Training Program Grooms Tribal Member To Succeed Pascua Yaqui Casino Del Sol CEO

Seven years ago, 30-year gaming veteran Wendell Long (Choctaw) assumed the helm at Pascua Yaqui Casino Del Sol in Tucson, Arizona as its chief executive officer. At the time, only about half of the staff was comprised of tribal members. “We implemented a management succession program to increase that rate to 80 percent and we’ve been successful in this goal–[and] in some departments, dramatically exceeding it,” Long said. Of the casino's 300 Spa & Conference Center employees, 87 percent are tribal members. The casino's food and beverage operation started with one tribal supervisor–now there are 14 in management positions...