Department of Administration
The Department of Administration is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe (MLBO) tribal government, including administering grants and contracts and overseeing all personnel issues and lobbying activities as directed by the Chief Executive.
The department is supervised by the Commissioner of Administration, who is appointed by the Chief Executive and ratified by the Band Assembly.
The Commissioner oversees the Assistant Commissioner of Administration, the Commissioner of Community Development, the Commissioner of Health & Human Services, and the Commissioner of Natural Resources. The Commissioner serves as chief of staff to the Chief Executive, Melanie Benjamin, and oversees day-to-day operations of the tribal government, including fiscal responsibilities, human resources, grant development and oversight.
The Assistant Commissioner of Administration acts in a deputy-level capacity to the Commissioner of Administration to help manage the day-to-day operations of the MLBO tribal government. Duties include managing human resources, finances, and contracts for the Executive Branch of the MLBO tribal government. The Assistant Commissioner will also act as Commissioner of Administration when the Commissioner is absent and will assist other commissioners with day-to-day operations as needed.
Peter Nayquonabe
Assistant Commissioner of Administration
Email
Office: 320-532-7489
Cell: 320-630-3118
Angel Oehrlein
Executive Assistant
Email
Human Resources
The Human Resources Department is responsible for posting current job openings with the Band’s government and completing employment verifications and background and driver’s license checks.
Stacey Sanchez
Director of Human Resources
Email
Job Openings
For a list of current job openings, click here. For a list of current job openings at Grand Casino Mille Lacs and Grand Casino Hinckley, please see mlcvjobs.com
Brandi Smith
HR Generalist
Email
For more information on current job postings or application procedures, please contact:
Justine Petersen
Employment Coordinator
Email
Erin Stresow
Training and Development Specialist
Email
Fringe Benefits and Workers Compensation
MLBO employees can contact the department with any questions about their health, dental, and life insurance plans; disability coverage; and 401(k) plan.
Mary Kegg
Benefits Administrator
Email
Dawn Chosa
Labor/Employee Relations Specialist
Email
Nicole Sawyer
Safety Risk Manager
Email
Personnel Policies
MLBO employees can contact the department with any questions about the Band government’s personnel policies or download a copy of Mille Lacs Band Personnel Policy and Procedures.
Facilities
The Department of Administration oversees operation of all MLBO tribal government facilities, including community centers, schools, clinics and assisted living units.
For a complete list of facilities, please see Tribal Government Facilities.
The community centers offer numerous programs and services to youth, adults and Elders in their communities. Specific programs and services are listed separately under the appropriate department. Please contact community centers directly at the numbers below.
District I Community Center
43408 Oodena Drive
Onamia, MN 56359
320-532-7423 or
800-709-6445 Ext. 7585
District IIA (Chiminising) Community Center
2605 Chiminising Drive
Isle, MN 56342
Amanda Behnke
Program Administrator
Email
320-676-1102 or
District II (East Lake) Community Center
36666 Highway 65
McGregor, MN 55760
Amanda Bruneau
Program Administrator
Email
218-768-3311 or
District III (Aazhoomog) Community Center
45749 Grace Lake Road
Sandstone, MN 55072
Julius Aubid
Program Administrator
Email
320-384-6240 or
Meshakwad Community Center
38043 Hinckley Road, Hinckley, MN 55037
Ryan O'Brien
Site Director
Information Systems Department
The Information Systems Department is responsible for the computers, computer networks, and telephone systems throughout the MLBO tribal government center, community centers, clinics, and the Urban Office.
Keith Modglin
Information Systems Director
Email
Notary Services
Notary Publics attest to or certify writings to make them authentic and official. Notary public services are offered free of charge to Mille Lacs Band members.
District I Office
District III Office
Urban Office
Self-Governance Office
The Self-Governance Office is responsible for monitoring and implementing permanent self-governance laws within the United States Department of the Interior and the Department of Health and Human Services.
John Mojica
Self-Governance Coordinator
Email
Child Support Enforcement
The Child Support Enforcement Program assists Mille Lacs Band members through the legal process of child support, including the determination of child support obligations and enforcing those obligations.
For detailed information on the program, see Child Support Enforcement Program.
Rachel (Sam) Sablan
Child Support Enforcement Director
Email
Beverly Sutton
Administrative Assistant
Email
Grants Department
Grant funds received by the MLBO support important programs and services for its community. These funds allow MLBO to extend pre-existing services, introduce new initiatives, gain technological advances, and subsidize programmatic staffing. Grant funds are dispersed throughout MLBO and impact a variety of efforts, including social services, public safety, public health, youth programming, education, natural resource management, and heritage resource management, among others.
The Grants Departments role is to work in conjunction with MLBO Commissioners and their designated Project Directors to develop, implement, and maintain meaningful grant oversight and coordination for MLBO thereby increasing grant related revenue, limiting MLBO’s exposure grant related legal liability, and improving the efficiency and impact of programs and services funded through grants.
Brittany Wind
Grants Director
Email
Aanjibimaadizing
Aanjibimaadizing provides a comprehensive system of employment assistance, counseling, training and education to promote healthy life choices, appropriate work habits, and relevant skills for success in tribal or non-tribal, public or private work places.
The goal of Aanjibimaadizing is to empower low-income Mille Lacs Band members and their families to end dependency on assistance and to achieve a self-sufficient lifestyle.
For more information, please see Aanjibimaadizing.
Central Office
Fax: 320-532-3785
800-922-4457
Tammy Wickstrom
Executive Director
Email
Elder Supplement
John Mojica
Elder Supplement/Self-Governance Coordinator
Email
Urban Office
The Band’s Urban Office exists to provide programs and services to Band members living in the Urban Area.
Services available at the Urban Office include Band hunting and fishing licenses, referrals for traditional healing and other services, notices of meetings and other events, and forms related to Band enrollment, insurance, loans, tribal identification, emergency assistance, scholarships, and other services.
Please see the Urban Office page for more information.