Leadership | Dawn Star Consulting, LLC
Rooted in Integrity. Defined by Service. Driven by Excellence.
At Dawn Star Consulting, leadership reflects a synthesis of experience, vision, and accountability. Our firm is led by professionals who have dedicated their careers to strengthening governance systems, advancing compliance integrity, and cultivating operational excellence across government, intergovernmental, and nonprofit sectors.
Together, they combine executive strategy, policy acumen, and human-centered leadership to empower organizations to perform with confidence, capability, and purpose.
Marsha Dawn Whiting
Director of Programs and Strategic Partnerships
Marsha Whiting brings over two decades of executive and program leadership across Native and intergovernmental organizations, where she has guided teams through complex governance, fiscal accountability, and program modernization initiatives.
Her expertise spans organizational development, grants administration, and institutional design, where she has successfully managed multimillion-dollar regranting portfolios, implemented cross-departmental systems, and led performance improvement initiatives that enhance transparency, equity, and impact.
With a foundation in tribal governance and nonprofit administration, Marsha’s leadership is defined by her ability to bridge cultural understanding, strategic policy execution, and operational precision. Her work in strengthening administrative systems, refining grantmaking structures, and aligning mission outcomes with governance frameworks exemplifies Dawn Star Consulting’s commitment to ethical stewardship and sustainable accountability.
Marsha holds a B.A. in Business Administration and has advanced organizational initiatives focused on economic empowerment, capacity building, and community governance throughout Indian Country and intergovernmental collaborations. Her approach embodies the firm’s belief that effective governance is rooted in cultural intelligence, structural integrity, and service to mission.
Misty Dawn Lakota
Managing Principal and Founder
Dr. (c) Misty Dawn Lakota is a senior executive and strategic governance leader with more than 24 years of federal service and 18 years of commissioned military experience. Her career has been devoted to advancing organizational governance, workforce strategy, and policy transformation across national and intergovernmental environments.
As a combat veteran and legal administrator, Misty has led complex operations, directed multi-state programs, and built performance frameworks that integrate accountability, compliance, and human capital innovation. She is recognized for translating policy into operational systems, strengthening institutional readiness, and establishing governance models that sustain measurable results.
Her executive background spans organizational design, DEIA advancement, policy governance, risk management, and operational modernization. She is an experienced policy author, compliance strategist, and executive advisor, guiding leaders through institutional reform and workforce transformation initiatives that reinforce ethical governance and mission resilience.
Misty holds a Master of Science in Criminal Justice, a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Human Services, and is completing a Doctorate in Executive Leadership. Her leadership philosophy centers on disciplined service, ethical decision-making, and the belief that accountability and integrity are inseparable foundations of effective governance.
Our Leadership Philosophy
Leadership at Dawn Star Consulting is grounded in ethics, transparency, and disciplined execution. We believe that organizational excellence is achieved through the integration of structure and service—where governance frameworks are both compliant and compassionate, and leadership is both principled and practical.
Our mission is to model integrity at every level: ensuring that the systems we build, the policies we shape, and the training we deliver reflect the highest standards of public trust and professional accountability.