CEO's Corner

Happy July everyone!

We are officially halfway through 2023 – very crazy to think about. Time needs to slow down sometimes

June saw beginning and ends, a beginning to our new KBIC branding and an end being the retirement of our Director of Substance Abuse Programs, Jeanne Hirzel. Jeanne has been an integral piece to our substance abuse services that KBIC offers for over 30 years. When I first came into my position, meeting Jeanne was a very pleasant surprise. I had always known of her within the community but never got to see firsthand her passion for helping others and her ability to make an impact from her generous smile to her knowledge of the accreditation, business, and clinical needs of the program

Congratulations, Jeanne! Well deserved

For the month of June, I:

Attended a KBIC Housing Developments Design Update meeting

Held interviews for Administrator of Substance Abuse

Met with The Nature Conservancy Regional Director, Julia Peterson

Attended a Keweenaw Heartlands Planning Committee meeting in Copper Harbor

Attended a CEO/CFO/Presidents monthly meeting

Met with ICWA Committee and TSS Department

Attended an informational meeting with NRD and Talon Metals

Met with Andy Chosa, Upper Peninsula Health Care Solutions

Attended the KBIC Health Fair

Attended an MOU revisions meeting with the US Fish and Wildlife Service and KBIC

Participated in a Policy Review Workgroup meeting

Attended an Employee Picnic Committee meeting

Held two Indigenous Insight updates

Attended three Tribal Council meetings

Assisted in coordinating a two-day on-site Amplifund training for department grant leads and accounting staff

Held weekly and monthly department head update meetings

July looks to be another busy month with the 4th of July Holiday week, FY24 budget preparation beginning, our 45th Annual Maawanji’iding, and many more community and department events being promoted and prepared for.

All my best,

Brigitte

The guest speaker for the evening was KBIC member Cheryne Clements. Cheryne owns Fit Body Boot Camp and resides in Marquette with her husband, two sons, and two dogs.

She inspired graduates and guests with her words of wisdom, which she called six small steps on How to Win the Day: #1 Don't hit snooze, #2 Drink at least 32 oz of water first thing in the morning; #3 Find and show gratitude, #4 GSD list that contains five things you need to get done that day, #5 Exercise-workout-move, and #6 have an all in mentality. She emphasized all six steps' importance and hoped guests would implement one immediately.

A highlight of the evening was the scholarships awarded and the presentation of gifts from the Education Committee, Tribal Council, Ojibwa Seniors, and Cultural Committee.

Liz Julio, Education Director, gave closing remarks, and the graduates left the event with a renewed sense of purpose and determination, ready to embark on their future endeavors with the support of their families, community, and the KBIC Education Department.