TRIBAL NEWS
DOING BUSINESS IN INDIAN COUNTRY: A NEW TRADE SHOW & CONFERENCE NOV. 13-15, 2012 At Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino Arizona Indian Gaming Association (AIGA) is hosting a new trade show and conference November 13-15, 2012, at Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino on the Gila River Indian Community. The conference is designed for the gaming industry and businesses desiring to provide services and products to tribes and tribal governments. “Business diversification is extremely important to tribes,” said Valerie Spicer, Executive Director of the AIGA. “So we’ve planned this conference with two separate tracks: one for gaming industry participants to update them on various trends and opportunities in our industry, and the other for business owners and representatives who want to learn how they can work with Indian Country. We know there’s a great demand for this type of information – everything from how to build relationships to what is required in terms of certification.” “Doing Business in Indian Country” opens Tuesday, November 13, with the Desert Classic Golf Tournament at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club in Maricopa, Arizona. That evening, the Arizona Chefs’ Challenge will be held at Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino. Along with Native-inspired cuisine, the event will feature local wine and beer tastings. The working conference begins on Wednesday, November 14, 2012. The keynote speaker is Eugenio J. Alemán, Ph.D., the director and senior economist at Wells Fargo who forecasts the national, regional, and the international economic trends. His commentaries have appeared in national publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, San Francisco Chronicle, and Washington Post, as well as many national and international media outlets including Associated Press, Reuters, and the Bloomberg News. He has also made appearances on CNBC and in U.S. Hispanic media outlets. Conference attendees will hear from top executives of chambers of commerce throughout the State, including the Arizona Chamber of Commerce, American Indian Chamber of Com-
28 Arizona Gaming Guide | October 2012 | azgamingguide.com
Photo Courtesy of Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino. © Copyright. All Rights Reserved.
merce, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, as well as gaming experts and other business leaders. To see the agenda, visit www.azindiangaming.org and click on “Doing Business in Indian Country.” Spicer continued, “Gaming is a major player in the Arizona economy. Casinos have been called one of the new five “C’s”. This conference will be an opportunity not only to network, but to gain valuable information. Some of our panels will focus on the nuts and bolts of what you need to do in order to become successful partners with tribes. Spicer explained that the trade show is an excellent opportunity for businesses to showcase their services or products to Arizona tribal casinos and enterprises. Exhibitor and attendee information is at www.azindiangaming.org. “This is a new opportunity that hasn’t been available previously,” she said. “We are looking forward to reaching out to businesses so all of us can prosper and have a positive impact on the Arizona economy.” $
ABOUT THE ARIZONA INDIAN GAMING ASSOCIATION The Arizona Indian Gaming Association (AIGA), is a non-profit organization with a membership of 17 tribes representing 90% of the Indian people living on reservations in Arizona. AIGA was established on November 21, 1994, by Arizona tribal leaders. The Association is committed to advancing the lives of Indian peoples—economically, socially, and politically—so Indian tribes in Arizona can achieve their goal of self reliance. For more information about the AIGA visit www.azindiangaming.org.