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.​

​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

CEO

As STI’s Interim CEO, 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

​Seasoned executive level leader with an extensive 20-year history of experience in business development and strategic planning, especially within the realm of federal government, with demonstrated success at developing and implementing strategic plans and executing tactical initiatives that drive the achievement of growth targets.  Gallegos worked for nearly a decade as Vice President of Business Development for an Alaskan Native Owned Corporation. In this role, she successfully managed strategic planning and business development initiatives for up to eleven wholly owned subsidiaries.