In a statement Rivera said, “My family’s favorite pastime of playing cards represented the beginning of a long and successful career for me.” In addition to her many professional achievements, we’re also proud to have an American Indian woman at the helm of our business.” Sarris hailed the new hire: “We are proud and honored to have hired such an accomplished and qualified general manager as Lana. She will oversee all functions of the casino business. Her new job will have her reporting directly to Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria Chairman Greg Sarris. She worked her way up from a card dealer at Harrah’s Casino in Joliet, Illinois. During the last 15 years, she filled executive roles at Cherokee Nation Entertainment in Oklahoma and in 2106 was promoted general manager of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa.

Rivera, an enrolled member of the Muscogee Creek Tribe, is a 25-year veteran of the gaming industry.

She replaces Kord Nichols, who was promoted to senior vice president for operations at Station Casinos, which manages the Graton Casino.

Lana Rivera has been named vice president and general manager of the Graton Resort & Casino in Rohnert Park, Northern California.

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