AICCCA President Tracy Stanhoff said Vivanco was nominated for the Warrior Award by members of the Chamber and past Warrior awardees and finalized in selection for this honor by the Chamber’s Board of Directors. Recipients are typically Tribal leaders, business owners, executives, or community advocates whose efforts have created measurable, lasting impact.

Isaiah Vivanco, a proud Tribal Member of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians, is currently serving his third term as Chairman for the Soboba Tribal Council. This is his eighth Council term overall, having served as Vice-Chairman for four terms and one term as Treasurer. He is a former Executive Board member for the Compact Tribes Steering Committee and was recently re-elected to his fourth two-year term as Treasurer for CNIGA to assist with its efforts to promote and protect Tribal sovereignty and gaming.

He is the current Pacific Region Delegate on the national Indian Gaming Association Board of Directors. In 2021, Isaiah was elected to the California Fee-to-Trust Consortium Board of Directors, which assists Tribes in reclaiming lands and placing them into trust status. For eight years he served on the Soboba Foundation and was Tournament Chair for the annual Soboba Foundation & Soboba Casino Resort Charity Golf Tournament. Since 2022, Isaiah has served as Chairman of the Tribal Nations Advisory Council for the American Indian Science & Engineering Society (AISES). He is a member of the Southern California Tribal Chairmen’s Association (SCTCA) and has been on the Riverside County District Attorney’s Tribal Advisory Board since 2023. He sits on the 7G Board of Directors as Vice President, supporting young Native athletes. He was elected to the First Nations Experience (FNX) Board of Directors, which supports television exclusively devoted to Native American and world Indigenous content.

Vivanco enjoys playing Peon and watching his children and now 10 grandchildren sing and dance at Bird Singing gatherings. He also likes golfing and fastpitch softball. Isaiah works hard to deliver strong leadership for his Tribe in promoting sustainable economic development. It is very important to him to provide for the current membership as well as future generations to come.

The AICCCA event took place during its 30th annual Native American Heritage Month Luncheon on Nov. 21 at the Disneyland Hotel/Disneyland Resort in Anaheim. At the luncheon, Vivanco was presented with its annual Warrior Award, which honors those who embody the spirit of a “warrior” in the contemporary sense—people who: champion Native entrepreneurship; advocate for Tribal sovereignty and Native economic self-determination; demonstrate exceptional dedication, courage, and integrity; serve their communities through mentorship, advocacy, and long-term commitment; and build meaningful partnerships between Tribes, Native businesses, and statewide industries.

The first person to speak as an introduction for Vivanco was Pechanga Tribal Member Andrew Masiel, who serves as a Pechanga Development Corporation Board member and has known Vivanco for a number of years. “As a young man growing up on the (Soboba) Reservation, he participated in a lot of activities with the Tribe,” Masiel said. “He exhibited a lot of ambition, a lot of desire and involvement.”

Tomas Tortez Jr., former Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Tribal Council Chairman, received the Warrior Award last year and said it was an honor to know Chairman Vivanco. “I’ve known him as a mentor during my eight-year chairmanship,” Tortez said. “I would see Isaiah in every aspect of advocacy for Tribal matters. I’d see him in Sacramento and Washington D.C. whenever there were legal battles to be held. It takes being away from the family to be there, so I appreciate that he not only spent time to do that but to talk to me about various issues, especially with us being a smaller non-gaming site. All events and activities and advocacy shared with Chairman Vivanco truly shows his worthiness of the Warrior Award. I think all the accomplishments he has done will carry on for generations. It’s more than showing up—you have to speak and be heard, which he articulates so well. When you’re running your government it takes a lot of dedication, a lot of time, a lot of effort—so thank you for all you do, Chairman.”

Audrey Martinez, Council Secretary for Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, said she has gotten to know Vivanco over the past few years and found him to be very dedicated with tremendous leadership skills. “And like Tomas said, he’s everywhere,” she said. “You need someone like that in these leadership positions. It takes a lot of time, dedication and effort when running your government. Thank you, Chairman, for all your hard work.”

Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation Chairwoman Lynn Valbuena, who also serves as Chairwoman of TASIN said, “I concur with all the words that have been said by others. Chairman, thank you for all the years you’ve been doing this. We are very appreciative of all the sacrifices that our Tribal leaders make to be somewhere, and we always say if we didn’t have the support in the home, it’s not going to happen. When you have that support at home and have the passion to love what you do, you go out and do it as it comes to dedication and commitment. Chairman Vivanco sits on many boards and now with many steering committees with different organizations. We’re very honored to see you getting this award and we appreciate everything you do with your Tribe; the collaboration, the work and the long, long hours. Thank you again.”

Soboba Tribal Member and former Tribal Council Chairwoman Rosemary Morillo was the last to speak before inviting Vivanco to the stage. “Council always faces many challenges. It’s constant juggling with all that has to be done. In leadership, you have the oldest to the youngest you have to be responsible for on your reservation; you have to include their needs. We want to take care of what we have currently but also plan for the future. In leadership you have to think of all those things and have contingency plans in place and help everyone understand this is why we do this, this is the process. He has a long list of accomplishments and all he is involved in but there’s more to those boards you’re sitting on. It takes a lot of time away from your family and from everyone but there can be good that comes out of it all. It takes a lot to be standing in leadership; it’s a lot of weight on you.”

Chairman Vivanco thanked the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of California for the recognition. He also thanked those who offered such heartfelt words of support.

He praised his fellow Tribal Council members for being so engaged and active, which allows opportunity for him to serve, network, and maintain important relationships with various boards.

“Potential board appointments are discussed with our Council to weigh the pros and cons of how it will benefit Soboba,” Vivanco said. He was proud to be re-elected to the California Nations Indian Gaming Association (CNIGA) board by 57 California Tribes where he can continue to assist the group in its efforts to promote and protect Tribal sovereignty and gaming.

He said this is a critical time for all Tribes as the threat of illegal event contracts through prediction markets has never been more real or impactful. “CNIGA is at the heart of this fight and having a seat at that table is so important,” Vivanco said. “I’m grateful that we have such a strong Council that allows me to represent Soboba in trying to protect what we have.”

Serving on the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) board as Tribal Nations Advisory Council Chairman helps him keep pace with what is needed to ensure Soboba’s youth are getting the education and tools needed to have successful futures.

“If we do not continue to adapt to this rapidly changing, technology-driven world, we risk being left behind” Vivanco said.

The post Soboba Tribal Chairman Isaiah Vivanco is honored appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

The Spotlight program is part of the Department’s Building Better Businesses (B3) program in partnership with the Lake Elsinore Chamber of Commerce. A recent news release showcased the family’s path, feeding Southwest Riverside County families for many years.

“The pair began in a small carnicería in Lake Elsinore, before moving to Lake Elsinore’s Historic Downtown Main Street at 111 North Main Street during the pandemic. Known for their mouthwatering quesa birria tacos and inviting atmosphere, Michi Tacos has become a community favorite.

“The restaurant has earned numerous accolades, including HomeBase’s Top Local Workplace of the Year, Yelp’s Top 15 birria taco spots, Assemblyman Bill Essayli’s office’s small business of the month award, and recognition as “Best Restaurant” of the year by the Lake Elsinore Valley Chamber of Commerce, according to the release.

“Now, the Hererra family of restaurants is expanding across Southwest Riverside County.

“They opened a second location at Diamond Stadium in 2022 and a third in Menifee, with plans to debut Quiero Brunch in Temecula soon.

“The Herreras’ dedication to community is evident in their partnerships. They support organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Oak Grove Center, the Boys and Girls Club and the Ronald McDonald House.

“Their initiatives include school backpack drives, Thanksgiving Turkey Drives, Meals from the Heart, Taco Tuesdays for kids, and their annual Michi Tacos’ Christmas program, always bringing joy to needy families,” Gonzalez wrote.

They remain committed to quality food and a positive team culture.

