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Benjamin Alderton

Funding Healthcare Facilities on Tribal Nation Reservations
Tuesday October 24 2:00 - 3:30 PM

Senior Manager
Moss Adams

Benjamin Alderton, JD, is a Senior Manager at Moss Adams LLP in the Denver office. Mr. Alderton has worked in the tax credit industry since 2012. He primarily advises clients on attracting New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) financing to helpthem fill financing gaps while driving investments in low-income communities throughout the United States. Mr. Alderton also advises clients on green energy-related credit opportunities, including direct pay, created with the passage of the Inflation ReductionAct. Before joining Moss Adams, Mr. Alderton focused on underwriting, negotiating, structuring, and closing multimillion-dollar NMTC and Historic Tax Credits equity investments, emphasizing working capital transactions and projects located on Tribal lands.Earlier in his career, Mr. Alderton practiced law in Connecticut, focusing on commercial business litigation, municipal law, and land use.


Michael Bland

Funding Healthcare Facilities on Tribal Nation Reservations
Tuesday October 24 2:00 - 3:30 PM

Director of Community Investments
Travois New Markets, LLC

Michael Bland is the Director of Community Investments for Travois, a Certified B Corporation focused exclusively on promoting housing and economic development for American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian communities. Travois has helped clients to develop more than $1.5 billion in using and economic development projects in 22 states. Michael is responsible for overseeing Travois New Markets’ projects from start to finish, which includes the underwriting, preparation, and closing of projects while assisting with New Markets Tax Credit allocation applications and compliance and asset management. Michael was previously employed by AltCap, managing their $88M New Markets Tax Credit portfolio.

He holds bachelor’s degrees in history and Middle Eastern studies from the University of Virginia and a master’s degree in Middle Eastern studies from the University of Texas.


Jackson Brossy

Promoting Access to Capital for Tribal Small Businesses
Tuesday May 9 2:00 - 3:30 PM

Assistant Administrator
U.S. Small Business Administration

Mr. Brossy has been selected to serve as the Assistant Administrator for the Office of Native American Affairs, at the U.S. Small Business Administration. In this role, Mr. Brossy serves as a senior executive providing executive oversight, management, leadership, and championship of Native American entrepreneurship.


James Colombe

Promoting Access to Capital for Tribal Small Businesses
Tuesday May 9 2:00 - 3:30 PM

Policy Advisor
U.S. Department of the Treasury

James Colombe is a Policy Advisor in the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Recovery Programs supporting SSBCI for Tribal governments. James grew up in Mission, S.D. He worked on Tribal organizing in South Dakota for the 2018 mid-term elections before joining the Federal Reserve with a focus on Tribal issues. A member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe and of Nez Perce descent, James received an A.B. in chemistry from Harvard and a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.


Tom Durkee

Tribal Community-Driven Economic Development Solutions
Tuesday March 14 2:00 - 3:30 PM

Director of Tribal Business Development
Michigan Economic Development Corporation

Tom Durkee is the current Director of Tribal Business Development for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation or MEDC. Mr. Durkee joined the MEDC in 2000 and has worked in several areas including, business development, community development, and business attraction. He has worked within the Tribal Business unit since 2011.

Tom grew up in Northwestern Wisconsin and graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point with a dual Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration and Social Science. He feels his rural upbringing and background has provided a good fit for working with the 12 Federally Recognized Tribes in Michigan. Prior to joining the MEDC Mr. Durkee gained experience working for a small rural hospital system and then a large national financial brokerage firm. He resides with his wife and daughter in a suburb of Lansing, Michigan.


Zechariah Harjo

Tribal Community-Driven Economic Development Solutions
Tuesday March 14 2:00 - 3:30 PM

Deputy Secretary of the Nation and Commerce
Muscogee (Creek) Nation




Vanessa Miller

Food System Financing on Tribal Lands
Tuesday July 11 2:00 - 3:30 PM

Food and Agriculture Area Manager
Oneida Indian Nation

Vanessa has worked for the Oneida Nation Environmental Health, Safety, Land, And Agriculture Division for 12 years, with 11 years experience in Environmental and Public Health as a Registered Sanitarian in the Stateof Wisconsin. Acting in a regulatory role for the Nation under Oneida’s own Food Service Law, Vanessa has experience in tribal food code and policy development and advocating for self-regulation. Recently, Vanessa has transitioned to the Food and AgricultureArea to work in helping to create and implement a long term food sovereignty strategic plan, recognizing the significance food plays in the overall health of indigenous communities. As a critical portion of the Nation’s food sovereignty initiative, strengtheningthe local food economy and supporting local producers and processors is a key piece in a resilient food system. As a part of measuring success, the Nation is focusing on community wealth building and measuring success with things like job creation, empoweringlocal citizen buying power, keeping dollars local, health care cost prevention, and the benefits that come from improved community health.


