DALLAS – Brenco Industrial Services LLC of Dallas will be honored nationally at the upcoming 24th annual Reservation Economic Summit & American Indian Business Trade Fair (RES) in Las Vegas as the American Indian Business of the Year.
More than 3,000 attendees are expected at RES, a production of the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED) -- the largest, longest-running American Indian business conference and trade fair in the United States.
Brenco, a member of the Dallas-based American Indian Chamber of Commerce (AICCT), is owned by Steve Cardwell, a member of the Cheyenne & Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma and former AICCT board member. He will speak at the RES 2010 session on “The Construction Industry: The Power of Building Indian Country.”
Bert Wells, AICCT board president, and Executive Director Tosawi Marshall applauded the national recognition for Brenco.
“I have known Steve for a couple of years now,” Wells said, “and there is no one more deserving of this prestigious honor. Steve is one of the most hard-working individuals that I know, whether it is working to continue to develop his successful business, his time that he dedicates to a wide variety of American Indian organizations or his family and friends.
“He gives everything and has never asked for anything in return. He is a true leader who has developed his business from the ground up. He is a mentor to all American Indians across this great nation and is most deserving of this recognition by his American Indian peers.”
Marshall added: “Brenco is an example of a successful business model for Native American-owned businesses. Having a member of our organization honored so prestigiously on a national level is inspiring for all of us.”
Brenco’s RES award follows a banner year for the company during which the commercial construction enterprise expanded into the green market, launching the Brenco Energy Concepts division dedicated to green products and energy-reduction solutions and opening a BEC office in Denver, Colo., to serve the western United States.
Cardwell hired Diana Woodward, former AICCT executive director, to lead BEC’s business development and marketing. He named Pearline “Pearl” Cuny, former associate procurement specialist for the Native American Procurement Technical Assistance Center in Denver, to head operations there.
As Wells noted, Brenco participates heavily in local and national initiatives that give back to the community.
Cardwell cares deeply about programs and organizations that support American Indian youth and entrepreneurs, one reason why Brenco was named Native American Business Alliance Fund Member of the Year at NABA’s national conference last year in Michigan.
Brenco will be among the more than 300 trade fair exhibitors at RES 2010, which will be held Feb. 21-24 at the Las Vegas Hilton. This year’s theme is “The Power of Indian Country – Today. Tomorrow. Together.”