Board Of Directors

Chair

With a powerful and thoughtful style of leadership, Chairwoman Teri Gobin leads the Tulalip Tribes Board of Directors with a focus on building community, improving health outcomes, supporting economic prosperity, and strengthening Tribal sovereignty.

Teri is proud to carry on the legacy of her late father, Stan Jones Sr., who served on the Board for 44 years, with 26 of those years as Chairman. He was instrumental in shaping who she is as a leader. Teri states that he taught her to, “Always lead with my heart and treat all people with respect and compassion”.

Teri has spent the past four decades influencing economic development, employment, and treaty rights for Indian Country. For most of her career, Teri passionately led as the Director of the Tulalip’s Tribal Employment Rights Office (TERO) department, and contributed greatly to the development of a nationally recognized trade school.

Teri is deeply rooted in her culture. She participates in teaching the youth traditional songs and cultural ceremonies that have been passed down for generations. Previously, Teri owned and operated a commercial fishing boat for many years, which gives her the expertise to relate to her fellow Coast Salish people who rely on the waterways and salmon for sustenance.

Teri lives happily on the Tulalip Reservation with her husband Billy. They have 4 children, 9 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Teri is proud to lead the Tribe and it’s 5,300 + Tribal Membership. Teri will always have the best interest of her people in mind along with the future generations to come.

Vice Chair

Vice Chair Napeahi has spent her career dedicated to the Tulalip Tribes and has held various positions at both the tribal government and the casino. She brings more than twenty-three years of experience in tribal government processes and systems and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Columbia College. She enjoys serving her community and creating policies that provide equitable distribution of benefits to all tribal citizens. She currently serves as a board member for United Way of Snohomish County. In her spare time, Napeahi enjoys spending time with her family, her husband Jay and their three children. She is an avid reader and loves to spend time with her dogs, Ivy and Tito.

Secretary

Theresa Sheldon advocates for historical justice, civic engagement, upholding and strengthening tribal sovereignty, and trust responsibility. She has dedicated her career to empowering Native communities across Indian Country.

Theresa began her career as a dice dealer in tables games for the Tulalip Casino. After graduating with her Bachelor’s degree she accepted a position as a policy analyst for the Tulalip Tribes, where she served for seven years. She later served two terms as an elected representative on the Tulalip Tribes Board of Directors. Theresa's experience in tribal governance and policy analysis has made her a valuable asset to many organizations, including the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians and the National Congress of American Indians.

In 2022, Theresa began her tenure as the Director of Policy and advocacy for the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition. She also served as the Native American Political Director for the Democratic National Committee from 2019 to 2022 and presided over the Biden-Harris Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC) in 2021 as the Native American Director.

Theresa's advocacy work has not gone unnoticed. She has received several awards for her contributions, including the 26th Annual National Indian Women's Supporting Each Other "Woman of the Year" Honoree in 2022 and the Native Action Network Enduring Spirit Award in 2017. She was also recognized with the Pearl Capoeman-Baller Civic Participation Award in 2009 for her work with Native Vote WA by the Potlatch Fund.

Theresa has a Bachelor of Arts in Law & Diversity from Western Washington University. She enjoys pulling canoe on the Coast Salish Sea with her son in the summer, snowboard in the winter, and loves to gather traditional foods in the spring time.

Treasurer

A proud Tulalip citizen dedicated to seeing his Tribe and all its members thrive to the best of their abilities, Hazen is honored to be serving his second term as a Board of Director and first as Treasurer.

The middle child of nine siblings born to parents Rocky and Peggy Shopbell, Hazen learned at a young age the importance of family and staying grounded to his tribal roots. Hazen and his wife Tia Shopbell have been together for over a decade and together they are raising six culturally-minded children in the local Hermosa neighborhood.

Being able to gaze upon the beautiful waters of Tulalip Bay every day is a gift the avid fisherman does not take for granted. Hazen has been exercising his inherent Treaty Rights as a Tulalip fisherman since a teenager and recalls falling in love with life on the water at just 14-years-old when he first connected with his ancestral fishing grounds.

As a fisherman, Hazen learned the ins and outs of having a self-sustaining income and the importance of creating his business. The entrepreneurial spirit runs through his veins and is most evident in the litany of businesses he’s created; such as seafood distribution, mobile automotive detailing, tapping into the vapor industry, and being a general contractor for a wide range of construction projects. Managing his own businesses hasn’t prevented the Tulalip citizen from experiencing the casino life grind either. In fact, Hazen worked 12 years at Tulalip Resort Casino in various positions for Security before transferring into Table Games.

In the midst of working at the Casino, on the water fishing, and overseeing his own businesses, Hazen remained vigilant to read and research what the most successful business minds were up to. This allowed him to stay up to date with the latest happenings in Indian Country and beyond. All the years writing and negotiating contracts, interpreting profit-loss statements, reconciling budgets, creating sustainable business models, and working with city, state and sovereign tribal governments make him an ideal Treasurer.

Remaining true to his Native American ancestry, Hazen routinely sweats and Sun Dances with his family. He always looks forward to fishing and geoduck diving season, especially as his kids become old enough to join him on the water and learn the value of a hard day’s work.

Understanding the foresight of our ancestors who suffered and sacrifices for the benefit of their future generations, Hazen was a central figure in a recent rendition of the Fish Wars. In fact, he fought and won on behalf of all Coast Salish tribes against the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife for the inherent rights to fish in our usual and accustomed areas. This incredibly important experience only strengthened Hazen’s resolve to uplift his people by increasing his capacity to advocate on behalf of Tulalip fisherman, entrepreneurs, and forward-thinking membership.

Council Member

Glen is a member of the Tulalip Tribes and has served on the Tulalip Tribal Council for over 18 years. Throughout his tenure, he has been a prominent figure on the Tribal Council's Business Committee, serving as the committee chairman for 17 years.

Glen also sits on the Quil Ceda Village Council, overseeing all business development and government operations. He also operated a successful construction business for over 20 years.

He is deeply committed to his cultural heritage. He continues engaging in lifelong traditions, such as fishing, while participating in various community activities, such as Salmon Ceremony.

Glen resides on the reservation with his family. He is dedicated to passing on the teachings he has learned to future generations.

With his extensive experience in business, community involvement, and cultural heritage, Glen is a valuable asset to the Tulalip Tribes and a respected leader within the community.

Council Member

Marlin Fryberg Jr. is a Tulalip tribal member and was elected to the Board of Directors in 2023.

Council Member

Debra Posey, a member of the Tulalip Tribes, was re-elected to the Board of Directors in 2022 for her second term. Previously, she served on the board for 12 years, from the early 1980s to the early 1990s. Debra, along with Lynn Parker, another Tulalip tribal member, made history by co-owning and operating the Tulalip Arby's for 31 years. This was a significant milestone as it was the first fast-food franchise owned by women on any Indian reservation.

Debra's upbringing instilled in her a profound understanding of treaty rights, sovereignty, and the importance of being indigenous. Her grandmother, Edith Percival Parks, was a trailblazer, being the first woman elected to the Tulalip Board of Directors in 1936. Debra learned her leadership philosophy from her grandmother, who believed that leaders exist to enhance the lives of their people.

With her wealth of experience, Debra is well-equipped to continue to make significant contributions to the Tulalip community and ensure the well-being of all its members. She enjoys spending time with her husband, their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren in her free time.