TribalNet Names 2026 Advisory Boards to Direct Conference Priorities
TL;DR — TribalNet announced its 2026 Advisory Boards with leaders from tribal gaming, government, and health sectors. The boards will shape the 27th Annual Conference set for September 20-24 in Dallas, with focus on AI in healthcare, data sovereignty, and central technology integration across 7 tracks and 200+ vendors.
SCCG Take — This industry-guided model drives convergence of technology and tribal operations. Client-partners should engage the boards to ensure conference outcomes address real sovereignty and implementation needs.
TribalNet announced its 2026 Advisory Boards this week. The boards welcome returning members alongside new leaders drawn from tribal governments, gaming enterprises, and health organizations nationwide. Composed of technology executives and decision-makers, these groups will shape the direction, topics, and priorities for the Annual TribalNet Conference & Tradeshow.
As reported by CDC Gaming, the boards ensure the event stays aligned with the evolving needs of tribes and their enterprises. Patrick Tinklenberg, Sycuan Casino Resort Vice President of Information Technology, stated that board service lets him help design a conference bridging technology implementation and tribal strategy.
Advisory Board Perspectives on Technology and Health
The listed members include Tara Fisher of Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation, Amy Gates of Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan, John Ormond of Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, Richard Rader of Umpqua Indian Development Corporation and Seven Feathers Casino and Resort, Bryant Santini of Casino Arizona and Talking Stick Resort, Christopher Abel of Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Alan Walt of Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Cassie Brown of Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, Brian Johnston of Indian Health Service Office of IT, and Travis O’Neil, CEO of Angel of the Winds.
Cassie Brown, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Director of Clinical Informatics/Information Technology, highlighted the growing role of AI in healthcare under the Tribal Health Information management track. Brown said tribal leaders should attend TribalNet 2026 to shape decisions around Indigenous data sovereignty, ensure solutions meet community needs, and build partnerships for long-term growth. Tinklenberg added that technology must be treated as central to every part of tribal operations. O’Neil noted that after 36 years in tribal gaming he has seen technology reshape casino operations and tribal economies, calling TribalNet a key resource for professionals, leaders, and innovators.
Shaping the 27th Annual Gathering
Insights from the boards will guide the 27th Annual TribalNet Conference & Tradeshow, set for September 20–24 in Dallas, Texas. The program features three keynote speakers, seven session tracks, 30+ sessions, and a two-day tradeshow floor with more than 200 vendors dedicated to the tribal space. The TribalNet Advisory Board will meet in the coming months to finalize tracks, sessions, and speakers.
Registration is open. In a field where technology and tribal strategy must converge, these boards represent a structural step toward practical alignment that operators and leaders can put to immediate use.
Reporting: CDC Gaming
Tribal gaming and government leaders now steer TribalNet's agenda — ensuring conference content reflects sovereignty, AI, and operational reality.
We've watched tribal gaming mature into a technology-first ecosystem where data sovereignty and AI aren't buzzwords — they're operational imperatives. When operators and tribal IT leaders shape the agenda, the conference becomes a decision forum, not a tradeshow. SCCG partners working in or entering tribal markets need this context.
- Advisory boards feature CIOs from Sycuan, Angel of the Winds, tribal health, and Indian Health Service
- Focus areas: AI in healthcare, Indigenous data sovereignty, tech integration across tribal operations
- 27th conference, Dallas Sept 20-24, 7 tracks, 200+ vendors — operator-guided content
SCCG angle: SCCG has worked directly with tribal operators and suppliers for decades. If you're building tribal strategies — market entry, technology partnerships, or regulatory navigation — we connect you to the decision-makers shaping these priorities and help position your solutions where sovereignty and growth intersect.