Buddy Roogow even lets himself play.
The director of the Maryland State Lottery Agency, Roogow changed the course of the agency from the moment he took charge in 1996, emphasizing the lottery?s fun rather than its one-in-a-million-or-more shot at an extravagant lifestyle.
To keep himself organized, Roogow keeps himself surrounded by loyal workers.
“I invest in people,” Roogow, 57, said. “I make every effort to intertwine myself in every job and try to get to know the people I work with.”
Roogow not only oversees different advertising and promotional campaigns, but also handles the running of old games and the development of new ones.
And he does that while managing the day-to-day operations of the lottery. Making sure that winnings and expenses line up with earnings and budget is crucial, since the lottery makes about $500 million annually for the general state fund.
But since Roogow came to the lottery, he has had to make some tough choices.
When he first got there, the marketing strategy revolved around the “you have to play to win” mentality. Revamping the consumer approach, Roogow presented the lottery as fun and entertainment.
On the business side, he did away with the original Maryland Lottery game, which failed to bring in enough money to support itself.
A graduate of the University of Maryland, where he also earned a master?s degree in 1973, Roogow has extensive experience in different levelsof politics.
Serving as a county commissioner in West Virginia and a leader in the Howard County Department of Public Works, he worked with Gov. Parris Glendening in 1995 and was appointed head of the lottery in 1996. By having hands-on experience, Roogow has been able to refine his leadership style.
“His door is always open,” said Gina Smith, the chief financial officer and assistant director of the Maryland Lottery. “And I make use of that; I bounce a lot of things off of him. He knows his job, but he knows how to have fun.”
BUDDY ROOGOW
» First job: Delivering newspapers at age 11.
» Education/credentials: A bachelor?s from the University of Maryland in government and politics and a master?s in public administration.
» Best job perk: To meet people and interact at all the Maryland Lottery events.
» Daily e-mails received: About 100.
» Daily voice mails received: Only four or five.
» Essential Web sites: mdlottery.com, lottery trade sites, local news sites and weather.com.
» Favorite gadget: Telescope or camera.
» Hometown: Baltimore.
» Birth date: July 11, 1949
» Original aspiration: Baseball player.
» Sports/hobbies: Tennis, racquetball, running, photography, astronomy and time with the family.
