By ROSELYNN YAZZIE

Office of Public Affairs

FORT HALL – The Shoshone-Bannock Tribes announce the appointment of Laverne Sheppard as Executive Director, effective January 26. Sheppard brings more than three decades of leadership experience across tribal government, nonprofit organizations, corporate environments, and community-based initiatives, along with a strong understanding of organizational operations and public service.

Sheppard holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Idaho State University. Her academic training and professional background focus on labor relations, organizational change, budgeting, compliance, diversity, and community development, all skills that directly support the operational and strategic needs of tribal government.

Earlier in her career, Sheppard served the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes as Public Affairs Manager and as editor of the Sho-Ban News. She later served as Executive Director of the Native American Journalists Association and went on to hold senior leadership roles in the private sector as a Human Resources Manager and HR Business Partner.

Throughout her career, she has led organizations through periods of change and complexity, overseeing multi-program operations, managing budgets and personnel, negotiating labor agreements, and building strong partnerships with tribal, governmental, and community stakeholders. Most recently, she supported global nonprofit operations focused on technology, digital training, and social media engagement.

Sheppard’s leadership experience includes guiding organizational change and workforce transitions in highly regulated environments, negotiating labor agreements that increased flexibility and produced significant cost savings, developing internal policies and governance systems, expanding access to education and services through innovative technology, and strengthening relationships between organizations and the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes through collaboration and trust-building.

As Executive Director, Sheppard will lead the Executive Office, which supports the Fort Hall Business Council’s vision for tribal government by ensuring effective leadership, coordination, and accountability across tribal departments and programs. The Executive Office oversees executive administration, strategic planning support, intergovernmental relations, organizational operations, and collaboration across departments to help ensure tribal services are delivered effectively, responsibly, and in alignment with community needs.

“Our current priorities include strengthening internal operations, supporting program stability, improving coordination across departments, ensuring transparency and accountability, and building systems that support long-term sustainability and service to the community,” Sheppard said.

Reflecting on her role, Sheppard said her primary goal is to support the Fort Hall Business Council and tribal staff by fostering a stable, respectful, and effective organization. One that serves the people well, honors tribal sovereignty, and positions the Tribe for a strong future.

Sheppard emphasized her commitment to the Shoshone-Bannock community, noting that she hopes to make a positive impact by strengthening the systems that support tribal programs and employees, building trust through clear communication and collaboration, and helping create an organizational culture where staff feel supported and community needs are met with care and integrity.

She expressed excitement about initiatives that improve coordination across departments, enhance service delivery, and support long-term planning that benefits future generations.

Outside of her professional role, Sheppard enjoys traveling, creating music using artificial intelligence tools, watching movies, and painting.

Fort Hall Business Council Chairwoman Donna Thompson said, “We are excited to have Laverne return to the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes as Executive Director. Her commitment to our community, combined with her extensive experience, will help lead our departments and staff in a positive direction.”