Anne Defot-Sido comes to us with almost twenty years of experience, making her an expert in government contracting, procurement, the federal marketplace, acquisition practices, and federal contract mechanisms. Anne’s passion for team building and data-driven decision making aligns perfectly with our company's values, culture, and mission. In her previous role at Akima, Anne pioneered a newly implemented growth strategy team, leading them to an impressive double-digit improvement in win rate for the organization’s top deals. We are excited to have someone with such a proven track record of success on board.
Catherine most recently was the interim CFO for Bart & Associates where she provided financial oversite. Prior to that, Catherine held the CFO position at Aleut Federal and ACT I. She has also worked in senior finance and business operations roles at Unisys Federal, ASRC Federal, and CSC. She has an M.B.A. in Finance from Marymount University and a B.A. from Providence College.
Angela brings 20 years of experience to the role. Before joining Makwa Global, Angela held various positions spanning proposal management to Vice President of Corporate Development Operations. She started in industry with Strategic Insight, where she provided technical and coordination support to the Department of Navy’s Program Executive Office for Integrated Warfare Systems. Angela then joined Deloitte and was responsible for proposal management in the Defense Government Consulting Services. She subsequently supported Akima (one of the largest Alaska Native Corporations) as their Vice President of Corporate Development Operations during a period of record growth where she was the executive overseeing significant shared services functions including proposals, capture, business intelligence, and the PMO. Angela most recently was the Vice President for Business Development and Proposal Operations of Tenax Aerospace where she implemented industry leading best practices, policies, and procedures to position the BD and proposal teams to grow the Airborne-ISR portfolio.
Jose brings over 15 years of industry experience to Makwa Global, specializing in operations and strategic business development. Most recently, he served as an Account Executive for the Department of State at All Native Group, where he managed client retention and drove business growth. Before that, he was a key member of the business development team at S&K Technologies. Earlier in his career, Jose was President of Alutiiq Professional Training, LLC, overseeing daily operations, business development, and profitable growth while ensuring successful project execution. He also brings a strong foundation of leadership and discipline from his eight years of service in the United States Marine Corps.
Teri is a seasoned executive who began her 20+ year career at NASA, overseeing multiple contracts valued at $50M per annum. She has deep experience creating policies and processes to support growing teams and navigating the complex relationships and compliance challenges of organizations and agencies, such as the DOS, DOD, and DHS. Having worked in both the private and government sectors, she brings invaluable insights into Makwa's many business units. Her ability to execute big ideas and bring together the best talent has made her a key player in scaling organizations and initiatives from inception to exponential growth.
Stephanie is an experienced business development and marketing professional with over 20 years of demonstrated history of working in the government, commercial, and private industries. Prior to Makwa, Stephanie spent 16 years at DECO, Inc. in which she was instrumental in helping grow the business from $24M to at one point over $120M with a global presence in over 100 countries. Serving in roles from Business Development Specialist to Vice President, she managed the business development and proposal process for more than 55 contract awards, 110 task order awards, and 2,500 training course awards. Prior to DECO, she served in marketing roles in the telecommunications and data networking industries. In addition to government contracts, she is a passionate entrepreneur with interests in business startups, consulting, as well as commercial and residential real estate.
Celia de la Torre brings over 20 years of industry experience. Celia has served as an HR partner to companies that effectively managed portfolios of federal contracts across multiple disciplines, driving annual revenues between $40M and $600M. Most recently, Celia served as the Human Resources Director at Dignari, LLC, where she excelled as a strategic HR partner and advisor. Prior to that role, she was the Talent Management Director and Facility Security Officer at DSFederal, Inc. Celia also founded and led a small HR consulting firm, providing comprehensive HR services to startups and small organizations. In addition to her professional accomplishments, Celia is an active member of the HR community. She serves on the board of directors for the Human Resource Leadership Forum and regularly participates in HR conferences, workshops, and seminars to stay abreast of the latest trends, compliance issues, and best practices in human resources.
Makwa Global, LLC and its affiliated companies are owned by the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe.
In the mid-1700s, the ancestors of today’s Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe established a way of life rooted in resilience, stewardship, and respect for future generations. They hunted, fished, gathered wild rice, and passed down traditions that emphasized community, responsibility, and balance with the natural world. Despite enduring hardship and economic challenges over time, the Mille Lacs Band remained determined, proud, and resourceful, preserving a rich cultural identity that continues to guide them today.
The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe has become a model for Tribal Nations across the country, demonstrating how cultural values and economic development can work together to create lasting opportunity. Through diversified enterprises and disciplined governance, the Band has built a sustainable economic foundation that supports both Tribal members and the broader communities they serve.
Through Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures, the Band now owns businesses operating globally and employs thousands of people. These enterprises help fund critical investments in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and community services, including schools, health facilities, community centers, water systems, roads, and cultural institutions. In addition, the Band supports a wide range of charitable and civic organizations focused on education, public safety, healthcare, and community well-being.
This ownership model ensures that Makwa Global’s success is purpose-driven, reinforcing long-term economic strength, community investment, and opportunity for generations to come.
The Makwa Global portfolio of companies maintains a presence throughout the world and performs work in over 30 countries. Our diversified government contracting subsidiaries offer tailor-made solutions to our customers’ complex missions. We take pride in our ability to deploy the best people, processes, and security equipment around the world.
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Makwa Global proudly supports mission-critical initiatives for a select group of U.S. government agencies. Our clients demand precision, performance, and unwavering reliability—and we deliver. From safeguarding embassies overseas to enabling secure defense operations at home, we are honored to be a trusted partner in their success.
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