The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi’s Four Winds® Casinos are pleased to announce that Raquel Buari, Esq., CCEP has been promoted to Executive Vice President of Administration. Mrs. Buari, who most recently served as Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Compliance, is the first female executive to serve in the role. She is also a citizen of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi.
Prior to her new role Mrs. Buari served in positions of increasing responsibility at Four Winds Casinos including Legal Affairs Administrator, Director of Compliance, Director of Legal Affairs, Vice President of Compliance, and Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Compliance. She is a member of the South Bend Area Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, and serves on several Board of Directors including Beacon Memorial Hospital, South Bend Civic Theatre (Treasurer), the National Council on Problem Gambling, the Indiana Council on Problem Gambling, and the Michigan Association on Problem Gambling. Mrs. Buari was named to Global Gaming Business’ international class of 40 under 40 in 2018 and the Michiana 40 under 40 class of 2022. Mrs. Buari holds a bachelor’s degree from Ball State University, and Juris Doctor from Valparaiso University School of Law.
Commenting on the promotion, Mary Smith, Chief Operating Officer of Four Winds Casinos said, “We are very pleased to recognize Raquel Buari’s contributions and promote her to the role of Executive Vice President of Administration. In addition to being a long-time member of our casino operations team with a tenure of 16 years, Raquel has demonstrated diverse and valuable expertise in the areas of regulatory management, compliance, policy and procedure, ethics, and law.”
Mrs. Buari said, “I would like to thank Mary Smith and the Pokagon Gaming Authority for recognizing my contributions and their confidence in my ability to serve on the casino operations team in this expanded capacity. I look forward to continuing my service to my tribe and supporting the long-term success of Four Winds Casinos.”
About The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians of Michigan and Indiana
The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi’s sovereignty was reaffirmed under legislation signed into law by President Clinton in September of 1994. The Pokagon Band is dedicated to providing community development initiatives such as housing, education, family services, medical care, and cultural preservation for its more than 6,000 citizens. The Pokagon Band’s ten-county service area includes four counties in Southwestern Michigan and six in Northern Indiana. Its main administrative offices are located in Dowagiac, Mich., with a satellite office in South Bend, Ind. In 2007, it opened Four Winds Casino Resort in New Buffalo, Mich., followed by Four Winds Hartford in 2011, Four Winds Dowagiac in 2013 and Four Winds South Bend in January 2018. The Pokagon Band operates a variety of businesses via Mno-Bmadsen and the Pokagon Development Authority, its non-gaming investment enterprises. More information is available at www.pokagonband-nsn.gov, www.fourwindscasino.com and www.mno-bmadsen.com.