Vice President of Tribal Business Development
Tribal Ready
Tom Valandra, a 2012 Presbyterian College graduate and vice president of tribal business development for Tribal Ready, returned to his alma mater via Zoom this month to speak candidly with students, faculty, and coaches about his life’s journey—from student-athlete to national advocate for tribal sovereignty and broadband equity.
Valandra, who double-majored in political science and history at PC, is now a key leader at Tribal Ready, a public benefit corporation that works to bring broadband internet access to underserved tribal communities across the country. His message blended personal reflection, career insights, and a deep sense of purpose rooted in his identity as a Native American and citizen of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe in South Dakota.
“This isn’t just about internet,” Valandra said. “It’s about sovereignty. It’s about control over your own future.”
From Lacrosse Player to Advocate
Valandra began his remarks by sharing his unconventional path to PC. A native of Hoboken, N.J., raised in Minneapolis, Minn., he was recruited to play lacrosse for the Blue Hose as part of the college’s first NCAA Division I team. He also played on its last—after the program was unexpectedly disbanded during his junior year.
“That was one of those moments you don’t see coming,” he said. “We were told at practice that the program was ending. It was devastating. It felt like everything I came here for was being taken away.”
Despite being offered the opportunity to transfer and continue playing elsewhere, Valandra chose to stay at PC and complete his studies. Only two lacrosse players returned for senior year.
“That was a turning point for me,” he said. “I realized that how you respond to disappointment really shows who you are. I decided to stay, finish both my capstones, and invest in what came next.”
After graduation, Valandra used his final year of athletic eligibility to pursue graduate coursework and play lacrosse at Pfeiffer University in North Carolina. His professional path included time at a Washington, D.C., law firm focused on tribal policy, founding and running a successful youth lacrosse program, and eventually taking on leadership roles in education, marketing, and politics.
A Mission-Driven Career
Valandra joined Tribal Ready during the COVID-19 pandemic, drawn by a desire to reconnect with his heritage and make an impact in tribal communities. The company, only a few years old, is focused on helping tribal nations gain infrastructure independence through broadband access.
“There are over 570 federally recognized tribes in the U.S., and more than 90 percent of tribal lands are considered underserved or unserved when it comes to broadband,” Valandra explained. “When you bring internet access to a reservation, you’re also bringing telehealth, education, and opportunities that have never existed there before.”
Valandra noted that broadband is foundational to sovereignty.
“If a tribe can control broadband, it can control utilities—gas, water, electricity,” he said. “That’s power. That’s self-determination.”
He also touched on the political challenges Tribal Ready faces. He described how some state and federal policies actively hinder tribes from owning or managing their broadband infrastructure, favoring partnerships with major telecom companies instead.
“We’ve had to say no to offers that don’t align with our mission,” Valandra said. “We’re not in this to make millions. We’re in this to do right by the people we serve.”
Advice for Students
The Zoom session also included direct conversations with participants. Students asked about everything from Native American policy to personal identity.
When a student from the Lumbee tribe asked how they could advocate for their state-recognized but federally unrecognized tribe, Valandra encouraged members of the tribe to start by raising awareness.
“Don’t wait to be older or more established,” he said. “Talk to people. Ask questions. Learn your history from your elders. And speak up—even in your classes.”
Valandra reflected on his own evolving relationship with his Native identity, noting that he only fully embraced it after working in tribal law and advocacy in Washington.
“Growing up, I didn’t talk about it much,” he said. “But working in D.C. opened my eyes to the impact policy has on our people. I leaned into it, and it changed the course of my life.”
He also offered advice for student-athletes who may be struggling with setbacks or transitions.
“Sports will end,” Valandra said. “Even if you’re the best, it will end one day. What you carry with you is how to work as a team, how to communicate, how to manage your time. That’s what lasts.”
He praised Presbyterian College for its unique ability to shape well-rounded leaders.
“You’re in one of the smallest Division I programs in the country,” he told the students. “That means you have to show up. You have to participate. And that makes you stronger.”
Commitment to Justice and Equity
Valandra’s visit was part of PC’s ongoing efforts to highlight alumni working in areas of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. His leadership at Tribal Ready exemplifies that mission, said assistant professor of psychology Dr. Drew Brandel ‘13.
“Tom’s career is a testament to resilience and purpose,” Brandel noted. “He’s living out values we care deeply about here—access, advocacy, and action.”
Valandra’s final message to students was simple but powerful.
“Lead with your values. Know who you are. And when the moment comes to do the right thing—even if it’s hard—do it.”
