Waséyabek’s Portfolio Companies Target Bigger Share of Defense Industry Market at Annual Michigan Defense Expo

by Mason Nichols | April 22, 2024 | News

Providing Innovative Life–Cycle Solutions to Our Warfighters

Waséyabek Development Company, a leading economic development firm in Michigan’s Indian Country, will be out in force this week at the Michigan Defense Expo (MDEX) at Macomb Community College. During the event, the company will unveil Waséyabek Defense, a collection of Tribally owned small businesses providing deep expertise in new and innovative solutions for the military and other defense industry businesses. Four Waséyabek portfolio businesses, Baker Engineering, RSI Manufacturing, Safari Circuits, and recently acquired VES, make up Waséyabek Defense.

The annual expo known as MDEX is hosted by the Michigan Chapter of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) and is promoted as a premier Department of Defense (DoD) buy/supplier event. Waséyabek Defense’s engagement in this year’s event reflects its strategic commitment to increase new revenues for its Tribal owners.

“Our overarching mission is to identify and optimize new non-gaming revenue streams for the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi,” said Deidra Mitchell, President & CEO of Waséyabek. “Securing federal contracts with the Department of Defense and other suppliers in the defense industry is a key part of our business strategy.”

With strong operational bases in both Maryland and Michigan, VES is already a trusted provider of integrated software solutions for the DoD, and is aiming to broaden its market share.

“Now that Waséyabek is our majority owner, we’re looking to optimize new business opportunities in Michigan with other portfolio companies. MDEX provides us a great venue to do that.”

Matthew Vidovich

CEO, VES

Baker Engineering, based in Nunica, Michigan, also has experience serving customers in the defense industry, primarily providing power and propulsion engineering and prototyping solutions. The company has been focused on designing propulsion elements that are lighter in weight and deliver greater range for military operations.

RSI Manufacturing of Muskegon, Michigan, and Safari Circuits, based in Otsego, Michigan, will be showcasing their engineering and manufacturing services at MDEX for the first time.

“We’re thrilled to have Waséyabek Defense at MDEX 2024,” said Misty Martin, NDIA Board Member and Chair of MDEX. “This event is critical because it facilitates direct conversations between DoD and defense industry leaders and the designers and engineers behind the industry’s latest cutting-edge technologies.”

“We’ve spent the past couple of years building out our portfolio to target the defense industry and federal contracting space. We’re now ready to provide a full set of life-cycle solutions to warfighters, regardless of the scale of the project.”

Bethany Harris

President, Waséyabek Federal Group

MDEX takes place April 23-25 at the Macomb Community College Expo Center at 14500 E. Twelve Mile Road in Warren. Waséyabek Defense companies will be stationed in booths H3-H8.

Harvard University Extends Honor to Leader of Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi

by Mason Nichols | April 12, 2024 | News

Harvard’s Kennedy School also extends speaking invitation to Waséyabek Development Company leader

Jamie Stuck, Chairperson of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi (NHBP) Tribe, joined a list of historical leaders as he was welcomed as a visiting dignitary by Harvard University and invited to sign the University’s Guest Book. The book contains hand-written signatures and messages from numerous distinguished leaders of many different nationalities, backgrounds, and beliefs including South African President Nelson Mandela, German President Angela Merkel, and Congressman John Lewis.

“To walk in the footsteps of world leaders and add the name of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi to this book was a tremendous honor for me as I represented our Tribal ancestors, current elders, and our brothers, sisters, children, and grandchildren. We’re the sixth Indigenous Tribe to sign this book in the past year, reflecting a tidal shift in recognizing Native American sovereignty and equality at Harvard University and throughout the United States.”

Jamie Stuck

Tribal Council Chair, Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi

Harvard University regularly invites distinguished leaders to visit the campus and speak to classes, advancing educational enrichment for its students and furthering the impact of its curriculum.

“This invitation represents yet another important recognition for Indigenous people in this country,” said NHBP Tribal Council Vice Chairperson, Dorie Rios. “We’re grateful for the opportunity to be included in this historical ledger and share our proud and prosperous story with faculty, students, and visitors at this long-standing academic institution.”

In addition to Chairperson Stuck’s and Vice-Chairperson Rios’ visit, the leader of the NHBP economic development company spoke to faculty and students at the Harvard Kennedy School. Waséyabek Development Company President and CEO, Deidra Mitchell, provided insights to the Nation Building II: Native Americans in the Twenty-First Century class, headed up by Eric Henson, Director of the Ittapila Program for Nation Building and Outreach at Harvard. It’s the second consecutive year that Mitchell has addressed students at the university.

“It was a terrific experience. The students and faculty were welcoming and engaged which made for a compelling discussion about the realities facing Indigenous populations as they work to preserve their sovereignty and way of life. Harvard is fortunate to have someone with Professor Henson’s insights leading this important topic.”

Deidra Mitchell

President & CEO, Waséyabek Development Company

Professor Henson is a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation and since 1998 has been working with the Harvard Project on Indigenous Governance and Development (formerly known as the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development).

“The Waséyabek team has set the standard when it comes to incorporating the principals of the Harvard Project,” said Eric Henson. “The practices they employ in their strategic planning, work culture, and business development have taken root and resulted in tremendous growth and organizational success.”

Waséyabek is among the largest Native American non-gaming economic development companies in Michigan. Its portfolio now includes more than 30 business entities, including manufacturing, defense industry software integration, environmental solutions, real estate management, and transportation. Altogether, the portfolio companies employ more than 500 people, and are located throughout the contiguous United States.

Tribal Economic Development: Episode 2 – Looking Back, Looking Forward: A Conversation with Chairman Jamie Stuck

by Mason Nichols | April 3, 2024 | Podcasts, Tribal Economic Development

Tribal Economic Development: Episode 2 – Looking Back, Looking Forward: A Conversation with Chairman Jamie Stuck

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 Launches Tribal Economic Development Podcast

by Mason Nichols | February 27, 2024 | News

Over the course of its short history, Waséyabek has worked diligently to create a sustainable path forward for the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi through economic diversification, revenue generation, and job creation. This pathway to success contains many valuable lessons learned. Tribal Economic Development, a new podcast launched in early 2024, aims to share those lessons in an engaging and meaningful way.

The podcast, which is co-hosted by Waséyabek team members Deidra Mitchell, president and CEO, and Erika Weiss, assistant general counsel, will cover a wide range of topics, including strategic planning, what it takes to kick off an economic development journey, working with your state’s economic development corporation, and more. Many of the episodes, which publish bi-monthly, will also feature special guests who will contribute to the discussion on these topics.

A major goal for the podcast is to provide valuable insight to other Tribes and companies seeking similar success in Indian Country, all while continuing to establish Waséyabek and the NHBP Tribe as leaders in this space.

“I’m hoping that by sharing our story, we can impart some wisdom, give some fresh ideas, help people avoid roadblocks, and really give a flavor of what it means to do economic diversification. That is part of our mission, to help other Tribes develop and help them along their journey in economic diversification, if we can.”

Deidra Mitchell

President and CEO, Waséyabek

Tribal Economic Development is currently available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. Each new episode can also be accessed at waseyabek.com/podcast. We encourage you to leave a review of Tribal Economic Development on the platform of your choice, and to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode throughout 2024.

Tribal Economic Development: Episode 1 – Welcome to Tribal Economic Development

by Mason Nichols | February 6, 2024 | Podcasts, Tribal Economic Development

Tribal Economic Development: Episode 1 – Welcome to Tribal Economic Development

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, assistant general counsel, 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.

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