Tony Skrelunas was raised in Big Mountain, Navajo Nation by his great grandparents. He has a B.A. in Small Business Management and a M.B.A., Masters in Business Administration Degree, from Northern Arizona University.
Mr. Skrelunas currently:
• Is a Program Director at Grand Canyon Trust and a partner in the Horizon Springs Partnership where he leads highly innovative work that aims to enable Hopi and Navajo communities and governments to create sustainable economic development projects focused in retail, tourism, and utility scale renewable energy sectors.
• Serves as chair of the Native American Bank Community Development Corporation
• Serves as a stockholder for Southwest Tradition Log Homes Inc, a manufacturer of Log Cabin products using culturally relevant and sustainable development methods such as use of small diameter logs for elder hogans.
• Serves as Board Member of the Coconino County Sustainable Development Initiative.
Tony is the former Executive Director of the Navajo Nations Economic Development and Government Development Divisions. He is widely known for his management of massive changes to the Navajo Nation including work on the Local Governance Act of 1998, Securing Congressional Delegation of Navajo Business Site Leasing, Changes to the Sales Tax Code allow for local taxes,, change to Land-Use Planning Policies, securing the first grants from NAHASDA for Land Use Planning, and developing an alternative local governance model called Council of Nat’aa, based on the Navajo Traditional Governance.
Tony is considered a premier expert in the development of traditional forms of govern- ment and the development of economic plans that are in tune with local culture, vision, and traditional values. As such, he is a valuable guide to the development of a high perform- ance company that respects the Native American values and ensuring a consulting arm that truly helps achieve the Keya Vision of sustainable, culturally cognizant communities.