928-523-7320
2025 Tribal Economic Outlook Conference
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
8:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. (Arizona Time)
Location: Virtual (Zoom)
The Tribal Economic Outlook Conference, hosted by the Center for American Indian Economic Development (CAIED), brings together tribal leaders, economic experts, and community stakeholders to discuss key economic trends, challenges, and opportunities impacting tribal communities.
Click here to view the recording.
Building Resilient Economies: Empowering Tribal Futures through Collaboration and Innovation
Event highlights
- Keynote Speaker: Insights on current state of Indian County and words of encouragement for the future.
- Tribal Leaders Panel: A discussion with distinguished leaders on current tribal economic development and the economy.
- Economic Outlook Discussion: Examining current economic conditions and future initiatives.
- Special Performance
- Focused Sessions- Covering key topics such as funding opportunities and resources for tribal economic development, childcare services, workforce development, and economic strategies
This virtual conference is free to attend, but registration is required. Whether you’re a tribal leader, business owner, policymaker, educator, or student, this event will provide valuable perspectives and actionable insights for advancing tribal economies.
Agenda
Keynote Speaker: Honorable Amelia Flores, Chairwoman – Colorado River Indian Tribe in Parker, Arizona
Topic: Insights on Current State of Indian Country and Words of Encouragement for the Future
Special Performance: NAU Students – Regina Holiday and Rametri Holiday
Rametri Holiday, B.S.B.A in Business Management, Navajo Nation
Regina Holiday, B.S. in Early Childhood Education and Special Needs, Navajo Nation
Rametri and Regina are the children of Gary Holiday and Jacqueline Gene, residing from Low Mountain, Arizona. In 2018, they enrolled at Utah State University, where they became active participants in the Cultural Ambassador Performance Program (CAPP). This program aimed to celebrate and share diverse cultural traditions, including the Navajo Basket Dance, Hoop Dance, Native Hawaiian dances, and dances from various other cultures. Through CAPP, they traveled to local events and schools, presenting cultural performances that promoted understanding and appreciation of different traditions. Currently, they are continuing their education at Northern Arizona University, where they are furthering their knowledge and skills to prepare for their future careers, with a deep commitment to honoring and sharing their cultural heritage.
Tribal Leaders Panel: Current Tribal Economic Development and the Economy
Moderator: Amber Torres, Former Chairwoman – Walker River Paiute Tribe in Schurz, Nevada
Panelists:
- Honorable Timothy Nuvangyaoma, Chairman – Hopi Tribe
- Buddy Rocha, Tribal Council Member – Yavapai Apache Nation
- Amber Torres, Former Chairwoman – Walker River Paiute Tribe
Break
Speaker: Candida Hunter, Senior Director of Tribal Affairs – First Things First
Topic: Childcare Plays a Critical Role in Our Economy
Topic: Access to Capital – Discuss Funding Opportunities and Resources for Tribal Economic Development
Moderator: Amber Torres, Former Chairwoman – Walker River Paiute Tribe
Speakers:
- Debra Mocker, Business Analyst – Coconino Community College SBDC
- Dave Castillo, CEO – Native Community Capital
- Jessica Stago, Co-Founder – Change Labs
- Robert Theobald, Small Business Ombudsman / VP of Small Business Services – Arizona Commerce Authority
- Oksana Beatty, Tribal Liaison Manager – Arizona Commerce Authority
Closing Remarks
Kathleen Frank, Program Manager – CAIED
Bios
Amelia Flores
Chairwoman, Colorado River Indian Tribes
Amelia Flores was elected Chairwoman of the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) in 2020, becoming the first woman to lead the Tribal Council. Before her election, she served as a Tribal Council member from 2013 to 2020 and held the position of Tribal Secretary twice during her tenure in 2013-2015 and 2017-2020. Under her leadership, historic legislation was passed, providing tribal sovereignty, drought relief for Arizona, and economic opportunities for CRIT. President Biden signed the bill into law in January 2023.
In 2021, she was appointed to the Arizona Governor’s Water Augmentation, Innovation, and Conservation Council and currently serves on the Governor’s Water Policy Council and Groundwater Policy Committee. She played a key role in the federal government’s decision to grant monument status to thousands of acres surrounding the Grand Canyon and was present when President Biden signed the designation in August 2023. Her contributions to environmental leadership and tribal advocacy have earned her numerous honors, including the Arizona Capitol Times Environmental Leadership Award (2021), Arizona Republic’s 2023 Arizonans of the Year, Arizona Capitol Times Timeless Icons Award (2023), and the 2024 University of Arizona Friend of the Extension Award.
