Corporate Personnel

Gary Palmer

Gary Palmer, President and CEO, joined Prairie Meadows in 1998. Gary has lived in eastern Polk County, Iowa all his life, having graduated from Bondurant-Farrar High School and Drake University, Des Moines, with a BA degree in business management. Gary served on the board of Racing Association of Central Iowa (RACI) from 1994-1998 before becoming a full-time staff member at Prairie Meadows.

Gary serves on the board of directors of the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines and Des Moines Sports Authority, and is a member of the Grand View Planning Committee. He is a past member of the Bondurant-Farrar School board, Northeast Polk Development Group, and Polk County Aviation Authority. He has also been active in the Altoona Chamber of Commerce, East Polk Rotary Club, Junior Achievement of Central Iowa, King David Masonic Lodge, United Way of Central Iowa, and Za Ga Zig Shrine.

Gary honorably served in the US Air Force from 1965-1969, including a one-year tour of duty in Vietnam. Gary and his wife Ginger have two daughters, Wendy and Amanda.

Ann Long-Richards

Ann Long-Richards is the Vice President and CFO at Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino. A resident of the immediate Des Moines area since 1974, Ms. Long-Richards joined Prairie Meadows in 1998. She is a Drake University alumna and a Certified Public Accountant (C.P.A.). She earned a master's degree in business administration from Iowa State University, Ames, and graduated from the Dale Carnegie leadership course in 2003. She is a 2004 alumna of the Transformational Leadership program hosted by the Greater Des Moines Partnership Leadership Institute.

Ms. Long-Richards previously worked in the Des Moines business community as group controller [Aramark Uniform Services]; facility accounting manager [Life Care Services]; and general ledger coordinator [American Republic Insurance Co.]. She is a member of the Iowa Society of Certified Public Accountants. Together with spouse Larry Richards, the couple has four children.

Ann Atkin

Ann Atkin, Vice President of Operations, was born near Cave Junction, Oregon and spent her youth on her parents' cattle ranch. Ann graduated from Illinois Valley High School in Cave Junction and lived for a number of years in California and Nevada. She completed gaming and casino operations classes at the University of Nevada-Reno and is a 20-year veteran of the casino industry, having worked in Missouri, Louisiana, and Nevada.

During the time that Ann lived in Louisiana, she was a volunteer for "Paint Your Heart Out-Shreveport," a nonprofit organization that restored houses for the City's fixed income residents. Before joining Prairie Meadows in 2000, Ann was Director of Casino Operations at Players Island Casino, St. Louis, Missouri. Ann's three children also live in the Des Moines area.

Bill Antone

Bill Antone joined Prairie Meadows as Director of Food and Beverage in June 2007. A graduate from Florida State University with a bachelor of science in hospitality administration, Bill launched his career in the Atlanta, Georgia, hotel market. There, he gained experience leading to positions in restaurant upper management that included room service manager, food and beverage cost controller, food and beverage director, purchasing director, and restaurant manager. He was operations controller and, later, director of restaurants on the executive team responsible for opening the 1800-room 4-Diamond Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi. Bill also worked in the Orlando, Florida, market where he was restaurant general manager overseeing two independent food service operations. In addition, he was food and beverage director at the Nickelodeon Family Suites and was an independent operations consultant for seven family-owned restaurants. Bill is an active member of the FSU Alumni Association and FSU Seminole Boosters. He is married to Kim, a pharmacist with Walgreen’s. The couple has three sons, who eagerly anticipate their first winter with snow.

Dan Byers

Dan Byers, a lifelong resident of Polk County, joined Prairie Meadows in 1998. After graduation from Bondurant-Farrar Community High School, Dan earned a bachelor of science degree in distributive studies from Iowa State University. He began working in human resources at the Firestone-Des Moines plant in 1972 and retired from that organization in 1998.

In addition, Dan completed a one-year tour of duty in Vietnam and attained the Sergeant's E-5 ranking while he honorably served in the United States Army from 1965 to 1967. His hobbies include farming and raising horses. Dan and his wife, Betty, have a son, a daughter, and four grandchildren.

Elaine Castelline

Elaine Castelline joined Prairie Meadows in 1998 as an accounting supervisor and has recently been promoted to Director of Accounting. Elaine’s 20 years of tax and accounting experience include previous employment as a staff accountant for a certified public accounting firm in South Carolina. In addition, Elaine is a recipient of Who’s Who Among Students in America’s Junior Colleges.

She is active in Junior Achievement and is a Stephen Minister, one who provides Christian outreach through formalized one-on-one caregiving. Elaine is married and has two sons.

Bob Gorla

Bob Gorla, Director of Facilities, is a Des Moines native and has been with Prairie Meadows since 1989. He is a graduate of Lincoln High School and has attended the University of Iowa, majoring in business. Before joining Prairie Meadows in 1989, Bob owned a construction firm and was property manager at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines. Bob and his wife, Nikki, have four sons.

Tony Guzman

Tony Guzman, Director of Information Technology, joined Prairie Meadows in September 2001. A Des Moines, Iowa native and a graduate of Lincoln High School, he also has training from Des Moines Area Community College, Ankeny. Before coming to Prairie Meadows, he was technical supervisor at RR Donnelley Printing. Tony has three daughters, Dana, Miranda, and Cassandra and a son, Tony.

Derron Heldt

Derron Heldt, Director of Racing, has been with Prairie Meadows since 1997. Derron previously worked in numerous capacities as a racing official at Oaklawn Park, Aksarben, Canterbury Downs, Lincoln State Fair, and Columbus Race Course. Derron is a graduate of the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, with a BA degree in agriculture. He has been active in the racing industry since early childhood, working with race horses on his parents' ranch in Nebraska.

Derron is a participating member of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association and serves on the board of the Prairie Meadows Track Chaplaincy. Derron and his wife, Chris, have three children.

Paul Johnson

Paul Johnson joined Prairie Meadows in 1995 and was promoted to Director of Slots in 2006. He graduated from Detroit Lakes High School in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, and he attended State College in Fergus Falls, MN. Paul is a veteran of the United States Military, having honorably served in the Air National Guard and Army Reserves. Before he joined Prairie Meadows, Paul worked for Keebler Company, Merit Baking Company [Archway], and CPS Corporation. Paul is a 2003 graduate of the Greater Des Moines Transformational Leadership Institute. He previously coached the Bondurant Soccer Club and Bondurant Little League, having been president and vice president, respectively, of those two organizations. He formerly chaired the Bondurant Parks and Recreation Board and is also a past vice president of the Bondurant-Farrar Athletic Booster Club. Paul has been a longtime member of the Bondurant Men’s Club. He and Janis have a daughter, Tiffany; a son, Mike (Tisa); and a grandson, Theodore.

Kevin McDonald

Des Moines native Kevin McDonald, who joined Prairie Meadows in August 2006 as the new Director of Special Events, is a graduate of Valley High School. Kevin’s involvement during his youth with Drake Athletics earned him an athletic scholarship to Utah State University. From there, he transferred to the University of Iowa to major in sports management, returning later to the Des Moines area to work as clubhouse manager for the Iowa Cubs.

In 1996, Kevin began his career with the Arena Football League in Minnesota. He went on to become the director of operations for the Iowa Barnstormers, Chicago Rush, and Kansas City Brigade Arena Football League [AFL] franchises. During his ten years with the AFL, Kevin directed the events for three ArenaBowl league championships and he served as operations consultant to the Philadelphia Soul. Also during that time, he provided management services for his extended family on behalf of Mondo’s Restaurant. Kevin’s volunteer work includes the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Kevin and his spouse have two children.

Renee Montgomery

Renee Montgomery, a native of Ames, joined Prairie Meadows in 2002 and was promoted to Director of Vault Operations in 2006. She graduated from Gilbert High School, attended Pikes Peak Community College in Colorado, and Iowa State University. Renee has 15 years’ experience within the casino industry, having worked previously in various state-regulated Colorado casinos, two tribal casinos in Kansas (Kickapoo Tribe of Kansas and the Iowa Tribe of Nebraska and Kansas), along with three Iowa Riverboat Casinos. Renee has been certified in cash operations protection, security and risk management, pit games asset protection, slot ops asset protection, table games training, and casino management.

