In February 2013, the partnership between BGCA and communities with Native Clubs strengthened even more with the development of the Native Services Unit. BGCA Native Services is committed to addressing the challenges and issues unique to Native lands. Our team has very ambitious goals to aid in the sustainability and development of all Native Boys & Girls Clubs.
To learn more about the BGCA Native Services team members and the specific Native organizations team members serve, click on their names below.
Carla Knapp, National Vice President, Native Services, BGCA
Carla is a proven visionary and strategic leader with over 20 years of executive level, non-profit experience. She began her work in BGCA with the chartering the first Native BGC in the Northeast as the Chief Professional Officer. Carla grew the service area for youth and partnered with five federally recognized tribes to expand programing for Native youth.
Carla has received numerous awards to include the Executive Director’s Award for demonstrating outstanding performance, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) Native Service to Youth Award, the Maytag Leadership Award which honors dependable leaders throughout the BGCA movement, the National Indian Gaming Association Chairman’s Leadership Award, the 2019 W. Errol Sewell Leadership Award which recognizes outstanding achievements of professionals, and most recently Carla was the recipient of the 2021 Linkage’s Women’s Leadership Executive Impact Award.
In 2013, Carla accepted a position with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s newly established Native Services team to assist Clubs on Native lands across the country as one of the Native Services Directors of Organizational Development later to be promoted to the National Director of Native Services in 2014 and Vice President in 2017 and now serves as the National Vice President of Native Services.
Additionally, Carla is a tribal member of the Penobscot Indian Nation, and Bear Clan, married to Joseph Knapp and proud mother of two children. With the support of her family, Carla’s mission is to provide opportunities that improve the lives of youth and communities.
Kelly Concho-Hayes, Lead Director of Organizational Development, Native Services, BGCA
Kelly Concho-Hayes is an enrolled tribal member of the Navajo Nation and hails from Tsayatoh, New Mexico. She is Red Running into Water (Navajo) born for the Acoma (Child of the Little Eagle Clan) and Zuni people (Child of the Turkey Clan). Kelly is married to Jeremy Hayes from Nambe Oweenge (Winter Clan), who is active duty in the U.S. Navy for over 20 years. They have three daughters, Nanabah, Lena Povi and Makowa.
Kelly holds her Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction and Bachelor of Science in Education from Montana State University. Growing up on the Navajo, Acoma, and Zuni reservations, Kelly is deeply rooted in her traditional teachings from her family and community. Her work has always been with American Indian and Alaskan Native people, which has allowed her to collaborate with various organizations, Tribes, and villages across the United States including Hawaii and Alaska at different capacities.
Kelly’s service area includes 12 organizations in the following states:
California
Boys & Girls Club of Kumeyaay Nation Wellness
Boys & Girls Club of Wilton Rancheria
Boys & Girls Club of Big Valley Rancheria
Boys & Girls Club of Coyote Valley
Boys & Girls Club of Pinoleville Pomo Nation
Boys & Girls Club of Hoopa Valley
Boys & Girls Club of Yurok
Boys & Girls Club of Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians
Boys & Girls Club of Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians
Boys & Girls Club of Round Valley Indian Health Center
Boys & Girls Club of United American Indian Involvement, Inc.
Pago Pago, American Samoa
Boys & Girls Clubs of American Samoa
Anna Bear, Director of Organizational Development, Native Services, BGCA
Anna Bear has extensive nonprofit management experience and has been with the Boys & Girls Club Movement for over 25 years. Prior to her current role at Boys & Girls Club of America Native Services, Anna operated and managed the Lapwai Branch of the Boys & Girls Club in Lapwai, Idaho for 17 years. Anna has both implemented and overseen several youth development programs and activities including Immersion Mentoring, On the T.R.A.I.L. to Diabetes Prevention, mentoring programs, SMART Moves, Tribal Suicide Prevention Program and GO On Higher Education program. In addition to experience with program implementation, she also oversaw the successful building and sustainment of a brand new Boys & Girls Club building for the community of Lapwai. Anna also had active involvement with her Club, community, and Tribe serving on committees, groups, and boards to increase her circle of influence to provide more support and opportunities for Native youth. Anna is passionate about empowering Native Boys & Girls Clubs to be the best they can be so they can provide the most safe, fun, engaging highest quality experience for our Native youth which will help our Native communities prosper not only now, but for generations to come.
Anna is a Nez Perce (Ni-Mii-Puu) Descendant who was born and raised in Lapwai, ID, in the heart of the Nez Perce Reservation. Anna is married to the late Frank Bear and is blessed with three amazing bonus children, Peyton, Tyus, Bryden, and several nephews and nieces. Anna and Frank come from large supportive and strong families whose unconditional love and support make it possible for Anna to give back and support our Native youth and communities.
