Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians Appoints Frank Freedman as Chief Operating Officer of Its Four Winds Casinos

DOWAGIAC, MI--(Marketwired - Mar 20, 2015) - The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians is pleased to announce the appointment of Frank Freedman as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of its Four Winds® Casinos. Freedman, who previously served as Assistant General Manager of Four Winds New Buffalo®, and General Manager of Four Winds Hartford® and Four Winds Dowagiac®, succeeds Matt Harkness who is leaving the organization to pursue other interests. Both Mr. Freedman and Mr. Harkness started their employment with Four Winds Casinos before the opening of Four Winds New Buffalo in 2007. 

"Matt Harkness and Frank Freedman have played very important roles in the development, growth and success of our Four Winds Casinos," said John P. Warren, Chairman of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians. "On behalf of the Tribal Council, Gaming Authority and all Pokagon Citizens, we sincerely thank Matt for his hard work, dedication and leadership over the past eight years, and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors. He will truly be missed."

"It has been an incredible experience working with the Pokagon Band to open Four Winds New Buffalo, Four Winds Dowagiac and Four Winds Hartford," said Matt Harkness. "I offer a heartfelt thank you to Chairman Warren and all Pokagon Citizens for the opportunities they have provided me. I leave the Four Winds organization proud of our accomplishments and with many strong friendships." 

Chairman Warren also added, "We are also very pleased to appoint Frank Freedman as COO of Four Winds Casinos. Frank has worked closely with Matt Harkness for 20 years, including the last eight at Four Winds, and we have the utmost confidence in his abilities to lead the organization to continued success."

Frank Freedman said, "Matt Harkness has been a trusted mentor and friend for more than 20 years and I wish him well as he pursues the next phase of his career. I would also like to thank the Pokagon Band for the opportunity to lead the Four Winds organization and continue to build upon the success that we've achieved."

Four Winds Casinos has set a new standard for gaming in the Midwest. In 2014, Four Winds Casinos received 56 industry and regional awards for its gaming, hotel, restaurants and other amenities. Four Winds New Buffalo was recently named one of the top casinos outside Las Vegas by USA Today and offers an unparalleled gaming experience that is matched by its gourmet restaurants, luxury hotel, Hard Rock Cafe Four Winds, and Silver Creek Event Center. Its two satellite locations, Four Winds Hartford and Four Winds Dowagiac, offer players an opportunity to earn points, redeem offers, and participate in promotions, just as they do at Four Winds New Buffalo.

About The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians
The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians' 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 approximately 5,000 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 and Four Winds Dowagiac® in 2013. More information is available at www.pokagonband-nsn.gov.

About Four Winds Casinos
Four Winds® New Buffalo, located at 11111 Wilson Road in New Buffalo, Mich., Four Winds Hartford®, located at 68600 Red Arrow Highway in Hartford, Mich., and Four Winds Dowagiac®, located at 58700 M-51 South in Dowagiac, Mich., are owned by the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians. Four Winds New Buffalo offers 130,000 square feet of gaming with more than 3,000 slot machines, 66 table games, four restaurants, entertainment bars, retail venues, and a 415-room hotel, making it the premier gaming resort in the Midwest. Four Winds Hartford features more than 550 slot machines, nine table games, a 74-seat restaurant, and a 15-seat bar. Four Winds Dowagiac features 300 slot machines, four table games and one restaurant. Please play responsibly. You must be 21 years of age to gamble. For more information on Four Winds Casinos, please call 1-(866)-4WINDS1 (866-494-6371) or visit www.fourwindscasino.com. Additionally, be sure to like Four Winds Casinos on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fourwindscasino and follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/fourwindscasino.