SYLMAR, CA – Tutor Perini Building Corporation (TPBC) has introduced a new leadership team as part of its ongoing focus on tribal hospitality and gaming projects.
TPBC has appointed Mike Cherwin as President. Cherwin brings 30 years of experience delivering large-scale hospitality and gaming, high-rise residential, and advanced manufacturing projects across the western U.S. In this role, he will oversee company operations, including strategic planning, business development, and project execution.
“Tutor Perini has built some of the most significant hospitality and gaming assets in both Las Vegas and Native American tribal communities nationwide,” said Cherwin. “I’m excited for the next chapter and proud to continue TPBC’s legacy of successful building.”
Prior to joining TPBC, Cherwin served as VP and Western Division Manager for Yates Construction. His portfolio includes several notable tribal gaming projects, such as the Sky River Casino for the Wilton Rancheria Tribe, the Rolling Hills Casino expansion and renovation for the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians, and the Avi Resort & Casino expansion for the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe.
TPBC has named Chris Cosenza Vice President of Business Development. Cosenza brings more than two decades of leadership across hospitality, gaming, real estate, finance, and development.
“Having grown up in a construction family in the Northeast, Tutor Perini has always been a mainstay in our industry,” said Cosenza. “Many of today’s building leaders earned their stripes at TPBC, and I’m thrilled to join this formidable organization to help lead its next generation of builders.”
Cosenza’s career in hospitality and gaming began at Ameristar Casinos, where over a decade he held corporate leadership roles across entertainment, nightlife, player development, guest experience, strategic development, and iGaming.
Most recently, he served as SVP of Strategy & Business Development at JC Hospitality, a private equity joint venture among Juniper Capital Partners, Virgin Group, LiUNA, Fengate Asset Management, and Cowie Capital Partners. In that role, he was a key executive behind one of the industry’s most ambitious transformations – the $300 million+ rebranding of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino into Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, a Curio Collection by Hilton. As part of the on-site C-suite, Cosenza led cross-functional efforts across operations, finance, F&B, design, construction, and procurement, successfully launching the integrated resort despite the unprecedented challenges of the global pandemic.
Chris Casuga has joined TPBC as VP of Preconstruction Services. With 28 years of experience in preconstruction and operations, Casuga has built a career turning ambitious concepts into executable plans. His expertise spans cost estimating, scheduling, logistics, constructability, value engineering, early design-phase collaboration, and project management – all essential to delivering successful tribal gaming and hospitality projects.
During his tenure with Marnell Companies, Casuga oversaw preconstruction for the Osage Casinos, where his team worked closely with architects to develop accurate budgets, align cultural design elements, and phase construction across three Oklahoma locations: Tulsa, Skiatook, and Ponca City. His portfolio also includes Spotlight 29 Casino in Coachella, CA, and Chin’an Gaming Hall in Chugiak, AK – both projects that required close collaboration with tribal leaders to balance cultural traditions with modern hospitality standards.
Casuga’s broader experience features major undertakings such as the Bally’s & A’s integrated resort in Las Vegas, the XpressWest High Speed Rail Line, and the Caesar’s Palace Master Plan expansion – all projects which demanded meticulous planning and coordination among multiple stakeholders.
Cherwin, Cosenza, and Casuga are expected to guide TPBC’s continued role in tribal hospitality and gaming development, building on the company’s past work while pursuing new partnerships and projects.
“Building Relationships on Trust” remains the company’s guiding principle, reflecting its belief that projects are built through teamwork, mutual respect, and integrity – values these leaders will carry forward as they shape the next chapter of TPBC’s success.
