EDA Management
W. Joe Allen
Executive Director
- (360) 582-5791
- wjallen@jamestowntribe.org
- Sequim, WA 98382
Joe Allen has a demonstrated history of working in Tribal Economic Development & Casino Gaming. Skilled in Operations Management, Business Development, Strategic Planning, Budgets, Hospitality Industry, Team Building, and Leadership. Allen is a strong Tribal Business professional with a MBA from Washington State University – Carson College of Business.
Hawk Grinnell
Finance Director
- (360) 582-5794
- hgrinnell@jamestowntribe.org
- Sequim, WA 98382
Hawk Grinnell is a Jamestown Tribal Citizen who has worked at the Jamestown EDA since 2015. His CPA, Tax, and Audit experience has helped the EDA, a Tribal political subdivision, grow and take on new ventures in business. Hawk has proven that good decisions start with good financial data and he beams with pride over the EDA’s accounting department.
“The Tribe’s businesses are well taken care of thanks to the EDA’s accounting staff. I raise my hands in thankfulness for their hard work.”
Sam Benedict
Operations Manager
- (360) 582-5793
- sbenedict@jamestowntribe.org
- Sequim, WA 98382
Samantha Benedict has worked for the EDA since 2019. She is the Operations Manager for the businesses that are under the EDA umbrella. She also works directly with multiple tribal boards as the recording secretary. Her Previous work experience is in public transit, bank management, and customer service. She is proud and happy to be a part of the Tribal team through the EDA.
EDA Board of Directors
Jack Grinnell
Chairman
- (360) 683-2025
- Jack@olypen.com
- Sequim, WA 98382
EDA Board President (Bio Coming Soon)
Matt Adams
Secretary/Treasurer
- (360) 683-2025
- madams@jamestowntribe.org
- Sequim, WA 98382
I am a Tribal Citizen, employee (I have been 33 years with the Tribal maintenance department) and an active member of many boards and committees. I was on the Tribal Council for 14 years as the Treasurer. I served many years on the Cultural Committee, and the Family Community Network Board. I am currently on the JKT Development Inc. Board and the Fish and Game Committee. Over the years I have taken an active role in many Tribal events, including the Sequim Irrigation Festival, Annual Tribal picnic, and the River Festival at Railroad Bridge Park. I helped for many years with the coordination of the annual Tribal Canoe Journey by providing logistical, transportation and maintenance support.
Rochelle Blankenship
Member
- (360) 683-2025
- rblankenship@jamestowntribe.org
- Sequim, WA 98382
Rochelle was appointed to the Tribal Council Secretary position in January 2020 and elected November 2020. She graduated with honors receiving her Masters of Business Administration in 2016.
She has served as Secretary for the Jamestown Higher Education Committee since 2013. Rochelle is also a Board Member on the Jamestown Economic Development Board. Being passionate about Safety and Law and Order, she represents Jamestown on the Clallam County Sheriff Citizen Advisory Committee, as well as on the Port Angeles Safety Advisory Committee. Additionally, Rochelle serves on the Board of Washington Association of Tribal Regulators as Secretary to help keep Jamestown on the cutting edge of important changes in regulations in gaming.
Rochelle has worked in gaming in some facet since she graduated high school. She has worked for the Tribe as the Executive Director of the Tribal Gaming Agency (TGA) since 2016 and worked at 7 Cedars Casino for 15 years prior to taking the TGA position. Rochelle also serves as Treasurer and a member of the Executive Board on the Dungeness River Nature Center.
Latrisha Suggs
Member
- (360) 683-2025
- lsuggs@jamestowntribe.org
- Sequim, WA 98382
LaTrisha Suggs’ great-grandmother, grandmother and mother were all born in Port Angeles. She is a Jamestown S’Klallam Tribal Citizen (Cook-Kardonsky Family) and her ties to this community are generational. She is the first enrolled Native American to serve on the City of Port Angeles Council.
Her interests extend to serving her family, Tribal community, and the Port Angeles community by giving back by time. LaTrisha graduated from Western Washington University/Huxley program with an Environmental Policy and Planning degree. Prior to that, she graduated from Port Angeles High School in 1989 and attended Peninsula College. She currently works for the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe as the Restoration Planner, and prior to that she worked for the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe as Assistant Director for the Elwha River Restoration Office. Her background is in restoration planning, contract development, contract negotiations, implementation, environmental policy planning, and Tribal governments.
Lana Kerr
Member
- (360) 683-2025
- lkerr453@aol.com
- Sequim, WA 98382
Lana Kerr is a Jamestown S’Klallam Tribal Elder. She grew up in a family that operated a Trucking Company (M Fairchild Trucking) from their kitchen table. Lana has always had a fascination with business and processes from startup to operation. She has a passion for medicinal plants and was able to focus on her passion after retiring from the corporate world of Human Resources and Employee Assistance Programs, including Drug and Alcohol Counseling.
In 2012, she moved to Hawaii and earned a Certificate in Horticulture from Oregon State University. In 2014, she returned to Sequim, where she quickly became interested in preserving and using the Native plants indigenous to her homeland on a small piece of property that has been in her family (the Prince family) for seven generations.
She continues to pursue her love of horticulture through the study, growth, care and cultivation of plants, flowers, trees and vegetables, and has employed research, training, education and collaboration with neighboring Indian Tribes to build a basic knowledge of the value of edible and Medicinal local Native plants.
Most recently, she earned a Professional Certificate in Cannabis Science and Medicine, to increase her understanding of the potential benefits of Cannabidiol (CBD) to human health. Additionally, she applies her passion by serving on the Cedar Greens Board as well as the EDA board and provides her insights and expertise to their businesses.
