Tanya Duggan

COMMUNICATIONS: Highlights Include Expanding Media Presence, Rebranding Name

In five years as the very first Director of Communications and Government Affairs for the Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians, Tanya Duggan has helped bring attention to and elevate the footprint of the tribe.

The Rincon Band is one of 18 federally recognized tribes in San Diego County. Many tribal governments, including Rincon, are fairly new to working with the media, branding and local legislative/nonprofit affairs.

With passion and commitment, Duggan has been able to demonstrate the importance to the tribal government leaders and elevated the Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians throughout many different sectors.

With more than 22 years of professional experience and with a strong foundation in media and public relations, public policy and project management, Duggan has expanded communications for the Rincon Tribe and bridged government relations between federal, state and local governments, and organizations, including nonprofits.

Duggan develops and implements all internal and external communications, directly engaging and directing, promoting and coordinating public relations matters for the tribal government. She is also responsible for all press releases, statements, quotes and alerts across all media outlets.

A tireless worker seeing that Rincon is represented in many different sectors, Duggan is responsible for connecting with local news media outlets to promote the tribe.

Duggan was named by the San Diego Business Journal as 2022 Business Woman of the Year for nonprofits.

Community Organizations Benefit

Organizations that have benefited from contributions provided by Rincon because of Duggan's relationship building include Final Honor, the San Diego Food Bank, Feeding San Diego, Boy Scouts, the San Diego Restaurant Association, Rescue Ranch, San Diego Burn Institute and the Rady Children’s Ice Rink at Liberty Station.

Duggan, who seeks out the neediest and community wide events for Rincon to support, digs deep in San Diego County and social services departments to help address many social issues of the most vulnerable populations in the county, including veterans, those experiencing homelessness, children in foster care children and the elderly.

Tribal History

The Rincon Reservation was established by an Executive Order on Dec. 27, 1875. A second Executive Order on March 2, 1881, increased the land area of the reservation. The reservation was officially established on Sept. 13, 1892, under the authority of the Act of 1891.

Harrah’s Resort Southern California, owned by the Rincon Band, is a major source of government revenue for the tribe.

Duggan has rebranded the name of the “Rincon Band of Luiseno Indians” to “Rincon Tribe,” thought to be easier to say and print, and is more recognizable to the public and media. She has also updated and monitored the Rincon website and positively promoted the Rincon brand and team.

The Right Expereience

An alumnus of the Academy of Our Lady of Peace, Duggan is a member of the San Diego Food Bank North County Advisory Board and is part of the San Diego Restaurant Association.

Before joining Rincon, Duggan represented State Sen. Ben Hueso as his Communications Director. She advised the senator on highly sensitive policy issues affecting the state and recommended the tone and position of such matters.

Additionally, the position enabled her to work closely with the media, develop marketing strategies, and organize special events for community and business leaders.

Prior experience as the Communications Manager and Special Projects Manager at the County of San Diego Treasurer-Tax Collector helped her develop strong leadership skills by directing and motivating the department's team to achieve maximum results.