BOARD OF DIRECTORS BIOGRAPHIES

President
Patty Dimitriou, President/Founder - AMS, Inc.
602-357-4701 office
patty@nativemarketinc.com

Patty Dimitriou owns and operates a multi-cultural advertising agency with a number of clients and projects throughout the Southwest and other regions. She serves a diverse group of clients including tribal enterprises and programs, major corporations, state and city projects, non-profit organizations as well as fellow minority-owned businesses.

Patty Dimitriou has been featured in the local and national news media for her business and community activities. She has been formally recognized for her business leadership and civic activities by tribal presidents, professional sports teams, city governments, and many other organizations throughout the Southwest. She is one of the first Native American women to graduate from the elite Valley Leadership Institute, has recently been named to the “Phoenix 40 Under 40” emerging leadership for the state of Arizona and “Women Mean Business” watch list by The Business Journal.

Patty Dimitriou serves on the Executive Board of the Phoenix Indian Center, as President of the Arizona American Indian Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Directors of Valley Leadership, and on the development board of the American Indian Graduate Center. She grew up on the Navajo Nation in a small community called Blackwater, New Mexico and has used her life experience and her professional skills to create a voice for Native people through both her client relations and community service. Her unique heritage is both First American and immigrant – her mother is Navajo and her father is Macedonian.

She recently volunteered for Hurricane Katrina animal rescue efforts and is an instructor for the Falmouth Institute in Public Relations and Marketing for tribal communities. Patty Dimitriou obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Arizona. Those in her inner circle have called her energetic, creative and competitive. Patty currently lives in the South Mountain community of Phoenix, Arizona with her husband, Jim and two dogs - Chili and Pepper.

Immediate Past President
Loren Tapahe, Owner/Publisher, Arizona Native Scene
602-448-0260 office/cell
LTapahe@aol.com

Loren Tapahe is the publisher and founder of the Arizona Native Scene newspaper, which has been in operation for 12 years in the Phoenix valley. Under the newspaper operation, he publishes his own monthly newspaper, designs posters, conference booklets and newsletters for commercial and tribal clientele.

He is Navajo, originally from Fort Defiance, Arizona. He holds a 1979 Bachelor of Science Degree from Brigham Young University in Business Management with a double minor in Marketing and Economics.

He has also worked for the Navajo Nation government in several capacities in the past twenty years, including General Manager and Editor of the Navajo Times Newspaper, a Regional Business Development Manager for the Division of Economic Development and as the Chief of Staff for the Navajo Nation President.

He encourages the entrepreneurial spirit in Indian country as he has owned several businesses in the past, including an optical business, a design shop, and a newspaper.

Mr. Tapahe is an avid photographer and writer. His career in journalism has taken him to many states in North America and to Nicaragua in Central America. He is a founding member of the national Native American Journalist Association and continues his volunteer work with local journalism efforts.

He is active in the community and holds membership in several organizations, including the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Arizona, which he is the Immediate Past President; Member of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications Endowment Board at Arizona State University; a member of the Native American Recognition Days (NARD) Committee; the City of Phoenix Police Department Advisory Committee; and founding member of the Native American Journalist Association.

He has received honors and awards from his Navajo community and from professional organizations. He has received the Navajo Nation Business Person of the Year; Print Media Person of the Year from the Native American Public Broadcasting Consortium; and various appreciation certificates for volunteer services to non-profit organizations and community programs.

The driving force behind his community work comes from his respect for all people and the need to give back to those communities who provide a positive environment for people to gain strength and opportunities to excel.

He resides in Mesa, Arizona with his wife Carolyn and two daughters, Jordan and Annika.

President Elect
Gene Hubbard, Sales – Voltar Communications
602-273-7826 office
ghubbard@voltar.com

Secretary
Gloria Lowrie, President/Owner - PACE Pacific Corporation
602-437-8729 office
glowrie@pacepacific.com

Treasurer
Kristina Haskell, President & CEO - Avalon Accounting Services
623-535-7299 office
Kristina@avalonaccounting.com

Kristina Haskell is the founder and CEO of Avalon Accounting, a Phoenix based accounting and tax firm established in 2002 that specializes in small business development and strategic growth planning for large, established businesses.

Described as “Young and On the Move” on the July 2006 cover of REZ-BIZ magazine and recently profiled in American Indian Women Leaders in Arizona’s Valley of the Sun 2007 Ms. Haskell embodies the socially responsible Native businesswoman of the 21st Century. Ms. Haskell volunteers on several boards, including a mayoral appointment to the Human Relations Commission to promote Native interests, business diversity and a sense of community.

