Today, officials with Wild Rose Entertainment announced the new general manager of Wild Rose Jefferson.
Mike Couch has been involved in the gaming industry for over two decades and has been licensed in three different states including Iowa, Illinois and Florida. He started his career in the gaming industry in 1993 after an honorable discharge from the United States Air Force. In 2006, he was the casino manager for Wild Rose Emmetsburg before relocating to another casino at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida.
Wild Rose Chief Operating Officer and President Tom Timmons says when they were deciding who they wanted as the general manager, Couch fit their description well.
“Mike is very knowledge and a nice guy. That’s the most important thing to me, maybe not unlike other industries but definitely in a casino. You want somebody that’s friendly, accepts people, accepts their advice if you well, accepts some of the criticisms that goes with it. But in the end, he’s very approachable and I want that for our employees, I want it for our community and obviously for our patrons.”
Couch will be working to fill management positions while also overseeing the completion of the facility construction on the northwest corner of US Highway 30 and Iowa Highway 4. He anticipates in the spring to start filling the rest of the 275 jobs that will generate an estimated $7 million payroll to the local economy.
The anticipated opening of the casino and entertainment complex is by August 1, 2015.