Mel Willie

Mel Willie leads NeighborWorks America's Native work to expand its investment in tribal communities. He is a national leader in Indian Country with more than 23 years of experience in nonprofit management, government, political, public and intergovernmental affairs and has represented tribal interests at the local, tribal, state and national level. He is a member of the Navajo Nation, born and raised on the reservation in northeast Arizona.

Before joining NeighborWorks, he served as principal of Chee Consulting, working with a range of clients to advance and strengthen tribal communities. Having served as past executive director of the National American Indian Housing Council (NAIHC) and as special advisor to one of the nation's largest public housing authorities, he is intimately familiar with providing affordable housing through highly regulated federal programs.