Cherokee Nation honors certified Indian-owned businesses of 2022

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Tahlequah, Okla. - The Cherokee Nation honored hundreds of Native-owned businesses during the tribe’s annual TERO Certified Indian Owned Business Awards Banquet Tuesday, Nov. 2 at the Chota Conference Center.

The Cherokee Nation Tribal Employment Rights Office has 692 Indian-owned companies and 119 artists that are TERO-certified vendors able to do business with the tribe and compete for government contracting jobs. In fiscal year 2022, TERO vendors earned approximately $27 million in contracts with the tribe.

During the banquet, the tribe also honored eight standout TERO businesses with awards.

“I believe that we can raise up a generation of entrepreneurs that share in this entrepreneurial spirit if we continue to celebrate our TERO vendors and artists,” said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. “The annual TERO banquet is not only about celebrating these Native- owned businesses, it is about sending a message to the people of Cherokee Nation that we value hard work and our TERO businesses.”

Eight of the tribe’s TERO-certified businesses received special recognition for their outstanding performance as part of the annual awards banquet.

  • TERO 2022 1

    Tiger Natural Gas of Tulsa was awarded this year’s Cherokee Nation TERO Certified Indian Consulting Firm of the Year. Pictured (L-R): Cherokee Nation TERO Administrative Services Manager Willard Mounce, TERO Construction Services Manager Larry Vance, Deputy Chief Bryan Warner, Bob Smith and Debbie Smith accepting on behalf of Tiger Natural Gas President Lori Johnson, Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., Councilor Keith Austin.

  • TERO 2022 2

    One Source Water of Tahlequah was awarded with this year’s Cherokee Nation TERO Certified Indian Business Customer Service Award. Pictured (L-R): TERO Construction Services Manager Larry Vance, Deputy Chief Bryan Warner, Stephanie Smith with One Source Water, Councilor Candessa Tehee, Larry Smith with One Source Water, TERO Administrative Services Manager Willard Mounce, Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., Councilor Rex Jordan.

  • TERO 2022 3

    CPR of Tulsa was awarded with this year’s Cherokee Nation TERO Certified Indian Business Community Leadership Award. Pictured (L-R): TERO Construction Services Manager Larry Vance, Deputy Chief Bryan Warner, Rob Brown with CPR, Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., TERO Administrative Services Manager Willard Mounce.

  • TERO 2022 4

    Tahlequah Printing was awarded with this year’s Cherokee Nation TERO Women-Owned Business of the Year Award. Pictured (L-R): Councilor Rex Jordan, TERO Construction Services Manager Larry Vance, Deputy Chief Bryan Warner, Violet and Lea Rhea with Tahlequah Printing, Councilor Candessa Tehee, Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., TERO Administrative Services Manager Willard Mounce.

  • TERO 2022 5

    AST Storage of Jay was recognized by Cherokee Nation TERO with a Re-Entry and Justice- Involved Program Award. Pictured (L-R): Cherokee Nation Career Services Manager of Re-entry Programs Matt Lamont, Deputy Chief Bryan Warner, Councilor Melvina Shotpouch, Darrel Robertson, Harley Appersy and Jake Sumter with AST Storage, Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and Council Speaker Mike Shambaugh.

  • TERO 2022 6

    C & L Site Services of Tahlequah was awarded with this year’s Cherokee Nation TERO Small Certified Indian Business of the Year Award. Pictured (L-R): Councilor Candessa Tehee, Deputy Chief Bryan Warner, TERO Construction Services Manager Larry Vance, Donald Cannon with C & L Site Services, TERO Administrative Services Manager Willard Mounce, Heston Lamons with C & L Site Services, Councilor Rex Jordan, Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr.

  • TERO 2022 7

    Allen’s Construction of Stilwell was awarded with this year’s Cherokee Nation TERO Certified Indian Business Construction Company of the Year Award. Pictured (L-R): TERO Construction Services Manager Larry Vance, TERO Administrative Services Manager Willard Mounce, Councilor Candessa Tehee, Jake Coldwell with Allen’s Construction, Deputy Chief Bryan Warner, Allen Coldwell with Allen’s Construction, Council Speaker Mike Shambaugh, Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr.

  • TERO 2022 8

    Stout Construction Company of Owasso was awarded with this year’s Cherokee Nation TERO Large Certified Indian Business of the Year Award. Pictured (L-R): TERO Administrative Services Manager Willard Mounce, TERO Construction Services Manager Larry Vance, Deputy Chief Bryan Warner, Christie Humphrey, Nathan Gregory, Hanna Humphrey and Dana Cookson with Stout Construction Company, Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr., Councilor Keith Austin.

Allen’s Construction of Stilwell received the Certified Indian Business Construction Company of the Year. Allen’s Construction has been a TERO vendor for 13 years and since then has completed thousands of construction and rehab projects for the Cherokee Nation.

“I am honored to receive this award. I have been a TERO vendor since 2009 and my team does a lot of work with the Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation for the construction of rehabilitation homes, so we are grateful to stay busy,” said Allen Coldwell, owner of Allen’s Construction. “My team works very hard, I am happy to see that hard work pay off.”

The eight certified Indian-owned businesses awarded for 2022 are as follows:

• Certified Indian Women-Owned Business of the Year: Tahlequah Printing, Tahlequah
• Certified Indian Business Community Leadership Award: CPR, Tulsa
• Certified Indian Business Customer Service Award: One Source Water, Tahlequah
• Certified Indian Consulting Firm of the Year: Tiger Natural Gas, Tulsa
• Certified Indian Retail Business of the Year: Cross H Trailer Sales, Wagoner
• Small Certified Indian Business of the Year: C & L Site Services, Tahlequah
• Large Certified Indian Business of the Year: Stout Construction Company, Owasso
• Certified Indian Business Construction Company of the Year: Allen’s Construction, Stilwell

The tribe also honored AST Storage of Jay with a Re-Entry and Justice-Involved Program award for their work with the tribe’s re-entry program.