Andy Wells
Chair, Northern Minnesota Tribal Economic Development Commission

Andy Wells is a member of the Red Lake Ojibwa Tribe and still maintains his family farm on the Red Lake Reservation. Andy graduated with a Master of Science degree from Bemidji State University in 1965 and spent 17 years teaching in public schools and Universities. During this time, he authored several text books on electronics and patented 7 new products. From 1985 to 1989 Andy served as an automation consultant to Control Data Corp. in Minneapolis, MN. In 1989, Andy began Wells Technology to manufacture industrial tools and fasteners for customers while also creating jobs for economically disadvantaged people. To serve the Native American people of Northern Minnesota, he located his business between the three reservations of Red Lake, Leech Lake, and White Earth.
In 2004, Andy realized he needed management training to grow the company beyond 12 employees. Therefore, he worked with the Fastenal Company to develop an SBA approved mentor-protégé agreement. With mentoring from Fastenal, Wells Technology developed a growth strategy by expanding manufacturing and beginning national distribution of industrial supplies. As business grew through 2007, Wells Technology had added 20 new jobs for a total of 32 employees.

However, new jobs required industrial skills that Native American people did not have. Therefore, in 2006, Andy began using profits to invest in the Native American people by creating Wells Academy, a 501c3 non-profit school for industrial training. This is an apprentice program which respects Native American cultural values while providing marketable technical skills and achieves an 84% retention rate.

Andy also supports his community through his roles on several local and state boards, community councils, economic development efforts, and as a mentor to other entrepreneurs. In 2007 Andy received the “Entrepreneur of the Year” award from the Metropolitan Economic Development Commission which is located in Minneapolis, MN. Then, in 2008, Andy received the “American Indian Business of the Year” from the National Center for American Indian Economic Development which represents all 560 tribes in America. Andy believes that success in life brings both opportunity and responsibility to do significant things to help other people.

Megan Minoka Hill
Associate Director, Honoring Nations Program, Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development

Keynote Topic: Developing Diverse Tribal Economies-The Lifeblood of Stable Sovereign Tribal Nations

Megan Minoka Hill is the Associate Director of the Honoring Nations program at the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development housed in the John F. Kennedy School of Government. Started in 1998, Honoring Nations identifies, celebrates and shares outstanding examples of tribal government initiatives that are especially effective in addressing key needs, problems and challenges facing American Indian nations.

Megan serves as the secretary/treasurer on the Board of Directors for Native Americans in Philanthropy and is a member of the Board of Directors for the Dr. Rosa Minoka Hill Fund. Previously, she was the senior program officer at the Institute of American Indian Arts: Center of Lifelong Education, the director of development for University of New Mexico's College of Arts and Sciences and the director of individual giving and major gifts for the American Indian College Fund.

Megan graduated from the University of Chicago with a Master of Arts Degree in the Social Sciences and received a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs, with an emphasis on Latin America, and Economics from the University of Colorado- Boulder. She also earned an International Baccalaureate degree from the Armand Hammer United World College of the American West.

Valerie Red-Horse
Owner and President, Red-Horse Financial Group, Inc.

Keynote Topic: Make it Happen

VALERIE RED-HORSE is owner and President of Red-Horse Financial Group, Inc. offering Securities through Western International Securities, Inc. Red-Horse has been engaged on over fifty tribal financings totaling over $2 billion dollars in transactions, including debt, equity and advisory mandates. She works with tribal nations throughout North America providing them with financing and economic development solutions, specializing in gaming, infrastructure and long term financial planning. Ms. Red-Horse has assisted tribes in financings ranging from $1 million to $500 million and has been requested to testify, as a professional expert, regarding tribal finance for both State and Federal Legislative bodies. Red-Horse earned a B.A. with Cum Laude honors from UCLA and previously was the founder and majority shareholder of Red-Horse Securities, LLC, and Native Nations Securities where she served as Chairman and CEO. She began her securities industry career in 1978 in the Investment Banking and High Yield Bond departments of Drexel Burnham Lambert. Red-Horse has been profiled in cover stories of the WALL STREET JOURNAL, FORTUNE SMALL BUSINESS and MINORITY BUSINESS ENTREPRENEUR.

She is also an award winning filmmaker, being President and founder of Red-Horse Native Productions, Inc., which has established itself as one of the preeminent Hollywood entities producing American Indian themed content with Red-Horse at the helm as director, writer and producer. The majority of Red-Horse’s projects have been produced in collaboration with Tribal Nations. Red-Horse is also the majority shareholder of Executive Specialties, an advertising specialty firm she has owned with her husband, former UCLA and NFL football player Curt Mohl, since 1984. Additionally, Ms. Red-Horse is founder of the non-profit organization H.A.P.N. (Hollywood Access Program for Natives) as well as founder/choreographer for the Bel Air Presbyterian Dance ministry, serving women in rehabilitation at the Anne Douglas Center in downtown Los Angeles. Red-Horse recently launched a new ministry working with the White Earth Community Center in Cass Lake, MN. Red-Horse was inducted into the NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners) Hall of Fame in Los Angeles on March 14th , 2008. Red-Horse serves on the National Boys and Girls Clubs Board for American Indians, has been married for 26 years and has three children.

