Shane Seibel started in his new role as executive director of the Southern Ute Growth Fund this week.
The Growth Fund operates and manages the Southern Ute Indian Tribe’s businesses and business investments in energy, real estate, construction and private equity – a main part of the tribe’s multibillion-dollar economy. The Southern Ute Indian Tribe announced Seibel’s appointment July 2.
“On behalf of the Southern Ute Indian Tribal Council, I look forward to working with Mr. Seibel as he assumes the role of executive director of the Southern Ute Growth Fund,” said Chairman Christine Sage in a news release.
Established in 2000, the value of the Growth Fund’s holdings have grown “significantly” over the last 18 years – its operations and assets are spread out over 14 states and the Gulf of Mexico. The operations include the Red Willow Production Co., which is involved in oil and natural gas production; Tierra Group, which manages the tribe’s real estate portfolio; GF Private Equity Group, which invests in private equity; and others.
The Growth Fund is separate from the tribe’s Permanent Fund, which covers the cost of government activities and services, according to the fund website. The Growth Fund finances helped create a state-of-the-art tribal campus and full-ride scholarships and annual stipends for tribal members. Seibel will manage the Growth Fund and provide recommendations to the tribal council for their final approval.
For the last five years, Seibel has been the owner and operator of ONE Enterprises LLC in Ignacio. The organization primarily operates in the single-family housing construction industry. It has been in business since 2014 and is estimated to generate over $300,000 in annual revenues, according to Buzzfile and Manta.
He previously spent 20 years working in various leadership positions within the Southern Ute Growth Fund. From 2008 to 2010, he was vice president for the GF Real Estate Group, which manages commercial/office, apartment, industrial, hotel, mixed-use and master planned communities. He was also assistant general manager for the Tierra Group LLC, which manages the tribe’s real estate portfolio, from 2000 to 2008. He worked in the Growth Fund’s executive administration from 2010 to 2019 before stepping into the executive director role, according to his LinkedIn profile.
“I am humbled and excited to be selected as the new Southern Ute Growth Fund executive director and look forward to the challenges that lie ahead,” Seibel said in a news release. “The challenges are coming from all directions, and assembling a team of professionals that exemplify a great attitude, honesty and willingness to work hard for the membership’s equity will be paramount to our continued success.”
The tribe did not immediately elaborate on those challenges.
Seibel obtained his Bachelor of Science in business management in 2013 from Fort Lewis College. He also received an associate’s degree in general studies from the University of Phoenix in 2005, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Seibel and his wife, Melanie Seibel, have six children. He is a lifelong learner, farmer and rancher, coach, Sundancer and entrepreneur, according to the news release.
smullane@durangoherald.com