Waséyabek Development Company

What Waséyabek Development Company does

Waséyabek Development Company, LLC (WDC) is a privately held, 100% tribally-owned holding company serving as the non-gaming economic diversification arm of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Indians (NHBP), a federally recognized Indian Tribe. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in the historic Kendall Building in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan, WDC operates through three groupings — Industrial Group, Federal Group, and Real Estate Group — and manages more than 30 legal entities spanning advanced electronics manufacturing (Safari Circuits), aerospace and defense engineering (Baker Engineering, VES, LLC), precision parts manufacturing (RSI of West Michigan), transportation and logistics (Zip Xpress, Green Transportation, Great Lakes Warehousing), commercial real estate (Terrapin Properties, Mshiké Property Group, McKay Tower, Kendall Building, Parisage warehouse, and others), environmental engineering (BLDI), and federal contracting (Waséyabek Federal Services).

The underlying operating model combines strategic acquisitions with long-term holdings in industrial, real estate, and federal-services businesses, augmented by passive investments in healthcare technology (BAMF Health, $3M Series B) and venture capital (Michigan Capital Network, $5M). Revenue streams comprise hardware sales from manufacturing subsidiaries, transactional freight fees from logistics operations, recurring rental income from commercial real estate holdings, and federal contracting awards — the latter partially enabled through SBA 8(a) certification held by Waséyabek Federal Services and Baker Engineering, providing access to set-aside government programs for tribally-owned businesses.

The company employs 850-900+ people across its portfolio through Michigan-headquartered subsidiaries plus select outposts at Aberdeen Proving Ground (MD) and other national locations, growing revenue from $0 in 2017 to $75M by end of 2022 with a stated strategic target of approaching $250M by year-end 2026. WDC pursues a dual bottom-line mandate: commercial returns and tribal economic sovereignty, with strategic intent of providing diversified revenue streams, employment for tribal members, and long-term sustainability guided by the principle of thinking ahead for seven generations.

Name

Waséyabek Development Company

Legal name

Waséyabek Development Company, LLC

Website

https://waseyabek.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Waséyabek Development Company is the 100% Tribally-owned, non-gaming holding company of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Indians, operating a portfolio of 30+ subsidiaries in advanced manufacturing, aerospace/defense engineering, transportation and logistics, commercial real estate, and federal contracting across Michigan and the U.S.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Operating Companies Revenue: Revenue from wholly-owned and majority-owned operating companies across manufacturing, transportation, federal contracting, professional services, and other industries.
2. Commercial Real Estate: Rental income from commercial properties including office buildings, retail spaces, industrial warehouses, and residential apartments across multiple Michigan locations.
3. Transportation/Logistics: Revenue from Zip Xpress (LTL carrier) and Green Transportation (truckload services) providing sustainable shipping solutions across 38 states.
4. Passive Investments: Strategic investments in healthcare (BAMF Health) and venture capital (Michigan Capital Network) providing returns through equity appreciation and investment gains.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Waséyabek Development Company is the 100% tribally-owned, non-gaming economic development holding company of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Indians. Through wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries and joint ventures, it operates advanced electronics manufacturing (Safari Circuits), precision parts manufacturing (RSI of West Michigan), aerospace and defense engineering (Baker Engineering), software and systems integration for the Department of Defense (VES, LLC), transportation and logistics (Zip Xpress and Green Transportation), warehousing (Great Lakes Warehousing), environmental engineering and remediation (BLDI, LLC), SBA 8(a) certified federal contracting (Waséyabek Federal Services), and commercial real estate (Terrapin Properties, McKay Tower, and the Mshiké Industrial Complex). Revenue is generated through product sales, federal contracts, transportation services, rental income, and passive equity investments.