Anna’s service area includes 13 organizations in the following states:
Oklahoma
Boys & Girls Club of Chelsea
Boys & Girls Clubs of Red River Valley Oklahoma
Boys & Girls Club of Darlington
Boys & Girls Club of Delaware County
Boys & Girls Club of Ottawa County
Boys & Girls Club of Nowata
Boys & Girls Clubs of Green Country
Boys & Girls Club of Sequoyah County
Boys & Girls Club of Adair County Schools
Boys & Girls Club of Tahlequah
Boys & Girls Club of the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma
Boys & Girls Club of the WRAP Project
Boys & Girls Club of Pontotoc County Peak
Heather DiCosimo, Director of Organizational Development, Native Services, BGCA
Heather joins BGCA Native Services with 25 years of experience at Boys & Girls Club of Lac Courte Oreilles. Since 1999, she worked her way up from a part time Youth Development Professional, Program Director, Unit Director and in 2016 as the Chief Executive Officer. She is an innovative leader with demonstrated skills in strategic planning, operations development and community organizing. She has built strong relationships at the community, Tribal, state and national level. Heather has extensive experience in fiscal management, donor retention, partnership and board development, grant management, trauma-informed practices and understands the importance of cultural significance within Indian Country.
Heather resides on her home reservation of Lac Courte Oreilles, WI where she raised her children while earning her Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Western Governors University. She enjoys participating in community events as well as traveling in her free time with her husband.
Heather’s passion is aligned with BGCA Native Services’ goals to sustain and develop Native Clubs to ensure Native youth have every advantage to leading a happy and healthy life.
Heather’s service area includes 10 organizations in the following states:
Michigan
Boys & Girls Club of Bay Mills
Boys & Girls Clubs of Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
Minnesota
Boys & Girls Clubs of White Earth
New York
Akwesasne Boys & Girls Club, Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe
Boys & Girls Club of Shinnecock Nation
Rhode Island
Boys & Girls Club of Narragansett Indian Tribe
Maine
Boys & Girls Clubs of Border Towns
Wisconsin
Woodland Boys & Girls Club
Boys & Girls Club of Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
Boys & Girls Club of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
Wambli Dolezal, Director of Organizational Development, Native Services, BGCA
Wambli Dolezal, an enrolled member of the Yankton Sioux Tribe of Marty, South Dakota, also has roots among the Crow Creek Sioux Nation of Fort Thompson, South Dakota. Wambli has worked in Indian Country for 13 years. For nearly 4 years, he served as the CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of HoCak Nisoc Haci in Winnebago, Nebraska in addition to 3 years on their Board of Trustees. Wambli has built strong partnerships within the Winnebago community and Native communities to support Indigenous youth. He believes incorporating Native culture into Boys & Girls Club programming is vital for our children to use as a source of strength.
He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Sports Management in 2016 and Master of Science in Organizational Management from Wayne State College in 2019.
Wambli makes his home in Winnebago, Nebraska with his wife Cassie and his 4 children, Mimike, Misu Bear, Wakiya and Baby Wambli. He enjoys traveling to pow wows, playing golf, watching sports and spending time with his family.
Wambli’s service area includes 13 organizations in the following states:
Idaho
Boys & Girls Club of Shoshone-Bannock Tribes
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Nez Perce Tribe
Boys & Girls Club of Marimn Health
Kansas
Kickapoo Boys & Girls Club in Kansas
Boys & Girls Club of the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation
Boys & Girls Club of the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska
Montana
Boys & Girls Club of the Flathead Reservation and Lake County
Boys & Girls Club of the Northern Cheyenne Nation
Boys & Girls Club of Chippewa Cree Tribe of the Rocky Boy Reservation
Boys & Girls Club of Blackfeet Manpower
Nebraska
Boys & Girls Club of the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska
South Dakota
SuAnne Big Crow Boys & Girls Clubs
Wyoming
Boys & Girls Club of Eastern Shoshone
WarLance Foster, Director of Organizational Development, Native Services, BGCA
WarLance Foster is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation from Fort Defiance, Arizona. Prior to becoming a Director of Organizational Development for BGCA Native Services, he served as CEO of the Native American Basketball Association (ABA) for five years, where he grew the company by developing the organizational strategy and structure to incorporate more Tribes and increase sponsorship. WarLance has additional experience as an Athletic Director at Window Rock High School and Dine College, where he was responsible for managing and operating the athletic department, coaching staff, and player eligibility.
