Meet The Hive
The people behind The Hive: The Indigenous Collective — our founder, our staff leadership, and our Board of Directors.
Leadership & Governance
The Hive: The Indigenous Collective is guided by Indigenous leadership, professional expertise, community knowledge, and accountable nonprofit governance.
The Founder & Executive Director leads the organization’s day-to-day operations, programs, partnerships, community engagement, fundraising, and organizational development.
The Board of Directors provides governance, fiduciary oversight, strategic direction, accountability, and guidance for the organization’s long-term growth.
Founder & Executive Director
Melissa Garrett
Melissa Garrett is the Founder and Executive Director of The Hive: The Indigenous Collective, a nonprofit built around Culture & Knowledge, Food Sovereignty, and Indigenous Entrepreneurship for urban Native people. An enrolled citizen of the Cherokee, Quapaw, and Seneca-Cayuga Nations, Melissa is a graduate of the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts and owner of Wadulisi’s LLC, a Kansas City Indigenous food business.
Her work lives in agriculture and food sovereignty — Three Sisters education, community gardening, seed stewardship — and has earned her a feature in an exhibit at the Kansas Museum of History in Topeka. She’s been featured on KTWU’s Working Capital and Inspired, and in Voyage KC, The Lawrence Times, The Independent, and the Seneca Cayuga Tribal Newspaper.
Board of Directors
The Hive’s Board of Directors provides governance, fiduciary oversight, strategic direction, organizational accountability, and support for the organization’s long-term sustainability.
Erin Carter
President
Tribal Affiliation: Quapaw Nation
Erin Carter serves as President of The Hive’s Board of Directors and provides board leadership, governance, strategic oversight, organizational continuity, and support for the organization’s long-term development.
Education
- University of Missouri–Kansas City (UMKC), Henry W. Bloch School of Management — Management & Marketing, graduated May 2026
- Metropolitan Community College–Blue River Campus
- Blue Springs Senior High School
Professional Experience
Erin works professionally as a Marketing Associate with Tier One Solutions. Her education and professional background in management and marketing contribute to The Hive’s organizational development, communications, professional relationships, and strategic planning.
Contributions to The Hive
- Board leadership
- Governance
- Strategic organizational oversight
- Organizational continuity
- Identification of fundraising opportunities
- Organizational and community connections
- Organizational documentation
- Record keeping
- Administrative organization
- Long-term organizational development
Pateisha Royal
Vice President
Tribal Affiliation: Muscogee (Creek) Nation & Cherokee Nation
Pateisha Royal serves as Vice President of The Hive’s Board of Directors. She brings professional experience in compliance and nonprofit organizations, along with experience in organizational accountability, community advocacy, equity, and governance.
Education
- Rogers State University
- Tulsa Community College
- Memorial High School
Professional Experience
Pateisha has professional experience as a compliance officer and has worked with multiple nonprofit organizations. Her professional background includes compliance, nonprofit operations, organizational accountability, governance, community advocacy, and social justice and equity work.
Contributions to The Hive
- Organizational compliance
- Governance and accountability
- Nonprofit operations
- Policy and organizational oversight
- Community advocacy
- Equity-centered organizational practices
- Supporting responsible organizational growth
Regina Conner
Treasurer
Regina Conner serves as Treasurer of The Hive’s Board of Directors and brings approximately 30 years of experience in education, particularly in early childhood education and Kansas City’s urban-core communities.
Education
Regina’s professional career has included teaching pre-K through second grade in Kansas City’s urban core. After retiring from classroom teaching, Regina began working part-time at Operation Breakthrough.
Professional Experience
Early childhood education, youth development, curriculum development, educational program design, curriculum review, instructional guidance, educational quality, and community-based education.
Contributions to The Hive
- Supporting organizational financial oversight
- Curriculum development
- Educational program design
- Curriculum review
- Instructional guidance
- Reviewing educational programming for age- and developmental appropriateness
- Supporting youth and community education initiatives
- Strengthening the educational quality of The Hive’s programs
Sarah Dee
Secretary
Sarah Dee serves as Secretary of The Hive’s Board of Directors and brings professional experience in fundraising, event planning, project coordination, logistics, community engagement, and large-scale events.
Education
- Illinois State University
Professional Experience
Sarah has professional experience in fundraising, event planning, project management, logistics, community relations, and large-scale events, including marathon and running events. Her background also includes nonprofit fundraising and event development.
Contributions to The Hive
- Fundraising
- Event development
- Event planning
- Community events
- Event logistics
- Project coordination
- Organizational support
- Community engagement
- Planning and execution of public-facing activities
Abigail Özkan
Board Member
Tribal Affiliation: Cherokee Nation
Abigail Özkan serves as a member of The Hive’s Board of Directors and brings experience with Native American nonprofit and community organizations, Indigenous organizational networks, community relationships, outreach, and collaboration.
Education
- University of Kansas
- Haskell Indian Nations University
- Tulsa Community College
- Union High School
Professional Experience
Abigail has experience serving on another Native American board and brings knowledge of Indigenous nonprofit and community organizations. She also serves as a Board Member of the Cultural & Ecological Enhancement Network.
Contributions to The Hive
- Community partnerships
- Relationship development
- Indigenous organizational connections
- Community networking
- Outreach
- Collaboration
- Indigenous nonprofit connections
- Identifying opportunities for organizational partnership
- Strengthening relationships with Indigenous communities and organizations
Our Governance Approach
The Hive’s Board of Directors provides oversight and accountability while the Founder & Executive Director leads day-to-day organizational operations and implementation.
This structure allows The Hive to maintain clear separation between governance and operations while bringing together professional expertise, Indigenous leadership, community knowledge, and organizational experience.
The Board and Executive Director work together to support The Hive’s mission, responsible stewardship, program development, community relationships, and long-term organizational sustainability.
Connect With The Hive
Want to learn more, get involved, or explore how to work with us? We’d love to hear from you.