Indian Gaming 2017 Tradeshow and Conference

Michael Wernz
CFO
Kalispel Tribal Economic Authority


As Chief Financial Officer for the Kalispel Tribal Economic Authority (KTEA), Michael Wernz oversees finances for all the Kalispel Tribe’s enterprises, including Northern Quest Resort & Casino, the Kalispel Golf and Country Club, Kalispel Development Company, Kalispel Linen Services, and KTEA Small Business Operations. The largest of these enterprises, Northern Quest Resort & Casino, is a 250-room destination resort with 46,000sf of gaming space, 22,000sf of meeting and event space, a 14,000sf luxury spa and salon, a 1,200-seat indoor entertainment venue a 5,000 seat- outdoor entertainment venue and 14 restaurants and lounges. Wernz also serves as a member of the Kalispel Tribe’s Executive Committee, making recommendations to the Tribal Business Council on Tribal-wide policies, organizational issues or changes and new grant applications/programs and serves as a member of KTEA’s Executive Team, which is responsible for the strategic and financial planning of all Kalispel Tribal enterprises, employing approximately 2,000 people in two counties. Prior to joining KTEA in October of 2007, Wernz was the Vice President of Finance for Northern Quest, where he was a member of the opening Management Team at the Casino in December 2000. Wernz has more than 30 years of experience with tribal governments. Wernz served on the National Indian Gaming Association task force responsible for developing the Minimum Internal Control Standards for Indian Gaming, later to become adopted by the National Indian Gaming Commission. Wernz is a graduate of Washington State University and a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the State of Washington. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and both the Washington and Nevada Societies of Certified Public Accountants. He has served on the board of the Spokane AIDS Network and is a lifetime resident of Spokane, Washington.

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