Three Tribal Leaders Named Most Influential Arizona Minority Business Leaders

PHOENIX, March 27, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The tribal leaders of the Arizona Indian Gaming Association (AIGA) congratulate Diane Enos, President of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community; Louis J. Manuel, Jr., Chairman of the Ak-Chin Indian Community; and Terry Rambler, Chairman of the San Carlos Apache Tribe for being selected as three of the 25 Most Influential Minority Business Leaders in Arizona.  The award is given by the AZ Business Magazine.

"On behalf of the AIGA leadership, congratulations to all three outstanding leaders on receiving this prestigious award," said Valerie Spicer, Executive Director of AIGA. "This honor recognizes the important economic benefits of tribal gaming to tribes and to our state.  Each of these leaders has been instrumental in setting policies that support education and create essential jobs and business opportunities. I'm delighted their accomplishments are valued."

President Diane Enos is the first member of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community to be a lawyer. She served for eleven years in the Maricopa County Defender's Office and as a Council member for sixteen years, before becoming President in 2006.  She is a strong advocate of business.  She encourages tribal members who own their own businesses to serve as "vision creators" and act as role models for youth.  President Enos has been instrumental in developing the new Talking Stick Cultural & Entertainment District which includes Salt River Fields, Talking Stick Resort & Casino, Talking Stick Golf Club and the Pavilions at Talking Stick and has created more than 1,000 jobs.

Louis J. Manuel, Chairman of the Ak-Chin Indian Community, is an advocate for education, social and health services.  He has worked in the casino industry for the community as hotel manager and restaurant manager at Harrah's Ak-Chin Casino Resort and has served in leadership roles for his community, the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona (ITCA) and AIGA.

Under his administration the Ak-Chin Family Entertainment Complex opened in November 2012, a 165,000-square-foot "multi-tainment" complex with cinemas, restaurants, bowling, arcade and staging areas.  It employs 250 people full time and serves the entire region.  Chairman Manuel has stated that Ak-Chin has a tradition of not only looking to develop projects that help its own community, but also create a positive impact on its surrounding communities. The Tribe believes that investing in the larger community is the right thing to do, he has often said.

Terry Rambler, Chairman of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, was elected Chairman of the Tribe in 2010 having served on the Tribal Council for two terms. Chairman Rambler has focused on creating economic opportunities for the San Carlos Apache people, which benefit his members and his neighbors.  He serves as Chairman of AIGA and President of the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona.  Rambler has been instrumental in establishing a new 184,000-square-foot hospital campus on Tribal land which would support 350 health, administrative and facility-management jobs.

The Arizona Indian Gaming Association has a membership of 17 tribes representing more than 90% of the Indian people living on reservations in Arizona. Current membership includes:  Ak-Chin Indian Community, Cocopah Indian Tribe, Colorado River Indian Tribes, Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, Fort Mojave Tribe, Gila River Indian Community, Havasupai Tribe, Hualapai Tribe, Kaibab-Paiute Tribe, Navajo Nation, Pascua Yaqui Tribe, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, San Carlos Apache Tribe, Tohono O'odham Nation, White Mountain Apache Tribe, Yavapai-Apache Nation and Pueblo of Zuni.

Contact: Pam Hait or Martha Hunter
Strategies (602) 952-0040

SOURCE Arizona Indian Gaming Association