Thunder Valley Casino, coping with the recession while carrying out a major expansion, has completed a reorganization of upper management that started in February.

The Lincoln casino named three new executives Wednesday. They replace a trio that was terminated during a February housecleaning that swept in a new general manager.

Analysts say Thunder Valley has felt the impact of the recession and the opening last December of Red Hawk Casino in Shingle Springs. Thunder Valley laid off 100 workers in May, although some were hired back in other jobs.

The new executives were hired with an eye toward the casino's expansion, said Doug Elmets, spokesman for Thunder Valley and its owner, the United Auburn Indian Community. Thunder Valley is building a 400-room hotel and other amenities set for completion next summer.

"As we begin to develop the resort, with the hotel, the expanded gaming area and the entertainment, these are people with experience in these areas," Elmets said.

Yvonne Mao, formerly with the Venetian Casino Resort in Macao, China, becomes Thunder Valley's vice president of finance. C.J. Graham, who ran poker and table-game operations at the Maloof family's Palms casino in Las Vegas, was named vice president of casino operations. Tina Rogo, formerly with Station Casinos of Las Vegas, is Thunder Valley's new executive director of marketing.

They join Kevin Thorstenson, who was hired as vice president of hotel operations two weeks ago.

Mao, Graham and Rogo replace three executives who were terminated in February. Also in February, Thunder Valley put its chief executive on administrative leave and replaced him with acting general manager Richard St. Jean.

Station Casinos, which manages Thunder Valley for the tribe, put most of its operations in Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last week. The bankruptcy filing doesn't include the entity that runs Thunder Valley.

Call The Bee's Dale Kasler, (916) 321-1066. Read his blog on the economy, Home Front, at www.sacbee.com/blogs.