He currently holds a Bachelor Degree in Sociology from Western State College of Colorado and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. WarLance is currently working towards his Doctoral Degree in Organizational Leadership from Grand Canyon University and will utilize his education to help improve the services provided within Indian Country.
WarLance also enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with his three beautiful children.
WarLance’s service area includes 12 organizations in the following states:
Arizona
Boys & Girls Club of Aha Macav
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Gila River Indian Community
Boys & Girls Club of White Mountain Apache
Boys & Girls Club of Dine’ Youth
Colorado
Boys & Girls Club of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe
Nevada
Boys & Girls Club of Fallon Paiute-Shoshone Tribe
Boys & Girls Club of Agai Dicutta Tuamuhvi Nobe
New Mexico
Boys & Girls Clubs of Generational Empowerment
Boys & Girls Club of Gallup
Mescalero Apache Boys & Girls Club
Boys & Girls Club of Picuris Pueblo
Pueblo of Pojoaque Boys & Girls Club
Brandee Paisano, Director of Organizational Development, Native Services, BGCA
Brandee Paisano is a mother, activist, U.S. Navy veteran 2000-2005 and an enrolled Tribal member of the Laguna Pueblo Tribe (Badger Clan). Brandee has spent the past 16 years working in youth development and in her previous roles she has overseen Club operations, developed and maintained partnerships with school districts, tracked compliance with federal and state regulations and grew legislative partnerships that benefited the Clubs that she supported. She has a passion for supporting students with special needs and those furthest from educational justice and throws her energy behind providing intentional programming and support protocols to make sure that all children are successful. Brandee holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Management from City University of Seattle and an Associate Degree of Applied Arts from the Art Institute of Seattle.
Brandee is currently pursuing her Master of Legal Studies with a focus on Tribal Governance. When Brandee is not at work, she enjoys spending her time outside running, hiking, biking and camping. She lives with her husband in San Antonio Texas and has 3 sons and 3 pit bulls.
Brandee’s service area includes 12 organizations in the following states:
Alabama
Boys & Girls Club of The Poarch Band of Creek Indians
Alaska
Boys & Girls Club of South-Central Alaska
Boys & Girls Club of the Kenai Peninsula
Florida
Boys & Girls Club of the Seminole Tribe of Florida
Mississippi
Boys & Girls Clubs of Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians
North Carolina
Cherokee Youth Center
Boys & Girls Club of Haliwa-Saponi Tribe
Boys & Girls Club of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina
South Carolina
Boys & Girls Club of Catawba Nation
Washington
Boys & Girls Club of Quinault Indian Nation
Boys & Girls Club of the Yakama Nation
Boys & Girls Club of the Makah Tribe
Tim Reiplinger, Director of Organizational Development, Native Services, BGCA
Tim brings over 30 years of experience in the non-profit sector through Boys & Girls Clubs and YMCA’s. He has played an integral part in the start-up and sustainability of Native American Boys & Girls Club Organizations on the Leech Lake Reservation and the White Earth Nation. His leadership and vision has directly contributed to the advancement of youth services for two Northern Minnesota Tribes.
Prior to joining the Native Services Unit for BGCA in 2015, Tim served as the CPO for Boys & Girls Clubs of the White Earth Reservation. During his 11 years as CPO he was responsible for board development, financial stability, organizational growth, staff development and many other aspects of the Clubs operations. He began his career with the Boys & Girls Club movement in 1999 as the Program Director for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Leech Lake Area, where he played a vital role in the development of program services to over 500 youth on the Leech Lake Reservation. Tim credits his 16 years of work experience in local Boys & Girls Clubs as major reasons why he developed the skills necessary for the work he does today.
Tim earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Corporate & Community Health Promotion from the University of Wisconsin-Superior in Superior, Wisconsin in 1995. Tim graduated with honors as he held a 3.65 GPA over the course of his post-secondary experience. He also was a multi-sport athlete as he played both football and baseball during his 4.5 years of college.
Tim is a descendant of the Cherokee Nation and Choctaw Nation through his mother. He lives with his wife Kristi in Bemidji, Minnesota and has 2 daughters, Madison and Avery. He enjoys spending time with family and friends and especially loves playing golf in the summer as well as watching the National Football League in the fall and winter as a huge fan of the Minnesota Vikings.
