Waséyabek

06/25/2026

We’re hiring!

Waséyabek is seeking a Director of Finance in the corporate office in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Join a passionate team who is dedicated to preserving the sovereignty of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi and making a difference in Indian Country. The ideal candidate will bring experience across diverse portfolios – including federal operations – and be ready to make an impact.

Learn more about the position and apply now through our Career Center!

https://lnkd.in/gDfJHvUq

06/24/2026

As Deidra Mitchell prepares to close an extraordinary chapter at Waséyabek at the end of 2026, it’s hard to overstate the impact of her leadership over the past decade.

When Deidra stepped into the role in 2016, Waséyabek was an emerging vision. Today, it represents a thriving, diversified portfolio with full or majority ownership of more than 30 legal entities, employing over 900 people across the U.S. Along the way, she helped build a dynamic investment platform that spans industries – from advanced manufacturing and defense to healthcare, real estate, business advisory services, and beyond.

But the numbers only tell part of the story.

Deidra built more than a portfolio – she built an incredibly strong foundation. She established the systems, culture, and strategic discipline that turned Waséyabek into a respected, forward-looking economic development engine that is recognized throughout Indian Country. Her leadership has played a critical role in strengthening long-term economic sustainability and advancing the sovereignty of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi.

Over the years, Deidra has also become a respected voice in the region and beyond – earning recognition from Crain’s Grand Rapids Business as a Woman of Influence and as one of West Michigan’s most impactful business leaders.

As she looks ahead to a well-earned period of rest and time with family, her legacy is firmly established – not just in the growth of Waséyabek, but in the opportunities it will continue to create for generations.

Thank you to Crain's Grand Rapids Business and Mark Sanchez for highlighting this important milestone and capturing the story behind such a remarkable run.

Deidra, your leadership has set the standard – and your impact will be felt for years to come.

Full story: https://www.crainsgrandrapids.com/banking-finance/cgr-waseyabek-ceo-deidra-mitchell-leaving-20260624/

06/23/2026

Next up in our summer intern spotlight series, we have Jenna Rios, graduate student at Arizona State University and HR Intern!

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗪𝗮𝘀𝗲́𝘆𝗮𝗯𝗲𝗸?

I am looking forward to learning more about the company and its Tribal engagement efforts. As a Member of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, I am excited to contribute to the Tribe and Indian Country as a whole by providing research that will help further develop Tribal employment and development practices.

I am eager to learn more about Waséyabek and its subsidiaries through the Leadership Exploration and Development (LEAD) Program that I am participating in this summer in addition to the internship. Throughout the summer, I hope to continue to grow personally and professionally. Additionally, I aspire to offer a unique perspective as a young indigenous person by actively engaging in conversations and contributing to projects.

Lastly, I am excited to connect with the Waséyabek team and the surrounding community here in Grand Rapids. I am beyond grateful for this opportunity and I am happy to be a part of this year’s summer intern cohort!

06/19/2026

🚆 Big news for growth in West Michigan!

Earlier this week, CSX recognized Waséyabek’s Mshiké Industrial Complex in Holland, Michigan, as a Bronze Select Site – the first designation of its kind in the state. This program connects companies with high-quality, rail-served properties primed for development and expansion.

"This land, and its proximity to rail and highway transportation lines, provides an opportunity for exponential growth for businesses and the Tribal community," said Waséyabek President & CEO Deidra Mitchell.

Deidra accepted the Select Site commemorative plaque alongside Board Chair Chris Rogers, marking a meaningful milestone for the Mshiké property.

This recognition highlights the growing economic opportunities created for the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, as well as the continued strengthening of NHBP sovereignty through strategic acquisitions and expansion.

Read more here: https://waseyabek.com/waseyabek-property-touted-national-railway-company-key-economic-development-loctation/

06/18/2026

Ahead of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi's annual Pow Wow on June 20 and 21, 13 On Your Side featured a story on this year's theme, "Honoring Our Elders."

NHBP's Pow Wow is open to the public. The Tribe encourages those who are interested to head to the Pine Creek Indian Reservation this weekend to experience an important Tribal event.

The Nottawaseppi Huron Band is preparing to welcome hundreds this weekend for its annual Pow Wow celebrating culture, community and tradition.

