MGM National Harbor Names Chris Gumiela President And COO

MGM National Harbor has appointed Chris Gumiela as its president and chief operating officer. 

The Maryland resort announced the move on November 9, 2026, saying it follows the retirement of Melonie Johnson, who held the same role.

Gumiela will oversee the property's day-to-day operations and set strategic direction, with what the resort describes as a renewed focus on employee engagement and community relations. 

The appointment is a homecoming: he worked at National Harbor from 2017 to 2020. For online options across the country, see our guide to US online casinos.

Career Built Across Physical And Digital Gaming

According to the MGM Resorts press release, Gumiela has more than 20 years of experience bridging physical and digital gaming. Since 2021, he has been Senior Vice President of Interactive Operations at MGM Resorts. 

In that role, he directed alignment between the digital BetMGM business and the company's land-based resorts, served on the five-member Steering Committee for LeoVegas and was appointed to the MGM Resorts Capital Committee in 2026.

He first joined MGM Resorts in 2006 through its Management Associate Program, with training across hotel and resort operations at Mandalay Bay. 

His roles since include Slot Marketing and Analytics Analyst, Casino Marketing Manager, Director of Operations for Corporate Marketing, Executive Director of Corporate Marketing Operations and Vice President of Brand Strategy for Monte Carlo Resort and Casino, now Park MGM.

Return To National Harbor

Gumiela was Vice President of Marketing at MGM National Harbor from August 2017 through July 2020, joining the leadership team shortly after the resort opened. 

MGM says he played a pivotal role in establishing the resort's brand identity, driving nearly $1 billion in property-wide revenue and building community and civic partnerships. 

He later became Vice President of Marketing and Advertising for the Regional Portfolio, covering both National Harbor and Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa in Atlantic City.

The company quoted Gumiela saying he is thrilled to be back in the DMV, that he looks forward to expanding the ways the resort serves as an entertainment capital for the region and that he sees it as a pillar of community engagement for Prince George's County.

About The Property

MGM National Harbor sits on the eastern shore of the Potomac River, a short distance from Washington, D.C. 

The $1.4 billion LEED Gold-certified resort has a 24-story, 308-room hotel and a two-level casino of more than 160,000 square feet with slots, table games and poker. 

It also has an entertainment theater with flexible seating for up to 3,000, a spa and salon, retail, 50,000 square feet of meeting space and restaurants from local, national and international chefs. 

The resort is owned by MGM Resorts International.

Why Digital Link Matters

MGM leads with that omnichannel background, describing his most recent job as aligning the digital BetMGM business with the company's land-based resorts. 

The release does not say whether any changes to the resort's operations are planned under his leadership.