Ak-Chin tribal members gain work experience, leadership training in Harrah's program

AK-CHIN INDIAN COMMUNITY — Harrah's Ak-Chin Casino is celebrating its 30-year partnership with the Ak-Chin Indian Community, including a leadership development program for tribal members that has reaped benefits for the 1,100-member tribe south of Phoenix.

Harrah's development system program has graduated more than 80 tribal members in its 27-year history, including at least one tribal council member, several managers, and even a freshly minted Ph.D who's planning to use his education to support the O'odham language. "What better way to get our people invested?" said Ak-Chin Councilwoman Lisa Garcia. She went through the program and eventually became the system program manager before winning election to the tribal council in 2018. She's currently serving her second term in office.

The tribe considers the development program one of its most significant successes as it invests in what it considers its most important resource: its people.

'Boot camp' provides skills and education for a lifetime

The HDS program consists of three sections. First, the participants are trained in all parts of casino and resort management and rotate between all shifts.

During the day, the students clean hotel rooms. Second shift is for maintenance, and participants get a second opportunity to clean common areas during graveyard shift.

"Machines don't say 'I'm going to break now,'" Garcia said.

The program participants also do duty in public-facing and back office positions like frontline hosts and reward center staff. They delve into machine technology, finance and even learn how to work a forklift. They also take public speaking training with Toastmasters.

"They learn how it all works," said Erica Oliver, a current program manager for Harrah's. Oliver graduated from the development program in 2012 and has worked her way up the career ladder with Harrah's ever since.

Garcia said the program prepares tribal members for management and ownership roles.

The second section of the program is internships. Participants select a department for an internship where they are given more in-depth training.

Garcia said her aunt was in the first group, which she said "sounded like boot camp."

But after completing the rigorous three- to four-year program, the third leg of the program is the opportunity to join Harrah's staff.

There are now 20 program participants, including associates, interns and community youth, through a separate program for 16- to 18-year-olds.

Harrah's has 41 Ak-Chin tribal members on staff, including 31 current or former development program participants out of the 112 to date.

Garcia said other tribes are interested in learning more about the program.

Some grads go on to other opportunities

At least one program grad used his training as a stepping stone to even greater achievements. Jeremy Johns is completing his Ph.D in linguistics at Yale University.

"I'm the first Ivy Leaguer from Ak-Chin," he said.

Johns credited the program with helping him become more confident in communicating and networking, skills that have come in handy while completing seven years of higher education.

"We're shy and reserved at home," he said. "The program pushes you out of your comfort zone and engage with others."

He said it also helps tribal members to learn about the casino.

"This belongs to all of us," said Johns, whose mom encouraged him to participate in the development program.

Garcia agreed with that and expanded it to the entire Ak-Chin community.

"You are an owner," she said. "These are your employees and you want to be an employer everybody wants to work at."

Johns said he plans to use his education to further Ak-Chin's O'odham language program. He's already helped draft the first O'odham dictionary for the community and with the help of a federal grant, will gather more deep language knowledge from elders to share with younger community members.

"When elders go, they take that knowledge with them, unless we document it," Johns said.

Garcia said whether program grads continue with Harrah's or move on to other venues, they will use the training to become leaders in whatever field they enter.

"The education the program provides is yours to keep."

Debra Krol reports on Indigenous communities at the confluence of climate, culture, and commerce in Arizona and the Intermountain West. You can reach Krol at debra.krol@azcentral.com or follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @debkrol .

Coverage of Indigenous issues at the intersection of climate, culture and commerce is supported by the Catena Foundation .

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Ak-Chin tribal members gain work experience, leadership training in Harrah's program