Insight in Indian Country Podcast
Trusted Expertise to Serve Tribal Nations
The path to becoming a CPA is no easy feat. As we celebrate Native American Heritage Month, join Wes Benally and Ryan Claw (Dine’) as they discuss what it takes to join the elite ranks of Certified Public Accountants. As REDW Principal and National Tribal Practice Leader, Wes understands the dedication required to establish a career in accounting and this episode is sitting down with Ryan Claw, Interim Executive Director of Treasury for Tohono O’odham Nation, to discuss obstacles they overcame to become CPAs and succeed in a demanding field. Tune in to hear candid insights from leading accounting professionals as they reflect on their shared experiences and how the industry has changed over the years.
Have a question or want to request a topic for our podcast? Connect with Wes.
REDW LLC is proud to bring you the Insight in Indian Country Podcast, covering important advisory, accounting, and finance topics that impact Tribal Nations and business affairs. Thanks for listening!
Meet Your Host
Wesley Ryan Benally, CPA
REDW Principal and National Tribal Practice Leader
As the leader of REDW’s National Tribal Practice, Wes is committed to improving financial literacy throughout Indian Country and hosts the Insight in Indian Country Podcast. He oversees audits of a wide range for Native American communities, state and local government agencies, and non-profits, nationwide, is a member of the Arizona State Board of Accountancy’s Peer Review Oversight Advisory Committee and serves as an instructor with Arizona State University’s American Indian Policy Institute. In addition, as a Board member for a tribal gaming entity that operates in two states, Wes keeps up with regulatory issues important to tribal gaming operations. Wes is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation.
Compensation Studies—Your Key to Hiring & Retaining Top Talent.
It’s important to attract—and retain—the best employees to ensure the long-term success and sustainability of your tribal organization. And given an exceptionally competitive labor market and the usual budget constraints, this means basing your employee compensation and benefits programs on relevant and reliable data.
The 2023 results are in! Learn more about REDW’s 2023 Tribal Compensation Survey Reports for Tribal Governments and Tribal Gaming.
More from Insight in Indian Country
- 2025 Indian Gaming Tradeshow & ConventionBe our guest! Stop by REDW’s Booth #1612 at IGA 2025, the largest gathering of tribal leaders and casino executives in the country.
- Lessons Learned from the Impact of Recent OMB Guidance on Tribal, Governmental and Nonprofit ServicesRecent guidance from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is poised to significantly affect Tribal, governmental and nonprofit services.
- “We’re still here, we’re thriving.” 🌟 Native American Heritage Month with Taryn Reynolds, MSL, THRP IITaryn emphasizes how protecting sovereignty extends beyond language preservation into organizational policies. Taryn Reynolds illustrates how tribal communities can be both progressive and traditional, challenging the “that’s how it’s always been done” mentality while honoring cultural values…
- “We did it for the People.” 💫 Native American Heritage Month with Sean McCabe, CPAWesley Benally welcomes Sean McCabe, CPA and Controller of the Navajo Nation, for a powerful discussion about building a meaningful legacy in tribal finance…
- Seeking Input from Tribal Leaders to Present at November GASAC MeetingREDW Tribal Consultant and GASAC member Hattie Mitchell is seeking input from Tribal leaders ahead of the next GASAC meeting on November 12, 2024.
