Sarah Oquist is the first woman and first Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe (MLBO) tribal member to serve as board chair of Onamia-based Woodlands National Bank, which MLBO owns via a holding company it operates. Before joining the board in 2015, Oquist was a commercial banking lawyer at Faegre Baker Daniels. She is now a practicing attorney,
national speaker, and corporate director.

In 2020, Oquist’s operational, strategic, and relationship-building insights helped the bank and the communities it serves navigate the pandemic and civil unrest. In this regard, she has been a leader both on the board and in the community. Oquist also won the Distinguished Alumna Award from Lyon College this year for her professional success.