American Indian economic summit set for Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa
BY ROD WALTON World Staff Writer
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
11/14/12 at 2:56 AM
CATOOSA - Tribal leaders and businesses will find plenty of networking opportunities Wednesday and Thursday during the Reservation Economic Summit at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa.
The summit, also called RES Oklahoma 2012, will team up CEOs with American Indian representatives, elected officials and other vending experts. The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development is leading RES Oklahoma with title sponsorship from the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma and Cherokee Nation Businesses LLC.
"NCAIED's long-standing commitment to economic self-sufficiency in Indian Country is an admirable goal that the Cherokee Nation supports and shares," the tribe's Principal Chief Bill John Baker said in a statement.
Cherokee Nation Businesses is the economic engine of the Cherokee Nation. It owns companies in the hospitality, gaming, personnel services, distribution, manufacturing, telecommunications and environmental services industries, drawing revenue of nearly $500 million a year and earning nearly $10 million in profit.
"RES Oklahoma will bring increased awareness to the many economic development opportunities that exist in Oklahoma," NCAIED President and CEO Gary Davis said, "and, as importantly, it will explore the many ways Oklahoma's tribal economy can further grow nationwide via private sector opportunities and enhancing tribe-to-tribe business ventures."
The summit is capped off by the Indian Progress in Business Awards Gala on Thursday night. The 60-plus exhibitors include AT&T, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Tiger Natural Gas and the University of Tulsa College of Law.
On-site registration begins at 7 a.m. both days, and events run through the evening. Cost varies from $399 to $549, according to the NCAIED website at tulsaworld.com/ncaied
Original Print Headline: Tribal economic summit set
Rod Walton 918-581-8457
rod.walton@tulsaworld.com
