For Immediate Release :  Contact: Shawn Pensoneau  (202) 632-7003

NIGC Announces Changes to MICS Advisory Committee

 

Washington, DC, June 5, 2007 – National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) Chairman Phil Hogen today announced an updated roster for the Standing Federal-Tribal Minimum Internal Controls Standards (MICS) Advisory Committee.  The MICS Advisory Committee is the result of work done by the National Indian Gaming Commission and the National Congress of American Indians and has been in existence since 1998.

 

The current MICS Advisory Committee has been providing input and recommendations regarding the formulation of proposed changes necessary to enhance the current MICS and to address changes in gaming technology since March of 2004.  “The individuals who have served on the MICS Advisory Committee since 2004 have bestowed invaluable knowledge in the process of updating MICS.  Effective minimum internal control standards are the bedrock of a well established operation and must be altered periodically to remain effective with continuous changes in technology,” stated Hogen.  Chairman Hogen further stated, “With regular turn over, the Committee will have a little different makeup, but we are certain the experience and talent of the Committee will be a great asset in the development of updated MICS.”

 

Below is a list of new members who will serve on the MICS Advisory Committee as Tribal Representatives:

 

• Kathi Hamel, Casino Manager, San Pablo Lytton Casino
• Lynne Berneberg, Rincon Band of Luiseno Mission Indians  Gaming Commission
• Todd Papineau, Executive Director, St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Gaming
  Commission
• Nelson Johnson, Muscogee (Creek) Nation Council

 

The following individuals will continue to serve on the MICS Committee:

 

• Patrick Darden, Executive Director, Gaming Commission, Chitimatcha Tribe of Louisiana
• Jerome Schultze, Executive Director, Morongo Band of Cahuilla Mission Indians  Gaming Agency
• Tracy Burris, Gaming Commissioner, Chickasaw Nation Gaming Commission 
• Lorna Skenandore, Gaming Compliance Manager, Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin
• Patrick Lambert, Executive Director, Gaming Commission, Eastern Band of Cherokee
• John Meskill, Director Mohegan Tribe Gaming Commission

 

The NIGC would like to thank the individuals who will be leaving the Committee, Jack Crawford, Sherrilyn Kie, and Mark Fox, for their hard work and dedication as members of the MICS Advisory Committee.  We also thank the Tribes that these individuals represented during their time on the Committee which are the Confederated Tribes of Umatilla, Pueblo of Laguna and the Three Affiliated Tribes respectively.

 

The use of this committee represents the NIGCs commitment to government-to-government consultation. The NIGC looks forward to continuing success in the formulation of MICS related revisions.

 

The NIGC is an independent regulatory agency established within the Department of the Interior pursuant to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988.

###