Cherokee Nation Businesses
Encyclopedia
Cherokee Nation Businesses, or CNB, is an American conglomerate
holding company
headquarted in Catoosa, Oklahoma
, that oversees and manages a number of subsidiary companies. CNB is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Cherokee Nation
, the second largest Native American tribe in the United States. CNB operates in the following industries: aerospace and defense, hospitality and entertainment, environmental services, information technology, and security and safety.
Pursuant to the provisions of the Cherokee Jobs Growth Act of 2005, CNB became the holding company for all business enterprises owned by the tribe, including Cherokee Nation Entertainment (CNE) and Cherokee Nation Industries (CNI). CNE was transferred to CNB ownership in 2006 and CNI was transferred in 2008. Prior to these transfers ownership of CNE and CNI were held directly by the Nation. At its establishment, CNB was governed by its own board with both CNE and CNI governed by separate boards of their own. In 2010, the separate boards were dissolved and consolidated into a single CNB board.
In February 2010, CNB and CNI officials announced the closure of CNI's Construction Services Division due to constant financial problems.
, holds a masters degree in accounting and is a certified public accountant
.
Stewart began his career with CNB as the CEO of Cherokee Nation Industries (CNI) in 2001. He resigned that position in 2002 to become the CEO of Cherokee Nation Entertainment (CNE). In 2008, following the resignation of then CNB CEO Brad Carson
, Stewart was appointed the CEO of CNB in addition to his role as CNE CEO. Stewart again assumed leadership of CNI in 2010 with his designation as CNI CEO. Under this arrangement, the direct leadership and management of all three major Cherokee Nation business investments is provided by the singular position of the CEO of CNB.
CNE is regulated by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act
(IGRA). IGRA mandates that all Class III gaming operations can only be conducted on Tribal land held in trust for the tribe by the Bureau of Indian Affairs
.
for the United States Department of Defense
.
CNI is the holding company for several subsidiaries:
Conglomerate (company)
A conglomerate is a combination of two or more corporations engaged in entirely different businesses that fall under one corporate structure , usually involving a parent company and several subsidiaries. Often, a conglomerate is a multi-industry company...
holding company
Holding company
A holding company is a company or firm that owns other companies' outstanding stock. It usually refers to a company which does not produce goods or services itself; rather, its purpose is to own shares of other companies. Holding companies allow the reduction of risk for the owners and can allow...
headquarted in Catoosa, Oklahoma
Catoosa, Oklahoma
Catoosa is a river city in Rogers and Wagoner counties in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. The population was 7,159 at the 2010 census compared to 5,449 at the 2000 census. This was a 31.2 percent increase during the decade.Catoosa is an Inland seaport...
, that oversees and manages a number of subsidiary companies. CNB is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Cherokee Nation
Cherokee Nation
The Cherokee Nation is the largest of three Cherokee federally recognized tribes in the United States. It was established in the 20th century, and includes people descended from members of the old Cherokee Nation who relocated voluntarily from the Southeast to Indian Territory and Cherokees who...
, the second largest Native American tribe in the United States. CNB operates in the following industries: aerospace and defense, hospitality and entertainment, environmental services, information technology, and security and safety.
History
Cherokee Nation Businesses was established on June 16, 2004. CNB is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Cherokee Nation. The tribe exerts control over the operations of CNB through the Board of Directors. Upon its establishment, CNB became responsible for providing "strategic direction" to all Cherokee Nation-owned businesses, to diversify the Nation's business holdings, and to act as a holding company for some Cherokee Nation business investments. CNB receives revenues from its subsidiaries in order to fund the expansion of existing firms and the acquisition of new ones. CNB was established to diversify its business interests of the tribe.Pursuant to the provisions of the Cherokee Jobs Growth Act of 2005, CNB became the holding company for all business enterprises owned by the tribe, including Cherokee Nation Entertainment (CNE) and Cherokee Nation Industries (CNI). CNE was transferred to CNB ownership in 2006 and CNI was transferred in 2008. Prior to these transfers ownership of CNE and CNI were held directly by the Nation. At its establishment, CNB was governed by its own board with both CNE and CNI governed by separate boards of their own. In 2010, the separate boards were dissolved and consolidated into a single CNB board.
In February 2010, CNB and CNI officials announced the closure of CNI's Construction Services Division due to constant financial problems.
Board of Directors
All eleven members of the Board of Directors of CNB are appointed by the Cherokee Principal Chief with the approval of the Cherokee Tribal Council. As of 2011, the Board is composed of the following members:| Name | Board Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jay Hannah | Chairman of the Board | Executive Vice President - BancFirst BancFirst BancFirst Corporation is a state chartered bank in Oklahoma, United States. In 2008, it was in 46 Oklahoma communities, and was the largest state chartered bank in Oklahoma. - History :... |
| Adolph Lechtenberger | Chairman of the Executive Committee | Senior Vice President - Citgo Petroleum Corporation |
| Dennis Dowell | Chairman of Audit Committee | Non-profit executive |
| B.J. Dumond | Chairman of Compensation Committee | Restaurant and real estate executive |
| Mick Webber | Chair of CNI Industry Committee | President and CEO - HydroHoist Marine Group |
| David Tipperconnic | Chair of Other Companies Industry Committee | Former CNB CEO and former Citgo Petroleum Corporation CEO |
| Mitch Adwon | Chair of CNE/Real Estate Industry Committee | President - Adwon Properties Inc. |
| Lloyd W. Armstrong | Vice President - Milargo Exploration LLC | |
| David Ballew | Chairman of Governance/Nominating/Legal Committee | Executive - ONEOK Energy Services |
| Brad Carson Brad Carson Brad Rogers Carson is an American lawyer and politician from the state of Oklahoma. A member of the Democratic Party, he served in the United States House of Representatives from 2001 to 2005.-Background:... |
Fromer Oklahoma Congressman and CNB CEO | |
| William Michael Grass |
Management
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of CNB is David Stewart. Stewart is a Cherokee citizen from Sallisaw, OklahomaSallisaw, Oklahoma
Sallisaw is a city in Sequoyah County, Oklahoma, United States. It is part of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 8,880 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Sequoyah County. It has three highways running through it: U.S. 59, or Kerr Boulevard,...
