Staff

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 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 is our most recent addition to the Little River Holdings team and serves as the Executive Assistant. Brittney is a tribal member of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians and is a long-time Manistee resident. Her educational background stems from Mount Pleasant, Michigan, where she received her Master of Business Administration from Central Michigan University. As the Executive Assistant of Little River Holdings, Brittney will provide support to the EDC by making sure all subsidiaries are staying on track, assisting with future projects moving forward as well as managing the back-office duties. Brittney has an extensive and dignified history in the gaming and hospitality industry. She was a well-known and dedicated employee of the Little River Casino and Resort until signing on with Little River Holdings in early 2022. She looks forward to serving her tribal community and developing the beautiful Manistee area.