The MPCDC Community of Practice Series: Purpose, People, and Practice was launched to create meaningful opportunities for Coalition members to connect, exchange ideas, and learn from one another. Centered on Coalition member interests and professional development, the series encourages collaboration by bringing together staff to share experiences, discuss emerging topics, and strengthen the collective work of Native CDFIs.
Over the past several months, MPCDC has hosted three successful sessions that showcased the expertise and innovation of member organizations.
The series began with a presentation on Community Lending from Patty Gobert, Executive Loan Administrator at NACDC Financial Services. Drawing on more than three decades of experience in Native banking and lending, Patty reflected on her role in helping establish the NACDC loan fund alongside the late Elouise Cobell and shared insights into the growth and impact of Native community development finance.
The second session featured Dawn E. LeBeau and Garrett Golliher of Akiptan, who highlighted the organization’s commitment to investing in Native youth through financing, scholarships, internships, leadership development, and agricultural entrepreneurship programs. Their presentation demonstrated how these initiatives are helping prepare the next generation of Native producers and business leaders.
The most recent presentation welcomed Paul F. Huberty, Executive Director of Wind River Development Fund, and Lisa Wagner, WRDF Chief Financial Officer, who presented the organization’s comprehensive compensation philosophy and mission-aligned incentive framework. Their session, titled Driving Performance Through a Competitive Compensation Philosophy and a Mission-Aligned Incentive Plan, explored strategies for attracting and retaining talented staff while aligning employee performance with organizational goals.
Together, these sessions reflect MPCDC’s goal for the Community of Practice Series: creating space for Coalition members to learn from one another, share practical solutions, and build stronger organizations through ongoing collaboration. Thank you to NACDC Financial Services, Akiptan, and Wind River Development Fund for sharing their time and expertise! We look forward to continuing the series with future opportunities for connection and shared learning.
