Center for American Indian Economic Development

Our 2018 keynote speakers on August 22, 2018:

Carmen Bradley

Vice-Chairwoman of the Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians

Mrs. Bradley has served her tribe (Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians) and community as Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson for over 20 years; served as President of the Council of Energy Resource Tribes, Vice-President of the Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Governing Board of the Fredonia-Moccasin Unified
School District, and Town of Fredonia Planning and Zoning. Carmen has chosen a career path in real estate as a dually licensed Realtor in Arizona and Utah and licensed Broker.

Martin Harvier

Vice-President of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community

Martin Harvier is proactive in the community’s economic development and serves as Board Chair for Salt River Fields and Talking Stick Golf Enterprise. He also serves on the SRPMIC Investment Committee, Tribal Emergency Response Commission, Gaming Grant Committee and Salt River Advisory Council for Children and Youth. He is a member of Maricopa Association of Government Transportation Policy Committee and has also served on the National Indian Health Board. He is an advocate for responsive government designed to protect the community’s unique quality of life and protecting the investments for the SRPMIC community. He is committed to strengthening the economy and improving the community for future generations.

Jonathan Nez

Vice-President of the Navajo Nation

Navajo Nation Vice President Jonathan Nez was born in Tuba City, Arizona and raised in Shonto, Arizona. Vice President Nez is married to Phefelia Herbert-Nez and they have two children, Christopher and Alexander. He is the son of John H. Nez and Mabel H. Nez. His grandfather, H.T. Donald, was the former Navajo Nation Council Delegate for Shonto Chapter, and his grandmother was Mae Donald from Shonto.

Vice President Nez is born into the Áshįįhí Clan (Salt People) and born for the Ta’neeszahnii Clan (Tangle clan). His maternal grandfather’s clan is Tódích’íi’nii Clan (Bitter Water Clan) and his paternal grandfather’s clan is the Táchii’nii Clan (Red-Running-Into-The-Water Clan).

Vice President Nez began his political career after being elected as Shonto Chapter Vice President. He was later elected to serve three terms as a Navajo Nation Council Delegate, representing the chapters of Shonto, Oljato, Tsah Bi Kin and Navajo Mountain. Vice President Nez was also elected as a Navajo County Board of Supervisor for District 1 and served two terms (he had to resign after he was elected Navajo Nation Vice President).

With more than 10 years of dedicated public service, Vice President Nez was asked to be a running mate to Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye. On April 21, 2015, the Navajo people elected President Begaye and Vice President Nez to be their leaders for the next four years. On May 12, they took the oath of office and began serving as the Navajo Nation President and Vice President.

Vice President Nez believes strongly in education. He is currently a doctoral student in political science and completed research on local empowerment and mobilizing local communities of the Navajo Nation to reinstate their inherent local way of governance. His research focuses on the reduction of dependence on the central tribal government, upholding and enhancing the local inherent sovereignty of the chapter areas. He is an alumni of Northland Pioneer College and Northern Arizona University. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and a Masters of Public Administration from NAU.

Vice President Nez is an avid runner and advocate for healthy living. He enjoys training and competing in long-distance events, and has competed in multiple marathons. Vice President Nez participated in the 2015 Running for a Stronger and Healthier Navajo Nation, a 435-mile run circling the Navajo Nation. He ran more than 150 miles for the event. His current goal is to run a marathon in each of the 50 states

Our 2017 keynote speaker on April 13, 2017:

Arlan D. Melendez

Chairman of the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony

Arlan D. Melendez is the Chairman of the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, a federally recognized Tribal Government representing 1,134 Paiute, Shoshone and Washoe tribal members located in Reno, Nev.  Chairman Melendez, a Paiute Indian, was first elected to the Tribal Council in 1989 and has served on the Tribal Council for 29 years, twenty-five years as Chairman. Under Chairman Melendez’s leadership, the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony has maintained a stable Tribal government which is essential to self-determination and economic development.

Panelists and Speakers

Brian Hammill (Ho-chunk)-World Champion Hoop Dancer/Entrepreneur

Pax Harvey (Navajo)-Comedian/Entrepreneur

Wells Fargo – The Private Bank
Sean McCarthy, CFA, Kimberly Ryan, CFA, and Claire Veuthey

Our 2016 keynote speaker on April 6, 2016:

Jonodev Osceola Chaudhuri

Chair of the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC)

Jonodev Osceola Chaudhuri (Muscogee (Creek)) is chair of the NIGC, the primary federal agency responsible for regulating and ensuring the integrity of the $28 billion Indian gaming industry, consisting of more than 450 Indian gaming facilities, associated with nearly 242 tribes across 28 states. Chair Chaudhuri brings to the NIGC extensive policy, legal, and judicial experience and a lifelong commitment to serving the Native American community.

Topics & panelists:

Indigenous Nation – Building
Manley A. Begay, Jr. (Dine’), NAU AIS Professor

Tribal Economic Development
Levi Esquerra (Chemehuevi), CAIED Director

Chemehuevi Economic Development
Chairman Charles Wood, Chemehuevi Tribe

Our 2015 keynote speaker on April 9, 2015:

“Famous” Dave Anderson, America’s Rib King

Visionary – Entrepreneur – Speaker – Author

America’s Rib King Dave Anderson (Courte Oreilles Lake Superior Band of Ojibwe) is best known as “Famous Dave” founder of Famous Dave’s of America, with over 180 restaurants, $500 million in sales, and nearly 800 Best in Class awards. Dave has helped found several publicly traded companies on Wall Street, creating over 20,000 new jobs and billions in sales.

Dave received a prestigious Presidential Appointment, which required a full Senate confirmation serving as Assistant Secretary for The US Department of Interior in in the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Washington, D.C. Mr. Anderson has served several governors in advisory positions regarding community economic development and small business.

Dave’s life story has been featured in two best-selling books on the New York Times Best Seller’s List. In Dave’s own life, he has experienced adversity, frustration, and bankruptcy as well as tremendous success.

A highly successful entrepreneur, Dave was in the bottom half of his high school class, but earned his Master’s Degree from Harvard University without an undergraduate degree and received an Honorary Doctorate Degree for his life’s work.

Dave believes his higher purpose in life is to make a positive difference in the lives of others. This moved him to create the LifeSkills Center for Leadership Foundation, an incredible life-transforming leadership program designed to help at-risk native youth. Dave’s work with native youth was recognized by The Oprah Winfrey Show where they awarded Dave with Oprah’s Angel Award.

Additional Speakers:

Tribal Tourism Outlook
Cheryl Cothran
Director
NAU-ABBOC: Arizona Hospitality Research & Resource Center

Tribal Economic Impact in the State of Arizona
Jeffrey Peterson, MBA
Research Associate
NAU-ABBOC: Arizona Rural Policy Institute

Tribal Leader Discussion on Tribal Economy