Jodie Palmer, Tribal Chairwoman

At-Large District

Jodie Palmer was elected to serve on Tribal Council, representing the At-Large District, in 2016 and started serving full time in May of 2017. Growing up locally, in Allegan, Jodie is the daughter of Noel Webb and grandaughter of Stephen Marks. Jodie has been married over 45 years to her husband, Rick. Each of Jodie’s three children work for the Gun Lake Tribe and she has seven beautiful grandchildren that live within five miles of her. She has made it her personal mission to live her life following the Seven Grandfather Teachings and she has begun her journey to officially join the Three Fires Midewiwin Lodge.

Jodie is very proud of the Gun Lake Tribe and the great services that are offered to take care of its Citizens and their families. She is extremely involved in several areas of the Tribe serving on the Education’s Kinomage Committee, the Housing Committee, Elders Committee, the Tribal Gaming Authority, the Design Review Committee and previously on the Language Advisory Committee. Jodie also works hard outside of the Tribal Government and serves as the Secretary on the Catching the Dream Board and the Michigan Indian Elders Association Executive Board. She’s also a member of the Kalamazoo Art League Board, Title IV Indian Education Parent Advisory Committee, YWCA One World Committee and the ERAC/E Committee.

Eric Sprague, Vice Chairman

Bradley District

Eric Sprague’s most recent role within the Tribe was as the Chief Operations Officer. Born in Marshall, Michigan, he spent his first years on the Pine Creek Indian Reservation in Athens. He obtained his first bachelor’s degree in Natural Science in two years, but took another year to continue studying chemistry and microbiology/bacteriology, graduating in the year 2000. He worked at several Fortune 50 companies, most notably FedEx, which moved him to Las Vegas in an opportunity to build a new business category related to the Casino Gaming Industry, which he saw as an opportunity to build valuable gaming experience he could one day bring back to the Tribe.

Eric later moved back to Michigan to work for Gun Lake Tribe Public Safety in 2016 and was offered the role as the Chief Operations Officer for the Tribe in 2020. He started during the height of the pandemic and worked with Tribal Council, Gun Lake Investments, Gun Lake Casino, and government partners to navigate the ever-changing pandemic landscape. During that time, he also worked with Tribal Council and Development to build infrastructure needed for our new hotel and our future.

Ben Brenner, Secretary

Salem District

Ben Brenner was elected to the Gun Lake Tribal Council in August 2020, representing the Salem District. The grandson of Rev. Lewis White Eagle Church and Gladys Church and the son of Frances Church-Pratt, Ben has deep roots within the Gun Lake Tribe. He grew up in the Hopkins area, where he continues to reside with his wife, Stacy, and their three daughters, Grace, Olivia, and Claire.

Ben is committed to protecting Tribal sovereignty, restoring and exercising treaty rights, honoring the vision of Tribal Elders, and creating opportunities for future generations. His approach to leadership is grounded in fairness, thoughtful decision-making, and a willingness to listen to and understand different perspectives while keeping the best interests of the Tribal community at the forefront.

Prior to his election to Tribal Council, Ben served the Tribe as Tribal Administrator and Senior Director of Operations. His service to the Tribe has also included roles as a Gaming Commissioner and as a member of the Health & Human Services Committee and Finance & Audit Committee. These experiences have given him a broad understanding of Tribal government, operations, and the responsibilities that come with serving the community.

Ben earned his Juris Doctor from Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School and a Bachelor of Science from Ferris State University. He is currently an MBA candidate through the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, further strengthening his knowledge of leadership, strategy, and organizational management.

Outside of his Tribal Council responsibilities, Ben’s greatest priority is his family. He enjoys spending time outdoors hunting, fishing, hiking, and camping, as well as basketball and football. Whether at home or in the community, Ben takes great pride in being a husband, father, Tribal Citizen, and serving the Gun Lake Tribe.

Ed Pigeon, Treasurer

Salem District

Ed Pigeon served his Tribal community for 21 years on Tribal Council, with a majority of that time being spent as Tribal  Vice Chairman. He served as acting Chairman when D.K. Sprague retired and as the acting Tribal Administrator for several different periods throughout the years. He was also a Council representative on Gun Lake Casino’s initial  Development Board and Business Board, where he assisted with the initial planning, construction and operations of the  Casino.

During prior terms, Pigeon helped to create the Sovereign Fund and supported the formation of Gun Lake Investments,  serving on numerous boards and committees. As a member of the Health and Human Services Committee, he provided advocacy for Tribal children in Indian Child Welfare cases. He served on the Advisory Committee for nearly every Tribal  Department, sat on various non-profit boards and served a term as a commissioner for the State of Michigan. His experience also includes serving on the Gun Lake Investments Board of Directors and working at the Grand Rapids Public Museum as the Anishinabe Curator.

Brian Trevan, Councilor

At-Large District

For more than 13 years, Brian Trevan dedicated himself to the success of Gun Lake Casino, where he was one of two remaining “Day-One” Tribal Citizens employed. He started his gaming career in the Las Vegas market and after several years of gaining valuable knowledge and experience, he returned home to be part of the opening team at Gun Lake Casino. There, he was able to not only apply his Vegas experience, but also his education. Trevan is a proud graduate of Western Michigan University with a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree. He also completed a postgraduate Executive Development Program through UNLV and the University of Nevada, Reno learning from some of the most influential gaming-hospitality executives worldwide.

During his gaming career, he was fortunate enough to have opened Encore (Wynn Las Vegas) in VIP Services and The M Resort Spa & Casino in Player Development. He then went on to work for Gun Lake Casino’s opening management company, Station Casinos, at Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa; also specializing in Player Development. He has considered it an honor and a privilege to serve our Citizens for over 13 years, contributing to one of our largest assets.

Amy Austin, Councilor

Bradley District

Amy Austin has dedicated most of her life serving the Tribe – on the Justice Committee and as a Gaming Commissioner, where she gained valuable experience in tribal governance, accountability, and responsible decision making. Her professional background in Compliance has strengthened her ability to understand policies, regulations, and organizational responsibilities while maintaining integrity and transparency. She serves as the Treasurer on the Pow Wow Committee and is very proud to see how the event has grown over the years. For the four years before being elected to Council, she worked as Executive Assistant to Tribal Council. This, along with her past positions, has provided her with firsthand knowledge of Tribal government operations and the challenges and opportunities facing our Nation.

Amy is a graduate of Western Michigan University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in human resource management and a minor in business administration. Earning her degree later in life taught her that growth, learning, and perseverance are lifelong pursuits. She is currently enrolled in a certification class to better understand Tribal Self Governance.

Hunter Levandoski, Councilor

Bradley District

Hunter Levandoski was raised with deep respect for our people, our sovereignty, and our shared responsibility to protect and strengthen our Tribal Nation. He feels fortunate to have learned from Tribal elders, family members, and community leaders who shared stories, knowledge, and insight into our Tribal history. Those lessons shaped his passion for service and commitment to helping move our Tribe forward.

From a young age, he had opportunities to serve and learn within the Tribe, interning with multiple departments within Tribal Government.  Most recently, his time with the Gun Lake Tribal Police Department strengthened his passion for law enforcement, community service, and serving his people while serving as a Gun Lake Tribal K9 Officer. He believes serving our Nation as one of its own is one of the strongest ways to represent and protect our sovereignty. In addition to his work in law enforcement, he is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Hunter has been a member of the Election Committee for several years, which helped him to better appreciate the significance of participation, justice, and confidence in our Tribal administration.