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PEOPLE
Sycuan Casino Welcomes Louie Sauer as
Director of Information Technology
Sycuan Casino recently appointed
Louie Sauer as the property’s Director
of Information Technology. Sauer
brings over 16 years of gaming
operations and I.T. management
experience to Sycuan.
“We look forward to having Louie
share his observations and ideas for
improving our I.T. services with the
Louie Sauer
74 Indian Gaming October 2010
I.T. department and the rest of the
casino,” said Sheila Howe, Sycuan
Casino’s General Manager.
Prior to his selection as Sycuan’s I.T. Director, Sauer
served as Corporate Director of I.T. Operations for Station
Casinos, Inc. in Las Vegas where he managed property
operations for 17 Las Vegas casinos and corporate offices. He
also successfully coordinated property I.T. operations with
executive management at multiple locations while improving
overall operational efficiencies.
Sauer also served as Director of Information Technology
for Ameristar Casino in Kansas City and Information Technology
Manager for Prairie Band Casino & Resort in Mayetta,
focusing on the overall developments of the organizations.
Sauer brings extensive experience in information technology
and management operations to Sycuan Casino. With his
expertise and strategic leadership skills, he will be able to help
the organization provide targeted solutions to support key
business objectives, as well as introducing initiatives to
increase productivity, efficiency and quality of operations and
services.
Scott Kidd Named VP of F&B at Turning Stone
Resort and Casino
Scott Kidd of Lincoln, Calif. has
been chosen as Vice President of Food
and Beverage at the Oneida Nation’s
Turning Stone Resort and Casino in
Upstate New York. He has more than
25 years of experience in the resort
food and beverage industry.
Kidd will oversee all of the food
and beverage operations at Turning
Stone, including more than 15
Scott Kidd
restaurants, catering for hundreds of
business meetings and wedding
receptions, all beverage operations, room service and
the employee cafeteria, as well as a staff of more 1,100
people.
A graduate of famed Culinary Institute of America in
Hyde Park, NY, Kidd was most recently Vice President of
Food and Beverage at Thunder Valley Resort and Casino
in Lincoln, CA. Before working at Thunder Valley, he was
Executive Chef and Executive Director of Food and
Beverage at Barona Valley Ranch and Casino in San Diego.
Earlier in his career, he served as Executive Chef with
Grand Canyon National Park Lodges in Arizona and
Executive Chef at Knott’s Berry Farm in California.
Potawatomi Bingo Casino Names Mark Liner
Poker Room Manager
Mark Liner has been named Poker
Room Manager at Potawatomi Bingo
Casino. Liner will oversee the 20-table
Poker Room and ensure that all
aspects of operationa are compliant
with controls set forth by local and
state regulatory bodies.
“I’m looking forward to building
upon the great poker room we already
have here at the casino,” Liner said.
“Our guests can expect more tournaments,
some great promotions and,
more than anything, a great experience every time they sit
down to play.”
Liner has more than a decade of experience in poker. He
has been with Potawatomi Bingo Casino since 2004,
serving the last five years as a Poker Room Shift Manager.
Prior to coming to Milwaukee, Liner worked as a Poker Floor
Supervisor and Poker Dealer at the President Casino in
Biloxi, Miss.
Viejas Casino Names New General Manager,
Vice President of Marketing and Vice President
of Human Resources
Viejas Casino has announced three
new, key executive appointments that
add a combined 40-plus years of casino
management, marketing and human
resources experience to the San Diego
County gaming and entertainment
destination.
Viejas Casino has appointed David
Williams as General Manager.
Williams brings 18 years of experience
David Williams
in the gaming industry, including
management responsibilities at U.S.
and international resorts, riverboat and Native American
gaming operations. His background includes casino
operations and marketing experience from Arizona, Nevada,
Illinois, Louisiana, and New Zealand. Most recently, Williams
was Vice President of Operations for Harrah’s Entertainment.
