Maximillian Frye, a citizen of Wichita and Affiliated Tribes and a recent participant of the 2025 NAFOA Leadership Summit, is deeply committed to advancing the economic interests of his community. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Wichita Tribe Industrial Development Commission, where he leads economic development strategy, enterprise oversight, and the business activity for the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes. In this role, Frye presides over all Commission meetings, represents the organization in intergovernmental and business negotiations, and actively seeks new opportunities for the Tribe. Beyond this, he has served as a consultant, student leader, and researcher with a focus on organizational strategy, financial optimization, and culturally-informed governance.
He applied to this year’s Leadership Summit with his motto, “always be learning,” in mind, seeking new opportunities to build stronger connections within Indian Country and gain more knowledge to help him grow as a young leader. “My decision to apply to [the Leadership Summit] was validated after having researched more about NAFOA and learning about the past cohort’s experiences.”
Maximillian Frye (middle), a citizen of the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, with his cohort of young leaders at the 2025 NAFOA Leadership Summit.
Maximillian at the podium introducing himself to the NAFOA community during the 2025 Fall Finance & Tribal Economies Conference, held after the Leadership Summit
Maximillian (right) with other attendees at the closing reception of the 2025 Fall Finance & Tribal Economies Conference.
While attending the Summit and the Fall Conference, he noted that one of his “…biggest highlights was meeting so many new people, particularly people in higher roles, leading to tangible business conversations for my EDC [economic development commission].” He recalls one particular interaction with an official from a Tribally-owned bank in Oklahoma. This connection quickly led to now ongoing fruitful discussions around opportunities to collaborate with the Wichita Tribe’s EDC.
Frye leveraged the NAFOA Leadership program’s lessons and networking opportunities into direct, actionable results. He emphasized that being in a decision-making position “…ensures that conversations about finance and strategy translate quickly into concrete actions that ultimately benefit the Wichita people.”
Based on his experience, Frye offers three main pieces of advice for young professionals considering the NAFOA Leadership Program:
- Make Connections and Be Bold: He advises participants to make the most of the connections available, both with speakers and within the cohort. He stresses the importance of overcoming any hesitation and simply approaching people, noting that the caliber of people NAFOA attracts is exceptional.
- Be Present and Absorb the Information: Frye suggests making the most of every session and listening closely. He highlights that even seemingly distant knowledge, such as complex banking relationships, could become vital later in one’s career.
- Enjoy the Experience: He advises participants to take time to enjoy the program. The informal relationship building and camaraderie that take place, particularly at receptions, are highly valuable and serve to enrich the professional relationships being built.
Frye believes that everything is relational in Tribal economic development and shared that his experiences since participating in the NAFOA Leadership Summit have continued to expand his efforts to support his community. “Building strong, personal relationships is essential to conducting business, advancing Tribal interests, and ensuring a brighter future for Native communities.”
