Bodwé Professional Services Group Receives Three 8(a) Certifications From U.S. Small Business Administration

(Dowagiac, Mich., June 10, 2024) — Bodwé Professional Services Group announced today three of its companies— The Steelhead Engineering Company, Bodwé Technology Solutions, and Bodwé Federal Services— achieved 8(a) certifications from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). These certifications will enhance Bodwé Group’s ability to serve federal clients and expand its capabilities across various markets.

The SBA’s 8(a) Business Development (BD) Program is a nine-year program created to help socially and economically disadvantaged organizations gain access to— and succeed in— the federal marketplace. Bodwé has a successful track record with the 8(a) program. Seven Generations Architecture + Engineering (7GAE), the founding company within Bodwé Professional Services Group, received its certification in 2014 and was the first tribal 8(a) firm in Michigan. 7GAE, which graduated from the program earlier this year, employs over 80 people and has grown to $40 million in annual revenue, which would not have been possible without the advantages of the 8(a) program. Now, this status is extended to three more Bodwé companies, affording them preference for future federal projects.

"Receiving these new 8(a) certifications marks a significant milestone in our journey,” said Jeremy Berg, president and chief operating officer of the Bodwé Professional Services Group.

“Our success is rooted in the foundation laid by our valued employees—first through Seven Generations Architecture + Engineering, and now continued with our expansion into additional service offerings. This is a testament to our commitment to deliver high-quality, reliable services to our clients. These new certifications will enable us to leverage the unique advantages of being a tribally owned 8(a) and drive the Bodwé mission of long-term scalable growth."

Bodwé Group is part of Mno-Bmadsen, the non-gaming investment enterprise and wholly owned instrumentality of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi. A family of professional services companies, Bodwé was formed in 2020 with the mission to build sustainable professional services businesses that grow the economy and legacy of the Pokagon Band. The SBA’s 8(a) program is a vital component of the Bodwé strategy to achieve sustained success.

Bodwé is organized into branches to offer specialized services while maintaining a unified operational approach, ensuring high-quality solutions across all sectors. The Bodwe Branches include:

• The Buildings Services Branch – Offers integrated full-service architecture and engineering.
• The Infrastructure Services Branch – Specializes in civil engineering, planning, and environmental consulting.
• The Federal Support Services Branch – Provides federal agencies with consultants and contractors.

The collective expertise and the additional capabilities of the newly certified companies will support the Bodwé mission to grow the economy and legacy of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi for future generations. The 8(a) program's benefits, such as sole source awards up to $100 million without Justification and Authorization and pre-award discussions and negotiations, will significantly enhance opportunities for Bodwé and its companies.

ABOUT BODWÉ PROFESSIONAL SERVICES GROUP

Bodwé is the Professional Services Group of Mno-Bmadsen, the non-gaming investment enterprise and a wholly owned instrumentality of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi. Bodwé Group is comprised of Seven Generations Architecture + Engineering, WBK Engineering, The Steelhead Engineering Company, Blue Star Integrative Studio, Bodwé Federal Services, and Bodwé Technology Solutions. Bodwé teams provide architecture, interior design, master planning, environmental consulting, and structural, civil, and MEP engineering design, as well as federal consulting services. We partner with Indigenous, healthcare, federal and municipal government, community, and private clients across the country.

Learn more at: www.bodwegroup.com

ABOUT MNO-BMADSEN

Mno-Bmadsen is a wholly owned instrumentality of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi, launched in 2012 and independently managed with the mandate to diversify the Tribe’s business interests, revenue streams, and wealth for future generations. The Mno-Bmadsen family of operating companies are organized under four actively managed investment portfolio sectors including a Professional Services Group, Construction Services Group, Manufacturing Services Group, and Commercial Real Estate Services. Mno-Bmadsen also has a number of real estate investments including several mixed-use properties, a hotel and other passive investments.

Learn more at: www.mno-bmadsen.com

ABOUT THE POKAGON BAND OF POTAWATOMI INDIANS OF MICHIGAN AND INDIANA

The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi’s sovereignty was reaffirmed under legislation signed into law by President Clinton in September of 1994. 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. Its main administrative offices are located in Dowagiac, Mich., with a satellite office in South Bend, Ind. In 2007, it opened Four Winds Casino Resort in New Buffalo, Mich., followed by Four Winds Hartford in 2011, Four Winds Dowagiac in 2013, and Four Winds South Bend in January 2018. The Pokagon Band operates a variety of non-gaming businesses through its investment enterprises, Mno-Bmadsen, and the Pokagon Development Authority.

More information is available at www.pokagonband-nsn.gov, www.fourwindscasino.com and www.mno-bmadsen.com.

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