Dr. Cynthia C. Simms

a powerful and thought-provoking speaker, Cynthia’s message is one of real-life experience. A widow, a mother, a grandmother, she’s not afraid to share her experiences and pitfalls. Her quest is to help other women understand “life happens” in spite of yourself, in spite of your successes and in spite of your failures. “Life” runs concurrently with whatever is going on.

She’s been on the top of her game and, has fallen to grace. Her credo has always been, “I don’t know where I’m going, but I’m on my way”. Cynthia Simms has more than 20 years of successful human resources management experience and more than 30 years in the gaming industry. She has developed innovative programs to streamline processes and capitalize on organizational growth opportunities.

Her areas of practical expertise include; project management, program assessment, policy design and administration, HRIS implementation, employee relations, dispute resolution, employee labor law, legal issues, and compliance.

Cynthia began her career as a Casino Cage Cashier with the Las Vegas Club in Las Vegas, NV in 1979. Having her ‘eye on the eye in the sky,’ she transitioned into the life of surveillance and became the manager of surveillance for Harrah’s Casino in Joliet, IL, which is also where she began her career in Human Resources.

During her tenure as Regional Vice President Human Resources for Caesars Entertainment in Tunica, Mississippi, she was requested to serve as HR Integration Leader during the $9 billion acquisition of Caesars Entertainment by Harrah’s Entertainment; where she leveraged best practices and synergistic approaches alignment, with planning and analysis. Cynthia’s integral role in conceptualization, design, and implementation led to an HR organization supportive of 50,000+ employees.

Cynthia will tell you her leadership style is to create a vision, provide tools with support while mentoring and coaching. She’s passionate about professional development and has living legacies in several key positions with major corporations. She believes a well-trained team will lead to a culture of engagement and excitement equaling insane success! Her academic credentials include Associate of Science Early Childhood Education, Harcum College, Bryn Mawr, PA and Bachelor of Arts Sociology/Anthropology, Richard Stockton College, Pomona, NJ. Most recently, Doctor of Business, Harcum College, Bryn Mawr PA.

Cynthia is a mother to two wonderful children; daughter, Talia, and son, Aaron. Her grandchildren, Keilan and Hailee are her passion and Cynthia will tell you they are perfect in every way!