"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - Cherokee Nation Honors Indian-Owned Businesses

***"Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation presents Tracy Copeland with this year’s Certified Indian Business Customer Service Award at the 2009 TERO Awards Ceremony."***

TAHLEQUAH, Oklahoma - To honor the success and accomplishments of Native American owned businesses, the Cherokee Nation recently held the second annual Tribal Employment Rights Office Awards Ceremony at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Catoosa.

“Helping our Cherokee businesses is just one of the several ways to help create meaningful jobs and opportunities for Cherokees,” said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. “Our Cherokee businesses promote one of our greatest attributes, which is self-reliance.”

TERO maintains a list of Indian-owned businesses that is used by the Cherokee Nation and its entities when opening contracts for bid. TERO-certified firms receive preference in the bid process. During the ceremony in Catoosa, the Cherokee Nation presented eight outstanding TERO-certified businesses with awards to recognize their achievements.

Robin Flint Ballinger of The Flintco Companies in Tulsa was presented the Indian Business Community Leadership Award for the time and involvement she has put into her community.

The Indian Business Customer Service Award was awarded to Tulsa-based TGI Enterprises, Inc. The company is owned by Tracy Copeland.

Selser Schaefer Architects out of Tulsa received the Indian Consulting Firm of the Year Award for the service they provide in community organizations. The business is owned by Robert Schaefer and Janet Selser.

“We are truly honored to be selected as the Certified Indian Owned Businesses Consultant of the Year,” said Schaefer. “As an architectural design firm we take pride in the contributions we have made to the Cherokee Nation in early education, healthcare, and with Cherokee Nation Entertainment gaming. The creation of architecture goes hand in hand with economic development and prosperity for the Cherokee people; we’re glad to be part of it.”

Cherokee Builders, Inc., of Tulsa, received the Indian Business Construction Company of the Year award. Cherokee Builders, Inc. is owned by Richard B. McNair, Jr.

The Indian Retail Business of Year was awarded to Tahlequah-based Redmen Office Supply, a retail sales business owned by Charles Deason and Chuck Bread.

Cherokee Data Solutions, owned by Pamela Bickford, was named Indian Woman Owned Business of the Year. Located in Claremore, CDS provides data solution needs.

The Small Certified Indian Business of the Year Award was presented to Claremore Travel, a travel agency owned and operated by Sedana Markham-Beusch.

Green Country Steel, owned by Brenda Leach, Regina Kester, Loisa Bailey, David Crawford, and Edward Crawford, Jr., was awarded the Large Certified Indian Business of the Year Award. The business is located in Salina.

“We want all of our business owners to become strong and successful in all their business adventures,” said Jon Overacker, manager of Employee Development and TERO. “The more Indian certified businesses we have doing work with Cherokee Nation, the more jobs we will be able to create for Cherokee citizens.”

The Tribal Employment Rights Office was created in August of 1984, when the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council approved a resolution and ordinance enabling the tribe to exercise its inherent sovereign powers by imposing Indian preference on employers working within or near the jurisdictional boundaries of the Cherokee Nation.

For more information about the Cherokee Nation TERO program, please call 918-453-5334.