Marko Milinkovic

Area Manager for Executive Gaming and the O’Aces Tavern Group

Marko Milinkovic, Area Manager for Executive Gaming and the O’Aces Tavern Group was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Graduated from Lincoln Park High School where he played football and lettered all four years. Before graduating high school, Marko made up his mind that he wanted to serve our country and join the United States Army.

Starting out in the military, Marko’s main job was as a cook and served overseas during the conflicts in Bosnia and Somalia. Being Serbian American and also bilingual, Marko was transferred from working in the kitchens into a military intelligence battalion and served as a liaison between the United Nations and the United States Army. Marko served four years and left the Army with an honorable discharge to return to his home town of Chicago.

With the experience he received in the Army, Marko was hired as a manager for Jiffy Lube at the age of 21. As a manager, Marko oversaw all day-to-day operations. When Shell Motor Company took over Jiffy Lube, Marko was one of the youngest managers ever to be promoted to District Manager. Marko’s new position with the corporation enabled him to incorporate new systems, policies, and procedures to help modernize operations, as well as, maximize company profits. After three years of working for the Shell Motor Company, Marko decided to enter the night club industry and found himself traveling between Chicago and Las Vegas. Marko successfully managed ten nightclubs in the Las Vegas and Chicago area and this is where his love for the gaming industry came about. Marko soon decided to go to Bartending School and become a gaming bartender to learn the industry from the ground up with his first job at one of the smallest bars in Vegas, but did very well.

At this point, Jason Woywod of Executive Gaming, approached Marko and offered to train him as an entry level manager at their O’Aces Bar and Grill properties. Marko trained for one year and then was offered a bartender/manager position at one of Executive Gaming’s original properties, The Huntridge Tavern. Marko remained at The Huntridge Tavern for one year where he brought in a new staff and helped maximize profits to bring the location to its full profitability. Still to this day, The Huntridge Tavern is one of Marko’s favorite properties. Pleased with his progress, Mr. Woywod approached Marko with a promotion to District Manager. This new position required Marko to continue his managerial duties at The Huntridge Tavern, in addition to, oversee two new properties, Town Center Lounge 1 and Town Center Lounge 2. Marko oversaw these two new properties for one year and helped to reorganize the company while taking gaming to a new level. After continued success, Mr. Woywod had enlisted a new project for Marko, to train a replacement manager, Jason bedard, to take his place at both Town center Lounge properties. Currently, Marko is the Area Manager and now oversees two new properties which are both named, Miz Lola’s Spirits and his original location The Huntridge Tavern.

Working for Executive Gaming has been a phenomenal experience for Marko. The hours, pressure, and challenges of the Hospitality/Gaming industry is what pushes Marko to be the best there is. He takes pride in knowing he can turn around any location and maximize all profitability. “This is where I belong, this is where I will be, and this is who I am. I am a proud member of Executive Gaming!