Terrance Nelson
Chief, Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation

Keynote Topic: The Power of Tribal Partnerships

Terrance Nelson has been Chief of the Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation in Southern Manitoba, Canada since 2003. Chief Nelson is First Degree Midewiwin and is spokesperson for the Okiijida (Warrior) Society. He is on the Board of Directors of the American Indian Movement (AIM) and is also on the Board of the Tribal Councils Investment Group (TICG) of Manitoba. Chief Nelson is well-known in Canada as a political activist who is tireless in his pursuit of economic development for his community as well as Federal accountability for Treaty rights and the sharing of Canadian’s natural resources. The Chief has traveled extensively and is a published author. He has also been involved in producing a number of videos which highlight the plight of Canadian aboriginals as well as the people of Iraq.

Allan McLeod
Tribal Council Investment Group Ltd.

Keynote Topic: The Power of Tribal Partnerships

Allan McLeod is the President and CEO of Tribal Councils Investment Group of Manitoba Ltd. (TCIG) and of Arctic Beverages Limited, the 2007 Pepsi Canada Bottler of the Year, which was recently nominated as one of four finalists for Pepsi-Cola’s Donald M. Kendall Bottler of the Year Award—the highest honor bestowed in the Pepsi system. He is President and CEO of First Canadian Health Management Corporation Inc., First Canadian Fuels Ltd., and the Radisson Hotel in Winnipeg, all companies wholly owned or 51% owned by TCIG and is a Director of Exchange Industrial Income Funds, Artis REIT, First Canadian Water and Infrastructure and Tribal Marketing Communications Inc. In 2003, Allan was honored with the Top 40 under 40 awards, a Canadian national award presented to individuals under 40 years of age who are outstanding young leaders of today and tomorrow. Allan has been recognized by the Winnipeg Free Press as one of the 30 most powerful Manitobans.

Allan is married to Karen and together they are raising two beautiful children.

Amy Luz
President/CEO, Microenterprise Network Group

Keynote Topic: Building Self-Sufficiency Through Small Business Development

Amy McKenna Luz brings over two decades of organization leadership focused on every area of strategic resource development -- financial, membership, board, volunteer and staff. She currently serves as President & CEO of the Association for Enterprise Opportunity in suburban Washington, DC. AEO is the national leadership organization dedicated to advancing the microenterprise movement in the USA which has served over one million entrepreneurs.

Previously she was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer-Global for The Aidmatrix Foundation, Dallas, Texas and Chief Operating Officer of the National Sleep Foundation in Washington, DC. She served as National Director, Donor Development for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society as well as Managing Director for Plan International in Washington.

Luz said, "AEO's dedicated leadership and committed membership are making significant and important contributions to the lives of tens of thousands of families and their communities as a hand-up, not a hand-out. The microenterprise/microfinance movement is coming of age nationally and in the developing world and AEO is positioned at the forefront. I am thrilled to be a part of it as a winning strategy to defeat poverty and catalyze economic development for underserved people who might not otherwise have the resources to reach for the dream of inclusive prosperity through entrepreneurship."

Miko Beasley Denson
Tribal Chief, Mississippi Band of Choctaw

Keynote Topic:

Miko Beasley Denson was born in the Conehatta Community and raised in the Standing Pine Community. Miko, the Choctaw term for leader, graduated from Choctaw Central High School and completed his postsecondary education at Hinds Community College and Mississippi State University. A fluent Choctaw speaker, Miko Denson served on the Tribal Council for five years in the capacities of both Secretary Treasurer and Vice-Chief. His participation within the Tribal government is extensive. He has served on numerous boards most notably, the Choctaw Housing Authority Board for ten years, the Tribal School Board for eight years, the Choctaw Credit Union Board for two years, the Choctaw Gaming Commission Board for two years, the Board of Directors for Chahta Wire Harness, the Choctaw Development Enterprise Board, the Choctaw Manufacturing Enterprise Board, and the Choctaw Utility Commission. He also acquired positions on the National Indian Education Board and the Board of Directors for the United South and Eastern Tribes.

Miko Denson now serves as the third democratically elected Chief since the adoption of the modern constitution. He has a great passion for improving the quality of life on the reservation. He is working tirelessly to reduce the back log of tribal housing, to improve the health care system, and to upgrade the Tribe's educational facilities. His priorities are to provide more opportunities for tribal members, to enforce Indian preference policies, and to be an open, accessible leader.