NAIHC - 2010 Legal Symposium

Presenters

Elena L. Bassett has been the Executive Director of the Colville Indian Housing Authority (CIHA) since 2006. Ms. Bassett has 29 years of Indian housing experience, which includes nearly six years as the Deputy Directory for the Yakama Nation Housing Authority and two years as the Executive Director for the Siletz Indian Housing Authority. She also served as the Yakama Nation's Housing Improvement Program Manager and assisted with the Nation's Housing Authority in the development capacity. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management. Ms. Bassett is a member of the Yakama Nation.

David W. Bland is the Chairman of Travios, Inc. and has worked on the development of affordable housing for more than 30 years. In 1995, Mr. Bland formed Travois, a more specialized company, dedicated to providing assistance to Indian tribes and Indian housing authorities through the use of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program. In recognition of this important work, Mr. Bland 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. Mr. Bland graduated from Wake Forest University with a degree in political science and is a member of the Advisory Council for Wake Forest's Entrepreneurship and Liberal Arts program.

Rodger J. Boyd is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Native American Programs (ONAP) in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Prior to joining HUD, Mr. Boyd was Program Manager in the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, where he designed and directed the Fund's congressionally mandated Native American Lending Study. He also initiated the Fund's $5 million Native American Technical Assistance and Training Program to establish Native American Community Development Financial Institutions Fund. Mr. Boyd, a member of the Navajo Nation, holds a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture from the University of New Mexico and a Master's in City and Regional Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Paul D. Bradford is a staff consultant and governmental auditor with Dennis & Company, PC. Mr. Bradford has a combined 36 years experience in public accounting, federal contracting, tax, oil and gas, band trust, and tribal government accounting. Mr. Bradford has served as management or consultant to many major public sector corporations and the U.S. Department of Defense.

Jennifer Lee Bradley graduated summa cum laude from Saint Cloud State University and in 1998, received her J.D. from the University of Iowa. She worked for Stetson Law Offices, P.C. for six years before becoming the Managing Attorney for DNA People's Legal Services, Inc., in Tuba City, Arizona, a nonprofit organization that provides legal aid to low-income people and families for civil legal problems. While at DNA, she worked in both judicial and administrative forums in the areas of family, housing, consumer, public benefits and health law. During her legal career, she worked in education, construction, contract and policy drafting, litigation, and in taxation and commercial business development and returned this year to Stetson to work on tribal business development, energy, legislative initiatives, personnel matters and housing. Jennifer currently serves as the New Mexico State Bar liaison to the DNA Board of Directors and is licensed in New Mexico, Arizona and the Navajo Nation.

Tedd Buelow is the Native American Coordinator for USDA Rural Development. Before returning to Rural Development in November of 2005, Mr. Beulow was a Financial and Program Analyst with the Native American Team at the U.S. Treasury Department's CDFI Fund. Prior to that, Mr. Buelow served as a Desk Officer with Rural Development's Community Development Programs. He began his federal career in Morocco with the U.S. Peace Corps in the Eastern High Atlas National Park. He was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota and holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota and a Master's degree from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, both in Anthropology.

Dave Butz is a Housing Police Officer for the Colville Indian Housing Authority. He has served as a Police Officer for the Colville Tribal Police Department for 12 years in the capacity of Patrol Officer and Sergeant, and is currently a defensive tactics instructor. With CIHA, Mr. Butz works to develop closer relationships with the housing authority, the tribal police, and the community. He works daily on civil and criminal issues with the housing community, including crime prevention and community policing, drug and gang interdiction, environmental issues, policy and tribal code changes and implementation, youth programs, and education and awareness programs.

Cheryl A. Causley was elected the Chairperson of the National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC) in May 2010, and has served as the Executive Director of the Bay Mills Indian Community Housing Authority located in Michigan's Eastern Upper Peninsula since 1990. In her capacity as Executive Director, Mrs. Causley also oversees the tribe's Land Office and its Utility Authority. Mrs. Causley has served on the NAIHC Board of Directors since 1998 as the vice-Chairperson and Secretary. She also served as the Co-Chairperson of the National Indian Housing Summit in Reno, Nevada in September 2005, and as the Chairperson of the NAIHC Formula Task Force from September to December in 2006. Mrs. Causley is a member of the Bay Mills Indian Community.

