FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 28, 2026
MEDIA CONTACT
Bettina Gonzalez
Director of Communications
bettina@nafoa.org
RENO, NV—Each year, the NAFOA Leadership Awards recognize the achievements of Tribal leaders, Tribal executives, advocates, and financial ventures driving economic progress within Indian Country. The 19th Annual Leadership Awards were presented at the 44th Annual Conference in Reno, NV, today, April 28.
Education Program of the Year
NAFOA presents this year’s Education Program of the Year to the Walker River Paiute Economic Development Authority (WRPEDA) Emerging Business Leaders program.
Established in 2025, WRPEDA’s Emerging Business Leaders (EBL) Advisory Board is an intergenerational, place-based education program that prepares Walker River Paiute youth ages 15-24 to serve as the next generation of business and economic leaders for their Tribal Nation. Composed of seven young Tribal members, the EBL Advisory Board serves as a formal advisory body to the WRPEDA Board of Directors, providing recommendations on business strategies, community investment, and long-term economic development initiatives.
“On behalf of the Emerging Business Leaders Advisory Board, I am humbled and honored to receive this recognition,” says Sydney Williams, EBL Chair. “I’m also incredibly proud of what it represents for the Walker River Paiute Tribe, who has consistently supported youth leadership opportunities, like our board. This award affirms that our youth play a powerful role in guiding our Tribal Nation’s economic future, and supports our mission of improving the quality of life for the next seven generations. We are committed to serving our people, and this award is a testament to how investing in young leaders today secures a stronger community tomorrow.”
Executive of the Year
Jon Panamaroff, a member of the Native Village of Afognak, is a distinguished Native enterprise executive whose career reflects decades of financial leadership and community investment. As Chief Executive Officer of Command Holdings, a Pequot Company, he has driven 175 percent revenue growth, completed three major acquisitions, and transformed the organization into a financially strong, diversified entity built for long-term prosperity for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation.
Before joining Command Holdings, Panamaroff served as Chief Compliance & Business Integration Officer at Koniag Government Services, where the company grew from $48 million to nearly $538 million in revenue over five years. He has also served as President and CEO of Colville Tribal Solutions Corporation, President of Willapa Bay Enterprises Corporation and First Nations Oweesta Corporation, and Vice President of Native American Bank. Across his career, Jon has been directly involved in managing and generating more than $600 million in investment capital for Native communities.
“I am honored to be named Executive of the Year,” said Jon Panamaroff, CEO of Command Holdings. “Because NAFOA is such a vital champion for Native enterprise and economic empowerment, this recognition is truly humbling. Throughout my career, I have worked to build strong, sustainable Native enterprises that ensure long-term community impact. Equally important, I am committed to mentoring Native leaders and fostering a resilient business ecosystem. Leading with both results and values, ensures that growth, culture, and community thrive together.”
Business Impact Deal of the Year
NAFOA’s Business Impact Deal of the Year Award recognizes financial ventures with significant economic impact on the Tribe involved and across Indian Country. This year, the award is presented to the Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians for their 2025 Construction Financing.
Dry Creek Rancheria closed a landmark $390 million financing to redevelop River Rock Casino into Caesars Republic Sonoma County, a premier gaming resort expected to open in Summer 2027. Led by Citizens Bank, the deal unites Gaming & Leisure Properties, Inc. (GLPI), Native American Tribes, regulated banks, and institutional investors under a single credit agreement, a first-of-its-kind in Tribal finance. The structure includes an option to convert a portion of the financing into a 45-year HEARTH Act lease at maturity, which would make it the longest-term financing ever completed for a Tribal casino.
The deal resolves nearly two decades of financing barriers and establishes a replicable model for Tribes nationwide to access large-scale capital markets on favorable terms.
Dry Creek Tribal Chairman, Chris Wright, said: “Citizens was an invaluable financing partner throughout the process, providing expertise and guidance every step of the way on this unique financing structure bringing together GLPI, other Tribes, and traditional gaming investors. We look forward to continuing our collaboration as we bring this exciting project to life.”
Government Impact Deal of the Year
NAFOA’s Government Impact Deal of the Year Award recognizes deals with a lasting positive effect on the economic status of the Tribe and its members. This year, the award is presented to Metlakatla Power & Light (MP&L) for their Southeast Alaska Intertie Financing.
Native American Bank (NAB) helped secure $5.2 million in financing for MP&L, the Tribally owned utility serving the Metlakatla Indian Community, the only Tribal reservation in Alaska, to connect Annette Island to the Ketchikan Public Utilities system. Rather than a standard utility loan, NAB structured financing that balanced infrastructure investment with long-term system reliability and customer rate stability.
A key feature was the multi-CDFI lending structure, with NAB partnering alongside Nixyaawii Community Financial Services, Oweesta, Nimiipuu Fund, and Spruce Root, bringing together Native-led financial institutions from across Indian Country to align mission-driven capital at scale.
“Completing the Melatkatla Intertie will bring the affordable power and robust Internet service that our community—like every community—needs to thrive,” said Metlakatla Indian Community Mayor and City Manager Albert Smith. “It supports our sovereign aims of self-sufficiency.”
Tribal Leader of the Year
Erica M. Pinto serves as Chairwoman of the Jamul Indian Village of California (JIV), one of the 13 Tribes of the Kumeyaay Nation. Elected to Tribal Council at 21, she is the youngest person ever elected to that body and has served consecutively for more than 27 years. In 2015, she became the first woman elected Chairwoman of JIV.
Under her leadership, JIV has grown its land base through federal legislation to support Tribal housing, a health clinic, law enforcement facilities, and a community center. The opening of Jamul Casino in 2016 created nearly 1,000 permanent jobs and established the closest casino to downtown San Diego.
Chairwoman Pinto also serves as Chairwoman of the California Tribal Chairpersons’ Association and Vice-President of the Southern California Tribal Chairpersons’ Association, and was appointed to the U.S. Department of the Interior’s inaugural Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee, representing more than 100 federally recognized Tribes in the Pacific Region. She has been honored with the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of California’s Warrior Award and the Women in Leadership Award from the San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce.
“This award is more than a personal honor; it is a recognition of my Tribe’s perseverance and spirit. After 30 years of service, none of this work would be possible without the strength of my ancestors and the guidance of leaders who came before me—most importantly, my mother. With this award, I am inspired to continue building a strong Tribal community and paving a path for future leaders.”
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About NAFOA
NAFOA was founded over 40 years ago as the Native American Finance Officers Association to highlight the role of tribal finance in fostering economic opportunities. Over the last four decades, NAFOA has grown along with tribes to be advocates of sound economic and fiscal policy and developers of innovative training programs in financial management to build the skills of the next generation. Semiannually, NAFOA convenes tribal leadership, experienced professionals, and economic partners to meet the challenges of economic growth and change. To learn more about NAFOA, visit the website www.nafoa.org.
