Board of Trustees
Melvin R. Sheldon, Jr. - Chairman
 Having served on the Board of Directors for the Tulalip Tribes for three years, Melvin R. Sheldon Jr. is currently a member of the Services Committee, NICS Advisory Board, and Citizens Committee for Marysville Schools ($100 Million bond for new schools), and CO-chair of the Boys and Girls Club Yearly Auction. Mr. Sheldon's accomplishments include helping to get Medicine Wheel tracking, contributing to business park and new casino development, and expanding the Veterans Center. He has a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Washington, is a Viet Nam veteran, and has worked as a commercial fisherman in Puget Sound and Bristol Bay, Alaska. Mr. Sheldon's long term goals include building a new health care center, bringing a 4-year college campus to the Reservation, and helping the tribe meet the challenges of Retrocession
Patti Gobin – Tulalip Tribes Special Projects Manager
 Ms. Gobin has over 25 years of Community Development experience with the Tulalip Tribes. Presently, Ms. Gobin is involved in the Strategic Plans of the Tulalip Tribes. In addition to her years of experience, Ms. Gobin is a member of the Tulalip Tribes and is well versed in the culture and history of the Tribe. Ms. Gobin serves as a member of the Planning Commission and is instrumental in updating the Comprehensive Plan of the Tulalip Tribes. She is also a board member for the Marysville / Tulalip Chamber of Commerce. With the limited time left at the end of the day, she also participates in tribal cultural events; helps raise her grandchildren, care for her parents, and fly fishing. Ms. Gobin’s personal goal is to invest in her community helping to affect a sustainable future for the next generations to come.
Chuck James - Treasurer
 Elected in March 2005, Chuck James serves the membership as Treasurer on the Tulalip Tribes’ Board of Directors. His focus is on growing the Tribes’ financial base through a long term approach: keeping tribal business vibrant and innovative; finding new revenue and stability, and improving education, health and social services to open the door for tomorrow’s tribal managers and business leaders.
Prior to returning home to Tulalip, Mr. James acquired 35 years of senior leadership, engineering, manufacturing sales and training experience in America’s steel industry. The rise and fall of the American steel business taught Chuck to stay focused on strengths, reasonable goals and avoiding complacency.
From May 2000 to October 2003 Mr. James emerged from a short-lived retirement to help create business practice in Tulalip’s emerging Gaming Business. As the Chief Operations Officer for Tulalip Casino and Bingo operations, James empowered Tribal employees with business practices and management skills, driving revenue from $40 million to $168 million in three years with the expansion of gaming in Washington state.
In 2005, as a new board member, Chuck James joined fellow board and staff in a collective effort to elevate gaming into a broader-based and more profitable resort destination. By developing a resort hotel and spa around the casino, entertainment and shopping core, and enhancing unique architecture and landscaping to showcase Tribal culture, history and art, the team is providing a new venue to attract an expanded base of gaming/nightlife, wedding, reception and convention clientele.
Into the future, James will continue to work at diversifying the Tribal economy and improving conditions for Tulalip’s people - believing economic support, quality family life, education, health and social services are key to increasing the prospects for youth and thus building a strong foundation for Tulalip’s future. Chuck and his wife, Ilene, reside in West Seattle. They have two children and four grandchildren.
Paula Cortez – Deputy General Manager
 Having worked for the Tulalip Tribes for 22 years, Paula Cortez is currently a member of the Tulalip Tribes Executive Team. In those 22 years, Ms. Cortez brings over 21 year experience in Human Resources and Employment Law. She is focused on finding the answer, solving the problem, and achieving positive outcomes. Ms. Cortez was active and influential for bringing to Tulalip an objective and impartial approach to solving problems in the work place by exercising and leading good-faith investigations and mediation methods for solving conflicts. Paula’s special interest is to foster win-win relationship between our workforce and our leadership. Aside from this, she enjoys time with her family doing many things such as camping, fishing, and watching her child race motocross.
Ruby Lotan
 Ruby has worked for The Tulalip Tribes for 14 years, serving in many capacities ranging from cashier to her current position of Asset Management Coordinator. Starting down an educational path to become a nurse, Ruby realized her passions were strongest helping the Tulalip community in finance and accounting affairs. As a Tulalip tribal member, her greatest joy is giving back to those around her. Ruby has given back to her community by showing and helping them with her strong financial background. Ms. Lotan has been an active participant in the Handicap in Home Care Program, providing vital services such as reading, cooking, and cleaning for these special people. Ruby has been on the Warrior Tae Kwon Do fund raising committee for over 3 years, plus participates in the Tulalip Tribes Team Appreciation committee, The Employee day committee, serves on the Emergency Management training team, and the new CERTS (Community Emergency Response Team) team. Her dedication to her tribe and family is most important, with Ms. Lotan and her husband of 14 years opening their home to foster care kids for the past 3 years. Ruby enjoys taking care of her son as well as her foster child, gardening, practicing Tae Kwon Do with her family, and riding quads.
Dawn M. Houle
 was a contractor specializing in business development and natural resource management, before serving as Director of Development for the Tulalip Tribes. Ms. Houle is a member of the Chippewa-Cree Tribe. Graduating from the University of Montana with a Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry, she has over 13 years of natural resource management experience. Prior to starting her own business, Dawn has served as forester for the Yakama Nation, her own tribe in Montana, and was Forest Manager for the Quinault Indian Nation. She serves as a board member for the Potlatch Fund Board. Dawn is a former board member of the Intertribal Timber Council, National Center for Continuing Education (NCCE), and committee member for the Seattle Art Museum - Native Arts Council. Dawn is a talented professional who received her MBA degree from Saint Martin's University, studying International Business in China and Japan. Dawn resides in Seattle, Washington. |