Created in partnership with Mohawk Valley Community College, STEP provides paid, on-the-job training that combines classroom instruction, mentorship and hands-on experience. The program will help support the Turning Stone Evolution and other growth across the organization while providing career development opportunities for current and future team members in the skilled trades.

Oneida Indian Nation Homelands (December 11, 2025) — After nine months of classroom study and on-the-job experience, eight Turning Stone Enterprises team members have completed the organization’s first-ever Skilled Trades Education Program (STEP) – and are preparing to continue building their skills and careers with new promotions and training opportunities. The program has already welcomed its next group of participating new hires, and plans for expanded training and certifications are also coming soon.

In February 2025, Turning Stone Enterprises launched STEP to prepare for the growing need for skilled maintenance and facilities professionals across the Oneida Indian Nation’s business operations. Developed through a partnership with Mohawk Valley Community College, STEP offers participants an opportunity to learn hands-on skills in electrical work, plumbing, carpentry and HVAC through a combination of on-the-job training and classroom learning.

Team members taking part in the program attended classes at Mohawk Valley Community College twice weekly while working closely with mentors as full-time members of the Turning Stone Enterprises Facilities team. All program participants are provided with paid training, and classes are customized for the common maintenance, repair and installation tasks most needed at Turning Stone Enterprises and throughout the skilled trades.

Upon completion, the eight students who took part in the initial Skilled Trades Education Program were promoted to Maintenance Technicians. Participants also received a pay raise and a certificate of completion. The next class of team members to take part in STEP has already been hired and will soon begin their own career development journey in the trades.

“As the Turning Stone Evolution accelerates our growth, it also creates new opportunities for our team, like the Skilled Trades Education Program,” said Ray Halbritter, Oneida Indian Nation Representative and Turning Stone Enterprises CEO. “Highly trained maintenance professionals will be critical to sustaining and expanding this growth, as we are always most successful when our team grows alongside us. That is why every investment in career development for our team is also an investment in the success of our enterprises and their impact in Upstate New York.”

“Trades education is vital to the continued development of our region and provides a strong path to good careers for our local workforce,” said Dr. Randall J. VanWagoner, Mohawk Valley Community College President. “We are thrilled to partner with the Oneida Indian Nation to create the Skilled Trades Education Program for Turning Stone Enterprises team members and help prepare them for a lifetime of success.”

More opportunities are on the horizon for Turning Stone Enterprises Facilities team members who earned their initial certification as well. In 2026, the organization plans to expand STEP to include a second certification in electrical systems and HVAC to provide further opportunities for team members.

As Turning Stone Enterprises continues to grow and diversify, the need for highly trained and experienced Maintenance Technicians is growing as well. Along with current Facilities team members and new recruits who will participate in the STEP sessions, the team members who recently completed the program will provide critical support for the facilities created as part of the $370 million Turning Stone Evolution, the $50 million expansion of Point Place Casino Hotel and other new and expanding locations. These include The Grand Expo conference and events center, The Crescent Hotel, Salt Seafood & Raw Bar, and more at Turning Stone, plus a new hotel, restaurant, and retail space, along with an expanded gaming floor at Point Place Casino Hotel.

The Skilled Trades Education Program is one of the many innovative career development programs offered by Turning Stone Enterprises. Team members have the opportunity to advance their careers through a variety of offerings, including paid training for table games dealers, tuition reimbursement programs for massage therapists, a continuing education scholarship for accountants, intern and extern programs, leadership training initiatives and more. All of these programs are part of the organization’s commitment to evolving as an employer of choice in Upstate New York and providing opportunities for team members to explore new career paths within its diverse enterprises.

For more information about careers with Turning Stone Enterprises, click here.

 

About Turning Stone Enterprises

Turning Stone Enterprises is the parent organization for all business operations of the Oneida Indian Nation. One of the largest employers in Central New York with more than 5,000 team members, Turning Stone Enterprises’ portfolio of hospitality, gaming and recreational destinations includes Turning Stone Resort Casino, YBR Casino & Sports Book, Point Place Casino, The Lake House at Sylvan Beach, The Cove at Sylvan Beach, Maple Leaf Market and SavOn convenience stores, an RV park, two marinas, a hunting preserve and salmon-fishing destination and Wáhta̲ʼ’ Maple Farm. Collectively, these properties offer guests from across the region and around the world five award-winning hotels, nearly 30 signature restaurants and dining venues, two spas, five golf courses, Las Vegas-style casino gaming, a state-of-the-art sports betting lounge, two concert venues and several nightlife venues.

Media Contact:
Kathleen Shaffer, Head of Public Relations
315.569-8193
Kathleen.shaffer@turningstone.com