06/17/2026

Since the Leadership Exploration and Development (LEAD) Program kicked off last month, our participants have visited several of Waséyabek’s portfolio companies to take an in-depth look at the people and places that continue to protect the sovereignty of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi.

SAFARI Circuits LLC hosted the first site visit. LEAD participants toured Safari's Otsego facility, engaged in business discussion with executives, and learned to solder.

Baker Engineering LLC. hosted the second site visit, where company leadership showcased their Power & Propulsion Center of Excellence along with current projects. The Baker team also held open discussion time for LEAD participants to ask questions about their work.

Finally, at Zip Xpress and Green Transportation, leadership offered a history of the businesses and a deep look into company operations. The LEAD group took a tour of both facilities and got an up-close look at a new tractor.

Thank you to all the portfolio companies for their continued dedication to NHBP and for their willingness to open their spaces for this year's LEAD cohort!

06/16/2026

Our next intern spotlight is Carolyn Hoemann. Carolyn is one of two Legal interns we have this summer and a JD Candidate at Loyola University Chicago School of Law.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗪𝗮𝘀𝗲́𝘆𝗮𝗯𝗲𝗸?

I am excited to be at a mission-driven organization that offers excellent training across multiple areas of the law. Waséyabek also provides great mentorship to learn how all of the details come together in the bigger picture.

My professional background before law school was in public health policy. Through that work, I learned that economic opportunity, self-determination, and community health and well-being are closely connected. Waséyabek’s work promotes economic growth and tribal sovereignty for the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, which creates positive impacts that extend far beyond Waséyabek’s everyday operations. I could not be more excited to contribute to the important work they do!

06/09/2026

Our second summer intern spotlight is Korbin TenBrink, IT intern from Grand Valley State University and Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Tribal Member.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗪𝗮𝘀𝗲́𝘆𝗮𝗯𝗲𝗸?

During my time at Waséyabek, I’m looking forward to not only growing my knowledge within the Information Technology field but also growing my network and connection with others that work within Waséyabek and the portfolio companies. I’m also looking forward to getting real-world experience in the IT and Cybersecurity field.

I’m most excited to get hands-on experience with setting up hardware if the opportunity comes during my time as an intern. Also, I’m very interested in getting to know the people that are in the IT Department at Waséyabek and how they take on certain situations. I also would like to learn/contribute from their way of solving these problems.

Another thing I’m excited to explore at Waséyabek is the number of different tasks to learn and getting exposure to a lot of new things, which will allow me to use that experience in interviews or future job roles.

Lastly, I’m excited to help the IT team as much as I can, to where at the end of my internship, I can do the things that I learned during my time here on my own. Then, when those situations occur in the future, I will be able to handle them on my own or teach it others how to do it.

06/02/2026

This May, we welcomed five summer interns to the Waséyabek team. We'll spotlight each one over the course of the next several weeks! First up is Gabriel Ohngren, Legal Intern from Wayne State University Law School.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗪𝗮𝘀𝗲́𝘆𝗮𝗯𝗲𝗸?

Supporting Waséyabek in their mission to foster sustainable economic growth and diversification for the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi.

Coming to law school from my own Tribe (Chippewas of the Thames First Nation), I knew that I wanted to do something to support other Tribal Nations and Tribal sovereignty. Waséyabek offered the opportunity to meaningfully contribute to both of those goals at the forefront of a quickly growing area of law as Tribes increasingly focus on non-gaming economic development. I am also looking forward to exploring the intersection between Federal Indian Law and the many other areas of law that Waséyabek engages with.

05/22/2026

“What would I want to know as a Tribal Member about what Waséyabek is doing, and what’s next?” - Jessi Goldner, Vice President of Strategic Engagement at Waséyabek.

Heading out for Memorial Day? We've got the perfect travel companion for you – the latest episode of the Tribal Economic Development podcast. Jessi Goldner joins Deidra Mitchell and Erika Weiss to discuss the critical nature of establishing a deep connection between the Tribe and its non-gaming economic development arm, including how nurturing such a connection leads to portfolio growth and widespread acclaim for the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi and Waséyabek’s efforts across Indian Country.

👉Access the full episode now: https://waseyabek.com/tribal-economic-development-episode-11-connections-collaborations-strategic-engagement-jessi-goldner/