“Michi Tacos has become a cherished local treasure and a symbol of resilience and giving in Lake Elsinore and beyond. Their commitment to the Lake Elsinore community and giving back is truly inspiring and there is no doubt why Michi Tacos was selected as this month’s spotlight.”

For more information about Michi Tacos, located at 111 N Main Street in Lake Elsinore, CA please visit www.michitacos.com. To view their Business in Action Spotlight video, please visit: lakeelsinorebusiness.com.

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That’s how much new logistics space is potentially on the county’s horizon, according to Riverside environmental consultant Mike McCarthy.

Using publicly available data, McCarthy found that Riverside County is home to seven of the 10 biggest warehouse projects being studied for their environmental impact in California.

The projects, stretching from the desert city of Cathedral City to the Temescal Valley south of Corona, don’t include what’s already been approved, including the World Logistics Center, which will add 40 million square feet of warehouses to eastern Moreno Valley.

It’s enough to make McCarthy, a critic of adding warehouses, question how the county is going to handle it all.

“There’s already a ton of warehouses in the pipeline, and then we’re going to add a whole bunch more onto it, and I just don’t see that we have the infrastructure to handle it,” he said.

Alicia Aguayo, a spokesperson for the San Bernardino-based People’s Collective for Environmental Justice, lamented the prospect of more warehouses in a logistics-saturated Inland Empire.

“It’s unfortunate that the industry continues to expand in our backyards because we do not have the protections or reassurance that there will be enough mitigations to offset more toxins into a region with the worst air quality,” Aguayo said via email.

More warehouses means more jobs, argued Paul Granillo, president and CEO of the Inland Empire Economic Partnership.

He cited a new U.S. Chamber of Commerce study, which found that, among other benefits, a new Inland distribution center creates more than 3,300 jobs outside the warehouse and generates $51 million in local tax revenue.

“We have to find a way to appreciate the upside of the economic impact of logistics and make sure we’re mitigating against the downside,” Granillo said.

The projects on McCarthy’s list are subject to downsizing and changes if and when they are approved, and it’s possible they won’t entirely consist of warehouses, since warehouses’ industrial zoning opens the door for manufacturing or other non-logistics uses.

Who approves the projects depends on where they are. Cities have land-use authority within their boundaries while the counties control what gets built in unincorporated areas.

An hour’s drive from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, the Inland Empire — home to rail yards, freeways, plenty of flat undeveloped land and a blue-collar workforce — is home to a massive logistics industry with few peers worldwide.

As of 2022, the region had an estimated 1 billion square feet of warehouses. A steady stream of big rigs supply warehouses approaching 1 million square feet or larger, providing local jobs for thousands of workers fulfilling online orders for Amazon, big box stores and other retailers.

Logistics is credited with helping the Inland economy avoid the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and companies like Amazon argue that their Inland facilities offer a ticket to a free college education and a middle-class life.

Critics counter that most warehouse jobs offer substandard wages and benefits in hazardous work conditions. Warehouses also are blamed for noise and light pollution, and emissions from warehouse-bound, diesel-powered trucks are linked to cancer, heart disease and other health problems.

To make his top 10 list, McCarthy used data from CEQAnet, a state database of projects needing a California Environmental Quality Act review before they can be approved.

Large warehouses often need environmental impact reports or EIRs — in-depth studies, hundreds or thousands of pages in length, that analyze what a project will do to the local environment if built.

Topping McCarthy’s list is the Westside Annexation project in unincorporated Los Angeles County. The project near Lancaster would add up to 38.5 million square feet of warehouses.

Next is a 24.8 million-square-foot project in Northern California. Third on the list is the San Jacinto Commerce Center, a 9 million-square-foot project sought for 514 acres between Record Road, Odell Avenue, Sanderson Avenue and Cottonwood Road.

The next six projects are in Riverside County:

• CV Conference Center in Cathedral City (7.9 million square feet)
• Serrano Commerce Center in the Temescal Valley (6.5 million square feet)
• Beaumont Heights Business Centre Project in Beaumont (5.7 million square feet)
• Harvest Landing Retail Center & Business Park Project in Perris (5.7 million square feet)
• Mesa Verde Specific Plan in Calimesa (4.4 million square feet)
• New Perris Commerce Center Specific Plan Project in Perris (3.7 million square feet)

In all, the Riverside County projects total 42.9 million square feet. Also making the list is the Lake Creek Logistics Center project — 3.5 million square feet — in the San Bernardino County High Desert community of Apple Valley.

