda O’Donnell and is the proud father of three daughters: Erin, Tracey and Amy.

Prior to entering the casino industry, Tom served as a schoolteacher and football and baseball coach for seven years in the Pleasantville School District, Pleasantville, NJ.  After leaving teaching, Tom continued his interest in education serving as a school board member for the Egg Harbor Township School District, Egg Harbor Township, NJ.

Tom is dedicated to maintaining active relationships with local community groups and, in his short time here, is in the process of becoming involved with organizations based in South Florida.  In the past, he has volunteered his time with youth sports organizations in the neighborhoods where he has lived; Silver Cross Hospital, the Center for Economic Development, Chamber of Commerce, Historical Society, and United Way all in Joliet, Illinois; the Jaycees Organization and Absecon Blue Devil Youth Organization, both in Absecon, New Jersey; as well as the Coastal Community Foundation, a nonprofit grant making organization in Charleston, South Carolina.