WORKSHOPS: Human Resources for Indian Gaming

Richard G. McGee is the principal attorney at the Law Office of Richard G. McGee, LLC in Plymouth, Minnesota. Mr. McGee's practice focuses on protecting the rights of individuals, businesses and tribes. Mr. McGee works with tribal employers on the full range of employment related issues.

Mr. McGee was Assistant General Counsel for the Prairie Island Indian Community. The Prairie Island Indian Community owns and operates Treasure Island Resort & Casino, which employs more than 2,000 employees. Both the Prairie Island Indian Community and Treasure Island Resort & Casino are located in southeast Minnesota.

Before joining the Prairie Island Indian Community, Mr. McGee spent a decade litigating business and employment cases as a lawyer at Arnold, Anderson & Dove in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Those experiences were concentrated in the Midwest, and he also litigated cases on both coasts, as well as cases in southern Texas. Mr. McGee is a graduate of the Oklahoma University Law School located in Norman, Oklahoma.

Mary Beth DeFazio is a seasoned leader in the fields of hospitality and gaming management. Her experience is derived from relationships with some of the world's most respected companies, including MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, ARK Las Vegas at the New York-New York Hotel & Casino, Casino Niagara and Seneca Niagara Casino, as well as hospitality stalwarts Ritz-Carlton, Embassy Suites and Ramada Inn.

In 1996, Mary Beth started PEP Consulting Group, an internal and external marketing agency focusing on the needs of gaming, hospitality and service related businesses.  In 2005, she opened Mountainview Marketing Services which is a Native-owned full-service marketing, promotions and advertising agency that specializes in creating effective marketing solutions for the gaming, hospitality and entertainment industries.     Both companies are dedicated to achieving the needs of their clients by providing innovative and integrated strategies and solutions that will meet and exceed expectations and provide clients with a return on investment (ROI).

In 2002, Mary Beth assisted the Seneca Nation with the pre-opening recruitment, hiring and training efforts for the opening of the Seneca Nation's $100+ million dollar Class III casino, however, one of her most significant challenges was opening Casino Niagara with the Navegante Group.  Navegante was selected in July 1996 as the Agent for the Ontario Casino Corporation to assist in the design, construction, and management of the $165 million, 100,000 square-foot casino in Niagara Falls, Ontario. Mary Beth was a management consultant for the project, responsible for overseeing recruiting, employment, and training of more than 3,500 employees in a record 129 days. In December of 1996, Casino Niagara opened on schedule to rave reviews and within its projected budget.
As a member of the pre-opening human resources management team at the world's largest hotel, casino and theme park, the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Mary Beth focused her responsibilities on developing Las Vegas' largest recruitment center. The Center processed more than 100,000 applications over an eight-week period to fill 8,500 positions for the property.

A native of western New York State, Mary Beth received her Bachelor's degree in Marketing from Niagara University, and a Master's degree in Food, Hotel and Tourism Management from Rochester Institute of Technology.   In addition to her gaming background, Mary Beth also holds 10 years of experience in the hospitality industry and is also a faculty member at Niagara County Community College for their Gaming and Hospitality programs.

Neil is currently the General Manager at Oneida Casino in Green Bay, Wisconsin.  Oneida operates one of the largest and most successful Indian Gaming operations in the nation.  Oneida operates eight gaming facilities in the Green Bay area.  He is responsible for strategic direction and operational performance of all of Oneida’s gaming entities.  He specializes in organizational evolution and personnel development to ensure strategic direction is established and executed, He is diligent in aligning organizational resources with strategic priorities and establishing and maintaining focus on those priorities.   He is a member of Oneida’s Executive Management team and participates in strategic decision making of the tribe.

Neil was the Chief Executive Officer for the Coyote Valley Shodakai Band of Pomo Indians in Ukiah, California.  His responsibilities were to provide leadership direction and management focus on all strategic planning, organizational alignment, and personnel development processes for all Tribal and Gaming operations.  He was responsible to provide leadership development organizational development for all gaming and governmental managers and operations.  He was also strategic advisor and executive coach for the Coyote Valley Tribal Council. 

Prior to coming to Coyote Valley, Neil served as General Manager for the Prairie Island Mdwakentan Sioux Nation in Red Wing, Minnesota.  His duties there included strategic planning and daily operations of a large gaming resort.  Neil was also responsible for development and construction of a large expansion which created a destination resort for Treasure Island operations. The operations consisted of the casino, hotel, yacht, 3 restaurants, golf course, and special event operations.  He also served as advisor and facilitator for the Tribal Council in their tribal strategic plan development.  After this expansion, Treasure Island Resort and Casino was voted Minnesota’s favorite Casino for five consecutive years.

