Brent Hinz Promoted to Executive Officer of Commerce Food & Beverage

Heidi Grant, Senior Executive Officer of the Division of Commerce, has announced the promotion of Brent Hinz to Executive Officer of Commerce Food & Beverage for the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.

Brent joined the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma in 2021 as Senior Director of Gaming Food & Beverage and was soon promoted to Executive Director of Gaming Food & Beverage. In this capacity, he was responsible for 65 venues and collaborated with gaming leadership to introduce innovative food and beverage concepts and practices.

As Executive Officer of Commerce Food & Beverage, Brent’s responsibilities will expand to include Gaming, Travel Plazas, Agribusiness and franchises.

“Through Brent’s leadership, we have transitioned the food & beverage division into a profit center,” Heidi says. “In his new role, he will lead a transformational shift to leverage food & beverage across the Commerce division. This more integrated approach will help drive positive outcomes for the Choctaw Nation.”

Brent is an accomplished food and beverage leader with over 30 years of hospitality experience. He holds a degree in hospitality from Ohio State University and studied Culinary Arts at Pennsylvania Culinary Institute in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Brent began his career in culinary, working at numerous luxury resorts, before transitioning into the gaming and hospitality sector in the late 1990s. He began as an Executive Chef at a large Native American casino and resort in Michigan and quickly advanced to Food and Beverage Director.

Throughout his career, Brent has played a pivotal role in opening new properties across multiple states, overseeing expansions, and managing property renovations. For the past decade, he has held several corporate leadership roles, providing strategic oversight for regional portfolios across various tribal jurisdictions.

Outside of work, Brent enjoys spending time with his wife, Patricia, their four children, and their new granddaughter.