Greenfire was a proud participant in this year’s Indigenous Business Con, hosted by Indigenous Business Group – held at Potawatomi Casino | Hotel in Milwaukee.

“Revitalizing traditions, Driving innovation” is the motto for Indigenous Biz Con, which provides an opportunity for all in attendance to learn, network, and collaborate in the pursuit to build meaningful partnerships that result in economic growth and prosperity for Indigenous business – with the goal of breaking down barriers to economic development, building community, and elevating the voices of Native entrepreneurs. The annual event places successful businesspeople in front of those willing to learn more and showcase their business or venture. The event features real business operators at the forefront, engaging discussions, a Native vendors marketplace, and much more.

Indigenous Business Group (IBG) was founded by Rob Pero, Owner, Perodigm Media, Zoar Fulwilder, Managing Partner, Mavid Construction and Collin Price, Owner, Heena Development. The goal of IBG is to provide Native business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs with a vessel to access resources, network and gain insight.

At the closing gala dinner, Greenfire was presented with a special award – we were named the Tribally-Owned Business of the Year.

Collin Price presented the award to the team especially for their contribution to the Ho-Chunk Nation for their support and services leading up to and including the construction of the Village West affordable housing development in Baraboo. Accepting the award on Greenfire’s behalf was Chief Financial Officer of Potawatomi Ventures Paul F. Hoesly, Greenfire President Jeb Meier, VP of Project Development Chris Kyte, Director of Marketing Simmi Urbanek, Business Development and Forest County Potawatomi Community Member Michael Moe, and Marketing Coordinator Robert Boelter.

As a subsidiary of Potawatomi Ventures – the economic development arm of the Forest County Potawatomi Community – Greenfire is proud to be wholly Native owned and do our part to act on behalf of the betterment of our tribe and our communities at large.

Group photo accepting the award courtesy of Clarissa Friday – Native Clarity Photography

Greenfire’s business development and marketing celebrated two 2024 Red Granite marketing award wins from SMPS Wisconsin: Award of Excellence for Holiday Piece and the Best In Show! We’re proud to receive recognition for our unique holiday gift we gave to our clients and friends this past holiday season.

Greenfire “turned up the heat” with our holiday gift as we embraced our origins by highlighting Indigenous-owned and small businesses. As a construction management firm owned by Potawatomi Ventures, a diversified investment of the Forest County Potawatomi Community tribe, our roots run deep and blossomed in our client appreciation gift.

The concept originated from an award-winning BBQ sauce from BP Smokehouse. This family-owned, Indigenous, small business is part of the Ho-Chunk Nation, founded in Tomah, WI. We paired the sauce with an artisanal, bamboo, cutting board that features the Greenfire flame from our logo. Michael Moe, our business development manager is also a Forest County Potawatomi Community member and hand-burned the logo onto each board. He hosted a group of Greenfire team members at his workshop to foster camaraderie while burning all the boards for the gift boxes. It was important for us to include a functional keepsake from this year’s client gift for brand recognition.

As construction managers part of our project approach is to champion and source local subcontractors and suppliers. Keeping in line with this mindset, we included a decorative gift bag of smoking pellets that are made by Smokey Woods, a fellow Milwaukee real estate professional. Supporting local small businesses is always a pursuit of Greenfire.

The greeting card features a commissioned photograph of a tribal member in ceremonial dress. The photograph is by a Forest County Potawatomi Community member, Clarissa Friday. She owns Native Clarity photography and is known for tribal portraits, family, and event photography. Our greeting card not only featured warm wishes and signatures from our entire leadership team, but we also welcomed our clients to keep the card and frame it for decoration.

We tied it all together in a natural aspen filled, custom-designed, flame-adorned gift box to challenge the status quo of just the standard brown shipping box. We included the headline “We are heating things up,” with our logo on the exterior of the black box with bright green flames. Then on the inside, we included our tagline that also acts as our social media hashtag. By creating a unique exterior appearance of the gift, it encouraged our team to hand deliver the gifts to our clients as a business development touch point.

Thank you to SMPS, the premier AEC marketing and BD association for the honors! It is great to be recognized for our holiday gift that we put a lot of thought into – our way of saying “thank you” to our clients, partners, family and friends.

President Jeb Meier and Michael Moe, Business Development Manager, represented Greenfire this year at RES 2024 in Las Vegas. Greenfire was also proud to attend the unveiling of Potawatomi Ventures new brand launch to summit attendees.

RES (Reservation Economic Summit) 2024 provides high level networking, opportunities, business development sessions and one-on-one consulting, all centered around American Indian Enterprise.

The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED) has embraced the theme of “Strength in Unity” for the 2024 Reservation Economic Summit. This event brings together a distinguished assembly of tribal leaders, members of Congress, federal agency representatives, influential state and local officials, and top CEOs onto a national stage.

RES 2024 not only serves as a hub for high-level discussions and collaborations but also as a catalyst for economic empowerment. It provides a unique platform for Native American artists to exhibit and market their products, making it the largest economic summit in Indian Country and a vital opportunity for economic advancement.

We came for the food, but left nourished in so many ways. As Greenfire and other PBDC team members entered the Community Gathering Room they were greeted with the smell of warm food and custom lapel pins featuring elements of nature. The group gathered for an opening blessing by CEO, Kip Ritchie, followed by a presentation by Tina Baker featuring Chef Elena Terry of Wild Bearies. Chef Terry founded Wild Bearies to help expand the knowledge and power of food. The organization focuses on mentoring young people and teaching how to use food as medicine and how to eat for nourishment and to replenish the body. They have apprenticeships, mentorships and training opportunities to help spread the knowledge across generations of Native Americans through farming, gardening and cooking programs.

Chef Terry treated the crowd to freshly cooked vegetables, sweet potatoes, hand-harvested wild rice, salmon and meat from the local tribal farm. The group enjoyed a delicious meal, great company and good conversations. This program was part of several Tina Baker from PBDC organized to help educate employees throughout Native American Heritage Month. Other programs included corn husk doll making and beading.