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 Administrator, Treasurer & Powwow Committee Chair 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 is also the Chair for the annual OBSN Pow-wow. 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.
Tribal Secretary, Vacant
This position is Vacant
Tribal Council Members
Tammy Hayes-Hill
Tammy has worked with the Tribe over the years in many positions such as Tribal Secretary, Newsletter Editor and Scholarship Committee Member. She is currently a Tribal Council Member and manages the OBSN Website and Online Store. Tammy attended Eastern Alamance High School and while residing in the Southeast part of the state she attended Southeastern Community College in Whiteville, NC. She has a Bachelors Degree in History with an American History concentration graduating Cum Laude from Southern New Hampshire University. Tammy works at a local University as Project Manager and resides here in NC with her husband and their family includes one son and daughter-in-law.
VACANT
Tribal Council Seat
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.
Tony Hayes
Tribal ChairpersonBrice Watkins
Vice Tribal ChairpersonVickie Jeffries
Tribal Administrator
