SANTA YNEZ, Calif., March 17, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Longtime tribal leader Vincent Armenta announced his resignation as Tribal Chairman of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians.
Armenta was first elected to the role of Tribal Chairman in December 1999 and has been re-elected in every tribal election since. He has been a tireless advocate for his tribe and has been instrumental in positioning the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians as one of the most successful tribes in California.
"Nearly 17 years ago when I first became Tribal Chairman, I was a young man who had no tribal government experience, but what I did have was a strong desire to work on behalf of my tribe to take us to the next level and position our tribe for a better future," said Armenta. "I believe I have done that."
Along with his fellow Business Committee members, Armenta built a thriving business enterprise composed of the Chumash Casino Resort, Hotel Corque, Root 246, the Hadsten House, two gas stations and a winery. The tribe also has a growing real estate portfolio that includes parcels throughout the Santa Ynez Valley.
A new Tribal Chairman will be elected according to the tribe's articles of organization. The tribe's Vice Chairman, Kenneth Kahn, will serve as the Interim Tribal Chairman.
"Under Chairman Armenta's leadership, our tribe has traveled further than any of us ever thought possible," said Kenneth Kahn, Interim Tribal Chairman of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. "He led our tribe from relative obscurity to being one of the most visible and dynamic tribes in the nation. I am grateful for all that he has done for our tribe and wish him the best."
Armenta was accepted to the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Hyde Park, New York and will leave his position as a tribal leader to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree in culinary arts.
"I have always enjoyed cooking, but it's been a lifetime dream to delve further into the culinary arts and enhance my talents in this area," said Armenta. "When one of my sons attended CIA a few years ago, I thought that someday I would attend – and that day has come."
Armenta will start classes in the next few months. "I will watch with great interest as our tribe's new Tribal Chairman leads our tribe toward an even brighter future," he said.
The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians owns and operates the Chumash Casino Resort, which is located on the tribe's reservation on Highway 246 in Santa Ynez, California. The tribe also owns Hotel Corque, Root 246 and the Hadsten House in Solvang and two gas stations in Santa Ynez. As the largest employer in the Santa Ynez Valley, the tribe employs more than 1,700 residents of Santa Barbara County.
See timeline below
| TRIBAL CHAIRMAN VINCENT ARMENTA TIMELINE |
|
| December 1999 |
Elected to Tribal Chairman |
| March 2001 |
Re-elected to Tribal Chairman |
| July 2002 |
Tribe broke ground on $157 million new casino project |
| March 2003 |
Re-elected to Tribal Chairman |
| June 2003 |
Chumash Casino Resort opened |
| May 2004 |
Chumash Casino Resort Hotel opened |
| March 2005 |
Re-elected to Tribal Chairman |
| November 2006 |
Tribe purchased Royal Scandinavian Inn in Solvang |
| March 2007 |
Re-elected to Tribal Chairman |
| April 2008 |
Tribe published comprehensive Samala dictionary |
| March 2009 |
Re-elected to Tribal Chairman |
| May 2009 |
Tribe refurbished and rebranded the Royal Scandinavian Inn as Hotel Corque and Meadows restaurant as Root 246 |
| April 2010 |
Tribe purchased 1,390 acres known as Camp 4 |
| March 2011 |
Re-elected to Tribal Chairman |
| October 2011 |
Highway 154 designated "Chumash Highway" by California Legislature |
| May 2012 |
Tribe purchased Hadsten House in Solvang |
| May 2012 |
Chairman Armenta testified before Congress on trust land |
| March 2013 |
Re-elected to Tribal Chairman |
| May 2013 |
Tribe launched Kitá Wines |
| February 2014 |
Tribe and city of Solvang entered into a formal government- to-government relationship |
| June 2014 |
Bureau of Indian Affairs placed 6.9 acres into federal trust |
| September 2014 |
Tribe hired renowned architects Jones & Jones for museum |
| October 2014 |
Tribe began construction on $175 million casino expansion |
| November 2014 |
Tribe reached agreement with Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department to provide services to reservation |
| December 2014 |
Bureau of Indian Affairs issued "Notice of Decision" on placing Camp 4 land into federal trust |
| March 2015 |
Re-elected to Tribal Chairman |
| May 2015 |
Tribe reached agreement with Santa Barbara County Fire Department to provide services to reservation and beyond |
| June 2015 |
Chairman Armenta testified before Congress on HR 1157 |
| July 2015 |
Tribe purchased 350 acres adjacent to Camp 4 |
| August 2015 |
Tribe and city of Lompoc established formal government-to-government relationship |
| September 2015 |
Re-negotiated Tribal-State compact ratified by California Legislature |
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160317/345585
SOURCE Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians
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