GALLERY: Meet the Ho-Chunk, Inc. Summer 2026 Interns!
Meet the Ho-Chunk, Inc. Summer 2026 Interns!
Alexzander George
Alexzander is from Winnebago, and an enrolled tribal member. He attends the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where he is majoring in accounting. This summer, he is interning with our Accounting department. He hopes to gain real-world accounting experience by applying what he has learned in his courses to practical situations. He also looks forward to strengthening his technical and professional skills while learning more about how accounting supports business operations.
Desia Kitcheyan
Desia is from Winnebago, an enrolled tribal member and a descendent of the bear clan. She is a senior at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, majoring in interior design with minors in architecture and community & regional planning.Placed at Ho-Chunk Capital, Desia hopes to apply the skills and knowledge she gained throughout the academic year to real-world projects while continuing to grow both personally and professionally. She is excited to deepen her understanding of Indigenous design and community planning for tribal communities while strengthening her rendering, software, strategic thinking, and data analysis skills.
Eliseo Nava
Eliseo is an enrolled member of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska and belongs to the wolf clan. He recently graduated from the carpentry program at Little Priest Tribal College and is interning with Ho-Chunk Construction this summer. During the internship, he plans to gain more knowledge in the construction field, strengthen his time management skills, build professional connections, and continue creating work that benefits his people and community.
Isaiah Snyder
Isaiah is from Rosalie, NE., an enrolled Winnebago tribal member and part of the thunder clan. He recently graduated from Little Priest Tribal College with his associate’s degree in computer information technology. This summer, he is interning with the IT department and hopes to continue expanding his knowledge of the IT field while applying his skills to help solve challenges within the department and organization.
Junius Snowball
Junius is from Winnebago, an enrolled tribal member and part of the bear clan. He is entering his second year at Little Priest Tribal College, where he is majoring in business. This summer, he is interning with our Community Development team and hopes to gain valuable experience and skills that support his future career. Junius shared that working with Ho-Chunk, Inc. has always been a dream of his, and he looks forward to learning from professionals who inspire his career goals.
Logan Kinzler
Logan is from Chesapeake Beach, Maryland, and is a senior at York College of Pennsylvania, where he is pursuing dual majors in mathematics and computer science. This summer, he is interning will All Native Group in Fairfax, VA. Through the internship, he hopes to gain practical experience developing informational dashboards, creating documentation, and building efficient data pipelines.
Martin Ojeda
Martin is from Omaha, NE., and recently graduated from the University of Nebraska at Omaha with his bachelor’s degree in finance. This summer, he is interning with WarHorse Gaming, Through the internship, he hopes to gain real-world business and leadership experience while learning more about how large organizations operate.
Melaki George
Melaki is from Winnebago, an enrolled tribal member, and a part of the bear clan. This fall, Melaki will be a junior at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, majoring in finance and agribusiness. He's placed with Ho-Chunk Farms this summer and hopes to gain more hands-on experience in a professional work environment while developing a stronger understanding of agribusiness operations and learning how he can use his knowledge to create positive opportunities for his community.
Randall Nunez
Randall is from Norfolk, NE., and an enrolled member of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska. He recently graduated from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln with his bachelor’s degree in business management with a minor in Native American studies. This summer, he is interning with WarHorse Gaming. Randall looks forward to learning from leaders in Indian Country economic development while continuing to grow both personally and professionally.
Ricky Suarez
Ricky is from Winnebago, an enrolled tribal member and is a part of the wolf clan. He is a senior at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, majoring in accounting. This summer, he is interning with our Community Impact & Engagement team and the Winnebago Tribe’s Finance Department. He hopes to expand his knowledge of how accounting and financial management contribute to the success of tribally owned organizations, while applying what he has learned in his coursework and gaining practical experience in budgeting, reporting, and financial analysis.
Sae Doxey
Sae is from Winnebago and an enrolled tribal member. Her Hocak name is Ha Me Ha Mani Winga (Walks against the Wind), and she is a member of the bear clan. She is also a descendant of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. She’s entering her fourth year at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln studying graphic design. She is interning with Blue Earth Marketing and is looking forward to growing her graphic design experiences, strengthening her creative skills, and gaining new knowledge that will help her become an Indigenous designer dedicated to elevating Native entrepreneur voices through impact brand identities.
Shondeen Long
Shaúndíín or Shondeen (Shawn-deen) is part Hoocak and Dine (Navajo). Her legal name means morning sunlight (morning blessings with sunlight). She is a descendent of the bear clan and her Hoocak name is Nąącgepįįwįnga (Good heart woman). She also has a Diné name that is Asdzaan bahazonii (Friendly/Happy Woman). She is currently on the pre-law route and is majoring in political science with minors in philosophy and Native American studies at the University of Nebraska at Omaha and will graduate this year. This summer, she hopes to learn and grow with Flatwater Group and support multiple government contracting projects. She’s also looking forward to gaining hands-on experience with procurement regulations, contract execution, and the legality issues faced in government contracting. The internship so far has deepened her interests and understanding of how Native-owned businesses engage in federal contracting.
Sylvia Valentino
Sylvia is from Walthill, NE., an enrolled member of the Onedia Tribe of Wisconsin and a part of the turtle clan. She is also a descendent of the Umonhon Tribe of Nebraska. She is a senior at York University, majoring in psychology with a minor in business administration. This summer, she is placed with our Human Resources and Benefits departments. She is excited to learn more about employee relations, recruitment, and workplace communication while gaining hands-on experience in HR and Benefits. Sylvia also looks forward to strengthening her leadership, communication, and organizational skills throughout the internship.
Tyler LaMere
Tyler is from Winnebago and is an enrolled member of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska and a descendent of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. They are a senior at the University of South Dakota, majoring in Native American studies with a minor in social media marketing. This summer, they are interning with our Corporate Communications team. They hope to make a positive impact at Ho-Chunk, Inc. by developing effective communications strategies and creating quality content to add to their growing professional portfolio.
Wallace Earth Jr.
Wallace is from Winnebago, an enrolled member and part of the bear clan. He is a sophomore at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where he is studying architectural engineering. Wallace is interning with Ho-Chunk Construction this summer. He looks forward to gaining insight into working in a corporate environment while learning more about how construction projects are planned, built, and budgeted through hands-on experience.
Zayne Bassette
Zayne is from Winnebago, an enrolled tribal member, and part of the water spirit clan. He recently completed his second year at Little Priest Tribal College, where he is majoring in business. This summer, he is interning with our Human Resources and Benefits department. Through the internship, he looks forward to exploring HR and Benefits fields and gaining a deeper understanding of the work that goes into supporting employees and organizational operations.