Holly O’Brien has been named Vice
President of Marketing at Viejas
Casino. Prior to joining Viejas,
O’Brien was a marketing executive at
Harrah’s St. Louis, where she successfully
launched two new food outlets, a
nightclub and a hotel expansion, and
Harrah’s Ak-Chin in Phoenix. She had
been Director of Marketing at Joe
Boxer, where she rolled out concept
shops nationwide, and has also worked
at Kraft Foods in consumer promotions.
Mark Liner
Holly O’Brien
Laura Brown joins Viejas Casino as Vice President of
Human Resources. Brown comes to Viejas with over 17
years of broad HR experience in the high tech and financial

services industries. Her career has
included responsibility for up to 3,000
employees across North and South
America, covering all aspects of the HR
function with a strong focus on results
and cost benefits to the organization
Viejas Tribal Chairman Bobby
L. Barrett said, “Viejas has been a
market leader and is one of the most
successful casinos in all of California.
These three new executive hires bring Laura Brown
a tremendous depth of knowledge and
experience that will help build upon Viejas Casino’s
momentum, position us for significant future growth, and
reinforce Viejas as one of California’s premier gaming and
entertainment destinations.”
Sac and Fox Casino Appoints Peggy Houston as
General Manager
Sac and Fox Casino’s new General
Manger, Peggy Houston, has over 10
years of professional casino management
experience. Houston returned
to her home in Kansas after the successful
opening and first anniversary of
FireKeepers Casino, Battle Creek
Michigan, owned by the Nottawaseppi
Huron Band of the Potawatomi.
Peggy Houston
Houston started her casino career in
1997 with the opening management
team for Harrah’s Prairie Band Casino,
Topeka, Kansas, managed by Harrah’s Entertainment.
Positions held with Harrah’s, included Director of Human
Resources and Director of Customer Service. In 2005 she
accepted the position of Marketing Director of Guest
Relations at Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, owned by the
Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, Prior Lake,
Minnesota. In 2006-2007, she led the successful transition
of Harrah’s Prairie Band Casino to Prairie Band Casino
Resort for the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation in Kansas.
Prior to her last position she was on the opening team for
Downstream Casino Resort, for the Quapaw Tribe of
Oklahoma in July of 2008.
Graham Brook Named Director of Hospitality
At Black Oak Casino
Black Oak Casino recently appointed Graham Brook to
the post of Director of Hospitality. Brook, who is a native
of Wakefield, England, brings many years of international
hospitality leadership to Black Oak Casino’s management
team. Brook received a Higher National Degree in
Hospitality Management in Manchester, England and has
lived in the United States since 1992.
Graham has extensive experience in all areas of hospitality
management, and has served as Director of Beverage
Operations at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore as well as
the Crown Casino and Hotel in Melbourne, Australia. In
addition, Graham was the Director of Food and Beverage at
the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida and
was also involved in the opening of the
United Auburn Indian Community
property, Thunder Valley Casino in
Lincoln, California.
“We are delighted to have Graham
on board with our Hospitality Department,”
said Ron Patel, General
Manager of Black Oak Casino.
“Graham brings a wealth of Hospitality
knowledge to Black Oak Casino
from both Native and non-Native Graham Brook
properties. His international experience
will also give us a new depth in further developing our
many restaurant outlets.”
Eric Smileuske Named Director of Casino
Marketing at Quinault Beach Resort and Casino
Eric Smileuske has been named
the new Director of Casino Marketing
at Quinault Beach Resort and Casino
in Ocean Shores, WA.
Smileuske has over 17 years of
experience in Native American gaming
at multiple properties. He advanced
in finance to the position of Cage
Manager, before transitioning to
marketing to institute a property wide
Eric Smileuske
and department specific customer
service program. He then served as the
Entertainment Manager, responsible for property wide entertainment
booking (including a 2,000 seat event center) as well
as direct mail and player development duties.
Smileuske also owned and operated Ace Academy casino
dealers’ schools in Shelton, Tacoma and Seattle, WA and has
organized numerous local and regional concerts, festivals and
Mixed Martial Arts events in WA, NV, and TN and MN.
“Quinault Beach Resort and Casino offered an extraordinary
opportunity to join a progressive team at a well
positioned destination resort. I look forward to sharing my
experience, talent, humor and perspective with the players
and the property.”
