- Details
- By Tribal Business News Staff
- Economic Development
Organizations across Indian Country and Native-serving institutions announced a series of leadership appointments, hires and recognitions in recent weeks, spanning tribal enterprises, consulting firms, education, land stewardship and federal contracting.
HIRES + PROMOTIONS
Osage LLC named Skyway Range Executive Director Randall Burke as chief executive officer, effective April 6, succeeding Russell Goff, who will serve as senior advisor to the board. Burke has more than 36 years of aviation and program experience, including prior roles as an executive with the Federal Aviation Administration and vice president of operations at Aircraft Propeller Service LLC. He served more than 26 years in the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a colonel. Burke holds degrees from the U.S. Air Force Academy and Troy State University and is a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation.
Salamatof Native Association Inc. appointed Ronetta (Roni) Briggs as president of Salamatof Ventures and Holding LLC, the organization’s business subsidiary focused on real estate, strategic investments and enterprise growth. Briggs brings more than two decades of executive experience across tribal, federal, nonprofit and private-sector markets and is co-founder of OSIYO Group, a Native-owned consulting firm serving tribal governments and enterprises. She has also held leadership roles with Diageo, Accenture, General Electric, Motorola, NEC America and Northern Telecom. A citizen of the Cherokee Nation, Briggs will lead real estate development, venture incubation and partnership initiatives aligned with shareholder priorities.
InnoNative Solutions named Joni Theobald as principal, adding experience in federal funding strategy, broadband development and tribal economic advisory services. Theobald previously served as chief operations officer at EnerTribe Inc., where she focused on broadband strategy, infrastructure planning and technology integration. In her new role, she will lead client engagements across federal grant programs, digital infrastructure planning, tribal online lending enterprise advisory and business development for the Native women-owned firm, which advises tribal nations on economic and infrastructure decisions.
Hawk Eye Strategies LLC named Kerry Libby as principal and partner, adding leadership experience in tribal governance, policy and intergovernmental strategy. Libby, an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, previously served as executive director for the tribe, overseeing 64 programs and more than 100 employees, and as external affairs director, where she led federal relations and consultation efforts. Her background includes work in co-stewardship agreements with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, federal disaster recovery through FEMA’s Public Assistance Program, and directing the Standing Rock Institute of Natural History. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and a master’s degree in strategic leadership from the University of Mary.
Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise appointed Mike Apachee as lead casino shift manager at Fire Rock Navajo Casino, overseeing daily operations and team leadership on the gaming floor. Apachee joined Navajo Gaming in 2018 as a summer intern at Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort and later worked on the development and launch of the Navajo Blue Travel Plaza. He advanced through operations and management roles, most recently serving as travel plaza manager, where he focused on team development and operations. Apachee is originally from Lupton, Ariz., and has built his career within the enterprise.
The National Fund for Excellence in American Indian Education named Ashley Tso as literacy program coordinator, supporting K-3 literacy initiatives across Bureau of Indian Education schools in New Mexico and Arizona. Ashley brings experience in higher education and student services, including prior roles at Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute and the University of New Mexico. She has also worked in communications and marketing, focusing on outreach and engagement, and holds a master’s degree in higher education administration from the University of Kansas.
Shee Atiká Government Services named Richard Aldridge as executive vice president for growth, leading business development and expansion across its government contracting portfolio. Aldridge brings experience in federal IT and contracting, most recently serving in a leadership role with Diné Development Corporation. In his new role, he will support growth strategy across SGS’s subsidiaries, which provide services in cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, systems integration and research and development. Wallowa Land Trust named Althea Walker as Indigenous community liaison, leading tribal engagement and stewardship partnerships in Wallowa County. Walker, who is Nez Perce, Hopi and Gila River, brings more than a decade of experience in climate adaptation and community resilience, most recently serving as director of community resilience for the Climate Science Alliance. She has also advised organizations on cross-jurisdictional partnerships and contributed to national efforts on Indigenous climate knowledge, including the Status of Tribes and Climate Change report.
FEATURED RECOGNITION
[PHOTO: Ellen Harmon (left) and Serena Harmon (right) via Rosebud Building Products]
U.S. Small Business Administration named Rosebud Building Products South Dakota Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year The U.S. Small Business Administration named Rosebud Building Products (RLH Inc.) as the South Dakota Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year, with the award to be presented during National Small Business Week on May 8 in Mission, S.D. The company is led by sisters Ellen and Serena Harmon and operates on the Rosebud Reservation. Founded in 2005, the Native woman-owned business supplies building materials, equipment and procurement services through three divisions: Rosebud Building Products, Rosebud Rental and RBP Supply. The company serves tribal, federal and regional clients and holds HUBZone and Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business certifications.
KUDOS
Seneca Resorts & Casinos President and CEO Kevin Nephew was named to Buffalo Business First’s 2026 “Power 250” list, recognizing influential business leaders in Western New York. Nephew, a member of the Seneca Nation, has led the tribally owned gaming enterprise since 2020 and has appeared on the list each year since 2021. He oversees operations across three casino properties and a golf course, with more than 3,000 employees, making the enterprise one of the region’s largest private employers. He joined the company in 2014 and became the first Seneca Nation member to serve as its president and CEO.
The LGBTQ+ Victory Fund honored Jamul Indian Village Chairwoman Erica M. Pinto with the Distinguished Leadership Award at its 2026 San Diego brunch, recognizing her advocacy and community leadership. Pinto leads the Jamul Indian Village and its enterprise, Jamul Casino Resort, and has been active in advancing representation and equity initiatives in the region. The annual event brings together elected officials and community leaders focused on LGBTQ+ issues and public policy. The award was presented during a March 22 event in San Diego attended by local and state officials.
Yellowhammer News named Stephanie Bryan, tribal chair and CEO of the Poarch Creek Indians, to its Power & Influence Top 50 list as part of the outlet’s 15th anniversary recognition of leaders in government, politics and business across Alabama. Bryan has led the tribe’s economic development strategy across sectors including hospitality, gaming and aerospace, while advancing federal relations and investment activity. She serves as both tribal chair and CEO of the Poarch Creek Indians, the only federally recognized tribe in Alabama, and has overseen the tribe’s expansion into diversified business operations.
If you have news of new hires, appointments or special recognition, please share them with [email protected].
