Bureau of Indian Affairs
Rocky Mountain Region
American Indian Economic Development Summit
“MAKING IT WORK IN INDIAN COUNTRY”
August 12-13, 2009
Billings, MT

BIOGRAPHIES (In order of appearance)

MASTER OF CEREMONIES:
Major Robinson: (Northern Cheyenne) President, REDSTONE Consulting
Major Robinson provides business, organization and project development services to Tribes, Indian organizations and private businesses.  Mr. Robinson is currently working with Justice Solutions Group from New Jersey to provide training and technical assistance to various tribes in the planning and development stages of their building projects.  Through his firm, REDSTONE Consulting, he is also providing design services for a new Return of the Mummy ride attraction on the $1.3 billion Universal Studios Dubailand project located in the United Arab Emirates.  Prior to establishing REDSTONE Consulting, Mr. Robinson was appointed as Governor Schweitzer’s Acting Coordinator of Indian Affairs and Senior Economic Development Specialist in Montana. 

DAY ONE:
Edward F. Parisian:  Edward F. Parisian has served as the Regional Director of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Rocky Mountain Regional Office in Billings, Montana since April 1, 2008.  Parisian, an enrolled member of the Chippewa-Cree Tribe of the Rocky Boy’s Reservation in Montana, had also served as the acting Regional Director in Billings since May 8, 2006.  Parisian has over 25 years’ experience in the fields of Indian health and education.  He came to the regional office following a period as director of the Interior Department’s Office of Indian Education Programs (now the Bureau of Indian Education).  He was appointed to that position on August 3, 2003, after having served as deputy director since April 15, 2002. 

Dr. Robert W. Middleton, Ph.D.:  Dr. Middleton currently serves as Director of the Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development, in the Office of the Assistant of the Secretary for Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior.  He assumed that position in October of 2004.  From 2001 to 2004, Bob served as the Director of the White House Task Force on Energy Project Streamlining.  The White House Task Force was a recommendation in the President’s National Energy Policy and was instituted by Presidential Executive Order 13212.  Prior to joining the Task Force, Bob served for eight years as Chief of Staff for the Mineral Management Service, the Federal Agency responsible for managing offshore oil and gas activities and for collecting and distributing all of the revenues generated from mineral development on Federal and Indian lands.  Bob was in that position since 1993.  During his 25-year career in the Department of the Interior, he has had the opportunity to participate in a number of high profile projects related to energy and environmental issues. 

Donald ‘Del’ Laverdure: 
Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs Larry Echo Hawk announced that he has named Donald “Del” Laverdure to the post of Deputy Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs effective July 29. Laverdure is an enrolled member of the Crow Tribe of Montana (Ties the Bundle Clan) with ancestry from the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana.  Laverdure comes to Indian Affairs after having been instrumental in pushing for the Crow Tribe
to endorse Senator Obama in the primaries for President of the United States, as well as serving
on the American Indian Policy Advisory Council for the Obama for America campaign.
Since 2006, he has served as Chief Legal Counsel for the Executive Branch of the Crow Tribe,
where he expanded and managed the Office of Legal Counsel and served as a senior advisor to
the Chairman, the tribe’s top elected official. He also worked on a wide variety of issues for the
Crow Tribe including federal water legislation, federal and local (state and tribal) tax issues and
submission of tribal and state legislation. He also served as the tribe’s lead negotiator on several
large energy projects, including Many Stars, a $7.5 billion coal-to-liquids project.  Laverdure earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering in 1995 from the University of Arizona and his Juris Doctor degree in 1999 from the University of Wisconsin Law School where he is also a LL.M Candidate (Indian tax). His law school honors include Advanced Opportunity Fellowship (1996-1999), LEO Program Indian Law Student of the Year (1998-1999), Law School Award, Highest Grade, Federal Indian Law (1997) and President of the Indian Law Students’ Association (1997-1998).

TRACK ONE: 1:15 – 2:45
Facilitator:
Jon Panamaroff is the Northwest Zone Manager for the Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development, Division of Capital Investments, at the Department of the Interior.  Jon is an enrolled member of the Sun’aq Tribe of Kodiak, Alaska and a descendent of the Koniag Alaskan Native Cooperation.
 Jon has spent the last 7 years of his professional career in banking and Native American business development. Mr. Panamaroff completed his Bachelors of Arts in Business Administration and a Bachelors of Arts in Organizational Psychology with departmental honors in both disciplines from Eastern Washington University (EWU) in 2003.  In 2005, Jon graduated with a Masters of Public Administration also from EWU where he was awarded a McNair Scholar Fellowship. 

Panel:
Michael Drewiske, Business Cooperative Specialist, USDA- Bozeman, MT
Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Business, and minors in Economics; Farm Management; and Plant Science - University of Wisconsin; employed with Farmers Home Administration in Wisconsin as an Assistant County Supervisor serving 3 offices for 4 years, and as a County Supervisor for 13 years.  In 1992, was transferred to Glasgow, Montana and employed with Farmers Home Administration in the District Office serving the eastern region of the state as a District Specialist.  Duties included assisting the County Offices with farm and ranch loans, loan resolutions, oversight and compliance, and as a State Certified General Appraiser, was responsible for appraisal contracts and compliance. 

In 1997, was transferred to the Montana State Office, and have worked with the Business-Cooperative Programs since 1998.  Mr. Drewiske has assisted commercial lenders state-wide with the Business & Industry guaranteed loan program; assisted economic development organizations state-wide with the Intermediary Relending Program; the Rural Business Enterprise Grant, and Rural Business Opportunity Grant program.  Also assist the Area Offices administer the Energy programs.  Also have been active in administering and servicing the Community Program direct loan, grant and guaranteed loan program. 

Philip H. Viles, Jr.: Chief, Division of Capital Investment, Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development.  Phil Viles, a member of the Cherokee Nation (Oklahoma), has been a federal employee for over six years and in this job for the last twenty-eight months.  In FY08, his program guaranteed $85 million in loans to Indian tribes and Indian owned businesses, nationwide.  With graduate degrees in law, business, and library science, he served on the board of directors of two Oklahoma banks for over twenty years.  During that time, he also served as a Justice on the Cherokee Supreme Court and wrote a book on statues in the U.S. Capitol’s Statuary Hall.

