Board of Directors – Oregon Native American Chamber

ONAC Board of Directors

Meet our board…

Leadership & Commitment…

SERVICE TO COMMUNITY

The Oregon Native American Chamber (ONAC) Board of Directors support the work of the organization and provide mission-based leadership and strategic governance. The ONAC Board represents ONAC to stakeholders; acting as an ambassador for the organization while also ensuring ONAC’s commitment to a diverse board and staff that reflects the communities ONAC serves. ONAC Board Members consider ONAC a philanthropic priority and make annual gifts that reflect that priority.

BOARD TERMS/PARTICIPATION

ONAC’s Board Members will serve staggered two-year terms to ensure consistency of leadership, governance, and institutional knowledge. Board members are eligible for re-election by membership for additional term(s). Board meetings will be monthly on the third Friday of each month 9:00-11:00AM and committee meetings will be held independently of the full board meetings and at the discretion of the committee and staff. As outlined in ONAC’s bylaws, every Board Member must be a current ONAC member.

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ONAC Board of Directors

Edmund “Eddie” Sherman
Board President

Partner, Hilltop Public Solutions

Owner, Against the Current Consulting

Ya’at’eeh, Shi ei Eddie Sherman. Nat’oh Dine’e Tachii’nii nishlii doo [Tapa] Omaha Deer Clan ei bashishchiin. Bit’ahnii’nii ei dashicheii, nana [Tapa] Omaha Deer Clan ei dashinali. Todineeshzhee’dee ei naasha.

Hello, my name is Eddie Sherman. I am Tobacco People, born for the [Tapa] Omaha Deer Clan.

My maternal Grandfather’s clan is Folded Arms people and my paternal Grandfather’s clan is [Tapa] Omaha Deer Clan. I am from Kayenta, AZ.

Eddie is a nationally recognized fundraiser, strategist, nonprofit leader, and entrepreneur. Throughout his career, Eddie has committed his efforts to social justice, serving underserved communities, and improving the quality of life for Native Americans and communities of color.

As a Hilltop partner, Eddie brings invaluable experience to the firm’s campaign, issue advocacy, and communications practices and leads continued efforts to help important Northwest constituencies organize and maximize their influence on politics and policy. He completed his B.A. in International Political Economy at Colorado College.

Navajo and Omaha Nations

Jon George
Board Director, Vice-President

I am a member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. I am one of nine tribal council members that govern our tribe. Before that, I served my tribe for 21 years as a dedicated employee. 7 yrs in the tribes adolescent treatment center called, Nanitch Sahallie in Keizer, OR and then as a vocational rehabilitation specialist for 14yrs in our Portland Satelite office to assist our disabled tribal members to overcome barriers to employment.

I am deeply involved in my tribal culture and I am dedicated to teaching my boys and others the importance of their heritage and to be proud who they are as a Native American. Hayu Masi

Confederated Tribes of Grande Ronde

Kaliska Day

Board Director, Treasurer

Kaliska serves as the Project Manager for the Wenaha Group who specialize in Construction Management, General Contracting and Procurement & Contracting Services for a variety of organizations and projects. Kaliska Day, is an Alaska Native of the Tligint/Haida Tribe and grew up in Oregon.

Kaliska brings strong organizational and communication skills along with planning and execution know how. As a younger business professional she brings a unique point of view and a new wave of enthusiasm to the board. Working in the public sector has given her resources that will positively influence the ONAC organization.

Tlingit

Tiffani Penson
Board Director

Tiffani brings significant experience working with the Oregon Native American Chamber connecting Minority, Women and Emerging Small Business to contracting opportunities. She also provides outreach, community involvement, and opportunities for youth with the City of Portland. Tiffani has a deep appreciation for ONAC’s sincerity, dedication, and focus for the Native American community and the businesses they serve. ONAC understands that by working hard together and by building relationships and partnerships with local businesses, government agencies and community members, the organization contributes to building a thriving Native American community through education, business development and providing access to resources. Her commitment and experience have enabled Tiffani to be an essential contributor to ONAC’s mission and values.

Herb Fricke
Board Director

Cascade Design Professionals, Inc.,
President/Chief Engineer
OAME Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs, A/E committee
American Indian Science & Engineering Society, Local Chapter Volunteer & Organizer

Herb Fricke, Professional Engineer, is a member of the Three Affiliated Tribes (Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara) of Fort Berthold, ND. He was the Owner/President of Cascade Design Professionals, Inc.; a Portland based consulting engineering firm which recently merged with Cooper Zietz Engineers, where he now holds the position of President and CEO.
Herb is also affiliated with the Oregon Association of Minority Entrepreneurs (OAME), and is a local chapter volunteer and organizer for the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISE).

Three Affiliated Tribes (Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara)AKANA: PLAN + DESIGN + ENGINEER + MANAGE

Marissa Ahern-Crabb
Board Director

Marissa Ahern-Crabb is a citizen of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, and the Founder and CEO of Native Roots Design and Development.

Marissa’s passion for design has been fueled by her own native roots. An entrepreneur at heart, she has dedicated her career to her lifelong vision of creating an Indigenous-led, operated, and focused design studio. Marissa graduated from the University of Colorado with a Bachelors in Environmental Design in Architecture, and from Penn State University with her Masters in Community and Economic Development. With over ten years of professional experience in design and working in Native communities, Marissa recognizes that design alone will not address the root cause of the unique challenges faced in our Native communities. Therefore, she approaches her work as a Native designer rooted in values, and with a unique integrative approach that combines environmental design and community and economic development strategies.

Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs

Direlle Calica

Board Director

Ms. Direlle R. Calica is an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, she is Warm Springs, Wasco, Yakama, and Snoqualamie tribal descent. Ms. Calica has 20-years of experience as a field, legislative, policy, planning, and regulatory advisor with the U.S. Attorney’s Office-District of Oregon, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and various Indian Tribes.

Ms. Calica has extensive professional experience in intergovernmental affairs, hydrosystem planning, resource conservation, and tribal energy policy. She has also served as a White House Intern and Mark O. Hatfield Congressional Fellow in the U.S. Senate.

Warm Springs Kanim and Associates, professional consulting firm.

Preston Eagleheart

Board Director

Preston Eagleheart is the Chief of Staff at Cayuse Technologies, located on the Umatilla Indian Reservation. Cayuse Technologies is a tribally owned, fully independent technology solution center working with multiple clients throughout the United States. The company offerings consist of business process services, IT help desk, marketing, data services, and application software development in both commercial and government sectors.

Mr. Eagleheart is an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, located in Northeast Oregon. He has over 20 years of experience in tribal government affairs, casino management, and technology ranging from business process improvement, policy, regulatory compliance, audit reporting, strategy & analysis, and project management. Mr. Eagleheart currently serves as the Past-President of the Board of Directors for the Nixyaawii Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Eagleheart received his BA in Business Administration from Eastern Washington University with emphasis in Operations Management, and an MBA from Gonzaga University with concentration in American Indian Entrepreneurship.

Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla

Riko Tannenbaum

Board Director

METRO, Procurement Services

Riko Tannenbaum is a Procurement Analyst at Metro. She has been working for Metro over 10 years and focuses on small business development programs in an effort to increase diversity in Metro’s contracting by extensive outreach and providing educational opportunities for small businesses to be successful in public contracting. Riko and Metro have been staunch supporters of the Chamber. through sincere community involvement and generously hosting several of our networking luncheons throughout the year.

Supporting minority and women owned small businesses is her biggest passion in her career, calling from her personal experience to establish a career in the U.S. to resonate with their challenges. Her approach is empathy driven and personable, helping one small business at a time.

Prior to joining Metro, Riko has a decade of experience developing her career overseas working for firms such as Procter and Gamble and an international publishing house as a project/licensing manager. She grew up in Japan and also lived in New Zealand prior to coming to the U.S. She speaks fluent Japanese and some Spanish. Due to her international background, Riko has developed a multicultural perception to provide creative solutions. She has earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics focusing on third world economic development from Portland State University, graduating with distinction. Riko lives with her husband Micha and Siberian cat Kirtan in NE Portland. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, Flamenco dancing, Yoga and mindfulness.

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