Tribal Leader Roundtable

Some of the biggest challenges we face as an organization are the increased cost of supplies, services, and fuel that we see in the economy today.

COVID-19 has had a reverberating effect on our tribe and community as a whole. The pandemic has changed the predictability of the workforce, supplies and resources. Operating hours and standard operating procedures have changed to keep our team members and community safe.

As a leader, I try to surround myself with people who have ambition and really want something. Talent is always key, but drive is essential...

We are seeing a lot of funding opportunities from various federal agencies outside the large U.S. Treasury direct payment to tribes. These funding levels should be the “new normal” when addressing tribal trust and treaty rights needs.

We are a small community with a membership of a little over 1,300. We’ve had a number of members who have tested positive for the virus. Per capita-wise, we did encounter a high rate of the virus.

We have been able to successfully navigate through these uncertain times for two main reasons – excellent management and strong long-term planning/thinking.

We’ve incurred financial losses in the millions of dollars; we’ve had to furlough and lay off hundreds of tribal government and business employees; we’ve had team members and customers who have lost loved ones; and we’ve been forced to conduct operations in a whole new way throughout our organization, etc.

The global pandemic caused by COVID-19 has touched each and every person across the globe as individuals, businesses, communities and tribes. The Mohegan Nation is not exempt from that.

Through a combination of official orders, broadcast briefings and personal appeals, the Seminole Tribe has been relentless in educating its members about the importance of staying home, social distancing, wearing face coverings, washing their hands and reporting the first COVID-19 symptoms.

The impact from the pandemic has been felt far and wide, and our nation will be in recovery for months if not years to come. In March, we closed our tribal government and Foxwoods Resort Casino for the first time ever since opening over 28 years ago.