Beyond her policy work, Chairwoman Flores has served as a Board Member for the Parker Unified District School Board since 2011 and has been an advocate for education, language revitalization, and cultural preservation. She holds a B.S. in Education from Northern Arizona University and a Master’s in Linguistics from the University of Arizona. A former Tribal Librarian and Archivist, she has volunteered her time serving on local, tribal, state committees, boards, and commissions in regards to libraries, archives, early childhood education, foster care, language revitalization, and the humanities. She has received many awards for her work and speaks at the regional, national and international levels about the Colorado River.
Amber Torres
Former Chairwoman, Walker River Paiute Tribe
Amber Torres is a citizen of the Walker River Paiute Tribe and has been a dedicated leader in tribal governance and advocacy for over a decade. She served on the Walker River Tribal Council from 2010 to 2023, including seven years as Tribal Chairman from 2016 to 20223. She has extensive experience working on tribal policy, economic development, and healthcare, including 13 years in Purchased Referred Care program at the Walker River Tribal Health Clinic. Amber has represented Nevada tribes on numerous boards and committees, including the Inter-Tribal Council of Nevada, the Inter-Tribal Council of Arizona Steering Committee, and the Department of the Interior’s Tribal Advisory Committee. She has contributed to national discussions on federal funding, healthcare, and economic policy impacting Native communities. Currently, she serves as the Tribal Liaison for the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, working to address food security for tribal communities, and was recently appointed to the Silver State Exchange Board to support healthcare access in Nevada.
Timothy Nuvangyaoma
Chairman, Hopi Tribe
Timothy Nuvangyaoma serves as Chairman of the Hopi Tribe and is a member of the Tobacco Clan from the Village of Mishongnovi. Born and raised on the Hopi Reservation, he attended Santa Fe Indian School in New Mexico before beginning a career in the financial sector in Phoenix, Arizona. After more than 25 years in Phoenix, he returned home to engage in community service, volunteering with local nonprofits and working with the Wildland Firefighting Program. In 2017, he was elected to a four-year term as Chairman of the Hopi Tribe and was re-elected in 2021. His leadership continues to focus on serving the Hopi people through strengthened governance, community engagement, and long-term sustainability.
Buddy Rocha
Buddy Rocha Jr., Council Member of the Yavapai-Apache Nation, is an entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience in community and economic development. A University of Arizona MBA graduate, he is dedicated to advancing Indigenous economic strategies and fostering sustainable growth within tribal communities through leadership and innovation.
Candida Hunter
Senior Director of Tribal Affairs
First Things First
Candida L. Hunter, a member of the Hualapai Tribe, serves as the Senior Director of Tribal Affairs for First Things First (FTF), Arizona’s early childhood agency. In this role, she ensures effective government-to-government relations between FTF and Arizona’s tribes, fosters collaborative partnerships, and facilitates culturally responsive early childhood services in tribal communities. Candida is a fellow of the Flinn-Brown Civic Leadership Academy and the BUILD Equity Leaders Action Network, promoting racial equity in early childhood systems. She represents FTF on the Arizona Advisory Council on Indian Health Care and serves on the Mohave Community College Governing Board. Her previous roles include Co-Chair of the Arizona Community Foundation Native American Initiative and Vice Chair of the Grand Canyon Resort Corporation Board of Directors. In 2018, she was honored with the Native American 40 Under 40 award by the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development and is recognized as a Global Leader for Young Children by the World Forum Foundation. Candida is a mother and human services professional who believes that the success of future generations begins in the early years of life.
Debra Mocker
Business Analyst, Coconino Community College SBDC
Debra Mocker is a dedicated Business Analyst at the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) of Coconino County, where she advances economic development and strengthens community engagement. In 2024, Debra assisted 225 clients, many from rural, tribal, and veteran-owned businesses, by connecting them with essential financial resources, strategic support, and entrepreneurial guidance. Passionate about creating opportunities for underserved communities, Debra has led initiatives such as the Dream Builder grant program and childcare business development projects. She collaborates with organizations like Northland Pioneer College and the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development to expand educational access and business resources for tribal entrepreneurs. Based in Page, AZ, Debra continues to develop innovative programs that empower small businesses and entrepreneurs in the region have the resources they need to succeed. Her work focuses on strengthening entrepreneurs through technical assistance, business planning, and funding access, ensuring long-term economic growth and sustainability.
Dave Castillo
CEO, Native Community Capital
Dave Castillo is the CEO of Native Community Capital (NCC), a 501c3 tax-exempt, Department of Treasury certified, Native Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and licensed mortgage bank in New Mexico and Arizona. With extensive experience across the nonprofit, tribal government, and private sectors, he has been a leader in the CDFI industry since 2009. In 2019, he played a key role in merging three independent Native CDFIs to create NCC strengthening access to capital for housing, economic development, and small business financing on tribal lands. Dave works closely with banks, public-sector agencies, foundations, and other partners to increase financial resources for Native communities. Dave is a recognized leader in economic justice and co-authored Redlining the Reservation: The Brutal Cost of Financial Services Inaccessibility in Native Communities (2023) and contributed to Creating Private Sector Economies in Native America (2019). He serves on the boards of the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, Housing Assistance Council, and Arizona Industrial Development Authority, as well as regional Native-led nonprofits. He is also a trustee for the Vitalyst Foundation and a volunteer on the Governor of Laguna Pueblo’s Housing Priority Team. Dave holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Stanford University and an MBA from Arizona State University.
Jessica M. Stago
Co-Founder Change Labs
Jessica M Stago is Bita’nii (Folded Arm) clan from the Dine Nation and born for White Mountain Apache Bis’za’ha (From the cliff) clan. She is a Co-Founder at Change Labs, an entrepreneurial support organization on the Navajo Nation, where she leads the Capital Strategies team. She also directs the Just Transition team at the Grand Canyon Trust, focusing on economic initiatives rooted in Indigenous cultural values. Jessica has dedicated her career to advancing Indigenous entrepreneurship by providing financial and technical assistance to Native-owned businesses. Through Change Labs, she has helped build financial and technical assistance programs that empower Indigenous business owners to thrive in their communities. She holds a B.S. in Economics with a Minor in American Indian Studies from Arizona State University and an MBA from the University of Phoenix.
Robert Theobald
Small Business Ombudsman / VP of Small Business Services, Arizona Commerce Authority
Robert Theobald has over 25 years’ experience in Human Resource, Operations and Multi-unit Management. Throughout his career he has helped his teams succeed through training and development. Robert has worked or studied in Spain, Argentina, Mexico and Puerto Rico. He has worked in Big Box Retail, Small Box Retail, Specialty Retail, and with franchise business owners. Robert holds a B.A. Spanish from Brigham Young University and an MBA from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University. He currently serves as the Small Business Ombudsman / VP of Small Business Services, Arizona Commerce Authority.
Oksana Beatty
Tribal Liaison Manager, Arizona Commerce Authority
Oksana Beatty, a member of the White Mountain Apache Tribe, serves as the Tribal Liaison Manager for the Arizona Commerce Authority, where she leads engagement with Arizona’s tribal communities to support economic development initiatives. In her role, she collaborates with tribal leaders, government officials, and community organizations to promote workforce development, expand broadband access, and support film and digital media projects on tribal lands. Oksana brings over 16 years of experience working with tribal nations, having previously served in roles at the Arizona Department of Education and First Things First to support early childhood education and Native families. She holds an Associate of Science in Early Childhood Education and Administration from Phoenix College and a Bachelor of Science in Family and Human Development with a minor in Early Childhood Education from Arizona State University. Her work reflects a longstanding commitment to improving opportunities and infrastructure in tribal communities across Arizona.
Kathleen Frank
Program Manager, Center for American Indian Economic Development (CAIED)
Kathleen Frank is the Program Manager for the Center for American Indian Economic Development (CAIED) at the Economic Policy Institute. She brings extensive experience in tribal affairs, higher education, and Native student advocacy. From 2011 to 2016, she served as Director of the Native American Cultural Center at Northern Arizona University (NAU), where she fostered a supportive environment for Native students and promoted cultural awareness across campus. She later served as Director of Special Projects and Alumni Relations with the Office of Native American Initiatives and as Assistant Director at the Cultural Center from 2016 to 2020. Kathleen has worked across multiple areas of NAU, including academic departments and student services, supporting Native student success and institutional engagement. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Management and a Master of Administration with a focus in Leadership from NAU. Kathleen is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation (Diné) and is originally from Dennehotso, Arizona.
Registration
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