Mr. Lindsay Sandham: Mr. Sandham is the Senior Vice President and Chief Credit Officer of Native American Bank, NA headquartered in Denver, Colorado.  He holds two university degrees, one in Business Administration and the other in Economics, both obtained from a Canadian University.  He holds a professional designation in financial planning and was previously licensed to trade on all Canadian Stock Exchanges.  He started his banking career in the late 1980’s as a mid-market commercial lender with Royal Bank of Canada.  He left RBC in 1994 to join Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce in their special assets and internal audit department.  He left CIBC as a Commercial Lending Manager in 2003 immigrating to the United States.  He assumed various senior credit roles until accepting a position as Senior Vice President and Chief Credit Officer with Federal Trust Bank in Orlando, Florida.  While vacationing on a ski trip in Colorado, Lindsay and his wife were determined to relocate to Denver thereby bringing him to his current position with Native American Bank in September 2008.

Leslie J. Mahon: President First Interstate Bank-Colstrip
Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Distributive Education from Montana State University. Master of Science in Business Education from Montana State University. Served as a Crime Research Clerk at FIB headquarters in Washington, D.C.; United States Army:  Vietnam-Era Veteran - served a tour of duty in Korea.  Achieved the rank of Sergeant, held a secret security clearance and received an honorable discharge; Business Teacher at Custer County District High School in Miles City, MT; College Instructor at Miles Community College:  Taught various business classes to prepare students for mid-management level positions in sales and marketing industry, or to prepare for transfer to the university level study; Chief Executive Officer for a regional company that operated nursing homes, assisted living facilities, independent living apartments, home health agencies, a medical supply and pharmaceutical company in a five state region of South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Nebraska and Iowa; Chief Operations Officer of a national long term care company located in Portland, OR which operated 185 Assisted Living Facilities throughout the United States; Currently serving as President of First Interstate Bank Colstrip.  Les has 18 years of experience covering all of the lending and customer services area of banking.  Past board member of the Montana Council on Economic Education; Colstrip Medical District – Board of Trustees and Vice Chairman; South Eastern Montana Development Corporation (SEMDC) – Board Member and Treasurer; Schoolhouse History & Art Center (SHAC) – Board Member and Vice Chairman.

Clinton Waara received his BA in Political Science from South Dakota State University in 1993.  Clint began his career with Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity as a National Education and Leadership Consultant from 1993 to 1995.  From 1995-1999 Clint was an account analyst for Wells Fargo Financial Bank in Sioux Falls.  In 1999 Clint taught at Roosevelt High School in Sioux Falls where he instituted the Academy of Finance model of instruction and coached Track.  Clint joined the University of South Dakota School of Business staff in 2001 where he ran the USD and Sitting Bull College Entrepreneurship Partnership.  In 2003 Clint became the Community Development Officer and Assistant Vice President for Wells Fargo Bank. In 2007 Clint joined Wells Fargo Native American Banking Services as Commercial Relationship Manager/Tribal Advocate.  Clint is an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.
Clinton is currently on the Board of Directors for the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation, the Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning, Dakotas America LLC., The Hagen Harvey Scholarship Fund, and the Sioux Falls Human Relations Commission.  Clinton is a former member of the South Dakota State Board of Education.

TRACK TWO: 1:15 – 2:45

Facilitator:
Anne Jennings:  is an Economic Development Specialist in the Office of the Assistant Secretary Indian Affairs(ASIA) Office of Energy and Economic Division (OIEED). Before her appointment to this position, Anne worked for the Department of Defense (Navy) as a Contracts Specialist. During her DoD career, Anne spent numerous hours voluntarily lending her contracting expertise to tribal leaders throughout the country.  As a result of her expertise in working with Tribal leaders as well as her knowledge of the Federal Procurement Regulations as they applied to Indian Enterprises, she has gained the respect of Indian entrepreneurs as well Federal Procurement Personnel who are interested in working with Indian Businesses. In her current position Anne places special  focus on Federal Contracting Opportunities, Regulations, and Policies. She also works to develop a market for Indian businesses in the commercial and international markets.

Panel:
Ms. Linda B. Oliver: Acting Director, Office of Small Business Programs, U.S. Department of Defense
Ms. Oliver became the Acting Director of the U.S. Department of Defense Office of Small Business Programs on January 21, 2009, serving in the position for the second time.  (She also “acted” from December 2006 until May 2007.)  She began her tenure at the office as Deputy Director in December 2001.  The office she leads is responsible for establishing and enforcing Department of Defense policies so as to provide maximum practicable opportunities for small businesses to successfully compete for Defense contracts.  Achieving this central goal entails advising the Office of the Secretary of Defense on small business matters, working with the military departments and with the Defense agencies to ensure that the policies and programs established by the Defense Department are properly carried out, as well as working with industry groups to improve contracting and subcontracting opportunities for small businesses.  She also coordinates with the leaders of other Federal organizations on small business matters and she advises members of Congressional staffs. 

Kathy Daum:  Director, Office of Acquisition and Property Management – Bureau of Indian Affairs

TRACK THREE: 1:15 – 2:45

Darryl LaCounte: was named the Bureau of Indian Affairs Rocky Mountain Region Deputy Regional Director for Trust Services in August 2004 and has served in the position since that time.  The Deputy for Trust Services manages the Land Titles and Records Office, the Division of Real Estate Services, Probate, Forestry, Agriculture and Wildlife, and Branch of Water Resources in the Rocky Mountain Region. Mr. LaCounte’s career in the Bureau of Indian Affairs began in July 1988 at the Wind River Agency where he served as an Oil and Gas Specialist in the Branch of Realty.  In August 1991 Mr. LaCounte was appointed to a Realty Specialist (Oil & Gas and Tenure and Management) position in the Billings Area Office.  In October 1995, Darryl began serving as the Land Titles and Records Office Manager and served in the position until July 2001 when he accepted the Deputy Regional Realty Officer position in the Rocky Mountain Regional Office.  In June 2003 he began serving as a Special Assistant for Trust Reform in the Office of the Commissioner (Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs) where he served until his appointment to the Deputy Regional Director – Trust Services, Rocky Mountain Region, in August 2004. Prior to working for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Darryl worked in the agriculture field in eastern Montana and western North Dakota and also worked in the oil and gas exploration field in Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado and Nebraska.  Mr. LaCounte graduated from Sidney Senior High School in Sidney, Montana in 1978 and Eastern Montana College (presently - Montana State University – Billings) in 1986 with a Bachelor of Arts.  Mr. LaCounte is a member of Turtle Mountain Chippewa Tribe headquartered in the State of North Dakota.
TRACK FOUR: 1:15 – 2:45

