NABA is Native American majority-owned.
The Forza Insurance Group is grateful to our partners and the co-founders of NABA, Richard Sebastian and James Billie. Together we have developed exceptional Supplemental Benefit plans for families along with exclusive Tribal benefits.
We are proud to bring these exceptional opportunities to the Tribal Enterprises.
The Honorable Richard Sebastian, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation
Richard Sebastian (Copperhead) is a member of the Board of Directors for Command Holdings. He is also a proud Member of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. He has served six non-consecutive terms of office on the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council.
Richard was instrumental in obtaining the Small Business Administration’s 8(a) certification for the company. This led to the formation of Command Holdings.
As past Chairman of the Economic Development Committee, Richard helped to spearhead the development of the Pequot Outpost Energy Center.
He sponsored an initiative resulting in a Dunkin Donuts franchise at Foxwoods, which is owned and operated by members of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. Also, in connection with Fannie Mae Corporation, Councilor Richard spearheaded a home ownership program for the Tribe’s Phase VII housing development on the Reservation.
Richard also co-founded and co-chairs the annual Drive for Diabetes (D4D) Charity Golf Tournament.
He remains committed to developing Tribal Members for leadership positions within the Tribe’s enterprises and equipping them with self-sufficiency and wealth management tools through apprenticeships and programs designed to enhance investment, professional, technical trade and entrepreneurial skills.
Richard’s community contributions and employment included various positions in Entertainment, Gaming Commission, Security and Tribal Police. He also served as Vice Chairman of the Athletic Commission and was an executive staff member to a former Tribal Councilor and Tribal Council Chairman.He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and an associate’s degree in business management with a concentration in tribal government from the University of New Haven.
The Honorable James Billie, the Seminole Tribal Nation of Florida
James Edward Billie known as Chief Jim Billie, chaired the Seminole Tribe of Florida from 1979 to 2001, and again from 2011 to 2016.
In 2005 Sarasota Magazine called Chief Billie “the most powerful American Indian leader of the past century.” He is best known for leading the tribe’s success in the landmark Seminole Tribe of Florida v. Florida decision in 1996, upholding state and tribal sovereignty. In 2019 he was honored as a Florida Folk Heritage Award recipient.
The opening of the first “smoke shop” (offering discount, tax free tobacco products) in 1977 gave the Seminoles a stable enterprise which continues, even today, to bring substantial revenue into Tribal coffers. The opening of the Tribe’s first high-stake bingo hall in Hollywood, shortly after community activist James Billie’s first election as Tribal Council Chairman, was a national first. The success of Seminole gaming against legal challenges opened the door for dozens of other American Indian tribes to follow suit. Today, gaming is, by far, the number one economic enterprise in all of Indian Country.
The years under James Billie’s direction saw the Seminole Tribe of Florida mature both politically and financially. The addition of new reservations, hotels, schools, musuems, smoke shops and gaming brought the Seminoles closer to their stated goal of self-reliance.
In addition to Billie’s substantial professional accomplishments, he is a musician and songwriter.