**Please see the attached photo of Susanne Stover. Credit NYRA, Adam Coglianese**
Friday, March 2, 2012
Contact: Dan Silver
dsilver@nyrainc.com
NYRA NAMES SUSANNE STOVER AS SENIOR VP & CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - The New York Racing Association, Inc. (NYRA) has named Susanne Stover senior vice president and chief financial officer. In her position, Stover will oversee all NYRA financials, including accounting, budgeting, and forecasting.
From 2006 through 2012, Stover served as chief financial officer of Rosa Mexicano Restaurants, a high-end chain, overseeing strategic and operational finance for 13 eateries in seven states with 1,300 employees. Prior to that, she served as controller of California Pizza Kitchen, Inc., a leading casual dining restaurant chain with 184 restaurants in 27 states.
“We are delighted that Susanne has joined our senior management team,” said NYRA President and Chief Executive Officer Charles Hayward. “Susanne is smart, dynamic and has terrific communication and management skills. Her strong background in accounting, financial reporting and analysis, and internal controls for both public and private corporations will be invaluable for NYRA. She brings more than 18 years of diversified experience in the restaurant, internet, entertainment, real estate, and financial industries.”
A Certified Public Accountant, Stover graduated from Boston College in 1993 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Accounting. She began her career as an auditor at Ernst & Young and was quickly recruited to The Walt Disney Company where she served as finance manager. Subsequently, she held positions as the director of finance and controller with BizBuyer.com, Inc., vice president of finance with AOL/Time Warner, and vice president of finance with the Decurion Corporation, before joining California Pizza Kitchen.
Stover replaces Ellen McClain, who was promoted by NYRA to the position of executive vice president and chief operating officer in October 2011.
Founded in 1955, and franchised to run thoroughbred racing at New York’s three major tracks (Aqueduct Racetrack, Belmont Park, and Saratoga Race Course) through 2033, NYRA boasts a lineage that actually stretches back almost 150 years. NYRA tracks are the cornerstone of the state’s thoroughbred business which contributes more than $2 billion annually to New York State’s urban, suburban and rural economy. In 2011, more than 1.8 million people attended the live races at NYRA tracks. Factoring in nationwide off-track wagering, the average daily betting handle on NYRA races totals more than $8.1 million. NYRA has a vast network of websites, including www.nyra.com, www.belmontstakes.com, and www.nyragroupsales.com. You can also follow NYRA on social media platforms Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, and YouTube.
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