Graton Resort & Casino in Rohnert Park, Northern California, has named its new general manager: Lana Rivera, an enrolled member of the Muscogee Creek Tribe and a 25-year veteran of the gaming industry.
Rivera most recently served as the general manager of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma, after 15 years holding executive roles at Cherokee Nation Entertainment. At Hard Rock in Tulsa, Rivera led a workforce of more than 1,600 employees, increased market share, exceeded revenue targets and personally rebuilt the senior management team.
Rivera worked her way up the industry, starting as a card dealer at Harrah’s Casino in Joliet, Illinois. She’s also the designer and patent inventor of two products: card craps and a lighted phone charger and holder. “My family’s favorite pastime of playing cards represented the beginning of a long and successful career for me,” Riversa said in a statement.
In her new role, Rivera will oversee all functions of the casino business and report directly to Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria Chairman Greg Sarris.
Sarris hailed Rivera: “We are proud and honored to have hired such an accomplished and qualified general manager as Lana. In addition to her many professional achievements, we’re also proud to have an American Indian woman at the helm of our business.”
She added, “I’m truly excited to apply these years of hard work and dedication to my new role with Graton Resort & Casino. Since opening its doors in 2013, this organization has redefined what it means not only to be a leader in the industry, but also a leader in the community.”
At Graton Resort & Casino, Rivera replaces Kord Nichols, who was promoted to senior vice president for operations at Station Casinos, which manages the Graton Casino.
Rivera graduated from the University of Nevada at Reno’s executive development program for strategic leadership in the gaming industry.
