Mark Macarro has served as the tribal chairman of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians for 18 years. He is a member of the board for the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA), representing the Pacific Region. NIGA was founded in 1985 and consists of over 180 Indian Nations and organizations. It works to protect tribal self-sufficiency through gaming operations and offers guidance on economic, social, and political matters while serving as a legislative liaison. One way NIGA benefits members is by hosting seminars, including a recent two-day event at Tulalip Resort Casino that provided gaming commissioner certifications and covered topics like gaming commission functions and background investigations.