Gila River Resorts & Casinos in Chandler, Arizona, recently announced the leadership team for its new Santan Mountain Casino.
Blake Katsnelson, who has been with Gila River since 2009, will be the general manager at Santan Mountain. Katsnelson started his career at Gila River in marketing and player club departments.
Other new personnel include:
- Aaron Bayne, director of table games. Bayne has worked in the gaming industry for more than 27 years and has been with Gila River for two decades.
- Sera Ribble, director of food and beverage. Ribble was formerly the director of food and beverage at Wild Horse Pass and Lone Butte and has been with Gila River for 13 years.
- David Baughn, director of facilities. Baughn, who has worked at Gila River since 2020, has more than 25 years in facilities management, 15 of those years in tribal facilities.
“At Gila River, we have a reputation of building lifelong careers,” said Gila River Resorts & Casinos CEO Kenneth Manuel in a statement. “Making the investment in personal and internal growth has proven to be valuable, as countless team members have dedicated years to our guests and the enterprise.”
Santan Mountain, located outside of Chandler, will feature 800 slot machines, table games, a BetMGM sportsbook, and dining and bar options. Hiring for the new location begins in July, with 700 open positions available.
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