Actually a friend was appointed GM during construction and opening. He was my boss at the FQ's at the time. He asked me to come with him and I passed.
After it was open a few months and failing to meet projections, my friend was let go. Rudy Preito was VP & GM at the FQ's. (Rudy left soon after and was named President of the Taj in AC.)

Rudy was the best. He is Spanish. I remember telling him I wanted to do something at the Queens Poker Classic but food & beverage would scream.
His answer:
"Leeeisten Meeeeister, there is ONLY ONE bottom line here"

Rudy sent several of us down to evaluate what could be done to get 29 Palms out of its problems. I was to evaluate poker & table games. BTW Steve Cutlers future wife was included in this team. She is an expert on casino retail sales and is now doing the Palms.

I took one look at the poker and table game projections and knew they could not meet them, if there were 3 times the tables. I am not sure who projected the numbers, but it would have been IMPOSSIBLE to meet them. The problem was we needed close to projection. About this time the indians decided to bring in slots, illegal at the time. NV gaming ordered the FQ's to divest themselves of the property. End of story.