Casino Hosts
Chad Eckhardt
I began my casino career in 1999 as a night security officer, I then transferred to take over Valet upon the opening of the interim casino and started the first valet and shuttle bus operation at LRCR. I began in the Marketing department in 2000 as a Special Events Assistant then transitioned into one of the first Casino Hosts here at Little River. I soon became the Executive Host before taking over the host department as the Player Development Manager. Later on in my career I obtained the title of Guest Service Manager with an incorporation and merge of the Players Club with the Host office and am now currently back in the role of Player Development Manager in charge of VIP Services. I partner with my wife Lisa in raising our 4 girls and 1 boy, we enjoy family outings, our Michigan Wolverines, camping, kayaking, boating, snowmobiling and I love to hunt and fish. We have assembled a team of Casino Host professionals to provide you with the BEST personalized entertainment experience in the state!
Arnie Gonzales
My career with Little River Casino Resort began in May of 2008 as a Food & Beverage Supervisor. One of the most rewarding aspects of my previous position was getting to know and interact with our guests. As a Casino Host, I am thrilled to continue to provide our guests with an elegantly casual resort experience. My wife Kati and I have been married for 25 years, and have two children, Griffin and Gabby. In my free time I enjoy fishing, kayaking, golfing and traveling with my family.
Brett Nickerson
I started my career here at Little River Casino Resort in June of 2015. I am originally from Coopersville, MI where I worked eight years in the banking industry. Those eight years have brought me much knowledge on customer service and building relationships and I am excited to bring those skills into my role as a Casino Host. I enjoy spending time with my wife Megan, our 2 young children, watching NASCAR, playing basketball, and rooting for Michigan Football. I look forward to building new relationships with the guests here at Little River Casino Resort and providing the best personalized entertainment experience.
David Lakos
I started my career in 2006 as a Hotel Guest Service Agent. In 2015, after excelling in my position at the Front Desk, I transitioned into my Player Development role. My wife Cathy and I have been married for 15 years. We enjoy cooking and trying new recipes together. I love traveling, especially around our beautiful state of Michigan. I also enjoy woodworking, gardening, watching professional and college football, especially the New York Giants and the MSU Spartans (Go Green!). I strive to make every guest’s visit to Little River Casino Resort flawless and enjoyable.
Kim Tanner
I have been employed with the Little River Casino Resort since 2005. I started my career as a Slot Representative/River Guide and recently was promoted to the Player Development department. I am a proud mother to my son Connor who is my life and I enjoy every moment we have together. We like to go fishing, take walks on the beach to collect rocks, swimming, tubing, and playing different sports with one another. I have lived in Manistee most of my life and enjoy any type of outdoor activities. I look forward to meeting new people and providing the best customer service to our guests.
Kristie Raney
I started my career in 2001 as a Slot Representative/River Guide. I enjoyed my time working on the casino floor getting to know the guests. After working over 13 years in Slots I transferred into a position in Player Development as a Casino Host. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my family, relaxing in our boat on the Manistee River, reading, golfing, and fishing. My goal is to make sure that our guests get the best service possible at Little River Casino Resort.
Loretta Greiner
I started my career at Little River Casino Resort in 2006 as a Hotel Guest Service Agent. In 2015 I was promoted to Lead Guest Service Agent and in 2017 I was again later promoted into Player Development. I have made many friends here at Little River Casino Resort and am excited to make many new ones. When I’m not at work I enjoy spending time with my children and grandchildren. I continue to apply my 16 years of casino experience into my Player Development role and pride myself in providing the best customer service to our valued guests.
Rochelle Sam
I started my career in July of 1999 as a Players Club Representative. I worked in the Players Club for a year and a half before I became a Table Games dealer. In 2011, I became a Table Games Assistant Shift Manager. After 14 years in the Table Games department, I decided it was time for a change and I became a Casino Host in July of 2015. I love this business and I take pride in what I do. When I am not at work, I enjoy spending time with my husband Jonnie and our amazing children. I also enjoy anything that has to do with sports or the outdoors, but my favorites are football, softball, snowboarding and kayaking. I strive to provide the best customer service to everyone I come in contact with and to make sure they have the ultimate casino experience.
Tanya Fraly
I have had the privilege of working in several different departments since 1999. I started in the Players Club when we first opened our doors and then transferred to the Slot department. From Slots I transitioned to our Food and Beverage department and was later promoted into the Player Development department. I have two grown children and we enjoy spending as much time together as possible. I also enjoy fishing, camping and anything outdoors. I have created many long-lasting relationships and look forward to creating many more.
Terri Rutowski
They say if you love your job, you never have to work a day in your life. I’ve found this to be true. During my 22 years with Little River Casino Resort, I have worked in the Players Club as a Representative, later promoted to one of the first Casino Host positions, have held titles as a Guest Services Supervisor, and have since have joined the Casino Host team once again. My husband Todd and I have been together for over 33 years and have two grown children together and one grandson, Owen and one granddaughter, Miah. I LOVE my Detroit Tigers, my family comes first above all else, and I am an identical twin.
Shelby Fraly
My career with Little River Casino Resort began in 2014 with the Food & Beverage department before settling into my new role within Marketing in 2018. My initial marketing position was with Players Club and in just over a year I was promoted as a Marketing Supervisor and have recently joined the VIP Services team. I enjoy serving my community as a Firefighter/EMR and being outdoors with my dog as much as time will allow. We enjoy hiking and anything that has to do with being around the water. I love being able to create lasting relationships with our valued guests and I am excited to take on my new role in Player Development.
TIM KROLCZYK
My journey in life has taken me full circle and I’m back in beautiful Northern Michigan, where it all began. I started my gaming career right here at Little River Casino Resort in the spring of 2002, just before we moved into our fantastic main casino. After beginning as a Food & Beverage Supervisor in the original Heron restaurant, I moved to the Willows and finally the casino floor as a Beverage Supervisor. After holding a position as a Performance Specialist in Compliance and a year in the Player’s Club, I continued my gaming career in the Detroit area for 9 years. Now, I’m back at my all-time favorite employer and working in my dream job, with a fantastic team in our Player Development Department. I’m very passionate about my Michigan State Spartans, sports, and music. In my spare time, I love our beaches, skiing, and doing anything outdoors. I look forward to being a vital part of our continued success at Little River Casino Resort and servicing our loyal guests!