Fern Orie is the CEO of her recently launched consulting company, The Matriarch Group. For the past two years she served as the Chief Programs Officer and Executive Vice President of Advocacy & Strategic Partnerships for the Oweesta Corporation, a national Native CDFI Intermediary. For fourteen years prior to that, Ms. Orie served as the founding CEO of the statewide certified Native community development financial institution (CDFI), Wisconsin Native Loan Fund, a housing, business, and consumer revolving loan fund. In tandem she was a co-creator and founding Chairwoman of the Wisconsin Indian Business Alliance, and continues to serve on the Board of Directors of the re-named organization, the Wisconsin Indigenous Housing & Economic Development Corporation. Ms. Orie has 20 years of experience working in housing and economic development in Indian Country. She is a strong advocate and very active in the Native community and economic development field regionally and at the national level. Additionally, Ms. Orie serves on the Board of Directors and Loan Committee of Bay Bank, a tribally owned bank in Wisconsin. Ms. Orie was appointed by the Governor and serves on the Governor’s Council for Financial Literacy and Inclusion. She also serves on several Boards at national and state levels. In 2021 Fern was the recipient of the Nan Cheney March for Justice award. She has received various accolades and awards in community development. Fern is an enrolled tribal member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin.