- 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
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) appointed Tonya Plummer as Director of the Office of Loan Guarantee in the Office of Native American Programs. Plummer brings extensive experience in Native American housing and financial services to the role. She previously served as Director of Native American Housing Programs at Enterprise Community Partners and Executive Director of Montana Native Growth Fund, a Native Community Development Financial Institution. Plummer's background also includes positions as a DE Mortgage Underwriter and Corporate Closer at Mann Mortgage, LLC. She has studied at Flathead Valley Community College, Salish Kootenai College, and Spokane Falls Community College.
Native CDFI Network appointed Alex Mendoza as chief financial officer and Stephanie Prater as senior financial manager. Mendoza, a member of the Makah Tribe of Washington, previously served as director of structured finance at IFF, a certified CDFI. He also worked at the CDFI Fund in Washington, D.C., and Deloitte Tax LLP in Chicago. Mendoza holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Washington and a master's degree in accountancy from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Prater, previously a senior accountant at a tax firm in central Nebraska, holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from National University. Based in Saint Paul, Nebraska, she brings experience in financial management and accounting to support the organization's growth initiatives.
FSA Investment Group named Dr. Belinda Miller as director of tribal investments. Miller, an enrolled member of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, previously served as a financial advisor with Edward Jones and professor at Louisiana State University-Alexandria College of Business. She holds a doctorate in business administration with a focus on social impact management from Walden University, an MBA from Brenau University, and a bachelor's degree in international business from St. Petersburg College. Miller was named a "Top 40 Under 40 Native American Professional" by the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development in 2018. She holds CRPS, CEPA and AAMS certifications. Based in Lakeland, Florida, Miller will lead the firm's financial literacy and investment education initiatives for tribal members.
Native American Bank appointed Payton Batliner as senior vice president and chief lending officer. Previously, Batliner served as acting director of the Indian Energy Service Center at the U.S. Department of Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs, where he facilitated nationwide cooperation for Indian energy and mineral development. He also spent nearly 14 years as branch chief of business services in the Division of Energy and Mineral Development. Batliner serves as treasurer on the board of directors for the Denver Indian Center. He holds an MBA from the University of Colorado Boulder's Leeds School of Business and previously interned at Native American Bank while completing his graduate studies.
The General Services Administration appointed Julie Ramey (Potter) as GSA Tribal Government Liaison in the Office of Governmentwide Policy. Ramey will support Native American affairs across the agency, facilitate government-to-government tribal consultations, and develop agency-wide strategic goals for serving tribes in acquisitions and real estate management. She previously served as GSA Tribal Liaison in the Office of the Administrator and as a project manager. Ramey's experience includes roles at the Native American Contractors Association and Kauffman & Associates, where she managed projects for federal agencies including FDA, CMS, and CDC. She holds a master's degree in public administration from Morehead State University.
Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation appointed Charity Dames as Project Manager, Communications. Dames brings extensive experience in communications and marketing within the tribal gaming industry. She previously served as Brand Communications Manager and Communications Manager at Foxwoods Resort Casino, where she worked for over a decade in various roles. Dames also held the position of Communications Administrator for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. Her background includes experience in retail, having worked for major brands such as Bloomingdale's and DSW. Dames studied Fashion Merchandising at the Laboratory Institute of Merchandising and Kingsborough Community College.
Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation appointed Matthew Bjorkman as Executive Director of Internal Audit. Bjorkman brings extensive experience in auditing and financial oversight to the role. He previously served as Senior Vice President & Group Chief Auditor at Talcott Resolution for six years. Prior to that, Bjorkman was a Director at Risk & Regulatory Consulting and spent 12 years at Deloitte & Touche LLP, where he rose to the position of Senior Manager. He holds a BSBA in Accounting from Bryant University and an MSAT in Accounting & Taxation from the University of Hartford.
Chickasaw Nation Industries, Inc. appointed Elijah Nachison as Project Coordinator with Government Solutions Group (GSG). Nachison recently completed his Master's degree in International Relations from IE University in Madrid, Spain. He brings experience in project management and cultural engagement from his role as an English Teaching Assistant in Madrid, where he instructed over 350 students and coordinated extracurricular activities. Nachison's background includes internships with the Smithsonian Institution and Sacred Heart Center, where he gained experience in event coordination and community outreach. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Spanish from Virginia Commonwealth University.
KUDOS
Crain's Grand Rapids Business named Erika Weiss, associate general counsel at Waséyabek Development Co. LLC, to its 2024 40 Under 40 list. Weiss, 34, a descendant of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, joined Waséyabek, the non-gaming economic development arm of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, in March 2023. In her first year, she completed two significant acquisitions for the tribal enterprise. Weiss serves on the board of the Association of Corporate Growth West Michigan and co-hosts the Tribal Economic Development podcast with Waséyabek President and CEO Deidra Mitchell.
Crain's Grand Rapids Business also named Bob Peters, chairman of the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi (Gun Lake Tribe), to its 200 Most Influential Leaders in West Michigan for 2024 list. Peters, who has served on Tribal Council since 2014, has helped guide several Gun Lake Casino expansions. He previously served as tribal treasurer. A recipient of both Grand Rapids Business Journal's 40 Under 40 and Native American 40 Under 40 awards, Peters has pursued executive education at Harvard and Northwestern's Kellogg School. He focuses on expanding tribal economic development while maintaining cultural values.
BUSINESS
HR Wise LLC has been selected as tribal relations consultant to the State of Arizona. The consulting firm specializes in Native American programs administration, policy development and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development compliance. In this role, the company will work with tribal governments and housing authorities throughout Arizona to develop and implement programs that serve Native American communities.
If you have news of new hires, appointments or special recognition, please share them with [email protected].
