- Details
- By Tribal Business News Staff
- Economic Development
Tribal organizations and enterprises announced several executive appointments and leadership changes in November, including new chief executives at the California Rural Indian Health Board and Cowlitz Economic Authority, along with board appointments at organizations serving Native communities nationwide.
Multiple Native professionals received recognition for their contributions to business, human resources and infrastructure development across Indian Country.
HIRES + PROMOTIONS
Native American Housing Circle appointed Sierra Trujillo as executive director. Trujillo, an enrolled member of Taos Pueblo, brings more than 15 years of experience serving unhoused communities and advancing racial equity. She has been involved with NAHC since 2021 as a coalition and founding board member. Trujillo most recently served as director of equity and inclusion at Metro Denver Homeless Initiative, where she led regional equity strategy and the Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program. She previously worked at The Delores Project, helping open Arroyo Village, Denver's first housing continuum project providing shelter, permanent supportive and workforce housing. Trujillo is pursuing a master's degree in public administration at the University of Colorado Denver. She succeeds interim executive director Virginia Ortiz.
The Nebraska Indian Child Welfare Coalition hired Chiara Cournoyer-Bruguier as administrative manager. Cournoyer-Bruguier, an enrolled member of the Yankton Sioux Tribe, was a founding board member of NICWC and has facilitated the organization's Motherhood and Fatherhood is Sacred classes since 2020. She previously worked as a tribal child welfare specialist for the Capacity Building Center for Tribes, providing technical assistance to tribes nationwide. Her earlier roles include tribal human services director, social services program manager, grant coordinator and child welfare caseworker. Cournoyer-Bruguier holds a social work degree from Briar Cliff University and a business degree from the University of South Dakota.
California Native American Heritage Commission appointed Andrew "Dru" Alejandre as executive secretary. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the appointment Oct. 17. Alejandre has served as tribal liaison at Emic Health Services since 2024 and is co-founder and vice president of the Tribal Leadership Council. He served as chairman of the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians from 2016 to 2025 and as council secretary from 2014 to 2016. Alejandre is board chair of Tepa Companies and the Tribal Leadership Council Foundation. He holds a bachelor's degree in graphic design from the Art Institute of Sacramento.
Alliance on Tribal Clean Energy hired Anna Sattler as associate director of Alaska Native affairs. Sattler previously worked for more than 15 years at Alaska Village Electric Cooperative, where she served as community liaison from April 2010 through November 2025. She is based in Anchorage, Alaska.
Eastern Shawnee Companies hired Nick Hall as senior project manager for environmental services. Hall brings 19 years of experience in environmental, GIS and technology-based projects supporting federal clients. His background includes leadership roles managing Bureau of Land Management geospatial initiatives and overseeing large-scale environmental field surveys across the western United States. Hall is a certified Project Management Professional with expertise in ecology, regulatory compliance including the National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act, and geospatial technology. He will support ESC's environmental programs and federal contracting work.
Eastern Shawnee Companies promoted Megan Perez-Utter to environmental account manager. In her new role, Perez-Utter serves as the primary relationship owner for a portfolio of environmental clients, focusing on the Department of the Interior and Bureau of Indian Affairs. She will work with project teams and federal clients to strengthen partnerships, oversee proposal development and ensure delivery of environmental services. Perez-Utter joined Eastern Shawnee Companies in 2024 and has been instrumental in expanding the company's environmental footprint across multiple projects and partnerships. She will continue field work alongside her account management responsibilities.
Cowlitz Economic Authority appointed Jesse Downs as its first chief executive officer following a national search. Downs, an enrolled member of the Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe, has more than a decade of experience in executive roles with Native-owned businesses and has managed multi-billion-dollar projects in emerging markets. She previously held leadership positions with Tribal Enterprises, a Native-owned GovTech software company, and worked in tribal administration. The Cowlitz Economic Authority, established in 2024, oversees the Cowlitz Indian Tribe's business ventures and investments including Q'anapsu, the Cowlitz Tobacco Outlet and the Cowlitz Tribal Gaming Authority, which manages ilani. The authority also hired Tiffini Johnson as chief of staff.
California Rural Indian Health Board appointed Virginia Hedrick as chief executive officer, making her the first woman to hold the position. Hedrick, an enrolled member of the Yurok Tribe, brings two decades of public health experience. She previously spent nine years at CRIHB in roles including associate health policy analyst and program coordinator. She also worked nine years at the California Consortium for Urban Indian Health as director of public policy and planning and executive director. Hedrick holds a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, a graduate certificate from the University of Arizona and a master's degree in public health from Drexel University's Dornsife School of Public Health. She begins the role Dec. 9.
