Northeast Ohio colleges prepare students for casino industry careers

KIRTLAND, Ohio - Some northeast Ohio college students are betting they'll see a big payoff from Cleveland's new casino industry: a career.

Hospitality studies at two area college campuses now include a course in casino operations and management.

"We knew this was coming," Lakeland Community College professor Debra Barnick said. "I thought each casino teaches their dealers how to deal. I didn't want to take that as my job."

So Barnick's class at Lakeland covers the history of gaming, customer service and marketing, as well as the political and legal aspects, and how to detect problem gambling.

"I've never been in a casino, so I learned a lot," Marjorie Sanders said. She hopes to manage a hotel or resort one day, and she's betting this class and the casino industry to improve her odds. "As it draws more people, more attention, they'll have to build more in Cleveland. They'll have to have new hotels, more attractions than just the casino."

Another student, Wahidi Shepherd, is working on a culinary arts degree. Like Sanders, he feels the new casino can only help.

"It's going to build the community up," he said, "build the revenue up, build your pockets up."

A few of Barnick's students have already landed jobs at the new casino. Two are in security, one is a dealer. A fourth student, Carmen Ursetti, turned down a dealer job to continue his studies in hospitality management.

"This class was outstanding," Ursetti said. "My favorite class."

A similar class is offered at Kent State.

According to the American Gaming Association, there were just under 350,000 jobs in U.S. commercial casinos in 2010. But the industry has taken a big economic hit in recent years.

"With more jobs coming right in my field, I'm hoping that my program and my students are going to be able to really ride this wave and find the jobs they've wanted," Barnick said.