Management Team

Mike Bradford, CEO

I was born in Columbus, Ohio in 1950. I lived in New York City and San Francisco before moving to Lake Tahoe in 1986. I am a graduate of the University of California Berkeley and a CPA with banking and brokerage experience. I'm married to Kathy and we have two daughters, Kay and Betsy. I am a cyclist, pilot and active in motor sports.
Unfortunately, my public accounting experience occurred at the firm of Arthur Andersen & Company. At the time I worked there we were the most conservative and thorough of the "Big 8" firms. However, now my professional experience has become the brunt of many jokes. It is a good thing I am in the casino business to lend a little credibility to my reputation. 

Lon Rusk, President

I was born and raised in California. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay area, I was exposed to Lake Tahoe at a young age. While attending the University of California at Santa Barbara, I worked summers as a craps dealer at Harrah's Lake Tahoe, closing the Thrifty Gambler in 1969. After a two year, seven month, eleven day stint in the Army, (who's counting?) I returned to Tahoe for what was intended to be one more summer.

This was more than three decades ago. I guess Tahoe has a grip on me. I worked for seven years at the Sahara Tahoe, now Horizon, which was the first Las Vegas style casino in Tahoe. In 1980 I jumped highway 50 to work at the new Caesars Tahoe. This ended ten years later, when I moved to Lakeside Inn. Yes, it's obvious, I can't keep a job.

Pam Wheeler, Marketing Manager, Poker Manager

I am a second generation native Californian, born in Oakland, CA in 1954. I grew up in San Jose, CA when that valley was known as an agricultural valley, not Silicon Valley. My husband, Sky, and I enjoy all that Tahoe has to offer-great weather, great friends, and the great outdoors. We enjoy hiking with our two German Shepherd dogs, biking, water and snow skiing. Tahoe has been our home since 1983.

Stacy Noyes, Quality Assurance and Inn Manager

Born and raised in Canandaigua, New York, I never dreamed that I would end up in beautiful Lake Tahoe. After obtaining my degree from Purdue University, I began my career in the Casinos in Atlantic City, New Jersey. After working for both the Showboat and the Sands in Atlantic City, I started my journey west in search of a gaming career. After a brief stop in Council Bluffs, Iowa opening Ameristar Casino, I made my way to Las Vegas. It was there at Harrah’s Las Vegas that I worked hard to earn a promotion to Harrahs in Lake Tahoe. The original plan was to stay for only two years and return to Las Vegas. But Tahoe took a hold of me and I now have enjoyed living in Tahoe ever since.  I was lucky enough to join Lakeside Inn and Casino in late 2007, completing my quest to “Live like a Local”.

Don Caspary, Security Manager

I was born December 29, 1960 in Oakland, CA. I am one of nine children who were raised in the San Francisco bay area. I moved to Lake Tahoe in 1978 after vacationing here and falling in love with the beauty of the mountains and the lake. I enjoy fishing, hunting, camping and spending quality time with my grandsons.

I came to work for Lakeside Inn and Casino in the spring of 1995 as a security officer and enjoyed the challenge so much that now I hold the position of security manager.

Sheila Aquilina, Personnel Manager

I was born in 1965 in upstate New York, where there are mountains and trees, too. I received a BA in Sociology from the University of New York at Albany. I ran out of money after traveling the United States for 6 months and landed in Lake Tahoe. I planned to stay one summer and, 22 years later, I am still here. My mother is still waiting for me to move back to NY.  I have had the great fortune to raise my 17 year old twins in Lake Tahoe.

David Robberson, Food Manager

I was raised in a small town called Oakhurst, just south of Yosemite National Park. I spent most of my younger years bass fishing, hunting, crawdading and golfing. I used to come to Tahoe on vacation and loved the scenic views and great people. One day I decided to leave my hometown and move somewhere cooler. My wife Jennifer and I packed up the kids, cats, dog and fish and just went for it. At that time we did not have a place to live, just a job opportunity at a nice casino which we enjoyed visiting, Lakeside Inn and Casino.

My first winter here, which happened to be one of the worst ever, made me realize that I might have made a bad decision. The warm welcome and genuine sincerity of the locals made things all better. This is the main reason I have stayed in Tahoe and at Lakeside Inn. I am still enjoying all the activities that I did as a child. This town has all of that to offer and much more.

Tracy Mitchell, Finance Manager

I was born in Burbank, California in 1971. I grew up in the San Fernando Valley and yes, I was totally a “Valley Girl” for sure. I am a fourth generation native Californian and moved to Tahoe in March of 1997. I feel as if I have come home. I had never worked in a casino before and thought I would stop in to see what it was all about. Fortunately, an accounting position was available and my career at Lakeside started in 1997.

I also have to thank Lakeside for meeting my husband; the Tavern at Lakeside is a great place to watch a Red Sox game and meet your future husband. We enjoy all that Tahoe has to offer and the people who live here and visit. What a life!

Phil Gielow, Facilities Maintenance Manager

I was born in Elko, Nevada in 1960, moved to Lake Tahoe in 1976. I graduated from George Whittell High School in Zephyr Cove Nv. I started a career in the casino industry as a Facilities Mechanic. I worked for Harrah’s Entertainment in Stateline Nv in the Engineering Department for 27 years, more than half my life. I am now part of this great company, Lakeside Inn and Casino, as the Facilities Manager where I hope to grow old. I have 2 wonderful children, Whitney and Philip, and 3 step children, Joyie, Jennifer and Dex and 1 beautiful granddaughter Jolie. I enjoy hunting, fishing, snow skiing, golf, camping or anything else related to outdoor activities. I reside in Gardnerville, Nv with my lovely wife Myrna and our little dog Money.