McCarthy said it’s possible warehouse developers are eyeing Riverside County “because there’s a little bit more undeveloped land in Riverside County than in the inland parts of San Bernardino County.”

His list doesn’t include projects in various stages of development in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. For example, there’s the 3.2 million-square-foot Bloomington Business Park in unincorporated San Bernardino County.

The list also doesn’t include the 7.3 million-square foot Stoneridge Commerce Center sought for the unincorporated Riverside County community of Nuevo and the West Campus Upper Plateau, a 4.7 million-square-foot project envisioned for ex-March Air Force Base land near Riverside that’s currently stalled.

McCarthy worries Riverside County is ill-prepared for more warehouses.

“There’s the air quality impacts, there’s the land use impacts, the environmental justice impacts … and just the congestion and traffic impacts,” he said. “And so each of these individual projects have all of those problems. But put them all together and it just amplifies it.”

Unlike San Bernardino County, which has more rail infrastructure, more goods would have to be moved in Riverside County by truck, McCarthy said, adding that warehouses are being built further and further from the ports, requiring longer truck trips.

“It’s the worst kind of logistics sprawl,” he said. “So I think the question is, what is the overall plan?”

Riverside County analyzes development projects on a case-by-case basis and tailors conditions of approval — landscape buffers and noise limits, for example —  to each project’s location, John Hildebrand, county planning director, said via email.

“Roadways are widened and utilities are installed or upsized to accommodate the growth,” Hildebrand said, adding the county uses “good neighbor” standards to ensure warehouses in unincorporated areas are compatible with their surroundings.

He also noted that a new state law, AB 98, sets development standards for new warehouses requiring landscape buffers and other measures to lessen the effect on neighborhoods.

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Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians Vice Chairwoman Geneva Mojado was one of the Class of 2025 members who were celebrated during the Emerging Leaders of Gaming 40 Under 40 Networking Reception, in partnership with Global Gaming Expo, on Wednesday, Oct. 9 in Las Vegas.

“Being part of a group of elite professionals brings great honor not only to me but to my family,” Mojado said. “I want to be a role model to my two kids, Daniel and Gloria. Daniel is now at UNLV pursuing a degree in hospitality. He loves Las Vegas but even more so helping his Tribe. I told him, he too will be a 40 under 40 in the gaming industry someday. Gloria, who plans on being a teacher or pursuing a career in sports medicine, shows her love for our youth just as I do. And for the love of sports, especially softball. My two kids are following in my footsteps and have both carried leadership roles in their middle schools and high schools.”

A diverse cross-section of professionals, nominated to be recognized for their achievements within and for their dedication to the gaming industry, were chosen by a Selection Committee comprised of respected gaming leaders.

“The latest class of honorees well reflects the modern gaming industry, with a record number of individuals already holding impressive, senior-level positions and a noticeable increase in professionals leading the critically important areas of compliance and government affairs,” said Michael Soll, president of The Innovation Group.

Roger Gros, publisher of GGB, added, “The quality of this year’s Emerging Leaders class is really extraordinary. Their accomplishments at such a young age are an inspiration to all who strive for excellence in our industry.”

Mojado has attended G2E almost every year that she has served on Tribal Council. “The networking is amazing,” she said. “You get to see gaming from a larger perspective; globally. The Expo Hall is enormous; to actually stop at every booth would take the three days it’s open.”

The event, held from Oct. 7-10 in Las Vegas, offered a Tribal Gaming track. Mojado had the opportunity to attend various education sessions such as Amplifying Tribal Influence in the 2024 Election and sessions on Class III Tribal-State Gaming Compacts.

