- Details
- By Tribal Business News Staff
- Economic Development
Organizations across Indian Country and Native-serving institutions announced a series of leadership appointments and promotions in recent weeks, spanning tribal enterprises, nonprofit organizations, higher education and federal contracting.
The latest hires and promotions include leadership moves at companies and organizations such as Akima, Heritage University, Agua Caliente Casinos, Cherokee Nation, Seneca Resorts & Casinos, the Indigenous Journalists Association, Winnebago Comprehensive Healthcare System, the Alaska Native Heritage Center and First Peoples Fund, along with board appointments at groups including the Willamette Falls Trust, Potawatomi Ventures and the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts.
HIRES + PROMOTIONS
Noo-Kayet Investments appointed Anthony Jones as chief executive officer, making him the first member of the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe to lead the tribal enterprise corporation. Jones succeeds interim CEO Eric Croft, who will continue serving as chief operating officer. An attorney with experience in Native American law and economic development, Jones previously worked as in-house counsel for the Tulalip Tribes and most recently supported the Native American law practice at Dorsey & Whitney LLP. He holds a bachelor’s degree in science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a juris doctor from Washington University. Jones will oversee the tribe’s business portfolio, including The Point Casino & Hotel, Gliding Eagle Market and High Point cannabis shop.
Akima appointed Lauren Cates as vice president of business development for its emerging markets group, tasking her with leading growth strategy and expanding the company’s market presence among military and government customers. Cates brings more than 15 years of federal contracting experience. She most recently led the growth team at Indigo IT, securing contracts in cloud, cybersecurity and enterprise IT services, and previously spent more than a decade at the Bowhead Family of Companies as director of business development overseeing billion-dollar pipelines. A journalism graduate of the University of Florida, she has completed Shipley training in federal proposal management.
Heritage University promoted Crystal Sampson to vice president of operations and chief of staff, making her the first enrolled member of the Yakama Nation to serve as a vice president at the university. Sampson joined Heritage in 2023 as director of human resources after nearly 20 years in management roles with Costco Wholesale and additional leadership positions within the Yakama Nation tribal government, including the Yakama Nation Housing Authority, Yakama Forest Products and Legends Casino Hotel. She holds associate and bachelor’s degrees in business administration from Haskell Indian Nations University and will oversee university operations while helping manage the institution’s regional site in Kennewick.
Agua Caliente Casinos appointed Jennifer Reese as senior vice president and general manager of Agua Caliente Casino Cathedral City, citing her experience in gaming and hospitality operations. Reese brings more than 25 years of experience in casino marketing and executive leadership. She began her career in Atlantic City with Tropicana Casino and Trump Entertainment Resorts, later joining the opening leadership team at Sands Bethlehem and serving as executive director of marketing at Valley Forge Casino Resort. She also held a senior executive role overseeing marketing and brand strategy at Foxwoods Resort Casino and previously advised Agua Caliente on brand strategy before returning in 2024 as a senior marketing consultant.
Cherokee Nation appointed Paiten Taylor-Qualls as deputy attorney general, where she will assist Attorney General Chad Harsha and support the tribe’s expanding legal operations. A Cherokee Nation citizen and Cherokee County native, Taylor-Qualls previously served as director of the legal division within the Office of the Attorney General, overseeing civil litigation, contracts and regulatory matters. She also worked as an attorney for Cherokee Nation Businesses, advising on tribal gaming compliance, and earlier served as an assistant attorney general. Taylor-Qualls holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Central Oklahoma and a law degree from the University of Arkansas.
Seneca Resorts & Casinos appointed Joanne Israel as chief strategy officer, Linda Hitchcock as senior vice president of food and beverage, Chama Darcy as corporate vice president of food and beverage, and expanded Peter Maybee’s role as vice president of corporate security under a new Centers of Excellence structure. All four are enrolled members of the Seneca Nation. Israel joined the company in 2011 and most recently served as general manager of Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino. Hitchcock has been with the organization since 2004 and was general manager of Seneca Allegany Resort & Casino. Darcy joined in 2006 and most recently led hotel operations at Seneca Allegany. Maybee, a U.S. Air Force veteran, previously served 20 years with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and joined the company in 2013.
Indigenous Journalists Association appointed Jes Abeita as program manager, where she will oversee organizational programs and support Indigenous journalists nationwide. Abeita, an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Isleta, brings more than 15 years of experience in Native media and communications. She previously served as audience engagement director at Underscore Native News and communications manager at NAYA Family Center, and worked in production roles at Native America Calling and National Native News. She completed graduate coursework in journalism at the University of British Columbia and holds a bachelor’s degree in Native American Studies from the University of New Mexico.
Winnebago Comprehensive Healthcare System appointed Melanie Tuamoheloa as chief nursing officer. Tuamoheloa, a registered nurse and enrolled member of the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska, previously served as director of nursing care services at WCHS, where she led recruitment efforts, mentored nursing staff and strengthened interdisciplinary care teams. She also helped develop the health system’s forensic nursing program, expanding services in the emergency department for sexual assault and intimate partner violence examinations. Tuamoheloa holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Creighton University and is pursuing a master’s degree in nurse executive leadership at Walden University.
