Executive Director, Kevin J. Allis
About Mr. Allis
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Kevin J. Allis is a tribal member of the Forest County Potawatomi Community, and serves as the Chairman of the Board for the Potawatomi Business Development Corporation. In that role, Kevin has played a significant role in diversifying the Tribe's asset base and increasing the overall wealth of the Tribe, which has included investments in tribally owned federal contractors. Prior to joining NACA, Kevin was an attorney with the Washington D.C. based law firm of PilieroMazza PLLC that is nationally recognized as being a leader in providing superior legal advice to Alaska Native Corporations, Native Hawaiian Organizations, and tribal entities participating in the SBA 8(a) program. He provided sound legal advice to tribal entities in the areas of labor and employment and litigation. Kevin comes from a family with a history of tribal leadership, and a passion for enhancing the lives of Native communities. Both his grandfather and great-grandfather served as Chairman for the Forest County Potawatomi Community.
Legislative Director, Dennis Worden
About Mr. Worden
Dennis Worden is the legislative director for the Native American Contractors Association (NACA). He is a member of the Coeur d’ Alene Tribe. As legislative director for NACA, he is responsible for advancing NACA’s mission and priorities on Capitol Hill. Dennis is responsible for advocacy of the Native 8(a) program, and responsible for monitoring legislative developments pertaining to the program.
After graduating from the University of Oregon, Dennis worked within the U.S. House of Representatives as the Mark O. Hatfield Fellow. After his fellowship Dennis remained in the House serving as a Legislative Assistant, advising his office on issues including science and technology, agriculture and Tribal issues.
Dennis joined NACA after advocating for improved health care for American Indians and Alaska Natives at the National Indian Health Board. In 2011 he received the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development “40 Under 40.”
Director of External Affairs, Jennine J. Elias
About Ms. Elias
Jennine J. Elias is responsible for member services and outreach, external communications, media relations, minority and small business outreach, and general educational outreach. Her position is critical to ensuring NACA’s voice is heard by the media and that NACA continues to develop exceptional services to our membership.
Prior to joining NACA, Jennine worked at the National Congress of American Indians Policy Research Center as a Program Associate. She has interned at the Tribal Law and Policy Institute, Rural CAP through the Denali Commission, the Native Nations Institute, and Cook Inlet Region Inc., as a First Alaskans Institute intern while attending college. Jennine has a background in dispute resolution and bringing diverse groups together and recently worked with the Tribe, City Government, and Village Corporation of Toksook Bay to develop a comprehensive Community Plan. Jennine graduated with a Masters in Public Policy and a Masters in Dispute Resolution from Pepperdine University and holds a Bachelors from the University of Arizona. She is Inupiaq, Eskimo from Anchorage, Alaska and is a Bering Straits Native Corporation shareholder, a CIRI shareholder, and a shareholder of the Unalakleet Native Corporation.
Executive Assistant, Denise Pollock
About Ms. Pollock
Denise Pollock is responsible for providing administrative support services to the Executive Director and NACA staff. Her position is essential in performing bookkeeping duties, enforcing sound office procedures, and planning events.
Before joining NACA, Denise interned at Kawerak’s Child Advocacy Center in Nome, Alaska and the USDA Rural Development Cooperative Programs in Washington D.C. Denise graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a Bachelor’s degree focusing on Indigenous studies, Literature, and the Russian and French languages. Her senior thesis addresses how to protect Alaska Native women from high incidence violence by strengthening tribal courts and governments. Denise is passionate about how governmental policy and self-sustainable economic development can empower and enhance the lives of Native peoples.
Denise is Inupiaq Eskimo and is a member of the Alaskan Native Village of Shishmaref. She was raised in Barrow and Fairbanks, Alaska and is a shareholder of the Shishmaref Native Corporation and the Bering Straits Native Corporation. She is granddaughter of Iditarod musher Herbie Nayokpuk.