Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Affiliations
Awards
Timeline
Generic

Ruby Steele

Ketchikan,AK

Summary

A dedicated and passionate CEO / Tribal Administrator with 11+ years of Executive-level experience leading strategic planning, partnership building, budget management, staff oversight, and marketing initiatives that grow profit for organizations. Able to create optimal business models using a skill set that emphasizes innovative thinking, public outreach, and the promotion of a community-first approach. Possess a record of success partnering with key stakeholders to build local engagement that serves to strengthen local communities.

Overview

14
14
years of professional experience

Work History

Tribal Administrator / Chief Executive Officer

KETCHIKAN INDIAN COMMUNITY
Ketchikan, AK
09.2022 - Current
  • Oversee day-to-day operations of Tribal Administration including personnel management and administrative functions.
  • Formulate and implement tribal policies, procedures, and regulations.
  • Facilitate interdepartmental communication to ensure alignment of tribal objectives.
  • Coordinate with other departments to develop annual budgets for the tribe.
  • Research current and potential economic development initiatives for the tribe.
  • Monitor compliance with applicable state, federal, and local laws governing tribal activities.
  • Research and prepare reports related to land acquisition projects for the tribe.
  • Provide guidance to department heads regarding budgeting decisions and operational issues.
  • Manage communications between tribal members, community groups, businesses, government agencies.
  • Assist with grant writing efforts aimed at securing additional funding sources for tribal programs or initiatives.
  • Solicit federal funding for local projects and programs.
  • Develop strategic plans and objectives to ensure organizational growth and profitability.
  • Create financial models to forecast future business performance and identify areas of improvement.
  • Establish policies, procedures, and protocols to improve operational efficiency.
  • Recruit for executive-level positions within the organization.
  • Implement new technologies to streamline processes across departments.
  • Drive company vision with collaborative employee engagement techniques and strategic leadership.
  • Provide organizational leadership and collaborate with executive team to establish long-term goals, strategies and company policies.

Chief Executive Officer

GRAND CANYON RESORT CORPORATION
Peach Springs, AZ
05.2020 - 05.2022
  • Oversee the development and execution of strategic business plans so that daily operations are aligned to sustain the financial success of the business
  • Monitor business performance, identify growth opportunities, and direct senior leadership in creating process improvements that optimize the overall efficacy of a 340-person staff
  • Evaluate financial metrics to assess the financial health of the company, making adjustments to the budget as needed so spending is allocated to appropriate resources at all times
  • Collaborate with HR to develop staffing policies and issue resolution practices that maximize the potential of each staff member
  • Introduce professional development initiatives that foster the continual growth of teams through trainings and engagement activities
  • Forge strategic partnerships with local business and community organizations that increase outreach and attract new clientele
  • Present financial health reports to fellow executives which are used as key determinants for operational improvements
  • Achieved the highest profit margin in Q1 of 2022 that has been the best quarter in the last five years (pre-pandemic)
  • Surpassed the 2021 budget by 53.1% along with a 56% increase in contributions to the Hualapai Tribe
  • Increased Skywalk visitation in 2021 by 18% in comparison to 2019 (pre-pandemic)
  • Increased Hualapai River Running profit in 2021 by 433%
  • Able to successfully achieve financial stability despite disruptions caused by COVID-19 by: increasing our website conversion rate by 113%, increasing our social media engagement rate by 10% versus the industry standard of 1%, and initiating peak pricing programming to contribute additional revenue of $315K in a span of 33 days (four periods)

Director of Cultural Tourism

ALASKA NATIVE HERITAGE CENTER
Anchorage, AK
03.2019 - 02.2020
  • Served as the primary architect of all business operations for expanding and improving tourism through community outreach, partnership building, and lead prospecting
  • Consistently conducted performance audits to find any shortcomings in performance and collaborated with leadership staff to develop action plans that resolved any perceived roadblocks to optimizing tourism efforts
  • Held multiple fundraising initiatives so the department would reach donation goals
  • Hired and supervised staff to meet their top performance potential
  • Handled PR coverage used for public distribution across various media outlets
  • Selected to represent the center at trade shows, industry meetings, and media events requiring public engagement
  • Represented Alaska's Native People on a trip to China with nine other reps for Alaska to sign a sister-city trade agreement

