History

About NACDC

NACDC Financial Services started in 2010, established with the assistance of the Native American Community Development Corporation (NACDC). During our initial startup phase, NACDC Financial Services is conducting our operations with the help of a CDFI Fund grant and a grant awarded by the Catholic Campaign for Human Development. We received our Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) certification in 2012. NACDC Financial Services is now a part of a broader network of CDFIs, both Native and Non-Native, operating in the region. Most significant is the Native-owned and operated community development financing network that includes Native American Bancoproation (NAB), Native American Bank, NA (NABNA), and Native American Community Development Corporation (NACDC).

Our Values

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to provide alternative financing opportunity for Native American Entrepreneurs and small businesses in communities in and near Indian Reservations. NACDC Financial Services has three primary business goals:

Funding

To fill an alternative financing gap in its initial and expanded target market that is not being filled by exisiting financial institutiions within that market;

Collaboration

With the help of collaborating partners, better prepare individuals and businesses to participate in and benefit from the broader economy

Community Support

Achieve a scale of operations that is both financially sustainable and beneficial to the Indian communities we are committed to serving.

Financial Reports

Our mission is to provide alternative financing opportunity for Native American Entrepreneurs and small businesses in communities in and near Indian Reservations. NACDC Financial Services has three primary business goals:

NACDC Team

Our Team

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Shayla Vaile

Shayla is an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Tribe and has been an employee with Native Cash since November 2022. Her duties include but are not limited to check cashing, Western Union services, customer Service, money services, updating OTIS files as well as balancing the daily intake for the check cashing and Western Union accounts. Shayla has attended cosmetology school and graduated in 2010 and returned to the Blackfeet Indian reservation where she became the co-owner of Hair Styles Beauty Salon for 14 years. With the experience gained operating a small business she began attending Blackfeet Community College to further her education in the Business Field. The thing that Shayla enjoys the most in her life is being a mother and one of the important things about working with Native Cash is the ability to maintain a work/life balance.

Maddalyn Whitright

Maddalyn had joined the NACDC team back in 2021, starting as a receptionist and has since then, worked her way up to be a loan processor, intake specialist, and notary. She has become certified to be a Native CDFI Practitioner and has several other certifications specializing in lending practices and underwriting. Maddalyn is responsible for intake on applications, minor cashier duties such as check cashing and Western Union transactions, as well as helping customers throughout the day. Maddalyn is an enrolled member of the Blackfeet tribe.

Joni Smith
​(406) 338-2992

Joni joined Native Cash in December of 2018, prior to joining the team Joni worked as a Bank teller at Native American Bank. While attending college Joni worked as an intern for the USDA and assisted in Launching a successful Farmer’s Market in Browning known as the Peoples Market, earning a green thumb in gardening Joni also ran a greenhouse in conjunction with the Market. As the Loan administrator at Native Cash. Joni is the person responsible for investigating potential borrowers and determining their eligibility for a loan. She does this by gathering data, writing various reports, collecting loan files, coordinating meetings, and performing other clerical and administrative tasks. In her free time Joni enjoys Indian Relay, Horse racing, and following the local athletes in their sports year round.

Paula Crawford
(720) 352-9125

Since 2006, Paula has coordinated the seeding of home loan mortgages, in Indian community markets nationwide, her extensive knowledge of both real estate and mortgage markets, give her insight into the issues faced by working families, who want to apply for a mortgage, she has successfully connected aspiring homeowners with credit counseling and financial education programs to achieve the homeownership dream. Working with loan products like NACDC , Section 184, Conventional, FHA, VA. Allow her to remove barriers that exist in Indian County that prohibits the flow of capital access and credit, Paula works tirelessly addressing critical needs in Native, communities related to growth of family assets and sustainable economic development. Paula is enrolled member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe of South Dakota.

