Potawatomi Business Development Corp.: Pepi Randolph named CEO

Kip Ritchie named COO

Milwaukee, WI — Pepi Randolph, a former president of Forward Wisconsin, has been named CEO of the Potawatomi Business Development Corporation (PBDC). Pepi joined PBDC in 2007 as vice president Sales and Marketing. Kip Ritchie, PBDC’s vice president of Business Development has been named COO. The appointments come as part of a leadership and organizational restructuring following the recent economic downturn.

Formed as the diversification engine for the Forest County Potawatomi Community, PBDC’s holdings are nearly $40 million. But like most business entities, recessionary challenges forced PBDC to re-assess their organization and strategic priorities. As a result PBDC divested some investments, restructured their leadership, reduced expenses and re-focused their partnering and investment strategies. The organization is now better positioned for future growth and to successfully fulfill their mission to generate wealth and improve the quality of life for the Forest County Potawatomi Community and surrounding neighbors and businesses.

“Pepi brings a diverse set of leadership skills to the role of CEO along with a vast Wisconsin network of contacts that will benefit PBDC as the corporation looks at new growth and partnership opportunities,” said PBDC Board Chair Kevin Allis. “With both Pepi and Kip, we now have the leadership and strategy in place for PBDC to build an economy separate from the tribe’s current dependence on Indian Gaming, and become one of the most successful business development corporations in all of Indian Country.”

Prior to PBDC and Forward Wisconsin, Randolph’s past positions included assistant vice president in the investment division at M&I Bank in Milwaukee, assistant general counsel for the Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club, and he was a top sales performer for both Johnson & Johnson and Procter and Gamble.

PBDC’s priorities for 2010 include being in position to review and establish a pipeline of acquisition, partnership or joint venture opportunities with other tribes and private industry. The focus is to grow the capabilities of PBDC and augment the abilities of companies currently in their portfolio.

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The Potawatomi Business Development Corporation is owned an operated by the Forest County Potawatomi Community of Wisconsin. The Corporation seeks to diversify Potawatomi business interests beyond gaming in effort to secure the future of the Potawatomi tribe for the next 7 generations and beyond. Potawatomi Business Development Corporation holdings including OneProspect Technologies, HCI Logistics, Advancia Corporation, Advancia Aeronautics, Potawatomi Training, Potawatomi Test & Evaluation and Securio Group. For more information on the Potawatomi Business Development Corporation, call Kip Ritchie at 414-727-2041 ext. 6007 or visit our website at http://www.potawatomibdc.com.