Ms. Haskell graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelors degree in Accountancy, and started Avalon Accounting in 2002 after acquiring 10 years of extensive, traditional accounting and tax experience with CPA firms. She has personally performed on a successful NASDAQ initial public offering, and worked on large corporate and partnership returns. However, her passion is helping small business owners succeed in today’s real business world.

Member
Frank Brabec, Diversity Supplier Relations – Perini Building Company
602-256-6777 office
fbrabec@periniwest.com

Mr. Frank F. Brabec has been involved in various, minority and business development organizations in Phoenix since 1995. His previous employment includes serving as the Deputy Director of the Equal Opportunity Department for the City of Phoenix; Program Manager for the City of Phoenix Community & Economic Development Department; Counselor for the Maricopa Community College’s Small Business Development Center; in addition to Founding Director of the Arizona Minority Business Development Center. Recognitions during this time include; a City of Phoenix Excellence Award; Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Hispanic Business Community Advocate of the Year; and MED Week Individual Minority Business Advocate.

Most recently, Frank started Brabec Consulting, LLC specifically to help Perini Building Company with the Downtown Sheraton Hotel project. He assisted with setting the M/W/SBE goal, and is now working with them and the City of Phoenix to reach out to the local contracting community to encourage participation in the project. Frank also sits in the City of Phoenix, Human Relations Commission and is Chair of the Business Development Committee.

Member
Gloria Lowrie, President/Owner - PACE Pacific Corporation
602-437-8729 office
glowrie@pacepacific.com

Member
Jean Grubbs, President – Roofing Specialists, Inc.
520-836-3404
Magarcia2002meyers@hotmail.com

I was born in Stilwell , Oklahoma in 1928. During the depression, 1936, my family left Oklahoma and drove across country to live in Arizona .

I married Kenneth Grubbs in 1946. Kenneth and I were married for 57 years at the time of his death in 2003.

We began a pump and drilling company in Eloy , Arizona which later became a nationwide company for approximately 25 years. I devoted my time to the business and to my family, I have also been an active member of the Church of Christ my entire life.

In 1993, I went into the roof business with Mary Ann Myers. In 2001, Roofing Specialists, Inc. was awarded Arizona Roofing Contractor of the Year, and in 2004, Roofing Specialists, Inc. received the construction award for the National Minoirty Enterprise Developement week. The business has grown considerable over the last 13 years. I contrbute much of our success to God, the dedicated staff and tribal business.

I have been a member of the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Arizona since its beginning in 1995 and have served as a board member for 5 years.

Member
Roger Smith, President – Salt River Materials Group
480-850-5758 office
rsmith@srmaterials.com

Member
Maria Proctor Dadgar, Director of Development - National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development
480-545-1298, ext 239
maria.dadgar@ncaied.org

Maria is an enrolled member of the Piscataway Tribe of Accokeek, Maryland and has worked in the fields of Development, Higher Education Administration and Executive Management with non profit organizations for more than 15 years. Maria rejoined the National Center during November 2005 and is now serving as Director of Development.

Previous positions include: Program Manager for American Indian Studies at Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ; Executive Director of Atlatl—National Native Arts Network, Phoenix, AZ; Associate Director of Special Programs for First Nations Development Institute, Fredericksburg, VA and Director of Communications/Development with the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development in Mesa, AZ.

Maria launched her career in non profit management as the National Program Coordinator and Co-Founder of the Washington Internships for Native Students (WINS) program at American University in Washington, D.C. during the early 90s. Maria holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies (Concentration in Communications) from American University and is currently enrolled at the University of Arizona preparing for a Masters Degree in Information Resources and Library Science. Maria serves on the Board of Directors for the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Arizona, the Miracle House Foundation which serves the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community and the Tohono O’odham Community College Capital Campaign Committee.

Member
Wayne Leone, President/Owner - N.A.T.I.V.E., LLC
480-491-1536 office
602-267-1053 cell
nativeamtech@qwest.net

Vice President of Business Development for Siwa’vaats LLC; responsible for identifying potential business opportunities and closing business for the company. Plans and directs all aspects of an organization's business development policies, objectives, and initiatives. Responsible for developing new market initiatives, assessing new markets, and analyzing business opportunities. Conducts financial feasibility studies and develops proposals for new business opportunities. Duties include negotiating contracts, initiating proposals, and closing deals. Reports to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).