Tribe Announces New General Manager at Mohawk Bingo Palace
Feb 29, 2012
Emily Lauzon was recently promoted to General Manager of the Mohawk Bingo Palace. “We’re happy to see Emily take this responsibility,” said Mark Garrow, Tribal Chief. “She’s been with the Mohawk gaming industry since the very beginning and knows the business inside and out.” 
Emily began her gaming career with Akwesasne Mohawk Casino the day the doors opened for business in April 1999. Her first position was as Employee Relations Manager. “This gave me the opportunity to work with all the casino staff,” she said. “This was either through personnel matters, associate activities, questions on benefits or training programs. I was able to provide support to both management and staff members.” Emily became Director of Human Resources in 2001. She worked with staff and management to develop policies and procedures, insurance benefits and other employee benefits.
In 2003 she ran for Sub-Chief, was elected for a three year term where she assisted the Chiefs on community related issues. When she returned to gaming in 2006, she served as Director of Education and Recruitment. The main initiative was to employ as many community members as possible in the gaming industry. “In 2006, the percentage of Native employees was at 24 percent. I developed a Native Internship Program, a Management Training Program and on-the-job training programs,” she added. These efforts helped to increase the number of Native employees to 209 and to 29 percent of the workforce. Tribal Chief Randy Hart noted, “Emily has a track record of success in the gaming industry. This is a great example of how a local person can achieve greater accomplishments.”
Emily also worked to provide scholarships for Native students in high school. The Education and Recruitment department participated in job fairs, career fairs and was involved with creating partnerships with local colleges and universities. As a result, they were able to provide on-site college classes. She also played an important role in the start-up of Akwesasne Toastmaster’s Club, now in its second year with 18 members.
“I am looking forward to the opportunity of working with the staff at Mohawk Bingo Palace and learning about the bingo and video gaming business,” said Emily. “One of my managerial aspirations is to provide people with the tools they need to do the best job possible.”
A life-long resident of and around Akwesasne, she comes from a family of 13. She resides with her husband in the land claim area in of Bombay. Her immediate family all reside in the area. Emily serves on the following boards and committees: Salmon River Central School District, as Vice-President of the Mohawk Education Committee, the North Country Advisory Board Committee and on SUNY Canton – Perkins Advisory Board. “An important aspect of Emily’s career is that she contributes much to the community beyond her traditional job duties,” remarked Tribal Chief Ron LaFrance. “I know that she’ll be able to apply her creativity to her new area of management. We congratulate her and wish her every success in her new role.”
She graduated from SUNY Potsdam with Bachelor’s degree in Labor Relations with a minor in Business Economics. Emily also has an Associates Degree from Algonquin College in Recreational Management as well as a certificate from University of Nevada Las Vegas in Executive Leadership Program in Gaming. She began her new duties as General Manager on February 20, 2012.
For more information contact David T. Staddon, Director of Public Information at 518-358-2272, ext. 286.