Editorial: Mohegan Tribe hits milestone with gaming enterprise

The appointment of Bobby Soper as president of the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority this week represents fulfillment of a long-held goal of the Mohegan Tribe to act deliberatively in moving tribal members into top administrative positions. Mr. Soper, 43, will direct the authority responsible for the tribe's various gaming operations - Mohegan Sun, Mohegan Sun Pocono in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., and the Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City.

Mr. Soper will add the title chief executive officer in September when Mitchell Etess, the current top Mohegan gaming executive, completes a six-month transition period. Despite remaining popular with tribal leadership, Mr. Etess announced in November he would be departing after 19 years with the tribe, saying he was ready for a change.

The tribe has not achieved its objective by rushing tribal members into vital positions before they are ready, but instead by providing them the education, training and opportunities necessary to groom them for these leadership positions.

Indeed, on the day the tribe announced Mr. Soper's promotion, another tribal member, Ray Pineault, was named the new president and CEO of Mohegan Sun.