News
Harvard University Extends Honor to Leader of Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi
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.
Waséyabek Launches Tribal Economic Development Podcast
Waséyabek has launched Tribal Economic Development, a new podcast featuring conversations on critical topics related to economic development in Indian Country.
Waséyabek Development Company Becomes Majority Owner of Innovative Software Systems Integration Firm Serving the Department of Defense
Waséyabek Development Company, LLC, a leading economic development firm in Michigan’s Indian Country, announced today it has become the majority owner of VES, LLC, a software development, integration, and solutions firm headquartered in Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.
Waséyabek Development Company Announces Two Appointments to its Federal Group Leadership Team
Waséyabek Development Company, a leading economic development firm in Michigan’s Indian Country, announced two leadership appointments today involving the company’s federal services division.
Bethany Harris Named 40 Under 40 Honoree by Crain’s Grand Rapids Business
Bethany Harris, Executive Vice President of 8(a) Business, has been named an inaugural 40 Under 40 honoree by Crain’s Grand Rapids Business.
Waséyabek Development Company Becomes Majority Owner of West Michigan Environmental Engineering and Consulting Firm
Waséyabek Development Company, LLC (WDC), a leading economic development firm in Michigan’s Indian Country, announced today it has become the majority owner of BLDI, LLC, an innovative environmental engineering, consulting and remediation firm headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Billboard Brings Awareness to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Men, and Children
A billboard located on the southwest side of Battle Creek, Michigan, brings awareness to missing and murdered indigenous men, women, and children.
Waséyabek Development Company Holds Economic Development Showcase and Job Fair at the 2023 Gathering of Potawatomi Nations
More than 100 attendees gathered at FireKeepers Casino Hotel in Battle Creek, Michigan, to learn about the economic advancements of Potawatomi Nation-owned businesses as part of the first-ever Economic Development Showcase and Job Fair.
Safari Circuits Welcomes Craig Nelson to Leadership Team
Safari Circuits, an innovative leader in electronics manufacturing, engineering services, and supply chain management, announced today the hiring of Craig Nelson as company president.
Bethany Harris Serves on Small Business Panel at the 2023 Women in Defense Small Business Summit
Bethany Harris, Waséyabek’s Director Executive Vice President of 8(a) Business, was invited to serve as a panelist at the 2023 Women in Defense – Michigan Chapter – Small business Summit.
William Brooks named 2023 Notable West Michigan Lawyer by Crain’s/Grand Rapids Business Journal
William Brooks named 2023 Notable West Michigan Lawyer by Crain’s/Grand Rapids Business Journal
West Michigan Tribal Economic Leader to Speak at Harvard University on Native American Business Operations
Waséyabek Development Company (WDC) announced today that president and CEO Deidra Mitchell will appear as a guest lecturer at the prestigious Harvard-Kennedy School on March 24th.
Baker Engineering Adds President, Manufacturing Manager – Sets Course for New Business Growth
Baker Engineering, a leader in power, propulsion, and advanced technology solutions for aerospace and defense industry companies as well as government contracting agencies, announced today it has hired two industry veterans to oversee its business...
Waséyabek Development Company Announces Two Leadership Appointments
Waséyabek Development Company (WDC) announces the appointment of two individuals to leadership positions with the organization. Sara Moore, a Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi (NHBP) Indians Tribal Member, has been appointed to a four-year...
Deidra Mitchell named Top 200 Most Powerful Business Leaders for 2nd year
We’re proud to announce that Deidra Mitchell was once again named as one of the 200 Most Powerful Business Leaders in West Michigan. This recognition comes from the Grand Rapids Business Journal, and acknowledges the most influential executives...
Waséyabek Development Company Expands Investment in Muskegon County with Purchase of RSI Building and Neighboring Property
Waséyabek Development Company (WDC), a leading economic development firm in Michigan’s Indian Country, announced today it has purchased the manufacturing facility that houses RSI of West Michigan along with a neighboring vacant lot for possible...
McKay Tower Sports a New Look in 2022
Gun Lake Investments (“GLI”), Waséyabek Development Company (“Waséyabek”), and Rockford Property Management, a division of Rockford Construction (“Rockford”), today announced a new look at the historic McKay Tower, showcasing a rebranded website...
MiBiz Names Deidra Mitchell as Investor Dealmaker of the Year
Deidra Mitchell looks back on 2021 as a pivotal year in many ways for Waséyabek Development Co., the Grand Rapids-based investment arm of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi. Following some board turnover and internal repositioning during the...
DWH Announces Several Leadership Appointments
New Managing Partner Named – Two New Partners Added to Firm DWH, a leading business consulting and financial services firm based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, today announced several key leadership appointments including the promotion of Ben...
