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Board Members

TYLER VARGAS

Vice Chairman

Attended college at Western New Mexico 2015-2016. As a redshirt freshman in 2016, he earned Special Teams Player of the Year. Named a Second Team All-LSC Punter in 2016. Also selected to the Don Hansen All-Super Region Third Team at Punter. Selected to the Fred Mitchell Award watch list for best kicker in the country as a redshirt freshman. Transferred back home in 2017, played at local JUCO (Palomar College) and received AA.

Transferred and served as Eastern New Mexico’s primary kicker and punter during the 2018-2019 season.  Was named to the All-Lone Star Conference Second Team as both a kicker and a punter. Was a 2019 All-LSC First Team selection as a placekicker and an All-LSC Second Team selection as a punter after leading the league with 13 made field goals on the year. Studied Sports Management, double minor in Physical Education and Coaching.

Joined Santa Ysabel Tribal Development Corporation/Economic Development Corporation board in March 2022. In April 2022 received FEMA certification in Mass Casualty Incidents (MCI). 

MELISSA PICO-BARNETT

Chairwoman

Melissa Pico-Barnett is a tribal member at the Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel. In August of 2019 Melissa began her journey as the Chairwoman of the Santa Ysabel Economic Development Corporation and the Santa Ysabel Tribal Development Corporation. She attended college in San Luis Obispo studying business. After college Melissa worked at Viejas casino for 5 years. She then went to work in the gaming commission office as a background investigator for Barona casino for 11 years. Melissa brings many aspects to the corporations business entities and continues to look at various ways for economic growth for the Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel.

 

JAMES BUCARO

Treasurer

Tribal member of the IIpay Nation of Santa Ysabel, Treasurer of the Santa Ysabel Tribal Development Corporation. Sinte Gleska University alumni with over 25 years of business sales and management. James currently is the General Manager and oversees the operations of Santa Ysabel Botanical Facility, Mountain Source Dispensary and SoCal First Nation Manufacturing and Distribution. James also oversees the Santa Ysabel Roadside convenience store operations.

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SANTA YSABEL ECONMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPERATION