Fern Orie is on Madison365’s Wisconsin’s 33 Most Influential Native American Leaders for 2023

We are pleased to share that Fern Orie, one of our Board Members, is on Madison365’s Wisconsin’s 33 Most Influential Native American Leaders for 2023

Fern Orie is the Chief Programs Officer Executive Vice President of Advocacy & Strategic Partnerships for the Oweesta Corporation. A member of the Oneida Nation, she previously served as founding CEO of the certified Native community development financial institution (CDFI) Wisconsin Native Loan Fund, a statewide housing and consumer revolving loan fund. She has nearly 20 years of experience in the Native housing field.

Prior to her community and economic development work, she was in the Indian gaming sector for 10 years. She is the Chairperson of the Wisconsin Indian Business Alliance and has served on the Native CDFI Network Board of Directors as the Vice Chair and was the Chairperson for the Membership Committee.

In addition, Ms. Orie serves on the Board of Directors and Loan Committee of Bay Bank, a tribally-owned bank. She is a member of the Woodland Indian Arts Board and also serves on the Forward Community Investments New Markets Tax Credit Advisory Board. Orie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Lakeland University and received certification as an Economic Development Finance Professional (E.D.F.P) from the National Development Council.