About Our Team

The Kehl Management team has decades of experience in successful casino management and development

Dan Kehl

Dan Kehl

CEO, Elite Casino Resorts LLC

Mr. Dan Kehl is the Chief Executive Officer and a board member of Elite Casino Resorts, LLC with 28 years of experience in the gaming industry. Mr. Kehl started his career in the gaming industry with the opening of the United States’ first gambling riverboat, the Dubuque Casino Belle, Inc., where he was a member of the development team and served as boat manager.

In 1993, he was employed by Summit Riverboat Casinos in Reno, Nevada as Director of Marine Operations, which included responsibility for new site development and the study of casino operations for acquisition and expansion. From 1994 through 2002, he served as General Manager of Catfish Bend Casinos, Burlington, Iowa where his responsibilities included start-up of the project, overall management of the operations, the acquisition and renovation of a new riverboat vessel and other gaming-related projects. Mr. Kehl served on the Catfish Bend Executive Management Committee on behalf of Kehl Development prior to its sale in 2006. Mr. Kehl was the Boat Manager, Vice President and a member of the Board of Directors for the Mississippi Belle II, Inc. in Clinton, Iowa.

In 2004, Mr. Kehl helped lead the charge to change legislation that would allow for land-based casinos in Iowa. Mr. Kehl led the passage of a referendum in Washington County, the application of a license by the gaming commission and the construction of a $120 million resort that created a new paradigm for gaming in Iowa from small riverboats to world-class destination resorts. Five years later, he led efforts to locate a casino in rural northwest Iowa. In 2010, he was granted the only license, one of four applicants, issued by the state for what would later become Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort. He developed a second destination resort with amenities that include a Rees Jones designed golf course, hotel, spa, event center and multiple dining outlets-all completed in less than 12 months.

In 2014, Kehl led efforts to acquire a riverboat in Davenport, Iowa with the intention to convert it to a land-based resort. The Rhythm City Casino Resort opened in 2016 as a beautiful property located on several hundred acres of new development in Davenport. Mr. Kehl is the CEO of Elite Casino Resorts, which owns and operates all three properties; Riverside Casino & Golf Resort, Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort and Rhythm City Casino Resort. All three properties are the market leaders in their respective markets. He is also the owner of Kehl Management, the management company for all three Elite Casino Resorts properties which continues to look for development opportunities throughout the state and country. Their goal is to provide the highest possible level of guest satisfaction, in high-quality facilities with multiple amenities, utilizing a conservative management style all aimed at increasing revenues. This ensures maximum returns for the not-for-profit partners in the communities they partner with, the counties and cities in which they reside, and for the local investors.

In 2019, Mr. Kehl also helped lead the charge to change legislation to allow for sports wagering in Iowa. After the legislation was passed, Mr. Kehl created the Elite Sportsbook, a new wholly owned subsidiary of Elite Casino Resorts to operate retail and online sportsbooks.

 

Bobby Kehl

Bobby Kehl

Executive Director of Golf and Board Member, Elite Casino Resorts LLC

Mr. Bobby Kehl has a depth of knowledge in the Iowa casino industry. He serves as an Executive Director at Riverside Casino & Golf Resort and is a member of the Board of Directors at Elite Casino Resorts, LLC, Washington County Casino Resort, LLC, Lyon County Resort & Casino, LLC and Scott County Casino, LLC.

Mr. Kehl started his career in the casino industry with the opening of the first casino riverboat, Dubuque Casino Belle, Inc., in 1991. He served as General Manager of the Mississippi Belle II, Inc. in Clinton, Iowa from 1999 until its sale in 2006. Mr. Kehl is Chairman of the Board of the Savanna-Thomson State Bank with branches in Savanna, Thomson and Mt. Carroll, Illinois.

Mr. Kehl graduated from the American Institute of Business in Business Administration and Accounting.

Karlyn Ollendick

COO, Elite Casino Resorts LLC

Ms. Karlyn Ollendick is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Elite Casino Resorts, LLC. Ms. Ollendick began her career with the Kehl team serving as the company’s Internal Auditor and Information Technology Director at Riverside Casino & Golf Resort from March of 2007 until July of 2010, when she was appointed to the position of Chief Information and Compliance Officer (CIO) for Elite Casino Resorts properties. During this time, Ms. Ollendick was responsible for technology, internal audit and compliance operations for all properties. In 2018, she was promoted to COO for Elite Casino Resorts and is responsible for the day-to-day operations of Elite Casino Resort properties. Ms. Ollendick was also part of the Executive Management Team responsible for the design and construction of Grand Falls Casino Resort, Rhythm City Casino Resort and Walker’s Bluff Casino Resort, as well as the remodel of Riverside Casino and Golf Resort. In 2019, Ms. Ollendick developed and launched the Elite Sportsbook retail and online sports betting operations with the assistance of our technology partner BetWorks. The Elite Sportsbook is the only Iowa owned sportsbook in Iowa.

Prior to her work with the Kehl team, she worked for the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission for approximately twelve years, serving as a Director for the commission responsible for the regulation of racing and gaming in the State of Iowa as well as the Commission’s Director of Technology. Ms. Ollendick was named the State of Iowa employee of the year in 2002 for work realigning the racing and gaming commission’s rules to consolidate and clarify racing and gaming regulations. Prior to that, she worked for Dubuque Greyhound Park and Casino as a racing and gaming official working in both the Accounting and Racing Departments. Ms. Ollendick received her bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Loras College. Ms. Ollendick has been in the gaming industry for over 30 years.

Dan White

CFO, Elite Casino Resorts, LLC

Mr. Dan White is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for Elite Casino Resorts, LLC. He joined the Kehl family in the late 80s working on the riverboats. He then continued working with them on the Dubuque Casino Belle and Mississippi Belle II.

In 2000, Mr. White joined the President Casino in Davenport, Iowa as Director of Finance.

In 2001, Mr. White and his family moved to southern Florida to work for the Seminole Tribe of Florida gaming operations working at their Brighton property before being promoted to their Coconut Creek property in 2003. In 2006, He moved to Oklahoma to join a team to further develop a casino into a casino resort for Fort Sill Apache Tribe of Oklahoma where he worked as Director of Finance and Assistant General Manager.

In 2010, Mr. White returned to Iowa to rejoin the Kehl Management team as the Director of Finance for Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort. In 2014, Mr. White was promoted to General Manager of Shared Services for Kehl Management, based at the Riverside property. He worked with the three properties, streamlining costs in various areas-particularly payroll and purchasing.

In 2017, Mr. White was promoted to CFO for Elite Casino Resorts, LLC. Mr. White received his bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Loras College.

Why Kehl Management?

Keep it Local

Kehl Management understands the importance of keeping it local. In fact, it’s our business model. We understand the importance of keeping profits local by partnering with local investors, investing back into communities, and remaining committed to quality customer service.

Record of Success

We have a record of successful world-class casino-resorts in Iowa. Our developments are completed on time and on budget. We understand the complexities of the gaming market in the Midwest and long state lines. We also know the importance of continuing to innovate and reinvest in properties to continue providing guests with the best experience possible.

Maximize Potential in Key Markets

Our record of success has led to an understanding of how to capitalize on existing business and attract new customers from outside the market. Kehl Management focused on increasing guest loyalty and guest familiarity with our properties.