Neil is member of the Oneida Nation of Oneida Wisconsin.  He served as the General Manager of Gaming operations from 1995 through 1998.  He was responsible for Oneida’s gaming operations.   He was a member of the Senior Management team at Oneida and participated in all strategic planning and organizational efforts at Oneida.

Neil holds a Master of Arts degree in Organizational Management, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration.  He is a licensed facilitator for the Covey Leadership Center.  He facilitates leadership and management training and organizational development seminars.  He is an experienced and competent executive coach and facilitator.

Dr. Waitley and Dr. Broach bring a wealth of knowledge from the field of organizational behavior and psychology, as well as from hands-on experience managing tribal casino training and organizational development departments.

Dr. Broach holds a dual Ph.D. in Clinical & Industrial Organizational Psychology and is a core adjunct faculty at National University in the subject of Training in Organizations. She has worked as an executive coach, utilizing feedback assessments for a leadership team of top government officials. She holds a number of tribal gaming certifications and was instrumental in designing successful management, supervisory and customer service academies.

As a published author, Dr. Waitley holds a Ph.D. in Transpersonal Psychology and has led major talent management, leadership development and organizational improvement initiatives for such companies as AIG, Turner Broadcasting, Cox Communications and GTE/Verizon. Most recently for Viejas Enterprises, she directed the organizational development and training department, along with the internal communications and marketing department, to help drive change, productivity and employee engagement.

Ronald T. Pfeifer is a member of the Labor & Employment Law Practice Group in the Green Bay office.

Ron counsels employers on human resources issues generally. He advises employers regarding employee discipline, for example, as well as discrimination issues of all kinds. As a result, Ron's practice involves representing employers before Wisconsin's Department of Workforce Development (and a host of other similar state agencies) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Ron often deals with issues such as downsizing, the Americans with Disabilities Act, compensation issues under the Fair Labor Standards Act and covenants not to compete.

Further, Ron represents employers in matters before the National Labor Relations Board [including representation elections]. He directs employers in their collective bargaining negotiations and frequently represents employers in arbitration cases when they are unable to resolve pending disputes with the labor unions which represent their employees.

Ron frequently lectures on subjects of concern to employers based on his experience in the area.

Ron received his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Nebraska and his law degree from Northwestern University Law School in 1972.

Jean Jones, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, is the Career Development Specialist in the Talent Development Department with Harrah's Cherokee Casino & Hotel in Cherokee NC. In 1998, she began her career at HCC&H as the administrator of two leadership programs, geared to prepare employees for promotional opportunities.

Her latest endeavor was to create and implement a Career Resource Center for all HCC&H employees. A hub of the Career Development Department, it is a career planning and educational assistance center. It is an innovative, flexible streamlined resource for accessing information relevant to career planning/development, assessment, e-learning, higher education sources, and current events.

Jean received her BA and MA degrees in Education from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque NM. She earned an EdS in Educational Administration from Western Carolina University in Cullowhee NC. She spent 19 years in education as a classroom teacher and school administrator. She has been with HCC&H for the past 9 1/2 years, working with Career Development.

Patrick Dempsey is a Human Resources professional with over 20 years extensive HR generalist experience, including nearly six years in an executive HR position with Black Oak Casino where he restructured benefits resulting in a six digit savings annually. Patrick also created a risk management program that netted an $800,000 reduction in temporary disability payments in its first year. Among his areas of expertise is utilizing exceptional analytical and organizational skills to develop and implement creative, practical solutions with an eye on bottom-line profitability. He is experienced in employment law, compliance, benefits and compensation administration, online enrollment, risk management, workers' compensation plan analysis, recruiting and retention, training and performance management, employee relations, policies and procedures, RFP Process Design and Assistance, and HRIS/payroll. Patrick holds an SPHR Certification from SHRM, a Master's Degree in System's Management, and a BA in Business Administration.

Marie Maher is the Director of Training and Development for Inn of the Mountain Gods, Casino Apache Travel Center, and Ski Apache; Mescalero Apache tribal enterprises in southern New Mexico. She has recently created and implemented the Apache Academy for these properties. Previously she was the Director of Education at the Jackson Rancheria and has held the position of CEO in several mid-sized non-gaming businesses. She has also done private consulting in the fields of leadership development, performance management and measurement, conflict resolution, and project management. Marie has two Master’s degrees with specialties in cultural studies and social problems and a Ph.D. in Business Administration with an emphasis on management. Throughout her career, Marie has taught at several major colleges and universities. This is her second NIGA workshop presentation. Marie believes passionately in the potential for success of adult learners in the Indian Country workplace, empowerment of tribal business leaders of the future, and in the proven added value an excellent training and development function can bring to the efficiency, morale, and financial bottom-line of any enterprise.

