DALE JAGER

Tioga Downs has appointed DALE JAGER as its new senior regional director of food & beverage for the resort’s culinary team. A certified executive chef, he joins the Tioga Downs Casino Resort team after nearly 40 years of experience in the culinary industry. A founding member of the Chefs de Cuisine organization in Montana, Jager began his career with an apprenticeship set up through the American Culinary Federation. He later worked at a few Las Vegas casinos, including the Mirage and Excalibur. He also was an adjunct professor in the food and beverage department at UNLV, made weekly television appearances on his own cooking show, and chaired the Nevada VICA Skills USA Culinary Competition. In 2002, Jager accepted a position in Tulsa, Oklahoma with Cherokee Nation Enterprises as corporate executive chef, where he was responsible for overseeing the entire culinary operation, including 140 cooks. During his tenure at the Cherokee Casino Resort, Jager was responsible for the development of new restaurants and the addition of more than 20 new food and beverage outlets across several corporate properties. In 2011, he brought his skills to the Ford McDowell Casino Resort in Arizona, where he served as director of food & beverage and executive chef, opening additional food outlets and bars at the property while improving profitability and inter-department efficiencies. From there, Jager served as director of food & beverage at the Seven Feathers Casino in Oregon, and then ultimately the Silver Sevens Casino in Las Vegas. Jager earned his associate degree in business management and, in 2020, graduated from Northern Arizona University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.