The 2009 winners ranged from practicing attorneys to business entrepreneurs to medical doctors

MESA, Ariz. – 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.

New to INPRO this year, the “Native American 40 Under 40” award winners are young American Indian professionals from across the nation who has 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 medical doctors. 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 Unit, 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,
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 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