Northern Arapaho Tribe appoints Jenni Wildcat as new CEO of Wind River Hotel & Casino
Leadership change comes at a key moment for Wyoming's largest casino and broader tribal business initiatives.
Key points:
– Jenni Wildcat becomes the new CEO of Wind River Hotel & Casino, succeeding Patrick Leckrone
– Wildcat brings 20 years of Tribal gaming experience and previously served in regulatory compliance roles
– Shawn Brown appointed CEO of Arapaho First, overseeing a portfolio of Tribe-operated businesses
The Northern Arapaho Business Council (NABC) has appointed Jenni Wildcat as the new CEO of Wind River Hotel & Casino, the flagship gaming operation of the Northern Arapaho Tribe.
A lifelong resident of the Wind River Reservation, Wildcat has spent two decades working in Tribal gaming and most recently served in a regulatory oversight capacity for the Northern Arapaho Gaming Agency.
Wildcat replaces outgoing CEO Patrick Leckrone, who had led the casino since 2022. In a statement, the NABC expressed gratitude for Leckrone’s service and said the leadership change comes at a pivotal time for the enterprise.
The Council said: “We know Jenni Wildcat is the right person to lead the enterprise going forward.”
Good to know: Wind River Hotel & Casino is not only a major entertainment venue but also a key economic driver for the region, employing hundreds and contributing to community development across the reservation
In a separate move, Shawn Brown was named CEO of Arapaho First, an umbrella organisation for the Tribe’s diversified business ventures.
Brown previously managed Northern Arapaho Propane & Solid Waste and will now oversee operations at Little Wind Loans, Redwolf Daycare, 789 Gas Station and other essential services.
In late 2022, the Northern Arapaho submitted a proposal to the Wyoming Legislature to develop Class III gaming on state-owned school trust land, with the goal of generating revenue for K–12 public education.
The proposal suggested that revenues from such gaming operations could remain within Wyoming, particularly benefiting Fremont and Natrona counties.
A legislative bill stemming from that proposal was expected during the state’s January 2023 session.
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