The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) announced its investment in Windward Engineers & Consultants, a certified minority business enterprise (MBE) engineering firm headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The ownership group also includes NELSON Worldwide, an award-winning firm delivering architecture, interior design, graphic design, and brand strategy services through offices around the U.S. Also included in the ownership group is Jason Booth (Turtle Mountain Chippewa), a business owner experienced in tribal development and corporate supplier diversity. The combined ownership group, with more than six decades of experience, builds upon Windward’s position as an industry leader, offering excellence in engineering nationwide, while the partnership with the SMSC and Booth will allow for expansion into new markets.

“It is important to our tribe to make investments that further diversify our economy and benefit the entire region and communities across the country,” said SMSC Chairman Keith B. Anderson. “We are looking forward to leveraging Windward and NELSON’s expertise to enhance the work we do within our Community and across Indian Country.” SMSC Secretary/Treasurer Rebecca Crooks-Stratton will serve as Chairwoman of the Windward Board of Directors.

Guided by their Dakota heritage, the SMSC is committed to building partnerships and supporting the economic development of Native American communities across the country. Now a part of the SMSC, Windward will bring enhanced real estate, design and construction expertise to their team in order to make an even larger impact on projects across the country.

NELSON Worldwide CEO Ozzie NELSON said, “We feel a deep sense of gratitude and obligation to help all communities improve their built environment. With our new partner, we have the enhanced ability to work with Native communities and open career opportunities to a wider share of our country’s talented, young and diverse engineers.”

The new ownership group will allow Windward to offer clients a unique opportunity by providing AE and real estate consulting services that will help them achieve their own diversity goals and broaden capital spending opportunities within their supply chains.

“Corporate America and Indian Country both seek experienced, scalable partners to help them achieve their business goals,” said Booth. “We will seek certifying agency designations that will be a real asset to corporations and agencies seeking capable MBE partners.”

Windward will continue to deepen relationships in the Northeast, while accelerating its successful market growth achieved in the Southeast, Texas and the West Coast over the past year. Growth will also result from Windward’s commitment to help clients occupy spaces that have been impacted by COVID-19, including clients within the gaming and hospitality, retail, healthcare, distribution, education, and corporate workplace markets.

In addition, Windward will expand upon the ongoing success of its “The Connected Workplace” initiative. WiFi, access control, power over ethernet lighting, remote receptionists, and room designation systems are all dependent upon an integrated and resilient infrastructure that must be coordinated within a building. Windward provides those services to clients today and is looking forward to building on this key offering.

Windward balances vision with pragmatism, acting as collaborative partners in delivering high-performing built environments and creating trusted partnerships with their clients along the way. The firm looks forward to continuing to support and innovate for their clients nationwide, championing customer-centric solutions that help people, businesses, and communities flourish.

About the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community is a federally recognized, sovereign Dakota tribal government located southwest of Minneapolis/St. Paul. Following a Dakota tradition of generosity, the SMSC is one of the top philanthropists in Minnesota and is the largest contributor to other tribal governments and causes across the country. It is a strong community partner and a leader in protecting and restoring natural resources. The SMSC’s government, Gaming Enterprise and various other enterprises are collectively the largest employer in Scott County and attract millions of visitors to the region.

About Windward Engineers and Consultants

Windward Engineers and Consultants exists for one primary purpose—to help clients achieve their objectives. Windward demonstrates the broad range of experience provided by a team of highly skilled professional, technical and support personnel. A services firm at its core, Windward strives to make the places where people work, shop, study, heal, stay and serve operate better. Windward brings a time-honored reputation and more than 60 years of experience and dedication to providing a full menu of engineering services to corporations and institutions across the globe.

About Jason Booth
Jason Booth is a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians. An experienced, entrepreneurial executive, Booth has owned three businesses: TAG Capital, Ishpi, Inc., and The Patient Source. As founder of The Patient Source, Booth grew the company to the largest Native-owned provider of patient education programs to corporate America. His work with Ishpi Inc., kept him involved with Indian Country through consulting services focused on non-gaming business development for tribes.