Migizi Interim CEO offers insight on MEDC properties at State of the Tribe meeting
3/4/2015 4:00:00 PM - Tribal Observer

By Joseph V. Sowmick, Photojournalist

On Feb. 22 at the Saginaw Chippewa State of the Tribe address, Migizi Interim CEO Lisa Darnell provided an insightful PowerPoint presentation on the Migizi Economic Development Company (MEDC) and the myriad of properties it represents.

Tribal Chief Steven Pego serves as the Migizi Board of Director Chairperson with the Director of Purchasing David Charles serving as Vice Chairperson.  Other Migizi Board members include Tribal Council Secretary Sandy Sprague as Secretary and Tribal Council Treasurer Shelly Bailey as a Board member. 

The three other Migizi Board members include Public Relations Director Frank Cloutier, Investment Research Analyst Melanie Burger and community Tribal Member Darryl Jackson.  There is currently a vacant position on the Migizi Board.

“The Migizi Board of Directors makes a great team and we are together on what our focus and customer service initiatives are for fiscal year 2015,” Darnell said. “We will endeavor to 1) get all Migizi EDC businesses to exceed projections and to maintain profitability, 2) remain focused on the improvement of existing businesses and new implementations to make them enticing 3) more Tribal collaboration to increase revenue and customer base for all and 4) researching new business opportunities with a focus on items that the Tribe spends a lot of resources on to see if we can internalize. It is an honor to come address the membership at the State of the Tribe meeting and I wanted to let everyone know we need their help and welcome their input.”

The mission of MEDC is to secure the economic well-being for the next seven generations of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe while adhering to the highest ethical standards. Migizi’s Mission Statement is to “build strong relationships, diversity, and promote economic development, and create self-determination for the Tribe and its members.”

Migizi Vice Chairperson David Charles is encouraged by Darnell’s leadership and Controller Jennifer Rezler.

“With Lisa Darnell and Jennifer Rezler, we have a strong management team in place to continue to improve Migizi’s operations and financial bottom line,” Charles said. “Both have taken their current positions in the last year and Jennifer has a lot of good past accounting experience that she brings to the table. And when we looked for experience within Migizi, Lisa has been a project manager for years and her experience with financial analysis will be an asset as we strengthen all Migizi properties.”

Darnell informs the MEDC focus for the past six months has been completing an analysis on all properties for Tribal Council. 

The analysis includes a review of marketing, financials, inventory, staffing and operations at Soaring Eagle Waterpark and Hotel, Soaring Eagle Hideaway RV Park, Wabooz Run Golf Course, Isabella Sagamok Gas Station and Convenience Store, Saganing Sagamok Gas Station and Convenience Store, Cardinal Pharmacy, Eagle Valley Outfitters, Eagle Bay Marina, Eagles Landing Gift Shop, Migizi EDC Corporate and the Aking Holding Company.

“The Aking Holding Company is a division of Migizi that provides oversight of commercial, residential and farm land holdings and property space,” Cloutier said.  “Of the 10 parcels of land that the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe own in Arenac and Isabella County, over 649 acres of this land is leased out to area farmers for organic crop production. It also includes over 143 acres of land is available for lease for future development opportunities.”

Darnell shared with the community in attendance what resulted from the business analysis was staff reorganization and subsequent changes to get the right people in the right places within the businesses.  The changes include 1) a new controller hired and accounting reorganized, 2) a new marketing manager with less outsourcing, 3) additional collaboration with SECR on marketing efforts, 4) evaluating inventory and procedures and 5) adjusting budgets to increase revenue and decrease expenses.

 “We have noticed improvements from these changes and our customer service initiatives, but we know that we still have further progress that needs to be made,” Darnell said.  “We want our shareholders to be proud of what you have and most importantly we want you to patronize your businesses.”

Darnell concluded her presentation by requesting membership input and encouraged the membership to visit the Migizi booth to fill out our survey of what you they would like to see.

“My door is always open for any comments or concerns that you would like to discuss,” she said. “You can reach me at 989-775-4225 or ldarnell@sagchip.org. The Migizi Board of Directors and Tribal Council are also open to feedback.  Please feel free to email them directly or speak to them after the presentation”.  

MEDC is preparing a Migizi 2014 Annual Report that will be available to the Tribal Membership via web post at www.sagchip.org in April.