Sylvia Lopez Named Sol Casino’s Director of
Hotel Operations
Longtime and loyal Casino Del Sol
employee Sylvia Lopez has been named
Director of Hotel Operations for
the Casino Del Sol Resort, Spa &
Conference Center.
“Sylvia has been with Casino Del
Sol since its opening and has risen
through the management ranks,’’ said
Mark Birtha, President and Chief
Development Officer for Sol Casino’s
properties. “She has proven to be an
effective operator, respected leader and
Sylvia Lopez
invaluable asset. It is a pleasure to promote her into this
critical hotel position. We look forward to celebrating her
continued success.”
October 2010 Indian Gaming 75

PEOPLE
In her new role, Lopez will supervise hotel front office,
retail, spa and pool operations. The new hotel, currently
under construction, is scheduled to open in November of
2011. It will feature 215 rooms and suites, a new outdoor pool
with cabanas, fire pits, bar, gazebo and outdoor event space,
an elegant spa with three treatment rooms and a retail store.
Lopez is a Pascua Yaqui Tribal member and Southern
California native. She began her career in retail operations
after graduating from high school and has more than 12 years
of retail management experience. In 2001, she moved to
Tucson to work at Casino Del Sol. She was quickly promoted
to Food and Beverage Supervisor and in 2003 she became
Restaurant Manager of Bellissimo, Casino Del Sol’s
signature fine-dining venue.
In 2005, she became Food and Beverage Manager responsible
for 250 employees, six restaurants and five bars. In
2007, she was promoted to her most recent role as
Assistant Director of Food and Beverage. She managed the
daily operations, budgets, food costs, payroll, training,
hiring for eight restaurants, five bars, two gift shops and
more than 350 employees.
Mike Newell Joins Eclipse Gaming Systems as
Vice President of Sales
Professional gaming executive,
company startup specialist, and Indian
Gaming Magazine Advisory Board
member Michael E. Newell is now
Vice President of Sales for Eclipse
Gaming Systems, LLC, based in
Lawrenceville, Georgia.
Newell started his gaming career
with a small startup company called
Datatrol that had won the business to
Mike Newell
76 Indian Gaming October 2010
operate the online lottery system for
Michigan in 1977. That company, in
the 1980s, became Gtech Corporation and the largest supplier
of lottery technology worldwide.
In 1989, Newell joined other former Gtech and
Datatrol executives in a new venture called Gamma International,
LTD. Gamma pioneered the distribution and
operation of the first Class II satellite bingo game,
MegaBingo. Gamma, which became Multimedia Games,
Inc. (MGAM) was an early innovator of electronic Class
II gaming across Indian Country. MGAM’s innovations
with electronic products revolutionized Class II gaming and
gave rise to the expansion of tribally operated bingo
operations and casinos across the USA.
For much of the last ten years Newell was instrumental
at Cadillac Jack in the development of that company’s Class
II, Class III and charitable bingo markets. He was able to
place the company’s products in new and developed markets
all across North America.
At Eclipse Gaming Systems, Newell joins former
colleagues, Jack Saltiel, CEO, Bob Drew, President, Tony
Antonucci, VP of Systems Development, Bryan Reed, VP of
Game Development, Carlos Lozano, Director of Operations,
and other veterans who bring a wealth of knowledge,
experience and success to the business.
Circling Raven Golf Club Director of Golf Tom
Davidson Named PGA Merchandiser of the Year
The PGA of America recently
announced that Circling Raven
Director of Golf Tom Davidson has
been named 2010 PGA “Merchandiser
of the Year” for resort facilities.
Circling Raven, a tribally owned and
operated amenity of the Coeur d’Alene
Casino Resort Hotel in the Idaho
panhandle near Spokane (WA),
Tom Davidson
received the PGA Northwest Section
"Merchandiser of the Year” Award four
times in the last six years. This honor
marks the first time a PGA professional from the Pacific
Northwest has been named PGA “Merchandiser of the
Year” nationally since the award was established in 1978.
