Rion J. Ramirez
Rion J. Ramirez is the CEO of Port Madison Enterprises (PME), the economic agency of the Suquamish tribal government in Washington (WA) just outside of Seattle, where he has led economic development and income diversification efforts for the tribe since 2019, also serving as CEO of the tribe’s construction companies. Prior to these leadership positions, he held General Counsel positions for both the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and Port Madison Enterprises. His twenty-plus years of experience as an Indian Country attorney also led to his appointment in 2021 as a member of the Judicial Merit Selection Committee for the Western District of Washington, which reviews potential candidates for federal court vacancies and submits recommendations to both WA Senators. Rion has served as the chair of the Democratic National Committee's (DNC) Native American Caucus and is currently a member of the DNC’s Executive Committee and National Finance Committees. Rion also served as the co-chair of the Native American Policy Working Group for Hillary for America and was a member of its National Advisory Council. In 2013, Rion was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve as a Commissioner on the President's Commission on White House Fellowships, and in 2012, he was co-chair of the Obama Native Outreach Group and a member of the Obama for America National Finance Committee.
Rion also served as Trustee for the University of Washington Alumni Association from 2014-2017 and is an at-large board member for the Washington Hospitality Association. Rion is a member of the Washington Bar Association, and the Native American Bar Association, having served previously as the President of the Northwest Indian Bar Association. He is also a former Appellate Court Justice for the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians. Before becoming the General Counsel for PME, Rion was an associate at the law firm of Dorsey & Whitney LLP (2001 to 2005) and practiced primarily in the areas of Indian Law, Tribal Finance, Business Law, and Gaming Law. Prior to that, Rion was an Associate at Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt, P.C. (1997 to 2001). Rion received his B.A. from the University of Washington (1995), his J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law (1998) and is an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians.
In December 2023, Rion was appointed by President Biden, after confirmation by the U.S. Senate, to the Board of Trustees of the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation.