Our Team

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Roderick Blanchard

BOARD PRESIDENT 

A Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians member with 32 years in U.S. Government experience with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Customs Service. Rod retired as CBP Port Director for Detroit in 2017. During his 12 years of senior management with the U.S. Government he held leadership responsibility for multiple major border operations, including managing over 2,000 employees.​

BOARD TREASURER

​Leroy Frazier

BOARD SECRETARY

​With over 35 years of business and leadership experience, Mr. Fraizer has honed his skills in financial oversight, strategic planning, and operational efficiency. His approach to monitoring budget adherence and driving cost-reduction strategies always aligns with mission-driven goals. Mr. Frazier is the current business owner of the Root River Golf Course as of May 2021.Mr. Fraizer’s dedication to service extends to his role on the conservation board of the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians. His diverse professional background includes a significant tenure with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection as Supervisory Chief CBP Officer. In this capacity, Mr. Fraizer excelled in enforcing compliance with legal and regular requirements, ensuring security, and promoting organizational efficiency. 

Rachel Heckel

Chief Executive Officer

As STI’s Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Heckel is a respected leader in government contracting with deep expertise in tribal-owned entities. She began as STI’s Chief Operating Officer, bringing a wealth of operational experience in the stand-up and performance of dozens of successful contracts throughout her career, including projects over $500 million. Since joining STI, Ms. Heckel’s dynamic leadership and strategic vision have been pivotal in driving organizational growth and operational excellence in federal contracting through the STI Federal brand. Ms. Heckel is driven by the opportunity to enhance the economy and improve the quality of life for the members of the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians. She earned an Executive Master of Business Administration from the University of Colorado and is a Certified Project Management Professional. Her proven ability to innovate and expand business lines, coupled with her strong leadership skills, positions Ms. Heckel as a formidable executive leader capable of steering our organizations toward sustained success and growth. 
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Brenda Gallegos

​Vice President of Business Development

​​Ms. Gallegos is a dynamic executive with over 20 years of experience in business development and strategic growth, specializing in the federal sector. She has a proven ability to drive revenue expansion, capture high-value contracts, and position organizations for long-term success. For nearly a decade, she served as Vice President of Business Development for an Alaska Native Corporation, where she led enterprise-wide growth initiatives across eleven wholly owned subsidiaries, securing key federal contracts and expanding market share. Now, as Vice President of Business Development at STI, she continues to lead high-impact strategies that strengthen competitive positioning, forge strategic partnerships, and accelerate business growth in public health, IT, and professional services.