Bryan Schuler joined Travois in 2005 as the sixth staff member. He’s been with us for more than eight years and serves as development director for the housing team. Bryan answered a few questions, so we can learn more about him.
- What do you do at Travois? As the director of development, my role is multifaceted. I supervise a small team of project coordinators who work on Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) developments starting from initial conceptualization through construction completion and project closeout. I meet directly with tribes and tribal leadership to discuss using the LIHTC program to meet the tribe’s housing needs. I also work directly with our equity investors to negotiate the best deal for the partnerships. There’s not a day that goes by where there’s not something new, exciting or challenging that I experience on the job. After eight years you’d think you’d see everything, but I always have to remain on my toes.
- What places in Indian Country have you enjoyed visiting and why? My best work-related travel experience has been hiking to Cibecue Falls in the Salt River Canyon while visiting the White Mountain Apache in Arizona. I originally attempted the hike one evening with David Bland, chairman at Travois, but we never made it to the falls. The sun was setting too fast. A year later I returned to the canyon and made the entire trek to the falls. It was an incredible experience. I look forward to doing it again.
- What is one thing you would like Travois staff and clients to know about you? Ninety percent of the time that I take time off, I’m not on a vacation or anything. Rather, I’m probably building a fence, tree house (see photos below), deck or something else that involves manual labor and being outside. Aside from spending time with my wife and kids, I’d much prefer riding my lawn mower.
- What is one of your favorite housing projects that you have worked on and why? Anything with San Carlos. I have a great affinity for working with that group since my first day on the job, I traveled out to San Carlos Apache Housing Authority with David Bland.
- What did you want to be as a kid? My grandparents said I always wanted to be a vegetable picker. For context, I’d spend most of my time as a little kid with my grandparents on their farm. My grandfather had 80+ acres of land in Virginia where he raised cows and pigs and grew his own corn, tomatoes, butter beans, squash, string beans, cucumbers, watermelon, peppers, beats, etc. I’d spend a lot of my summer with him on the farm, so I guess when I was little I wanted to be like him — rising when the sun came up and working until the sun goes down.
- Many Travois staff members are animal lovers. Do you have a pet? Yes. I had a yellow lab named Montana, but she passed away just two ago. She was only 5. Her sister’s still with us though. Her name is Dakota. She’s a black lab.
- What is your favorite meal? It depends. I love making breakfast. It doesn’t matter when. In the morning or brinner (you know, BFD – Breakfast For Dinner).
- What is your favorite restaurant? My favorite in Chesapeake, VA, is El Toro Loco. I’ve been going there religiously every Thursday for the last 10 years with my in-laws. (I know, my wife hates it…) We are what you call “regulars.” The servers know what we want so we don’t need menus. We just sit down and shortly thereafter our food and drinks arrive at the table. The people are incredible. The owner is one of the kindest and most thoughtful people we know. It’s gotten to the point where it’s beyond the food but more about community and getting together with good people, for a good time. In Kansas City, it’s Port Fonda for the beef tongue tacos, baby! Or maybe Anton’s. I’ve never had a steak so rare but sooooo good.
- If you were stranded on a deserted island and could take one item with you, what would it be? A picture of my wife and two children.
- What do you like to do when you aren’t working? I love to be outside. I’d probably be working in my yard cutting the grass, weeding the flowerbeds, trying to find something to build…
- What kind of music do you like? My favorite genre of music is country, but if I had my druthers, I would sit on my front porch on a cool summer night listing to Dave Matthews Band, David Grey or Coldplay all night long.
- What is your favorite TV show? “24.” Hands down. “So You Think You Can Dance” is good too. Favorite movie? “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”
- Is there anything else you’d like to share? I’m just extremely thankful for everything in my life. I am proud to work with such a great company that has such a mission-driven philosophy.
