After she graduated from high school, Bianca Duran’s family urged her to find work. Duran found employment at a school district near her home in San Bernardino, California, but was laid off during the summer.
Bianca Duran
When her mother suggested she apply at the nearby Yaamava’ Resort and Casino, Duran wasn’t sure what to expect. Yaamava’, run by the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, was then primarily a bingo hall and had just opened some table games.
“I applied and honestly, I didn’t even know which position I was going for at the time,” Duran says, noting she took a math test and was hired as a chip runner. “I was just looking for full-time employment, and I happened to land at the best employer I could ever have.”
Now, 25 years later, Duran has progressed from chip runner to serving as a casino manager on duty. She’s among the 18% of San Manuel workers who have been employed by the Tribal organization for more than ten years. Duran’s career path stems from a Tribal initiative that encourages internal growth and leadership.
“We strive to provide our team members with a foundation that fosters growth and development,” said Yaamava’ Resort and Casino General Manager Kenji Hall via email. Hall also is an example of Yaamava’s internal growth strategy, having joined the casino resort in 2017 as Chief Operating Officer-Hospitality. Kenji then was promoted to Chief Operating Officer-Casino before being named general manager. “Our industry-leading employee benefits and educational opportunities help create an environment that attracts, retains and cultivates a dynamic, best-in-class team.”
Duran’s path to management was the result of her willingness to embrace and learn from opportunities and work experiences Her management skills were honed while working as an assistant manager and shift manager for table games. But one of Duran’s most instructive periods at Yaamava’ was the two years she worked as a poker dealer.
“You deal with customers firsthand, and you’re dealing with their money,” Duran says. “And when you’re dealing with customers and their money, you learn how to problem solve. You’re dealing with people who are angry at times, so that was definitely a learning experience.”
Duran’s ability to absorb knowledge and to interact with customers and fellow employees has been noticed by peers. According to Yaamava’ Senior Manager of Customer Experience Richard Tuck, Duran comes to work each day “upbeat and energized.”
“She is at the forefront of employee engagement and leads with a `team member first’ approach,” Tuck said via email. “She has continually found ways to rally our team and ensure they understand their value in our department and at San Manuel. Bianca’s infectious attitude is something team members at any level appreciates, as she is consistent and genuine.”
Duran took advantage of educational opportunities afforded to San Manuel employees that include the Leadership in Training Program, Learn 2 Lead, Skillsoft, and tuition reimbursement. One of the most important courses she took was a Tribal certification program that’s held in conjunction with Claremont McKenna College
“You get firsthand knowledge into business management, Tribal law, government, and sovereign land,” Duran says, noting that employees from the casino and the San Manuel Tribe often take the class together. “Working for a Tribe and for a government is a little bit different here than in other places, and it opened my eyes to some of the unique challenges that we have here.”
One doesn’t last a quarter century with a company if not putting in time and effort. But to say Duran is merely a worker is misleading. One of the things that stands out about her tenure at Yamaava’, she says, is how she’s always been embraced as more than just an employee.
“You have a community that actually cares, that is listening,” she says of San Manuel Tribe, noting how she has grown personally as the Tribe itself has evolved. “They make you feel like an extended family.”
