As Chairman, James Gessner Jr. is responsible for maintaining the sovereignty that the Mohegan Tribe fought hundreds of years for, overseeing its numerous business entities and ensuring the well-being of its more than 2,300+ Tribal citizens. In his role, Gessner also serves as Chairman of the Mohegan Management Board which oversees gaming entities across the country, as well as our WNBA professional sports team, the Connecticut Sun.
Gessner was first elected to the Tribal Council in 2005 and served as Vice Chairman before becoming Chairman. Gessner holds a bachelor’s degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management from the University of Southwestern Louisiana, and prior to his terms on the Council, he held executive positions at Mohegan Sun in the Marketing and Player Development divisions. He resides in Waterford, CT with his wife, Carol, and daughter, Nola. He also has an adult son, Nicholas; daughter-in-law, Christina; and grandson, Carter.