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June 13, 2003Leaders say executive was a visionaryRead more:• GT Band executive Livingston resigns • Background in gaming from day in Las Vegas • Economic Development operations By Record-Eagle staff writer TRAVERSE CITY - Community leaders say Jeff Livingston is a dynamic, visionary leader and they will miss the man who built trust between the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians and the community. Livingston has resigned, effective July 15, as chief executive officer of the band's Economic Development Corp. and its Traverse Bay Entertainment casino business. "I'm just really sorry to see him go," said Deborah Knudsen, president of the Traverse City Convention and Visitors Bureau. "He's been a joy to work with." She said Livingston had visions of things that could be done that seemed almost impossible, but added, "That's how you move forward and get people moving." Knudsen and others said one of Livingston's major achievements, beyond the band's March purchase of the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa in Acme, was that he greatly improved relations and trust between the band and the community. "He is an excellent communicator and has done a good job of keeping Acme Township up on what's going on," township supervisor David Amon said. Amon said Livingston is a consensus builder, something critical for working through the thickets of tribal sovereignty, taxation, local governmental authority and zoning and development regulation. "He was always willing to sit down and openly and honestly discuss all issues and was an excellent liaison between the tribe and the community," Amon said. Douglas Luciani, president of the Traverse City Area Chamber of Commerce, said Livingston deserves credit also for training tribal members to move up the leadership ladder. "I think the team that he has put together, including Chris Bussey, is top notch," he said. "They now have a deep organizational chart." Bussey is assistant executive officer of the band's Economic Development Corp. and also serves on the chamber's board. He and Richard Bailey, who oversees day-to-day casino operations, are expected to share Livingston's duties as the tribe considers what it wants to do with the job. Charles Blankenship, president of the chamber's Traverse Bay Economic Development Corp., said he enjoyed working with Livingston, whom he described as "a dynamic and enthusiastic guy."
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