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.

Baabiitaw Boyd
Commissioner of Administration

Office: 320-532-7530

Cell: 218-670-0745

Peter Nayquonabe
Assistant Commissioner of Administration

Office: 320-532-7489

Cell: 320-630-3118

Angel Oehrlein
Executive Assistant

320-532-7478

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

320-532-7866

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

320-532-4742

For more information on current job postings or application procedures, please contact:

Justine Petersen
Employment Coordinator

320-532-7460

Erin Stresow
Training and Development Specialist

320-532-7488

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

320-532-7477

Dawn Chosa
Labor/Employee Relations Specialist

320-532-8900

Nicole Sawyer
Safety Risk Manager

320.532.7550

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

320-676-1102 or

877-676-1299

District II (East Lake) Community Center

36666 Highway 65
McGregor, MN 55760

Amanda Bruneau
Program Administrator

218-768-3311 or 

877-768-3311

District III (Aazhoomog) Community Center

45749 Grace Lake Road
Sandstone, MN 55072

Julius Aubid
Program Administrator

320-384-6240 or

877-884-6240

Meshakwad Community Center
38043 Hinckley Road, Hinckley, MN 55037

320.336.0220

Ryan O'Brien
Site Director

320.232.7142

320.336.0221

www.meshakwad.com

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

320-532-4736

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

320-532-7440

District II East Lake Office

218-768-2427

District IIa Chiminising Office

320-676-1102

District III Office

320-384-6240

Urban Office

612-872-1424

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

320-532-7479

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

320-532-7461

Beverly Sutton
Administrative Assistant

320-532-7755

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

320-532-7517

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.

Elder Supplement

John Mojica
Elder Supplement/Self-Governance Coordinator

320-532-7479
320-630-2442

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.