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- By Tribal Business News Staff
- Economic Development
Leadership changes and national recognition continue across Indian Country as Tribal enterprises, Native-led organizations and federal agencies add executives, elevate emerging leaders and honor contributions in media, policy, education and economic development.
This month’s People on the Move roundup includes appointments tied to energy sovereignty, Indigenous journalism, Tribal gaming, Native philanthropy, higher education and Native finance, alongside national honors recognizing leadership in Tribal governance, economic development and public policy.
HIRES + PROMOTIONS
Colusa Indian Energy named Scott Davis executive vice president of government affairs, where he will support the company’s work with Tribal Nations, government agencies and industry partners on energy infrastructure and sovereignty initiatives. Davis, a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and descendant of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, previously served as senior advisor to the secretary and acting assistant secretary for Indian Affairs at the U.S. Department of the Interior. He also served as executive director of Indian affairs for three North Dakota governors and held leadership roles focused on Tribal policy, education and economic development.
Seneca Resorts & Casinos named Hicham Jaddoud senior vice president of resort operations, overseeing hospitality strategy across the company’s three gaming and resort properties in western New York. Jaddoud joined the company in 2025 as executive director of hotel operations at Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino. He previously held management roles at casino resorts in Washington, Colorado, Wisconsin, New York, Alabama and Missouri, as well as non-gaming hotel properties in Georgia and Oklahoma. Jaddoud holds degrees from Université de Perpignan, Lindenwood University and Georgia State University.
Indigenous Journalists Association named Mary Hudetz director of education and training, where she will help lead the organization’s student and professional development initiatives for Indigenous journalists. Hudetz, a citizen of the Crow Tribe of Indians, previously worked as a reporter and editor for the Associated Press and as an investigative reporter for ProPublica and The Seattle Times. A former NAJA president, Hudetz currently serves on the board of Investigative Reporters and Editors and was part of a reporting team that received IJA’s 2024 Richard LaCourse Award for Investigative Reporting.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development named Neill Minish acting director of operations for the Office of Native American Programs, where he will work with the agency’s operations team overseeing housing and community development programs serving Tribal communities. Minish has worked at HUD since 2019 as a Native American program specialist and previously served as a senior advisor and program officer with the Corporation for National and Community Service. Minish holds a master of public administration degree from the University of Arizona.
Fort Lewis College formally invested Heather J. Shotton as its 11th president during an April ceremony recognizing the institution’s future and its history as a former federal Indian boarding school. Shotton, an enrolled citizen of the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes and descendant of the Kiowa and Cheyenne Tribes, previously served as vice president of diversity affairs at Fort Lewis College and has held faculty and leadership roles in higher education. Speakers during the ceremony highlighted her focus on student-centered leadership, Native representation in higher education and expanding access for first-generation and Indigenous students.
Native Americans in Philanthropy named Oakley Jandreau executive support services manager. Jandreau, a citizen of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, previously led development and implementation of a Lakota language immersion program for the Lower Brule School System, supporting language revitalization and cultural education efforts. She also held internship roles focused on digital engagement and communications at Calix and GigTel. Jandreau earned degrees in American Indian and Indigenous Studies and public relations from South Dakota State University and also holds an Oceti Sakowin language certificate.
National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition named Zoe VandeBerg healing programs coordinator. VandeBerg, a citizen of the Ho-Chunk Nation and descendant of boarding school survivors who attended Neillsville Indian School, previously worked on culturally based curriculum development with Winona Area Public Schools and the Honoring Dakota Project. She also served as a Native American Museum fellow with the Minnesota Historical Society, where she focused on oral history and historical preservation. VandeBerg earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Winona State University and has worked on Indigenous student advocacy and participatory-action research initiatives.
