MESA, Ariz. – Following the success of the National Reservation Economic Summit (National RES) Las Vegas 2013 this past March, the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED) announces that it will continue to expand its RES brand with regional events throughout the nation. Its next RES event this year will be “RES California,” an exciting new three-day event to be held from June 17 -19, 2013, at the Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, CA.

The theme of RES California is “Sustaining Economic Momentum,” and the NCAIED will do just that by offering an all inclusive RES event that will feature business leaders from across Indian Country and provide a variety of activities aimed at fostering small business, enterprise, and leadership development. RES California activities will begin with the, “National Center Golf Classic” at the beautiful, Journey at Pechanga Golf Resort on June 17, 2013.

Similar to the NCAIED’s National RES event, the Regional RES events will provide the same attention to national and global business topics impacting Indian Country, but in a thoroughly focused and intimate setting. Regional RES events will be held in various tribal communities throughout the country to encourage partnerships, teaming relationships and increase business opportunities in Indian Country. RES participants are offered learning sessions focused on specific topics relevant to business and geared toward enhancing business opportunities.

The featured keynote speaker at RES California is former NYFD Chief Richard Picciotto. Chief Picciotto is the highest-ranking NYFD firefighter to survive the collapse of the World Trade Center. His keynote is entitled, Last Man Down and he addresses what happened on 9/11 and how he and his group of firefighters worked inside the burning World Trade Center to evacuate everyone; eventually leading his men to safety.

The first Regional RES, “RES Oklahoma,” took place last November 14th-15th, 2012 and gathered over 300 participants and 72 exhibitors together to do business at the Cherokee Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Mr. Gary Davis, President and CEO of the NCAIED, is no stranger to delivering entrepreneurial energy and inspiration to Native com­munities throughout the United States and Canada. He said, “A key component to sustaining economic momentum in Indian Coun­try is to develop and grow American Indian business networks and relationships in order to foster new eco­nomic development in tribal communities throughout North America.”

Davis said, “RES California is another multifaceted NCAIED event which will feature unparalleled access to respected tribal leaders, state and local elected officials and top CEO’s”. He further stated, “RES California attendees will benefit from high caliber networking, teaming opportunities, business development sessions, a business trade show, American Indian artisan market, plus a three part Tribal leadership seminar being presented by Chukchansi, Inc. On top of all of that, we are extremely excited to debut our ‘Twenty Grand Business Plan Competition,’ which will award a small business with $20,000 worth of capital for their business at RES California. It’s just one more example of how the NCAIED is lifting up Native business across Indian Country.”

The NCAIED, in its commitment to promote and advocate commerce for tribal enterprises and privately owned Native American businesses, will present the “Twenty Grand Business Plan Competition” at RES California. This unprecedented competition will feature both “start up” and “established” Native American businesses that are completely owned by an enrolled member of any State or Federally recognized Tribal Nation, Alaskan Native Village or a Canadian First Nation. These businesses will compete for the chance to win a $20,000 cash award from the NCAIED. Competitors will present their company’s business plan at RES California to a panel of respected and accomplished entrepreneurs and business leaders who will serve as judges of the competition. The business plan presentations will be judged based on business structure, financial viability, personal abilities, business experience and the quality of the plan.


The deadline for participants to complete the submission process is 6:00 pm Pacific Time on Sunday, May 31st, 2013. All participants must be registered to attend RES California and will be presenting their business plan on-site.


Founded in 1969, the NCAIED is an American Indian national organization governed by a Native American Board of Directors that promotes and advocates commerce for tribal, and private, native business. It is the longest-standing and largest American Indian economic and business development organization in the nation. The NCAIED’s National RES Las Vegas 2014 is slated for March 17th-20th, 2014 at the Mandalay Bay Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV.