Thomas Steirer

A member of the Tonawanda band of Seneca - Turtle clan, Thomas has enjoyed a multi-faceted career focused on Native American finance and economic development. With a degree in finance, Thomas has gained the experiences of working for investment banks on Wall Street, commercial banks serving tribes, then working directly and indirectly with dozens of tribal nations throughout Indian Country as both a direct consultant, informal advisor, tribal enterprise board member, as well as entrepreneur of his own businesses.

These varied experiences have enabled Thomas to understand many of the challenges facing Indian Country and to conceptualize unique strategies in overcoming many of these challenges.

Michelle Don Carlos

Michelle is focused on legal and corporate/constitutional development in Indian Country for over 25 years. As a federal intern in Washington D.C., then to a practicing attorney licensed in California and Arizona for over 16 years, she is a courtroom litigator and founded six companies, including three non-profits. Two of these companies are schools, including Mending Souls that teaches manufacturing to meet the local needs of the hospital and schools. (Mending Souls was honored by the White House for their 120,000 items created during the 2020 pandemic global shortage.) She clerked for state judge as well as Hopi Appellate Court Justices. She also assisted Tribal Councils writing tribal codes, constitution revisions, mediations for conflict resolution, proposition consensus-building, and repatriation of artifacts, as well as grant applications. She is proud of her rescue ranch and is finishing her 4th degree specializing in American Indian issues.