Meet Your 2025 Conference Hosts

Kostan Lathouris

Kostan R. Lathouris, an enrolled tribal member and elected Tribal Council Member of the Chemehuevi Indian Tribe, received his Juris Doctor from the William S. Boyd School of Law at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (“UNLV”) in 2015 and his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, as a University Honors Scholar, from UNLV in 2009. He is a member of both the State Bar of Nevada and the State Bar of California and is admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the United States; the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals; the United States District Courts for the District of Nevada, the Central District of California, and the Eastern District of California; and in the tribal courts of the Chemehuevi Indian Tribe, the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe, and the Colorado River Indian Tribes.

Visit Lathouris Law

Karla Bylund

MS, SHRM-SCP, Owner & CEO

Karla Bylund is a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation and has over twenty years of experience in the human resources profession. The majority of her career has been in Indian Country and she has worked with/for many tribes across the country. In the course of her career she has conducted numerous organizational, compensation, and classification studies; audited many HR departments; conducted sensitive investigations and implemented policies, procedures and processes to remove inefficiencies and improve the overall performance of company teams. Karla has also developed onsite and e-learning training programs focusing on the unique challenges in Indian Country.

Visit Soaring Bird Solutions

Guest Speakers

THRP, Senior HR Business Partner
Rick Battis is a capable and talented HR professional with over 30 years of experience in most competencies of human resources and in many industries. During the past 10 years Rick has acquired his Tribal Human Resources Professional (THRP) certification and has successfully worked with many Native American enterprises and governments. Rick is currently a Sr Human Resources Business Partner with Soaring Bird Solutions. He is experienced at investigations, interventions, employee coaching and dealing with difficult employee discussion. Rick has an ability for crafting and delivering professional trainings and presentations that impact the audience.

SPHR, THRP, Senior HR Business Partner
Shannon Holliday is a Senior Human Resources Business partner for Soaring Bird Solutions, LLC. Shannon has her MBA, SPHR and THRP certifications. She has over 15 years of HR experience in various industries including manufacturing, healthcare, travel, and Tribal casinos. Shannon enjoys recruiting and process and procedure development and implementation the most. Finding the right person for the job and then setting that person up for success within the company!

Yvette Fielder (Hidatsa, Mandan, Lakota) has served as a Program Director at the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED) since 2018. Driven by a strong commitment to empowering small businesses, she brings expertise in strategic planning, leadership development, and training. Yvette has cultivated meaningful partnerships with tribal communities, entrepreneurs, and minority business enterprises, while leading impactful initiatives such as the Native Edge Institutes and Native Edge Tourism, and co-hosting several episodes of the Native Edge Podcast.
She holds a Master’s in Public Administration, a Bachelor’s in Management with a minor in Business, and a certificate from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. Yvette also serves on the welcome team at her church and was recently elected to the Board of Directors of Western Spirit: Scottsdale’s Museum of the West. Dedicated to advancing opportunities for Native and minority-owned businesses, Yvette’s greatest pride remains watching her children grow into successful adults, carrying forward her values of resilience and achievement.

Andy Bradford is the Founder and CEO of DandyIT LLC, a leading Managed Service Provider and Cybersecurity firm known for its commitment to digital protection and operational excellence. With over 19 years of experience in Information Technology, Andy has built a career defined by innovation, integrity, and a deep understanding of the evolving tech landscape.
Throughout his career, Andy has partnered with respected organizations such as NCAIED, The Children's Center, Soaring Bird Solutions, and others where his strategic insight and technical expertise consistently delivered meaningful results.
Andy’s global perspective was shaped by Serving a two year Church mission in Italy, where he became fluent in Italian and developed a lasting appreciation for cultural diversity. This experience continues to influence his inclusive leadership style and people-first approach.
Outside of work, Andy is a devoted husband and a father to five children and three foster kids, whose love and support fuel his drive. He’s also an outdoor enthusiast; passionate about hiking, biking, and scuba diving, and a proud recipient of the Eagle Scout award, reflecting his lifelong dedication to community service and leadership.
Whether in the boardroom, on the trail, or in his community, Andy Bradford leads with purpose, compassion, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

