Keynote Speaker
Carl J. Artman

Carl J. Artman, an enrolled member of the Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin, is a Professor at Arizona State University College of Law and Director of its Economic Development in Indian Country Program.  He is also a shareholder at Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.  He served as the tenth Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs for the U.S. Department of the Interior and as the Department’s Associate Solicitor for Indian Affairs.

Mr. Artman has worked for his Tribe as Director of Federal Affairs, Chief Legal Counsel, and as Chief Operating Officer of an Oneida Tribe-owned telecommunications venture.

Mr. Artman received a juris doctorate from the Washington University School of Law – St. Louis, MO, a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a Master of Laws from the University of Denver.  He is licensed to practice law in Wisconsin and Colorado

Clinton Waara

Clinton Waara received his BA in Political Science from South Dakota State University in 1993.  Clint began his career with Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity as a National Education and Leadership Consultant from 1993 to 1995.  From 1995-1999 Clint was an account analyst for Wells Fargo Financial Bank in Sioux Falls.  In 1999 Clint taught at Roosevelt High School in Sioux Falls where he instituted the Academy of Finance model of instruction and coached Track.  Clint joined the University of South Dakota School of Business staff in 2001 where he ran the USD and Sitting Bull College Entrepreneurship Partnership.  In 2003 Clint became the Community Development Officer and Assistant Vice President for Wells Fargo Bank. In 2007 Clint joined Wells Fargo Native American Banking Services as Commercial Relationship Manager/Tribal Advocate.  Clint and his wife Billie Jo and children Mya and Jett reside in Sioux Falls, SD.  Clint is an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.

Clinton is currently on the Board of Directors for the Crazy Horse Memorial Foundation, the Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning, Dakotas America LLC., The Hagen Harvey Scholarship Fund, and the Sioux Falls Human Relations Commission.  Clinton is a former member of the South Dakota State Board of Education.

Meet the Speakers

Co-founder and Principal of KlasRobinson Q.E.D., Matthew Robinson has worked in Indian Country for his entire professional career.  Specializing in feasibility analysis and economic impact, Mr. Robinson has personally worked with some 200 different Tribes throughout the United States on a broad array of economic development projects including casinos and bingo halls, hotels and resorts, spas and fitness centers, golf courses, restaurants and nightclubs, showrooms and other entertainment venues, meeting and convention centers, RV parks, waterparks, family entertainment centers, bowling alleys, childcare, gas station/convenience stores, grocery stores and retail. 

KlasRobinson Q.E.D. is a major sponsor of the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA), an active Associate NIGA member, key donor to the Spirit of Sovereignty Scholarship Fund and frequent participant at the NIGA Legislative Summit.  Mr. Robinson is currently serving his second term on the NIGA Executive Board.  Mr. Robinson is also a frequent speaker at NIGA and other national and regional conferences and is a featured contributor to a variety of national trade publications including Indian Gaming Magazine.

Mr. Robinson has a Masters degree in Planning with a secondary concentration in economic and community development from the Humphrey Institute at the University of Minnesota. While at the Humphrey Institute, Mr. Robinson conducted research at the Tourism Center of the University of Minnesota, specializing in rural tourism development. He is a graduate of Macalester College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in three majors: Economics, Spanish and International Studies. During the 1988-89 academic year, he attended the Universidad De Complutense and the Institute of European Studies in Madrid, Spain.

Keynote Luncheon Speaker
Eugenio J. Aleman, Ph.D

Eugenio J Aleman is a vice president and senior economist at Wells Fargo. He forecasts national, regional and international economic trends.  His primary focus is the Untied States including interest rates and the Texas economy.  Eugenio is also an expert on the economies of border towns that trade with Mexico and the Maquiladora manufacturing sector along the U.S. Mexican border.  He is based in Minneapolis.

Eugenio joined Wells Fargo as senior economist in July 2005.  From 1998 until 2005, he worked at Global Insight, one of the most important economic forecasting and consulting firms in the U.S. as managing director for its Latin America Service.  He has worked for the petroleum industry, and was also as adjunct professor at Drexel University in Philadelphia from1999 until 2005, and a professor of economics and the director of the M.B.A. program at the Inter-American University in Puerto Rico from1985 until 1986.

He holds a doctorate in economics with an emphasis in economic development and international trade and finance from Florida International University.

Eugenio’s commentaries have appeared in national publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Washington Post, and USA Today, as well as many national and international media outlets including the Associated Press, Reuters, and Bloomberg News.  He has also made appearances on CNBC and in U.S. Hispanic media outlets.

Twenty five years of professional management in the gaming industry is the basis of the consulting company that Valerie manages. With a focus on Tribal business development strategies; the depth of Spicer’s expertise is funneled in assisting Tribes in reaching their full economic development and diversification efforts.  The culmination of strategic planning, communications tactics, marketing approaches and competitive analysis are a sampling of the work designed and managed by Valerie.

A native of New Mexico with Mescalero Apache and Hispanic heritage Spicer has long dedicated her efforts to the advocacy of sovereign rights of Tribal governments. With over 7 years direct involved with the National Indian Gaming Association Valerie’s accomplishments include; Founding Chair establishing the development and launching of the Spirit of Sovereignty Scholarship Foundation, Co-Chair of the three year Harvard/ NIGA Socio-Economic Impact Study, in addition to the Co-Chair and development of the American Indian Business Network.

The single parent to her son Eric, who Valerie describes as a best friend, Valerie bases out of Albuquerque New Mexico her home town.