Tribal Economic Development

Julio Martinez, CEO of Mno-Bmadsen, and Kip Ritchie, CEO of Potawatomi Ventures, join Waséyabek hosts Deidra Mitchell and Erika Weiss to discuss the central role of due diligence in Tribal economic development, highlighting how Tribally owned organizations identify acquisition targets, validate financial and operational assumptions, assess cultural alignment, and mitigate risk while maintaining strong communication with sellers, Boards, and other stakeholders. Through shared experiences – including instances where walking away was the right decision – the conversation underscores the importance of clear expectations, cultural compatibility, and trust in guiding acquisitions that support long‑term, sustainable growth for Tribes.Waséyabek is a 100% Tribally-owned holding company that manages the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi’s non-gaming economic development activities. Follow us on:Our Website: https://waseyabek.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/waseyabekFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/WaseyabekIntro and outro music by Woodland Stream:Owyn Zapata, Co-Lead SingerChinodin Atkinson, SingerNolan Austin, SingerMon-eé Zapata, Back-Up SingerO’Felia Zapata, Back-Up SingerOnyleen Zapata, Back-Up SingerTribal Economic Development, a Waséyabek podcast, is recorded and produced at River City Studios in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

Lauren Davis, President of the West Michigan Region of Huntington Bank, joins the Tribal Economic Development podcast alongside David Kinsman, Senior Vice President and Middle Market Team Lead, to discuss the criticality of vetting and selecting high-performing partners for business ventures – both inside and outside of Indian Country. The conversation, which delves into green flags and red flags that arise in the vetting process, highlights how strong partnerships go beyond providing a product or service and involve shared values, trust, and a commitment to mutual success.Waséyabek is a 100% Tribally-owned holding company that manages the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi’s non-gaming economic development activities. Follow us on:Our Website: https://waseyabek.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/waseyabekFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/WaseyabekIntro and outro music by Woodland Stream:Owyn Zapata, Co-Lead SingerChinodin Atkinson, SingerNolan Austin, SingerMon-eé Zapata, Back-Up SingerO’Felia Zapata, Back-Up SingerOnyleen Zapata, Back-Up SingerTribal Economic Development, a Waséyabek podcast, is recorded and produced at River City Studios in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

Eric Henson, Citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, Adjunct Lecturer at Harvard University, Director of the Ittapila Program for Nation Building and Outreach, and a long-time research fellow and affiliate with the Harvard Project joins the Tribal Economic Development podcast alongside Justin Lowe, Native Hawaiian, Captain and Strategist for the U.S. Army, and recent graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School. Collectively, the group discusses the ongoing collaboration between Waséyabek and Harvard that recently resulted in the generation of “Bridging Cultures,” a guide for non-Tribal businesses seeking to establish partnerships with Tribal businesses outside of the gaming space. The guide, which was created as part of Henson’s “Nation Building II: Native Americans in the Twenty-First Century” course, covers corporate governance, cultures and values, and Tribal sovereignty and law, and can be leveraged to established fruitful relationships between non-Tribal businesses and Tribal enterprises.The views expressed in this podcast are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the U.S. Army, Department of War, or the U.S. Government.Waséyabek is a 100% Tribally-owned holding company that manages the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi’s non-gaming economic development activities. Follow us on:Our Website: https://waseyabek.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/waseyabekFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/WaseyabekIntro and outro music by Woodland Stream:Owyn Zapata, Co-Lead SingerChinodin Atkinson, SingerNolan Austin, SingerMon-eé Zapata, Back-Up SingerO’Felia Zapata, Back-Up SingerOnyleen Zapata, Back-Up SingerTribal Economic Development, a Waséyabek podcast, is recorded and produced at River City Studios in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

Eric Henson, Citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, Adjunct Lecturer at Harvard University, Director of the Ittapila Program for Nation Building and Outreach, and a long-time research fellow and affiliate with the Harvard Project, joins Tribal Economic Development to discuss Waséyabek's continued partnership with Harvard, including a series of guest lectures we've presented, projects we've collaborated on, and our continued utilization of the Harvard Project's pillars in everyday business activities. The group also discusses the recently released 2024 Michigan Non-Gaming Tribal Economic Impact Study, which revealed how Michigan’s Tribal Nations are leveraging their sovereignty to drive economic growth, sustainability, and prosperity at local, regional, and statewide levels.Waséyabek is a 100% Tribally-owned holding company that manages the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi’s non-gaming economic development activities. Follow us on:Our Website: https://waseyabek.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/waseyabekFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/WaseyabekIntro and outro music by Woodland Stream:Owyn Zapata, Co-Lead SingerChinodin Atkinson, SingerNolan Austin, SingerMon-eé Zapata, Back-Up SingerO’Felia Zapata, Back-Up SingerOnyleen Zapata, Back-Up SingerTribal Economic Development, a Waséyabek podcast, is recorded and produced at River City Studios in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

Former Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss (2016-2024) joins Tribal Economic Development to discuss how local municipalities and Tribal governments can partner to reach their economic development goals. Topics include the benefits of strategic planning, the criticality of community engagement, and the need to generate sustainable opportunities.Waséyabek is a 100% Tribally-owned holding company that manages the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi’s non-gaming economic development activities. Follow us on:Our Website: https://waseyabek.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/waseyabekFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/WaseyabekIntro and outro music by Woodland Stream:Owyn Zapata, Co-Lead SingerChinodin Atkinson, SingerNolan Austin, SingerMon-eé Zapata, Back-Up SingerO’Felia Zapata, Back-Up SingerOnyleen Zapata, Back-Up SingerTribal Economic Development, a Waséyabek podcast, is recorded and produced at River City Studios in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

