Wendell Long is resigning as general manager of Michigan’s Little River Casino Resort effective the end of this month. In announcing his departure, the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians credited Long with fostering an “era of planning and growth” at the Lake Michigan venue, which was named “2014 North American Casino of the Year” by the International Entertainment Buyers Association. The tribe wants to build a second casino in the Grand Rapids area farther south on the lake and has submitted an application to the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs to take land into trust at the site of the former Great Lakes Downs thoroughbred racetrack.
“We’re quite proud of Wendell’s term here at Little River. What he did and what he set in motion bodes well for the future of our Fruitport Casino,” said tribe spokesman Glenn Zaring. “Great training, great customer service and awesome understanding of the tribal gaming business are just more keys to our successful projects.”
Long has accepted the position of CEO for the Snoqualmie Casino Resort just outside Seattle, Washington. He is an enrolled member of the Great Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, and was previously the CEO of Casino Del Sol of the Pasqua Yaqui tribe in Tucson, Arizona.
