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- By Tribal Business News Staff
- Economic Development
It’s been a busy time for leadership moves across Indian Country. From new CEOs and senior directors to appointments in legal, gaming, and tech, Native professionals are stepping into influential roles that shape their communities and industries.
Organizations like First Peoples Fund, Aleut Federal, and Native Americans in Philanthropy are welcoming leaders with deep experience, while others, like Mountain Vector Energy and StrongHearts Native Helpline, are adding fresh talent focused on innovation and care.
There’s also a lot to celebrate—awards, appointments, and a milestone retirement. Professor Robert J. Miller and John Hendrix were honored for their decades of impact in Indian law and economic development. And after more than 40 years of service, one longtime advocate Crystal (Cris) Pierce is preparing to retire. Plus, Tribal Energy Alternatives named its first board, marking a big step in Native-led energy work. Scroll down for the latest moves and milestones in Indian Country.
HIRES + PROMOTIONS
First Peoples Fund appointed Tina Kuckkahn as CEO, officially assuming her duties Sept. 15. Kuckkahn, a member of the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe and holder of a J.D., most recently served as managing director of the Foundation at NDN Collective, where she helped build and led philanthropic infrastructure and grantmaking programs across Turtle Island and related Island Nations. She previously spent 21 years as executive director of s'gʷi gʷi ʔ altxʷ: House of Welcome at The Evergreen State College Longhouse, led development of the Indigenous Arts Campus and became Evergreen's first vice president of Indigenous Arts, Education, and Tribal Relations. First Peoples Fund supports Indigenous artists and culture bearers to help Native communities heal and thrive.
Aleut Federal LLC appointed Karen Hertel as senior director of growth and strategy, a newly expanded role supporting enterprise-wide growth initiatives and strengthening pricing strategy for the Mission & Technology groups. Hertel brings more than two decades of leadership in federal contracting with expertise in pricing, capture and lifecycle strategy for defense, civilian and intelligence agencies. She most recently served as senior director of enterprise pricing strategy at GDIT, where she supported more than $15 billion in contract awards and implemented scalable pricing processes. Her previous leadership roles include positions at CSRA and Maximus Federal, where she led pricing strategy efforts across defense and civilian portfolios. Hertel reports directly to President Nick Trzcinski.
Native Americans in Philanthropy appointed Colby Duren as senior vice president, legal and government affairs. Duren brings extensive experience in federal Indian law and policy, having most recently served as attorney advisor in the Office of the General Counsel at USDA's International Affairs, Food Assistance, and Farm and Rural Programs Division. She previously held leadership roles at several prominent Native American organizations, including director of policy and legal at the National Congress of American Indians, senior legal counsel at AMERIND, and director at the Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative at the University of Arkansas School of Law. Duren earned her J.D. from American University Washington College of Law and an LLM in agricultural and food law from the University of Arkansas School of Law.
Mountain Vector Energy hired Melody Harwood as a software engineer. Harwood, a 30th-generation New Mexican from Silver City, became the first person from her home county to attend and graduate from Columbia University, where she majored in mathematics and computer science with a minor in linguistics. She has contributed to text-to-speech development and learning materials for Indigenous languages, including computational linguistics work to preserve traditional Ojibwe stories in collaboration with community elders. Harwood previously served as a traveling STEM educator for Explora Children's Museum and Science Center. She speaks six languages and holds a black belt in Okinawan karate. At Mountain Vector Energy, she will focus on technologies for energy and water optimization.
StrongHearts Native Helpline hired Hannah Norberto as an advocate. Norberto, a member of the Diné (Navajo) Nation, is pursuing a master's degree in public health at Northern Arizona University and holds a bachelor's degree in population health. StrongHearts is a 24/7, Native-centered helpline that provides confidential support to Native American and Alaska Native survivors of domestic and sexual violence. The organization was born from community-driven conversations in 2012 and launched in 2017. In her role, Norberto will provide culturally sensitive support to survivors, helping to fulfill the organization's mission of restoring power to survivors by combining safety, sovereignty and support while honoring ancestral strength and uplifting Indigenous communities.
The Tohono O'odham Gaming Enterprise named Karen A. Listo as general manager overseeing Desert Diamond Casino West Valley and Desert Diamond Casino White Tanks in the Phoenix metro area. Listo, an enrolled member of the Tohono O'odham Nation from the Sells District, brings more than 30 years of gaming experience to the role. She previously served as general manager for the Southern Arizona properties before stepping into the interim general manager position at West Valley. Listo holds a bachelor's degree in business management from the University of Phoenix. Under her leadership, Desert Diamond Casino has grown into Arizona's premier gaming operation with five casinos employing nearly 4,000 team members across facilities in Southern Arizona and the West Valley.
