Heritage Distilling Holding Company, Inc. announced the appointment of Eric S. Trevan, Ph.D., to its board of directors. Dr. Trevan is a seasoned expert in economics, research, governance, and business administration with more than two decades of experience growing economic opportunities in private industry and among the various Indian Tribes across the United States, emphasizing the use of AI and data to drive investment evaluations and opportunities. Dr. Trevan will also serve as Chairman of the Compensation Committee of the Board, as well as serve as a member of its Audit and Technology and Cryptocurrency Committees.

Dr. Trevan?s is a co-founder of aLocal Solutions, LLC, which developed one of the most awarded new software tools of 2024 that uses AI to analyze markets and predict economic impacts and investment returns from potential projects in states, counties, cities and around Tribal lands. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Northern Initiatives, a Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI) in Michigan and Local First Arizona, a statewide nonprofit organization focused on increasing economic opportunities in rural, Tribal, suburban and urban communities across Arizona. In the past he has served as a director on the boards of varied native business entities such as Gun Lake Investments (Gun Lake Tribe - Michigan), Twelve Clans Sovereign Wealth Fund (Ho-Chunk Nation - Wisconsin), Noo-Kayet Investments (Port Gamble Tribe - Washington), Kaw Nation Industries (Kaw Nation - Oklahoma) and Cheyenne and Arapaho Business Development Corporation (Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes - Oklahoma).

During his tenure, those boards collectively managed more than $750 million in investments and assets in a range in industries including gaming/casinos, cannabis, convenience stores, health care, hospitality (hotel/restaurant/bar), logistics, agriculture, private equity, and lending, among others. Previously he served as an appointed Policy Advisor to the United States Treasury Department?s Tribal Advisory Committee, working with U.S.Treasury officials to modernize federal monetary and tax policies related to the more than 570 federally recognized Indian Tribes across the United States. He previously served as President and CEO of the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development, the nation?s preeminent non-profit organization focusing on economic development in Indian Country.

Previously Dr. Trevan served two appointments as a Tenure-Track Professor, with his most recent appointment being at California State University San Marcos. His research and teaching focuses on public policy, Native economies, public administration, innovation, and community and economic development. He is a thought leader on the need to grow local and Native economies combined with economic policy.

He also specializes in complex financial arrangements through leveraging public and private regulations, policy, and economic resources. Dr. Trevan focuses on a variety of industries, but specializes in technology, economic analytics and advising, gaming and hospitality, education, and development. Dr. Trevan earned his Ph.D. at Arizona State University Watts College of Public Solutions, Community Resources and Development (Community Development and Economics), his Master's Degree in Administration (Public Administration) from Central Michigan University, and his Bachelor's Degree in Public Administration/Economics from Western Michigan University.

He is a Native citizen of the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi, Gun Lake Tribe - Michigan. As an independent director, Dr. Trevan will help guide Heritage?s overall business strategy and execution of its Tribal Beverage Network initiatives, including the complex financial and legal arrangements that provide benefits to Native American communities. This includes developing brands that serve casinos and entertainment venues while supporting each Native nations?

ability to exercise their economic sovereignty. This also includes the company?s newly announced focus on the use of bitcoin as a payment method and corporate asset.