The Native Business Top 50 Entrepreneurs list celebrates trailblazing business leaders from across Indian Country. Native Business debuted the inaugural class of Native Business Top 50 Entrepreneurs in our May 2019 issue, and over the course of the next few weeks, Native Business will be rolling out profiles of the Native Business Top 50 Entrepreneurs online at NativeBusinessMag.com to further uplift and promote their great work.
“Native Business Magazine print content is generally exclusive and not published online, but the feedback from Native Business readers was so strong, Native Business has elected to share these profiles beyond the print page. The substantial contributions of Native entrepreneurs merit greater attention and support, and in the spirit of that, these online profiles will raise greater awareness of these powerful change agents,” said Gary and Carmen Davis, Founders and Publishers of Native Business Magazine.
NativeBusinessMag.com will deliver a mix of snapshots and lengthier profiles of these 50 Native entrepreneurs, in no particular hierarchy, documenting and memorializing their innovation and self-determination.
The inaugural class of Top 50 Entrepreneurs recognizes leaders across 13 business sectors, demonstrating the diversity of industries where Natives are making an impact. Native Business spotlights entrepreneurs who operate businesses in the Manufacturing & Constructing, Energy, Agriculture / Hemp, Art & Tourism, Insurance, Consulting, Graphic Design & Media, Beauty & Wellness, Accounting & Legal , Brewing, Food, Federal Contracting and Retail sectors.
Many of the Native Business Top 50 Entrepreneurs go against the grain of what people consider common for Indian Country. As our list of high-achieving entrepreneurs indicates, Native business owners are involved in everything from making artisanal bacon to operating very successful federal contracting firms.
Many of these enterprising Native people have developed and launched their business with little to no startup capital. They’ve been innovative and resilient enough to pursue their dreams, turning mere ideas into reality. They have proven their entrepreneurial competencies through their actions. These successful Native entrepreneurs are not only confident and capable, they are inspiring other Native business owners and raising the bar within their respective industries.
“These entrepreneurs represent the best of the best in their fields in Indian Country. All Native Business Top 50 Entrepreneurs share one thing: a commitment to resilience, adapting and innovating in the face of challenges, to fulfill self-sovereignty,” said Carmen Davis (Makah), Founder, Publisher and Executive Editor of Native Business Magazine.
All Native Business Top 50 Entrepreneurs share one thing: a commitment to resilience, adapting and innovating in the face of challenges, to fulfill self-sovereignty. Click To Tweet
Part of Native Business’ impetus for recognizing 50 Native entrepreneurs is to underscore why Tribes and other Native entrepreneurs should invest in the goods and services of privately owned businesses in Indian Country — rather than sending money to border towns and non-Native corporations, which weakens reservation economies. When Indian Country sources opportunity to Native entrepreneurs, it pumps more money into Native economies and strengthens the economic base of our Tribal Nations.
As Gary Davis (Cherokee), Founder, Publisher and CEO of Native Business Magazine, underscored: The growth of Native-owned companies will equate to community growth.
“If we hire our own people, and purchase goods and services from our own people, we will see Native communities evolve and become more and more powerful economic forces, which will catalyze business opportunities and inspire entrepreneurship among future generations throughout Indian Country,” Gary Davis said. “If there is one take away for you from our inaugural class of the Native Business Top 50 Entrepreneurs, it is: We are the change we’ve been waiting for.”