Product overview

Waséyabek Development Company is a tribally-owned holding company (100% owned by the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi) that manages non-gaming economic development activities through a diversified portfolio of subsidiaries and investments. The company operates across multiple sectors including advanced electronics manufacturing (Safari Circuits), aerospace/defense engineering (Baker Engineering), precision parts manufacturing (RSI of West Michigan), transportation and logistics (Zip Xpress, Green Transportation), commercial real estate (Terrapin Properties managing McKay Tower, Mshiké Property Group, and other properties), federal contracting (Waséyabek Federal Services, VES), environmental engineering (BLDI), and warehousing (Great Lakes Warehousing). The portfolio spans from coast-to-coast and includes passive investments in healthcare technology (BAMF Health) and venture capital (Michigan Capital Network).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WDC Federal Services: Federal services division of Waséyabek serving federal government clients
• Terrapin Properties of Michigan
• WDC Defense

Products and services

• Safari Circuits Advanced electronics manufacturing and engineering services, providing printed circuit board assemblies and supply chain management for medical device, automotive, industrial, aerospace, defense, and military customers.
• Baker Engineering Power, propulsion, and advanced technology engineering solutions for aerospace and defense customers, with SBA 8(a) certified federal contracting capabilities for design and manufacturing work with the U.S. government.
• RSI of West Michigan Precision parts manufacturing for the automotive, power sports, sporting goods, archery, and industrial equipment sectors, producing components with quality and cost-efficiency at the Muskegon, Michigan Masquigon facility.
• Zip Xpress Less-than-truckload (LTL) and specialty commodity carrier services, including load consolidation and white-glove handling, using a proprietary freight optimization process that fully loads trucks to reduce customer cost and carbon footprint.
• Green Transportation Enhanced long-distance trucking services across 38 states with a focus on freight optimization and a driver training school for workforce development.
• Terrapin Properties of Michigan Wholly-owned holding company for Waséyabek's commercial property investments, managing eight properties designated for retail, commercial, and residential leasing including office buildings, retail storefronts, industrial warehouses, and residential apartments across Michigan.
• Waséyabek Federal Services SBA 8(a) certified federal contracting subsidiary providing site operations support and other federal services. Awarded a five-year Site Operations Support contract from the National Energy and Technology Laboratory (NETL).
• VES, LLC Software development, integration, and solutions firm headquartered at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, majority-owned by Waséyabek and serving Department of Defense customers.
• BLDI, LLC Environmental engineering, consulting, and remediation services for organizations requiring environmental compliance and cleanup expertise.
• Great Lakes Warehousing Warehousing company located in Holland, Michigan, providing storage and logistics support services within the Mshiké Industrial Complex.
• Mshiké Property Group Waséyabek's largest single land and property acquisition, encompassing 156 acres and nine buildings totaling nearly 410,000 square feet near Holland, Michigan. Designated a CSX Select Site and home to Zip Xpress, Green Transportation, and Great Lakes Warehousing operations.
• McKay Tower 18-story, 154,000-square-foot mixed-use development in downtown Grand Rapids offering commercial, retail, office space, an event venue, conference rooms, and luxury apartments; jointly owned 50/50 with Gun Lake Investments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Approaching $250MM in revenue by year-end 2026
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, core, flagship and minor.

