THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR AMERICAN INDIAN ENTERPISE DEVELOPMENT TO RECOGNIZE 40 UNDER 40 RECIPIENTS AT 2009 INPRO
Posted: 9/8/2009
Congratulations to former Udall Foundation Native American Congressional Interns - Gabe Galanda (Udall Intern 1998), Jeremy Marshall (Udall Intern 2002), Clara Pratte (Udall Intern 2003) - for being honored by the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development in the group of 40 existing and emerging American Indian professionals under the age of 40.
THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR AMERICAN INDIAN ENTERPISE DEVELOPMENT TO RECOGNIZE 40 UNDER 40 RECIPIENTS AT 2009 INPRO
MESA, AZ. August 24, 2009 – In celebration of their 40th anniversary year, the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED) will honor 40 existing and emerging American Indian professionals under the age of 40 at the black-tie Native American 40 Under 40 Recognition Reception to be held at this year’s 2009 Indian Progress in Business Event (INPRO) in Tulsa, OK, on September 18.
The “Native American 40 Under 40” award winners are young American Indian professionals from across the nation who have demonstrated leadership, initiative, and dedication to achieve impressive and significant contributions in their businesses, communities, and to Indian Country.
The Native American 40 were nominated and selected based on their demonstration of leadership, initiative and dedication in propelling native businesses and communities towards further progress throughout Indian Country.
The 2009 winners ranged from practicing attorneys to business entrepreneurs to a physician and several Tribal leaders. The winners had to be nominated for the award and then selected by a panel of representatives from the NCAIED. This is the first year that the NCAIED has awarded the 40 under 40 honors.
This year’s “Native American 40 Under 40” winners are:
- Adam Kennedy, Seneca Nations of Indians
General Manager, Kennedy Wendel
Amherst, NY
- Ann Marie Machamer, Coastal Band Chumash Nation
Director of Institutional Research and Planning, Las Positas College
San Ramon, CA
- April Whittemore Locklear, Lumbee
Clinical Counselor/Substance Abuse Residential Unite, Robeson Health Care Corporation
Fairmont, NC
- Brandon YellowBird Stevens, Oneida Nation of Wisconsin
Councilman, Oneida Nation of Wisconsin
Oneida, Wisconsin
- Brian Busey, Cherokee
Vice President of Human Resources and Operations, Delaware Resource Group of Oklahoma
Oklahoma City, OK
- Cara Cowan-Watts, Cherokee
Council Person, Cherokee Nation
Claremore, OK
- Carmen Davis, Makah Nation/Chippewa-Cree/Yakama Tribe
Vice President, Litefoot Enterprises, LLC
Seattle, WA
- Cherrah Quiett, Muscogee (Creek) Nation & Cherokee
Director of Operations, The Horizon Companies
Tulsa, OK
- Chris Province, Cherokee
Casino Shift Manager, Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs
Claremore, OK
- Christina S. Theodorou, Lumbee Nation of NC
Program Manager, NC Indian Economic Development Initiative
Raleigh, NC
- Clara Pratte, Navajo
Director of the Office of Native American Affairs, Small Business Administration
Washington, DC
- Craig Cooke, St. Regis Mohawk
CEO & Co-Founder, Rhythm Interative Inc.
Irvine, CA
- Cyrus Ben, Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians
Pearl River Rep., CEO/Owner of Choctaw Office Supply, Tribal Council, M.B.C.I
Choctaw, MS
- Danelle Smith, Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska
Partner, Law Firm of Fredericks, Peebles & Morgan
Winnebago, NE
- Deborah Reed, Cherokee
Legal Assistant, Cherokee Nation Business, LLC
Catoosa, OK
- Donna Bach, Oorutsaramiut Native Council - Yupik Eskimo-Calista Region
Director of Public Relations, Yukon-Kushokwin Health Corp.
Bethel, AK
- Douglas Fifer, CIRI
Owner, Police Officer, Director, Wine Styles, Anchorage Police Dept. Cook Inlet Region Incorporated
Anchorage, AK
- Gabriel Galanda, Round Valley Indian Tribe
Member, Williams Kastner
Seattle, WA
- Gena Timberman, Choctaw
Executive Director, Native American Cultural and Education Authority
Oklahoma City, OK
- James Anderson, Choctaw/Ojibwe
Director of Education and Head Trainer, Lifeskills Center for Business Leadership
Minneapolis, MN
- James Robinson, Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians
President, Choctaw Ikhana Laboratory Services, Inc.
Choctaw, MS
- Jason Coochwytewa, Isleta Pueblo/Hopi
President/Owner, Red Note, Inc.
Tempe, AZ
- Jason Giles, Muscogee (Creek)
Deputy Executive Director/General Council, National Indian Gaming Association
Washington, DC
- Jeremy Marshall, Cherokee Nation
Student Program Assistant, University of Wisconsin Remington Center
Madison, WI
- Jessica Moore, Osage/Otoe/Pawnee/Sac & Fox
Student/Extern, 5th Year Landscape Architecture Student-Oklahoma State University
Fairfax, OK
- Kerry Patterson, Seneca
Associate, Fennemore Craig, P.C.
Phoenix, AZ
- Kimberly Teehee, Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma
Senior Advisor on Native American Affairs, The White House Domestic Policy Council
Washington, DC
- Nikishna Polequaptewa, Hopi
Director of American Indian Resource Program, University of Califonia Irvine
Irvine, CA
- Philip Busey, Cherokee
Vice President of Communication, Busey Group of Companies
Oklahoma City, OK
- Richard Tall Bear, Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate
Owner and President, The Tall Bear Group
Los Angeles, CA
- Robin Williams, Kiowa/Apache/Nez Perce/Umatilla/Assiniboine
Sr. Academic Counselor, Oklahoma State University
Stillwater, OK
- Sahar Nouri, MD, Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians
Physician, Indian Health Services
Fort Defiance, AZ
- Sarah Lukin, Native Village of Afognak
Executive Director, Native American Contractors Association
Washington DC
- Stacey Thunder, Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians
General Council, General Council to Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians
Minnesota
- Stuart Paisano, Pueblo of Sandia
Councilmember, Pueblo of Sandia
Bernalillo, New Mexico
- Tiffany Ellis, Muscogee (Creek) Nation
Public Relations Manager, River Spirit Casino
Tulsa, OK
- Vernelle Chase, Gros-Ventre
Tribal Liaison, The Flintco Companies, Incorporated
Tulsa, OK
- Veronica Hix, Cherokee
Entrepreneur Development Manager, Cherokee Nation (Commerce Group)
Tahlequah, OK
- Wayne Don, Cupik
Chairman, NIMA Corporation
Anchorage, AK
- Zackeree Kelin, Caddo Nation
Managing Attorney, DNA-People's Legal Services, Inc.
Window Rock, AZ
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