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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The American Indian Chamber of Commerce recently awarded Soboba Tribal Council Vice-Chairwoman Geneva Mojado with the Warrior Award during its 24th annual Native American Heritage Month fundraiser luncheon. Usually in November, this year’s event was held Dec. 1 at the Grand Californian Hotel, Disneyland Resort in Anaheim.

The luncheon began with a networking reception and silent auction that raises funds for annual Chamber Scholarships, which were presented at the event. Each year, the organization chooses a Tribal leader and a corporate partner to receive its highest honor, the Warrior Award. Both deserving recipients are chosen for their contributions to the Chamber’s mission, which is, “To provide opportunities for networking and support of American Indian business people in California. To Provide a mentor’s environment for those individuals beginning new endeavors and establish a vehicle for education, networking and growth opportunities.”

The Native American Financial Officers Association (NAFOA) received the corporate partner Warrior Award for their commitment to supporting Tribal economies through sound economic and fiscal policy, innovative learning opportunities, convening through leadership and developing resources for Tribes that strengthen governance and exercise sovereignty. Acting board president VaRene Martin accepted the award on behalf of NAFOA.

Mojado, who was singled out for the individual Tribal Leader award, was elected to the Soboba Tribal Council in April 2020 and currently serves in the position of Vice-Chairwoman. Since 2006, she has previously served in the positions of treasurer and secretary. She had served on the Soboba Foundation Board for more than nine years and the Soboba Economic Development Corporation as Vice-Chair for four years. Mojado 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. She is a strong advocate for education and serves as the Chairwoman for the San Jacinto Unified School District Native American Parent Advisory Council. She is also a Western Science Center Board of Directors member.

Mojado was recently appointed to the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) on its Community Economic and Human Development Committee (CEHD). Raised on the Soboba Reservation, Mojado attended San Jacinto High School and graduated from San Diego State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice and a minor in Native American Studies. Serving her Tribe for more than 14 years she has been committed to volunteering on the Noli Indian School Board, Tribal Emergency Response Commission, Soboba Pow Wow committee and chairing the annual NIAA (National Indian Athletic Association) Softball Tournament. In 2023, after serving for six years, Mojado vacated her position with Riverside-San Bernardino County Indian Health Inc.’s Native Challenge program as a Health Educator. Her passion and goal is to continue working with Tribal communities and Native youth alongside her children, Daniel and Gloria, and her Tribe for many years to come.

Before she accepted the award, several speakers shared some of their personal interactions with Mojado. Andrew Masiel Sr. from the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians said in all the years he has known her, she has always been involved and engaged. “There are a few things I want to share about the character of Geneva,” he said. “She is one of those persons who asks the question ‘why not?’ and her involvement in so many activities stems from this.” He explained that when Soboba wanted to establish a charitable foundation a battle ensued for many years on whether it was to be a state or federal foundation. Masiel said, “After her aunt left Tribal Council and Geneva finished school, she picked up that battle and played a big part in the establishment of the Soboba Foundation.” He added that Soboba is one of the few Tribes in the country that has a philanthropic foundation.

Masiel said Mojado always had an interest in economics and development and that they shared many conversations about economic development and the prosperity of Indian Tribes and Indian people getting financial gain. “Geneva was a big part of working on the current Legacy Bank that the Soboba Tribe now owns, the only Indian-owned bank in California and only the 17th in the nation,” he said. “This stems from Geneva’s commitment and foresight to getting things done.”

Masiel went on to say that overall, as a person, Mojado is the fitting image of the Warrior Award. Other speakers thanked her for her passion and dedication and commitment to her constituents and all Indian people. She was applauded for embodying that Warrior spirit as a strong woman.

Mojado said she was truly honored to receive the award and that she doesn’t know what she would do without her support system. She invited her children, Daniel and Gloria, to stand beside her on stage to share the award with her and gave a shout out to other relatives past and present who contributed to her becoming the person she is today. “I am truly grateful for who I am and where I am today,” Mojado said. “What makes me a warrior are these two who are standing next to me. These two have been through it all with me.”

She went on to say that she has been honored to serve with many great Tribal leaders at Soboba, such as Bobby Salgado, Rose Salgado and Rosemary Morillo. “I do come from a family of leaders,” Mojado said. “My dad and aunt were on Tribal Council and my grandma and great-great grandfather were also Tribal leaders.”

She thanked those who spoke so kindly about her and congratulated the young people who received scholarships at the event. “Education is really important, and it can’t be taken away from you,” Mojado told the recipients. “I encourage you to use those scholarships and take what you learn back to your communities and help Indian country.”

The American Indian Chamber of Commerce of California Board of Directors shared, “Never shall any of us forget where our ancestors came from and their dreams for the success of our people today. One of our Native American core values is to plan for seven generations from our own. We, at the American Indian Chamber, share those values and seek to foster economic opportunities for our enterprise success, self-sufficiency and set a foundation for sustainable growth for our generations to come.”

For more information, www.aicccal.org.

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The Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians established the Soboba Foundation to offer philanthropic support to other nonprofits that benefit such things as education, health matters and youth sports. But whenever the opportunity arises for the group to assist non-gaming Native American tribes, it gladly offers backing. 

Such was the case recently when the Santa Rosa Band of Cahuilla Indians Park and Recreation Committee approached the foundation seeking funding for a tribal community park. The board of directors, led by president Geneva Mojado, unanimously voted to grant the tribe $10,000 toward the project.

Santa Rosa’s Tribal Chairman Steven Estrada said the reservation, located near Mountain Center, is home to more than 100 residents, with a majority of them being under the age of 18.

“The current project has been a goal of the tribe for many years, but our youth really urged us to focus on it when they put in our strategic plan,” he said. “The committee has done an amazing job in helping us complete this goal through their hard work and commitment.”

The tribe formed a committee to create a park that was envisioned by the youth who live at the reservation. An afterschool “Children’s Future Search” event was held in April and all children in elementary school grades were invited to participate. They were asked to think about what they like most about where they live and what changes they think would make their community even better. 

After their answers were recorded, the children were asked to draw their vision of a perfect park design. Pictures included basketball courts, a movie theater and a scooter path. Their ideas were implemented directly into the tribe’s strategic plan.

Participants were treated to an ice cream social and a prize drawing. Of the 10 children involved, only one had lived on the reservation less than half his life; most have always lived there. Almost 50% said they plan to continue living at Santa Rosa after they grow up. Future career aspirations include teachers, police officers and professional athletes.

“Our youths were instrumental in collecting quarters for donations and individual tribal members donated from their distributions – it’s been a true community effort,” Estrada said. “The support from the other tribes and organizations helps us immensely, and we are truly grateful for their generosity.”

The purpose of the Santa Rosa Recreational Park is to provide a safe, well-maintained area that promotes physical activities and offers cultural activities. There is currently a small playground area behind the Tribal Hall but it is geared toward younger children. The park will serve all Santa Rosa tribal and community members and visitors to the reservation.

Donated funds, from Soboba and other neighboring tribes, will be combined with Santa Rosa’s committed funds of $17,000 to cover the cost of the park’s construction, fencing and grading as well as the extension of a water line to the area for irrigation and to provide drinking water for parkgoers. All concrete and masonry work, irrigation and planting are being done by Master Landscape in Hemet.

“The Santa Rosa tribe will erect a monument that will forever memorialize the contribution of the Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians,” Estrada said. “Our tribes have always maintained a strong cultural and social relationship and we are so happy to see it continue through this project.”

Plans are to break ground at the end of this month and have the project completed by Nov. 1.

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