Tonya Roop, a member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, has risen through the ranks to become the general manager for two of the tribe's casino.
Roop started working for the tribe 17 years ago. That's when the casino in Roland was just a bingo hall.
The facility is now the third largest in the Cherokee Nation Entertainment empire. Along with another casino in Sallisaw, Roop is overseeing nearly 500 employees and nearly 900 electronic gaming machines. “I work whenever I need to 24/7. I really enjoy being here on a Friday or Saturday night when the place is full of people having a good time,” Roop said in an Indian Country Today story. “The environment and the crowds remind me why I love what I do.” Get the Story:Employee’s promotion example that hard work pays off (Indian Country Today 3/16)