Martin R. Baird has a passion for helping others succeed and he has devoted his career to that endeavor. Nearly 15 years ago, his company, Robinson & Associates, Inc., began carving out a niche in the gaming industry helping casinos improve their customer service. Baird’s theory, which holds true to this day, was that marketing can get guests to visit a casino but that they may not come back if their gaming experience is unsatisfactory. Over time, his vision for improved casino performance led him to bring an entirely new concept to the gaming industry – guest and employee advocacy.

Baird searched for an answer to a question he was repeatedly asked – what is a casino’s return on investment in customer service training and other internal improvement programs? It was a legitimate question and Baird found the answer in 2005 in research published in Harvard Business Review. The research shows there is no correlation between customer and employee satisfaction and the success of a business. The key is creation of customer and employee advocates, whose contribution to the bottom line can be measured. Later that year, Baird expanded his company’s business model to embrace advocacy and introduced his Advocate Index™. In 2006, he announced his Advocate Development System™.

Baird writes for several prominent gaming industry publications worldwide, including International Gaming & Wagering Business and Native American Casino in the U.S., Casino Review in England and Gaming for Africa. He also writes for such respected Web sites as Urbino.net and NativeBiz.com.

Robinson & Associates’ services, including specialty customer service training, management skills training, presentation skills training and “Train the Trainer,” Thier training programs enhance learning by making them participant centered, fun, entertaining and fast paced.

Pershlie "Perci" Ami, President, Native Leadership Pathways, is an enrolled member of the Hopi/Tewa tribe from Arizona, founder of Native Leadership Pathways (NLP). During the past eleven years Perci has been working in the Indian Gaming Industry and has presented at NIGA(7years) and Bingo World. Perci is known for her intuitive, caring, and focused approach to instructing. Perci has a passion for growing people of all ages, and has a wealth of experience working with the very young, and with the not so young. While working with Native communities throughout the United States Perci has successfully combined Native wisdom and universal principles to assist individuals to discover their personal and professional path to success, balance and happiness. As a Hopi, which means "Peaceful People", Perci has dedicated her teachings to assist organizations and individuals to create peace. As a student, Perci is always eager to learn ways of peace and harmony from all, thereby creating a circle of student and teacher.

Doyle Turner, Founder, Peaceful Bay Enterprises, is the past Chairman of the White Earth Reservation Tribal Council. He holds a Degree in Personnel Psychology and a Master of Divinity Degree. He has traveled from Hawaii and Alaska to Virginia as well as Canada and New Zealand speaking and training. "I see myself as a visionary and a problem solver. I bring an elder's eye view of tribal success that continually inspires and drives my vision and mission. My life's work is to serve and empower our tribal people to use education and their own personal power to fulfill their vision as well as the vision carried by our ancestors for self, family, community and tribe. I believe true leaders lead by example, and value the people they lead."

Mary Turner, Co-Founder Peaceful Bay Enterprises Mary's experiences as a long time resident of the White Earth Reservation have enabled her to be a "bridge-builder" between cultures. Mary has developed and designed curricula and business programs for entrepreneurs and has taught management at the White Earth Tribal and Community College. Mary is one of the formational task force members of the Healing of the Nations conferences, whose purpose is to provide events focused on the healing of addictions. Mary strongest value is the life changing power of choice. Her extensive teaching experience and domestic and international travels make her a sought-after consultant, trainer, and business manager. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management and believes that sound management and organization skills are the keys to success in business.

Anthony (Tony) St. Clair, founder of Scent Detection Systems and Security Services is an enrolled member of the White Earth Reservation in Northern Minnesota. Tony possesses 20 years of hands-on experience in the security field. His work includes security leadership, internal controls, personnel training, and investigations for major corporations and Native gaming facilities. Tony provides narcotic detection services utilizing passive alert canines that have successfully helped to deter illegal drug activity in the gaming facilities he consults. Working in conjunction with Drug Beat, he trains and certifies canines for narcotic service for law enforcement and private security agencies. Tony services include incorporating training for security personnel with an array of topics such as officer tactics, presence and procedures. Tony is committed to providing the best service to his clients in preventing drug and illegal activity in their establishments.

Dr. Ed has been working with leadership development in Indian Country for 17 years. He is the founder of the Native American Leadership Academy, which has taught thousands of employees, both salaried and hourly, over the last seven years throughout the Indian Gaming industry. Dr. Ed is recognized as one of the top teachers and consultants in helping Indian Gaming leaders produce immediate and long-lasting positive results in both performance and profitability. Attendees to his workshops come away with motivation, tools and principles that can be applied immediately for positive results.