Tim’s service area includes 13 organizations in the following states:
Minnesota
Boys & Girls Club of the Leech Lake Area
Boys & Girls Club of the Minneapolis American Indian Center
Red Lake Nation Boys & Girls Club
Boys & Girls Club of Bois Forte
Nebraska
Boys & Girls Clubs of HoCak Nisoc Haci
Boys & Girls Club of the Santee Sioux Nation
North Dakota
Boys & Girls Club of Turtle Mountain
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Three Affiliated Tribes
South Dakota
Boys & Girls Club of Lower Brule
Boys & Girls Club of Standing Rock
Boys & Girls Club of Rosebud
Boys & Girls Club of the Missouri River Area
Wisconsin
Boys & Girls Club of the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe
Jacquie Van Huss, Director of Strategic Growth, Native Services, BGCA
Jacquie has been working mostly within Indian Country for more than 40 years. Her strong leadership experience and capacity building along with her ability to construct solid relationships within communities has brought about positive developments for various tribal organizations and Native communities.
Furthermore, Jacquie has vast experience with Tribal governance, operations, management, and grants, including Tribal TANF Programs (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) directing, managing, developing and implementing compassionate and accountable social service plans including youth wellness components. Her strong community outreach and relationship building skills are something she prides herself in.
Jacquie is an enrolled member of the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California. She was previously elected to the Tribal Council and served 10 years with terms as Tribal Chairperson and Tribal Secretary, developing and implementing tribal government initiatives. She is very proud of her tribe and their accomplishments over the years. Born and raised in the exact geographical center of California in the beauty of the Sierra Nevada mountain community of North Fork, Jacquie has 3 fun-loving, full of life grandchildren, Téa, Tatum and Sawyer, whom she absolutely adores.
Jacquie’s service area includes 5 organizations in the following states:
California
Boys & Girls Club of Picayune Rancheria of Chukchansi Indians
Boys & Girls Club of Fresno American Indian Health Project
Boys & Girls Club of the Tule River Tribe’s Future Generations
Boys & Girls Club of the Native Star Foundation
Boys & Girls Club of the Wukchumni Tribe
Candita Woodis, Safety Analyst, Native Services, Child Safety, BGCA
Candita Woodis, is a citizen of the Dine’ Nation (Navajo Nation) from Shiprock, NM. Prior to becoming a Safety Analyst for BGCA Native Services, she served as QA/QC Performance Improvement Specialist with HHS Indian Health Service for 10 years, prior to that she worked in Higher Education as a Financial Aid Director and Adjunct Professor.
She currently holds a master’s degree in Information Resources Technology and Library Science from the University of Arizona and a Bachelor Degree in Tribal Government & Policy from Arizona State University as well as a Tribal Court Advocacy degree from Phoenix College. Candita is excited to join BGCA Native Services and will utilize her expertise to help Clubs provide the safest place for youth in Indian Country as safety is our number one priority.
Candita also enjoys cycling, hiking, and spending time with her husband, daughter and son.
Norma Brown, Executive Coordinator, Native Services, BGCA
Norma began her career with Boys & Girls Clubs of America over 10 years ago and serves as Executive Coordinator for Native Services. She previously worked at M6 Corporation as Project Coordinator for the properties renovations team and as Administrative/International Coordinator for the American Respiratory Care Foundation. Norma has spent most of her life in Texas where she completed all her schooling from K-12 at the same rural school in Rio Hondo, Texas, and after graduation she moved north to obtain a B.B.A. from the University of North Texas School of Management in Denton, Texas. She enjoys cooking, gardening, reading and watching old movies. Norma and her husband Robert are parents to 18-year-old Nathaniel and share their home with their timid cat, Chaos.
Ashley McMillan, Director of Operations, Native Services, BGCA
Ashley McMillan, a proud citizen of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, has dedicated her career to advocating for low-income, rural, first-generation, and students of color, blending her expertise across social work and higher education sectors. Prior to BGCA, Ashley served as the American Indian Liaison to the Chancellor and Director of the American Indian Heritage Center at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. In these roles, she collaborated closely with campus and community partners to implement best practices supporting American Indian students from matriculation through graduation.
Ashley holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development from North Carolina State University, an MSW from Boston College, and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She eagerly anticipates leveraging her experience to support BGCA Native Services in optimizing their resources to meet the needs of the Native youth they serve. In her leisure time, Ashley enjoys reading, exploring true crime podcasts, and cherishing moments with her husband and two sons.
Fenton Jones, Director Federal Grants – TRAIL and AmeriCorps VISTA, BGCA
Fenton Jones joined Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) on November 1, 2023, in the role of Director Federal Grants – TRAIL and AmeriCorps VISTA to support BGCA Native Services and Clubs on Native Lands. Fenton supports oversight of TRAIL and the AmeriCorps VISTA program components to ensure the timely achievement of milestones and providing crucial support for technical and administrative tasks. Additionally, he works closely with colleagues to ensure compliance with financial requirements, deliver training and guidance to Clubs, review financial reports, and offer advice on expenditure targets, fostering a dynamic environment for youth development and empowerment.
