Kyia Jackson is the Export Business Specialist for the Arizona Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Export Center at The National Center. Kyia is an enrolled member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in American Indian Studies and Minor in Sustainability from Arizona State University. She had previously worked for the Economic Development Program of the San Carlos Apache Tribe. During her time there, she assisted Tribal members with economic planning, establishing or expanding their businesses, hosting business workshops with community partnerships and created tourism activities.
In her free time, she enjoys drawing, sewing and spending time with her dogs which led her to co-found a nonprofit focused on rescuing abandoned animals within her home community.

Joan Begay Notah is the Project Director for the Arizona Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) Export Center. Previously, she served as the Senior Procurement Specialist for the PTAC program and dedicated more than 5 years to the program. She also served as the Interim Program Manager for the PTAC program. Prior to the PTAC, she was the Project Director for the AZ Native American Business Enterprise Center funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). She has over 25 years of experience in business development, grant management and federal procurement. Her NABEC program was recognized as MBDA’s highest performing program, highest number of awarded contracts and jobs.

She is a board member of the Dineh Chamber of Commerce. She has served on the board of directors for the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Arizona, the Arizona State University Native American Alumni Board, and has served on the Indian Parent Committee for the Chandler Unified School District. Joan is a Certified Supplier Diversity Professional (CSDP) by the Alliance for Supplier Diversity Professionals (ASDP).

Joan is an enrolled member of the Diné (Navajo) Nation from the community of Kin-Dah-Lichi’i, near Ganado, Arizona. She graduated magna cum laude from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Management and graduated with highest distinction with a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from Grand Canyon University.