TULALIP TRIBES - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Secretary
- Tulalip Tribal Member
Debra Posey is a Tulalip Tribal member and was elected to the Board of Director in the 2022 election; and was elected as Secretary. Debra has been appointed to be the Service Committee Chair and is the President of the Quil Ceda Village Council.
A proud Tulalip citizen dedicated to seeing his Tribe and all its members thrive to the best of their abilities, Hazen is honored to be serving his second term as a Board of Director and first as Treasurer.
The middle child of nine siblings born to parents Rocky and Peggy Shopbell, Hazen learned at a young age the importance of family and staying grounded to his tribal roots. Hazen and his wife Tia Shopbell have been together for over a decade and together they are raising six culturally-minded children in the local Hermosa neighborhood.
Being able to gaze upon the beautiful waters of Tulalip Bay every day is a gift the avid fisherman does not take for granted. Hazen has been exercising his inherent Treaty Rights as a Tulalip fisherman since a teenager and recalls falling in love with life on the water at just 14-years-old when he first connected with his ancestral fishing grounds.
As a fisherman, Hazen learned the ins and outs of having a self-sustaining income and the importance of creating his business. The entrepreneurial spirit runs through his veins and is most evident in the litany of businesses he's created; such as seafood distribution, mobile automotive detailing, tapping into the vapor industry, and being a general contractor for a wide range of construction projects. Managing his own businesses hasn't prevented the Tulalip citizen from experiencing the casino life grind either. In fact, Hazen worked 12 years at Tulalip Resort Casino in various positions for Security before transferring into Table Games.
Job Titles:
- Snohomish County Prosecutor
Marlin Fryberg Jr. is a Tulalip tribal member and was elected to the Board of Directors in 2023.
Job Titles:
- Quil Ceda General Manager
Board member Sheldon has served on the Tulalip Tribes Board of Directors for over fifteen years, six of those as chairman. He also currently serves on the Services Committee. He was reelected to the Tulalip board in March 2015 after spending a year at Strategies 360, a public policy and communications firm in Seattle as vice-president of Native American affairs. Along with his fellow Tulalip board members, Sheldon has helped to lead economic development efforts at Tulalip, including the construction of the Tulalip Resort Casino - one of the largest employers in Snohomish County - and the first-ever federally chartered tribal city in the United States, Quil Ceda Village.
Under his and the board's leadership, the Tulalip Tribes have initiated major transportation and infrastructure projects and built a strong police department and tribal court. They have completed important environmental restoration projects and created strong partnerships with other community leaders and organizations. An active and engaged leader in Snohomish County, Sheldon has served in many capacities, including on the boards of Providence Hospital Foundation, Economic Alliance of Snohomish County, Citizens Committee for Marysville Schools, and the Boy and Girls Club of Snohomish County. He has also served as a vice-president in the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, an association representing nearly 50 tribes.
Previously, he worked as a commercial fisherman in Puget Sound and Bristol Bay, Alaska. After high school graduation, he immediately enlisted in the U.S Army serving a tour of duty in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot. Sheldon graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.
Vice Chair Napeahi has spent her career dedicated to the Tulalip Tribes and has held various positions at both the tribal government and the casino. She brings more than twenty-three years of experience in tribal government processes and systems and holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Columbia College. She enjoys serving her community and creating policies that provide equitable distribution of benefits to all tribal citizens. She currently serves as a board member for United Way of Snohomish County. In her spare time, Napeahi enjoys spending time with her family, her husband Jay and their three children. She is an avid reader and loves to spend time with her dogs, Ivy and Tito.
Job Titles:
- Council Member
- Tulalip Tribal Member
Pat Contraro is a Tulalip Tribal member and was elected to the Board of Directors in the 2021 election.
Rochelle is a member of the Tulalip Tribes. She has earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Washington, where she majored in Political Science and minored in Comparative History. In 2008, she completed her Master's degree in Public Administration as well as a certificate in nonprofit management from the University of Oregon. Rochelle has a passion for volunteering and helping her community become healthy and empowered. In 2012, she became a member of the Tulalip Foundation Board of Trustees, the driving force in the development of the Hibulb Cultural Center. She has also served on the planning committee and as Chairwoman for the Tulalip Boys and Girls Club Auction.
Sam Davis, a Tulalip Tribal member, brings over seven years of experience as the Director of Public Works for the Tulalip Tribes to his current role as COO. During his tenure, he successfully managed various projects. He overcame multiple challenges, which equipped him with the skills and expertise necessary to oversee the maintenance and development of infrastructure on the Tulalip Reservation, including roads, water systems, and buildings. With his extensive experience managing complex projects and teams, Sam ensures that the community's needs are met safely and efficiently. His strong understanding of his tribe's history, culture, and current challenges assists Sam in serving the Tulalip community.
Job Titles:
- Heritage High Student Edward Wayne Is a Leader
With a powerful and thoughtful style of leadership, Chairwoman Teri Gobin leads the Tulalip Tribes Board of Directors with a focus on building community, improving health outcomes, supporting economic prosperity, and strengthening Tribal sovereignty.
Teri is proud to carry on the legacy of her late father, Stan Jones Sr., who served on the Board for 44 years, with 26 of those years as Chairman. He was instrumental in shaping who she is as a leader. Teri states that he taught her to, "Always lead with my heart and treat all people with respect and compassion".
Teri has spent the past four decades influencing economic development, employment, and treaty rights for Indian Country. For most of her career, Teri passionately led as the Director of the Tulalip's Tribal Employment Rights Office (TERO) department, and contributed greatly to the development of a nationally recognized trade school.
Teri is deeply rooted in her culture. She participates in teaching the youth traditional songs and cultural ceremonies that have been passed down for generations. Previously, Teri owned and operated a commercial fishing boat for many years, which gives her the expertise to relate to her fellow Coast Salish people who rely on the waterways and salmon for sustenance.