• CSX CorporationstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2026CSX designated Waséyabek's Mshiké Industrial Complex as a CSX Select Site Bronze designation, recognizing the property as a prime rail-served location for economic development. One of only 21 sites selected by CSX this year.
• Potawatomi VenturesstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 January 2026Co-investment collaboration on due diligence best practices for Tribal economic development. Featured on Tribal Economic Development podcast discussing acquisition processes.
• Mno-BmadsenstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 January 2026Collaboration on due diligence discussions for Tribal economic development initiatives. Featured on Tribal Economic Development podcast.
• Huntington BankcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 December 2025Featured on Tribal Economic Development podcast discussing vetting and selecting high-performing partners for business ventures, highlighting green flags and red flags in the vetting process.
• Harvard University/Harvard Kennedy SchoolflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 October 2025Ongoing collaboration with Harvard including guest lectures, research projects, and creation of 'Bridging Cultures' guide for non-Tribal businesses. Deidra Mitchell serves as recurring guest speaker. Partnership leverages Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development principles.
• aLocal.aiminorOthers · 27 August 2025Native-owned business providing net economic impact analysis through market and economic analytics software. Collected and analyzed data for 2024 Michigan Non-Gaming Tribal Economic Impact Study.
• Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)strategicOthers · 27 August 2025Funded the 2024 Michigan Non-Gaming Tribal Economic Impact Study through a grant from MEDC's Tribal Business Development Program.
• National Energy Technology LaboratorycoreOthers · 24 June 2025Waséyabek Federal Services (SBA 8(a) certified subsidiary) awarded Site Operations Support services contract from NETL for five-year term.
• DWH, LLCcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 26 October 2021DWH provides business consulting and actively manages Zip Xpress and Green Transportation. DWH is a Tribally-owned business consulting firm specializing in Tribal economic development, with Waséyabek holding majority ownership.
• Gun Lake InvestmentsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 January 2020Joint acquisition partnership with another Michigan tribe's economic development entity. Partners have collaborated on multiple deals including McKay Tower ($17.5M), Zip Xpress/Green Transportation acquisition, and potential future co-investments. Gun Lake Investments is 100% owned by the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians.
• Rockford Construction/Rockford Property ManagementcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 15 January 2020Rockford oversees all management services for McKay Tower's residential and commercial spaces since 2020. Provided assistance during social unrest and rebranding efforts.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Marmon Group: Berkshire Hathaway-owned diversified industrial holding company with portfolio across manufacturing, logistics, and real estate. Closely comparable diversified industrial holding company model though operating at significantly larger scale and without tribal ownership.
• Genuine Parts Company: Diversified distribution and manufacturing holding company with operations across automotive, industrial, and office products. Provides a comparable diversified industrial/distribution holding company benchmark though publicly traded and far larger.

Direct peers

• Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority: Tribally-owned enterprise of the Mohegan Tribe operating diversified gaming, hospitality, and commercial businesses. Comparable tribally-owned holding company model with multi-entity structure and federal contracting capability.
• Pechanga Development Corporation: Economic development arm of the Pechanga Band of Luiseño Indians, operating as a tribal holding company with diversified real estate, hospitality, and business investments across multiple sectors — comparable scale and tribal diversification model.
• San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Economic Development: Tribal economic development entity operating a diversified holding company structure with investments across gaming, real estate, and industrial businesses — parallels Waséyabek's multi-sector approach to non-gaming economic diversification.
• Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation: Tribal economic enterprise operating a diversified portfolio of gaming, hospitality, and commercial businesses. Comparable in scale and structure as a tribally-owned holding entity pursuing economic diversification.
• Oneida Nation Enterprises: Tribally-owned holding company of the Oneida Nation in Wisconsin with diversified businesses across gaming, hospitality, retail, and services. Similar long-term tribal capital deployment philosophy and diversified holding company structure.
• Potawatomi Ventures: Tribal economic development entity for the Forest County Potawatomi, focused on diversified investment portfolio. Featured alongside Waséyabek on Tribal Economic Development podcast discussing acquisition best practices.
• Mno-Bmadsen: Economic development arm of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians, operating as a tribal holding company with diversified investments across industries. Waséyabek has explicitly collaborated on due diligence best practices with this peer.
• Gun Lake Investments: Economic development entity of the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians and direct co-investment partner with Waséyabek on McKay Tower and Zip Xpress. Operates with similar tribal economic diversification model in West Michigan.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/waseyabek
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/PLbXtvEvVjvAuZ2UR2zW7S2OegZCNsSr-p
• Facebookfacebook.com/waseyabek
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/waseyabek-development-company

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Waséyabek Development Company