Published: August 18, 2008 03:00 pm      

Annoatubby to speak at Indian Country Summit

Business owners, entrepreneurs, contractors, and tribal leaders, will meet in Tulsa, Oklahoma Aug. 25 - 26 to network and learn about teaming for success in tribal, federal and other government markets.

To open the summit on August 25, Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby will deliver the keynote address. When Gov. Anoatubby was first elected governor in 1987, the Chickasaw Nation had approximately 250 employees and annual operating outlays totaled less than $11 million. Today, the Chickasaw Nation has more than 10,000 employees and capital outlays in excess of $350 million.

The luncheon keynote speaker for August 25 will be former congressman Brad Carson, who is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Cherokee Nation Businesses, the economic engine of the Cherokee Nation, the nation’s second largest Indian tribe. CNB owns companies in the gaming, hospitality, personnel services, distribution, manufacturing, telecommunications, and environmental services industries. These businesses have revenues of nearly $500 million every year and earn nearly $100 million in profits.

This year’s event will again feature a panel of people from private business, government agencies and tribal enterprises talking about the advantages and challenges of teaming.

A large number of prime contractors and other large corporations have been asked to participate this year to increase business opportunities for smaller companies through networking.

Session topics planned include developing a marketing plan, Tribal Employment Rights Office (TERO), supplier diversity programs, doing business with Tinker and with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, special diversity programs in the City of Tulsa, legal issues in tribal markets, and a variety of other business related topics.

The event will also offer a matchmaking opportunity for small businesses. Small business participants will sign up to deliver 8-minute introductions to panels of government buyers and prime contractors.

For more information about the conference visit the website http://www.indiancountrybusinesssummit.com.