-Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians & JumpGarden Consulting Teaming with Firm at 2019 PDC Summit-

March 13, 2019 – Kalamazoo, MI – Seven Generations Architecture & Engineering, the premier tribally- owned, 8(a) and HUBZone certified architecture and engineering company, will co-present how thoughtful design dramatically enhances healthcare for Native Americans at this year’s ASHE PDC Summit, an international conference on planning design and construction. The session, titled “Collaborative Design Outcomes: Native American Healthcare,” will be presented on March 20th in Phoenix, AZ,

“Native American healthcare is in a state of crisis today because many tribal citizens hesitate to engage providers as a result of generations of discrimination and abuse by the medical community,” explains Seven Generations A+E’s Director of Architecture Steven VandenBussche. “By combining the power of purposeful design with collaboration amongst other key groups, we can facilitate better outcomes for tribal citizens.”

Seven Generations A+E, joined by representatives from the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and JumpGarden Consulting, will detail best practices for leveraging culturally sensitive architecture and design to help patients feel connected with health facilities. The presentation will also review how visioning sessions, charettes and gaming exercises can successfully bring multiple cohorts together with a shared purpose to create unique Native American facilities for tribal healthcare.

“Specific colors, patterns and symbols that differ from tribe-to-tribe are critical components of design in Native medical facilities that build trust,” explains Sheila Cahnman, president of JumpGarden Consulting. “Holistic treatment that incorporates cultural-based practices is impactful.

JumpGarden Consulting is one of the industry’s premier healthcare programming and planning solutions firm. With more than 35 years of experience, Cahnman focuses on improving the patient, family and staff experience.  She works with academic medical centers, community hospitals and federal clients from her firm’s headquarters in Wilmette, IL. Cahnman also collaborated with Seven Generations A+E on planning the new 200,000-square foot Indian Health Service at the Rapid City Clinic in South Dakota.

VandenBussche and Cahnman will be joined by the Pokagon Band’s Director of Health Services Matthew Clay as co-presenters. Clay evaluates, assesses and implements integrated care for the Band systemwide. In his role, Clay also works closely with the Great Lakes Area Indian Health Board and the National Indian Health Board.

Scott Winchester, project manager and tribal liaison at Seven Generations A+E, will also co-present with VandenBussche, Cahnman and Clay. Winchester, who is a citizen of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi, is responsible for tribal client relations, planning, business development and project management. He has more than 35 years of architectural experience, focusing in design of Native American healthcare.

Seven Generations A+E was founded in 2012 by Mno-Bmadsen, the non-gaming investment arm of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians. The portfolio company’s expertise and offerings have expanded significantly since then to include clients throughout the United States and receiving certifications as a Native 8(a) small business and HUBZone company. These two important federal accreditations permit Seven Generations A+E to receive specialized consideration when bidding on government projects.

ABOUT SEVEN GENERATIONS ARCHITECTURE + ENGINEERING

Founded in 2012, Seven Generations A+E is a tribally-owned, 8(a), small disadvantaged, HUBZone business with expertise in architecture, interior design, planning and construction. With a focus on environmental stewardship, the firm specializes in the federal, state, municipal, commercial and tribal markets from its headquarters in Kalamazoo, MI. The company is a proud member of the Mno-Bmadsen Family of Companies. To learn more please visit  www.7genae.com.

ABOUT MNO-BMADSEN

Mno-Bmadsen is the non-gaming investment arm of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians. This independently managed instrumentality was launched in 2012 with the mandate to diversify the Tribe’s business interests, revenue streams and wealth for future generations. Headquartered in Dowagiac, MI, Mno-Bmadsen’s key strategic investment goals are to buy, hold and grow its portfolios, which currently are Services, Manufacturing and Real Estate.  To learn more, please visit  www.Mno-Bmadsen.com.

ABOUT THE POKAGON BAND OF POTAWATOMI INDIANS

The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians’ sovereignty was reaffirmed under legislation signed into law by President Clinton in September of 1994. The Pokagon Band is dedicated to providing community development initiatives such as housing, education, family services, medical care and cultural preservation for its approximately 5,600 citizens. The Pokagon Band’s ten-county service area includes four counties in Southwestern Michigan and six in Northern Indiana. Its main administrative offices are located in Dowagiac, Mich., with a satellite office in South Bend, Ind. In 2007, it opened Four Winds Casino Resort in New Buffalo, Mich., followed by Four Winds Hartford in 2011 and Four Winds Dowagiac in 2013. Four Winds South Bend opened January 16, 2018.  It owns and operates a variety of business via Mno-Bmadsen, the tribe’s non-gaming investment enterprise. More information is available at  www.pokagonband-nsn.gov,  www.fourwindscasino.com and  www.mno-bmadsen.com.

ABOUT JUMPGARDEN CONSULTING, LLC

JumpGarden Consulting LLC is a nationally certified women-owned business enterprise specializing in healthcare facility space programming and planning. The practice was founded in 2014 by Sheila F. Cahnman, FAIA, FACHA, LEED AP, and is based on her 35 years of industry experience and knowledge of the latest advancements in the field.  This includes the planning and design leadership of building and master planning projects for more than 60healthcare clients from major academic medical centers, community hospitals and outpatient clinics. To learn more visit  http://jumpgardenllc.com.



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