Last year, Wiley|Wilson announced that it was forming a mentor-protégé partnership with Bodwé, the professional services segment of Mno-Bmadsen, an investment enterprise and wholly owned instrumentality of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi. November is Native American Heritage Month, which is an excellent opportunity to learn more about this emerging relationship and the company behind it.

Mno-Bmadsen means “the good path,” and it was formed in 2012 from the Tribal mandate to diversify business interests, revenue streams, and wealth for future generations. Under Mno-Bmadsen, the Bodwé family of companies works to serve the Pokagon Band and its people, increasing resources for continued growth and sovereignty. The Pokagon Band is dedicated to providing community development initiatives such as housing, education, family services, medical care, and cultural preservation for its more than 6,000 citizens. The Pokagon Band’s ten-county service area includes four counties in Southwestern Michigan and six in Northern Indiana.

Under the Bodwé Group umbrella are several separate entities, including Seven Generations A+E, The Steelhead Engineering Company, Blue Star Integrative Studio, WBK Engineering, Bodwé Technology Solutions, and Bodwé Federal Services. “At the end of 2023, we formed a joint venture with WBK Engineering, one of Bodwé’s subsidiaries, in order to pursue specific government and municipal contracts,” explained Andy Blysak, Senior Vice President and Director of Quality at Wiley|Wilson, who has been working to successfully connect the team members.

The Mentor-Protégé Program (MPP) gives disadvantaged small businesses (protégés) enhanced opportunities to compete for larger prime contracts and subcontracts by partnering with larger companies (mentors).

WBK Engineering has a wide range of specialties, including transportation engineering, land planning, urban design, and ecological testing. “WBK has built a solid reputation as an expert in understanding how people live and move in built and natural environments,” Blysak said. “Their expertise is a natural complement to ours and their customer-centered approach matches our service-oriented culture. It’s a win-win for both of us.”