- Details
- By Tribal Business News Staff
- Economic Development
Several prominent Native American organizations and tribes announced key leadership changes in early 2025, with the National American Indian Housing Council tapping former USDA official Rudy Soto as executive director and the Tohono O'odham Gaming Enterprise making history by naming its first tribal member CEO.
The moves come amid a wave of appointments that saw Indigenous leaders taking on influential roles across tribal enterprises, law firms, and federal agencies.
HIRES + PROMOTIONS
The National American Indian Housing Council named Rudy Soto as executive director. Soto previously served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for the USDA Office of External and Intergovernmental Affairs from 2023 to 2025, and as USDA Rural Development State Director for Idaho. His experience includes work as a legislative staffer in the U.S. House of Representatives and collaboration with national tribal organizations. A member of the Shoshone Bannock Tribes of the Fort Hall Reservation and U.S. Army National Guard veteran, Soto holds a bachelor's degree from Portland State University. The NAIHC represents 392 tribes and housing organizations, providing advocacy, training and research on Native housing issues.
The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation named tribal member J.D. Tovey as executive director. Tovey previously served as interim executive director from May 2024 and deputy executive director from October 2023. He joined CTUIR in March 2014 as Tribal Planning Office director after working as a senior urban designer in Orlando, Florida, and as a National Science Foundation research fellow at the University of Washington. Tovey holds a master's degree in urban planning from the University of Washington. In his role, he oversees tribal government administration and implements the Board of Trustees' legislative actions and delivery of programs for tribal members and reservation residents.
Galanda Broadman PLLC hired Ethan Jones as Of Counsel, focusing on litigation and civil legal services for Tribal governments and their enterprises. Jones previously served as Lead Attorney for the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, where he litigated in tribal, federal, state, administrative and ADR forums, negotiated multi-party agreements, and represented tribal economic enterprises. He graduated from the University of Washington School of Law in 2013, where he concentrated on federal Indian law and interned with Galanda Broadman. Jones also holds bachelor's degrees in History with College Honors and Business Administration from the University of Washington. The Indigenous rights law firm has nine lawyers with offices in Seattle, Yakima and Bend, Oregon.
The Tohono O’odham Gaming Enterprise named Daniele Chilton as CEO overseeing all five Desert Diamond Casino locations in southern Arizona and Phoenix, making her the tribe’s first member to serve as CEO. Chilton brings over 30 years of gaming industry experience, most recently serving as Chief Operations Officer managing nearly 4,000 team members across five casinos. She previously held positions including General Manager within the organization. Chilton succeeds Mike Bean, who had served as CEO since 2021 and led the enterprise through significant growth, including the opening of Desert Diamond Casino White Tanks at San Lucy.
Yupiit Grant Services promoted Sheila Carl to president of the company, which provides grant management services for tribes and nonprofits. Carl, who is Yup'ik and a member of the Akiak Native Community, joined YGS two years ago as director after serving 16 years as tribal administrator for the Akiak Native Community. She brings 20 years of experience helping tribal and nonprofit organizations build internal grant-seeking capacity. In her new role, Carl oversees operations, client development, service delivery and financial performance for the Bethel, Alaska-based company, a subsidiary of Akiak Holdings, LLC.
Native American Technology Corporation hired Devin Abreu as help desk administrator in Suffolk, Virginia. Abreu previously served as a Signal Support System Specialist in the U.S. Army for four years, managing radio frequency communication and information technology while working with U.S. and South Korean forces. He holds a CompTIA A+ certification from MyComputerCareer and maintains an active DoD Secret clearance. His military experience includes managing communication security and mobile device systems for battalions of over 1,500 personnel.
The Bureau of Reclamation appointed Jessica Pope as Native American Affairs Program Manager for the Lower Colorado River Basin. Pope brings extensive experience in tribal relations and public lands management, most recently serving as Interpretation, Education and Community Engagement Programs Manager at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. Her background includes roles as Chief of Interpretation at Effigy Mounds National Monument and a decade as park ranger at Grand Canyon National Park. She holds a BS in Natural Resource Policy from Oregon State University and has managed programs serving tribal communities in healthcare and advocacy roles.
The Native American Development Corporation named Shayne Frank as chief development officer in Billings, Montana. Frank, who has served as chief operations officer at American Indian Consulting Services since 2021, brings expertise in strategic planning, business development and diversity initiatives. Her previous experience includes roles as CEO of Powerchoice Construction and director of business development at Power Services Construction. Frank holds an EMBA from UNLV Lee Business School and a BS in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.
Chenega Corporation appointed Terry Nihart as president of its security strategic business unit, succeeding retiring president Tim Lamb. Nihart, a retired U.S. Army colonel with 25 years of military service, previously served as Chenega SSBU's senior vice president of operations and business development. His military career included roles as chief of operations for Army Criminal Investigation Command and executive officer to the commanding general of the XVIII Airborne Corps. A Lock Haven University graduate, Nihart joined Chenega in 2020 and has led its Security International and Chenega Management operating companies.
Chugach Government Solutions appointed Virginia Robinson as senior vice president and chief legal officer. Robinson brings nearly 20 years of legal and business strategy experience, most recently serving as general counsel, chief ethics and compliance officer and corporate secretary at Tlingit Haida Tribal Business Corp. She previously held leadership roles at Amentum and DynCorp International. A Penn State graduate with a J.D. from Washington and Lee University School of Law, Robinson will oversee legal, governance and compliance matters at CGS.
APPOINTMENTS
The Association on American Indian Affairs added three new board members: Jamie Gomez, Lycia Ortega and Makalika Nāholowaʻa. Gomez, a Tlingit & Haida citizen and Athabascan descendant, serves as senior director of strategic partnerships and advancement for her Nation after 25 years working with Native nonprofits. Ortega, a Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe citizen, is vice president of strategic communications at Thunderbird Strategic LLC with 17 years in policy and communications. Nāholowaʻa, who is Kanaka Maoli and Native Hawaiian, is executive director of the Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation and immediate past president of the National Native American Bar Association.
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