SERGIO SOUSA, regional vice president of marketing for Bally’s Twin River Lincoln Casino Resort and Bally’s Tiverton Casino & Hotel, was recently inducted into the Community College of Rhode Island’s Society of Knights and Squires as part of the CCRI Foundation and Alumni Association’s 2022 Outstanding Alumni Awards.
What does receiving this honor from CCRI mean to you? It means the world to me, and I am humbled and honored to receive such an honor. I made the decision to go to college right after my oldest daughter was born. I was a young parent, in the infant stages of my career, and CCRI provided me with the opportunity to receive a quality education without the expense associated with many of the other area institutions. I chose to go to college to not only better myself but to be an example for my now three children. My hope is they follow a similar path and one day aspire to attend an institution of higher learning.
What opportunities did CCRI provide to you to help you with your career? I truly believe my time at CCRI laid the groundwork for many of the positive opportunities I have experienced throughout my career. There are certain doors that probably would not have opened if not for the valuable years spent on the Flanagan Campus. One experience in particular stands out that I will never forget from a finance professor. He asked the class a question and I remember my response had generated a laugh in the classroom. The professor replied to my response by saying, “Because of your approach, you will have opportunities in life, and I am sure you will find individual success.” This was the first time in my life that I felt I could make a difference.
What attracted you to wanting to work with Lincoln Park, now Bally’s, after college? Immediately after high school, I had done some modeling work. That work entailed several different things, but one area of it that piqued my interest was doing promotional-type work for different products or services. This experience helped me realize that I had an affinity for dealing with the public. A few of my friends were working at Lincoln Park in the late 1990s and asked if I would consider employment there. Lincoln Park/Twin River/Bally’s has always provided me with an opportunity to challenge myself and helped me grow both personally and professionally.
Where do you envision yourself in five years’ time career-wise? I plan to continue to take the approach that has gotten me to where I am today. That is to work hard, one day at a time and continue to develop my skill set so I can put myself in a position to not be restricted by limitations. One of the most gratifying parts of my job is to help coach and mentor members of my team. I am at a point in my career where I truly take pride in watching individuals succeed under my tutelage. My goal is to positively impact each individual that I interact with each and every day, and my hope is that I can provide some of the same opportunities that were afforded to me.
