Our team

Russ Seagle, Executive Director, has been with the Sequoyah Fund since 2009. Prior to joining Sequoyah Fund, he served as Small Business Center Director at Southwestern Community College for twelve years. Prior to that, he owned a successful packaging and shipping company that specialized in the transportation of high-value art, electronics, and musical instruments.

Russ received a BSBA in Marketing from Appalachian State University in 1989, and a MBA from Western Carolina University in 2001. He has been a professional speaker, trainer, and consultant since 1998. He is a member of the National Speakers Association, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, Risk Management Association, and the Association for Talent Development.

Ph: 828-359-5003
Email: russseagle@sequoyahfund.org

Hope Huskey, Associate Director, has been with Sequoyah Fund since 2013. Prior to that, she served as a Business Development Specialist for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians' Department of Commerce Enterprise Development Office. She has extensive experience in business planning, small business coaching, meeting facilitation, and project management. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Literature from UNC-Asheville and a Masters of Project Management (MPM) from Western Carolina University.

Hope manages Sequoyah Fund's non-lending programs, including the Kituwah Savings Program, Authentically Cherokee, Youth Entrepreneurship Education, and the Coffee Fundraiser Program. She is also a certified Credit Counselor who works with Sequoyah Fund loan clients and others in the community to help them improve their credit scores, create and manage a household budget, or gain a better understanding of personal finance and credit issues.

Hope is an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

Ph: 828-359-5005
Email: hopehuskey@sequoyahfund.org

Ashford Smith, CFO, is an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. He holds a dual major in Economics and Political Science with a concentration in Public Administration from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He joined Sequoyah Fund in 2023, after having served as Finance Director for the Cherokee Boys Club and several finance and public administration-related roles within tribal government. He enjoys traditional Cherokee activities such as stickball, ceremonial dance, and basket-making.

Ashford is currently vice-chair of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Tribal Audit and Ethics Committee.

Ph: 828-359-5002
Email: ashford@sequoyahfund.org

Dorian Walkingstick, Account Manager, came to The Sequoyah Fund in 2017 after receiving his BSBA in Finance from Western Carolina University. Dorian also minored in Accounting. He manages all aspects of the loan process from application to underwriting to closing. He also works with loan clients to keep collateral records up-to-date, monitor loan covenants, and modify loans when necessary. Dorian manages Sequoyah Fund's loan portfolio and is charged with maintaining the overall health of the portfolio.

Dorian is a member of Risk Management Association.

Dorian is an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. He is the son of Maceta Bradley of the Birdtown community and Chris Walkingstick of the Big Y community. His hobbies include: Fishing, weight-lifting, spending time with family, and patiently waiting for football season to come back around.

Ph: 828-359-5004
Email: dorian@sequoyahfund.org

Faith Long Presley, Portfolio Risk Manager, first started working for Sequoyah Fund as an intern during the summer of 2017 while she was studying business at Carson-Newman University. Faith was a member of the Carson-Newman track & field team. She graduated with a bachelors degree in business administration (BSBA) with an emphasis in management.

Faith is an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. As a former Miss Cherokee, she represented the tribe with honor and pride. As Portfolio Risk Manager, Faith works with clients to maintain the value of their loan collateral, monitor loans that might require technical assistance or modification, and generally help borrowers maintain their loan in good standing. She also manages Sequoyah Fund's social media and digital marketing.

She currently lives in Cherokee with her husband, Montel, and her sweet huskies Aquilla Long and Nuna Presley and their awesome cat, Chunk Presley.

Ph: 828-359-5006
Email: faithlong@sequoyahfund.org

Bobbi Bennett, Loan Officer, came to The Sequoyah Fund in 2022 after eight years as Travel Buyer for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Bobbi holds an AAS in Office Systems Technology with a Certificate in Accounting from Southwestern Community College. She is also a Notary Public.

Bobbi lives on the 3200 Acre Tract with her husband Bill, and Bodhi, their American Bully. She is a Sunday School teacher at the Whittier Church of God. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, riding the Harley with Bill, and being Nannie Bobbi to her three grandsons, Noah, Waylon, and Asher.

Bobbi looks forward to helping you with your auto loan and housing rehab loan needs.

Ph: 828-359-5007
Email: bobbi@sequoyahfund.org

Click here to set an appointment with Bobbi in-person or online

Shayla Jackson, Office Administrator & Benefits Coordinator, is an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. She obtained an Associates of Arts and Science Degree from Southwestern Community College and is currently studying for her B.S. In Management and Administration at Louisiana State University Shreveport.

Shayla participates in several leadership programs, always working toward self-improvement. She is passionate about Cherokee culture and language preservation. She lives in the Yellowhill Community with her son, Amias, and two cats: Sarah, and Big Purr.

Ph: 828-359-5001
Email: shayla@sequoyahfund.org

Zach Goings, Grant Specialist, brings a diverse background to his role, having served in the Tribal Education department and accumulated 11 years of experience in management and customer service at Harrah's Cherokee Casino.

An enrolled member of the EBCI and lifelong resident of Cherokee, he currently resides in the Birdtown community. Zach holds a BS in History from Western Carolina University. Alongside his professional achievements, he enjoys a fulfilling personal life with his wife, Ashley, and their 1-year-old son, who delights in park visits and watching Blippi. Zach's commitment to community development and his deep roots in Cherokee make him an asset to the Sequoyah Fund and the local community.

Ph: 828-359-5001
Email: zachary@sequoyahfund.org

Joyce Clark, Training Specialist, looks forward to helping you with your small business training needs.

Ph: 828-359-5001
Email: joyce@sequoyahfund.org