Four Winds Ventures Appoints Kathy George at its Chief Executive Officer

Award-winning hospitality executive with more than 30 years of experience

DOWAGIAC, Mich. – July 7, 2026 – The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians’ Four Winds Ventures, LLC is pleased to announce that it has appointed award-winning hospitality executive, Kathy George as its Chief Executive Officer. Four Winds Ventures was established by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians of Michigan and Indiana to pursue investment and consulting opportunities in the development, management, and operation of businesses in commercial gaming, hospitality, and related sectors.

Kathy George has more than 30 years of experience driving operational excellence in the hospitality industry including customer service, gaming, hotels, food and beverage, and retail. She also has extensive experience serving Tribal Nations and is the daughter of a Seneca Nation father from New York and a Tuscarora Nation mother from Ontario, Canada.

Prior to joining Four Winds Ventures, Ms. George most recently served as President of Catawba Two Kings Casino in Kings Mountain, North Carolina for the Catawba Nation. Prior to that she served as Chief Executive Officer of FireKeepers Casino Hotel in Battle Creek, Michigan and its owned subsidiary businesses for the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Indians. She also served as General Manager for the Seneca Nation of Indians’ Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel in Niagara Falls, New York and temporary Casino at Buffalo Creek in Buffalo, New York. She also held General Manager roles with properties for leading hotel operators including DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites, and Wyndham International.

Commenting on the appointment, Matthew Wesaw, Chairman of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians of Michigan and Indiana said, "On behalf of the Pokagon Band Tribal Council, I am pleased to welcome Kathy George as Chief Executive Officer of Four Winds Ventures. She is one of the most respected leaders in the gaming and hospitality industry, with an exceptional track record of operational excellence, strategic vision, and developing strong teams. Just as importantly, she understands the unique role Tribal enterprises play in creating opportunities and further diversifying our economic portfolio.”

Mary Smith, Chair of the Four Winds Ventures Board and President and CEO of Four Winds Casinos added, “Kathy brings a proven tracked record and a myriad of skills in the development and management of tribally-owned assets. Her extensive experience and proven leadership make her the ideal person to guide Four Winds Ventures into its next phase of development.”

Kathy George said, “I am very excited to join Four Winds Ventures and support the long-term goals of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi. The Pokagon Band’s Four Winds Casinos have set a high standard for gaming and hospitality in the Midwest and I look forward to working closely with the Board of Directors as we pursue investment and consulting opportunities to advance our business objectives.”

Ms. George has been featured in several business, gaming, and hospitality publications including being recognized by Crain’s Detroit as one of the 100 Most Influential Women in Michigan in 2021, and one of the Top 30 CEOs by Native Business Magazine in 2019. She has also served on Board of Directors for numerous gaming and community organizations.

Ms. George holds a Bachelor of Science in Hotel Administration from Cornell University.

About Four Winds Ventures
Four Winds Ventures, LLC is wholly owned by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians of Michigan and Indiana and was created to develop, manage, and operate commercial gaming, hospitality, and related businesses.
More information on Four Winds Ventures can be found at www.fourwindventuresllc.com.

About The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians of Michigan and Indiana
The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi’s sovereignty was reaffirmed under legislation signed into law by President Clinton in September of 1994. The Pokagon Band is dedicated to providing community development initiatives such as housing, education, family services, medical care, and cultural preservation for its more than 6,400 citizens. The Pokagon Band’s ten-county service area includes four counties in Southwestern Michigan and six in Northern Indiana. Its main administrative offices are located in Dowagiac, Mich., with a satellite office in South Bend, Ind. In 2007, it opened Four Winds Casino Resort in New Buffalo, Mich., followed by Four Winds Hartford in 2011, Four Winds Dowagiac in 2013 and Four Winds South Bend in January 2018. The Pokagon Band operates a variety of non-gaming businesses through its investment enterprises, Mno-Bmadsen and the Pokagon Development Authority. More information is available at www.pokagonband-nsn.gov, www.fourwindscasino.com and www.mno-bmadsen.com.

# # #

Media Contact:
David Gutierrez, Dresner Corporate Services, (312) 780-7204, dgutierrez@dresnerco.com