Sydnee Chattin-Reynolds is the U.S. Census Bureau Deputy Regional Director for the Kansas City Regional Office. She is responsible for supporting the Regional Director regarding all census related activities for the six states within this region. Ms. Chattin-Reynolds has worked with the Census Bureau for over 24 years. Her experience includes management of current surveys in the Denver and Atlanta Regional Offices. In April of 1998, she began working at headquarters in Suitland, Maryland as the Program Manager for the Partnership and Data Services Branch. During this period she supported all 12 Regional Offices and developed the American Indian and Alaska Native Program. From 2001 to 2007, Ms. Chattin-Reynolds was the Assistant Branch Chief for current surveys and the American Community Survey.

Christine J. Dennis is the Owner of Dennis & Company, PC, a certified public accountant firm in Tulsa, Oklahoma that has specialized in tribal governments for over 30 years. Dennis & Company has helped tribal clients become more financially secure through economic growth and development. Ms. Dennis is a member of the AICPA, OSCPA, the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association, American Indian Chamber of Commerce, the national American Indian Housing council, and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Governmental Audit Quality Center.

Lorrie Ellsworth has been the Executive Director of the Spokane Indian Housing Authority since 2006. She has worked extensively with the Board of Commissioners to adopt and implement a comprehensive criminal policy, and has overseen the implementation of a system of criminal background checks. Ms. Ellsworth is the former Personnel Manager for the Spokane Tribe of Indians, and also a former member of the Board of Commissioners of the Spokane Indian Housing Authority.

Lorna Fogg, president of Travois, Inc., was previously the director of acquisitions for Raymond James Tax Credit Funds Inc., a leading tax credit syndicator with projects on or near Indian reservations. Lorna has worked in the tax credit industry since 1995. Her experience includes underwriting, asset management and serving both as an investor and client liaison. Through Raymond James, Lorna was directly responsible for more than $55 million in equity investments which resulted in more than 800 new or rehabilitated housing units on Indian reservations. As president of Travois, Lorna oversees a staff of 21 working in areas of housing tax credits, gap financing, compliance and New Markets Tax Credits. Lorna graduated from the University of South Florida with a degree in Accounting.

Joanne Foster is an attorney living in the Pacific Northwest and practicing exclusively in the area of tribal housing law. She is a 1977 graduate of the University of Washington School of Law and Antioch College. Ms. Foster is a current member and past chair of the Indian Law Section of the Washington State Bar Association from 1991-1992.

Florence Francis has been the Advisor for Native Nations for the General Service Administration (GSA) for seven years. As advisor, Ms. Francis serves all American Indian customers throughout HUD's Region 9. She has assisted the Southwest ONAP office in Phoenix in providing training to tribes and tribal housing programs. Her more recent contribution included assisting ONAP with the Federal Supply Sources Guidance for tribes and tribal housing programs. Currently, Ms. Francis serves as the Customer Service Director for all federal and military customers in southern Arizona. She has a degree in Business Management from Phoenix University. Ms. Francis is a member of the Navajo Nation.

Edmund Goodman is a partner in the Portland, Oregon, office of the Indian law firm of Hobbs, Straus, Dean, & Walker. He has been practicing Indian law since his graduation from Harvard Law School in 1989. He began his legal career at the Native American Program of Oregon Legal Services, where he served first as a staff attorney, and then as the Director of Litigation, overseeing the legal work of the office. Mr. Goodman has represented tribal clients on a wide range of issues, including housing, tribal jurisdiction and sovereignty, natural resources and environmental law, water law, tribal reserved rights, and the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. He has written a series of articles on tribal natural resource rights and co-management. Mr. Goodman also has extensive experience advising tribes on their tribal court systems. He currently serves as an Associate Judge for the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon. Mr. Goodman's specialty is Indian housing law, including matters under the NAHASDA, landlord-tenant issues, and personnel and administrative situations. He represents a number of tribal housing departments and TDHEs.

Sandra B. Henriquez is the Assistant Secretary of Public and Indian Housing with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Ms. Henriquez oversees the nation's public housing and rental assistance programs that assist approximately 3.2 million low-income families across the U.S. She is also responsible for the Department's Native American and Native Hawaiian programs, which serve 562 federally recognized tribes. For 13 years, Ms. Henriquez was the Administrator and Chief Executive Officer of the Boston Housing Authority (BHA), one of the nation's largest public housing authorities. Prior to working for BHA, she worked for Maloney Properties, Inc., a full service real estate property management firm specializing in the delivery of services to resident-controlled and non-profit sponsored housing. Before Maloney Properties, she was the Director of Housing Management and Tenant Services for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' Department of Housing and Community Development.

Traci Hobson joined NAIHC as the Director of Governmental Affairs in March 2010. She coordinates the organization's advocacy and legislative efforts, including drafting testimony, preparing advocacy-related publications, and providing legislative updates to the membership and the Board of Directors. Previously, Ms. Hobson worked as an attorney in private practice and as an Adjunct Professor at the North Carolina Central University College of Law, where she taught a Native American Law seminar. She has also worked for the Tohono O'Odham Nation as Court Solicitor and the White Mountain Apache Tribe as Chief Prosecutor. In 2003, she was a Program Attorney at the National Judicial College (NJC) in Reno, Nevada, where she was instrumental in raising funds for and establishing the National Tribal Judicial Center at NJC. She has an LL.M. in Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy from the University of Arizona College of Law, a Juris Doctor degree and a Native American Law certificate from the University of Tulsa College of Law, and a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from the University of North Carolina.

Timothy J. Humphrey, Sr. is a Senior Attorney with Stetson Law Offices, P.C., in Albuquerque, New Mexico where he represents tribes, tribal businesses and enterprises and tribal housing programs on matters including, tribal environmental issues, construction, alternative energy and economic development, tribal business associations, employment matters and contracting with Indian tribes. Mr. Humphrey currently serves as a Vice Chair on the Native American Resources Committee of the American Bar Association's Section of the Environment, Energy and Resources. He also published numerous articles on Indian housing, on-reservation solid waste management and tribal environmental and regulatory issues. Mr. Humphrey has a Master's degree in Social Work from the Warden School of Social Services and a law degree from the University of Montana.

Robert Lamp has been with HUD's Office of Loan Guarantee, Office of Native American Programs for the last five years. He manages the Title VI Loan Program and has already assisted tribes in leveraging their IHBG funds in 36 transactions. Mr. Lamp has over 30 years experience in direct lending and secondary market knowledge in housing and risk management. His community development perspective is derived from his experiences as a community development director and his Master's degree in Planning.

Wendy Lawrence (need Bio)

Deanna Lucero is the Senior Loan Guarantee Specialist, Office of Native American Programs at HUD. She has worked in the Office of Loan Guarantee, Section 184 Loan Program for 13 years. In this capacity, Ms. Lucero has been instrumental in administering the 184 Program to ensure homeownership in Indian Country. She serves as the lead underwriter, marketing specialist and trainer for the 184 Loan Program. Ms. Lucero previously worked for FHA as an underwriter and marketing specialist.

Kristy McCarthy Weight is the Owner of Blue Water Grant Development, a consulting firm that provides comprehensive grant writing and consulting services to tribal clients, specializing in the area of housing and economic development. During the past three years, she has written 27 federal grant applications for ICDBG, RHED, ROSS, ARRA and NACA funds, which have resulted in nearly $10 million in awards. Originally from the Flathead Nation in Montana, Ms. Weight is a former NAIHC Government Affairs Director and has completed grantsmanship training with the nationally-recognized Grantsmanship Center.

Paul Moorehead is a partner in the Indian Tribal Governments Group for Drinker Biddle & Reath, LLP. He counsels clients on a wide range of legislative and regulatory matters in the U.S. Congress and federal agencies, such as Indian land and water settlements; renewable and nonrenewable energy development; Tribal Self-Governance Act activities; health care, telehealth and health facilities; housing and community development; tax and finance; and appropriations. Mr. Moorehead served as Chief Counsel and Staff Director to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs for eight years (1997 to 2005). In this role he was responsible for all authorizing and appropriations matters for the Committee, including housing, business and community development, health care, education, agriculture, energy and natural resources, land-into-trust, gaming, water claims settlements, and related tax matters. Mr. Moorehead also previously served as General Counsel and Government Affairs Director to the National Congress of American Indians (1993-1997).

Jerry O'Donnell is the manager for the Partnership and Data Services Program of the U.S. Census Bureau in Denver, Colorado. He is a graduate of Utah State University where he majored in psychology and demography. He has authored a number of Census publications including the Census User's Guide and has prepared many articles on the use of Census data for such publications as American Demographics, Chamber of Commerce Research Book, and the U.S. Industrial Outlook. Mr. O'Donnell is also a member of the American Marketing Association and the American Planning Association Speaker's Bureau. He is a recipient of the U.S. Department of Commerce's highest award – the Bronze Medal.

