TACOMA, WA – The Emerald Queen Casino (EQC) in Fife and Tacoma has undergone a leadership transition with the appointment of Yale Rowe as CEO and Peter Chu as COO. Together, they bring a wealth of industry experience and strategic leadership to guide EQC into its next phase of growth and innovation. They succeed Frank Wright and George Robinson, who saw the EQC grow from a riverboat to one casino in Fife and eventually a 310,000 sq. ft. casino in Tacoma that opened in 2020.
“It’s going to be an exciting new time in the casino industry on the Puyallup reservation,” said Puyallup Tribal Council Chairman Bill Sterud. “We’ve brought in two people to manage and move forward in this new age of gaming we’re in competition with. It’s an exciting era for the tribe.”
Rowe previously managed the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas before serving as President of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe. Chu brings extensive experience from Hyatt International Hotels in Asia, later working with major hotel corporations across the U.S. He transitioned into gaming with Pinnacle Entertainment, where he played a key role in developing and launching Vietnam’s first integrated casino resort. Before joining Emerald Queen Casino, Chu also held leadership positions at Boyd Gaming Corporation.
Chairman Sterud praised Wright’s and Robinson’s contributions over the years.
“They did an outstanding job, and I want to thank them for their time and what they put into it,” said Sterud. “We started with nothing and we brought in a riverboat out on the waterfront. It worked out well. With the size constraints we had to move over here with tents, but that’s totally making another casino. That’s two casinos they were a part of. The third had to start from scratch during COVID. They did an outstanding job.”
Rowe and Chu have a shared vision of wanting to be the best casino and hotel in the area and maximize profits.
“It’s an exciting time to lead the Emerald Queen Casinos,” said Rowe. “What this tribe has accomplished with the casinos over the last 30 years is special, and I look forward to guiding the operations to new heights.”
“We have all the components for success at Emerald Queen Casino, great and passionate team members, premium products and a supportive tribal council,” said Chu.
