Chief Diversity Officer at Parx Casino

Ron Davis

Ron Davis is currently leading the role of Chief Diversity Officer at Parx Officer’s Human Resource team. He is responsible for maintaining the employees' welfare by creating a positive work culture, ensuring a low burn-out rate and professional growth. He inherits a robust skill set like ACSC, VIP, Casino, and gaming strategy, contributing valuable insights into the industry. Ron is a man of faith and his faith guides him to where he has been and where he will be in the future.

How was your journey before you took up the role of Chief Diversity Officer at your company, and what are the roles and responsibilities you handle daily?

 At my core, I have a background of economic development and building effective teams in communities that I serve. I have a passion for building a legacy and outreach for good, connecting people and dynamic organizations.  I had the opportunity to be the first person to be hired at Parx Casino nineteen years ago.  Since my hiring, Parx expanded to 2500 people. As a team, we aim to promote inclusivity and diversity and develop a responsible community to overcome every challenge collaboratively. The team spirit is about diversity where the entire team represents the company, and this has been successful for us. Every success of the company is being shared with the community, which has made our business resource group stand at the forefront. Regardless of race, age, gender and abilities, our team encompasses people who are allies in each category. I am privileged to be one of them while bringing everyone together under one big umbrella, which remains the preeminent catalyst of our growth and success. Also, I am a man of faith and this faith guides me to handle my present and future endeavors. Helping others in the journey is worthwhile and this always motivates me in my daily role.

I also play the role of a director to implement programs of care that engage our staff into positive action inside and outside of our organization. I take the responsibility of encouraging the team to gain opportunities to serve on the community board of directors.  We are serious about preparing our team to lead

Looking at the HR landscape space, what are some of the trends you notice in the community while interacting with your clients?

The business environment is prone to constant change, including economic trends, technological advancement, or any social dynamics. Meanwhile, the United Way, a charitable organization, has recognized a potential challenge usually neglected.  United Way is currently focused on assisting the working poor. The program is called ALICE. People in this category  can face one calamity such as a health  or one untimely expense  that may lead to severe disruptions in the family. As a result, the need for community engagement in today’s ever-evolving and interconnected world is paramount, especially with individuals or organizations that share similar strategic goals. Beyond the observable issues, there are underlying challenges within communities, like poverty and loneliness, which got intense primarily after the outbreak of the pandemic. There are both ambitious and reluctant people when it comes to work, so while building a team, it is very important to bring people on the same platform with the intent to create a positive culture. Considering all these aspects, we have implemented a few major programs. This includes a bridge program a pilot program for those who have been in prison, and after leaving incarceration , they are offered a structured  Community College education  through  an internship for 12 weeks. Eventually, after completing the internship, with the cooperation of the college and the candidate, we offer either a job or a recommendation as per their field of interest.

“We understand the changing dynamics of the business landscape, and so our main objective is to build an inclusive team that can incorporate the changes collaboratively without disrupting organizational goals, fostering a shared culture to serve communities efficiently.”

We have noticed a rise in this kind of need within the community where people are motivated to work, and we are just beta-testing it. Through our Business Resource Groups (BRGs), we educate, celebrate, engage and inspire everyone in the community to be a part of culture. We have been highly successful in this, where our team brings a sense of connection among all the communities we serve. This is how they build an advocacy group for other groups and expand the community for shared culture.

What challenges have you faced while implementing any program, and what are the best practices to tackle those pain points?

We have aggressive outreach in every area to implement any practice or program. We go to the organizations and then partner with them to redefine people management. We communicate with them about the uniqueness of our business, which of gaming and licensing.  Candidates are scrutinized. This is a different kind of scrutiny than most businesses. The review is deeper and can present a challenge, but we are aware that we are in a heavily regulated environment and trust is paramount to our stakeholders.  We conduct important   community outreach events  called “”  How to do business”  sessions  that have proved to be a valuable educational tool over the years

What are some of the future technological trends or best practices that you can anticipate in the industry?

Regarding future initiatives, it is always about retaining people who have the passion to make a difference in the business landscape and attracting such talent has always been a challenge. I am a former player in the NFL, and it has become a privilege for me to understand and comprehend teams intricately. This has made me passionate to work on the growth of a team that engages in collaboration and accepts each other irrespective of differences. So, finding team-oriented talents is the key to implementing any technological trend or best practices.

What would be a piece of advice for your peers and aspiring professionals within this space?

The business landscape is constantly evolving, and considering the nature of business and career success, it is important to understand the value of inheriting skills like listening, understanding emerging business trends, aligning with the organizational mission, and fostering collaboration and a positive work culture. Usually, people underestimate the complexity of tasks, considering them easy, but they actually need effort. At the same time, listening is one of the most significant skills in navigating business challenges by understanding the message from customers or employees. So, my key piece of advice is to make the team strong and efficient enough to align their personal goals with organizational goals and inherit skills to understand the ever-changing business landscape.