Jonathan and Dalena Gregory never felt like newcomers when they moved to the Valley two years ago. "We felt right at home," says Dalena. "I grew up in a small town like this." So did her husband; Gregory, who is half Chippewa Indian, grew up in Odanah, Wisconsin, population 9,000, on the Bad River Indian Reservation. He was raised, with his sister and two brothers, by his mother and grandparents. His mother was mostly Chippewa and his father was Irish.

"Growing up on the reservation, I was exposed to racism at a very young age," says Gregory. "It taught me that most of the bad feelings that one race may have against another are usually a lack of understanding and an unwillingness to change their opinions based on the truth. That is why one of the greatest men in this nation's history is Martin Luther King. I believe that his teachings are as valid today as they ever were."

Gregory attended Wisconsin Indian Technical College, which was a part of the University of Wisconsin. There, he met his future wife (who is of English and Dutch extraction and not a Native American) while studying electronics and computer servicing. His first job, servicing slot machines in the Bad River Casino, gave him his first taste of the gaming industry. He excelled, with frequent promotions until he began to manage the entire casino. "We did a good number for a small community," he recalls "Indian gaming did great things for my tribal people. Poverty and welfare dependence were not eliminated entirely, however we made great strides towards self sufficiency."

When Gregory got a job offer from the Hopland Sho-Ka-Wah casino 90 miles north of San Francisco, he jumped at the chance to move west. After five years there, he was sought out by the Chumash in Santa Ynez Valley, and came to work for them.

Gregory drove down for an interview. "I drove through the Valley for the first time and I was so moved by the beauty of the land, that I called my wife and told her she was going to love it here. We'd had a discussion when I first got into the Indian gaming business, about where we'd both like to live. She said she'd like to live in California, and I said I'd never do that. All I knew about California was pictures I'd seen of Los Angeles. I thought of crowds and big cities."

Gregory admits that work is challenging; he runs "pretty much the entire casino operation, which means I answer to the Tribal Business Committee and indirectly, to the Tribe itself." One of the most public challenges has involved the Chumash Casino's controversial parking structure. "There are a lot of misunderstandings about the casino," Gregory explains.

"It's been a real pleasure working with some of the best employees in the gaming industry. Our customer service is a testament to the great staff we've been blessed with."

Family life is important to the Gregorys, who have a six year-old daughter Morgan, who attends the Santa Ynez Valley Christian Academy. "One reason we chose this area," says Gregory, "was for the schools. We chose the Christian Academy because of our strong faith in Jesus Christ and we're very happy with it. Morgan's teacher, Mrs. Anderson, is excellent."

Solvang feels like home to Dalena Gregory partly because it reminds her of her hometown in Minnesota, a small Dutch community, where "windmills were not just landscaping pieces, but also used as warming houses for ice skaters as well."

The Valley is an ideal place to live, work, "and it's also a great place to raise a family," says Dalena Gregory, "because I get to do what I've always wanted to do; work with small businesses." As the executive director of the Solvang Chamber of Commerce, she strengthens the business community, and also acts as a liaison between the businesses and city government. "I'm an information resource," she explains. She also began working as a marketing consultant for 105.9 KRAZ Country, the local radio station that owns KSYV, handling many Valley accounts and helping managers decide what's most appropriate for them

"The Chamber of Commerce was a perfect place to start out, as I got to know business owners and get the flavor of what they were trying to create. Plus I love working with people."

What do the Gregory's love most about the Valley? "The people, the tradition, and the distinct atmosphere," says Gregory. "Living here has been a wonderful experience. I would love to stay here permanently working for the Santa Ynez Tribe. The Tribe has been very good to me."

"It's a definite lifestyle choice," his wife adds. "We all pay a price to live here. But there's a slower pace, it's very community-minded,and it offers a balance, which is perfect for us. Jon and I have always been very civic oriented, from Rotary, to our daughter's school, to our church. If I had my way, I'd stay here and see Morgan go on to the high school and play sports."

What makes the Valley so special? "I like being able to walk into shops, from the local grocery store, to the hardware store, to the doctor's office," says Dalena Greogry, "and know almost everyone I see. It's such a tight knit, personal community of good people. I hope it stays that way, because that's what makes it a wonderful place."