Former Navajo Gaming CEO Brian Parrish dies

DÁ’DEESTŁ’IN HÓTSAA

Brian D. Parrish, a longtime gaming government who led the Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise for almost a decade, died May 31, in response to a celebration of life publish shared by his household. He was 65.

A celebration of life is scheduled for 11 a.m. June 12 within the Dogwood Room at Osage Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Parrish’s profession in gaming, hospitality and enterprise operations spanned greater than 30 years, together with government roles with Osage Nation Gaming Enterprise, Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise, Quechan Casino Resort and Paradise Casino, and the Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort and Casino.

His LinkedIn profile listed him as chief working officer of the Osage Nation Gaming Enterprise in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, a place he started in September 2023.

Before that, Parrish served because the CEO of NNGE from March 2014 to September 2023. His tenure with the enterprise lasted 9 years and 7 months.

Parrish joined the NNGE in 2014, lower than six years after the enterprise opened its first on line casino.

Bentley Price Associates, an government search and recruiting agency for the hospitality and on line casino gaming trade, remembered Parrish in a June 3 publish written by Dennis P. Rizzo, the agency’s president and CEO.

The agency cited Parrish’s work in tribal gaming and his management in main gaming enterprises, enlargement initiatives and staff improvement. The remembrance described him as a colleague, mentor and good friend who was recognized for his operational expertise {and professional} strategy.

Parrish additionally listed expertise managing gaming, hospitality and different enterprise operations, together with resorts, comfort shops, refueling stations, RV parks, golf and nation golf equipment, air constitution operations, little one care services, wastewater remedy crops, leisure venues, retail operations, rodeo arenas and searching packages.

His time with the Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise was the longest position listed.

Before becoming a member of NNGE, Parrish served because the CEO of the Quechan Casino Resort and Paradise Casino from August 2009 to February 2014. He additionally served as principal government officer of Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort and Casino in Mescalero, New Mexico, from January 2003 to July 2008.

“In 2020, Bentley Price Associates recognized Brian as one of our ‘Best of the Best’ leaders, an honor reserved for professionals whose character, leadership and industry contributions distinguish them among their peers,” Rizzo wrote.

Parrish studied political science on the University of Washington from 1981 to 1983, in response to his profile.

Bentley Price Associates provided condolences to Parrish’s household, buddies, colleagues and the communities he served.

“We are grateful to have recognized Brian as one of the very best in our industry, and we will remember him for the remarkable legacy of leadership he leaves behind,” Rizzo wrote.

In an April 8, 2025, interview with GamingAmerica, Parrish described why he continued working in tribal gaming after serving 4 tribes.

“It’s very gratifying to work in Indian Country because you can see who your shareholders are,” Parrish mentioned. “You can see that the revenue you’re generating is going to build homes and provide education and food security and water security. And it’s vitally important.”

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