JAMES MILLS /President
For a quarter century, tribal leaders and decision-makers from across Indian Country have turned to James for his personalized consulting and leadership training. A master parliamentarian, James got his start in Indian Country hosting classes on Roberts Rules of Order. In 1990, he founded DCI, and soon after, began specializing in tribal enrollment software development and training. Today, he is one of Indian Country's leading experts in tribal enrollment policy and tribal constitutional revision.
James travels year-round to tribal communities, Alaska Native villages and First Nations and Aboriginal reserves working with councils and boards on various sovereign nation-building initiatives.
Prior to working in Indian Country, James was a hospital administrator in New York City and a music producer in Los Angeles. He was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York.
KATHRYN MILLS / Vice-President
Kathryn is the primary administrator to a host of CSN's workshops, conferences and on-site training sessions held throughout the year. She routinely travels across Indian Country in attendance of annual trade shows and major conferences on behalf of CSN.
Kathryn co-founded DCIAmerica in 1990, a company that merged with CSN in 2012.
CHRIS DEPIERRO / Operations Manager
Chris joined CSN in 2013 as an assistant to CSN's tribal enrollment reconstruction and audit team. Today, Chris is the company's Operations Manager at CSN's home office in New Hampshire.
Prior to joining CSN, Chris spent many years working with adults with developmental disabilities. He holds a bachelor's of science degree in Biology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
Chris is originally from Colombia, South America and grew up in Long Island, New York. He currently lives in Wilder, Vermont with his wife and three children.
DANIEL LEVITT / Field Consultant
Daniel is a Field Consultant with CSN focused specifically on sovereign nation-building initiatives linked to governing document strategy and tribal enrollment support.
Since 2008, Daniel has traveled throughout Indian Country consulting with various tribal nations. He's also a member of CSN's tribal enrollment reconstruction and audit team.
Daniel currently lives in Vermont.
NANCY GARCIA / Tribal Enrollment Specialist
(Tohono O'odham)
Nancy is an enrolled citizen of the Tohono O'odham Nation and a member of the CSN tribal enrollment reconstruction and audit team. She also leads enrollment workshops and discussion groups focused on a wide range of tribal membership-related issues.
For 30 years Nancy served as Director of the Tohono O’odham Tribal Enrollment Department managing citizenship issues for an estimated 20 thousand people living in both the US and Mexico.
BRENDA BRAINARD / Instructor
Brenda is a senior instructor for CSN/DCI America's conferences, workshops, and on-site trainings.
Brenda is Miluk Coos and an enrolled member of the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians. She is a graduate of the University of Oregon School of Law and an attorney, having practiced in the area of Indian Law for over 35 years. She has extensive background in the area of enrollment, constitutions and constitutional revisions, strategic planning, jurisdiction, Indian Child Welfare Act, Robert's Rules of Order, Ordinances, Policy and Planning and Management. and Education.
In addition, Brenda is a traditional storyteller and a basket weaver.
MICHAEL HANITCHAK / Tribal Enrollment Specialist
(Choctaw)
Michael is a member of CSN's tribal enrollment reconstruction and audit team. He is the former Director of Native American Programs at Dartmouth College and a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma.
KAREN HALL / Tribal Enrollment Specialist & Instructor
Ms. Hall is an active member of the Consortium of Native American Parliamentarians and a senior associate consultant & trainer with CSN/DCI America. Ms. Hall is also a member of CSN's tribal enrollment reconstruction and audit team. Her expertise in implementing training and technical assistance ranges from Tribal Enrollment Issues to Robert’s Rules of Order, office management, computer, supervisory training, and a variety of other related issues such as; time-management, mediation, and board-staff relationships in team building.
In the past, she has held administrative positions within the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, where she helped develop tribal enrollment policies and procedures.