The Osage Nation Gaming Commission is restructuring its leadership after the commission board voted to remove Elizabeth Hembree as executive director and named Lacie Wynn Pahsetopah as interim director.
Pahsetopah (Grayhorse District) is a seasoned Gaming Commission employee who previously served as licensing manager. Hembree, a former Pawhuska banking professional, worked at the commission for 12 years with nearly 10 of those years as ONGC director.
On Jan. 16, the two-member Gaming Commission Board met for its regular monthly meeting, which included an executive session to discuss proprietary, licensing and personnel matters as allowed by Osage law. Afterward, board members Gary Weyl (Chair) and Marsha Harlan (Vice Chair) resumed the remaining open meeting business.
Harlan provided a statement noting the board wished to restructure the Gaming Commission then voiced eight separate motions setting the leadership change and restructuring in motion.
“Mr. Chairman, as you’re aware, the commission had many discussions and we’ve come to the conclusion that it’s time for a bit of restructuring and in that light, today we’re going to have some motions to complete some restructuring here at the Gaming Commission,” Harlan said. “And while everyone is doing a wonderful job, we think there’s always room for improvement and that’s what we’re going to do today.”
First, Harlan made “a motion to remove Elizabeth Hembree as director of the Gaming Commission.” The vote was 2-0.
Harlan’s second motion was to “name Lacie Wynn Pahsetopah as the interim director of the Gaming Commission.” The vote was 2-0.
With Pahsetopah as interim director, Harlan then made “a motion to open the director’s position for hire.” The vote was 2-0.
Next, and as part of the restructuring, Harlan made “a motion to open an Operations Manager position,” which also received a 2-0 vote.
“The next motion is to authorize our interim director to hire an operations manager,” Harlan continued, with that motion receiving a 2-0 vote.
“The next (motion) is to request (the ON Human Resources Department) to evaluate Ms. Wynn Pahsetopah’s experience and pay her a commensurate salary with her new position,” Harlan said with the motion receiving a 2-0 vote.
“The next is to request HR to evaluate the operations manager position for an appropriate pay,” Harlan said with the motion receiving a 2-0 vote.
“And the next is to authorize Chairman Weyl to approve that rate of pay that is calculated by the Human Resources Department,” Harlan said with the motion receiving a 2-0 vote.
Afterward, Harlan said “Elizabeth Hembree has always done a wonderful job, I know she’s not here today and I think that she knows how we feel about her that she’s done a wonderful job. We feel like it’s time for a change for the Gaming Commission and we’re really looking forward to the exciting things that are coming our way in our direction as we proceed further.”
Weyl agreed with Harlan’s comments, adding “I think the betterment of (Hembree) and Ms. Pahsetopah and the whole team here in the Gaming Commission, I think it’s going to be a plus for everybody.”
Hembree, who was not present at the meeting’s second half, was on vacation during the days that followed and did not reply to a follow-up message seeking comment.
Following the meeting, Harlan said Hembree is still a Gaming Commission employee and plans are in the works for her next role with the commission. Before her ONGC tenure, Hembree served as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operations Officer for the former First National Bank in Pawhuska where she worked for 32 years, according to her LinkedIn profile.
After the meeting, Pahsetopah said plans are currently in progress and she had no further comment. The following week, Pahsetopah attended her first Gaming Enterprise Board meeting virtually where she introduced herself to that respective business board and Osage Casinos management.
“I’m coming into this position with both feet in, I am learning everything that I can, there’s a learning curve for me, but I have no doubts that it will go smoothly and I am here if you need me,” Pahsetopah told the gaming board.
“We’re glad to work with you and call any of us, we’re here,” GEB Chair Claudette Carnett responded.
Established in Osage law, the Gaming Commission section defines the director as an individual “employed by the Gaming Commissioners authorized to supervise and administer the daily licensing, compliance and enforcement duties of the Commission.”