About WEEDO MISSION: The White Earth Economic Development Office (WEEDO) works to support, retain, and foster existing entrepreneurships on the White Earth Reservation, and to attract new businesses which enhance career opportunities for tribal citizens, enabling them to work on the reservation while preserving the integrity of their rich cultural heritage. |General Information | White Earth Description | Historical Overview | Departmental Priorities | Dean Johnson, Director | Mike Triplett, Planner |Pam Keezer, Grantwriter | SuAnne Frasier, Grant Writer |  General Information: The White Earth Economic Development Office (WEEDO) primary goal is to promote local business development, provide support to current regional businesses, and to offer community enhancing resources.  The White Earth Economic Development Office is dedicated to developing and sustaining a strong economic base within the White Earth Reservation boundaries that compliments culturally unique quality of life of its community. The White Earth Economic Development Office also strives to create an environment that preserves, attracts and promotes business growth. Departmental Priorities: The following are priorities for the department: Serves as the primary portal to help establish partnerships between commercial businesses and opportunities. Coordinates services including financial assistance packages and training assistance programs. Assists developers in partnership with the White Earth Reservation Tribal Council for the potential of Tax Incentive Financing for large projects. Assists small businesses (start-ups or existing) with a variety of services, including: business plan creation, obtaining financial assistance, etc. Provides a responsive and proactive network of service providers for entrepreneurs and businesses in all stages of growth. Provides a supportive environment, including infrastructure, mentorship and a network of service providers to help entrepreneurs achieve success. Seeks to strengthen the quality of life in tribal neighborhoods. Encourages a thriving and sustainable small business sector. Fosters job growth, employment, and entrepreneurial opportunities. Dean Johnson Department:  White Earth Economic Development Office (WEEDO) Title:  Economic Development Director Telephone: 218-983-4640 ext. 5905 Cell Phone: 218-204-1566 Fax: 218-983-3641 Email: deanj@whiteearth.com Internet Address: www.whiteearth.com/weedo Education: Accounting Degree from Minnesota State Community and Technical College of Moorhead. Trainings:  Certified Municipal Clerk (of the State of Minnesota and Internationally) Blandin Leadership Program Cultural Diversity Training – Howard University Short Job Description: To build relationships with Regional and State Economic Development organizations in promoting the White Earth Reservation.  Act as a liaison between Tribal, County, State and Federal departments, private businesses and industries. To work on attracting new businesses, jobs, capital investments and services to the White Earth Reservation.  Further to promote and retain existing businesses throughout the reservation by assisting with their needs. Professional/Career Experience: Assisted the development of the Shooting Star Casino & Event Center, Manitok Mall and others projects in the Mahnomen Area.  Secured funding for infrastructure projects, health care improvements and business loans.  Helped to develop a business/industrial park in Mahnomen with partnerships at the Federal, Tribal and Local units of government.  Was active in government administration for the past 35 years. Personal/Family Story/Hobbies/Interests: Hunting, Sugar Bushing and spending quality time with family. Mike Triplett Department: White Earth Economic Development Office (WEEDO) Title:  Planner Telephone: 218-983-4640 ext. 5906 Fax: 218-983-3641 Email: miket@whiteearth.com Internet address:  http://www.whiteearth.com/weedo/ Education: B.S. Social Sciences, Colorado State University Graduate coursework: Community and Regional Planning, Iowa State University   Short Job Description: Duties include grant writing, project administration, project development, community and economic development activities.  Coordinates White Earth Nation Wind Project,  implementing wind resource development for Tribe.  Assists Economic Development Director with implementation of economic development planning activities for the Tribe.  Principal tribal grant writer for USDA and HUD infrastructure projects.  Tribal lead for EDA planning grant activities. Professional/Career Experience: Secured federal funding for the new White Earth Community Center and Pow-Wow Grounds, White Earth village water tower, and Rediscovery Center utility replacement. Planner with Tribe since June, 2003.  Engaged in community and economic development planning for over 32 years in the diverse roles of tribal planner, regional planning organization team member, city, and non-profit economic development executive, and private consultant in Iowa, Arizona, New Mexico, Wisconsin and Minnesota.   Personal/Family Story/Hobbies/Interests: Raised in a progressive community in northwest Iowa, I have established roots in New Mexico and most recently in Minnesota. I have four grown children and three teenagers at home. Pam Keezer Department: White Earth Economic Development Office (WEEDO) Title:  Grant Writer Telephone: 218-983-4640 ext. 5908 Cellphone: 218-930-0753 Fax: 218-983-3641 Email: pamk@whiteearth.com  Internet address:  http://www.whiteearth.com/weedo/ Education: Detroit Lakes Community College  Short Job Description: Duties include writing grants, research of federal, state and private funding sources, assist tribal programs in completing grant applications, and assist in reporting to granting agencies; act as liaison between funding sources and the tribe, conduct fundraising efforts to support tribal community development, work with State, local governments and other agencies on cooperative projects which benefit the White Earth Reservation and its tribal membership. Professional/Career Experience: Thirteen years of grant writing and community development experience.  Employed by the White Earth Reservation Tribal Government for 10 years; 5 years in the Planning Department, 1 year as a Contract Specialist and the past 4 years as a Grant Writer.  Excellent fundraising skills.  Successfully completed a $2.7 million dollar capital campaign project for the new construction of a supportive housing project which included State, Private Foundation and Low Income Housing Tax Credit applications.  Extensive experience completing Federal, State and Private Foundation grant applications for programming, community development and infrastructure projects. SuAnne Frasier Department: White Earth Economic Development Office (WEEDO) Title:  Grant Writer Telephone: 218-983-4640 ext. 5907 Fax: 218-983-3641 Email: suannef@whiteearth.com  Internet address:  http://www.whiteearth.com/weedo/ Education: B.A., Rel. Studies, University of North Dakota Short Job Description: Duties include writing grants, research of federal, state, and private funding sources, assist tribal programs in completing grant applications, and assist in reporting to granting agencies, act as liaison between funding sources and the tribe, conduct fundraising efforts to support tribal community development, work with state, local governments and other agencies on cooperative projects which benefit the White Earth Reservation and its tribal membership. Professional/Career Experience:  Frasier has spent the majority of her career working with non-profits, writing grants and fundraising.  Her most recent work was serving as Director of the Women’s Fund with the Community Foundation of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks & Region. Personal/Family Story/Hobbies/Interests: Frasier enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and the arts.   Use the menu at left to learn more about how we can assist you. PO Box 418, White Earth, Minnesota  56591 Phone (218) 983-4640 | Fax (218) 983-3641 | deanj@whiteearth.com