Mary Cheeks is stepping down as president and general manager of Jamul Casino Resort after eight years, according to East County Magazine.

The Jamul Indian Village Development Council announced the departure Aug. 13. A successor or interim replacement had not been announced by the council as of the report.

Cheeks joined the resort in 2018 and oversaw major changes at the property, including a $270 million luxury hotel tower development tied to the resort's rebranding. The 16-story, 200-room boutique hotel opened in August 2025 and recently earned a AAA Four Diamond designation, East County Magazine reported.

For Santee and East County readers, the change matters because Jamul Casino Resort is one of the region's major hospitality and entertainment employers. Leadership changes at properties of that scale can shape hiring, tourism and dining options across the inland county.

The resort opened in 2016 and is owned and operated by the Jamul Indian Village Development Council, a wholly owned enterprise of the Jamul Indian Village Tribe.