- Details
- By Tribal Business News Staff
- Economic Development
Here’s our monthly round-up of people on the move in Indian Country, including a bevy of board appointments, recognition of Native leaders, and new hires at tribal enterprises and Native-serving nonprofits.
HIRES
Singleton Schreiber hired nationally recognized tribal law attorney Robert O. Saunooke as senior counsel. A citizen of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Saunooke brings over 30 years of experience in representing Native American tribes and advocating for their rights. He will lead the Tribal Litigation practice and join the Climate Change Litigation team, focusing on cases like the Native Boarding School System litigation and environmental damage to tribal lands.
Cultural Heritage Partners, PLLC (CHP) hired Jessie Barrington, a prominent Indian law practitioner, to the firm. Barrington will focus on general counsel matters for federally recognized Indian tribes and their business enterprises, enhancing tribal sovereignty for CHP’s Tribal Nations and First Nations clients. Previously, she served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Director of the Western Resources Legal Center, and adjunct professor of Indian Law at Lewis and Clark Law School. A citizen of the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians, Barrington brings a unique perspective and a deep commitment to tribal sovereignty and self-governance.
Mohegan has promoted Nelson Parker to Chief Strategy Officer. Previously serving as SVP of Strategic Development for Mohegan, Parker will now be responsible for identifying, assessing, and executing growth opportunities and strategic new ventures for the company. Before joining Mohegan in 2022, Parker was a Managing Director at Driftwood Capital and has extensive experience in the gaming industry, including roles at Penn National Gaming, Hard Rock International, Foxwoods Resort Casino, and Argosy Gaming. In his new role, Parker will play a critical role in future growth and capital planning, collaborating across all functional areas to align strategic initiatives with Mohegan’s long-term goals.
APPOINTMENTS
American Indian Policy Institute (AIPI) at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University has added four new members to its Advisory Board: Sherry Treppa, Dallin Maybee, Angela Gonzales, and Denise E. Bates. Treppa, the chairperson for the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake, advocates for digital equity and sovereignty. Maybee, Seneca and Northern Arapaho, serves as assistant director of development at the Native American Rights Fund. Gonzales, from the Hopi Nation, is the director of the American Indian Studies Program at ASU and has a background in sociology and public health. Bates, a history professor at Tufts University, was previously associate dean at ASU and has contributed to AIPI's leadership programs.
Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma tribal member Tye Baker has been appointed to the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council. Baker, who has served the Nation for 20 years, currently holds the position of senior director of the Environmental Protection Service, where he oversees wildlife conservation, resource management, and environmental sustainability programs. His appointment to the White House council aligns with his extensive experience in providing technical assistance and implementing culturally relevant practices for the Choctaw Nation. Baker will contribute to the federal advisory committee's mission to address the climate crisis and environmental injustice under Executive Order 14008, established by President Biden.
KUDOS
Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama (GSSA) honored Stephanie Bryan, Tribal Chair and CEO of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, at its eighth annual Leading Ladies Awards brunch. Bryan was recognized as one of six outstanding women impacting their community and advancing women in the workforce. Elected in 2014, Bryan is the first woman to serve as Tribal Chair and CEO, focusing on healthcare, education, and employment opportunities for Poarch tribal members and the larger Atmore community. During the event, Bryan announced a donation-matching challenge of up to $25,000 in support of GSSA, which was further matched by Christina D. Crow of JinksCrow Trial Lawyers, significantly increasing the potential impact.
Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino General Manager Joanne Israel has been recognized among Western New York’s leading women in business by Buffalo Business First. Israel was included in the publication’s “2024 Power 200 Women” list, ranked number 80. She has been General Manager since 2022, overseeing operations at the resort, which features over 2,600 slot machines, 60 table games, 10 restaurants, live entertainment venues, and a 604-room hotel. Israel joined Seneca Gaming Corporation in 2011 after five years in public accounting. She has held various roles including Assistant General Manager and Corporate Director of Finance. She holds a Bachelor’s in Accounting and an MBA from Niagara University and is a member of the Seneca Nation.
Ross Welch, a longstanding champion of workforce and economic development for tribal partners, has been awarded the first-ever Indian Country Prosperity Award by the Northern California Indian Development Council, Inc. (NCIDC) and the Arcata Economic Development Corporation (AEDC). The award was presented on May 30th during NCIDC’s Pathways to Indian Prosperity Workforce Development Summit at the Bear River Tish Non-Community Center. With a career spanning banking and community finance, Ross has significantly impacted economic landscapes in Humboldt, Del Norte, and Mendocino Counties, notably through projects like the Carson Block Building restoration and support for tribal entrepreneurs.
If you have news of new hires or special recognition, please share them with [email protected].