Facilitator:
Jack R. Stevens: Attorney and writer Jack R. Stevens is Chief of the Division of Economic Development, Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development, U.S. Department of the Interior.  In private practice before coming to DOI in 2002, his clients included, among others, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the world’s largest organization promoting ethnic and religious tolerance, a major Asian automobile manufacturer, and the U.S. subsidiary of a Russian oil company.  He also served for six years as Assistant Attorney General for the State of California.  A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Stanford University, where he received a B.A. in History, Stevens earned his J.D. at Georgetown University Law Center.  He is the author of the novel ,  Spark’s Tract,  published in 2001. 

Panel:
Karen J. Atkinson is Mandan, Hidatsa, and Tsimshian and is President of Tribal Strategies, Inc., in Washington, D.C. Ms. Atkinson has extensive experience as a legal and policy advisor on federal Indian law and tribal economic development.  Ms. Atkinson has served as Deputy Director of the National Park Service where she developed an Environmental Leadership Program and a Green Energy Parks Program.  She also served as Senior Counsel to United States Senate Indian Affairs Committee where she advised senators on energy policy and natural resource issues.  Most recently she served as Executive Director of the Native Contractors Association where she worked on small business and economic development issues on behalf of tribal enterprises.  Ms. Atkinson has experience in energy planning and development, and business consulting for tribal governments and companies that want to work with tribes.  She has focused on creating public/private partnerships that increase economic development opportunities in tribal communities.  She has provided advice on how to form tribal business entities, on how to create tribal business partnerships, and on financing options and tax incentives for projects in Indian Country.  She has co-authored a Tribal Business Structure Guide that provides valuable information on what factors a tribe should consider when forming a business and developed a training curriculum based on the guide for the National Renewable Energy Labs.  Ms. Atkinson earned her law degree from the University of New Mexico and her BA in political science and public policy from Stanford university.

Curt R. Sholar:  is an Attorney-Advisor with the Office of the Solicitor, Rocky Mountain Region (Billings).  He is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma College of Law.  At Oklahoma, Curt received a Certification in American Indian Law and Policy and was a member of the American Indian Law Review.   DOI - Stewardship for America With Integrity and Excellence

TRACK ONE: 3:15 – 4:45
Facilitator:
Gerald Sherman, biography listed Day 2 – Master of Ceremonies

David W. Bland, chairman, has worked on the development of affordable housing for more than 25 years.  David began his career with the Norfolk Housing and Redevelopment Authority in Virginia.  After working as a market analyst with the Rouse Company of Columbia, Md.; one of the  country’s premier developers, David formed a nonprofit housing corporation in Winchester, VA., that received national recognition as one of the most aggressive and innovative developers of affordable housing in the nation.  In 1995, David formed Travois, a more specialized company, dedicated to providing assistance to Indian tribes and Indian housing authorities through the use of Low Income Tax Credits program.  In recognition of this important work, David was named a Champion of Affordable Housing by the North Dakota Housing Finance agency in 2005 and was a finalist for the Volvo for Life Award in 2006 and 2007.  David graduated from Wake Forest University with a degree in political science.

Gavin Clarkson, Dr. Clarkson an enrolled member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, is a NAC managing director who leads the firm’s financial advisory services, with a particular specialization in both taxable and tax exempt tribal bonds; use of tax credits (particularly, New Markets Tax Credits); and other forms of blended finance designed to reduce tribes’ cost of capital.  Dr Clarkson is also an associate professor at the University of Houston Law Center, where he conducts research in tow distinct areas; intellectual property management and tribal economic development, including tribal access to capital markets and the determinants of success for tribal entrepreneurship.  Dr. Clarkson has consulted, written, and published extensively on tribal sovereignty, tribal governance and court systems, tribal economic development, and tribal asset management, and has conducted significant research on the empirical data underlying the American Indian mascot controversy.  Dr. Clarkson holds both a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from Rice University, a doctorate from the Harvard Business School in Technology and Operations Management, and is cum laude graduate of Harvard Law School, where he was the managing editor of the Harvard Journal of Law and Technology and president of the Native American Law Students Association. 

Rosalie Cates:  Rosalie Cates has worked in rural community development for 26 years, in Montana and Wisconsin.  She has been at MCDC for 20 years, 13 of them as President/Executive Director.  MCDC is a $14.2 million fund that provides financing to businesses in order to reduce poverty and improve the lives of low-income people in Montana.  MCDC has lent over $12 million to 300+ small and medium-sized businesses. Recently MCDC received a $40 million allocation of federal New Markets Tax Credits, and is active in deploying these credits to assist projects in Montana’s low-income census tracts.  Rosalie’s leadership in western and rural community development has been recognized in awards from the Small Business Administration, the Peter F. Drucker Leadership Fellow program, and the United States Forest Service.  A native of Billings, Montana, Rosalie holds a Masters in Public Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from the University of Montana.  She is an avid reader, hiker and swimmer, and lives with her husband and three children in Missoula.

Hugh Short:
Since June 2008, Hugh Short has been the President and CEO of Alaska Growth Capital, a wholly-owned subsidiary.  Hugh had been with AGC previously for two years as the Vice President of Consulting.  Prior to that he was a borrower of Alaska Growth Capital in the venture Subway of Bethel, LLC.
He has been the Vice President of Support Services for the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation, two-term Mayor of Bethel, owner of small rural businesses, and worked for Coastal Villages Region Fund as a Business Development officer.

TRACK TWO : 3:15 – 4:45
Facilitator:  Anne Jennings (bio above)

Wendy Stewart: Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program Manager, Department of Transportation

Lill Erickson founded the Western Sustainability Exchange (WSE) in 1994 and has been the organization’s executive director since its inception. WSE is a sustainable development nonprofit whose mission is to advance sustainable choices that protect the Northern Rockies landscape and quality of life for present generations and those to come. Erickson’s experience is varied in the field of sustainable development.  In the mid-1990’s she served on the Western Regional Team of the Natural Resource Committee of the President’s Council on Sustainable Development. The President’s Council crafted a national strategy to promote sustainable development in the U.S. 

Alvin “Jay” Windy Boy Jr. is a Level II Warranted Contracting Officer for the BIA Rocky Mountain Region Office of Acquisition Management in Billings, Montana.  Mr. Windy Boy has over 12-years of Federal contracting and procurement experience in the acquisition field, beginning with the Billings Area Indian Health Service Contracting Office and is currently the Lead Contract Specialist for the BIA Rocky Mountain Region Acquisition Office. 

TRACK THREE: 3:15 – 4:45

Facilitator:
Thelma Stiffarm: Civil Law Specialist, Office of Tribal Justice Support – Bureau of Indian Affairs

Panel:
Donald "Del" Laverdure: bio previously listed

Joseph Little: is a member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe.  He lives in Albuquerque,
New Mexico with his wife Charlotte, together they have raised three children.  Mr. Little graduated from the University of New Mexico School of Law in 1975. He maintained a private law practice in New Mexico, representing several tribal governments and Indian organizations until 1984.  In l984 he was appointed by the Governor of New Mexico as the Director of the State Office of Indian Affairs.  In 2007 Mr. Little moved over to the Bureau of Indian Affairs where he was charged with developing the Division of Tribal Justice Support within the Office of Justice Services.  The office is tasked with implementing the Indian Tribal Justice Act of 1993.  The act directed that “…the purpose of the Office shall be to further the development, operation, and enhancement of tribal justice systems and Courts of Indian Offenses.” (25USC3611)  During his career Mr. Little has been appointed to the New Mexico Governor’s Task Force on Water Management; as a representative for the Department of Interior to the XI Inter-American Conference of the Indigenous People of North America; and as the acting Area Director for the BIA Albuquerque Area Office.  He has served as a member of the Menaul High School Board of Regents; Pojoaque Pueblo Development Corporation; Laguna Industries, Inc.; and PTE, Inc.; and a Judge for the Courts of Indian Offenses.

Sue Woodrow: Community Affairs Senior Project Director, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis

TRACK FOUR: 3:15 – 4:45

Facilitator:
David B. Johnson: is a Program Analyst with the Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development, U.S. Department of the Interior.  A 1987 graduate of Cornell Law School, David practiced real estate and financial transaction law in Connecticut, Texas, the District of Columbia, and Maryland for a decade before coming to the Department of the Interior in January 1998.  His initial position with the Department was with the office of the Solicitor, where he represented the BIA Office of Economic Development, particularly with respect to programs created under the Indian Financing Act of 1974.  After eight years with the Office of the Solicitor, during which he was Acting Chief of the Division of General Indian Legal Activities for a ten month period, David went on detail for six months as an Acting Administrative Judge for the Interior Board of Indian Appeals.  Shortly after returning from that detail, David began his current position with the Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development as a Program Analyst and ten months of Acting Chief of the Division of Capital Investment until March of 2006.  David continues to consult with the Division of Capital Investment on a number of issues, and is responsible for the development and pending publication of regulations to replace those now governing the Division’s Loan Guaranty, Insurance and Interest Subsidy Program.

Panel Members:
John Wadda: has been serving as the Eastern Shoshone 477 Program Director for the past 5 ½ years which incorporates programs ranging from employment & training, higher education, child care, family formation, summer youth /on the job training and TANF.  Prior to 477, John worked for the tribe in some capacity as Tribal Council and Staff since the 1980’s working federal programs ranging from Indian Child Welfare, tribal housing, education director and property management; and served two terms as a councilman for the Eastern Shoshone Tribe.  He attended colleges at Chadron State Teachers College Chadron Nebraska, Northrup Institute of Technology in Los Angeles, CA and University of Wyo.  Worked for the public schools in Fort Washakie and Wyoming Indian School in Wyoming in the late 1970’s.  John is also a Vietnam Veteran and Life member of the American Legion.

Stella M. Corbin: is currently the Self Determination Officer for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Rocky Mountain Region.  Mrs. Corbin’s career with the Bureau of Indian Affairs began in October 1981 at the Northern Cheyenne Agency in Lame Deer, Montana.  The majority of Ms. Corbin’s work experience and training has been in the field of Procurement and Contracting working at the following locations Northern Cheyenne Agency, Crow Agency, and the Regional Contracting Office.  Mrs. Corbin graduated from the Montana State University-Billings with a Bachelors of Science in Liberal Studies, May 2003.  Mrs. Corbin is an enrolled member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe headquartered in Lame Deer, Montana.  She is married to Thomas A. Corbin and has three daughters and 4 grandchildren.

Jody LeCompte-Garrison: Workforce Development Specialistfor the Division of Workforce Development in the Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development since January 2001. She is a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe in Eagle Butte, South Dakota and attended college at the University of South Dakota and University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Ms. LeCompte-Garrison performs On-site reviews of Pub. L. 102-477 tribal programs, she provides technical assistance in areas of plan development, reporting requirements, and integration of employment and training programs. She manages and administers the P. L. 102-477 National Case Management curriculum and training that began in May 2009.  She develops partnerships with other federal and state agencies to assist tribes in obtaining financial assistance to create jobs for Indian people. She performs COR duties for the Department of Transportation On-the-Job training and Supportive services project, the Native Construction Careers Initiative training  and the National Ironworker Training Program for American Indians. This includes fiscal oversight for more than $100 million in related job placement and training funding.

DAY TWO:

Master of Ceremonies:
Gerald Sherman: an Oglala Lakota grew up on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.  A former banker with a national reputation for leadership within Indian Country, Sherman is known for being the founding board chairman and first Executive Director of the Lakota Fund, a well-known community development loan fund on the Pine Ridge Reservation and one of the first micro-enterprise loan funds in the U.S.  He has continued his contributions to Indian economic and business development throughout his career in banking and as a Program Officer for Four Times Foundation, an organization providing equity financing for Indian entrepreneurs in select Indian Nations.  He has a bachelor’s degree from Oglala Lakota College.

After leaving the Lakota Fund in 1990, Sherman began his banking career with Norwest Bank (now Wells Fargo Bank) where he worked in commercial lending and as manger of a bank on the Lower Brule Reservation in South Dakota.  He has also worked for the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis in Community Affairs and later for First Interstate BancSystem of Montana where his focus was on increasing banking services to Indian Nations and low income communities, and managing the bank’s Community Reinvestment Act efforts.  With His help, First Interstate BancSystem received its first “Outstanding” CRA rating.

Currently Gerald Sherman serves as President and CEO of Indian Land Capital Company, a national financial institution that makes loans to Tribal governments to purchase alienated lands and fractionated ownership interest in trust lands.  Sherman worked with Indian Land Tenure Foundation in developing the company.

Jennifer Perez Cole was appointed by Governor Schweitzer to serve on his cabinet to head his Office of Indian Affairs on November 1, 2007. Cole, 31, is the former editor of Fort Belknap News, a tribally-operated newspaper of the Assiniboine & Gros Ventre tribes of the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. Jennifer received her Bachelor of Arts degree in print journalism from the University of Montana in 2001. She then worked as a reporter with the Great Falls Tribune until the fall of 2003 covering beats with the city desk, judicial court systems and north central Montana, a region encompassing four of the state's seven Indian reservations. Jennifer was a 2001 Chips Quinn Journalism Scholar and graduated from the Freedom Forum's two-year Associated Press Managing Editors/American Society of Newspaper Editors Fellowship Program in fall of 2003. Together, she and her husband, Skip, have four children, Emma, 4, Frank, 1, Shelby, 17, and Jessie, 15. Jennifer was born and raised on the Fort Belknap Reservation and is an enrolled member of the Assiniboine Tribe of the Fort Belknap Indian Community and a descendant of the Fort Peck Assiniboine Tribe.

GENERAL SESSION:  9:30 – 10:30
Dr. Jeffrey Stamp is Assistant Professor and Chair of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of North Dakota, which recently ranked 8th in a review of the top 25 undergraduate program in entrepreneurship by Entrepreneur Magazine and the Princeton Review of the 700 universities and college programs in the U.S.  Dr. Stamp provides extensive new product development expertise to technology ventures worldwide.  He is skilled at marketplace and venture development and is focused on processes that result in market commercialization.
You will recognize Dr. Stamp by the products he has created while in corporate life.  He was the inventor, creator, and brand manager of “Baked Lays” for PepsiCo’s snack division Frito-Lay, which achieved $230 Million in 1st year sales and was named by Ernst and Young as the brand introduction in the 90’s for the food sector.  After his corporate life he built his own successful business, as a master brand innovator in both consumer goods and technology arenas, by served for 6 years as the Chief Trained Brain & Vice President of Technology for Richard Saunders International’s Eureka! Ranch, a top new product and service creativity think tank.  In recognition of their original R & D efforts, Jeff and his team were awarded the George Land World-Class Innovator Award from the Innovation Network and Fast Company Magazine.  Products created by the Eureka! Ranch appear markets worldwide.  Dr. Stamp is also highly sought as a speaker, giving on average 45 keynotes nationwide each year.  In 2003, he launched with his colleague Doug Hall, their 3rd book “Meaningful Marketing.”

GENERAL SESSION:  10:30 – 11:45
Jim Rains, Ph.D., brings academic and management experience to the field of leadership development and organizational consulting.  Dr. Rains is an enrolled member of the Creek Nation of Oklahoma.  He is also a lifetime resident of Montana.  Dr. Rains is a professor, writer, facilitator and consultant.  Dr. Rains currently teaches on the faulty of Montana State University-Billings in the department of Native American Studies, Political Science, and Sociology.  Dr. Rain has held management positions in health care, public relations, high tech and higher education.  In addition to teaching, Dr. Rains currently provides organizational development consulting services to General Motors and numerous Montana businesses and organizations.  Dr. Rains lectures and presents workshops on such topics as critical thinking, decision-making, project management, leadership, change management and learning organizations.  According to Cr. Rains, “these are challenging times for businesses and organizations, and a company’s success depends on how effectively it solves its problems, develops its people and builds a culture of learning.”

Dr. Rains holds a B.A. from Rocky Mountain College, an M.A. from the University of Montana. And a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan.  Dr. Rains has extensive consulting experience in the following industries: health care, automotive, technology, higher education, manufacturing, finance, fine art and nonprofit.  Dr. Rain is the President of Rains Consulting.  Dr. Rain is a contributor to the recently published “All Our Stories are Here: Critical Perspectives on Montana Literature” (University of Nebraska Press). 

GENERAL SESSION: 11:45 – 1:15
Bill Simmons, “…is there something in your life worth standing for…” “And having taken your stand, will the world be better?”  from “Won’t you come and join us?”, Les Miserables.  That is what Bill Simmons does – calls people to hear the beating of their own drum, to discover their extraordinary strengths, and to accept the obligation of their future.  Since 1981 Master  Lube stood out as a business that hires young people, and then trains and develops them to success in the specific field of their choice.  For fifteen years he was the sales manager for a local radio station, and when the entrepreneurial juices could no longer be stemmed, Bill bought a converted gasoline station on 24th Street in Billings, that was operating as a lube center, and changed the name to Master Lube and the young who every year pass through the company.  Master Lube Alumni include CPA’s. PHD’s and healthy mothers and fathers and friends and neighbors who are serving their communities all over the country.  Bill and his wife Marilyn have been married for 43 years, and their daughter, Dr. Michele Redel, is a pediatric oncologist at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, Texas; and their son, Patrick, is a Senior Consultant with an international information technology company in Seattle, Washington.

Les Left Hand has lived in Billings, Montana for the past 22 years.  He is originally from Lodge Grass, MT located on the Crow Indian Reservation.  Mr. Left Hand has been employed at Master Lube for the last 18 years.  Throughout these years he has grown professionally and personally as quite a leader and mentor to a lot of young people, especially Native American young men and women.  He wants to give credit where credit is due, Mr. Simmons helped Les through a lot of rough patches.  Mr. Simmons helped him when he wanted to give up and go back to the reservation.  Les struggled and made some mistakes and like a true friend, Mr. Simmons was always there for him.  When these young people come to Master Lube they have no clue on what they really want to accomplish with their lives.  One of Mr. Left Hand’s many roles here at Master Lube is to teach and train these young people so they can accomplish certain tasks and objectives in our organization.  The young Native Americans come here with obstacles they can’t handle and give up and go back to the reservation.  With Mr. Simmons help and guidance, the owner of Master Lube, and with Mr. Left Hands mentoring, Mr. Left Hand’s goal is to help some of these young people to succeed off of the reservation and be achieving their goals.  They need to experience life on and off the reservation and be successful in both worlds.  Les’ advice to young people struggling is, never give up on your dreams or goals.  There is a light at the end of the tunnel, we just have to take one day at a time.

TRACK ONE:  1:15 – 2:45
Facilitator:
Leonard Smith: Native American Development Corporation, Executive Director.  Leonard is the founder of several organizations including the Native American Manufacturers Network and the Native American Development Corporation organized to promote business and economic development in depressed Native American communities.  Mr. Smith has provided technical assistance to tribal enterprises in management, financial analysis, feasibility, business plans, 8(a) certification, financing, contract negotiations and sustainable strategies.  Mr. Smith also has experience in program and resource development as Deputy District Director of the Montana District Office for the U.S. Small Business Administration.  Lastly, Mr. Smith has managed the business operations of tribal enterprises providing contract services to the U.S. government in manufacturing and information technology.  Mr. Smith has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and over 20 years experience in business development in Native American communities.

Panel:
Michelle Johnston is District Director for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Montana District Office located in Helena.  Appointed in December of 2001 Ms Johnston is responsible for the delivery of SBA programs throughout Montana including a loan portfolio of over 2500 loans and more than $330 million dollars, oversight of ten Small Business Development Centers (SBDC), and seven SCORE chapters.  Throughout Michelle’s professional career she served on many boards including Career Training Institute, President of the Helena YWCA, President of Business and Professional Women and a past State Business Chair.  She currently serves on the Combined Federal Campaign Committee. Johnston is no stranger to small business, as she and her husband have owned and operated their own small business for many years.  They started their auto body shop in 1976, received an SBA guaranteed loan to purchase the real estate in 1979, and today have grown it into a profitable and successful enterprise.  She is proud to be a small business owner and knows first the trials and tribulations of owning a small business.  Both Johnston and her husband are Montana natives and have two adult children, Heather and Travis and grandchildren.

Jason Porch:  MTPTAC Sub Center Manager and has an excellent back ground in procurement procedures and processes. He is certified as an Associate Contracting Assistance Specialist and has over six years of experience in working with businesses in government contracting. He will complete his MBA Degree from University of Montana spring of 2008, he was selected to attend a MBA course in Copenhagen summer of 2007, and traveled to China and India recently. He has small business management experience in both marketing and retailing, and work experience in both construction and technology development. Jason also worked for two years as a Small Business Development Center Counselor.

Michael Drewiske:  Listed above

TRACK TWO: 1:15 – 2:45
Facilitator:
Shawn Real Bird: Chairman, State Tribal Economic Development Commission

Panel:
Edward Hall: joined the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Division of Transportation in January of 1992 as a Transportation Specialist.  His role is to manage programs related to economic development and technical assistance and training.  He is the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ coordinator for the National Scenic Byways Program, Tribal Technical Assistance Program, National Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commemoration, Southeastern Tourism Policy Council and the Western States Tourism Policy Council.  He has provided leadership and input in the development of the Transportation Research Board’s Committee on American Indian Issues, the Intertribal Transportation Association, the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association, and the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Council’s Circle of Tribal Advisors (COTA) of which he is an ex-officio member.  He has contributed to the development of intertribal tourism organizations at the state and regional level such as the Montana Tribal Tourism Alliance, and the Alliance of Tribal Tourism Advocates, (ATTA) in South Dakota and Nebraska.
He is a member of the Arikara and Hidatsa Nations, enrolled on the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota

Nathan Notah:   Director of American Indian Foods International Export Program
Intertribal Agriculture Council (IAC)
Nathan Notah was appointed Director of (Intertribal Agriculture Council) IAC’s American Indian Foods International Export Program in November, 2007. He has been employed with the IAC since 1998 serving in the Southeast US region for most of that time.  He is currently responsible for directing the day to day operations of the American Indian Foods International Export Program.  Born and raised on the Navajo Indian reservation in Tohatchi, New Mexico, Nathan grew up on his family’s cattle ranch. He attended secondary school in Tohatchi and earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science & Biology from New Mexico State University.
Nathan lives in Billings, MT and maintains an interest in production agriculture and working with Native communities.

TRACK THREE: 1:15 – 2:45
Facilitator:
Jason Smith: an enrolled member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes as a Kootenai member.  Jason graduated from Salish Kootenai College with a Bachelors of Arts in Business/Entrepreneurship Program.  Recently worked as an assistant to the Chairman of CSKT; served as the Get Out the Vote Coordinator for the 2008 election and the Census Liaison for the tribe.  In 2008 he worked for the House of Representatives as Majority Aide as well as staffing the Montana American Indian Caucus for the 61st Legislative Session.  Jason is currently the State Tribal Economic Development Commission Program Manager with the Montana Department of Commerce.  Jason volunteered with the 2006 election for Senator Jon Tester and 2008 election for Presidential Candidate Barack Obama and was elected as a Montana delegate for the Democratic National Convention in 2008.  Jason also graduated from the 2009 class of Leadership Montana.

Dr. Joseph L. Falkson is senior managing director of Native American Capital, LLC, a leading Native American-owned financial advisory services firm serving Indian Country.  Dr. Falkson manages NAC’s structured financing programs division which provides a variety of community economic development and financial services to American Indian tribes and businesses.  The firm specializes in the utilization of a New Markets Tax Credits (NMTCs), tribal revenue bonds (both taxed and tax-exempt) and other special subsidies uniquely available to tribes.  Earlier in his career, Dr. Falkson held senior policy positions at the US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), and served as a staff member of a Presidential research commission on urban economic development.   Dr. Falkson holds a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the Wharton School of the

Emorie Davis Bird, or Emmie as she is known by many, received a Masters of Public Administration (M.P.A.) degree from the University of Montana in Missoula that is complimented by an undergraduate degree in business administration from Montana State University – Billings (formerly, Eastern Montana College).  Davis-Bird has worked for the Blackfeet Tribe for over 25 years and is involved with the Blackfeet Tribe’s economic development.  Currently, Davis-Bird is the Executive Director of the Blackfeet Planning & Economic Development Department in Browning, Montana, where she oversees a staff, tribal policy and projects impacting the Nation.  Davis-Bird is instrumental in the development of a new technology company, Radiance Technologies, that will begin mobilizing to the Blackfeet Industrial Park in August.  Appointed by Governor Schwietzer as the Blackfeet representative, Emorie is currently a member of the State Tribal Economic Development Commission and is a member on the Siyeh Development Corporation Board of Director.  Emorie Davis Bird is leading a multi million dollar acquisition to develop recreational properties located adjacent to Glacier National Park on the reservation.

 
TRACK FOUR: 1:15 – 2:45
Facilitator:
Dr. Gary Young : Dean, College of Business, Montana State University – Billings

Panel:
Dr. Stamp:  listed above
Dr. Raines: listed above

TRACK ONE:  3:15 – 4:45
Facilitator:
Leonard Smith: listed above

Panel:
Angie Main  is an enrolled member of the Montana Fort Belknap Gros Ventre Tribe, joined NACDC in 2005 to forward the goal of economic sovereignty through small business development and local capacity building.  Angie received her Bachelor of Science in Business Technology from Montana State University-Northern.  Her background includes 21 years experience in administration, contracts, grants management, education, as well as small business, economic and community development issues for Montana, Wyoming, and South Dakota Indian Reservations.  She has worked as a consultant to leverage resources for housing development, law enforcement and juvenile justice; community organizational development; incorporation; articles; by-laws; non-profit status; strategic planning; business plan development; resource development; and SBA 8(a) certification. 

Steven Powell is a Certified Financial Counselor and the Financial Literacy/Programs Coordinator for the Native American Community Development Corporation.  He is an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Nation in Montana.  He has been employed with NACDC since 2004.  One major project he oversees is the “mini-bank” program, which is a financial literacy program first started in the schools on the Blackfeet Reservation.  It is now in its twelfth year of operation.  It  teaches students how to save and the vital importance of sound money management.  It accomplishes this by allowing the student to be a sole savings account holder and having the responsibility of maintaining their own savings account.  The Blackfeet Mini Banks have blossomed from one bank started in the Browning Middle School in 1996 to six banks in 2007 on the Blackfeet Reservation.  He has expanded the mini bank program to the Shoshone-Bannock Reservation in Idaho in 2006 and he will be expanding the program to the Rocky Boy, Fort Belknap and Fort Peck Reservations in Montana, Ute Mountain Ute Reservation in Colorado and the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe in Minnesota in the near future. 
Velma Real Bird Velma has over 10 years of experience in business education and small business development in Indian country.  She received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Secondary Education-Business Education from Montana State University-Billings, and a Master’s of Science Degree in Community Economic Development from Southern New Hampshire University. 
She is currently working for the United States Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1994 Program as the Western Region Tribal College Liaison.
Kara Todd-Iwen is the Chief Executive Officer for the Fort Belknap Planning and Development Corporation, a Tribal Enterprise owned by the Assiniboine and Gros Ventre Tribes.  Kara earned a Master’s Degree in Administration from the University of Great Falls in 2003, and is currently working towards her Doctorial Degree in Program Management and Organizational Leadership from the University of Phoenix.  Kara has served on various community development organizational boards including Opportunity Link of Havre, Opportunity Incorporated in Great Falls, and the Tribal Economic Development Committee for the Fort Belknap Tribe.

In 2001, Kara was selected as the first Native American business student to participate in a pilot internship project for the Montana Department of Transportation completing an internship with a minority-owned Disadvantaged Business Enterprise.  Since graduation, Kara has spent six years working with state government contracts, non-profit organizations, and small businesses.  Kara moved to Fort Belknap in 2005, and assumed the position of the Tribal Health Director.  During her employment as the THD, Kara developed the Medicaid Billing system for the Tribal Health Department earning over $200K in additional revenue annually and forming a Community Development Committee aimed at increasing funding for community projects through a formal process.  Kara Todd-Iwen possesses strong leadership skills specifically in governance and capacity-building for organizations and businesses.  She is proving to be a great asset to the pursuit of small business development and corporate structures that work in Indian Country.

Kara is an enrolled member of the Assiniboine Tribe of Fort Belknap.  She is married with four children and resides at the Fort Belknap Agency. 

Charlie Krebs:  Executive Director, Wind River Development Fund, Wyoming

Janice Coburn: Early in 2009, Janice Coburn (Blackfeet/Klamath/Pit River) was named Executive Director of the Browning Community Development Corporation of Browning Montana.   Ms. Coburn has worked in the economic development field in Browning for five of the last seven years.  The Browning Community Development Corporation originated from the local business community, encouraging financial literacy and the business development for the Blackfeet Nation.  

TRACK TWO: 3:15 – 4:45
Facilitator:
Sharon Peregoy: Research & Development Coordinator, Crow Tribe Office of Economic Development, and Mt. Horizons Co-Facilitator for Crow Agency. Political & legislative advocate,
Bachelor of Science Degree, Elementary Education, Mt. State University, Bozeman, Mt.
Certificate of Achievement, International Summer School, University of Olso, Olso,Norway
Masters in Education, Emphasis in Curriculum & Development, Seattle City University, Bellevue,WA

Panel:
Betsy Baumgart is the Division Administrator for the Montana Promotion Division, which is comprised of Travel Montana and the Montana Film Office.  In her seven years on the job, she has overseen the development of two 5-year statewide strategic plans for Montana’s travel industry as well as a comprehensive brand discovery process for the state.  Betsy, along with her staff of twenty –eight, works to strengthen Montana’s economy by promoting the state as vacation destination and film location.  Tourism is indisputably one of Montana’s leading industries contributing over $3 billion to the state economy annually including over 45,000 jobs and $235 million in tax revenue.  Prior to working for the state office, Betsy enjoyed a career in Montana’s hotel industry.  In addition, she was instrumental in creating Helena’s Convention and Visitors’ Bureau and served for six years on the Governor’s Tourism Advisory Council.  Betsy and her husband Bruce live in Helena and are taking great pleasure in their newest profession as grandparents.
Ed DesRosier: Owner, Sun Tours, Glacier National Park.  Ed is an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Tribe.  He graduated from Browning High School and attended college at Flathead Community College and spent summers working for the Museum of the Plains Indian in Browning, MT.  Ed is an avid outdoorsman enjoying activities such as hiking, snowshoeing, skiing and climbing.  He worked for the Department of Transportation for 20 years and retired as a Field Maintenance Supervisor.  Ed started Sun Tours in 1992 with the vision of success and the desire to share his knowledge of the many fascinations of Glacier National Park.  In 2005, Ed was appointed to serve on the Governor’s Tourism Advisory Council and has been appointed to a second term this year. He has served on the Blackfeet Tribes Fish, Wildlife and Parks Dept. as a board member and is a member of the East Glacier Chamber of Commerce.

TRACK THREE: 3:15 – 4:45
Facilitator:
Bob Middleton: Listed above

Dennis Bodenchuck: B.A. in Geology from Monmouth College, Monmouth, Illinois (1970)
M.S. in Geology from University of Colorado at Boulder (1974)
30+ years experience in energy and mineral exploration and development
Worked for Enserch Exploration as District Geologist, for IREX Corp as Chief Geologist and as a consulting geologist/geophysicist, all in Denver.
Involved in the drilling of well more than 500 wells throughout the U.S., including all of the Rocky Mountain States, Alaska, California, Texas, Gulf Coast, Michigan Basin, Appalachian Basin and just about everywhere else that oil and gas are present in the U.S. Reviewed and generated numerous projects including reserve and resource estimations, mergers and acquisitions and short and long term budget analyses.
Since 2003, he has worked for the Department of Interior, at the Division of Energy and Mineral Development in Lakewood, Co. This Division is responsible for technical assistance to tribes and individual Indians throughout the entire United States.
He is the Branch Chief of the Branch of Geology and supervises his Division’s role in assisting Tribes and Allottees in the development of their myriad energy and mineral resources. These resources include oil and gas, coal, base and precious metals, industrial minerals and aggregates.
Ms. Sheila McClain is a Small Business Specialist for the Defense Energy Support Center (DESC) Office of Small Business Programs.  She acts as one the advisors to the Director of Office of Small Business Programs.  Ms. McClain graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications from George Mason University.  After graduating from the Federal Stay-in-School program, she transitioned into the position of Contracting Specialist where she purchased Natural Gas for federal installations within DESC for several years and obtained her Contracting Level II Certification.  Her contracting experience parlayed into small business matters, which lead to a position as a Small Business Specialist.  Currently, her expertise is in the areas of Electricity, Utilities Privatization and Women-Owned Small Business Outreach Initiative.  She has always been an advocate for small business and has been aggressive in increasing the industrial base of all small businesses that can provide products procured by DESC.  Ms. McClain has participated in numerous small business conferences as an exhibitor, matchmaker and presenter in different geographic locations since her tenure as Small Business Specialist.
Barbara Stiffarm is the Executive Director of Opportunity Link, a non-profit organization that strives to create and implement strategies and encourage partnerships to develop systemic solutions that will reduce poverty in the Northcentral Montana region long-term.  Barb joined Opportunity Link as Development Director in 2006.  She has an extensive background in providing community and economic development services.  Previously, Barb served as a senior staff writer for RJS & Associates, Inc. (RJS), an American Indian-Owned Consulting Firm located on the Rocky Boys Indian Reservation in Montana. 

TRACK FOUR: 3:15 – 4:45
Facilitator:
Jon Panamaroff:  Listed above

Panel:
Chris James: Native American CDFI Associate Program Manager, U.S. Department of the Treasury, Community Development Financial Institutions Fund
Chris James is an Associate Program Manager at the U.S. Department of the Treasury Community Development Financial Institutions Fund.  He is responsible for the management of the Native Initiatives Program which includes the Fund’s Expanding Native Opportunity Training and the Native American CDFI Assistance programs.  Mr. James provides Financial Assistance awards, Technical Assistance grants, and training to Native CDFIs and other Native entities in creating new CDFIs.  He has over 10 years experience in the field of small business and community development on native lands. Prior to joining the CDFI Fund, Mr. James was Associate Director & Senior Loan Officer for the Sequoyah Fund, Inc., a Native CDFI on the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation’s Qualla Boundary in Cherokee, North Carolina. While there he gained experience in organizational management including the implementation of policies and procedures that benefit Native communities.

Tracey Fischer, a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, is an attorney and the Director of Enterprise and Entrepreneurship with First Nations Oweesta Corporation (Oweesta) in Rapid City, South Dakota.  Through Oweesta, Tracey provides training and technical assistance to Native communities throughout the United States on issues related to financial education and entrepreneurship and enterprise systems development.  Tracey obtained her J.D. from Yale Law School in 1999.  She also has a B.S. in business administration and accounting.