Women Executives Profiled for Driving Growth Across Tribal Casinos and Gaming Suppliers

Casino Player Magazine has profiled women leaders who are advancing casino operations, guest experiences and supplier innovation across the gaming sector. The annual feature examines executives at tribal properties including ilani, Seneca Resorts & Casinos and Tulalip Resort Casino, while extending for the first time to the supplier side with a focus on IGT.

These leaders are overseeing major capital projects, cultural alignment efforts and brand strategies at a time when tribal operators continue to expand facilities and invest in technology. The coverage details specific achievements and quotes from the executives on leadership, guest focus and long-term community impact.

Tribal Operators Advance With Women in Key Roles

At Seneca Resorts & Casinos, which is marking 25 years, women hold 167 management roles including four of seven C-level positions. Approximately 47% of all managers are women, matching their share of the overall workforce of nearly 3,000 team members. The operator has invested more than $2 billion across its properties. Recent projects include a $47 million hotel renovation and an $8.9 million Seneca Sports Lounge with sportsbook at Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino.

Kimberlee Dunlop, chief operating officer, and Joanne Israel, chief strategic officer, emphasized operational excellence and human connection amid technological change. Brenda Dysinger, chief human resources officer, implemented a new Human Capital Management platform. Cynthia Liu, chief marketing officer since 2025, oversaw a brand refresh and partnerships with the Buffalo Sabres and Buffalo Bills.

Kara Fox-LaRose serves as president and general manager of ilani, which opened in April 2017 as a more than $1 billion resort that has contributed to evolving the Pacific Northwest gaming market. She was later appointed president of the Cowlitz Tribal Gaming Authority. Marci Fryberg, president and COO of the Tulalip Gaming Organization, recently completed a three-year transformation that expanded the casino by 35% and added more than 400 slot machines. Tulalip Resort Casino has maintained AAA Four-Diamond status for 18 consecutive years.

Supplier Marketing Leadership at IGT

Emily Schmitt joined IGT as senior vice president of global marketing. The feature highlights her role in creative services, licensing, player marketing and communications during a company transformation. It also notes the 30th anniversary of Wheel of Fortune Slots, with more than 1,200 millionaires created and over $3.6 billion awarded in jackpots.

Schmitt pointed to the instant player connection with the brand and the need to evolve features while preserving core elements. The coverage ties her perspective to broader themes of innovation, teamwork and understanding casino guests.

These accounts illustrate how women in executive positions are balancing expansion projects, technology adoption and cultural stewardship at tribal gaming organizations while suppliers focus on brand longevity and product excitement. Operators may draw lessons on integrating diverse leadership to sustain competitive differentiation and community benefits in an evolving market.