“It was good to listen to and see our very own Soboba Casino Resort General Manager, Jason Cozart, as a speaker for ‘The Revenue and Player Trip Driving Power of In-Person Gifting,’” Mojado said. “Scott Sirois, a previous GM at SCR, was also a speaker. A good continuity program definitely helps grow the business. Soboba prides themselves on their gifting program.”

She said they also attended various networking receptions hosted by some of their vendors, such as Imagine This, a casino continuity company Soboba has worked with for more than 10 years.

This year’s G2E convention attracted more than 25,000 people, with 117 countries, territories and regions represented. The future of gaming was shared through several topics. Sports betting is coming to California and there was discussion on how the California Tribes are coming together to work out legislation.

A new tribal sports betting initiative in California could be on the ballot as soon as 2026, but it is more likely to emerge in 2028, according to a key tribal leader. Speaking at the Global Gaming Expo on Oct. 8, James Siva, chairman of the California Nations Indian Gaming Association, said tribes are restarting discussions on the future of legal sports betting in the state.

During a panel on tribal sovereignty and sports betting, Siva emphasized that any initiative brought forward by the Tribes would likely include provisions for online casino gaming.

With over 100 Tribes involved in California’s gaming landscape, reaching a consensus on the specifics of the sports betting initiative will be a challenging process. A meeting is scheduled for later this month to begin discussions, but further meetings are expected.

“We have started to think outside the box… What’s going to come out of California will be new and unique,” Siva said.

At the Soboba Casino Resort, Mojado said they are currently working with Pro Forma Advisors consulting group to find the highest and best use for a new attraction to SCR.

“We are excited to expand our economic opportunities,” she said. “Tribal Council, along with General Membership, have all the say and input in the economics engines that come along.”

Gaming is just one aspect of the many hats Mojado wears as an active member of Soboba’s Tribal Council. Since 2006, she served in the Tribal Council positions of treasurer and secretary; since 2020, she has been Vice Chairwoman. Her experience has given her great insight into what can be done for the betterment of her fellow Tribal members.

She had served on the Soboba Foundation Board for more than nine years and as Vice-Chair of the Soboba Economic Development Corporation for four years. She is currently the Chairwoman of Legacy Bancorp and serves on the Board of Directors as secretary for Legacy Bank which is 100% owned by the Soboba Band.

With her strong advocacy for education, she serves as the Chairwoman for the San Jacinto Unified School District Native American Parent Advisory Council and is a member of the board of directors for the Western Science Center in Hemet. Mojado was recently appointed to the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) on its Community Economic and Human Development Committee (CEHD).

Emerging Leaders of Gaming has established itself as the go-to network for young professionals assuming the next generation of leadership in gaming, entertainment, hospitality, food and beverage, tourism and leisure. It supports the growth and development of these rising stars on their path to success.

Global Gaming Business magazine, a division of Clarion Gaming, is the leading monthly gaming trade publication focusing on the international casino industry. Distributed to 14,000 of the industry’s most important executives around the world, as well as public officials, regulators, attorneys and Native American governments, GGB magazine is the casino industry’s complete source for business information.

The Innovation Group has long been recognized as the world’s most respected and sought-after research and advisory firm, specializing in the gaming, entertainment, hospitality and leisure industries. To date, its research and analyses have driven over $100 billion in investment decisions across more than 80 countries and six continents. The Innovation Group’s accuracy and reliability is unparalleled, with its forecasts historically tracking within 5% of actual revenues across the most complex of gaming jurisdictions throughout the globe.

The Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians congratulated Mojado on her recognition by stating they are proud of her for being selected as part of the Emerging Leaders of Gaming 40 Under 40, Class of 2025. “Her vision and dedication have helped the Soboba Casino Resort achieve many of its successful goals,” they said.

Soboba Casino Resort offers an intern program for Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians Tribal Members who are seeking a career in the gaming industry. Those who intern spend several weeks in each department of the casino.

“We are revamping our Tribal Management Program to help those who want to become a supervisor, manager or even Director; it’s still in the works,” Mojado said. “I’m the Council liaison to our Soboba Youth Council, hoping to inspire and guide them to be the future leaders of the Tribe.”

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