The Merchandiser of the Year Award was created in order
to recognize PGA professionals who excel as businesspersons/
merchandisers in the promotion of golf. The PGA criteria
are demanding, focusing on growing and servicing well the
customer base, shop displays, financial details, ongoing
training for staff, and many other mission critical components.
“Our success starts with the Coeur d’Alene Tribe and its
great leadership, support and commitment to excellence,” said
Davidson, 47. “We are honored to earn this award as it is a
tribute to all members of our team at Circling Raven and the
Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel.”
NIGC Welcomes Paxton Myers as the
Commission’s New Chief of Staff
National Indian Gaming Commission
(NIGC) Chairwoman Tracie
Stevens recently announced the selection
of Paxton Myers as the Commission’s
Chief of Staff. For the past year, Myers
served as Congressman Dale Kildee’s
Native American Affairs Advisor.
Congressman Dale Kildee is
co-founder and Chairman of the House
Native American Caucus. As the
Congressman’s Native American
Advisor, Myers played a key role in
Paxton Myers
advising and educating members of Congress by coordinating
briefings and preparing background information on
legislation and issues affecting Native American communities.
NIGC Chairwoman Stevens said, “Paxton brings a diverse
and practical background with him to the NIGC. His
experience on Capitol Hill coupled with his previous tribal
government and gaming operations work will greatly
benefit the NIGC. We look forward to Paxton joining the
Commission and welcome him to the team.”
Between 2000 and 2009, Myers worked for both a tribal
government and a tribal gaming operation, which included
serving as Chief of Staff to Michell Hicks, Principal Chief
of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians as well as Casino
Marketing Manager at the band’s gaming facility. Myers is
an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee
Indians of North Carolina..

Navajo President Joe Shirley, Jr., Honored
with Lifetime Achievement Award by Native
American Law Enforcement Association
Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley,
Jr., was recently honored with a lifetime
achievement award from the country’s
largest Native American law enforcement
association. At its 18th annual
conference, the National Native
American Law Enforcement Association
presented its first “Chief of Chiefs
Lifetime Achievement Award” to
Joe Shirley, Jr.
President Shirley.
The award recognizes his lifetime of
accomplishments to seek empowerment,
prosperity and justice for Native people, the United States and
the world through his work with the United Nations. “He’s
just had a tremendous impact throughout the world and we
wanted to recognize him for that,” said Kim Baglio, NNALEA
Board President who represents the U.S. Secret Service.
“Thank you to each and every law enforcement officer out
there working the front lines in Native America,” President
Shirley said. “I know that you do it with limited resources
but you’re out there protecting our communities, protecting
our lives, and from some of us leaders I want you to know
we really appreciate you.”
NATIONAL TRIBAL GAMING
COMMISSIONERS/REGULATORS
CONFERENCE
October 5-7, 2010
Radisson Hotel & Conference Center
Green Bay, Wisconsin
For more information, visit: www.NTGCR.com
Call Dawn Reiter at (920) 737-2814 or
email: dawnr@thehillgroup.org.
Angela Heikes Named One of Top Women in
Finance by Finance & Commerce
Finance and Commerce would like
to congratulate Angela Heikes,
Corporate Vice President of Gaming,
Planning and Analysis, Corporate
Commission of the Mille Lacs Band of
Ojibwe Indians, on being named one
of the Top Women in Finance. The
award honors outstanding efforts of
women who are making notable
Angela Heikes
contributions to their professions, their
communities and society at large
throughout Minnesota.
Since 1998, Heikes has been an important member of
the finance team for the Corporate Commission of the
Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. Her duties include overseeing
the financial activities of the organization’s gaming
enterprises, developing and analyzing financial projections
and feasibility studies for new projects and proposed
gaming developments, and managing the fulfillment of the
gaming group’s portion of the Corporate Commission’s
strategic plan. Heikes has also served as a mentor to
younger employees and is a volunteer for the Grand Casino
Mille Lacs’ Volunteer Income Tax Assistance preparation
program. ♣
October 2010 Indian Gaming 77