Lana Rivera has been named vice president and general manager of the Graton Resort & Casino in Rohnert Park, Northern California. She replaces Kord Nichols, who was promoted to senior vice president for operations at Station Casinos, which manages the Graton Casino.
Rivera, an enrolled member of the Muscogee Creek Tribe, is a 25-year veteran of the gaming industry. 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. She worked her way up from a card dealer at Harrah’s Casino in Joliet, Illinois.
Her new job will have her reporting directly to Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria Chairman Greg Sarris. She will oversee all functions of the casino business.
Sarris hailed the new hire: “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.”
In a statement Rivera said, “My family’s favorite pastime of playing cards represented the beginning of a long and successful career for me.”
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.”