Shelby Hughes

Shelby has worked for NACDC intermittently since 2015 completing duties such as data collection, data analysis, graphic design as well as other necessary clerical duties for NACDC. Shelby is now undertaking the building and development a housing counseling program to offer our clients the most accurate information regarding the home buying process. Shelby offers pre and post-purchase counseling to all potential home buyers and specifically to first time home buyers. She assists our clients in determining what size mortgage a client can afford, teaches how to improve credit for obtaining a home loan, and fulfills any duties necessary to instruct the potential homeowners on purchasing a house. Working in tandem with Paula, Shelby ensures that clients that attend housing counseling will have the tools and skills necessary to ensure that our clients can successfully and comfortably purchase a home. In her spare time Shelby is cultivating her home into a homestead. She devotes time to gardening, raising poultry: chickens and ducks. She enjoys spending time outdoors namely fishing, hiking, hunting and paddle boarding. Shelby is an enrolled member of the Blackfeet tribe.

Darrell "DJ" Fish

was born and raised on the Blackfeet Reservation. He attended Haskell Indian Nations University and Salish Kootenai College where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. He started his career as a Credit Analyst for Valley Banks where he eventually became a Loan Officer. DJ enjoys raising his two sons; Marcus and Andreas, with his beautiful partner Kylie. When he’s not chasing his boys around, he is coaching basketball. After 15 years away from home, DJ strives to give back to his community and Indian Country. As of May 1st, 2023, he joined NACDC Financial Services team as the Business Specialist. He oversees the small business development by assisting borrowers with business plans, financials, training, technical assistance and counseling. He is also responsible for recruiting businesses, underwriting loans, as well as business retention.

Stacy Edwards

I was born and raised in Browning. I graduated from MSU Northern (formerly Northern Montana College) in 1994 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Technology and an emphasis in Small Business Management. I worked for the Blackfeet Tribe for a total of 15 years, 12 years as an Oil and Gas Auditor/Manager, and 3 years as a Compliance Specialist in the Finance Department. I worked as the CFO in the Finance Office for Blackfeet Housing for 4 years. Prior to joining the NACDC Financial Services team, I was the Finance Director/District Clerk for the Browning Public Schools for 6 years. My duties here at NACDC Financial Services include maintaining a central account in order to process checks for vendors and short term and long term loan applicants, processing loan payments, reconciling bank statements, processing payroll, ensuring that all insurance coverage (w/comp, unemployment, vehicle, property and liability) are maintained and updated, managing grant funds and budgets. I also do the financal reporting for the organization.

Patty Gobert

Patty is responsible for management of the lending program. She has worked for NACDCFS since its inception in 2010 and assisted in establishing the organization. Prior to working for NACDCFS, she worked for 23 years at Native American Bank (and what was previously Blackfeet National Bank). Her most recent position there was as Senior Vice President. She is responsible for overseeing all of the lending and technical assistance functions at NACDCFS. She will travel to each of the reservations several times a year to provide trainings and technical assistance as well as outreach. Patty underwrites all the loans and provides portfolio management. She is a member of the Blackeet Tribe.

Angie Main
(406) 860-8853

Angie joined NACDC in 2005 to forward the goal of economic sovereignty through small business development and local capacity building. She received her Bachelor of Science in Business Technology from MSU-Northern in Havre, MT, and has over 28 years of experience in administration, contracts, grants management, education, as well as small business, economic and community development issues for Montana, Wyoming, and South Dakota Indian Reservations. She has worked as a consultant to leverage resources for housing and resource development, law enforcement and juvenile justice, community organizational development, non-profit and corporation assistance, strategic and business plan development, and SBA8(a) certification. Angie is an enrolled member of the Fort Belknap Gros Ventre Tribe.

Our Board

Board of Directors

Melanie Wall
Chair

Melanie is currently a Financial Specialist at the Blackfeet Community College.  She was formerly the Operations Manager with the Native American Bank, N.A. Browning where she was responsible for the operations and personnel functions of all the banking departments.  Other career positions include the Shipping and Receiving Clerk for the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis in Helena, Mt and as Teller for the U.S. Bank of California, Corning, CA.  Melanie has a B.S. degree in Business Administration from the University of Montana and is a member of the Blackfeet Tribe.​

Carla Lott
Vice-Chair

Carla majored in Pre-Law studies at the University of Great Falls and joined the United States Army, and is historically recognized as the first Blackfeet woman to receive a commission in the U.S. Army leadership.  Ms. Lott received an invitation from Montana Senator Jon Tester to serve as his first State Native American Liaison.  She later moved to Washington, D.C. to work as a Congressional staffer on the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, later serving as the first Native American and Minority Veterans Policy Advisor on the Senate Committee of Veterans Affairs on Capital Hill.  She is a member of the Blackfeet Tribe of Montana.

