Colonial Downs announces leadership changes

Lisa Speller, Chy Stewart to join organization, overseeing Rosie's Gaming Emporium

Published July 24, 2020 by Sydney Lake

Lisa Speller. Photo courtesy Colonial Downs Group

The Colonial Downs Group, owner of the New Kent County horse race track and Rosie’s Gaming Emporium, announced Friday Lisa Speller will serve as the company’s vice president of government affairs.

Chy Stewart. Photo courtesy Colonial Downs Group

Speller, who most recently served as a policy adviser for Gov. Ralph Northam’s administration, will oversee community relations for Rosie’s Gaming Emporiums in Richmond, New Kent, Hampton and Vinton, as well as for the race track. In her new role, she will focus on community engagement and programming.

She also previously served as a senior policy adviser to Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney, working with the mayor on community and public safety impact.

Colonial Downs also announced Friday that Chy Stewart will serve as general manager for Rosie’s Gaming Emporium in Richmond. She had most recently been the vice president of casino operations and diversity officer at Hollywood Casino in Joliet, Illinois. In her new role, she will lead operations and community efforts at Rosie’s.

Colonial Downs is poised to generate more than $26 million in state tax revenue and nearly $18 million in local tax revenue this year, according to the company, and annually generates $25 million in the horse industry.