Dr. Roger Owers is a Visiting Eminent Scholar at Del E. Webb School of Construction at Arizona State University. His research focus is on construction in Indian Country. This involves researching the political, economic, social, technical, and legal aspects of engineering and constructing on American Indians lands. Dr. Owers worked for a tribe in the Phoenix metro area, first as a construction manager, then as an in-house legal counsel. He practices construction law and Indian law and also consults to a wide range of small businesses, design firms, developers, and contractors.

Bill Picotte is a Marketing Specialist III for Fannie Mae, Native American Initiatives. He works closely with the Public Entities Loan Team to bring loan products to tribal housing programs. For the previous 12 years, he was Executive Director of Oti Kaga, Inc., a non-profit 501(c) (3) housing development corporation he founded in 1993. He has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Housing Assistance Council (HAC) since 1993 and served on their Loan Committee from 1994-1999, as Vice-President from 1999-2001 and as President from 2001-2003. He is the first Native American President of this organization. He also sits on the Board of Directors of the National Rural Housing Coalition since 1996, and is one of the original incorporators and served on the Board of Directors of Four Bands Community Fund, Inc. from 2001-2007. Mr. Picotte is a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.

Brian Pierson leads the Godfrey & Kahn's Indian Nations Law Team. He has 20 years experience representing tribes, including successful representation of Chippewa Indians in federal court litigation to prevent racially-motivated interference with treaty-reserved, off-reservation fishing rights, an effort that earned him ACLU-Wisconsin's Civil Libertarian of the Year Award. His practice today focuses on housing, development of tribal legal infrastructure and Indian country economic development. Mr. Pierson is the author of the Indian Housing Development Handbook (Revision 2010) published by NAIHC as a resource for its and other partners who with tribes work to meet Indian Country's acute need for decent and affordable housing, including state and federal government officials, lenders, contractors, investors, attorneys, and other housing professionals.

Brian Quill is the Compliance/Crime Prevention Officer for the Colville Housing Authority. Prior to his current position, Mr. Quill served as a Law Enforcement Officer for the Colville Tribal Police Department (CTPD) and a Police Officer for the Town of Coulee Dam. While with CTPD, Mr. Quill assisted in the creation and implementation of the Tribal Traffic Safety/DUI Task Force and acted as Traffic Safety Coordinator. He is a certified Industrial Safety and Health Technician Coordinator for the Colville Tribe. Mr. Quill holds several other certifications through the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Administration, Occupation Safety and Health Administration, Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, and the American Heart Association. Mr. Quill is a member of the Colville Confederated Tribes.

Jaci Ree is a Manager of Financial Education and Asset Building at Oweesta Corporation and has 12 years of experience with community development issues in Native communities. She has a background in social service working with Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and workforce development; as well as a juvenile detention counselor for Native youth. Previously, she provided EITC outreach to Alaska Natives in Anchorage and acted as facilitator for the South Dakota Native Free Tax Prep Coalition. Ms. Ree is also an IRS-certified tax preparer. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Human Services and is currently an MBA candidate. As an enrolled member of the Crow Creek Sioux, Ms. Ree is dedicated to working with Native communities.

Erna Reeves is the Lead Technical Assistance and Training Specialist for the NAIHC. She has 16 years of experience in the Indian housing industry beginning her career at the Cherokee Nation Housing Authority in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Since joining NAIHC in 2002, Ms. Reeves has provided technical assistance and training on a variety of topics ranging from "NAHASDA Basics" to "Procurement and Environmental Compliance." Ms. Reeves has served on various national committees, including NAIHC's Formula Committee and the IHP/APR Workgroup as a representative of the Southern Plains Region. She is a member of the Cherokee Nation and graduated magna cum laude from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration Management.

LindaLee Retka is a Training and Technical Assistance Specialist for the National American Indian Housing Council. She has over 12 years of experience in the management of all aspects of tribal housing programs; managing operations and budgets in compliance with tribal, federal, state and grant agency regulations. Through her involvement in multi-tribal housing initiatives, Ms. Retka has been an innovator in providing affordable housing opportunities for tribal community members. She is an enrolled member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe White Earth Reservation.

Alan Romero is the Director of Claims Response for AMERIND Risk Management Corporation located in New Mexico. He joined AMERIND Risk Management Corporation in 1996. At AMERIND, Mr. Romero primarily oversees the day to day operations in the claims response department, and he provides claims training to the entire AMERIND membership pool. Mr. Romero attended New Mexico State University and received designations from Vale National Training School in Property Adjusting and Liability Adjusting.