Erik Nelson
Secretary/Treasurer

a graduate of Valier High School, Erik attended and graduated from the University of Great Falls.  He worked for Wells Fargo Bank from 2004 to 2006, Northwest Farm Credit from 2006 to 2009, then began working with Native American Bank (NAB) as a Agricultural/Commercial lender, eventually becoming the Manager of NAB in 2012.  He is currently the Agricultural/Commercial lender with First State Bank in Shelby, Montana.

Sheila D. Herrera
Board Member

​Executive Director of Tiwa Lending Services, serving the Isleta Pueblo, with over 25 years’ experience in the lending industry and with experience in coordinating and directing the implementation of economic/community development. As Tiwa Lending Services’ Executive Director, Ms. Herrera operates and manages Tiwa Lending Services, performing all home loan activities, including tracking loan capital. Ms. Herrera is one of the founding members of Tiwa Lending Services. Prior to coming to work with Tiwa Lending Services, Ms. Herrera managed the Isleta Pueblo Housing Authority’s Home Loan Program and served as a Homeownership Counselor. Ms. Herrera owned a mortgage brokerage business for seven years and worked in the banking industry. Ms. Herrera is a certified Homeownership Counselor.

Roberta Harris
Board Member

Ms. Harris is a Contracted Project Director with Montana Indian Business Alliance.  In her present position, Roberta coordinates and plans workshops, conferences and networks with various entities to assist entities to assist entrepreneurs; seeks funding and reports on grants; coordinates MIBA Board meetings and promotes their mission.  She is also an Indian Entrepreneur Instructor teaching courses at Northern Cheyenne’s Chief Dull Knife College, and the Northern Cheyenne Tribal Housing Authority.  In partnership with the Montana Department of Commerce she provides technical assistance in the preparation of marketing plans, cash flow projections and business plans.  She possesses a Bachelor of Arts degree from Montana State University and is a member of the Navajo Tribe.  ​

Jay Marcus
Board Member

Mr. Marcus formerly served as the director of Housing Initiatives for the Enterprise Foundation and the Director of the San Jose Redevelopment Office. He now works as a consultant to Tribes, Tribal organizations, financial institutions and government agencies on structuring low-income tax credit deals and other housing and community development projects.

Luke Robinson
Board Member

Loan Officer at the Native American Development Corporation (NADC) CDFI.  Mr. Robinson played a role in the development and growth of the CDFI.  He had previously worked for NADC’s CDFI from 2012 to 2017 before leaving to work in commercial banking. There he specialized in credit and financial analysis of commercial and agriculture loan applications. Mr. Robinson returned to NADC in October of 2019 to continue lending operations.  Mr. Robinson has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Fort Lewis College and an Economic Development Finance Professional (EDFP) Certification from the National Development Council.  He also served as a Native American Business Advisor for the Montana Department of Commerce Indian Country Program.  Mr. Robinson is a member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe.

Maria Valandra
Board Member

Vice President of Community Partnerships at Clearwater Credit Union.  Ms. Valandra has over twenty-five years of experience in community and economic development in the corporate and non-profit sectors.  She has previously worked with the State of Montana Department of Commerce, and served over eighteen years at a regional bank in Billings.  Her passion for grassroots community groups has been reflected in her service on over a dozen boards of directors.  Ms. Valandra obtained her Bachelor of Business Management from Montana State University with a Minor in Native American Studies She has dual enrollment—as a member of the Nekaneet Band of the Cree First Nation of Saskatchewan and as a member of the Chippewa Cree on the Rocky Boy Indian Reservation in north central Montana.

Andrea Main
Ex-Officio Board Member

Ms. Main is the current Executive Director for NACDCFS