About Us
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Eugene Magnuson - General Manager
Mr. Magnuson, as past Tribal Treasurer for the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, has maintained an active role in the tribe’s economic activity for several years. He has also served as Chairman of the Mno-Bmadsen Economic Development Board for the Pokagon Tribe. Prior to his service with the Pokagon Tribe, Mr. Magnuson gained valuable experience in a wide range of business environments, including grocery stores, hospitals, retail, food service, and gaming. He was appointed as a member of the TTAC (U.S. Department of Treasury Tribal Advisory Committee) by Congressman Sandy Levin (D-MI) of the Ways and Means Committee. TTAC, established under the Tribal General Welfare Exclusion Act of 2014, advises the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury on tribal taxation issues in Indian Country and helps establish training and education programs for Internal Revenue Services (IRS) field agents who work with tribal governments. Recently Mr. Magnuson accepted a position with Little River Holdings LLC as its new General Manager for The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians non-gaming Economic Development Corporation.
Tyler Leppanen - Chief Operating Officer
Tyler serves as the Chief Operating Officer for Little River Holdings. In this position, he helps to lead the overall long-term investment strategy, assists in managing the operations and financial success of the company, and manages contracts for many of the businesses that comprise Little River Holdings.
Prior to joining Little River Holdings in 2018, Tyler served in many different capacities of government. As the Manistee Downtown Development Authority Executive Director working with small businesses and redevelopment efforts, Assistant Community Development Director of Owosso, and in the Michigan Legislature. Tyler also holds a Bachelor’s in Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy from James Madison College at Michigan State University and a Master’s in Public Administration from Western Michigan University.
Brittney Drake - Cheif Administrative Officer
Brittney Drake serves as the Chief Administrative Officer. A tribal citizen of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians, she has been a resident of Manistee for many years. Brittney holds a Master of Business Administration from Central Michigan University. In her role as CAO of Little River Holdings, she will support the Economic Development Corporation by ensuring the efficient operation of various departments, facilitating future projects, and enhancing the business's effectiveness through data-informed decision-making. With a distinguished background in the gaming and hospitality sectors, Brittney is enthusiastic about supporting her tribal community and promoting the development of the tribe's ancestral territories.
Gabrielle Henry - Executive Assistant
Gabrielle Henry has recently joined the Little River Holdings as the Executive Assistant. Within this position she will be performing various tasks in support of the company and will provide administrative support for managers/executives along with coordinating significant projects. Gabrielle grew up in Manistee and went on to obtain her Bachelor’s Degree in Health Care Administration and certificate in Human Resources from Ferris State University. She has spent most of her career working in customer service and just recently spent two years in the healthcare field. She has recently moved back to the Manistee area and is excited to be working alongside the holdings company to help grow the community.