Bunch Elected Vice-Chairman of Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association

United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma's Gaming Commission Chairman, Joe Bunch, was recently elected Vice-Chairman of the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association (OIGA). Mr. Bunch has 24 years experience in tribal service and understands both sides of the pendulum; profitable and regulated gaming as well as meeting the needs of the tribe.

Working for the United Keetoowah Band, Bunch has served as an Assistant Operations Manager for Keetoowah Cherokee Casino (formerly Keetoowah Bingo) and currently serves as Chairman of the Gaming Commission. Twenty-eight of the thirty-three tribes in Oklahoma are gaming tribes, and OIGA elects officers from these tribes.

"As Vice-Chairman my duties will be to act in the absence of the Chairman, to carry out the day to day functions of business. Another duty is to oversee the statewide trade shows. The trade shows provide training and seminars and I will be able to direct the types of training and seminars that will be provided. Today we are second to none when it comes to state trade shows. We've grown in the last ten years when only three to four hundred people came to the trade shows; today there are over 3,000 people attending," stated Bunch.

Navigating the political and regulation arena, Bunch's experience from corporate and gaming entities has provided him a unique understanding of the direction, nature and future of tribal gaming as a catalyst for tribal services and economic development.

Mr. Bunch has led and been a member of panel discussions for Buss Productions (Market Place Productions), Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association and National Indian Gaming conferences. He is a member of the Blue Star Masonic Lodge.

Mr. Bunch has earned his Masters' Degree from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Okla., with an emphasis in Industrial Management; his Bachelor's Degree from Baker University in Baldwin, Kansas; and an Associate's Degree from Haskell Indian Junior College in Lawrence, Kansas. In addition, Bunch has earned a three phase certification from the National Indian Gaming Association and has completed level two of the three phases of the Oklahoma Tribal Gaming Regulators Association Certification.

"It is an honor to represent the Oklahoma tribes as Vice Chairman of the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association," said Bunch. "It will provide the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians of Oklahoma the opportunity to assist smaller tribes that do not have the opportunities to get out and visit with various leaders that make these types of decisions."

Mr. Bunch is an enrolled member of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma. Joe and his wife of 33 years, Karen, have two children and reside on his grandmother's original allotment in the Wauhillau community near Stilwell, Oklahoma.