Our Leadership

In addition to serving as NCN’s CEO/Chairperson, Pete Upton (Ponca Tribe of Nebraska) is the Executive Director of Native360 Loan Fund, a certified Native Community Development Financial Institution that focuses on entrepreneurship and financial literacy development for Native Americans. Mr. Upton has been involved with the Native CDFI Network since it was a grassroots movement. From 2011-2012, he served on the steering committee that was instrumental in the Native CDFI Network’s initial organizational development steps. In 2012, Mr. Upton became a founding board member and served as the Chairperson for the Peer Learning Committee.

In 2023, Upton led the Native CDFI Network in a groundbreaking effort to catalyze clean energy infrastructure development in Native communities nationwide. The Native CDFI Network, in a historic bid, submitted a comprehensive application to the Clean Communities Investment Accelerator, seeking several hundred million dollars to finance clean energy projects in Native communities through a collaborative effort involving 63 certified Native community development financial institutions and other qualified lenders across all 10 EPA regions.

Serving as Executive Director of Native360 Loan Fund since 2011, Mr. Upton has built the organization from its start-up phase into a successful lending organization that continues to experience growth while ever increasing its community impact. As Native360 serves Native communities in three states, Mr. Upton understands the challenges of serving both rural and urban areas in various different jurisdictions. He values strong networks and cultivates partnerships to deliver technical assistance throughout a vast service area. Mr. Upton is a powerful advocate for equal access to capital.

As CFO, Alex Mendoza (Makah Tribe of Washington) plays a strategic role in overseeing the financial health and operational sustainability of the organization. This position involves managing financial planning, budgeting, and compliance, while supporting initiatives that drive economic empowerment within Native communities.
 
Alex’s professional experience spans the public and private sectors, including for-profit and nonprofit organizations. Alex has dedicated over 16 years of his career focusing on partnerships, programs, and incentives that promote economic inclusion and create positive outcomes in historically underserved communities. Throughout his career, Alex has been passionate about amplifying the voices of Native communities and looks forward to bringing his passion and experience to NCN.
 
Prior to joining NCN, Alex served as the Director of Structured Finance at IFF, a certified CDFI that provides leadership, capital, and real estate solutions to nonprofits throughout the Midwest. In this role, Alex was primarily responsible for asset management and compliance related to the organization’s New Markets Tax Credit allocations. Alex also served as a Financial Analyst & Compliance Officer at the CDFI Fund in Washington DC, and as a Senior Consultant at Deloitte Tax LLP in Chicago.
 
Alex holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the University of Washington and a Master of Science in Accountancy from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Stephanie Prater serves as Native CDFI Network’s Senior Financial Manager. In this role, she is responsible for managing day-to-day financial operations (including budgeting, financial reporting, and compliance), supporting strategic financial planning, and ensuring robust financial infrastructure.
 
Stephanie lives in Saint Paul, Nebraska with her husband and little girl. She has a BA in Psychology from National University in La Jolla California. Before joining NCN she worked as a Senior Accountant at a tax firm in Central Nebraska. She brings expertise in accounting, financial planning, and business management. Her experience provides NCN with the internal infrastructure needed to continue to help grow the organization to better serve the native communities. Her goal includes helping NCN reach native communities to get the financial support they need to be able to grow and thrive in an ever-changing environment.

Kristen Wagner serves as the Native CDFI Network’s National Program Director. In this role, Wagner manages NCN-funded programs, NCN Membership Programs, and oversees the design and delivery of capacity-building supports to NCN members. Dr. Wagner built her 25-year career with a commitment to building more equitable economies in Native communities across the country and Indigenous communities globally.

Wagner holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of North Dakota and a Master’s degree and Ph.D. in Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis. Her work has taken the form of research, program design and implementation, policy advocacy, and leadership training.

In addition, she spent the past 15 years in classroom settings, individual mentoring relationships, and as a consultant providing organizational management support and training to asset-building practitioners and advocates to support economic equity in their workplaces, community decision-making processes, and broader institutional systems.Through these experiences, Dr. Wagner understands the day-to-day experiences and challenges organizations face delivering asset-building programs in Indian Country.

Jodi Fischer (Wyandotte Tribe of Oklahoma) serves as CCIA Regional Coordinator for Native CDFI Network.

Fischer graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education Studies-Elementary Education from Western Governor’s University and holds certificates in Grant Writing, Business Management, and Business Leadership. She is also a certified HUD housing counselor and is certified in many educational curriculums including Indianprenuership and Pathways Home.

Ms. Fischer has spent nearly 10 years in education and customer service roles, and remains committed to helping shape the future in her new role with NCN. She has worked as the head of education and lending in a Wisconsin Native CDFI in addition to work as a consultant to provide guidance and support to Native CDFIs and Native Communities. She looks forward to the opportunity to work with more NCDFIs through the CCIA funds.

Luke Robinson (Northern Cheyenne Tribe of Montana) serves as CCIA Regional Coordinator for the Native CDFI Network. He works closely with Native CDFIs, community stakeholders, and other partners to promote clean energy investments within Native communities.

He holds an MBA from the University of Montana and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Fort Lewis College in Colorado. His background includes nonprofit economic development, overseeing the Montana Indian Equity Fund Small Business Grant, commercial lending, and Tribal relations. Luke is passionate about supporting Native American businesses. He was recently accepted into Leadership Montana, a program that strengthens leadership skills while fostering personal growth and reflection.

Luke understands that each tribal community faces unique obstacles and has its own needs and objectives for the future. He knows the importance of having great partnerships with CDFI leaders, tribal governments, and other partners is critical in helping Native American communities thrive. He enjoys seeing everyone working together to create a brighter future for all.