Rodney Ferguson has been recruited by the Pamunkey Indian Tribal Gaming Authority to serve in a senior leadership position for the Norfolk Resort & Casino.
Bringing over 30 years of commercial and Native gaming and resort experience, Ferguson has been named as the executive vice president of gaming and resort operations and will take up the position on Monday 12 April.
“The tribe and the gaming authority could not be more excited to welcome Rodney to our team,” commented Tim Langston, chairman of the Pamunkey Indian Tribal Gaming Authority.
“He brings decades of experience to our Norfolk casino and understands the mission of our tribe and our goal of bringing a world-class casino to the region, and investing back into the community.”
Beginning his career working for some of the most prominent names in the industry in Atlantic City in the early 1980s, most recently Ferguson was the CEO/general manager at Potawatomi Hotel & Casino in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Here, he oversaw the day-to-day management of the organisation, successfully executed effective growth strategies, and developed a Tribal Career Development Program, as well as also spending time in the positions of CFO and COO.
“I am honoured the tribe has put their trust in me to bring their vision of a premier destination resort and casino to an area I know well,” said Ferguson. “It feels great to return home to Virginia and Hampton Roads.”
Expecting to break ground on the $500m project later this year, the Norfolk Resort & Casino will include a Four-Diamond full-service convention hotel, several onsite restaurants, a spa, an entertainment venue, and indoor and outdoor pools.
The resort and casino will create thousands of construction and ongoing full-time jobs, attract millions of visitors each year and generate tens of millions of dollars in annual tax revenue to the city.
“When we started our national search, we had no idea that the road for this important position would lead us right back to Hampton Roads,” added Robert Gray, chief of the Pamunkey Indian Tribe.
“He understands the business and he understands the community. We couldn’t have found a better combination of talent and integrity.”
Kenneth Alexander, mayor of Norfolk, noted: “We welcome Rodney back to Hampton Roads and we are pleased to see that the Pamunkey Tribe is delivering on its promise of equity and inclusion in the top leadership of the Norfolk Resort and Casino.”
