Foodservice trends for tribal casino operators with BuyersEdge and Eagle Mountain Casino

Join Buyers Edge Platform and Domenic Vertucci, Director of F&B at Eagle Mountain Casino in Porterville, CA, for a conversation about what is trending within the tribal casino foodservice industry. As a partner of TribalValue, Buyers Edge Platform is sharing exclusive purchasing solutions to aid operators in finding the best solutions for optimal cost management. Listen in as they share actionable solutions for savings in both food and non-food spend. 
 
Show Links:
Reach out to BuyersEdge at:  https://buyersedgeplatform.com/tribal-value/
Reach out to Michelle at:  michelleb@tribalhub.com
 

The Move to Digital Membership Services with the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma

In this podcast we talk with the team at Choctaw Nation about their digital transformation project to create an effective and secure digital platform that serves their tribal membership.  It’s a project that has continued to grow for the Nation as their members have seen first hand the benefits digital services can bring.   Listen in to hear how the continuous improvement and growth of the people, process and technology has helped during their continued transformation journey.
Connect with us by searching “TribalHub” on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter.  If you have a topic for the show, email Michelle at michelleb@tribalhub.com.
Show notes:
Choctaw Nation Website:  https://www.choctawnation.com/

A 21st Century Road: Blazing Broadband Trails for Tribes with MuralNet

Access to broadband and wireless internet services has kept us together during the Covid pandemic.  From holiday zooms to online schooling; from telehealth calls to work from home office meetings, it’s the connection we needed during this crazy time.  Unfortunately, not everyone has had access to this type of connection.  In Tribal communities, only 65% of the total population has access to broadband.  And half of tribal rural households don’t have access to a fixed wireless internet provided, which is over twice the rate of non-tribal households. (www.muralnet.org).  So, how do we change this?  What can we do to help?  How do tribes battle this divide that seems to be getting bigger, not smaller?  Well, the answer isn’t easy.  But it’s out there, as you’ll hear in this conversation with Mariel Tiggs & Crystal Hottowe.  Mariel & Crystal work with the non-profit group, MuralNet.  Together, they help tribal nations bring internet access to tribal lands by helping tribes find grant opportunities, map out the FCC’s  Rural Tribal Priority Window that gives tribes the chance to apply for and receive spectrum licenses at no cost, find regional partners and so much more. Help is out there, and we hope this conversation will give you information that can be useful in your tribe's journey down this 21st Century Road.
Connect with us by searching “TribalHub” on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter.  If you have a topic for the show, email Michelle at michelleb@tribalhub.com.
Show notes:
MuralNet website:  www.muralnet.org
Reference articles:  https://cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2020/10/29/fcc-grants-no-cost-broadband-spectrum-licenses-to-11-arizona-tribes/

How Tribal Leaders Stay on Top of Their Game During a Global Pandemic

After being closed down for months due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, tribes across the country are working hard to reopen their governments and businesses in a safe and health manner. Many things have changed over this time, and are still changing. The world is in a constant flux, we are still in the midst of the global pandemic and tribal leaders across the country still need to be at the top of their game. 
Are we almost near the end of this pandemic? What should tribal businesses be focusing on? Is a recovery coming soon? These are questions we asked Larry Fretz, the practice lead at Info-Tech Research Group for both the Native American Technology Research Center (NATRC) and the gaming and hospitality research center (GHRC). Get his insight, suggested solutions, and recommendations by listening now!
Connect with us by searching “TribalHub” on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter.  If you have a topic for the show, email Michelle at michelleb@tribalhub.com.
Show notes:
The Info-Tech Covid-19 Response Page: infotech.com/covid
Info-Tech Webinar: https://www.tribalhub.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/COVID-19-Don%E2%80%99t-Panic_-Prepare.mp4

Pascua Yaqui Tribe Finds Success with New RPMS Framework

In today’s episode we showcase a conversation between Jason Lockwood, Health Information Consultant for the Pascua Yaqui Tribe and Justin Raisor, Sr. Account Executive of Nutanix. The two recently joined on a TribalWise webinar and discussed the success the tribe had when they migrated RPMS from a traditional architecture to a Nutanix framework.  
IHS and private sector tribal health facilities use RPMS every day to efficiently manage programs, maximize revenue generation and most important, to provide high-quality care for patients. It is one of the most critical applications run by tribal health organizations. If your tribe is looking to move to a more modified/updated framework, this will be an episode to listen to!
Connect with us by searching “TribalHub” on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter.  If you have a topic for the show, email Michelle at michelleb@tribalhub.com.
Show notes:
Nutanix:  nutanix.com
Pascua Yaqui Tribe:  pascuayaqui-nsn.gov
TribalHub:  TribalHub.com
 

