People: Empire Resorts Inc (NYNY.O)

Mr. Joseph A. D'Amato, CPA, is Chief Executive Officer, Director of Empire Resorts Inc. He has served as Chief Executive Officer since January 2010 and as Chief Financial Officer from September 2009 to December 2010. Mr. D’Amato has served as a director since September 2010. Prior to his employment with the Company, Mr. D’Amato most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of Mount Airy Casino Resort in Pennsylvania from 2007 to 2009 and as Chief Operating Officer of the Seneca Gaming Corporation in Western New York from 2005 to 2007, and as its Chief Financial Officer from 2002 to 2005. During his earlier career in the gaming industry, Mr. D’Amato served in various executive capacities with Resorts International, Trump Entertainment, Bally’s Park Place and Golden Nugget organizations. Mr. D’Amato has participated in raising over $2 billion in the public and bank finance markets, and has experience with Sarbanes Oxley and the filing requirements and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). He has been a CPA in New Jersey and Pennsylvania and received an MS in Taxation from Widener University in 1985, an MBA (Finance) from LaSalle University in 1978, and a BS in Business Administration from LaSalle University in 1970.