Tribal Gaming Leadership Academy

We want to say THANK YOU to those who attended and to those who spoke for us this last week. The conversation was deep, meaningful, and impactful. Creating a safe space for difficult conversations is hard to do but the team pulled it off. Thank you to RiverSpirit Casino and Hotel, the service was EXCELLENT! Thank you again and we will be posting videos and pictures very soon.

There is still time to Join us for our First of many Academies to come! Scan the QR code below to register.

Sign up now by scanning the QR code. We are very excited for this first show at RiverSpirit Casino and Resort in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Lead. Learn. Serve. We look forward to seeing you there! #tgla24 #indiangaming #leadershipdevelopment

---Class Announcement --- January 17th 1:30pm – 2:15pm Company to Council: Establishing pathways to trust between business & tribal leadership. Kandi Link (Facilitator), REDW Accounting & Advisors Tom O’Donnell, CEO, Encompass Native Design, Develop & Construct Pam Shaw, 2nd Speaker, Osage Nation Congress Devin Redbird, Gila River Council Representative, Gila River Gaming Board Hoyit A. Bacon, Tribal Councilperson, Seneca-Cayuga Nation Pam Shaw Tom ODonnell Hoyit Bacon Kandi Link

Speaker Announcement: Yonne Tiger January 17th 4:30pm – 5pm: Bulletproof Contracting Calling out common pitfalls and omissions in native gaming negotiations. Yonne Tiger, Attorney at Law, Tiger Law PLLC Justin Barrett, Eastern Shawnee Tribe Treasurer Yonne Tiger, J.D. is an experienced tribal and gaming lawyer, having served in-house as counsel to tribal leaders, tribal councils and tribal boards, as well as a contract attorney to various tribes and tribal entities. She has assisted tribes in drafting laws, policies and procedures, briefs and court pleadings, gaming expansions, and economic development; and, has represented tribes at the local, state and federal level.    Yonne has also taught graduate level classes on Indian Law and Federal Contracting and Compacting. She works throughout Indian Country conducting tribal court assessments, which are assigned through the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Tribal Judicial Support Office. She was appointed to serve as the Gaming Operations Authority Board Legal Counsel for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation by tribal resolution for the Nation’s nine casinos in 2014 and then currently as the general counsel to the Muscogee Nation Gaming Enterprises, the successor to the Gaming Operations Authority Board.     Yonne also works with other tribes in the casino industry as general legal counsel. In 2020, she was appointed to the Muscogee Reservation Protection Commission for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. Aside from being an Attorney, she has turned her passion of gaming into establishing a player development software and continuity marketing company that services casinos all over the United States.     Yonne received a 40 Under 40 Award from the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development in 2010 and the Mvskoke Women’s Leadership Professional of the Year in 2017. She serves as a Board member for United Women in Tribal Gaming. Yonne is a citizen of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. https://lnkd.in/g3NWiNye

----Speaker Announcement---- Derek Valdo - CEO Amerind Insurance January 17th, 3:30pm – 4:15pm Benefits of Collaborative Vendor Relationships: Establishing methods to increase alignment between the enterprise & suppliers of mission critical goods & services Mr. Valdo was named Chief Executive Officer of AMERIND in July of 2012 after joining AMERIND in 2000. Mr. Valdo served fourteen years as a Councilman and one year as a Field Chief for the Pueblo of Acoma. Mr. Valdo attended Stanford University, obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Economics with a minor in Management, cum laude, from the University of New Mexico and his Master’s of Business Administration from New Mexico Highlands University. Mr. Valdo’s accolades reflect his vision and leadership. Mr. Valdo has been named to Indian Country Media Network’s esteemed list of 50 Faces of Indian Country, the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development’s 40 under 40, and among Albuquerque’s Business First Top 10 CEO’s. Under Valdo’s leadership, AMERIND has experienced exponential growth in its businesses, resulting in its strongest level of financial performance. AMERIND earned an “A-“ rating from AM Best under Valdo. In addition, he also serves on several Boards, including the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority, The Notah Begay III (NB3) Foundation, the First Nations Oweesta Corporation, the United Way of Central New Mexico, and the National Indian Child Welfare Association Board of Trustees. Valdo also served on the Native American Rights Fund, National Congress of American Indians, Acoma Business Board and the University of New Mexico Anderson School of Management Foundation.

Register today! We are very excited to share this content with you. Lead Learn Serve Lets do this together in 2024 https://lnkd.in/ghgSzj7t

Join us this January 16th and 17th in Tulsa, Oklahoma for what is to be a great learning experience with the Best minds in Indian Gaming.

Lead. Learn. Serve. Join us January 16th and 17th for hands on training and hear from the brightest minds in Gaming and Tribal Leadership on understanding the How's and Why's of Casino Operations.

Keynote Speaker: David Stewart - CAO Mid America Industrial Park, Former CEO of Cherokee Nation Businesses David Stewart is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Oklahoma Ordinance Works Authority and serves as the Chief Administrative Officer for MidAmerica Industrial Park. The Authority is a Public Trust that owns and operates MidAmerica Industrial Park located in Pryor, Oklahoma. He was appointed to this position by Governor Mary Fallin, in 2012. The sole mission of the trust is to bring new businesses to the region and increase area employment. MidAmerica Industrial Park is home to over 80 companies in diverse industries, which include Google, Siemens, and Chevron Phillips. The Park employs approximately 4,500 people, is one of the largest in the Nation and is top ten in the world with on-site rail, water, and electric power. As part of Mr. Stewart’s role at MidAmerica, he is active in partnership with the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and the Tulsa Regional Chamber in marketing Oklahoma in the US and internationally. Previously, Mr. Stewart was Chief Executive Officer of Cherokee Nation Businesses, LLC. In 2004, Mr. Stewart helped negotiate the State Gaming Compact. Under his leadership, the Cherokee Nation experienced explosive growth in the gaming industry and diversified its business portfolio to include a wide range of businesses employing over 3,500 people. As a result, non-gaming enterprises represent a substantial portion of the Cherokee Nation’s business portfolio, providing new career opportunities to tribal members.  David Stewart is currently a member of the Board of Directors for the State Chamber of Oklahoma and the Tulsa Regional Chamber. As a member of the Tulsa Regional Chamber, he serves on the Executive Committee as well as Tulsa’s Future. He is a member of the Board of Directors for the Oklahoma Business Roundtable and serves as its Chair.    Mr. Stewart is a member of the Governor’s Council for Workforce and Economic Development, appointed by the Governor. Additionally, he is a Board member for AAON, Inc. (AAON) and Tulsa Community College Foundation. He formerly served on Secretary Kouplen’s Advisory Council to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce on Economic Development and Workforce related issues.    Mr. Stewart earned his Master of Science and Bachelor of Science business degrees from Oklahoma State University in 1978 and 1977 respectively. He was certified in Oklahoma as a Certified Public Accountant in 1978. Mr. Stewart, as a member of the Cherokee Nation, continues to work with tribal leaders to promote collaboration on economic development initiatives in Northeast Oklahoma and throughout the state.