Mr. Jon Grant has developed seven TANF and three IV-E programs in Indian Country since 1990. His experience includes extensive grant management and grant writing experience. His extensive experience in working in with grant development and management in various contexts including Child Welfare, TANF, CCDF Family Violence Prevention and Treatment, General Assistance, Justice and Tribal Courts, Employment and Training, Education, Housing, Energy and other services. This includes broad experience in the day-to-day administration and management of Social Services related program. This experience includes the management of program operations, fiscal management, human resources development, and administrative services for various programs. His experience includes budget development and compliance auditing to ensure that both programmatic and fiscal requirements (such as regulations and OMB Circulars) are in compliance. For over 20 years he trained for the Falmouth Institute in Grant Management, Grant Writing, Case Management, Social Services Management and other subjects. He has extensive experience interpreting Federal regulations and OMB Circulars and setting systems in place to assure financial and programmatic compliance.

Erin serves as the Chief of Staff at the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED). She began her journey with the organization in May 2017 as an Administrative Assistant and has steadily advanced through the ranks, thanks to her strong work ethic and dedication.
Before joining the National Center, Erin spent a decade working with Native American youth in various roles, primarily through after-school and summer programs.
A proud member of the Colville Confederated Tribes, Erin was born and raised in Washington State. She later relocated to Arizona in search of sunnier skies and is currently completing her Master of Business Administration. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy.
In addition, Erin is a Certified Event Designer through the Event Design Collective program, an expertise she brings to the planning and execution of the annual Reservation Economic Summit (RES).

Kyler is a dynamic professional with a passion for both human resources and sports coaching. Currently going into his 4th year as a Partner Account Executive at BambooHR, Kyler specializes in helping small and medium-sized businesses achieve their HR goals through innovative cloud-based software solutions. With a knack for building and maintaining strong relationships, Kyler collaborates with HR consultants and companies to effectively leverage BambooHR’s software for their clients. Working with a diverse and collaborative team, Kyler is committed to customer satisfaction and continuous innovation.

In addition to a successful career in HR, Kyler is a University of Utah Alum, where he also the head coach of the Club Lacrosse team. Under Kyler’s leadership, the team clinched the 2022 MCLA Division 2 National Championship and the RMLC Championship, earning Kyler the prestigious Coach of the Year award. Passionate about developing and mentoring young athletes, Kyler fosters a culture of excellence and is dedicated to promoting the sport of lacrosse in the region.Originally from Portland, Oregon, Kyler has called Utah home for the past nine years, bringing a unique blend of expertise and enthusiasm to both their professional and coaching endeavors

Kyia Jackson, is the Business Specialist for the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development. Kyia is an enrolled member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in American Indian Studies and Minor in Sustainability from Arizona State University. She was formally the Export Business Development Specialist for the National Center’s Minority Business Development Agency Export Center where she was responsible for supporting clientele through their expansion in international markets. Prior to her time at the National Center, she worked for the Economic Development Program of the San Carlos Apache Tribe. During her time there, she assisted Tribal members with economic planning, establishing or expanding their businesses, hosting business workshops with community partnerships and created tourism activities. In her free time, she enjoys drawing, sewing and spending time with her dogs which led her to co-found a nonproﬁt focused on rescuing abandoned animals within her community.

Eddie is a seasoned partner professional with over 15 years of expertise in strategic partnerships. He loves forging impactful partnerships that drive growth and excellence. Eddie's proactive approach and deep industry knowledge have consistently delivered tangible results, making him a trusted leader in the partner communities he has served. Connect with Eddie and explore his insights into partnership strategies and business growth.When not at BambooHR or helping partners, Eddie plus a family of 8, enjoys spending time outdoors, traveling, and being together with friends and family.