#20yearsequals
In 2015, Travois celebrated 20 years in business and $1 billion of investment in American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian communities.
From 1995 and through 2015, Native organizations working with Travois created a $1 billion impact using two federal tax credit programs: the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program to build or rehabilitate safe, affordable housing and the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program to develop and expand businesses, infrastructure and new services. And the number keeps climbing!
Our #20YearsEquals anniversary campaign highlighted our clients’ and partners’ incredible achievements over the past 20 years.
For these updates, scroll down, check out our sidebar on the right or read more on our company blog.
#20YearsEquals stories from us, our partners, friends and clients
December 2015
Attendees of NAIHC’s Legal Symposium in Las Vegas:
#20YearsEquals: traditional home to mainstream to back to the Rez –Ken Chester, board commissioner, Navajo Housing Authority
#20YearsEquals: success –Don Magnuson, housing compliance, Northern Ponca Housing Authority
#20YearsEquals: happy homes for our own people –Marvin Murphy, board commissioner, Navajo Housing Authority
#20YearsEquals: better homes and satisfied families –Billy Komahcheet, executive director, Housing Authority of Sac and Fox Nation
October 2015
#20YearsEquals: 15 Travois Conferences (and Countless Memories!)
This month, we are reflecting on the countless happy memories we’ve made at our first 15 Travois Indian Country Affordable Housing & Economic Development Conferences.
Check out some of our favorite moments in this photo slideshow.
Attendees of NCAI’s 72nd Annual Convention & Marketplace in San Diego:
#20YearsEquals: finally have a home –Krystle Topping, tribal treasurer, Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
#20YearsEquals: my family: 5 kids, 7 grandkids, moving forward –Carrie O’Toole, Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation
#20YearsEquals: building many homes in Tanana –Julie Roberts-Hyslop, Native Village of Tanana
September 2015
#20YearsEquals: Industry Superheroes
We’ve been extremely lucky to partner with amazing clients and talented industry professionals in our 20 years in business. We recognized the hard work and dedication of 10 professionals and one tribe with our Superhero Award ceremony and luncheon. Travois solicited nominations from around the country and announced the winners at our 15th Annual Travois Indian Country Affordable Housing and Economic Development Conference. View the slideshow of winners here.
Attendees of the 15th Annual Travois Indian Country Affordable Housing & Economic Development Conference in New Orleans:
#20YearsEquals: better homes and updated homes for families who desperately need them. They are great for our community and our tribe.
#20YearsEquals: life revolving around our circle called family. My husband of 41 years is awesome! We have seven sons and one daughter, 19 grandchildren and one great granddaughter. I love being a board commissioner and having my own business. Life is sweet!
#20YearsEquals: trust that we leave good things for our community, such as good housing and relationships.
#20YearsEquals: thank you to Travois for being there for us tribal members and for giving us another avenue for new construction or rehabilitation. Thank you! 🙂
#20YearsEquals: the growing confidence level of tribal citizens in their tribal governments and as tribal staff. At my tribe, nearly every reservation home has been replaced or rehabilitated. Our land base has increased from 40 acres to 500 acres. We have a new community center, the first tribal business and several other successful projects.
#20YearsEquals: an opportunity for homeownership with the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program, an asset to pass onto family.
#20YearsEquals: a desire to see our community grow. I’ve worked for housing for 17 years and have seen a lot of growth and development. Here’s to the next 20 years of progress.
August 2015
Jeff Ackley, executive director of the Sokaogon Chippewa Housing Authority, has been very involved in the Sokaogon Chippewa Community for many years, serving in leadership roles for the tribe and currently serving as president of the school board for the School District of Crandon, WI. In this video, he talks about what #20YearsEquals to the Sokaogon Chippewa Community and why safe and affordable housing is so critical.
AMERIND Risk is only 100-percent tribally-owned insurance solutions provider, and the company been providing insurance – specifically property, liability and workers’ compensation insurance – since 1986. For AMERIND, #20YearsEquals tribes protecting tribes. Watch the video to hear from:
Derek Valdo (Pueblo of Acoma) – Chief Executive Officer;
Nancy Harjo Serna (Muscogee (Creek)) – Director of Marketing;
Alan Romero – Director of Claims; and
Tina Duncan (Navajo) – Sales Manager.
July 2015
#20YearsEquals: Native Artists We Love
With our office situated in the Crossroads Arts District in Kansas City, Travois is surrounded by incredible galleries and artists. We understand the importance of art and supporting artists, and in the last 20 years since Travois has been in business, we’ve been gifted or purchased some amazing pieces created by Native artists. Run through the presentation above for a virtual art tour of Native artists we love!
