WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Native CDFI Network (NCN) celebrated and acknowledged Natalie Charley’s service to the NCN as a Board Director and accepted her resignation as her career progresses. NCN also welcomed Dave Tovey, the Executive Director of the Nixyaawii Community Financial Services, and a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation to serve the remainder of Ms. Charley’s board term.
Ms. Charley is stepping down to pursue additional growth opportunities and will remain affiliated with the Taala Fund and will support other Native CDFIs in the Northwest. “Natalie has served the NCN members admirably for several years and we will miss her strong voice of reason,” stated NCN Board Chairman Pete Upton. “Natalie proudly volunteered her service to the Native CDFI Network. We say ahxé’ee’ – thank you for your service, Natalie. We look forward to your continued leadership for economic and financial justice for Indian Country” added NCN Executive Director, Jackson Brossy.
Like Natalie, Dave has a wealth of experience in tribal economic development and is also the former executive director for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation in northeast Oregon. He has also served in top executive roles with the Siletz Tribal Business Corporation, Cayuse Technologies, the Coquille Indian Tribe, and the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians Economic Development Corporation (ATNI-EDC). He was named Economic Development Leader of the Year for the State of Oregon by former Governor John Kitzhaber in 2001 and currently serves on the boards of two CDFI’s—the President of the ATNI-EDC and the Secretary/Treasurer of the Indian Land Capital Company. Pete Upton noted, “Dave has so much experience in economic development in Indian Country and we are looking forward working closely with him.” Jackson Brossy added, “we have been blessed with many great leaders in the Native CDFI movement and we are fortunate to welcome Dave to the Board.”
Tovey launched Nixyaawii Community Financial Services as a nonprofit, one-stop financial services source for the Umatilla Reservation’s residents during the pandemic. Nixyaawii Community Financial Services provides loans, home ownership assistance, business development services, and youth and adult financial education to members of the Umatilla Tribes and reservation residents.
As envisioned in 2009, the Native CDFI Network is led by a Board of Directors which 100% comprised of executives of member Native CDFIs from across the country.
More information on the Taala Fund can be found at:
https://www.facebook.com/Taala.Fund/
More information on Nixyaawii Community Financial Services can be found at:
https://www.nixyaawii-cdfi.org
PDF version here.