Kevin Blaser

Economic Development Services Director | Bluestone Strategy Partners

Kevin Blaser joined Blue Stone in 2022 and brings his expertise in assisting Tribes in building stronger and sustainable economic foundations. Prior to joining Blue Stone, he worked at the Migizi Economic Development Company of the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan. Kevin was responsible for all aspects of energy development for the Tribe including the Tribe’s MISO (Midwest Independent System Operator) electricity market activities. In this role, he managed the power needs for Tribal operations and the non-Tribal commercial and industrial tenants located within the Tribe’s Trust Lands. He was instrumental in creating SCIT Tribal Ordinance 35 which established the first Tribal Electric Authority in the Midwest.

Kevin also worked on the team that created the Tribe’s first SBA 8(a) certified entity where he worked with companies interested in on-shoring their operations and forming joint ventures with the Tribe. His experience is rounded out with the creation and implementation of Tribal Cannabis Ordinances, along with deal sourcing, due diligence, and strategic analysis of startup and venture capital investments and non-gaming mergers and acquisition activities.

Prior to his experience in Indian Country, he co-founded a consulting firm that specialized in business formation, strategy, capital sourcing, and commercialization of intellectual property. Kevin spent many years in the financial and capital markets, including a position as the Senior Portfolio Manager for a specialized asset manager in Chicago investing in fixed-income and complex structured finance portfolios for institutional clients. Kevin was in charge of the team that ran the investment operations, asset gathering, valuations, and portfolio decisions for its clients and investors.