Attendees of the 2015 NCAI Mid Year Conference & Marketplace in St. Paul, MN:
#20YearsEquals: bought a log home this year! –Sue Wise, commissioner of education, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Indians
#20YearsEquals: three glorious children! –Marisa Pigeon, vice chair, Upper Sioux Community of Minnesota
#20YearsEquals: serving our people –Rob Sanderson, council (2nd Vice President), Central Council Tlingit and Haida Tribes
#20YearsEquals: elected as youngest county commissioner in the state of New Mexico in 2008 (26 years old) –Darryl Madalena, chairman of District 5, Sandoval County Commission (New Mexico)
#20YearsEquals: helped my community establish a walking trail and park –Sheila Bird, special projects, Cherokee Nation
#20YearsEquals: working for my people –Stan Miller, code of ethics, Yakama Nation
#20YearsEquals: 20 years of marriage –Aaron Green, tribal council, Spirit Lake Sioux Community
#20YearsEquals: Ag, Manager, Police Officer, Security Manager/Director and now to Tribal Council –Brian E. Davis, tribal council, Gila River Indian Community
#20YearsEquals: Retired from U.S. Navy. Now working for my tribe; previously as a police officer and chief probation officer and now a tribal council representative. –Fran Pablo Sr., tribal council, Gila River Indian Community
#20YearsEquals: sharing information about hometown of Kensington –Dan Mahoney, COT, USDA
#20YearsEquals: bringing my children “back home” from the city, watching two daughters graduate from college and boys play basketball for our high school. –Cherilyn Spears, projects coordinator, Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians
#20YearsEquals: celebrated 15 years as board chair, and my second son Frosty got his B.A. degree in massage therapy –Emily Hughes, board chair, Norton Sound Health Corporation
#20YearsEquals: doing good things for my community –Abel Martinez, Native Youth Alliance
#20YearsEquals: helping my community to make it a better place –Kaina Martinez, Native Youth Alliance
#20YearsEquals: graduating college and protecting sacred sites: “Oak Flat” (San Carlos Apache Tribe). –Desirae Rambler, National Native Youth Cabinet
June 2015
#20YearsEquals: New Jobs, New Services
This month, we are looking at the impact the New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) program has had on Native communities. Watch this video to see examples of job creation, education opportunities for young and old, healthcare services and more.
James Horvick of Raymond James Tax Credit Funds has been one of Travois’ most consistent partners over the years on more than 100 projects, and he shared his thoughts on this partnership.
Michell Hicks, principal chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) attended the Native American Finance Officers Association’s (NAFOA) 33rd annual conference in Austin, Texas, and was honored with the 2015 Tribal Leader of the Year award, which is awarded to the leader who “displays foresight and resolve in the economic advancement of his or her nation.” He’s been in key roles for EBCI for nearly 20 years, and Senior Project Coordinator Adam Rose interviewed him to learn about what the last 20 years has meant to him and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in this video.
May 2015
#20YearsEquals: Two Generations
Founder David Bland started Travois in 1995. His daughter, Elizabeth Bland Glynn, is now CEO, and in this video, the two discuss: how the company was started; memories from the early days; great leaders in tribal housing; friends and partnerships made through the years; and what #20YearsEquals to Travois.
April 2015
For 25 years, Native college students like Waylon Ballew (pictured above) have benefited from assistance from the American Indian College Fund. In this Q&A blog, Cheryl Crazy Bull (Sicangu Lakota), president and CEO of the College Fund, answered questions for us about what #20YearsEquals (actually, 25 years) to the College Fund in its mission to transform Indian higher education.
The housing authority staff of Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians have joined our #20YearsEquals celebration! To Jean Defoe, David Defoe, Maxine Babineau and Tanya Wachsmuth, #20YearsEquals: more than 170 new or rehabilitated homes, a casino, a grocery store, a gas station, a new bridge from the Raspberry Campground to the beach, a new walking trail to Frog Bay, a new health clinic that produced more than 50 new jobs, and 24 supportive housing units (breaking ground July 2015).
Attendees of the 2015 Reservation Economic Summit in Austin, Texas:
#20YearsEquals: marriage, five kids, land surveyor, own my own home. –Marvin Murphy, board member, Navajo Housing Authority
#20YearsEquals: biggest solar project in Indian Country. –Gregory Tanderson Sr., vice chairman, Moapa Band of Paiute
#20YearsEquals: building our village into a city. –Loretta Nelson, chairperson, Native Village of Afognak
#20YearsEquals: three successful business ventures. –Shelly Bailey, tribal council treasure, Saginaw Chippewa Tribe
#20YearsEquals: graduating from law school and passing the bar exam. –Jacob Wamego, business development manager, Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation
#20YearsEquals: economic development! –Jose Haranjo, SCDC board member, Santa Clara Pueblo
#20YearsEquals: exponential cultural growth and development. Quyanaa! –Dehrich Schmidt-Chya, dancer, Koniag Inc.
#20YearsEquals: education, improved infrastructure and telemedicine. –Dominic Pruitt, board of directors chairman for San Ildefonso Pueblo Enterprise Corporation, Pueblo of Laguna
#20YearsEquals: cancer survivor, grandchildren, marriage and moving back to my homelands. –Jereaux Sanders, cultural center, Comanche Nation
March 2015
For Alonzo Lamas, #20YearsEquals seven successful Low Income Housing Tax Credit projects and great memories with Travois friends!
Employees of the Molokai Community Health Center, Rachel Abshire, quality improvement specialist; Andrea Trenner, CFO; and Cindy Manaois, human resources specialist; shared what #20YearsEquals to the health center and the community on the Hawaiian island of Molokai in this video.
#20YearsEquals: More Than Just Houses
Bryan Schuler, Travois vice president for housing development, talks about his 10th anniversary with at Travois and his observations on the ripple effects of LIHTC projects. Read his blog and check out a Prezi.
February 2015
Lance Morgan, president and CEO of Ho-Chunk Inc., joined the conversation. Ho-Chunk Inc. was launched in 1994 and is the economic development arm of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. Today, it employs 1,200 people across the United States and in four foreign countries. For Lance and Ho-Chunk, #20YearsEquals: $270 million in revenue, 1,200 employees, 115 new housing units, and a whole generation of growth and pride in the community.
#20YearsEquals: Grand Totals in 20 Years
Chairman and CEO David Bland kicks off the campaign with a congratulatory letter to Travois friends and partners, who have developed more than $1 billion of housing and economic development projects in American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian communities. He also shares Travois’ 20-year report (pictured above) in this blog.