You’ve probably heard the name Bryan Schuler popping up more lately, especially if you follow the world of affordable housing or tribal development. It’s funny how some people work behind the scenes for decades and then, suddenly, they’re the ones everyone is looking to for the "big picture" strategy.
That’s basically what happened as we rolled into 2025.
If you aren't familiar with the name, Schuler isn't a celebrity in the "paparazzi and red carpet" sense. He’s a heavyweight in a very specific, high-stakes niche: navigating the complex maze of Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) to get homes built for Native American communities. Honestly, it’s one of those jobs that sounds incredibly dry on paper but changes thousands of lives in reality.
The Big Move: Chief Strategy Officer in 2025
Early in 2025, Travois—a Kansas City-based powerhouse that works exclusively with American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian communities—made a major announcement. They officially tapped Bryan Schuler as their Chief Strategy Officer (CSO).
This wasn't just a routine promotion.
Schuler has been with the firm since 2005. That’s twenty years of grinding. Before this new role, he was the Vice President for Housing Development. During that time, he helped lead the team to a pretty staggering milestone: securing over $1.1 billion in investor equity for tribal housing projects.
Think about that for a second. Over a billion dollars focused on a sector that is historically and systematically underserved.
So, why the move to CSO now? 2025 is a weird time for federal funding. With a shift in political administrations and a "turbulent" federal budget outlook, Travois needed someone who knows the historical cycles of the industry. Schuler’s new job is basically to be the navigator. He’s the guy looking at 2026 and 2030, trying to figure out how to keep these housing projects viable while the economic ground shifts.
Breaking Down the Numbers (No Boring Tables Here)
Last year, the numbers coming out of Schuler’s department were record-breaking. They secured about $130 million in LIHTC funding in a single year. That money isn't just a line item; it translates to nearly 280 new or rehabilitated homes across eight different Tribal nations.
Specifically, look at places like the Pueblo of Acoma in New Mexico. They’ve been working on a 30-unit development with townhomes, basketball courts, and community spaces. This is the kind of stuff Schuler has been overseeing—practical, ADA-accessible housing that sits close to police departments and food distribution centers. It’s about building a neighborhood, not just a roof.
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Why People Get Bryan Schuler Confused
If you’re searching for "Bryan Schuler" and seeing things about heart surgery or fire departments, you’re hitting the classic "name twin" problem.
- The Doctor: There’s a Dr. Brian T. Schuler in Pennsylvania who is an expert in cardiac electrophysiology. He’s got great reviews (4.9 stars, usually), but he isn't the guy running housing strategy in Kansas City.
- The Fire Chief: You might also see a Battalion Chief Bryan Schuler popping up in California fire reports. Again, different guy.
The Bryan Schuler we’re talking about is the University of Virginia grad with a degree in cognitive science who decided to apply that brainpower to the puzzle of affordable housing. It’s a bit of a pivot from cognitive science to tax credits, but hey, it seems to have worked out.
What’s Actually Happening Today?
Right now, Schuler is deep in the "strategic vision" phase. The housing market in 2025 is tight. Interest rates are a mess, and the demand for tribal housing is only growing.
One of the biggest challenges he’s facing—and something he’s been vocal about in industry reports—is the complexity of state housing agencies. Every state has different rules for how they award tax credits. Some are friendly to Native housing; others... not so much. Schuler’s job is to lobby, educate, and basically "hack" these systems to make sure tribal projects get a fair shake at the funding.
He’s also a regular on the speaker circuit. If you’re at a Native Nation Events conference this year, you’ll probably see him on a panel. He’s been an advisory board member there since 2017. He doesn't just talk about the "what"; he talks about the "how"—specifically how to close deals with equity investors who are often hesitant to dip their toes into tribal projects.
Actionable Takeaways for 2025
If you’re involved in community development, or just trying to understand how the 2025 housing market is actually functioning for marginalized groups, keep an eye on what Schuler and Travois are doing.
- Watch the LIHTC Pipeline: Tax credits remain the most powerful tool for affordable housing. If the federal government tweaks these in late 2025, Schuler’s strategy will likely be the first to adapt.
- Focus on Sustainability: Notice that the projects he greenlights aren't just houses. They include community centers and learning hubs. The trend in 2025 is "wraparound" housing.
- The "B Corp" Model works: Travois is a Certified B Corp. It’s a reminder that you can do massive business (billions of dollars) while having a strictly social-benefit mission.
Bryan Schuler might not be a household name, but in the world of American Indian housing development, he’s one of the primary architects of the future. His move to Chief Strategy Officer is a signal that the industry is moving from "growth at all costs" to "long-term stability and resilience."