Patricia B. Schramm (Patsy) is an independent consultant contracted by First Nations Development Institute to present their work on Refund Anticipation Loans in Native communities. She facilitated the NFEC EITC committee and network as a consultant to First Nations Oweesta Corporation. Before retiring from the Wage and Investment function of IRS, she created a market channel to promote EITC, free tax preparation and linkage to asset building in Native communities. Working in this arena for almost a decade, she has presented at many national and regional conferences. Ms. Schramm has a Bachelor of Science and Master's in Education from Georgia Southwestern State University. Ms. Schramm is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation.

Amadeo Shije is a Tribal Partnership Specialist with the U.S. Census Bureau, Department of Commerce. He works and interacts with 91 tribal nations and key partners in Denver's 10 state region. His employment history includes: Atomic Energy Commission in Iowa and Fibercast Company in Oklahoma where he held positions as R&D Engineer, Specifications Engineer, and Regional Engineering/Marketing Manager. Mr. Shije is the former Governor of Zia Pueblo, and former Chairman of the All Indian Pueblo Council. He is a U.S. Navy veteran and attended New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, NM. Mr. Shije was born and raised in Zia Pueblo of New Mexico.

Kimberly Silentman-Kanuho is Coordinator of the "Construction in Indian Country" (CIIC) organization within Arizona State University's Del E. Webb School of Construction. Ms. Silentman-Kanuho actively serves on several boards, including the CIIC Executive Committee, the Arizona Tri-Universities for Indian Education, American Indian Council of Architects and Engineers, ASU Native American Alumni Chapter, AmeriCorps VISTA Advisory Council, and ASU for Arizona: Building Great Communities. She received a Bachelor's degree Urban Planning in 2002 and Master's degree in Urban & Environmental Planning degree in 2005. Her interests include various elements of design including architecture, planning and construction. Ms. Silentman-Kanuho is a member of the Navajo Nation.

Barbara A. Smith is a Chickasaw Nation citizen and has been a Supreme Court Justice for the Chickasaw Nation in Ada, Oklahoma since October 2003. She is currently the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Ms. Smith also serves as a special judge for the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribal Courts. Justice Smith has a law practice – Smith & Smith, Attorneys at Law – located in Norman, Oklahoma. Ms. Smith specialized in social security disability law, Indian law, tribal sovereignty and tribal courts. Justice Smith also serves on the Board of Directors of the Native American Rights Fund.

Dr. Kenn Sullivan is the Director of the Facility Management Research Institute and Deputy Director of the Performance Based Studies Research Group with the Del E. Webb School of Construction at Arizona State University. He works primarily in the area of best value processes and performance information concepts. His research centers on risk minimization, quality control mechanisms, and information environments. He also teaches courses in cost estimating, bidding, research methods, and facility management.

Robin Thorne, Director of Asset Management with Travois, Inc., works directly with tribal housing authorities to set up tenant files to ensure compliance with tax credit rules and regulations. In addition, she created a comprehensive training manual geared toward policies and procedures that will ensure compliance with NAHASDA, LIHTC, RD, and Section 8 housing programs to assist with multiple sources of financing. She also conducts on-site training for clients and is certified as a National Compliance Professional Executive (NCPE). Robin serves on the NCPE Advisory Board for the Housing Credit College. She graduated from the University of South Florida with a degree in Communications and English.

Terry S. Weber is the Chief Operating Officer of Investment Recovery Advocates, LLC located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Mr. Weber is a nationally recognized CEO, consultant and speaker. He has served in management and consultation positions for the Ford Motor Company, Pennzoil, Royal Dutch Shell, Merrill Lynch Capital Corporation and the Robert Allen Group.

Thomas C. Wright is the Director of Loan Guarantee (OLG) Programs for the ONAP at HUD. Mr. Wright is responsible for the oversight and management of the Native American lending programs and the $1.5 billion loan guarantee portfolio. This public and private partnership has the loan guarantee authority to finance $1 billion in Indian housing loans and affordable housing projects in FY 2010. He has originated HUD Section 184 Mortgages and performed contract based project management for more that $12 million in residential development resulting in 114 homes being built on tribal trust lands. Mr. Wright also has practical experience working within a tribal government as a consultant and Interim Housing Manager. He has more than 14 years of combined experience in the mortgage lending and financial services industries.

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