Meet Jason
Jason Lambert, MPA is respected throughout tribal networks and has committed himself to the improvement of both tribal and rural communities through strategic growth and advancement. With more than 19 years of service to tribal nations and rural communities, his accomplishments focus on strategic planning, responsive organizational growth, analysis and strategic alignment, community outreach and consensus building, capital project management, and comprehensive grant management.
Since 2016 Jason has applied his experience and knowledge for multiple clients and organizations across the country. As a professional consultant and advisor, he has taken part in more than 50 projects for over 20 individual clients. The work is wide in scope and disciplines. Working primarily with American Indian tribes, Jason has led comprehensive strategic planning, program evaluation and planning, economic development feasibility and implementation, as well as general advisement. Throughout this work there has been an integral focus on community engagement and alignment across all strategic initiatives. Additionally, his recent work has focused on health and human services programming.
From 2004 to 2015, Jason’s work focused on tribal and regional economic development with detailed work in strategic planning, project development and management, and grant administration. In 2012 he led the creation of the Division of Commerce for the EBCI to provide comprehensive strategy, planning, and execution for revenue-based activities for the Tribe, with a focus on economic development and destination marketing. From 2016 to 2018, he served in the capacity of Dean of Workforce Innovations and Economic Development for Southwestern Community College. In this role he had the primary responsibility of collaborating with the President, Executive Vice President and academic divisions to assess, develop, and continuously improve innovative workforce development, continuing education, and personal professional development programs to meet the current and future needs of the local economy.
Jason has prioritized the need to serve on regional and national committees and boards which has significantly broadened his network and advanced his knowledge base. He has served as the Chairman of Twelve Clans, Inc. (a Section 17 Corporation), Vice Chairman of Eltueg Corporation (a Section 17 Corporation), Tennessee Valley Corridor Board of Directors, External Advisory Board for the UNC American Indian Center, Vice Chairman for the Cherokee Historical Association Board of Trustees, the Cherokee Indian Hospital Foundation, and the Advantage West Regional Economic Development Council Board of Directors, among others.
An enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Jason holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a Minor in American Indian Studies from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill and a Masters in Public Administration from the University of North Carolina – Pembroke. He was a 2011 recipient of the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED) ‘40 Under 40’ award and has served on numerous panels at national conferences. He resides in Bryson City, North Carolina as an active member of the community with his two teenage sons.