Development Assistant Director

ALASKA NATIVE HERITAGE CENTER
Anchorage, AK
05.2017 - 03.2019
  • Led the design and distribution of marketing materials and promotional mailings circulated to 15,000 members and donors that raised awareness to the center
  • Promoted the financial growth of the center through the successful solicitation of donations and major gifts
  • Used social media to increase audience engagement and development new means of community outreach with donors and members
  • Launched partnership initiatives such as stewardship plans for major gift and organizational donors
  • Tracked donations in a database for accurate updates on public contributions
  • Helped the Major Gifts & Development Officer achieve fundraising goals
  • Redesigned company literature which resulted in a 40% increase in membership for Q1 of 2018
  • Played a key role in driving the Alaska Native Heritage Center to receive $1M+ in donations

Transportation Program Director

HUALAPAI TRIBE
Peach Springs, AZ
03.2015 - 08.2016
  • Managed the performance of six drivers, identified gaps in performance, and established operational improvements to ensure that deliveries of medical supplies were completed on time, accurately billed, and met grand specifications
  • Charted transport plans to streamline delivery operations
  • Inspected vehicles and scheduled repairs so fleet vehicles were at optimal functionality at all times
  • Built strong relationships with funders to sustain a positive reputation among funding programs
  • Introduced a comprehensive new database that accurately tracked transportation logistics and rider information

Grand Canyon West General Manager

GRAND CANYON RESORT CORPORATION
Peach Springs, AZ
04.2010 - 01.2015
  • Managed all finances to ensure constant profitability through responsible use of a $2M annual budget for complex business decisions
  • Set project scopes, delegated assignments, and supervised the work of 14 managers to streamline guest service operations, sales, safety, and transportation throughout the resort
  • Oversaw the successful planning and execution of renovations projects and facility upgrades for better accessibility and ease of movement across the premises
  • Forged strong partnerships with third-party vendors to supply high-demand food and beverage across the resort
  • Directed the installation of on-site laundry services as well as a new food carts at different location to increase revenue
  • Led vendor negotiations which led to a reduction in operational costs
  • Launched a successful employee incentive program that increased profits of the Grand Canyon Skywalk ticket sales

Education

Executive Master of Business Administration -

University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ

Bachelor of Business Administration in Management -

University of Alaska
Anchorage, AK

Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing -

University of Alaska
Anchorage, AK

Skills

  • Business Optimization Strategies
  • Program & Project Management
  • Financial Tracking & Management
  • Strategic Partnership Building
  • Employee Engagement & Training
  • Event & Fundraiser Planning
  • Internal Process Improvements
  • Budget Allocation & Oversight
  • Community Outreach Efforts
  • Cultural Competency
  • Organizational Leadership
  • Analytical Skills

Affiliations

  • Chairwoman, GCRC Board (2020)
  • Board Member, American Indian Tourism Association (2012-2014)
  • Member, Hualapai Tribal Council (2008-2012)
  • Executive Board Secretary, Arizona Indian Gaming Association (2009-2012)

Awards

  • College Student of the Year, Native American Recognition Days (2013)
  • Winner, Miss Indian Arizona & Miss Hualapai (2004-2005)

Timeline

Tribal Administrator / Chief Executive Officer

KETCHIKAN INDIAN COMMUNITY
09.2022 - Current

Chief Executive Officer

GRAND CANYON RESORT CORPORATION
05.2020 - 05.2022

Director of Cultural Tourism

ALASKA NATIVE HERITAGE CENTER
03.2019 - 02.2020

Development Assistant Director

ALASKA NATIVE HERITAGE CENTER
05.2017 - 03.2019

Transportation Program Director

HUALAPAI TRIBE
03.2015 - 08.2016

Grand Canyon West General Manager

GRAND CANYON RESORT CORPORATION
04.2010 - 01.2015

Executive Master of Business Administration -

University of Arizona

Bachelor of Business Administration in Management -

University of Alaska

Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing -

University of Alaska

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Ruby Steele