NAFOA in Transition Due to Executive Director’s Resignation

Experienced Tribal Leader Susan Masten Selected for Interim Position

Friday, June 2, 2023

Written by Ace Agoyo

indians com

WASHINGTON, DC — Indian Country’s oldest and largest financial institution is undergoing a transformation following the departure of a managing director who has been in office for less than two years. In Thursday’s news release, NAFOA Announces Nationwide Search for the new director. There was no mention of Richard “Rico” Frias, who joined the organization in July 2021, or details about his departure. “We would like to respect Rico Frias’ privacy regarding his withdrawal from NAFOA,” a spokesperson for the group told Indians.com after being asked about the circumstances of the announcement. But Frias’ replacement, at least for now, is an experienced and well-known tribal leader.Former Chairman Susan Masten Yurok tribe and former president American Indian National Congress NAFOA said (NCAI) is serving as the “interim” secretary general.

“We are confident that she will lead NAFOA in a strong and sustainable direction.” The NAFOA board has appointed former Yurok tribe leader Susan Masten as the organization’s new interim executive director. https://t.co/A4pkfVNfsP

—NAFOA (@nafoaorg) June 1, 2023

“Her years of leadership experience and practical knowledge of Indian country will be of great benefit to the organization,” said Valene Martin, first vice president of NAFOA and a resident of the Tolotorocco Tribal Town. Tribal law and policy experts in the capital welcomed Masten’s arrival at NAFOA, albeit temporarily. “Sue Masten is the greatest,” one tribal advocate told Indiaz.Com of her decades-long work on sovereignty, economic development and other important issues. The person spoke on condition of anonymity so as not to obscure official statements from the NAFOA leadership. “She should keep her on,” the same source said. Frias did not respond to a request for comment on Thursday. But three officials who have done business with NAFOA in recent weeks spoke of apparent tensions between former officials and a board of tribal leaders from across the Indians. According to a person who attended a meeting with NAFOA, Frias complained that she “didn’t really get anything done” at NAFOA, even though she was the executive director. It is said that The source said he explained her long process of achieving her goals. Another official said she ran into trouble after Frias suggested ways to cut NAFOA’s travel-related expenses. The tribal advocate said the idea was quickly dismissed as going against the organization’s mission to serve tribes across the country. A third official said tensions between Frias and the board appeared to be reaching a peak during NAFOA’s recent meeting in Washington, DC. Attended by more than 800 tribal leaders and financial experts, the conference will run from April 23-25 ​​and discuss economic development, finance, tax, employment and other important issues.

Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada), a member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, discussed at NAFOA’s 41st Annual Conference how the Native American Tax Parity and Relief Act is fair to Indian nations. Explain what causes sexuality.

more:https://t.co/BevHhGPULY@nafoaorg #NAFOA2023 @SenCortezMasto pic.twitter.com/lEMoClv6qD

— Indians.com (@indianz) April 25, 2023

Sure enough, within a few weeks of this fruitful event, Frias and the board parted ways. Staff members were informed that Mr. Frias would be leaving the organization as early as May 22nd or 23rd, according to people familiar with the discussions. The NAFOA Board of Directors will announce details of the nationwide Director General search in the near future. A spokeswoman for NAFOA said, “The board is responsible for recruiting and hiring senior executive officers.” “Announcements regarding this role and its responsibilities will be made public on our website in the coming months.” Mastens celebrated his first official day as interim managing director on Thursday. Prior to that, she had already addressed NAFOA staff at a virtual conference. “I am honored to be entrusted with this very important role by the Board of Directors,” Masten said in the NAFOA announcement. “We look forward to working with the NAFOA Board, member tribes, staff, Commonwealth and corporate partners to ensure we meet today’s challenges and capitalize on the opportunities to ensure economic and financial success across India. We are doing it,” he said. Masten. In addition to representing his tribes and the NCAI, the nation’s largest intertribal advocacy group, Mr. Masten has served as vice president of the Intertribal Watch Association for the Indian Trust Fund and chairman of the National Trust Reform Task. rice field. As Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Indian Legal Resource Centre, Mr. National Center for Native American Enterprise Development, another economic development organization. In his hometown of Northern California, Masten has held numerous leadership roles, including a member of the Humboldt County Planning Commission and president of the Klamath Chamber of Commerce. This represents her status as a local business owner. She also served on the Dell She-Norte County Board of Supervisors. term of office. First Vice President Martin said of Masten, “I am confident that she will lead NAFOA in a strong and sustainable direction.”

Hundreds of attendees fill the exhibit floors and corridors of the Renaissance Hotel as NAFOA hosts its 41st Annual Conference in Washington, DC. @nafoaorg #NAFOA2023 #DC #NativesInDC pic.twitter.com/pofqv7v4CF

— Indians.com (@indianz) April 24, 2023

NAFOA was founded in 1982 as the Native American Association of Financial Officers. The organization boasts an all-female leadership board, and in addition to Martin, Oneida Her Nation’s Christina Danforth serves as President and Lumination’s Serena Fair serves as Vice-President. president respectively. Amy Minia of the Pechanga Band of Indians is also on the board and assumed the post of treasurer at the NAFOA meeting in April. Melanie Benjamin of Ojibwa’s Mill Rack Band is the organization’s secretary. The number of NAFOA is now more than 150 Tribal government as a member. Since Frias arrived about two years ago, the organization has grown in member tribes. NAFOA’s next major event will be Autumn Finance and Tribal Economic Conference. The meeting will be held October 2nd and 3rd at the Gila River Indian Community near Phoenix, Arizona.

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