Known for its dramatic transformations of the gaming industry and the landscape of Western New York, Seneca Gaming Corporation recently completed another major transformation, although it may not be visible to the outside world.
The company, which operates Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino in Niagara Falls, NY, Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino in Salamanca, NY, and Seneca Buffalo Creek Casino in Buffalo, NY, recently implemented a new Human Capital Management platform across its entire organization, completing a years-long digital transition that will have a dynamic impact on how the company and its more than 3,000 team members operate and interact.
Seneca Gaming Corporation has been making a significant impact on the gaming and hospitality industry for more than 20 years. In 2002, it transformed an aging convention center into a world-class casino in the span of 100 days at a cost of $100 million, opening Seneca Niagara Casino on December 31, 2002. Today, the company’s three properties offer more than 5,100 slot machines, 125 table games, over 1,000 AAA Four Diamond award-winning deluxe rooms and suites, luxurious spas and salons, exquisite fine dining, high-end retail outlets, and other amazing amenities, attracting millions of annual guests.
“As a company, we grew very quickly, and speed was everything,” said Seneca Gaming Corporation President & CEO Kevin Nephew. “Within just a few years, Seneca Gaming Corporation went from an idea to a major force in our industry and one of the largest employers in our region with three properties and thousands of team members. With that level of growth at that pace, it’s important to step back and understand how to make the organization work better.”
That process started more than three years ago, when Seneca Gaming Corporation began its search for a partner to design and implement a dynamic, user-friendly Human Capital Management platform. Ultimately, the company decided to work with Workday. The platform was officially rolled out to Seneca Gaming Corporation’s more than 3,000 team members this spring, and the results have been dramatic.
“From a practical standpoint, we went from having multiple, independent systems to having one comprehensive system that captures everything throughout the entire employee life cycle,” said Brenda Dysinger, Chief Human Resources Officer at Seneca Gaming Corporation, who led the transition. “This has been the smoothest transition I’ve been a part of in my career, and easily one of the most impactful.”

The successful launch of the new system marks a pivotal moment in Seneca Gaming Corporation’s evolution. Team members and managers now have real-time access to essential information – pay slips, schedules, time-off requests – anytime, anywhere, from any device. With centralized access to key employment data, managers can now make faster, smarter decisions – whether aligning staffing levels to meet demand or identifying and nurturing top talent within their teams. Administrative burdens have been dramatically reduced, freeing up leaders to focus on people, performance, and culture.
“This level of accessibility is vital in our 24/7/365 operational environment and has already begun transforming the way managers engage with their work,” said Dysinger. “The convenience is also an incredible asset. You can literally track the real-time status of various processes and approvals and take care of certain tasks within minutes from the mobile app.”
In addition to the functionality, the new system can help foster important connections between different departments and properties. Team members can find their colleagues in every department at each of Seneca Gaming Corporation’s three properties to reach out and connect or send positive accolades for a job well done.
“Our team culture is so important,” said Nephew. “Even if they work at different properties or in different departments, our team members all share, reflect and embrace the same goals and standards. That’s not only important for making sure our guests enjoy the same experience across all three of our properties, it’s also important for making sure we are truly one company with one culture.”
By eliminating outdated processes and embracing the power of digital, Dysinger sees the transition to Workday as part of the continued evolution of human resources.
“HR professionals progressed from processing paperwork to being in lockstep with operations,” she said. “Today’s HR leaders need to be strategic, forward-thinking and people-centered. If we’re chasing paperwork and transactions, we won’t have the time to truly support our values-based culture and elevate the team member and guest experience.”
“Our philosophy is that we want to provide our team members the best eight hours while they are at work,” said Nephew. “That’s more than words – we need to live that every day.”
For more information about Seneca Gaming Corporation’s gaming properties, visit www.senecacasinos.com.