Jeff Duke

Executive Director of Hotel Operations

Jeff joined Northern Quest Resort & Casino’s team in February 2009 to oversee the construction, design and pre-opening activities of the hotel project.  His expertise in all aspects of casino hotel operations has brought a broad level of experience and strong leadership to the Northern Quest team. 

Jeff spent the majority of his 25-year career in the hospitality field at luxury resort properties, achieving and maintaining AAA 4-Diamond ratings for two of them over 15 years.  Fewer than 3% of all AAA-inspected properties worldwide hold this designation.  Jeff’s most immediate goal for Northern Quest is to achieve the AAA 4-Diamond rating.

Jeff often travels to Michigan, where he is from and where his wife Beth and four children still reside.  When in Michigan, Jeff is fully engulfed in his kids’ high school and collegiate sports.  Jeff enjoys watching professional sports.  He loves the Detroit Red Wings and is an avid NASCAR fan.  Danica Patrick, who recently joined the NASCAR ranks, has recently beaten out Jeff Gordon as Jeff’s favorite NASCAR driver.

Mimi Hall Gustafson

Director of Hotel Sales and Marketing

Mimi Hall Gustafson joined Northern Quest Resort & Casino’s team in July 2009 as Director of Hotel Sales and Marketing.  Mimi has spent a majority of her 20 year career in the hospitality industry specializing in destination resort sales and marketing.

In her previous leadership roles representing domestic and international luxury properties, she gained a broad understanding of the unique challenges and trends the hospitality industry faces in today’s economy.  Much of her career has been based in the Northwest, making her familiar with local, regional, national and international markets that are most inclined to consider the Spokane region as a travel destination

Mimi offers Northern Quest a breadth of hospitality industry knowledge and perspective with experience in several areas of the industry including destination resorts and a full-service integrative marketing firm specializing in the hospitality and high tech industries.

Mimi grew up back east, but fell in love with the west.  She and her husband Frank love to hike, ski and boat  as well as spend time exploring funky little mountain ski towns.   She and Frank have two “fur babies” – their Labrador Retrievers Gracie and Morgan.

Tim Rhodes

Sales Manager

Tim’s main focus as a member of Northern Quest Resort & Casino’s sales team is Association, Tour and Leisure Travel group bookings. 

Tim’s expertise comes from many years in the hotel sales and marketing industry, including nine years as a Convention Sales Manager for the Spokane Regional Convention & Visitors Bureau.  Tim gained skills and experience by holding several managerial and front-of-house positions for a number of major national hotel chains.    

Tim likes to spend time skiing in the winter and boating on local lakes in the summer with his wife Vickie and their triplet sons, Taylor, Zac and Chase, and their black lab Brewtus.

Paula Cohen

Sales Manager

Paula’s concentration for Northern Quest Resort & Casino’s sales team is corporate group and negotiated travel (by industry segment) as well as the social, non-profit, religious and fraternal market segments.

Paula joins Northern Quest with 22 years of hospitality industry experience supporting national brands such as Marriott and Disney.  She most recently held the position of Director of Catering and Conference Services at The Davenport Hotel and Tower in downtown Spokane.  Prior to the Davenport Hotel, Paula spent 11 years with Marriott working in various hotels and catering positions.

Paula has two daughters who reside in San Francisco. One of her daughters is a teacher and the other daughter is a registered dietician.  Outside of work, Paula loves to volunteer, hike and spend time in her garden.  She also enjoys sports.

Melissa Boland

Sales Manager

Melissa’s concentration for Northern Quest Resort & Casino’s sales team is corporate group and negotiated travel (by industry segment) as well as the military and education market segments.

Melissa’s knowledge and talent in the hospitality industry has developed through nearly 20 years of experience with hotel corporations in the northwest, southwest and New England. 

Melissa loves being with her family, no matter what they’re doing, but she particularly loves spending time traveling and enjoying the outdoors in the beautiful northwest.  Her favorite activities include hiking, biking and water sports.  As long as she’s surrounded by her family and friends, she’s always having a great time!

Stacy Sharp

Sales Assistant

Stacy joined Northern Quest Resort & Casino’s sales team as the hotel group sales assistant.  Stacy previously spent five years in the advertising industry as a media and production manager.  Prior to her tenure in advertising, Stacy held a sales representative position and a group reservations position with two other local hotels.

Stacy likes to watch sports and travel, and she loves bulldogs.