, holds a masters degree in accounting and is a certified public accountant
Certified Public Accountant
Certified Public Accountant is the statutory title of qualified accountants in the United States who have passed the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination and have met additional state education and experience requirements for certification as a CPA...
.
Stewart began his career with CNB as the CEO of Cherokee Nation Industries (CNI) in 2001. He resigned that position in 2002 to become the CEO of Cherokee Nation Entertainment (CNE). In 2008, following the resignation of then CNB CEO Brad Carson
Brad Carson
Brad Rogers Carson is an American lawyer and politician from the state of Oklahoma. A member of the Democratic Party, he served in the United States House of Representatives from 2001 to 2005.-Background:...
, Stewart was appointed the CEO of CNB in addition to his role as CNE CEO. Stewart again assumed leadership of CNI in 2010 with his designation as CNI CEO. Under this arrangement, the direct leadership and management of all three major Cherokee Nation business investments is provided by the singular position of the CEO of CNB.
Cherokee Nation Entertainment
Cherokee Nation Entertainment (CNE) was formed in the late 1980s and is the holding company for all gaming, entertainment, and hospitality operations of the Tribe. CNE operates eight casinos, a horse racing facility with electronic gaming machines, two retail smoke shop facilities that include electronic gaming machines and other retail facilities including an additional smoke shop, a travel plaza, convenience stores and gift shops. CNE’s gaming and entertainment operations include food and beverage venues, hotels and motels, live entertainment venues and an 18-hole and a 9-hole golf course. CNE operates casinos in the following Oklahoma locations:- Tulsa (Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Tulsa)
- Fort Gibson
- Roland (Cherokee Casino RolandCherokee Casino RolandThe Cherokee Casino Roland is a casino complex located in Roland, Oklahoma. It is owned and operated by the Cherokee Nation.-Casino:The casino is located in Roland, Oklahoma near the Oklahoma-Arkansas border, I-40, and US Highway 64...
) - Ramona
- Sallisaw
- Tahlequah
- West Siloam Springs
- Claremore
CNE is regulated by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act
Indian Gaming Regulatory Act
The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act is a 1988 United States federal law that establishes the jurisdictional framework that governs Indian gaming. There was no federal gaming structure before this act...
(IGRA). IGRA mandates that all Class III gaming operations can only be conducted on Tribal land held in trust for the tribe by the Bureau of Indian Affairs
Bureau of Indian Affairs
The Bureau of Indian Affairs is an agency of the federal government of the United States within the US Department of the Interior. It is responsible for the administration and management of of land held in trust by the United States for Native Americans in the United States, Native American...
.
Cherokee Nation Industries
Cherokee Nation Industries (CNI) was formed in 1969 as the first business entity owned by the Tribe. CNI engages primarily in the production, assembly, and repair of electronic componets and wiring systems, construction, and the provision of medical and janitorial services to the United States federal government. Additionally, CNI serves as a defense contractorDefense contractor
A defense contractor is a business organization or individual that provides products or services to a military department of a government. Products typically include military aircraft, ships, vehicles, weaponry, and electronic systems...
for the United States Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
.
CNI is the holding company for several subsidiaries:
- Cherokee Nation Distribution (CND) which provides production, distribution, assmebly, and repair of electronic components and wiring services
- Cherokee Nation Medical Services (CNMS) provides medical employees to other organizations through lease contracts
- Cherokee Nation Construction Services (CNCS) provides general contracting services and construction management
- Cherokee Nation Red Wing (CNRW) was acquired in CNI in 2009 is a defense contractorDefense contractorA defense contractor is a business organization or individual that provides products or services to a military department of a government. Products typically include military aircraft, ships, vehicles, weaponry, and electronic systems...
providing aviation and weapon system engineering and manufacturing - Cherokee Nation Security and Safety (CNSS) provides internal security for all CNB properties and external security and surveilliance services to private contracts and government agencies
- Cherokee Nation Property Management (CNPM) conducts real estate acquisitions and development for CNB and its subsidiaries
Cherokee Nation Technology Portfolio
- Cherokee Services Group (CSG) provides management information services, network infrastructure management, and software development
- Cherokee Nation Technologies (CNT) markets professional serices to commercial enterprises
- Cherokee Nation Technology Solutions (CNTS) sales and installs electronic components and telecommunications systems
Joint Ventures
- Cherokee CRC - CNB acquired 51% ownership of Cherokee CRC in 2005. Cherokee CRC provides consulting and engineering services, predominately in the areas of aerospace, construction, environmental and professional services
- Aerospace SE (APSE) - CNB acquired 75% ownership of APSE in 2008. APSE distributes aerospace equipment and provides supply chain services to aviation clients