Kurt Trevan, Managing Partner at Nclude Capital and a Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi (Gun Lake Tribe) Tribal Member, joins Tribal Economic Development to discuss strategies and tactics you can implement to locate and hire high-performing team members – including executives – at your firm. Topics include the right questions to ask, what red flag responses in interviews look and sound like, and how to prepare compensation packages that are in alignment with your ideal candidates.Waséyabek is a 100% Tribally-owned holding company that manages the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi’s non-gaming economic development activities. Follow us on:Our Website: https://waseyabek.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/waseyabekFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/WaseyabekIntro and outro music by Woodland Stream:Owyn Zapata, Co-Lead SingerChinodin Atkinson, SingerNolan Austin, SingerMon-eé Zapata, Back-Up SingerO’Felia Zapata, Back-Up SingerOnyleen Zapata, Back-Up SingerTribal Economic Development, a Waséyabek podcast, is recorded and produced at River City Studios in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

Bill Brooks, Chief Legal Officer at Waséyabek and long-time Tribal attorney for the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, joins Tribal Economic Development to discuss the foundational documents needed to launch and sustain a successful business enterprise in Indian Country. Topics covered include your organization's constitution, operating documents, policies and procedures, and the importance of your strategic plan aligning with all the documents you generate to power your business.Waséyabek is a 100% Tribally-owned holding company that manages the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi’s non-gaming economic development activities. Follow us on:Our Website: https://waseyabek.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/waseyabekFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/WaseyabekIntro and outro music by Woodland Stream:Owyn Zapata, Co-Lead SingerChinodin Atkinson, SingerNolan Austin, SingerMon-eé Zapata, Back-Up SingerO’Felia Zapata, Back-Up SingerOnyleen Zapata, Back-Up SingerTribal Economic Development, a Waséyabek podcast, is recorded and produced at River City Studios in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

Ben Borisch, managing partner at DWH, and Bryan Small, CEO of Small Consulting Group and Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas Tribal Member, join Tribal Economic Development to discuss the keys to developing and implementing a successful strategic plan in Indian Country. Topics covered include the importance of governance, the role values play in supporting your strategic plan, and the potential benefits of working with a third party throughout the process.DWH is a business consulting firm with expertise in financial advising; strategic and succession planning; mergers & acquisitions; turnaround & restructuring; and Tribal economic development. DWH is part of the Waséyabek family of companies. Learn more at https://dwhcorp.com/Small Consulting Group is a client-focused consultancy dedicated to building organization capacity, growing strong economies, and advancing asset-based community development utilizing innovative tools and a data-driven approach to achieve measurable outcomes.​ The company specializes in economic growth in Indian Country. Learn more at http://www.smallconsulting.net/Waséyabek is a 100% Tribally-owned holding company that manages the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi’s non-gaming economic development activities. Follow us on:Our Website: https://waseyabek.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/waseyabekFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/WaseyabekIntro and outro music by Woodland Stream:Owyn Zapata, Co-Lead SingerChinodin Atkinson, SingerNolan Austin, SingerMon-eé Zapata, Back-Up SingerO’Felia Zapata, Back-Up SingerOnyleen Zapata, Back-Up SingerTribal Economic Development, a Waséyabek podcast, is recorded and produced at River City Studios in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi (NHBP) Tribal Council Chair Jamie Stuck joins Tribal Economic Development to discuss an array of topics, including everything from lessons learned during the deployment of Skasgé Power in Waséyabek's early days to what the future of economic development looks like for Waséyabek, the NHBP Tribe, and other Tribal communities throughout Michigan.Waséyabek is a 100% Tribally-owned holding company that manages the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi’s non-gaming economic development activities. Follow us on:Our Website: https://waseyabek.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/waseyabekFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/WaseyabekIntro and outro music by Woodland Stream:Owyn Zapata, Co-Lead SingerChinodin Atkinson, SingerNolan Austin, SingerMon-eé Zapata, Back-Up SingerO’Felia Zapata, Back-Up SingerOnyleen Zapata, Back-Up SingerTribal Economic Development, a Waséyabek podcast, is recorded and produced at River City Studios in Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

On the inaugural episode of Tribal Economic Development, we provide insight regarding how Waséyabek, a Tribally-owned holding company that manages the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi’s non-gaming economic development activities, established a pathway that has resulted in significant revenue growth over the past 5 years. Deidra Mitchell, Waséyabek president and CEO, and Erika Weiss, associate attorney, also offer an initial look into how Tribes can best position themselves for success along their journeys to economic diversification in Indian Country while previewing some of the content to be covered in future episodes.Waséyabek is a 100% Tribally-owned holding company that manages the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi’s non-gaming economic development activities. Follow us on:Our Website: https://waseyabek.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/waseyabekFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/WaseyabekIntro and outro music by Woodland Stream:Owyn Zapata, Co-Lead SingerChinodin Atkinson, SingerNolan Austin, SingerMon-eé Zapata, Back-Up SingerO’Felia Zapata, Back-Up SingerOnyleen Zapata, Back-Up SingerTribal Economic Development, a Waséyabek podcast, is recorded and produced at River City Studios in Grand Rapids, Michigan.