Nov. 24, 2004 - RED WING, Minn. -- Kim Pang, interim general manager for Treasure Island Resort and Casino since March, has been named general manager, ending a 1 1/2-year search by the Tribal Council for the Prairie Island Indian Community for a permanent top executive.

Pang will lead a staff of 1,548 full-time, part-time and seasonal employees at the entertainment and lodging complex along the Mississippi River north of Red Wing.

A 17-year manager in the hospitality and casino industries, Pang was selected because of his business experience as well as his understanding and respect of the traditions of the Prairie Island Indian Community, which owns Treasure Island, spokeswoman Stephanie Fox said.

Pang will be the casino's primary contact with the Tribal Council as well the executive responsible for operations.

He joined Treasure Island in April 2003 as director of hospitality after working as vice president of food and beverage for Viejas Casino, another Indian-run gambling business in Alpine, Calif. Pang had overseen operations of Treasure Island's 250-room hotel, five restaurants, sales department and Spirit of the Water excursion yacht.

He succeeded director of finance Frank Loth as interim general manager in March. Loth had been in charge since the departure of general manager Wendell Long in March 2003.

Pang, who is from Red Wing, currently serves on the board of directors of the Red Wing Chamber of Commerce.

Treasure Island also has filled several other key management spots this year. Ken LaVenture, who had been slot performance manager, was promoted to director of casino operations. He has worked at the complex since 1992.

Chris Easley was announced as director of human resources in September, and Gary Pipho was announced as director of information services. Easley joined the staff in January, coming to Treasure Island from South Seas Resort in Captiva, Fla. Pipho took the post at the casino in February. He had worked as a consultant since fall 2003 and previously had been a project manager for Gander Mountain outdoor sport retail store in Bloomington, Minn.

-----To see more of the Post-Bulletin, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.postbulletin.com.

(c) 2004, Post-Bulletin, Rochester, Minn. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News. For information on republishing this content, contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213) 237-6515, or e-mail [email protected].