Staff

Susan Jenkins, an enrolled member of the Choctaw Nation (Oklahoma), came to the Cherokee Preservation Foundation in 2002 from the Hitachi Foundation, where she was Senior Program Officer. Previously she was with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, where she helped establish a partnership between 55 Delta communities in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi and the Kellogg Foundation. She has a PhD in Sociology from the University of Georgia.

Deborah Grant, Finance Officer
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Deborah Grant joined the Foundation in 2002 after serving as Chief Financial Officer for the Museum of the Cherokee Indian and as an accountant at several other organizations. A Certified Public Accountant, she earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration from Western Carolina University. She is a graduate of Leadership North Carolina 2011.

Alicia Jacobs, Fellow
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Alicia Jacobs joined the Foundation in 2009 and coordinates the Jones-Bowman Leadership Award Program. She is an honors student at Western Carolina University, pursuing a degree in Sociology. She came to the Foundation with years of leadership experience, in part through ownership of an award-winning catering business. She is a youth leader, an avid volunteer, and an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation (Tahlequah, OK).

Daniel Martin, Senior Program Associate
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Daniel Martin is on the Foundation’s programming staff and is responsible for its support of entrepreneurship and environmental sustainability programs. He has a B.S. degree in business administration from Haskell Indian Nations University. Previously he worked at Vangent, Inc., and The World Company, where he acquired managerial and customer services skills and experience. He is an enrolled member of the Fort Peck Assiniboine Sioux.

Wanda McCoy, Executive Assistant
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Wanda McCoy joined the Foundation as Executive Assistant in 2006, coming from Cherokee Cablevision, where she had been a customer service representative for ten years. Wanda studied library science at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, and earned her AA degree at Bacone College, in Muskogee, Oklahoma. She is an enrolled member of the EBCI.

Deb Mintz, Program Operations and Grants Manager
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Deb Mintz oversees the grantmaking process, performs grantee reviews, facilitates certain types of grants, and serves as the Foundation’s community liaison for the Cherokee Day of Caring. An enrolled member of the EBCI, she came to the Cherokee Preservation Foundation in 2002. She was previously employed with the EBCI Tribal Travel and Promotion program, where she worked extensively in the tourism field for 17 years. She has a Bachelor’s degree in business administration from Montreat College.

Charlie Myers, Associate Director for Strategic Initiatives and Planning
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Charlie Myers joined the Foundation in 2010, coming from Harrah’s Cherokee Casino and Hotel, where he had been Director of Casino Operations. In additional to overseeing strategic initiatives and planning, he is responsible for the Foundation’s support of language revitalization and cultural tourism initiatives. Previously he served on the Foundation’s Board of Directors. Earlier in his career, Charlie headed Economic Development for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, served as Vice Chairman of the Board of Advisors for EBCI Tribal Casino Gaming and Tribal Bingo Enterprises, and was a retail lender for First Citizens Bank. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Finance and Economics from Western Carolina University. He is an enrolled member of the EBCI.

Bobby Raines, Program Director
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Bobby Raines, an enrolled EBCI member, came to the Foundation in 2005 after graduating from Haskell Indian Nations University with a B. A. degree. His major was American Indian Studies, with emphasis on Interdisciplinary Leadership. His responsibilities at the Foundation include its culture-based leadership programs. Previously, Bobby was employed at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino and at Cherokee Forestry.

Monaka Wachacha, Administrative Assistant
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Monaka Wachacha joined the Foundation as Administrative Assistant in 2009. She earned an AA degree in Business Administration from Tri-County Community College and an AA degree in Accounting from Southwestern Community College, and is now pursuing a Bachelor’s degree. She is an enrolled member of the EBCI and lives in the Snowbird community.

Sasha Watty, Program Associate
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Sasha Watty is a member of the Foundation’s programming staff. Her responsibilities include managing the Skill Builder program and K-12 Financial Education initiative. She enjoys working with the community and youth. She is a 2010 graduate of Mars Hill College and previously worked at the Cherokee Life Recreation Center and CBC Printing. She is an enrolled member of the EBCI.