During the time she lived in Colorado, Renee also volunteered as an EMT-B-IV/Firefighter I, with two fire departments along with working at St. Francis/Penrose,Woodland Park and Cripple Creek Ambulance Services. Prior to entering the casino industry, Renee worked for the United States Olympic Committee sports medicine division. She previously participated in the Ames Minor Hockey Association, Pikes Peak Amateur Hockey Association, Gilbert Adult Coed Softball Association, Gilbert Little League and Gilbert Days Committee. She is active in Junior Achievement and has been involved with Hospice of Central Iowa/Israel House in Ames. Renee has a daughter, a son, and a grandson.

Hector Morales

With more than 34 years in the casino industry, Hector Morales joined Prairie Meadows in November 2006 as director of table games. During his youth, the native of New York State moved with his family to Puerto Rico where he graduated from high school and received an associate degree in accounting in 1973 from the University of Puerto Rico. His first employer was the El San Juan Hotel in Puerto Rico where he was a junior accountant, cage supervisor, and table games dealer. Through 1989, Hector’s employment as a gaming consultant and member of upper management in the gaming industry led him across the Southern Hemisphere to The Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Uruguay, and Argentina. In 1989, Hector became vice president of marketing for Carnival Cruise Line’s Crystal Palace in Nassau, Bahamas. From 1992-2003, he was executive vice president of Latin America Operations at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and was at MGM’s New York, New York from 2004 to 2006 immediately before coming to Prairie Meadows. He is a graduate of PSI Life Success programs and he has completed numerous men’s leadership studies. Together, Hector and Lisa Morales have two daughters, Michelle and Betty; two sons, Hector Luis and Stefan; and two grandchildren, Ivan and Jasselyn. His hobbies include golfing and playing the guitar.

Pam Nash

Pam Nash, Assistant Director of Facilities, spent her youth in Marion, Iowa. She began working at Prairie Meadows in January 1989, prior to the completion of the facility’s original construction. A graduate of Linn-Mar High School, Pam attended Iowa State University where she majored in agricultural education. In 2004, Pam graduated from the Transformational Leadership program hosted by the Greater Des Moines Partnership Leadership Institute. She is a member of the International Facility Management Association and the International Executive Housekeepers Association.

Jeff Nelson

Jeff Nelson joined the Prairie Meadows team as Director of Marketing in January 2007. A native of Kansas City, Missouri, Jeff earned a degree in advertising from the University of Missouri in 1991 and he entered the casino industry in 1994 to facilitate the opening of Station Casino Kansas City. In 1996, Jeff transferred to Las Vegas where he was marketing director for three casinos—Station Casinos Inc., the Tropicana Resort and Casino, and the Sahara Hotel and Casino. He was previously an advisory board member for the School of Finance at the University of Kansas, a volunteer for Special Olympics, and a coach for Pop Warner Football. Jeff lives with his wife, Melissa, and son, Trey.

Clint Pursley

Clint Pursley, Director of Security, was born in Moline, Illinois, and joined Prairie Meadows in 1995. He is a graduate of United Township High School and has 14 years' experience in the casino industry, having worked in Illinois before coming to Iowa. In addition, Clint has completed courses in Casino Operations, Games Protection, Surveillance Operations & Management, Fraud Detection & Prevention at the University of Nevada, and Hazardous Materials Operation at ISU, Emergency Response to Terrorism, Emergency Program Manager, and EOC Management & Operations through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

He is a 2004 graduate of the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute and is a member of the National Chiefs of Police Association, American Society of Industrial Security, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, King David Masonic Lodge, and Za Ga Zig Shrine. He also served two years on the board of directors of the Polk County Crime Stoppers. Clint is married to Beverly and has two sons, Nick and Dustin.