APPOINTMENTS
Phoenix Indian Center appointed Cynthia G. Banks to its board of directors. Banks is a retirement plan advisor and tribal solutions specialist at Wealthspire, where she has worked since March 2025. She holds the Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist designation and specializes in employee benefits and retirement planning for tribal communities. Banks previously spent nearly 14 years as a retirement plan consultant at Mutual of America. She also worked at Charles Schwab in broker services and as a premier banker at Wells Fargo.
American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) appointed five members to its board of directors for three-year terms beginning in December. Kevin Allis, an enrolled member of the Forest County Potawatomi Community, is president of Thunderbird Strategic and founder of the Native American Aviation Association. He previously served as CEO of the National Congress of American Indians and executive director of the Native American Contractors Association. Carly Hare, Pawnee/Yankton, is CEO of Headwaters Foundation. Joshua John, Navajo, is a systems engineer at Raytheon and continues for a second board term. Hokulani Sharp, Native Hawaiian, holds an MBA and is an AISES Sequoyah Fellow. Kelli Matthews Smalling, Muscogee Nation, is executive director of Engage Learning, a STEM education nonprofit. The board members replace outgoing directors William Tiger, Katelynn Hopkins and Brendan Kinkade.
Tribal Leadership Council appointed three advisors to provide strategic guidance to the organization's president, executive committee and board of directors. Jerad Swimmer, an enrolled member of the United Keetoowah Band, currently serves as regional sales director for Continent 8 Technologies. He previously worked as director of compliance at Indigo Sky Casino & Resort and assistant deputy gaming commissioner for the Eastern Shawnee Tribe. Shane Urry is vice president of Aambe Health, a subsidiary of Aambe Corporation, where he oversees strategic growth and business operations in the healthcare sector. Michael Kim serves as managing partner for GGHM, a global gaming and tribal advisory firm. The advisors will serve in a non-voting capacity.
KUDOS
Pictured: Indigenous Business Group’s 2025 Tribal Enterprise of the Year Wolf River Development honored at the annual Indigenous Biz Con. (Courtesy photo)
Indigenous Biz Con awarded $2,000 prizes to two Native-owned businesses during its first pitch competition at the fourth annual conference held at Potawatomi Hotel & Casino in Milwaukee. Milwaukee-based OTG Muncheez and Michigan's Shawano Trucking won the inaugural competition. The conference also presented 2025 IBG Awards, recognizing ANASA Traffic and Restoration Services as Business of the Year, Wolf River Development as Outstanding Tribal Business or Enterprise, Creatively Indigenous as Creative of the Year, and She Rises Collective as Nonprofit of the Year. Indian Gaming Association Chairman Ernie Stevens Jr., who walked on in October 2025, received Business Leader of the Year honors posthumously. The conference, founded by Wisconsin Native entrepreneurs Rob Pero, Zoar Fulwider and Collin Price through the Indigenous Business Group, drew hundreds of attendees from across the country.
Seneca Resorts & Casinos had three executives named to Buffalo Business First's 2025 Power 100 Business Leaders of Color list. President and CEO Kevin Nephew, Chief Operating Officer Kimberlee Dunlop and Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino General Manager Joanne Israel were recognized by the regional business publication. All three are enrolled members of the Seneca Nation. Nephew joined the company in 2014 and became president and CEO in 2020, becoming the first Seneca Nation member to lead the organization. Dunlop served as counsel to the company's board of directors for five years before being named COO earlier this year. Israel joined Seneca Gaming Corporation in 2011 and was named general manager at Seneca Niagara in 2022.
Tribal projects claimed seven of nine infrastructure awards at the 2025 New Mexico Infrastructure Finance Conference in Albuquerque. Winning projects included the Navajo Nation's Shiprock Incident Command Center, Jemez Pueblo's Hemish Path to Wellness facility, and developments from the Pueblos of Taos and Zuni, Mescalero Apache Tribe and Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. The awards recognize investments through Capital Outlay funds and the Tribal Infrastructure Fund administered by the New Mexico Indian Affairs Department.
National Native American Human Resources Association honored two recipients at its 29th annual conference at Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, California. On left, the Chickasaw Leadership Academy received the Sam Henny Award. Right, Renee K. Martin was named 2025 HR Leader of the Year. (Courtesy photos)The National Native American Human Resources Association honored two recipients at its 29th annual HR conference at Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, California. The Chickasaw Leadership Academy received the Sam Henny Award, which recognizes tribes with exceptional programs promoting mentorship, succession planning and leadership development. Laura Detamore, senior manager of professional development for Chickasaw Nation, accepted the award. Renee K. Martin was named 2025 HR Leader of the Year. Martin holds a master's degree in education and serves as director of human resources for Prairie Island Indian Community, Mdewakanton Band of Eastern Dakota. She is an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians. The award recognizes excellence in leadership, organizational impact and commitment to mentoring future tribal HR leaders.
If you have news of new hires, appointments or special recognition, please share them with [email protected].
