The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) will be under new leadership.
The MGC named Dean Serpa Executive Director and Caitlin Monahan Director of Investigations and Enforcement Bureau (IEB), it was announced Wednesday, March 20, signaling a new era behind the scenes for Massachusetts sportsbooks.
Over the past few months, the MGC convened two independent screening committees for the purpose of hiring for those two positions. Each committee screened and interviewed candidates for the respective roles, and each put forward two candidates to be interviewed by the full commission during public meetings.
On Monday, commissioners met in a public meeting to interview two final candidates for the role of executive director. Following interviews and deliberations, commissioners voted 4-0 to appoint Serpa as executive director of the MGC. Chair Cathy Judd-Stein recused herself from the interview process given her last day with the MGC is scheduled for Thursday, March 21.
Serpa To Build On Experience With GPAC
Serpa has served in multiple senior roles throughout Massachusetts state government, including leadership roles for the office of previous Governor Charlie Baker. He currently serves as the chair of the Massachusetts Gaming Policy Advisory Committee (GPAC).
“I am passionate about moving projects from inception to competition and working with teams to get things done – I am excited to build on my experience with GPAC as I get started as executive director of the Commission,” Serpa said.
The executive director serves as the executive and administrative head of the MGC and is responsible for administering and enforcing the provisions of the law relative to the commission and each of the agency’s administrative units. The executive director reports to the five-member Commission.
Back on Jan. 31, commissioners voted 5-0 to appoint Monahan Director of the agency’s IEB.
Monahan, a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, served as Interim Director of the IEB and before that served for three years as a member of the MGC’s legal division, recently as deputy general counsel. The IEB is the largest division at the MGC and is responsible for ensuring the integrity of Massachusetts gaming operations.
“Caitlin has been a valued member of the MGC team for a number of years, first in the legal division and recently as interim IEB Director – this experience will help ensure her success as she begins this new role,” said Judd-Stein. “Her contributions have been essential to the work of the MGC in the regulation and oversight of casino gaming, horse racing, and establishing sports wagering in the Commonwealth, and I know she will continue to meet and surpass our high expectations as a leader of our organization.”
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