Waséyabek Development Company Becomes Majority Owner in World Class Electronics Manufacturer Based in West Michigan
Waséyabek Development Company (WDC) announced its investment in Safari Circuits, an Otsego, Michigan-based electronics manufacturing firm. Safari is an innovative leader in electronics, engineering services, and supply chain management. “We are...
Waséyabek Development Company Invests in BAMF Health
Waséyabek Development Company invests in healthcare startup Grand Rapids-based BAMF Health developing revolutionary cancer treatment technology Pictured from left to right: Chris Rogers, Waséyabek Board Vice-Chair and Interim Chair; Bryant...
Deidra Mitchell Named by the Grand Rapids Business Journal as One of the 200 Most Powerful Business Leaders in West Michigan
Congratulations to our President & CEO, Deidra Mitchell, for being named by the Grand Rapids Business Journal as one of the 200 Most Powerful Business Leaders in West Michigan! We are proud to see the NHBP and WDC being recognized for their...
Waséyabek Development Company and Gun Lake Investments Obtain Ownership of Zip Xpress and Green Transportation
Rare partnership between two Tribes results in unique economic development opportunity Michigan based Zip Xpress and Green Transportation deliver sustainable shipping solutions Dina McKnight-Dargis (left), former owner and CEO of Zip Xpress, Inc.,...
Waséyabek Development Company featured in the New York Times
Waséyabek Development Company (WDC) was recently highlighted in a New York Times article entitled “Native American Tribes Move to Make Real Estate a Force for Renewal”. The article explores the importance of economic diversification beyond gaming...
WDC President & CEO, Deidra Mitchell, named to the West Michigan CEO Council
The Grand Rapids Chamber has assembled a cohort of highly engaged business leaders from diverse industries committed to cultivating a thriving and prosperous West Michigan for all. This council will serve to play a key role in the development of a...
WDC President & CEO, Deidra Mitchell, Invited to Speak on MEDC Podcast Regarding Tribal Non-Gaming Economic Development
The Michigan Opportunity, a new podcast launched by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), providers listeners with firsthand accounts from Michigan business leaders and innovators about how the state is driving job growth and...
WDC President & CEO, Deidra Mitchell, Invited to Participate in MiBiz M&A State-Wide Roundtable
Waséyabek Development Company, LLC, President & CEO, Deidra Mitchell, was recently invited by MiBiz to participate in a roundtable composed of mergers and acquisition experts across the state. Learn what Ms. Mitchell and the panel had to say...
Iconic McKay Tower Acquisition by WDC and GLI Named MiBiz’s 2020 Real Estate Deal of the Year
The seeds for the joint purchase of the iconic McKay Tower building in downtown Grand Rapids took root years ago when the CEOs at Waséyabek Development Co. LLC and Gun Lake Investments started talking about doing deals together. Gun Lake...
Deidra Mitchell, WDC President & CEO, Named to Literacy Center of West Michigan Board of Directors
Deidra Mitchell, President & CEO of Waséyabek Development Company, LLC (WDC) was recently named to the Board of Directors for the Literacy Center of West Michigan. The Literacy Center of West Michigan was founded in 1986 and has been working...
Native American Heritage Month: Federally Recognized Tribes Prepared for Challenges Brought on By COVID-19. Op-ed by Deidra Mitchell
As the COVID-19 pandemic first swept across the country and Michigan earlier this year, I looked around our office and wondered, like so many CEOs, what this would mean for us? What will this mean for generations to come? The lingering economic...
Deidra Mitchell Speaks with Shelley Irwin, of WGVU Public Media (NPR Affiliate), Regarding WDC and Its Mission
This morning, our President & CEO was featured on West Michigan's local NPR station, talking about WDC and its work. You can listen to the conversation below. The team at WDC wholeheartedly agrees that Deidra is exceptional and one-of-a-kind,...
WDC Expands Headquarters to Third Floor of Kendall Building
Waséyabek Development Company (WDC) is continuing its mission of contributing to the long-term sustainability and economic self-sufficiency of the NHBP Tribe. WDC is investing in growth to help support the Tribe for the next seven generations....
Muskegon Area Manufacturing Firm Purchased by Waséyabek Development Company
Grand Rapids, Mich. – (Aug. 24, 2020) Waséyabek Development Company (WDC) today announced the acquisition of Re-source Industries, a family-owned and operated specialty manufacturing company in Muskegon, Michigan. “This acquisition is a terrific...
Study Shows Non-Gaming Tribal Businesses in Michigan Generate Economic Impact of $288M
Michigan tribes collaborate to quantify statewide benefits of non-gaming tribal businesses Grand Rapids, Mich. (July 8, 2020) – Non-gaming business entities from nine federally-recognized Michigan tribes presented Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s office...
