SpilyayTymoo
.WArm Springs, Oregon
August 17, 1995 3
Gaming center preparing for October opening
. , V "
V , ,J . .' '- . - .
- m . -, . ' ......
." . ."; . ",'r - .---.-.'.. " . ,
1 '.-J- -
. .
1
...
i'
''4 -
Keno, the newest game for center customers, began recently.
Road from Highway 8 to gaming center is currently under construction.
..,.;.,.,
The Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, as the largest ' January through August. By May, the consultant was no
Indian tribe in Oregon with the largest land base, will have the ldnger needed. "We saved $50,000 in fees from that one contract
state's smallest gaming center. Indian Head Gaming Center alone." The savings allowed the Gaming Center to install a
General Manager Aurolyn Watlamet explains. badly needed air conditioning system and upgrade the roof m
"This project is the first time a tribe actually started from the temporary facility at Kah-Nee-Ta Lodge. "All realized
scratch without the help of an outside management consulting .- savings are immediately converted to other areas in need."
firm to help develop a gaming facility." The Tribe chose a : Employment at the Gaming Center was recognized, from
conservative approach, making for a financially manageable the beginning, as a challenge. The industry requires weekend
enterprise. The Tribe wanted controllable expenditures and and holiday, work, with three, shifts working seven days a
controllable human resources, says Watlamet. ' week. This a new, complex industry. The employees, for the
"We saved 20 percent to 45 percent of the start-up costs by most part, are being introduced to a whole new system of
not utilizing an outside consulting firm." Watlamet says, too, working. And, when the permanent facility opens in October,
that these savings go to the bottom line of the construction more than 150 employees will be needed. The labor needs will ;
costs. This equates to "literally, millions of dollars in savings, ' continue to expand as the industry grows. Planning for this
in the long run," she added. doubled expansion has been an on-going process since the
After a visit with Watlamet at the Mystic Lake Casino, Tribal temporary facility open in May. .
Council members invited her home to consult on the "Internally, this translates to giving people training and
development of the Tribe's newest venture. She was later chances that other managers or. companies might not do,
hired as General Manager. Initially, there was an outside especially within this industry," says Watlamet. She has five
consultant for a portion of the project who was contracted from Native Americans hired as part of the management team of
jiiuimi 1 icau vjaiiung. 1 vw unuvi wuv wmw w. v.
People are hired and placed in positions within the
organizationbased on their talent, skill, training and education.
With the phased development approach taken to open the
Gaming Center, there is a continuous opportunity to train staff
in the.temporary. facility. The small.and simpler operation,
coupled with adequate cash flow, allows for special training
when needed.
"There will be considerable advancement opportunities for
employees into supervisory positions as we move into the
permanent facility and grow accordingly. This concept will
continue to be our focus in personnel," says Watlamet.
Housing deficiencies, lack of adequate day-care facilities
and transportation remain reasons for not getting sufficient
employees and keeping them. Parking at the Gaming Center
and Kah-Nee-Ta, in general, is also a challenge for Watlamet
and her staff, Shuttle buses are utilized to cut down on the need
for additional employee and guest parking lots. This service is
substantially more expensive than was originally planned.
. In the gaming industry, Indian Head Gaming can only be .
described as "rapid pace development." After the referendum
was passed by tribal members in December 1994, the gaming
Compact was signed with the State of Oregon in January 1995.
The temporary facility was opened in May, using remodeled
banquet rooms at the Lodge.
,,The tribal referendum approved $6 million to finance the
start-up and construction of the new enterprise. The Tribe will
provide $3 million to $3.5 million and borrow the remaining
- r r
Indian Head Gaming Center
Employee of the month for July
ReubenHenry, Shuttle Bus Driver
balance. The Center's management team and consultant Ken
Smith are negotiating with a few financial institutions to
leverage the best loan package available to complete the
financing of the project.
If the success of the gaming facility could be measured in
lucky players, Indian Head Gaming is proud to proclaim they
have paid out over $1.2 million from May 1 to June 26.
Weekends and holidays, predictably, are the highest volume
times in the facility. '
Initially, there were to be 150 machines in the temporary
facility. However, the weight capacity for the floor limited the
Center to only 130 machines. This change impacted revenue
projections for the temporary facility. The actual financial
impact of the enterprise will be presented to the Tribal Council
in a quarterly report in November.
A "soft advertising" approach has been taken until the
move into the new facility. Word-of-mouth, some local media
advertising and a recent car give-away on July 4 have been the
main emphasis for advertising dollars by the gaming facility to
date. "But watch for major 'hype' as the opening approaches,"
says Watlamet. "We expect to be at capacity for many days
prior to and following the grand opening event." The Center
has scheduled many winter tournaments and give-aways to
attract customers.
Stress is certainly a major part of Watlamet's position. The
job requires an extensive working relationship with the Tribe,
the State and the federal government. The close proximity to
the staff and organization of Kah-Nee-Ta Resort, the Gaming
Commission, the Gaming Board of Directors, the Tribal Council
and the members of the community leave plenty of room for
conflict due to mixed and varied values and with the industry
regulations themselves.
"I have a great compassion for this community," stresses
Watlamet. "I am not lost in the pursuit of profit. I have a
knowledge of the culture and a special sensitivity to the needs
and concerns of the membership." She takes pride in keeping
a balance between business needs and the desires of the
members of the Confederated Tribes.
"I signed a three-year contract to serve as General Manager
of Indian Head Gaming," says Watlamet. She makes no apology
for the fact that she has pending job offers with other tribes,
some at considerably higher salaries. "But I made a commitment
to this tribe, my tribe," she says proudly.
Watlamet is resolute about not renewing her contract at the
end of her three years. Her family obligations will come first.
She and her husband, Rick, are expecting a child soon. As a
family, they have agreed that Watlamet will retire her career as
General Manager and pursue other business interests. Her
family has been given top consideration of her time.
Would you like to start
an exciting and interesting new career in
the gaming industry?
Talk to one of our representatives during our
JOB FAIR
We have positions in the following areas:
0 Accounting 0 Slots (Technicians and Keypersons) 0
0 Administration Maintenance
0 Janitorial 0 Valet Parking 0 Keno 0 Dealers 0
0 Gift Shop 0 Cage Cashiers and Count Team 0
Join us at Kah-Nee-Ta Lodge 3rd Floor
Warm Springs and Confederated Rooms
Sunday, August 2710 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday, August 287 am. to 6 p.m.
For additional information, please call
553-1108 or call 553-1142 and ask for
Human Resources
Jilts. . f
--"1 K'-' .-
Win big and you may win a boat!
Slot players cashing out $1 00 or more are entered into a drawing for a
Seaswirl Squirt, motor and trailer. Drawings for an additional $8,000 in prizes
will be held between 1 and 8 p.m. the days of the drawing, September 4.
Contestants must be present to win.