MGM National Harbor has appointed Chris Gumiela President and Chief Operating Officer following Melonie Johnson’s retirement. Announced November 9, the appointment puts the longtime MGM Resorts executive in charge of the Maryland property’s daily operations, with responsibilities spanning operational direction, employee engagement, and relationships with the surrounding community.
Gumiela returns to property leadership after serving as MGM Resorts’ senior vice president of interactive operations since 2021. In that position, he worked on connecting the BetMGM digital business with MGM’s physical resorts. His responsibilities also included membership in LeoVegas’ five-person steering committee, while he joined MGM Resorts’ capital committee in 2026.
The appointment marks his second period at MGM National Harbor. He previously served as vice president of marketing from August 2017 through July 2020, helping develop the resort’s identity and its community and civic relationships. He subsequently oversaw marketing and advertising for a regional portfolio that included National Harbor and Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa in Atlantic City.
His MGM career began in 2006 through the company’s Management Associate Program at Mandalay Bay. Later assignments covered slot marketing and analytics, casino marketing, corporate marketing operations, and brand strategy. Before moving into regional and interactive responsibilities, he was vice president of brand strategy at Monte Carlo Resort & Casino, now Park MGM.
Resort leadership changes as National Harbor development advances
“I’m thrilled to be back in the DMV and look forward to expanding the ways MGM National Harbor serves as an entertainment capital for our region and a pillar in community engagement for Prince George’s County,” Gumiela said in the appointment announcement.
MGM National Harbor combines casino operations with a 308-room hotel, restaurants, retail, meeting facilities and an entertainment theater. The resort’s two-level gaming floor includes slots, table games and poker. Located on the Maryland side of the Potomac River, the property serves the wider Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia market.
Gumiela’s recent interactive responsibilities covered businesses that MGM reports separately in its financial disclosures. In its latest quarterly results, MGM Digital reported revenue of $184 million and a segment-adjusted EBITDAR loss of $4 million. That division includes LeoVegas and other consolidated interactive businesses, while excluding the BetMGM North America venture.
His return also coincides with progress on the proposed Sphere National Harbor venue nearby. Sphere Entertainment announced the project with Maryland, Prince George’s County and Peterson Companies in January. The planned 6,000-seat venue would use a smaller design than Sphere Las Vegas, incorporating an exterior LED display, immersive sound, haptic seating and environmental effects.
The Prince George’s County Planning Board subsequently granted preliminary design approval, according to November 7 reporting by Maryland Matters and WTOP. The approval remained conditional on resolving parking arrangements. Developers presented plans for a nearby parking garage and pedestrian access, with the parking issue expected to be addressed before construction could proceed.