WDC Proudly Supports the Literary Center of West Michigan
Waséyabek Development Company, LLC proudly supports the Literacy Center of West Michigan ("Center")! On September 24th, WDC sponsored a virtual fundraiser to support the Center to raise funds and awareness of the need for literacy. We believe...
Two Michigan Tribes Announce Joint Venture to Purchase McKay Tower in Grand Rapids
Non-gaming investment will strengthen tribal communities and downtown business district Grand Rapids, Mich. (Jan. 15, 2020) – Gun Lake Investments and Waséyabek Development Company today announced the joint acquisition of McKay Tower, located at...
Baker Engineering Sponsors GVSU School of Engineering Senior Capstone Program Award Winning Team
Baker Engineering, LLC, a subsidiary of Waséyabek Development Company, LLC, sponsored a team of mechanical and electrical engineers for the Grand Valley State University (GVSU) School of Engineering Senior Capstone Program. This team of engineering...
Baker Engineering Recognized in Engine Builder’s “Engine of the Week” Article
Baker Engineering, LLC, a subsidiary of Waséyabek Development Company, LLC, was recently featured in Engine Builder's “Engine of the Week” article. The company built a Twin Whipple 540 cid Big Block Chevy Engine, which is an incredibly unique...
Deidra Mitchell, President & CEO of Waséyabek Development Company, LLC, Speaks on Panel at MEDC Tribal Economic and Government Contracting Forum
Deidra Mitchell, President & CEO of Waséyabek Development Company, LLC was invited by Tom Durkee, business development manager for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to be one of three panelists addressing the Tribal Economic...
WE2 Support Services Donates $5,000 for Life Saving CPR Training Kit for South Carolina High School
Vanessa Hatfield, Business Development Manager & Corporate Small Business Administrator for E2 Consulting Engineers, Inc. and Dean Drake, Vice President of Waséyabek Federal Services, LLC recently presented Kim Enoch of the American Heart...
Waséyabek Development Company, LLC Announces New Chief Operating Officer
Waséyabek Development Company, LLC (WDC) is proud to announce the hiring of Rabih Jamal, CTP as the firm’s new Chief Operating Officer. Jamal comes to WDC from DWH, where he served as Managing Partner for six years. WDC acquired DWH in 2018. “We...
WDC Assembles Panel for Reservation Economic Summit in Las Vegas
On March 26, 2019, Waséyabek Development Company, LLC assembled a panel for the Reservation Economic Summit (RES) in Las Vegas, Nevada, which was hosted by The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED). The panel...
WDC President & CEO, Deidra Mitchell, Asked to Participate in MiBiz Roundtable
Deidra Mitchell, President & CEO of Waséyabek Development Company, LLC, was asked to sit on a roundtable discussion hosted by MiBiz with a group of West Michigan Tribal leaders and business executives. Throughout the conversation, an...
NCAIED Spotlight on a Tribal Business: Waséyabek Development Company, LLC and CEO Deidra Mitchell
The National Center For American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED) talked with Deidra Mitchell, President & CEO of Waséyabek Development Company, LLC (WDC) as part of their continuing series: Spotlight on a Tribal Business. It was an honor...
WDC Director of Business Development Chosen to Participate on MiBiz Panel
Jimmy TenBrink, Waséyabek Development Company, LLC Director of Business Development, was invited by MiBiz to sit on a panel of executives assembled to discuss the health of the West Michigan dealmaking market for 2019. The participants agreed there...
Baker Engineering, LLC (A Subsidiary of WDC) Currently Displaying at Performance Racing Industry Trade Show
Waséyabek Development Company, LLC (WDC) is proud to announce that Baker Engineering LLC. (BEI), a subsidiary of WDC, is displaying at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Trade Show in Indianapolis, Indiana December 6-8. The PRI Trade Show is...
WDC Featured in November 2018 Grand Rapids Business Journal Article
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WDC Featured in November 2018 MiBiz Article
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Local Business President & CEO, Deidra Mitchell, Named to NSBA Leadership Council
Local Business President & CEO, Deidra Mitchell, Named to NSBA Leadership Council Deidra Mitchell, President & CEO of Waséyabek Development Company, LLC (WDC) located in Grand Rapids, Michigan was recently named to the National Small...
Deidra Mitchell, President & CEO of WDC, Honored at YWCA Luncheon
Deidra Mitchell, President & CEO of Waséyabek Development Company, LLC was honored at the YWCA West Central Michigan “Tribute!” Awards Luncheon on October 30, 2018. As a complement to the Tribute Award, the YWCA offers its sponsors the...