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.

Presently, Teri lives happily on the Tulalip Reservation with her husband Billy. They have 4 children, 9 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. Above all, Teri is proud to lead her Tribe and it’s 5,000+ tribal membership in the best interest its future generations.

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

Debra Posey is a Tulalip Tribal member and was elected to the Board of Director in the 2022 election; and was elected as Secretary. Debra has been appointed to be the Service Committee Chair and is the President of the Quil Ceda Village Council.

Treasurer

Pat Contraro is a Tulalip Tribal member and was elected to the Board of Directors in the 2021 election.

Council Member

Board member Sheldon has served on the Tulalip Tribes Board of Directors for over fifteen years, six of those as chairman. He also currently serves on the Services Committee. He was reelected to the Tulalip board in March 2015 after spending a year at Strategies 360, a public policy and communications firm in Seattle as vice-president of Native American affairs. Along with his fellow Tulalip board members, Sheldon has helped to lead economic development efforts at Tulalip, including the construction of the Tulalip Resort Casino – one of the largest employers in Snohomish County – and the first-ever federally chartered tribal city in the United States, Quil Ceda Village.

Under his and the board’s leadership, the Tulalip Tribes have initiated major transportation and infrastructure projects and built a strong police department and tribal court. They have completed important environmental restoration projects and created strong partnerships with other community leaders and organizations. An active and engaged leader in Snohomish County, Sheldon has served in many capacities, including on the boards of Providence Hospital Foundation, Economic Alliance of Snohomish County, Citizens Committee for Marysville Schools, and the Boy and Girls Club of Snohomish County. He has also served as a vice-president in the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, an association representing nearly 50 tribes.

Previously, he worked as a commercial fisherman in Puget Sound and Bristol Bay, Alaska. After high school graduation, he immediately enlisted in the U.S Army serving a tour of duty in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot. Sheldon graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.

Council Member

Councilwoman Zackuse previously served as Chairwoman of the Board and first served on the Tulalip Board of Directors in April 1990. Marie currently serves on the Services Committee. She is actively involved in the Early Learning Advisory Council, established by the Washington State Legislature. Her accomplishments include the signing of a memorandum of agreement that encourages WSSDA to develop a curriculum that provides for tribal experiences, to work on narrowing the achievement gap, and to increase understanding of tribal history, culture and government. Marie and her husband, Gene, live in Tulalip. They have four children and eleven grandchildren.

Council Member

Hazen Shopbell is a Tulalip tribal member and was elected to the Board of Directors in 2020. He currently serves on the Services Committee.