Yates Named New CTUIR Deputy Executive Director

MISSION – Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) officials have announced Chanda K. Aloysius Yates as a new deputy executive director to help manage the CTUIR’s governmental departments.

Yates, who holds a master’s degree in business administration, has more than 30 years of experience in health care management and consulting, specializing in Indian Health systems, tribal health organizations and village corporation governance.

"I am deeply honored to step into the role of deputy executive director for the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation,” she said. “In this capacity, I look forward to collaborating closely with the executive director, the Board of Trustees and the dedicated staff to strengthen our organizational framework, ensure efficient service delivery and continue advancing the long-term goals of the tribal government. I am committed to upholding the values and priorities of the CTUIR, working strategically to enhance our operations and making meaningful progress for our community and citizens.”

Previously, Yates served as a senior advisor at Kauffman and Associates where she contributed to health care research, planning and transformation initiatives. She also was health general manager at Klamath Tribal Health & Family Services where she successfully managed the operations of a $60 million dollar budget and 225-plus staff members. She also served as chief operations officer at OLE Health and vice president at Southcentral Foundation where she directed behavioral health integration and quality improvement efforts within Alaska’s Nuka System of Care.

“My leadership has been integral in guiding health systems through significant changes, including during the COVID pandemic and post-COVID recovery efforts, operational redesigns and achieving strategic plan goals,” she said.

CTUIR Executive Director J.D. Tovey said he selected Yates as one of the tribe’s two deputy executive directors because of her commitment to strategic growth and sustainability.

“When considering Chanda’s work history, she has consistently demonstrated expertise in organizational leadership, business development and board governance across health care and business environments,” Tovey said. “She also has a proven track record of successfully managing multimillion-dollar budgets and leading large teams to drive operational excellence and organizational transformation. We are glad to be welcoming her to the CTUIR family.”

Yates, an enrolled member of Holy Cross Tribe in Alaska, replaces CTUIR Human Resources Director Kathryn Burke, who served part of 2024 and 2025 as deputy executive director before returning full time to Human Resources. The other executive deputy director position is being held in the interim by Finance Department Director Paul Rabb.

The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation is comprised of the Cayuse, Walla Walla and Umatilla Tribes, and formed under the Treaty of 1855 at the Walla Walla Valley, 12 Stat. 945. In 1949, the Tribes adopted a constitutional form of government to protect, preserve and enhance the reserved treaty rights guaranteed under federal law.