Tribal Operations Manager : David ThunderEagle

The Tribal Operations Manager position with the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi is much like being a City Manager working for a City Council. I am the current Tribal Operations Manager who began serving the Tribal Council in December of 2002. Prior to becoming the tribe’s lead administrator, I enjoyed over thirty years experience of working with many other tribes and tribal organizations in Washington, Idaho and Alaska. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education from Eastern Washington University, I began a thirty-year career working exclusively for Indian tribes and tribal organizations. I have worked as a schoolteacher on the Colville Indian Reservation in Washington State, the Manager of Indian Education for the Spokane School District, the Executive Director of the American Indian Community Center in Spokane and the Executive Director of the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho. I have also worked as an Adult Education Teacher, College Instructor at two Universities, a Tribal Planner and as the Executive Planner for a tribal health corporation. I also lived and worked in Alaska for seventeen years where I was last employed as the Vice President of Programs for Cook Inlet Tribal Council serving 6,800 tribal members plus an additional 20,000 Native Americans in the service area before moving to Michigan.

I am a Karuk Indian of California and also German, Swiss and Portuguese. My educational background, work experience in Indian Country, and life experience of Indian culture has prepared me well to perform the variety of functions needed to operate tribal government programs, such as economic development, education, health, social services, housing and planning.

I have been happily married for twenty-nine years to Diana, who is a member of the Chickasaw Tribe. My son Nathan, 26 and son Brian, 24 are both working in housing construction. Cheniah, 18, my daughter, attends Portage Central High School and will attend Western Michigan University next year.

My family and I enjoy camping, hiking, home remodeling projects, swimming, music and relaxing by the pool. I also enjoy reading and gourmet cooking when I have the time.

Contact Information:
David ThunderEagle
Tribal Operations Manager
269-729-5151
dthundereagle@nhbpi.com

Tribal Executive Planner : Dan Green

My career with the Tribe started in 1999 after I graduated from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies. 4 years of studies, a distance learning trip to the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Montana and a summer in Arizona working for the U.S. Forest Service shaped my perception of the environment and gave me a real sense of appreciation. For 2 years with the Tribe I administered Environmental projects targeting wetlands and environmental regulatory development. From there I switched gears to provide grant writing services within the Health Department. Then, in 2003 my job evolved to include program development for both the Health Department and other departments and areas of need within the Tribe. Currently, I am the Executive Planner for the Tribe.

I have two Daughters; Noa (5), Avery (2), and have been married for 6 years to my wife, Annie. I love to watch and play baseball and enjoy camping on the weekends with friends and family.

Contact Information:
Dan Green
Tribal Executive Planner
269-729-5151
dgreen@nhbp.org