Governance

The Board of Directors, currently five members, oversees the Grey Snow Companies. The Board of Directors acts independently from the Tribal Council to oversee the long-term goals and strategies of the company.

Dr. Karen Kissinger

Chairperson

Chairperson of the Board of Commissioners for The Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska Housing Board. She is a certified Life and Leadership Coach with over twenty years of experience in secondary education and a rich background in personal growth and leadership coaching. Currently, she continues to teach and coach in the areas of personal growth and leadership, integrating trauma-informed healing modalities to assist those recovering from pandemic and generational trauma. Dr. Kissinger is an award-winning educator and former green business owner, recognized for her expertise in life coaching, leadership training, and energy healing. In addition to her coaching work, Karen is a Reiki Master, Qigong Energy Healer, and Medical Qigong and Tai Chi Instructor. She is a member of the Iowa Indian Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska and has incorporated the Sacred Wheel into her coaching and leadership training. Dr. Kissinger is the daughter of Carolyn Coleman [Green] and granddaughter of Eugene F. Green. Married for 43 years to Jim, she is the mother to daughter Katie and grandmother to Marlena and Bobby and loves spending time with her family.

Annie Assefa

Vice - Chairperson

Annie Assefa is a citizen of the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska. She is the daughter of Louise Barada and the granddaughter of Annie DeRoin and William Barada. Annie spent her childhood on the Iowa Reservation and attended school in White Cloud before moving to a nearby town, where she completed her education. As a young adult, Annie relocated to California, where she raised a family while continuing her education, earning an Associate of Arts degree with a focus in fine arts. Throughout her life, she has maintained strong ties to her community and returns to the reservation almost every year to reconnect with family and friends. Annie began her career as an entrepreneur, buying and selling antiques and collectibles to support her family. She developed deep expertise in the field and eventually founded a successful estate sale company serving Southern California. Although now semi-retired, she remains engaged in the market and actively maintains a seller’s presence on eBay. She brings to the Board her perspective and experience as a Tribal Elder, businesswoman, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Annie considers it an honor to serve on the Board of Directors and values the opportunity to give back to her tribe.

Paul Flores

Secretary

Paul Flores is a member of the Board of Directors for Grey Snow Management Solutions with 10 years of experience in economic development, finance, communications, energy, mineral development, tribal government operations, and federal legislative affairs. He holds double bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Environmental Science from Northern Arizona University and Fort Lewis College, and he is certified as a Six Sigma black belt business analyst. His dedication to public service began as an infantryman in the United States Army during the Global War on Terror Campaign. Following his military service, Paul embarked on a career in politics, advocating for Tribal Sovereignty and serving as the youngest certified at-large council representative for the Gila River Indian Community. With extensive experience working with all 574 tribes and Alaska villages as an economic planner, tribal administrator, COO, advisor, and overall force multiplier in Indian Country, Paul is equipped to tackle any sector of development. He is committed to providing the best planning strategies to Native American tribal governments and their entities, leveraging his executive-level expertise to drive development and sustainability.

Phillip Simmonds

Treasurer

Phillip Simmonds is a citizen of the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska (ITKN) and serves as a member on the Grey Snow Management Solutions Board of Directors. He grew up on the ITKN reservation until he was in high school and he moved to a family farm 20 minutes away. He currently works as the ITKN Livestock Manager running their conception to consumption cow herd, pastured egg layers, and their newest project raising venison for the Tribe. He has experience in business development and management through his previous work in veterinary clinics as well as the time he spent working on a 12,000 acre ranch in Texas. He is passionate about regenerative agriculture and what it means for his people and their way of life. Phillip brings to the board a youthful and energetic perspective on tribal matters while holding to the culture that remains. He works to incorporate modern technologies and traditional knowledge into a functioning ecosystem to better help sustain his people and promote Tribal Sovereignty. Phillip is honored to be able to serve his Tribe by working on the GSMS Board of Directors and hopes to continue to find ways to provide for and promote his people.

Britni Beck

Vice Chair

Britni Beck is a citizen of the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska (ITKN) and serves as a member on the Grey Snow Management Solutions Board of Directors. She is also the Executive Director for ITKN’s Center of Excellence for Regenerative Native Agriculture (CERNA) program and on the board for Grey Snow Sovereign Solutions. . She is a graduate from the Grain Science Department at Kansas State University and her expertise includes agricultural operations, sustainable resource development, and strategic partnerships. She is passionate about interweaving the wisdom of traditional ecological knowledge with modern science and enhancing Tribal sovereignty through innovative solutions.