FEATURED RECOGNITION
[PHOTO: Kathryn Washington (center) receives the Frank Blythe Award for Media Excellence from Francene Blythe-Lewis (left) and Gregg Jablonski (right) via Vision Maker Media]
Vision Maker Media presented its Frank Blythe Award for Media Excellence to Kathryn Washington, former senior vice president for television content at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, recognizing her contributions to advancing Indigenous media opportunities and supporting Native storytellers. Washington worked at CPB until the organization was defunded and shut down in January 2026. Vision Maker Media credited Washington with helping identify funding opportunities, building connections within CPB and philanthropic organizations, and supporting the organization’s capacity-building efforts. The organization also said Washington helped secure a donation of more than $1 million from an anonymous donor following CPB’s closure. The award was presented April 22 during a Vision Maker Media board meeting.
APPOINTMENTS
Anpo announced that founding president and CEO Jodi Archambault was elected to the 2026 class of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honorary societies. Founded in 1780, the academy recognizes leaders in public policy, science, business, education and the arts. Archambault, who is Hunkpapa and Oglala Lakota, was elected in the public affairs and public policy section. She previously served as special assistant to the president for Native American affairs on the White House Domestic Policy Council and as policy counsel for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe during opposition to the Dakota Access Pipeline.
The Center for Indian Country Development, the Native research and policy institute housed at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, added four new members to its Leadership Council: Ashley Cornforth of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, Mike Lettig of the Navajo Nation and Huntington Bank, Mary Scott of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and Chairman Brian Weeden of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe. Leadership Council members advise CICD on research priorities, economic data gaps and policy analysis affecting Tribal communities. CICD develops economic datasets and research intended to support Native economic self-determination and inform public policy discussions across Indian Country.
Great Lakes Stewardship Initiative named Amanda Weinert to its board of directors. Weinert, a citizen of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and descendant of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, recently served as PK-12 academic services student advocate for the Little Traverse Bay Bands’ Niigaandiwin Education Department. She previously worked as the Ishkaakimikwe Kinoomaagewinan coordinator and curriculum specialist, focusing on land-based and decolonized education approaches. Weinert began her work in Indigenous place-based education while at the Center for Native American Studies at Northern Michigan University and has collaborated with multiple GLSI regional hubs in Michigan.
KUDOS
Native American Finance Officers Association honored Tribal leaders, executives and economic development initiatives during its 19th Annual Leadership Awards on April 28 in Reno, Nevada, recognizing achievements in Native business, finance and governance. The Education Program of the Year award went to the Walker River Paiute Economic Development Authority for its Emerging Business Leaders program, an intergenerational initiative launched in 2025 to prepare Tribal youth for careers in business and economic leadership. Executive of the Year honors went to Jon Panamaroff, CEO of Command Holdings, a Pequot federal contracting company and member of the Native Village of Afognak who has overseen significant revenue growth and investment activity across Native enterprises.
NAFOA also recognized the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians with its Business Impact Deal of the Year award for a $390 million financing package tied to the redevelopment of River Rock Casino into Caesars Republic Sonoma County, expected to open in 2027. The Government Impact Deal of the Year went to Metlakatla Power & Light for securing financing to connect Annette Island to the Ketchikan utility grid. Tribal Leader of the Year honors went to Erica M. Pinto, chairwoman of the Jamul Indian Village, recognizing her leadership in economic development, land expansion and regional Tribal governance.
Tribal Leadership Council named four recipients for its 2026 Leadership Award Series, recognizing contributions to Tribal leadership, education, sovereignty and economic development. The organization awarded its Lifetime Leadership Award to Peter Yucupico, vice chairman of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, while Frances Alvarez, president of the National Native American Hall of Fame and chairwoman of the Tribal Gaming Protection Network, received the Leader of Today Award. Amber Maner, senior advisor to the Cherokee Nation, earned the Leader of Tomorrow Award, and Dr. Eric S. Trevan, president and CEO of aLocal.ai, received the Leader in Economic Sovereignty Award. The awards will be presented June 3 during the Tribal Leadership Conference in Chandler, Arizona.
If you have news of new hires, appointments or special recognition, please share them with [email protected].
