The Board of Directors of National Relief Charities works diligently to govern our funding and administration so that we can continue our important work on American Indian reservations.

Our Directors bring to the boardroom decades of experience to advise NRC, ensure our stability, and help us create positive opportunity and impact for the people we serve. In doing so, they also ensure continuous improvement and good stewardship for our supporters.

Through our earnestness and diligence, we have attracted Directors with the right mix of skills and specialties to govern NRC into the future. Their professional diversity and willingness to volunteer only make NRC stronger.

With backgrounds that span business management, financial management, strategic planning, program development and evaluation, education, grant administration, and humanitarian services — as well as multicultural diversity — our Directors could help anyone. But they volunteer to be on NRC's Board of Directors because they believe in social responsibility and want to help us achieve our mission of bringing more opportunity and resources to Indian country.

Our individual Directors as of 2013 are identified below. With the exception of NRC's President, all of them are independent voting members of the Board.

Dr. Joshua Tompkins, Chairman of the Board

Joshua is an Adjunct Professor at North Central University in Minnesota. He is of Lakota heritage. Also the Founder and General Manager of JLT Productions, a record label that he started in 1994. Joshua balances his teaching and production time with "live" concert performances as a virtuoso pianist. Joshua holds a Ph.D. in Music. Both entrepreneurial and creative, Joshua helps NRC through his "out of the box" perspective, experience with P&L management, and awareness of Native American concerns.

Rodney Trahan, Treasurer

Rodney is a certified business coach of Northern Cheyenne descent. He founded Streamline Enterprises in 2007, a coaching practice backed by a Master's in Business Administration and 20 years of experience helping businesses streamline operations and improve the bottom line. Rodney also spent 15 years fundraising for St. Labre Indian School as their Assistant Director of Development and Chief Planned Giving Officer. Being familiar with the history and current challenges of tribes and communities, Rodney also volunteers with Native American Development Corporation and the Montana Indian Business Alliance, which help Native American business owners.

Dr. Helen Usera, Secretary

Helen is a Management Consultant for Project Solutions Inc. in Rapid City, South Dakota. She provides technical assistance and business development to small businesses across the country. Previously, Helen was President & CEO for a nonprofit in South Dakota, which serves faith-based and community organizations. She has experience with training, research, and technical assistance for small businesses, nonprofits, organizations, and school districts. With an Ed.D. in Educational Administration, Helen was also an Adjunct Professor at Black Hills State University and an elementary school principal. She has 12 years of U.S. Army Reserves service and volunteers for Habitat for Humanity International. Helen adds extensive experience for NRC in strategic planning, program and curriculum development, and program evaluation.

Ann Marie Woessner-Collins

Ann Marie is a commercial realty and tax consultant better known as a "Top Woman in Finance" by her Twin Cities colleagues. Currently, Ann Marie is Managing Director of the Business & Economic Incentives practice at Jones Lang LaSalle. A problem solver by nature, she helps companies expand or optimize manufacturing, warehouses, offices, data centers, call centers, and other facilities. She has also served at Staubach, KPMG as a Partner, Frito-Lay and PepsiCo, Trammell Crow, 3M, and Dayton Hudson. Ann Marie holds an MBA in Finance. She serves on the Board of the Texas Ballet and previously served on the Board of Texas CASA for abused children. Also skilled in fundraising and oversight of $1 billion budgets, Ann Marie managed Frito-Lay's minority business program and has worked with American Indian tribes on projects that begin to build a sustainable economic base.

Kevin Diepholz

Kevin is a business development professional with a specialty in commercial plastics and electrical solutions. Currently with Werner Electric, he studied business and economics in college but values having worked his way up from pouring concrete to selling plastics to corporate management and international business development in Taiwan, Korea, the UK, and Canada. He has a broad perspective and ability to interact with people of diverse cultures and socio-economic backgrounds. Kevin brings to NRC experience in rapid growth with stability, a focus on quality, and a familiarity with reservation conditions. A lifelong helper, Kevin volunteers with the American Cancer Society, Ronald McDonald House Charities, and Faith’s Lodge of Minnesota.

Robbi Rice Dietrich, NRC President

Robbi joined National Relief Charities as President in 2013. She has 30 years of experience in building positive awareness of organizations and presenting their causes and capabilities to a wide spectrum of public officials, community and business leaders, contributors and the media. Her private sector experience includes working for Frito-Lay, Inc., Ernst & Young, LLP and First Preston Management in the areas of community and media relations, government affairs, organizational development and strategic planning. Committed to supporting diversity and helping people in need, Robbi has held leadership positions on boards of directors with several national, regional and local not-for-profit organizations. Inspirational, forward looking and strategic in her thinking, she leads NRC in creating and achieving its goals and focusing resources in areas where they can have the most impact on quality of life for Native Americans.

Other Key Staff

Kelly Gibson, Program Director
Mario Porro, Chief Financial Officer
Charles Smith, Fundraising Director
Helen Oliff, Public Relations Manager

For more information, please contact us.