Billy Nicholson

Funding Healthcare Facilities on Tribal Nation Reservations
Tuesday October 24 2:00 - 3:30 PM

Chief Financial Officer
Colville Tribes

As the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation’s (Tribes) Chief Financial Officer, William Nicholson II is responsible for the financial stewardship, including capital and operating budgets, financial affairs and reporting, procurement, investment management, and debt/treasury management.
Prior to becoming the CFO, Mr. Nicholson was an elected official to the Colville Business Council. As the Management & Budget Chair, his focus was the financial stability of the Colville Tribes.

Mr. Nicholson is a graduate of Washington State University in Business Administration. Mr. Nicholson currently serves as Treasurer for Cedar Fund (Colville Tribes Non-Profit) and a board member for the Colville Tribal Credit Corporation.


Josh Pape

Promoting Access to Capital for Tribal Small Businesses
Tuesday May 9 2:00 - 3:30 PM

Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
Chickasaw Community Bank

Josh Pape is the Chief Operating Officer of Chickasaw Community Bank. Josh has over 15-years of banking experience spanning across multiple lines of business including: retail banking, consumer lending, commercial lending, treasury management, and specialty CDFI lending. As COO his primary role is the overall management, administration, efficiency, and compliance of the bank; and working closely with the CEO and other senior executives to establish and implement operational policies and procedures that will drive the company’s growth, profitability, and long-term success. As COO he provides strategic leadership to all functional areas of the bank including commercial lending, consumer lending, mortgage lending, tribal/government lending, retail banking, treasury management, marketing, and human resources departments. In addition to his role at the bank, he serves various organizations specific to supporting the banking industry including: the Community Bankers Association of Oklahoma's (CBAO) Board of Directors and Vice-Chair of its PAC & Legislative Committee, Vice-Chair of the ICBA Minority-Owned Bank Council, and member of the ICBA Education Committee. Josh was selected in 2022 by the Independent Community Bankers Association (ICBA), as one of the country’s “Top 40 Under 40: Emerging Community Bank Leaders”.


Adam Rose

Funding Healthcare Facilities on Tribal Nation Reservations
Tuesday October 24 2:00 - 3:30 PM

Director of Strategic Partnerships and Growth
Travois New Markets, LLC

Adam Rose is the director of partnerships and growth for Travois, a Certified B Corporation focused exclusively on promoting housing and economic development for American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian communities. Travois has helped clients to develop more than $1.5 billion in housing and economic development projects in 22 states. Adam joined Travois in 2008 and has more than a decade’s experience helping tribes and tribal housing authorities to develop affordable housing and other community amenities. Working with clients, tribal leadership, and community stakeholders, Adam listens and learns about needs, discusses and explores development possibilities with the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program, and other gap financing applications, such as grants through the Affordable Housing Program (AHP), and the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program. Adam helps clients to bring private investor funds and grants to build new homes, rehabilitate existing homes and expand businesses and services to help strengthen Native communities. Adam also works with the state and federal agencies that make funding decisions to ensure that tribally sponsored projects can compete evenly with other developments. Adam graduated from Marquette University with a bachelor’s degree in political science and from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a master’s degree in urban planning. He is a Housing Credit Certified Professional (HCCP), designated by the National Association of Home Builders. Before becoming director of partnerships and growth, Adam served as senior project coordinator and project coordinator for the affordable housing team. He supports local housing efforts as a member of the board of directors for Kim Wilson Housing of Kansas City, KS.



Toni Stanger-McLaughlin

Food System Financing on Tribal Lands
Tuesday July 11 2:00 - 3:30 PM

Chief Executive Officer
Native American Agriculture Fund

Toni Stanger-McLaughlin, J.D., a citizen of the Colville Confederated Tribes, serves as the Chief Executive Office (CEO) of the Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF). Mrs. Stanger-McLaughlin has compassionately worked in agriculture law and policy for many years. Before being named the CEO of NAAF, she served as the first NAAF Director of Programs where she assisted the development and delivery of millions of dollars of NAAF philanthropic investment in Tribal food systems.

Mrs. Stanger-McLaughlin started her agricultural career working in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) headquarters in Washington D.C., within the Office of Civil Rights. She was engaged in the settlement of civil rights and access to credit claims on behalf of American Indian farmers and ranchers in the Keepseagle national class action litigation; the settlement of those claims ultimately led to the creation of NAAF. Mrs. Stanger-McLaughlin thereafter moved from the Office of Civil Rights to the USDA Office of Tribal Relations in the Office of the Secretary.

While in the Office of Tribal Relations, Toni working across multiple USDA agencies and offices as well as other federal departments to advance Tribal needs in agriculture, natural resources, land use and infrastructure development. A key highlight in her time at USDA included leadership in a comprehensive analysis of the policies related to sacred sites for the U.S. Forest Service. Upon leaving USDA, Toni established a successful consulting business working directly with Tribes for five years.

Prior to joining NAAF, Toni served as the Director of Tribal Relations for the University of Arkansas School of Law Indigenous Food and Agriculture Initiative (IFAI). At IFAI, Toni worked with individual producers and Tribal governments advancing their needs in agriculture and in self-governance in the area of food law and policy. Her work also included providing training directly to Tribal producers and food businesses.

She attended the University of North Dakota School of Law and received her JD, focusing on federal Indian law. In addition, Mrs. Stanger-McLaughlin holds certificates in mediation, Tribal law and business, as well as executive leadership. In her spare time, Toni enjoys being outdoors with her husband and three children, as well as beading and sewing powwow regalia for her immediate and extended family.


Shannon Ward

Tribal Community-Driven Economic Development Solutions
Tuesday March 14 2:00 - 3:30 PM

Senior Vice President, Chief Lending Officer
Native American Bank

Shannon Ward is the Chief Lending Officer and Senior Vice President at Native American Bank. Shannon has over 20 years of experience working in finance related fields, and has specialized in working with and lending to sovereign Indian tribes for the last 13 years. She has first-hand experience working with varied Tribal ownership structures, trust land, and the unique jurisdictional matters Tribal nations encounter when financing on-reservation projects. Prior to joining Native American Bank, Shannon held both a regional management role and the interim division chief position during her tenure with the division of Capital Investment at the U.S Department of Interior. In this capacity, Shannon was responsible for facilitating much-needed access to capital for Native American Tribes, Tribally owned enterprises, and to individual Indian-owned businesses, with the intent of promoting economic development on Native American reservations. Shannon is a graduate of the University of Wyoming with a Bachelor of Science degree in business management, and is a Northern Arapaho tribal member.


Ashley Williamson

Food System Financing on Tribal Lands
Tuesday July 11 2:00 - 3:30 PM

Co-Executive Director
The Giving Grove

Ashley brings local and international experience in program development, community engagement, and research. She has a Master in Social Work Advocacy, Policy and Administration from the University of Kansas and is passionate about connecting people, ideas and policies. A dedicated Kansas City community member, Ashley is continuously involved in boards and leadership programs; currently Connext, Nonprofit Connect’s Emerging Leader Board, and the Public Policy Committee of the LGBT Chamber of Commerce. Ashley is always looking forward to a good podcast, book, or the next time she can work in her ever-expanding vegetable garden.



CDFA National Sponsors

  • BNY Mellon
  • Bricker Graydon LLP
  • Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP
  • Business Oregon
  • CohnReznick
  • Frost Brown Todd LLP
  • Grow America | Formerly NDC
  • Hawes Hill and Associates LLP
  • Hawkins Delafield & Wood LLP
  • Ice Miller LLP
  • KeyBanc Capital Markets
  • Kutak Rock LLP
  • McGuireWoods
  • MuniCap, Inc.
  • NW Financial Group, LLC
  • PGAV Planners, LLC
  • Raza Development Fund
  • SB Friedman Development Advisors
  • Stifel Nicolaus
  • U.S. Bank
  • Wells Fargo Securities
  • Z. The Bond Buyer
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