The National Center Announces Three New Board Members

New board members will help guide the National Center in 2020 and beyond

January 23, 2020

MESA, AZ — Today, the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (the National Center), announced the addition of three new members to its Board of Directors: William D. Lowe, Lynn Dee Rapp, and Jana Turvey. These impressive Indian Country leaders will join an already robust and active Board that is charged with directing the over 50-year-old organization. They will be formally introduced and participate in their first official board meeting during the upcoming Reservation Economic Summit (RES), taking place March 1 -5 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“We are excited to have these three incredible leaders join the Board of the National Center,” said Chris James, President and CEO of the National Center. “They have already made significant contributions to the businesses, entrepreneurs, and communities our organization serves. They will continue this work on the National Center’s Board and ensure that our programming and advocacy benefits and supports the Indian Country economy – from Alaska all the way to Florida.”

William D. Lowe served in the Marine Corps from 1993-2002, and has over 20 years of experience in governance, management, tribal business development, and negotiating government and tribal contracts. William gives back to his community as the Okmulgee District Representative to the Muscogee (Creek) Nation National Council and serves on the boards of the American Indian Chamber of the Commerce of Oklahoma, the Okmulgee County YMCA, and the Five Civilized Tribes Museum. He currently works as the Human Resources Director of Bacone College.

Lynn Dee Rapp is a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe and managing partner of SeaCrest Investment Management, providing financial solutions for American Indian Tribes. Lynn has long supported Native owned businesses; she was the founding member of Eagle Opportunity, supporting the “Buy Native” program with marketing and consulting. She is also on the Board of the American Indian College Fund and the American Indian Business Leaders Association. She is based in Buffalo Gap, South Dakota.

Jana Turvey was born and raised in Kodiak, Alaska, and is a tribal member of the Sun’aq Tribe of Kodiak and the Tangirnaq Native Village, where she previously served on the village council. As President/CEO of the Alaska Native Village Corporation, Leisnoi, Jana guides the corporation’s work in commercial operations, federal government contracting, land management, and real estate. Jana previously worked to provide health & social services to the Kodiak Native community, and currently serves as Treasurer on the Board of Directors of the Alaska Native Village Corporation Association. These Board members are joining the National Center at a busy time. Over the coming weeks, the National Center will host two Native Edge Institutes – one in Denver on January 30, and the following week in Atmore, Alabama on February 6. In March, the National Center will convene thousands of business and tribal leaders, procurement officials, experts, and others for RES. For more information about the National Center and our upcoming schedule, please visit www.ncaied.org. About the National Center: The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. With over 50 years of assisting American Indian Tribes and their enterprises with business and economic development – The National Center has evolved into the largest national Indian specific business organization in the nation serving over 500 clients and providing over $4 million in contracts to its clients. The National Center has nine offices throughout the nation with its home office located in Mesa, Arizona. The National Center is actively engaged in helping Tribal Nations and Native business people realize their business goals and are dedicated to putting the whole of Indian Country to work to better the lives of American Indian people - both now...and for generations to come. Copyright © 2020 NCAIED, All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is: 953 E. Juanita Avenue, Mesa, AZ 85204