“Solid strategic development is fundamental to identifying and achieving targeted goals. Tack 71 develops strategies that have a clear destination and that are coherent and well-aligned with an organizations overall objectives.”
– TARA SWEENEY,
Principal & CEO

Photo credit Jason Dixson

With a proven track record of effective leadership in the public and private sectors, Tara Sweeney founded Tack 71 Strategies to help executives and organizations design and implement smarter strategies for purpose driven advocacy and engagement.

The first Alaska Native to serve as Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs at the U.S. Department of the Interior, Sweeney has a reputation for leading meaningful change in complex organizations. As a senior executive and the key advocate for the largest privately owned business in Alaska, she advanced strategic initiatives related to energy development, taxation, and industrial and government services. She is also a powerful advocate for economic development and the Alaska Native community, with prior leadership positions on influential business and cultural boards.

As Assistant Secretary (2018-2021), Sweeney had a transformative impact on a $2.5B agency responsible for overseeing the government’s trust responsibility and treaty obligations to 574 federally recognized American Indian and Alaska Native tribes. She streamlined processes to improve services to the American Indian and Alaska Native communities, initiated and guided development of the National Tribal Broadband Strategy, and brought national action to the crisis of missing and murdered Native Americans through Operation Lady Justice.

Sweeney joined the Department of the Interior after leading government relations at Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (ASRC), a diversified energy, industrial services, construction, and development company with $2.6B in revenue and approximately 13,000 employees nationwide. She was involved in all critical management decisions and responsible for establishing and implementing corporate positions related to energy development on Alaska Native lands, taxation, resource development, government contracting, broadband development and capital access. While at ASRC, Sweeney served as International Chair of the Arctic Economic Council, a multinational organization that facilitates Arctic business-to-business activities and responsible economic development in the Arctic states.

Memberships

Community Involvement

  • Ted Stevens Foundation Board Member
  • First National Bank of Alaska Board Member
  • Alaskans for Common Sense
  • Alaskans for Don Young Reelection Campaign Co-chair

Awards

  • Commonwealth North, William A. Egan Distinguished Alaskan awardee (2020)
  • Oklahoma Hall of Fame The Visage of Modern Matriarchy exhibit, featured by Choctaw artist DG Smalling (2020)
  • Anchorage Chamber of Commerce, ATHENA Society, Class of 2017
  • Northwest Regional Emmy® Awards, Television Documentary, “True North, the Story of ASRC” (2017)
  • Northwest Regional Emmy® Awards, Commercial Campaign, “I AM IÑUPIAQ” (2014)
  • Kenai Women’s Classic Winner, Kenai River, Alaska 2012 (13.5lb Coho)
  • Alaska Journal of Commerce, Top 40 Under 40 awardee (2008)
  • Blue Ribbon Winner, Leg Wrestling Competition, Kotzebue, Alaska (July 4, 2004)
  • World Eskimo Indian Olympics, Miss WEIO (1993)
  • National Congress of American Indians, Miss NCAI (1993)
  • Qitiktitchigit, City of Barrow, Miss Top of the World (1993)