APPOINTMENTS
The California Native American Heritage Commission unanimously re-elected Reggie Pagaling to his second term as chairman. Pagaling, a member of the Santa Ynez Chumash community, has served as NAHC chairman since his initial appointment by then-Governor Jerry Brown in 2013. The commission, established in 1976, is responsible for protecting sacred sites and Native American burials, returning ancestors to their respective communities, and ensuring tribal access to cultural resources on public lands. NAHC also oversees treatment of inadvertently discovered Native American remains and administers the California Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. The nine-member body praised Pagaling as a constant advocate for sacred site protection and tribal consultation throughout his tenure.
Tribal Energy Alternatives appointed its inaugural Board of Directors, naming Collette Brown-Rodriguez as board chair and Daniel Wiggins, Fawn Sharpe and John Lewis as board members. Brown-Rodriguez, a member of the Confederated and Salish Kootenai Tribe and Navajo Nation, serves as director of tribal development at Avantus and has extensive experience in Native community advocacy and organizational development. Wiggins, a member of the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians, is executive director at the Midwest Tribal Energy Resource Association and an environmental and tribal sovereignty advocate. Sharpe is president of the Quinault Indian Nation and the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, and former president of the National Congress of American Indians. Lewis, Lakota and Gila River, is managing director for Native American Energy at Avant Energy and senior development manager at AES Clean Energy.
KUDOS
Professor Robert J. Miller was honored on Saturday, Sept. 27 with a lifetime achievement award by the Native American Bar Association of Arizona. (Courtesy photo)
The Native American Bar Association of Arizona honored Professor Robert J. Miller with its Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his decades of contributions to federal Indian law, scholarship and mentorship. Miller, a citizen of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe, serves as the Jonathan and Wendy Rose Professor of Law and faculty director of the Rosette LLP American Indian Economic Development Program at Arizona State University's Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law. He has authored six books and numerous articles on the Doctrine of Discovery and federal Indian law. Miller has served as a tribal judge for multiple nations, including chief justice for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, and became the first Native American elected to the American Philosophical Society in 2014.
United South and Eastern Tribes Inc. presented the 2025 Chris Thompson Economic Development Professional Excellence Award to John Hendrix, economic development director for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. The award recognizes innovation, dedication and contributions to economic development success of USET member tribal communities. Hendrix has served as economic development director for MBCI since 2005, focusing on strategic initiatives that build long-term economic resilience. His recent work includes participating in more than $100 million in community development financing initiatives, securing more than $20 million in grant funding from 12 funders, and leading development of a carbon credit project expected to generate millions in tribal revenue over 20 years. Hendrix is a certified economic developer, economic development finance professional and project management professional. He holds a Master of Business Administration degree.
Travois presented its annual Superhero Awards, recognizing leaders in Native housing and economic development. Darcy Padilla, executive director of the Hoopa Valley Housing Authority, was named Housing Professional of the Year for her resilience in developing K'is Di Ya:n Ding, or Elders' Place, in Hoopa, California. Padilla and HVHA overcame major challenges in their first Low-Income Housing Tax Credit project, notably advocating for tribal sovereignty in housing regulations to obtain tax credits and securing vital infrastructure funding. Big Fire Law & Policy Group was honored as Economic Development Team of the Year for its efforts to advocate for tribal nations in accessing federal resources and supporting Native community leaders. The firm has emerged as a top firm in New Markets Tax Credit deals, which offer gap funding for economic development projects.
RETIREMENT
The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development announced that Crystal Pierce will retire on Sept. 30, 2025, following 45 years of involvement with NCAIED and 40 years with the APEX Accelerator. Pierce has been part of the NCAIED APEX Accelerator since 1985, when the program began, following her volunteer work for the National Center. She has assisted thousands of small businesses and generations of business owners throughout her career, having a strong impact on Native American communities. Pierce specializes in one-on-one counseling with clients on government contracting topics including critical and emerging technologies, government innovation programs, cybersecurity, foreign ownership control and influence, and mentor protégé programs. APEX Accelerator Program Manager George Williams encouraged clients to benefit from her experience before her retirement.
If you have news of new hires, appointments or special recognition, please share them with [email protected].
