Turtle Island Community Capital

Meet Our Team

With deep expertise in regenerative community development, TICC’s leadership team brings decades of experience in business, capacity building, and equitable engagement to advance our mission of empowering Native communities and fostering economic sovereignty through innovative, community-driven solutions. 

Alexander ‘Brave Journey’ Sterling

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

  • Recognized leader with 16+ years of Business and Renewable Energy Development experience
  • $45M+ in renewable energy project management experience with a focus on financial structuring, quality management, tribal governance engagement, and capacity building
  • Architect of the Turtle Island Community Resilience Network (TIC-RN), bringing impact investors, thought leaders, tribes, and foundations together to create a more equitable future

Autumn Beaudoin

VP of Regenerative Economics

  • 9+ years of Equitable Engagement Programming & Training expertise, specializing in leveraging design methodology to create culturally responsive financial services and programs.
  • Proven leader in scaling organizations, including building consulting practices and infrastructure at co:census, a firm specializing in equitable community engagement
  • Expert in economic psychology and community development, with a Master’s degree from the London School of Economics focused on the Psychology of Economic Life

Scott Martinez

Director of Marketing

  • 14+ years of experience leading marketing strategies for brands like IBM, General Electric, Chase Bank, Visa, Ford Pro, NBCUniversal, and Manchester City F.C.
  • Certified Permaculturist integrating sustainability into marketing and community-building strategies
  • Award winning campaign manager, leveraging AI, AR, and cultural trends to drive measurable results

Meet Our Board

Our Board of Directors combines diverse expertise in finance, Indigenous advocacy, and sustainable community development, providing strategic guidance that strengthens TICC’s ability to deliver equitable financing and resources to Native entrepreneurs and LIDAC communities.

Kimberly Pate

Managing Director, NDN Fund

  • 25+ years of experience advancing Native community and economic development, specializing in financial empowerment and capacity building
  • Founding Board Member of the Native CDFI Network, a trade association supporting policies that expand access to capital in Native communities
  • Leader in impact investing and lending strategies grounded in Indigenous systems thinking

Victoria Vestal

CEO, SolCatalyst

  • Clean energy entrepreneur and executive, advancing renewable energy projects including raising $35M in 14 months for solar panel production, preselling 100% of annual output for four years
  • Former COO of Native Power & Light and Board Member of Indigenized Energy, supporting $135M in Solar For All funding for 14 tribes
  • DOE FedTech BOOST mentor, advising clean technology innovations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in manufacturing sectors

Charles Schaffer

President, SDC Energy

  • 35+ years of experience in renewable energy and real estate development, specializing in utility-scale solar projects and commercial energy infrastructure
  • Founder of SDC Energy, leveraging solar incentives to create tax-advantaged investment opportunities for nonprofits and private investors
  • Developed and financed $150M+ in projects, including ground mount solar arrays, shade structures, and rooftop installations across the U.S.

Interested in joining our team?

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