Tribal Board Governance Academy
Ak-Chin Indian Community Conference Center, Room 544
Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law
Draft Agenda
September 24 – Room 544
8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. | Arrival & Check-In
Check-In on the 5th floor lobby.
8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. | Networking Breakfast
Join us to open with purpose, clear direction, and immediate impact. We’ll welcome you, set the frame, and state the training’s objective upfront—no filler, no guesswork. Then we turn directly to your goals and expectations, aligning every session outcome to what you need to achieve. Walk in clear. Walk out aligned and ready to act.
- Welcome, Introductions, and Framing
- Purpose of the training
- Participant goals and expectations
9:00 a.m. – 9:55 a.m. | Fundamentals of Governance
Patty Ferguson Bohnee
Associate Dean for Inclusive Excellence; Charles M. Brewer Professor of Trial Advocacy
Faculty Director, Indian Legal Program; Director, Indian Legal Clinic, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law
Brian Garcia
Arizona State Representative
This session clarifies exactly where your board’s authority ends and staff’s execution begins. You will master your core legal duties and translate them into action. We cut through the clutter to show you what effective boards actually do: govern strategically, not micromanage operationally. Walk away with clear boundaries, sharper accountability, and a framework that stops role confusion before it starts.
- Understand core board duties, including care, loyalty, and obedience.
- Clarify the distinct responsibilities of board members and staff.
- Learn how effective boards provide oversight, direction, and accountability.
- Ethics for Board Members
10:00 a.m. – 10:55 a.m. | Board Leadership in a Tribal Context
‘Láaganaay Tsiits Git’anee
Vice President, Organized Village of Kake Tribal Council
Strengthen your board’s ability to lead with clarity, accountability, and respect for community relationships. This session focuses on navigating conflicts of interest, balancing political and community dynamics, and building trust within the board.
- Address conflicts of interest with transparency and fairness.
- Navigate community and political relationships while protecting board integrity.
- Build trust, accountability, and respectful communication within the board.
11:00 a.m. – 11:55 a.m. | Strategic Oversight
AC Locklear
Chief Executive Officer, National Indian Health Board
Help your board move from day-to-day decision-making to long-term strategic leadership. This session focuses on setting clear priorities, aligning the organization’s mission with community needs, and defining practical next steps for impact.
- Set clear direction and priorities for effective board oversight.
- Align organizational goals with community needs and long-term impact.
- Practice defining strategic priorities through an interactive exercise.
- Board/CEO relationships
12:00 p.m. – 12:55 p.m. | Lunch and Keynote Speaker
[Pending]
1:00 p.m. – 1:55 p.m. | Risk Management and Internal Controls
Denten Robinson
Attorney, DR Law PLLC
Understand the key risks every board should monitor to protect the organization and strengthen accountability. Learn how to reduce legal and fiduciary exposure and use practical oversight tools that support informed, effective governance.
- Monitor key organizational risks with confidence and consistency.
- Understand legal and fiduciary responsibilities tied to board oversight.
- Use practical tools to support accountability and risk management.
2:00 p.m. – 2:55 p.m. | Financial Literacy
Courtney Monteiro
Senior Vice President, Sovereign Finance
Build confidence in reading financial statements by focusing on the metrics and trends that matter most. Learn how to ask insightful questions, identify financial red flags early, and strengthen your board’s ability to make informed decisions.
- How boards can make informed financial decisions
- Fiduciary duties to the organization
- Things they need to think about to be strong advocates for the organization
3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. | Break
3:50 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. | Tribal Enterprise and Regulatory Compliance
Theresa Rosier
General Counsel, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community
Michael Mainwold
CEO, Salt River Business Development
Former Assistant General Counsel, Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community
Governance rooted in sovereignty demands clarity, courage, and cultural accountability. This session explores the full implications of tribal sovereignty—and how it shapes the relationship between tribal governments, their nonprofits, and enterprises. Stop operating in silos or navigating blurred lines of authority. We examine how cultural values drive community accountability and strengthen decision-making across every entity you lead. Leave with a sharper understanding of your distinct roles and a practical framework for governing with sovereignty—not just in theory, but in action.
- Understand how tribal sovereignty informs governance and compliance.
- Clarify relationships between tribal governments, nonprofits, and enterprises.
- Center cultural values and community accountability in board decision-making.
5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. | Participant Reception (Thunderbird Pub)
September 25 – Room 544
8:00 a.m. – 8:55 a.m. | Breakfast
9:00 a.m. – 9:55 a.m. | Management and Succession Planning
Ann Marie Bledsoe Downes
Professor of Practice, ASU Law and Chief Administrative Officer, Ho-Chunk, Inc.
Build a stronger, more resilient organization by planning for leadership transitions before they become urgent. This session helps participants identify key roles, clarify responsibilities, and support continuity through mentorship, preparation, and long-term planning.
- Plan ahead for leadership transitions before they become urgent.
- Identify key roles, responsibilities, and continuity needs.
- Build long-term organizational stability through mentorship and preparation.
10:00 a.m. – 10:55 a.m. | Board Dynamics
Owner and CEO, Wopila Consulting, LLC
Trust erodes when conflicts or political pressures shape board decisions. This session helps board members address difficult dynamics, uphold fiduciary duties, and strengthen trust, accountability, and community confidence. Participants will leave with practical tools to govern with integrity and clarity under pressure.
- Recognize early warning signs of board tension, distrust, or unclear decision-making.
- Use structured discussion practices to keep difficult conversations productive.
- Strengthen board culture through clear expectations, follow-through, and shared responsibility.
- Board/CEO relationships
11:00 a.m. – 11:55 a.m. | Board Role Playing
Chris Love
Attorney, Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation
Put governance principles into practice through realistic board scenarios. This interactive session helps participants apply fiduciary duties, navigate conflicts of interest, and strengthen communication, accountability, and decision-making as a board.
- Practice real-world board scenarios in an interactive setting.
- Apply governance, fiduciary duty, and conflict-of-interest principles.
- Strengthen board communication, accountability, and decision-making.
12:00 p.m. – 12:40 p.m. | Lunch
12:45 p.m. – 1:40 p.m. | From Learning to Action: Accountability and Next Steps
Diandra Benally
General Counsel, Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation
Join presenters and fellow participants for a closing luncheon focused on reflection, discussion, and action. This interactive session will provide an opportunity for final questions and answers, key takeaways from the program, and accountability exercises designed to help participants apply what they have learned to strengthen tribal board governance in their communities.