Jen Maje Maynard

About Jen Maje Maynard

I am Kaska and Dene Tha, of mixed ancestry, raised in the Alaskan bush through a subsistence way of life that shaped my lifelong commitment to food sovereignty, community resilience, and Indigenous ways of knowing.Over the past 20 years, my work has spanned community care, research, operations, and entrepreneurship. I’ve supported individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Cerebral Palsy, advanced food sovereignty through growing medicines and food, foraging, and land-based learning with Indigenous youth and members of the IDD community, and led grassroots food access through my urban farm to increase education and access to fresh food.My background includes social science research in infant and child wellness through the longitudinal NFP+ study and scholarship on intergenerational strength and trauma as a McNair Scholar, grounded in Indigenous and trauma-informed frameworks.I’ve led operations across agriculture, hospitality, and tourism; founded a wellness business and co-founded a culinary mushroom farm; and built a food business incubation program supporting BIPOC women and non-binary entrepreneurs. I also served on the Board of Directors for the Oregon Food Bank, nationally recognized for leadership in equitable, dignity-centered food access.Today, I serve as a Resource Navigator with the Northwest Native Chamber, providing culturally responsive mentorship, technical assistance, and business advising to Indigenous and BIPOC entrepreneurs.Looking ahead, I’m focused on ecosystem-level design—building food hubs, hybrid nonprofit–for-profit models, and Indigenous-led economic infrastructure that supports sovereignty at scale.

Experience

1. Business Resource Navigator

   Northwest Native Chamber

   Feb 2024 — Present

   As a Business Resource Navigator, I provide culturally responsive business advising, technical assistance, and mentorship to Indigenous and BIPOC entrepreneurs across the Pacific Northwest. My work centers Indigenous economic sovereignty, value-aligned growth, and ecosystem-level support for Native-owned businesses.Impact & accomplishments in the first 18 months: As the lead team member of three in Washington State. Served 178+ entrepreneurs representing 57+ tribes across 25+ countiesDelivered 2,750+ hours of one-on-one technical assistance Facilitated 45+ connections to trusted service providers (marketing, legal, tax, and finance)Led deployment as a team of two: of in asset acquisition grants, fully utilized at closing, supporting:land purchaseequipment acquisitiondown payment assistance for retail/studio spaceinfrastructure purchasespaying down existing business loansIn partnership with the Washington State Department of Commerce, I supported the Strategic Asset Acquisition Program (SAAP), helping Native-owned businesses acquire high-value assets essential for long-term sustainability.Beyond funding, every recipient received tailored technical assistance, including capital coaching, business plan development, and legal/financial management guidance.I work at the intersection of culture and commerce—helping Native entrepreneurs navigate systems, access capital, and build durable, community-rooted enterprises grounded in sovereignty and self-determination.Always open to connecting with Indigenous entrepreneurs, funders, and partners building equitable economic infrastructure.

Education

• Portland State University

  Baccalaureate of Science, Psychology

  2008

Skills

• Interviews
• Research
• Nonprofits
• Event Planning
• Public Speaking
• Social Media
• Training
• Data Entry
• Microsoft Word
• Healthcare
• Community Outreach
• Microsoft Excel
• Powerpoint
• Fundraising
• Management
• Administrative Assistants
• Time Management