- Details
- By Tribal Business News Staff
- Economic Development
Here’s the latest round-up of people on the move in Indian Country, including significant executive appointments, recognition of Native leaders, and new hires at tribal enterprises and Native-serving nonprofits.
HIRES + PROMOTIONS
The Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy has appointed Matthew R. Dannenberg as Head of Tribal Affairs. A member of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Dannenberg brings extensive experience from his previous role as Senior Tribal Liaison at the U.S. Department of Energy. There, he led efforts to enhance tribal consultation and engagement, notably through updates to DOE Order 144.1A. Dannenberg has also worked as Tribal Liaison and Deputy Chief of Staff in the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, and served at the White House advancing economic strategies for tribal nations. His leadership aims to strengthen partnerships and support energy sovereignty for Native American tribes.
The Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy also appointed Onna LeBeau as Chief Impact Officer and Managing Director of the Indigenous Power & Light Fund for Energy Sovereignty. In this role, LeBeau will direct philanthropic investments to support marginalized tribal communities in their clean energy initiatives and sovereignty efforts. With over 20 years of experience in finance and nonprofit leadership, she most recently served as Director of the Office of Indian Economic Development at the U.S. Department of the Interior. LeBeau also led the Black Hills Community Loan Fund, enhancing economic opportunities for the community. She holds degrees in finance and economics from Northern State University and a Master's in Applied Sciences in Community Development from the University of Nebraska Lincoln.
Chugach Alaska Corporation has appointed Katherine Carlton as Interim President. Carlton, a Chugach shareholder, has served in various operational and executive roles over her two-decade tenure at the corporation, including Vice President of ANCSA and Community Affairs, and Vice President of Operations for Chugach Commercial Holdings. She will continue to lead Chugach Regional Development and Chugach Tribal Services. Carlton holds a bachelor’s in accounting from the University of Alaska, a certificate from Alaska Pacific University, and recently completed Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program. She succeeds Peter Andersen, who remains Chief Operating Officer.
Koniag Government Services (KGS) has appointed Jack Wise as Senior Vice President of Business Development Lifecycle. Wise brings over 35 years of experience in Federal Government procurement and acquisition services. He previously served as Director for GSA AAS Region 3 (Mid-Atlantic), overseeing contracts valued at $2.16 billion across more than 35 client organizations. His background also includes leadership roles at the Department of Defense and GSA. In his new role, Wise will guide KGS’s business development operations, from opportunity identification to contract execution.
Native Americans in Philanthropy appointed Jessa Rae Growing Thunder as Director of Tribal Nations Initiative. Growing Thunder, a member of the Fort Peck Assiniboine/Sioux tribes, holds a Ph.D. in Native American Studies from the University of California, Davis. Her research focuses on Indigenous arts, feminisms, and decolonial methodologies, emphasizing Fort Peck Dakota/Nakoda historical practices. A beadwork/quillworker and Northern Plains art historian, Growing Thunder brings expertise in project development, strategic planning, and community-based work to her new role. She earned her bachelor's degree from Fort Lewis College and her master's from UC Davis.
Windward Engineers & Consultants, a Native American-owned firm, appointed Daniel Sandoval as its new president. Sandoval, a professional engineer with over 25 years of experience in MEP engineering, brings technical expertise and leadership skills to the role. Jason Booth, an owner and Principal at Windward, praised Sandoval's industry experience and unique perspective as a Native American engineer. Cole Miller, Chairman of the Board and Tribal Chairman of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, expressed support for the hiring, noting it strengthens Windward's position as a national leader in engineering and consulting services. The firm specializes in solutions for tribal communities, energy, and corporate clients.
APPOINTMENTS
President Biden appointed Janie Simms Hipp, a Chickasaw legal scholar, to the Community Development Advisory Board of the U.S. Treasury's CDFI Fund. Hipp is the founding CEO of Native Agriculture Financial Services, focusing on capital access for First American farmers and rural communities. She previously served as general counsel for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the first enrolled member of a First American tribe in that role. Hipp holds an LL.M. in agriculture and food law from the University of Arkansas and a J.D. from Oklahoma City University. With nearly 40 years of experience in agricultural law, she is recognized for her expertise in the intersection of agricultural and Indian law.
Diné Development Corporation, a tribally owned organization providing IT, engineering, and professional solutions to government agencies, appointed General Robert B. Neller and Carlos A. Otal to its Board of Directors. Neller, former Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, brings over 40 years of military leadership experience, including service in operations Just Cause, Restore Hope, and Iraqi Freedom. Otal, former National Managing Partner of Grant Thornton LLP's Public Sector, has 33 years of experience in public sector and financial services, having led the Public Sector practice to over $300M in revenue. Neller holds degrees from the University of Virginia and Pepperdine University, while Otal graduated from Virginia Tech and completed a leadership program at Oxford University. The appointments aim to enhance DDC's strategic initiatives and its commitment to building sustainable prosperity for the Navajo Nation, according to a statement.
The American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) appointed three new members to its Board of Directors for 2025-2028. Mike Laverdure, a registered architect from the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, brings experience in promoting STEM careers among Indigenous youth. Fawn Sanchez, a Shoshone-Bannock project manager at Tribal Tech, LLC, offers expertise in diversity and inclusion initiatives. Lillian Sparks Robinson, Rosebud Sioux and CEO of Wopila Consulting, contributes over 20 years of advocacy experience for Indigenous students and tribal communities. These appointments aim to strengthen AISES's strategic direction and commitment to advancing Indigenous people in STEM fields.
NEW VENTURES
Adisoke Solutions, LLC has been launched by Matthew Beaudet, an enrolled citizen of the Montaukett Indian Nation. The multi-service consulting firm will focus on public affairs, strategic communication, business development, and project management. Beaudet has 36 years of government experience in economic development, infrastructure, and legislation. He was the first enrolled tribal member to hold senior government positions appointed by both the Illinois Governor and Chicago Mayor, confirmed by the Illinois Senate and the Chicago City Council. A former Chicago Building Commissioner, he is a co-founder and current board member of the Native American Code Officials, promoting economic development and building safety in Indian Country.
KUDOS
The American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) named Dr. Jani Ingram as the recipient of its 2024 Ely S. Parker Award, the organization's highest honor. Ingram, a citizen of the Navajo Nation, is a Regents' Professor at Northern Arizona University and serves as the Dr. Don Gilbert Endowed Chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. She is the Principal Investigator of the Partnership of Native American Cancer Prevention and Director of the Bridging Native American Students to Bachelor's Degree program. Ingram holds a PhD from the University of Arizona and has published 65 peer-reviewed articles, focusing her research on environmental health issues affecting Indigenous communities.
NAFOA (formerly known as the Native American Finance Officers Association) honored John Echohawk and Glenda Nelson with Lifetime Achievement Awards at its 2024 Fall Finance and Tribal Economies Conference. Echohawk, a Pawnee Nation member, has served as Executive Director of the Native American Rights Fund since 1977, championing tribal sovereignty and Native American rights. He helped secure recognition for over 300 tribes and was named one of America's most influential lawyers by The National Law Journal. Nelson, Chairwoman of the Estom Yumeka Maidu Tribe of Enterprise Rancheria, led her tribe to economic success with projects like the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino at Fire Mountain. She has served on the Tribal Council since 2003 and is active in numerous boards advancing tribal nations.
If you have news of new hires, appointments or special recognition, please share them with [email protected].