Raymond C. Sears

Central Iowa native Ray Sears is the Director of Logistics at Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino, Altoona, Iowa. He currently is responsible for the activities of Prairie Meadows Purchasing, Wardrobe, and Receiving & Distribution Departments. Since joining Prairie Meadows in 1995, Sears has been Director of Purchasing, Assistant Director of Accounting-Logistics, Assistant Director of Facilities, and Facilities Project Manager. His area of expertise includes strategic and operational planning, centralized purchasing, and project management.

Sears earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from University of Iowa, Iowa City, majoring in business management and industrial relations. He is also an alumnus of the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute. During his 30-year career in the public and private sectors, Sears was employed by Polk County, Iowa government, 1975-1991, serving as its first professional administrator from 1983-1991. Sears previously chaired the Building Committee of Riverfront YMCA Board of Managers and was vice chair of the Iowa Health Systems Agency Sub-Area IV Board of Directors. He also served on the board of directors of The United Way of Central Iowa.

His current professional and civic memberships include Institute of Supply Management and Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute. He was formerly a member of the Greater Des Moines Chamber of Commerce Federation, National Association of County Administrators, American Society of Public Administrators, and Area XI Dislocated Workers Center Advisory Committee. Sears is married to Jan and is the father of two daughters, Erin and Joanna. In his leisure time, he likes to golf and read.

Julie Stewart

Julie Stewart joined Prairie Meadows in 1989 during the organization’s first year of operation. She became assistant director of marketing in 1996, was appointed interim director of marketing in 2006, and a short time later was named director of community relations.

Julie earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri. She is also a graduate of the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute’s TLP and CLP programs and Leadership Iowa.

She currently serves on the boards of Greater Des Moines Leadership, Des Moines Arts Festival, and Des Moines Events Group, chairs the Altoona Elementary Hospitality Committee and is a Girl Scout leader for the Moingona Council. Julie is also a member of the Altoona Chamber of Commerce and Polk County Democrats.

Julie and her husband Mark have three children.

Tony Stork

Tony Stork, Assistant Director of Information Technology, joined Prairie Meadows in 1999, having worked over the years here as a network analyst, help desk specialist, and system analyst. Previous to Prairie Meadows, Tony spent 12 years in the health care industry as an administrator and regional director covering Indiana and Michigan. In 1983, Tony received a bachelor’s degree from Loras College (Dubuque, Iowa) and, in 1986, he earned a master’s degree from Miami (Oxford) University in Oxford, Ohio. At Hamilton College (Des Moines), he earned certifications as a Microsoft Certified System Engineer (MCSE) and Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP). Tony serves as a youth soccer coach. Tony and his wife, Sandra, have four children-Riley, Sydney, Peyton, Parker and Kendall.

Marvin Shoemaker

Marvin Shoemaker joined Prairie Meadows in January 1995 in the Security Department and was promoted to assistant director in 1998. Prior to his employment at Prairie Meadows, Marvin served on the Des Moines Fire Department for seventeen years where he was a fire media and lieutenant. Thereafter, he worked seven years in plant protection and was production supervisor at the Des Moines Firestone tire and rubber plant. Marvin is married, has two children and four grandchildren.

John Tinker

John Tinker joined the Prairie Meadows security department in 2004 and was appointed director of surveillance in July 2006. Following graduation from Delhi Consolidated High School in 1956, he served in the United States Army and was honorably discharged in 1961. In 1962, he began a career with the Des Moines Police Department and he joined the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation [DCI] in 1968. He received a bachelor of arts degree from Drake University in 1977 and that same year he graduated from the National FBI Academy. He retired from the DCI as assistant director in 1993 and, that same year, he joined the Iowa State University Police Department where he managed the Central Iowa Drug Task Force until his retirement in 2003. John is a past president of the Iowa Chapter of the FBI National Academy Associates. John and Jackie Tinker have two sons; David Tinker, who is an officer on the Altoona Police force, and Patrick Tinker, a member of the management team at Wells Fargo Banks.