Making Telehealth the First Choice at Cherokee Nation

There is an emerging growth of telehealth services within tribal nations right now that has been spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is changing the way patients look at healthcare. And it is changing the way providers give that care. In this episode, we talk with Dr. James Stallcup, Chief Medical Informatics Officer, and Toni Potts, Director or Health Applications, both with Cherokee Nation Health about their success in making telehealth a priority. From putting technology first and using workflows to manage change to encouraging video visits by engaging with mobile apps and changing chat platforms with healthcare workers, this is a discussion you do not want to miss.
Visit the Cherokee Nation Health website to learn more!  If you have a story to share, reach out to Michelle at michelleb@tribalhub.com. Connect with us by searching “TribalHub” on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter and subscribe to this podcast wherever you listen to never miss an episode.

Roundtable Discussion: Reopening Tribal Casinos & Pandemic Recovery

We're back and excited for our first podcast in a while!! Listen in as Mike Day (Founder & Executive Officer, TribalHub) and I  talk with two high level leaders from two casinos in two different parts of the country.  John Filippe, Executive Director of MIS for the Quinault Beach Resort & Casino in Washington and Dawn McGrady, CFO for the Little River Resort and Casino in Michigan. They open up and discuss what their tribal casinos are facing right now - from deep cleaning and remote work desks, to changes in customer base and lack of certain services. This conversation helps us try to get a pulse on the industry as we have begun to reopen our tribal facilities. 
 
We are all working to get back to our new normal. It's going to be different, and things are going to change!  Are you ready?
 
 
Show Host: 
Michelle Bouschor, Connection & Resource Specialist, TribalHub (michelleb@tribalhub.com)
 
Show note links:
Quinault Beach Resort & Casino:  Quinault Beach Resort and Casino opened in May of 2000. It is owned and operated by the Quinault Indian Tribe. We are the only beachfront casino on the Washington coast.
 
Little River Resort & Casino:  Conveniently situated at the corner of the US31 and M22 in the charming town of Manistee, Little River Casino Resort is one of the most exciting entertainment destinations in northwest Michigan.
 
TribalHub:  TribalHub exists as a platform for tribes to connect, grow and gain opportunities.  We leverage 20+ years of industry experience in tribal government and tribal enterprises to provide a network of connections and resources within our four core divisions. Our most known and longest standing division, TribalNet began in 1999 with the goal to create collaboration between tribes. Over the past two decades, this network grew to include a nationwide community of tribes, vendor partners, and industry experts. 

Covid-19: What you should prepare for, what you can expect, and what you should be doing NOW with Larry Fretz, InfoTech Research Group

All of us here at TribalHub hope this podcast finds you and your family well and safe during this unprecedented health crisis we are all experiencing. None of us have a blueprint that shows us how we, as business professionals, should respond to the Covid-19 pandemic.  This is uncharted waters for all of us. So...what ARE we supposed to be doing?  
That’s what we asked Larry Fretz of InfoTech Research Group on this podcast episode.  Larry is the practice lead at Info-Tech Research Group for both the Native American technology research center (NATRC) and the gaming and hospitality research center (GHRC).  He and his team of analysts develop and deliver targeted research, specific to the tribal government, gaming, and hospitality industries.
In March, InfoTech launched the Covid Response Resource Center to provide tools, templates and a playbook for IT leaders to assist their organizations through this disruptive time and every day new tools are being added. Every week they’ve been hosting a variety of webinars, supported by best practices research and tools, on key topics such as WFH, managing remote teams, child care policies in a WFH environment, streamlining the workforce, cost reduction planning and even a 10 step IT pandemic strategy playbook. 
Listen in as Larry gives us his insight on what IT and business leaders can expect moving forward, what you should reasonably be preparing for, and what you should be doing right now.
We hope that listening to our podcast will bring some sense of normalcy to your routine.  Be sure to subscribe to our show wherever you listen to podcasts, and follow TribalHub on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.  You can find a list of Covid-19 resources from Info-Tech on their website.
If you or your tribe is looking for services or programs that may be of use as we work through this time of shutdowns and uncertainty, please visit our website, our social pages, or email michelleb@tribalhub.com.
Stay safe & be well.

