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What does it look like when a Tribally-owned enterprise deliberately goes off the reservation to generate economic returns for its Nation? Austin Tsosie, CEO of Diné Development Corporation (DDC) — the Navajo Nation's 8A federal contracting arm — joins host Wes Benally to answer exactly that. Over 21 years, DDC has grown from a council-inspired idea to a mid-tier federal IT powerhouse operating in 30 states and five countries with over 700 employees. Austin shares the thinking behind DDC's diversification strategy, their bold AI-first approach that tripled proposal output, the Navajo Career Pathways Program and Navajo Leadership Academy, and how DDC defines success beyond the bottom line.

Is your Tribal enterprise looking to build sustainable economic development strategies and strengthen organizational governance? Reach out to REDW's Tribal advisory team to learn how our trusted advisors support Tribal Nations in building lasting financial and operational strength.

Chapters

• 00:00 - Introduction to Austin Tsosie and Diné Development Corporation
• 02:30 - DDC's Mission: Off-Reservation Federal Contracting for the Navajo Nation
• 05:00 - Diversifying Across IT, Environmental Engineering, and Professional Services
• 08:45 - Embracing AI: DDC's AI-First Strategy and 20+ Custom AI Enablers
• 12:50 - Hiring Navajo Talent: Challenges and the Navajo Career Pathways Program
• 16:20 - The Navajo Leadership Academy: Building Future Board Members
• 18:40 - Measuring Success: Beyond Revenue to Community Contribution
• 22:10 - The Reservation Economic Summit and Trusted Tribal Partnerships

Takeaways

• DDC was created by the Navajo Nation Council to separate business from politics and pursue federal contracts off-reservation — generating revenue and bringing it home for Tribal economic development.
• Deliberate diversification across IT services, environmental engineering, and professional services helps DDC navigate shifts in government spending across administrations.
• DDC has adopted an AI-first strategy company-wide — deploying 20+ AI enablers and increasing proposal output by 2.5 to 3x, enabling the organization to respond to over $1 billion in proposals in a single year.
• Building a Navajo workforce in federal contracting requires intentional programming; DDC's Navajo Career Pathways Program and Navajo Leadership Academy are actively addressing talent development and governance pipeline challenges.
• DDC measures success not only in financial metrics but in contributions to the Navajo economy — including jobs, dividends, partnerships with Navajo businesses, and culturally significant milestones like the Navajo Code Talker building in Dayton, Ohio.

REDW Advisors and CPAs is proud to bring you the Insight in Indian Country Podcast, covering important advisory, accounting, and finance topics that impact Tribal Nations and business affairs. Thanks for listening!

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In honor of Native American Heritage Month, REDW Principal and National Tribal Practice Leader Wes Benally sits down with Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear of the Osage Nation for a profound conversation about leadership, cultural respect, and the journey that shaped one of Indian Country's most experienced leaders.

Chief Standing Bear, now in his third term as Osage Nation Principal Chief, shares his remarkable path from University of Oklahoma law student during the American Indian Movement era to becoming general counsel of the Muscogee Creek Nation in his late twenties. He recounts his involvement in filing the first federal Indian gaming case in Oklahoma in November 1984, his work with multiple Tribes, and his service as General Counsel to the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association. The conversation explores the cultural teachings that guide his leadership, the importance of humility and surrounding yourself with experienced advisors, and the critical need to understand and respect each Tribe's unique sovereignty, traditions, and ways of connecting with the sacred.

Chapters

• 00:00 - Introduction and Welcome
• 01:25 - The Path to Leadership
• 02:53 - University Days and the American Indian Movement
• 05:03 - Law School and Early Career
• 07:22 - The First Indian Gaming Cases in Oklahoma
• 09:12 - Cultural Teachings and Finding Your Way Home
• 15:32 - Building the Osage Nation
• 21:45 - Economic Development and Diversification
• 28:18 - Healthcare and Community Services
• 35:45 - Election Integrity and Tribal Governance
• 40:45 - Respect First

A Message for Native American Heritage Month - As we celebrate Native American Heritage Month, Chief Standing Bear's wisdom reminds us that true partnership with Indian Country begins with genuine respect and understanding. Each Tribal Nation has its own constitution, culture, and sacred traditions that deserve our time and attention to learn about properly. Whether you're a business advisor, service provider, or community partner, remember that you're entering their country and are there to help—not to impose. This kind of respect, paired with REDW's deep commitment to serving Tribal Nations with integrity and cultural understanding, creates the foundation for meaningful, lasting partnerships.

REDW Advisors and CPAs is proud to bring you the Insight in Indian Country Podcast, covering important advisory, accounting, and finance topics that impact Tribal Nations and business affairs. Thanks for listening!

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Sage Memorial Hospital's journey from a four-room adobe building in 1911 to a state-of-the-art healthcare facility represents more than a century of serving the Ganado community. This episode, REDW National Tribal Practice Leader Wes Benally welcomes Melinda White, CEO of Sage Memorial Hospital, to discuss the hospital's remarkable transformation and its commitment to blending Western medicine with traditional Navajo healing practices.

Melinda, who was born at Sage and returned as CEO three years ago, shares how the hospital is redefining healthcare in Indian Country—from building sweat lodges and hiring traditional healers to implementing cutting-edge technology and expanding critical services like ICU, dialysis, and elder care. She discusses workforce challenges, the importance of keeping patients close to home, and the vision for continued growth while maintaining the strong foundation of traditional values.

Chapters

• 00:00 - Introduction and Welcome
• 01:03 - Melinda's Background and Connection to Sage Memorial Hospital
• 03:54 - The History: From 1911 Mission to Modern Healthcare
• 08:47 - Incorporating Traditional Values in Modern Care
• 12:34 - Innovation and Modernizing Healthcare Delivery
• 15:55 - Workforce Challenges and Hiring the Right People
• 19:49 - Patient Stories and Keeping Families Closer to Home
• 23:16 - Measuring Success: KPIs and Quality Indicators
• 26:55 - Vision for the Next 5-10 Years

Takeaways

• At Sage Memorial Hospital, traditional healing programs, including sweat lodges, medicine men/women, and future hooghan construction, are being integrated with Western medical care.
• The new facility achieved a complete transition to paperless operations with comprehensive electronic health records encompassing clinical and financial systems.
• Key expansion services include ICU, inpatient dialysis, swing beds, elder care facilities, and future plans for labor and delivery and surgical units.
• The hospital's core mission focuses on reducing patient transfers and keeping families closer to home, lessening the financial and emotional burden of traveling to distant facilities.
• Quality initiatives are measured through hospital-wide KPIs across four pillars: finance, community, people (HR), and quality.

Quality Services. Quality Outcomes.
REDW was honored to support Sage Memorial Hospital's transformation through our Client Advisory and Accounting Services (CAAS), Business Valuation, and Risk Advisory expertise. This journey demonstrates a powerful truth: investing in quality advisory services yields the best return. If your tribal healthcare organization is navigating growth or transformation, our team is here to help.

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REDW Advisors and CPAs is proud to bring you the Insight in Indian Country Podcast, covering important advisory, accounting, and finance topics that impact Tribal Nations and business affairs. Thanks for listening!

👉 Visit our website