Alaska Native Heritage Center promoted Natalie Van Hatten to program manager for its After School Program, where she will oversee cultural and educational programming for Indigenous youth in Anchorage. Van Hatten, who is Iñupiaq from Shaktoolik, Alaska, joined the organization in 2025 as Unguwat program coordinator, developing and teaching cultural activities for young adults and elders. Her background includes work in prevention programs and community-based cultural education. Van Hatten holds an associate degree in human services and a bachelor’s degree in rural development for health and human services management from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
First Peoples Fund appointed Sarah Sunshine Manning as director of communications, where she will lead strategic communications supporting the organization’s work with Native artists and cultural practitioners. Manning, who is Shoshone-Paiute and Chippewa-Cree, previously served as director of communications at NDN Collective and later as a senior public relations strategist with the organization. Her background also includes work as a media and narrative strategy consultant and freelance journalist, with bylines in outlets including ICT and Truthdig. Manning holds a master’s degree in journalism and mass communications from South Dakota State University.
FEATURED APPOINTMENT
![[PHOTO: Rudy Ortega Jr. via LinkedIn]](/images/2023/Ortega_LA_Water_and_Power.jpeg)
[PHOTO: Rudy Ortega Jr. via LinkedIn]
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power appoints Rudy Ortega Jr. to Board of Water and Power Commissioners
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power appointed Rudy Ortega Jr. to the Los Angeles Board of Water and Power Commissioners following confirmation by the Los Angeles City Council on Feb. 10. Ortega is the elected tribal president of the Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians and brings experience in leadership and advocacy with local and state governments, as well as service on Native American and historical commissions. He becomes the second person of Native American ancestry to serve on the board, which provides oversight for the nation’s largest municipal utility. Ortega is expected to bring a tribal perspective as the utility continues building relationships with Native communities in Los Angeles and the Owens Valley.
BOARD APPOINTMENTS
Willamette Falls Trust appointed Brigette McConville, Veronica Ramos Dullack and Charles Hudson to its Board of Directors to support restoration and public access efforts at Willamette Falls. McConville, a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, is a fisherwoman, business owner and cultural anthropologist who served on the Warm Springs Tribal Council from 2016 to 2022 and was re-elected in 2025. Dullack, founder of Portland-based Alder Advisory, previously served as senior vice president of global ESG and sustainability at a major music entertainment company and co-founded the Music Industry Climate Collective. Hudson, a Mandan-Hidatsa tribal member, is a former governmental affairs director for the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission and founder of the Many Dances Family Fund at the Oregon Community Foundation.
Potawatomi Ventures appointed Stacey White to its board of directors, citing her experience in tribal enterprise operations and communications. White, an enrolled member of the Forest County Potawatomi Community, previously served as general manager of Potawatomi Carter Casino Hotel, overseeing 13 departments and ensuring regulatory compliance while meeting operational goals. She currently serves as communications division administrator for the Forest County Potawatomi, coordinating across tribal divisions and entities. Her background includes work in graphic design, marketing and community organizing. White holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in graphic design from the Illinois Institute of Art–Schaumburg.
Southwestern Association for Indian Arts appointed Leslie Wheelock as board chair and named the 2026 executive committee for its board of directors. Wheelock, a member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, owns Wheelock Consulting, PLLC, a firm focused on tribal legal, business and management consulting. She has served on SWAIA’s board since 2024 and is the first Native American trustee at Cornell University. SWAIA also named JoAnn Chase (Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation) as vice chair, Randy Chitto (Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians) as secretary, and Nicole Johnnie (Navajo Nation) as treasurer.
Southwest Native American Foundation appointed Josh Lucio as a trustee. Lucio, a member of Zuni Pueblo in New Mexico, is a licensed financial professional and founder of TrueNorth Financial, where he teaches financial literacy to Native American families. He previously served as scholarship operations manager at Native Forward and as education coordinator for the Pueblo of Zuni Tribal Scholarship Program. Lucio holds a bachelor’s degree in microbiology from the University of Arizona and an executive MBA from the University of New Mexico and is a recipient of the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development’s 40 Under 40 award.
Winnebago Health Foundation appointed William Bass and Dr. David Hoelting to its board of directors and reappointed Amy Encinger to a new three-year term. Bass has been active in community health and governance initiatives and serves on several boards, including the Little Priest Tribal College Board of Trustees, Winnebago Tax Commission and Winnebago Community Development Fund Board of Directors. Hoelting is a retired physician who has held leadership roles with the Pender City Board, Nebraska Governor’s Nuclear Waste Advisory Board and the Nebraska Academy of Family Physicians Board. The Winnebago Health Foundation supports health and community initiatives through the Winnebago Comprehensive Healthcare System.
If you have news of new hires, appointments or special recognition, please share them with [email protected].
