Veteran tribal gaming executive brings decades of leadership experience to the Tejon Indian Tribe's property

METTLER, Calif., Sept. 28, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Tejon Indian Tribe and Hard Rock Casino Tejon today announced the appointment of Mike Bean as Property President. Bean joins Hard Rock Casino Tejon following his tenure as Chief Executive Officer of Morongo Casino Resort & Spa and will officially assume his new role on October 5.

Bean brings more than 30 years of experience in the gaming and hospitality industry, with much of his career spent in leadership roles within tribal gaming enterprises. His experience includes serving as Chief Executive Officer of Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment in Arizona, along with senior leadership roles at several major gaming and resort organizations.

"On behalf of the Tejon Indian Tribe, we are proud to welcome Mike Bean to Hard Rock Casino Tejon," said Octavio Escobedo III, Chairman of the Tejon Indian Tribe. "Mike understands tribal gaming and the responsibility that comes with leading an enterprise that supports a Tribal Nation and its future. He has built a reputation for developing strong teams, delivering operational excellence and creating exceptional experiences for guests and team members alike. We have accomplished a great deal in a short period of time, and with continued growth and new developments on the horizon, we are confident Mike is the right leader to guide our property into its next chapter."

"Mike's proven track record and deep experience in tribal gaming make him an outstanding fit for Hard Rock Casino Tejon. We're excited to welcome him to the Hard Rock family and look forward to working alongside him and the Tejon Indian Tribe as the property continues to grow," said Jeff Hook, COO of Hard Rock International.

Bean succeeds Chris Kelley, who guided the property through its opening and successful first year of operations. "We thank Chris for his leadership and dedication during an important period in our history, and we wish him continued success," said Chairman Escobedo.

During his first early weeks, Bean will focus on meeting team members, learning the operation and immersing himself in the culture that has driven the property's early success.

About Hard Rock Casino Tejon
Since its opening, Hard Rock Casino Tejon has positioned itself as a premier entertainment destination along the I-5 corridor, just 90 minutes north of Los Angeles. The property features 150,000 square feet of gaming space, 2,100 slot machines, over 60 table games, and multiple dining destinations, including the iconic Hard Rock Cafe, The Marketplace, Deep Cut Steak | Seafood and YouYu.

The entertainment venue is located less than 15 miles south of Bakersfield, on Tejon Indian tribal land in Mettler, situated at the southernmost tip of California's Southern San Joaquin Valley and nestled near the base of the historic Grapevine Mountain Pass that connects Southern California to the Central Valley. This region of the San Joaquin Valley is home to one of the most productive agricultural counties in the country and is the center point of the state with access to the Central Coast and both Northern and Southern California within a couple hours' drive.

About Hard Rock^® 
Hard Rock International (HRI) is one of the most globally recognized companies with venues in nearly 80 countries spanning more than 300 venues including owned/licensed or managed Hotels, Casinos, Rock Shops®, Live Performance Locations and Cafes. Beginning with an Eric Clapton guitar, Hard Rock owns the world's largest and most valuable collection of authentic music memorabilia with more than 89,000 pieces displayed at locations around the globe. The Unity™ by Hard Rock global loyalty program rewards members for doing the things they love across participating properties. In addition, Hard Rock Digital spotlights the sports betting and iGaming experience with products remixed in the spirit of Hard Rock for players worldwide.

HRI has received numerous industry, destination and workplace awards across the travel, hospitality, gaming, entertainment and food & beverage sectors. HRI currently holds investment grades from primary investment-grade rating agencies: S&P Global Ratings (BBB), Moody's Investors Service (Baa2), and Fitch Ratings (BBB). For more information on Hard Rock International, visit www.hardrock.com or shop.hardrock.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hard-rock-casino-tejon-names-mike-bean-as-property-president-302890977.html

SOURCE Hard Rock International