It’s Happening at Chinook Winds in May ...
Austin Selected as Tribal Protégé
Anderson Hired
as HR Director
Mary Lou Anderson was hired as
director of Human Resources for
Chinook Winds Casino on Aug. 5,
2002.
Mary Lou brings 18 years of
Human Resources management
experience. Gaming-related positions
she has held include more than seven
years with Park Place Entertainment in
both Human Resources and Operations
executive management, as well as
Human Resources director for both
Harrah’s Reno and Texas Station in Las
Vegas. She worked 12 years in the
gaming industry prior to being hired by
Chinook Winds.
In addition to her experience as a
Human Resources director, Mary Lou
has been active in casino project
management, labor relations and risk
management. She also has worked in
the mining/manufacturing and health
care industries.
Mary Lou is a past member of the
Nevada Gaming Association, was a
vice president and board member
of the Nevada Public Health
Foundation, a member of Nevadans for
Affordable Health Care, and is a
member of the Society for Human
Resource Management.
Mary Lou Anderson
When asked why she chose to work
for Chinook Winds, Mary Lou replied,
“I was intrigued by the Oregon Coastal
region as well as very interested in the
opportunity to career-shift into the tribal
gaming arena. After spending many
years in the hospitality and gaming
sector in Nevada, I found the prospect
of joining a tribal gaming organization
with such a deep-rooted and positive
organizational culture an absolute
perfect match.”
Mary Lou is an avid gardener and
she loves to play golf and racquetball.
She has three grown children, two
daughters and a son.
Coddington Manages Purchasing
Roger Coddington was hired as the Purchasing manager for Chinook Winds
Casino on Oct. 21,2002.
Roger is a native Oregonian and currently is maintaining a residence
in the valley and at the coast. He was one of the youngest certified
purchasing managers (CPM) to ever receive a lifetime designation. In addition.
he’s certified in production and
inventory management (CPIM), and
also certified in integrated resource
management (CIRM).
In 1999 and 2000, Roger was
president of the National Association
of Purchasing Management (NAPM),
Oregon Mid-Valley, Inc. In 1999, he
w'as recognized by the NAPM as the
“Leadership Person of the Year” for five
Western states.
Roger enjoys exploring the coast in
his motor home and likes sports cars
and motorcycles. He currently is vice-
president of the Willamette Valley
Corvette Association.
Roger Coddington
30 □
Siletz News
□
by Teresa Simmons
May 2003
Chinook Winds Casino and the
Siletz Tribe are pleased to announce the
selection of Randy Austin as the third
candidate for the Tribal Protégé/
Mentorship Training Program. This
program is designed to train qualified
tribal members for management
positions over a three+-year period.
Randy has worked at Chinook
Winds Casino since it opened in the
temporary facility in May 1995. He’s
been employed as a slot keyperson,
slot dual rate supervisor, slot shift
supervisor, receiving specialist, Guest
Services representative, Winner’s Circle
host, Winner’s Circle dual rate super
Randy Austin
visor, Winner’s Circle shift supervisor,
Human Resources tribal liaison, Human Resources pre-employment coordinator,
and executive host.
Randy’s rich, resonant voice often has been heard making announcements
over the speaker system and on the radio. He also has acted as master of ceremonies
for special events and drawings.
Randy is thankful for this excellent training opportunity and hopes to represent
the Siletz Tribe, his family, and his fellow co-workers in a good way. He joins
protégés Amy Rouske and William Robertson in the protégé program.
Chrisman Becomes Sales Manager
Steve Chrisman has accepted the
position of Sales manager at Chinook
Winds Casino.
Steve joined the sales staff at the
casino as a regional sales executive in
August 2000. His sales background
then included business machines,
telecommunications, and real estate.
Raised in the Northeastern U.S.,
Steve graduated from Southern Oregon
University in 1994 with a bachelor’s
degree in business administration
(concentration: marketing). He spent
four years as a territory sales rep for
R.J. Reynolds in Seattle, Anchorage,
and Portland.
Since he initially came to Chinook
Winds, he has proved to be a valuable
staff member with innovative ideas, an
easygoing attitude, and a willingness to
work tirelessly at promoting the casino.
As Sales manager, Steve oversees
the marketing of Chinook Winds’
22,000-square-foot convention center,
the largest on the Oregon Coast. It’s
been a Sales staff goal to book the
convention center with events year-
round that either stand alone or
complement other activities at the
casino or in Lincoln City. Another goal
is to have return bookings on an annual
Steve Chrisman
basis several years into the future. It’s
also important to identify new markets
for the amenities offered by the casino
and Lincoln City as a whole.
Steve says of his new position,
“Chinook Winds is a great place to work
and a wonderful location for trade
shows and conventions. Chinook Winds
and Lincoln City have everything to
offer that is needed to make a con
vention extra special for its participants.
It’s the intention of our sales staff to
make Chinook Winds the premier
convention location in the Northwest.”