MuralNet Helps to Close the Digital Divide on Tribal Land by Assisting with FCC Spectrum License Application Process

All of us here at TribalHub hope this podcast finds you and your family safe and well.  In the midst of this global pandemic, I hope that this show brings some "normalcy" to your day.
In this episode we are going to cover the digital divide that we see in Indian Country and what the non profit group MuralNet is doing to help tribes across the country bridge that divide. Wireless high speed internet is now almost a necessity for daily living - and we see that today more than ever.  With every state under a "social distancing" order, we are looking to technology to keep us connected.  From telemedicine, to weather announcements, to news updates and social interaction, we have to have access to a network.  Many in Indian Country, however, are not this lucky.  One of the documented major obstacles to accessing wireless high speed internet on rural tribal reservations is the lack of infrastructure and funding to build it.
And this is where MuralNet comes in.  Cat Blake & Crystal Hottowe work with the MuralNet to help tribes build their own networks; with the hopes to bring the number of homes with access to wireless high speed internet on tribal reservations up to national levels. MuralNet provides various services to tribes including assistance with spectrum acquisition & analysis, high-level engineering plans, help with grant applications & waivers, and more specific to applying for a spectrum licence over tribal land.
Recently, the FCC opened a 2.5 GHz Rural Tribal Window, which is a unique application process/opportunity that tribes in rural areas currently have that could allow tribes to get direct access to unassigned spectrum. If Tribal entities don’t apply for the free licenses for these airwaves, they will be auctioned off to the highest bidder. The window to apply ends August 3rd. This opportunity is one of the things MuralNet is working hard to encourage tribes across the nation to apply for.  To date, the group has helped 7 tribes secure spectrum, and are helping more and more each day.
Listen in as Cat & Crystal discuss MuralNet, the Tribal Window opportunity, and a grant available for tribes to apply for called ReConnect.  
If you have a topic for our show, or would have a story to share, please contact us at michelleb@tribalhub.com
Don’t forget to subscribe/follow our show wherever you listen to podcasts to never miss an episode. Connect with all of us here by searching “TribalHub” on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter or visit our web page at tribalhub.com.
Mentioned Websites:
MuralNet webpage:  www.muralnet.org 
Info page on the 2.5 GHz tribal priority window: https://muralnet.org/tribalprioritywindow/
Blog documenting the ReConnect process: https://muralnet.org/funding/
Reference articles:
https://www.minneapolisfed.org/article/2019/the-digital-divide-in-indian-country
https://www.npr.org/2018/12/06/673364305/native-americans-on-tribal-land-are-the-least-connected-to-high-speed-internet
https://www.wiley.law/alert-FCC-to-Auction-Unassigned-25-GHz-Spectrum-for-Commercial-Use
 
 

Sneak Peek: MuralNet Helps Tribes Apply for 2.5 GHz Spectrum Opportunity

All of us here at TribalHub hope this podcast finds you and your family well and safe during this unprecedented health crisis we are all experiencing. Sharing information on resources and programs that are showing meaningful benefits to tribes and tribal casinos is one way that we here at TribalHub are striving to be a positive resource to the entire tribal community right now. We will get through this time. Until then, we hope that listening to our podcast will bring some sense of normalcy to your routine.
In this episode, we are giving you a sneak peek into a discussion Michelle Bouschor, TribalHub's Resource and Connection Specialist, had with Cat Blake & Crystal Hottowe who work with the non-profit group MuralNet. MuralNet is a volunteer organization funded through private donations, corporate sponsorships and in-kind support with the goal of helping tribes secure federal grants to own and support a 2.5 GHz band spectrum network from the FCC on tribal lands.
The full episode of my conversation with Cat & Crystal will be released on Thursday April 9. Be sure to subscribe to our show wherever you listen to podcasts, and follow TribalHub on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
If you or your tribe is looking for services or programs that may be of use as we work through this time of shutdowns and uncertainty, please visit our website, our social pages, or email michelleb@tribalhub.com.
Stay safe & be well.