PRESERVING THE HERITAGE OF THE PEOPLE OF THE SAPONI NATION
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Tribal Council and Tribal Administration

Executive Tribal Council Members

Tribal Chairperson, William Anthony “Tony” Hayes
Tony Hayes is currently the President and CEO of Trancas, LLC. A business consulting and advocacy firm tailored to small business growth with a focus on the NC American Indian business sector. He has been in executive management for 35 plus years with large corporations such as Texfi Inc., Duke University and Starwood Hotels Worldwide, Inc. The last ten of those years, with the NC Indian Economic Development Initiative, supporting and advocating for NC’s eight Recognized American Indian Tribes and other minorities in the business, tribal economic development and political arenas. He works with Leaders and Legislators statewide to strengthen North Carolina small/minority businesses and American Indian communities. Tony is also the Tribal Chairman of the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation Indian Tribe in Alamance County. Featured in several business publications around the country and has received numerous awards for management innovations and leadership for various efforts over the years. Most recently he was honored as the “2016/17 NC Minority Business Advocate of the Year”. Tony sits on several corporate and non-profit boards of directors and advisory committees; he is the past Chairman Emeritus of Carolina Small Business Development Fund and current Board Chairman of NCIFund (part of the Conservation Fund) both major CDFI intuitions working to bring access to Capital for Underserved Business Communities in NC. Tony resides in Creedmoor NC and is active in various state/county/community leadership initiatives. Tony attended University of Miami and Bethune-Cookman College in Florida and majored in History/Pre-law. A proud North Carolina native who lives with his wife, Sandra and has two daughters, two stepsons, four grandsons and four granddaughters. A strong proponent for healthy lifestyles and exercises for the body and mind. He is committed to prosperity and equity for all those who seek it. Tony’s passion is making a positive difference for those who strive for excellence and deserve more.
Vice Tribal Chairperson, Brice Watkins, Jr.
Brice is owner/operator of Big Boyz Catering. He retired after 30 years with Libby Hill Seafood in Greensboro, NC. Brice has held many roles with the Tribe such as Chair of the OBSN Youth Group in which under his leadership the tribal youth participated in workshops, learned drumming, dancing, participated in a Statewide Financial Literacy Program and many other tribal traditions. Brice is currently the Tribal Vice Chairman. He resides here in NC with his wife Stepheni.
Tribal Secretary, Vacant

Tribal Council Members

Beverly Payne
Beverly has had many roles with the tribe, such as leading the Tribe as Tribal Chairperson, Secretary and now serving on the Tribal Council, where her expert Tribal historical knowledge is essential. She is retired after decades of a career in the administrative field and now spends her time serving her community on multiple Boards in Orange County where she resides in Hillsborough, NC. During Powwow time you can catch her in the circle dancing, which is appropriate for her Indian name – Dancing Bear.
Wanda Whitmore-Penner, Ed.D.

Wanda has served the Tribe and Tribal community for many years in a variety of leadership roles, including Tribal Chairperson. She founded the Occaneechi Scholarship to support college-bound tribal members and is a knowledgeable historian and engaging storyteller. With a long career in education, she earned her Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in the area of Counseling Psychology and works as a school counselor. Her leadership and professional work reflect a lasting commitment to excellence and dedicated service to both the Tribal community and the broader community. 

VACANT

Tribal Council Seat

Tribal Adminstrative Staff

Tribal Administrator, Vickie Jeffries

Vickie Jeffries (Mihe Heyananhes Yattse) is the Tribal Administrator for the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, and she has held this position for the past 7 years. Ms. Jeffries retired from UNC Healthcare as an Administrative Associate and resides in Graham, NC.

Ms. Jeffries is a member of the Southeastern Studies Linguistics Group for the Tutelo-Saponi language of the Occaneechi Saponi Nation and a community linguist. Ms. Jeffries is a beader, basket weaver, and Indigenous Herbalist. Ms. Jeffries is the owner of Mihe Hetoa, Inc., which sells indigenous made items.

Website, Webstore and Trading Post Manager, Tammy Hayes-Hill

Tammy currently manages the Tribal Website, Webstore, and Trading Post, ensuring their smooth operation and continued growth. Over the years, she has contributed to the tribe in a variety of roles, including serving as Newsletter Editor, a member of the Scholarship Committee, and Tribal Secretary on the Tribal Council.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in History, with a minor in American History, from Southern New Hampshire University. In her professional career, Tammy works as a Project Manager at a local university, where she brings strong organizational and leadership skills to her role.  W

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