​​​​​Simply: Federal investments in Indian Country are domestic investments, honoring the trust and treaty responsibilities of the United States. These investments pay a multiplier ROI to our country and are an effective and efficient use of taxpayer dollars. Tribes are critical for our local economies and also generate direct and indirect economic impacts nationally.

Research consistently shows that organizations with diverse leadership outperform those with homogenous teams in multiple ways, including financial performance, innovation, and decision-making.

Looking at President Trump’s cabinet appointments—they’re pretty diverse. As to qualified, they meet his expectations of qualifications.

This month, I had a conversation with a woman who serves on a lot of boards—corporate, nonprofit, university. I asked her to think of me if there was ever an opportunity for me to interview for any open board seats.

She replied that she didn’t know of any boards that were looking for Native candidates.

I said, “Well, I’m actually qualified on my own, regardless of my Native heritage.”

It must have registered with her that yes, I’m a CPA, former CFO of a Fortune 1000 sized Sovereign Nation, successful entrepreneur and investor, Big 4 veteran, and seasoned board member with a few prominent Chairmanships under my belt. I’ve advised three U.S. Treasury Secretaries and numerous federal agencies under 4 presidential terms.

So she stuttered an agreement and then went into an awkward story about something else.

I’m honored by the Native entrepreneurs that reach out to me. They share their expertise, dreams, headaches, struggles, and successes with me. I hear personal stories that warm my soul and see Natives with Creator-given talents shining through their work.

But being an entrepreneur can be lonely. And many reach out because they need “another Brain” to talk to that isn’t ChatGPT.

This is where I excel. I love the challenge of working one-on-one with people to suss out the real questions and solutions.

We talk about goals, business development, sales, exit strategies, federal changes, messaging, opportunities, ideal connections, personal life impacts, partnerships, and much more.

Lots of entrepreneurs reaching out to me are Cherokee—and they specifically want to work with the Cherokee Nation. I usually ask why, as sometimes other Tribes may be better fits for them. Most simply say they want to be additive to the Nation, so I share this article with them. It’s also applicable to folks that want to work with their own Tribes.

Truly though, for just about any product or service: There is a Native for That! I highly encourage Tribes and companies to Buy Native.