December 2025 Newsletter

Happy Holidays from AICCO

Happy Holidays to our valued AICCO community. We hope this season finds you enjoying time with family and friends. As 2025 comes to a close, we want to take a moment to reflect on a year of growth, leadership, and connection and to share our excitement for what lies ahead.

This year was truly one for the books. We were proud to continue growing the Chamber and close out the year with 232 active members. To everyone who joined AICCO this year, welcome. Your participation strengthens Native-owned businesses and tribal economic development across Oklahoma, and we look forward to welcoming even more members in 2026.

From event volunteers to board members, thank you to all who served in 2025.

As we look forward, we are excited to congratulate our newly elected State Board and Chapter Officers, who are already hard at work planning chapter programming and statewide events for 2026.

State Board Officers

President: Nathan Hart

Vice-President: Les McGee (New board member!)

Secretary: Amber Sharp

Treasurer: Katera Snelling

State Board Members

Julie Aldridge (New board member!)

Angie Reeves (New board member!)

David Bible

Eastman Switch

Cindy Chambers

Oklahoma City Chapter

President: Debbie Lindsey

Vice-President: Lucinda Myers

Secretary: Katera Snelling

Treasurer: Jordyn Romine

Eastern Chapter

President: Hoyit Bacon

Vice-President: Dillin Springwater

Secretary: Barry Linduff

Treasurer: Kayla Palmer

Tulsa Chapter

President: Cody Graham

Vice-President: David Hank Bible

Secretary: Johnie Johnson

Treasurer: Les McGee

Newly elected State Board President Nathan Hart recently shared his hopes for the Chamber as he steps into this role. Read the full article here.

Meanwhile, each chapter finished off the year strong with end of year events, holiday celebrations, and showed appreciation for their members.

This year, our chapters hosted 30+ events, welcoming nearly 2,000 attendees! If you are one of them, thank you. We appreciate your presence and contributions.

Kicking Off The New Year In Style

We began 2025 with an unforgettable Fire and Ice Ball at Osage Casino Tulsa, a night of celebration, networking, and community that set the tone for the year ahead.

Want to see AICCO’s Fire and Ice Ball make a comeback in 2026? Reply to this email and let us know!

Leadership Native Oklahoma (LNO)

2025 marked another successful year for Leadership Native Oklahoma, with 43 graduates representing more than 18 tribes. This year’s cohort focused on highlighting the impacts and contributions of smaller tribes, with visits to the Nine Tribes of Ottawa County, the Caddo Nation, the Euchee (Yuchi) Tribe, the Comanche Nation, and the Otoe-Missouria Tribe.

Participants reflected that LNO fostered a strong sense of belonging while deepening their understanding of tribal economic development and leadership. The class of 2025 celebrated their accomplishments with a graduation ceremony and dinner at River Spirit Casino & Resort during The Gathering.

Special thanks to Ayla Medrano for her leadership and dedication in planning the LNO program.

Interested in joining the LNO Class of 2026? Applications are now open. Apply here.

The Gathering Business Summit

The Gathering Business Summit returned to River Spirit Casino & Resort in late August and reached new milestones. With more than 400 registrations and 77 vendors and artisans, this year’s summit reflected record attendance and engagement.

This year’s keynote featured tribal leadership and Mayor Monroe Nichols, including Osage Nation Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear, Muscogee (Creek) Nation Second Chief Del Beaver, and Cherokee Nation Council Member Joe Deere. Their discussion on co-governance and tribal sovereignty offered powerful insights into the work happening across Indian Country every day.

In addition to keynote sessions, attendees participated in panel discussions, member awards, and B2B matchmaking opportunities.

We look forward to welcoming everyone back to River Spirit for The Gathering 2026. More details coming soon!

A Year of Leadership and Advocacy

Government and tribal leadership engagement extended well beyond The Gathering. Throughout the year, AICCO chapters hosted featured speakers including Mayor Monroe Nichols, City of Tulsa Director of Tribal Policy and Partnerships Amanda Swope, Muscogee (Creek) Nation Principal Chief David Hill, and Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond.

Celebrating Member Accomplishments

We were proud to celebrate a major milestone for AICCO business member Indian Health Care Resource Center (IHCRC), which completed a 62,000-square-foot expansion, more than doubling the size of its facility. This long-awaited project allows IHCRC to expand services, specialties, and pharmacy capacity for the community.

IHCRC was instrumental in AICCO’s founding in the early 1990s, and the Chamber has spent the last three decades continuing that mission, connecting businesses, tribes, and resources statewide.

In Remembrance

We also pause to honor and remember longtime AICCO State Board Member Dean Turner, who passed away on January 30, 2025. Dean dedicated more than 25 years to the Chamber and, alongside his wife Kay, was a central presence at The Gathering Business Summit and numerous chapter events.

Dean led prayers at LNO, chapter gatherings, and The Gathering, and previously served as President of AICCO’s North Central Chapter. Though deeply missed, his legacy of service, leadership, and generosity continues to guide us.

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Thank You

Thank you to our members, board leaders, partners, sponsors, and supporters for making 2025 such a meaningful year. We look forward to continued collaboration, connection, and growth in the new year!

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For questions or more information, email chamber@aiccok.org or call 918-624-9382

The American Indian Chamber of Commerce of Oklahoma is dedicated to helping businesses and individuals alike grow their relationships and expand their network. We are proud to partner with members of our community and look forward to you joining us as we educate, empower, and engage!