Jessi Goldner, Vice President of Strategic Engagement at Waséyabek, joins hosts Deidra Mitchell and Erika Weiss to explore how intentional outreach, cultural integration, and relationship-building are strengthening connections within the NHBP community, across Indian Country, and throughout the broader business landscape. The conversation highlights the evolution of Waséyabek’s Strategic Engagement Department, the expansion of the Leadership, Exploration, and Development (LEAD) Program, and the role of engagement in educating Tribal Members, developing future talent, and creating pathways to employment. Through examples ranging from cultural programming and university partnerships to the 2024 Michigan Non-Gaming Tribal Economic Impact Study, the discussion underscores how consistent communication, adaptability, and collaboration drive long-term value, reinforce trust, and position Waséyabek as a resource and leader in 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.