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May 05, 2023

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The Native American 40 Under 40 awards represent the best and brightest emerging Indian Country leaders

The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (The National Center) recently announced the 2023 class of Native American 40 Under 40 award recipients. The Native American 40 Under 40 awards represent the best and brightest emerging Indian Country leaders. Every year, 40 American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian leaders under the age of 40 are inducted in recognition of their leadership, initiative, and dedication to their communities. Started in 2009, past 40 Under 40 award winners include leaders working in numerous fields including academia, government, non-profits, tourism, conservation, technology, medicine, sports and entertainment, and more.

This year, The National Center honored Native American 40 Under 40 awardees during an in-person reception at the Reservation Economic Summit.

“The 2023 Native American 40 Under 40 awardees showcase the hard work, perseverance, and dedication that have come to define this prestigious award,” said Chris James, president and CEO of The National Center. “This year’s class includes leaders in a variety of fields from across the country, showcasing the depth and breadth of the current generation of Native leaders. They are truly making a difference in every aspect of American life.”

2022 Native American 40 Under 40 award recipients – alphabetical order by last name

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• Sabrina Arch (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians) - Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Director of Enterprise Development, Whittier, NC
• Shannon Barnett (Muscogee (Creek) Nation) - Muscogee (Creek) Nation, Cultural Academic Specialist, Broken Arrow, OK
• Luke Barteaux (Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma) - Presiding Cherokee Nation District Court Judge, Tahlequah, OK
• Willow Blythe-Carroll (Muscogee (Creek) Nation) - HudsonLake Consulting, Strategic Communications Manager, Consultant and Founder of Weaving Wisdom, LLC, Rockwall, TX
• Brett Bucktooth (Oneida Indian Nation) – Haudenosaunee Ongweoweh Corp, Supplier Diversity Manager, Hogansburg, NY
• Joseph Byrd (Quapaw/Osage/Cherokee) - Quapaw Nation, Chairman, Quapaw, OK
• Quannah Rose Chasinghorse (Hän Gwich’in and Sicangu-Oglala Lakota) - IMG Models, Model/Activist/Spokesperson, Mesa, AZ
• Candice Craig (Muscogee (Creek) Nation) – Owner of The Joy Therapist, Tulsa, OK
• Kenneth Davis (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians) - Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians, Tribal Resource Specialist, Rolette, ND
• Kyle Doney (Seminole Tribe of Florida) - Seminole Tribe of Florida, Deputy Executive Director, Hollywood, FL
• Caleb Dunlap (Minnesota Chippewa Tribe (Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa)) – Amazon, Program Manager, Brand Protection, Cloquet, MN
• Kayla Gebeck (Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians) - Holland & Knight LLP, Associate, Washington, DC
• Valery Giebel (Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma) - United States Department of the Interior, Senior Indian Law Attorney Advisor, Tulsa, OK
• Dustin Goslin (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) - Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures, Vice President of Business & Economic Development, Onamia, MN
• Marya Halvorsen (Sun’aq Tribe of Kodiak) – Koniag, Public Policy and Government Affairs Specialist, Anchorage, AK
• Stephanie Hutch (Native Hawaiian) - Makai LLC, CEO, Hopkinton, MA
• Krystalyn Kinsel (Navajo) - Jenner & Block, Associate, Washington, DC
• Jenna Krohn (Native Village of Koyuk) - Bering Straits Native Corporation, Corporate Counsel, Anchorage, AK
• Alexander Mallory (Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska) - U.S. District Court, District of Arizona, Judicial Law Clerk, Phoenix, AZ
• Chantay Moore (Navajo) - Heartland Institute of Financial Education (HIFE), Certified Financial Educator and Licensed Financial Professional, Chicago, IL
• Andi Murphy (Navajo) - Native America Calling, Senior Producer, Albuquerque, NM
• Buu Nygren (Navajo), Navajo Nation President, Window Rock, AZ
• Brandi Payton (Cherokee, Cheyenne, Arapaho & Hopi) - Cherokee Nation Health Services, Clinic Administrator, Owasso, OK
• Cameron Poindexter (Curyung Tribe/Choggiung Limited) - Choggiung Limited, President & CEO, Dillingham, AK
• Leonard Powell (Hopland Band of Pomo Indians) - Jenner & Block, Senior Associate, Washington, DC
• Zachary Pullin (Chippewa Cree Nation) - Washington Conservation Action/Washington Conservation Action Education Fund, Communications Director, Seattle, WA
• PaaWee Rivera (Pueblo of Pojoaque) - The White House, Senior Advisor for Intergovernmental Affairs and Director of Tribal Affairs, Washington, DC
• Jaclyn Roessel (Navajo (Diné)) - Grownup Navajo, LLC, President and Founder, Bernalillo, NM
• Kendra Root (Muscogee (Creek) Nation) - National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center, Research Associate, Claremore, OK
• Travis Ruiz (Cheyenne and Arapaho) - Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes, Speaker of the Legislature/Arapaho District 3 Legislator, Weatherford, OK
• Nikki Santos (Coeur d’Alene Tribe) - Center for Native American Youth, Executive Director, Washington, DC
• Kyle Scherer (Munsee Delaware Nation) - Venable LLP, Partner and Co-Chair, Native American Law & Policy Practice, Washington, DC
• Bryan Shade (United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians in Oklahoma) - Lippes Mathias, LLP, Senior Associate, Rockville, MD
• Jacelyn Shavney (Cherokee Nation) - Cherokee Nation Businesses, Cultural Programs and Event Projects Manager, Catoosa, OK
• Sterling Springer (Seminole) - DT-Trak Consulting, Inc, President/CEO, Miller, SD
• Kristen Talbert (Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota Oyate) - American Indian Policy Institute, Arizona State University, Program Manager, Phoenix, AZ
• Sean Vasquez (Pechanga Band of Indians) - Pechanga Development Corporation, 1st Vice President, Irvine, CA
• Craig Williams (Mississippi Choctaw) - Jenner & Block, Special Counsel, Washington, DC
• Jeremy Wilson (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians) - Janet Industries, LLC, Consultant, Cherokee, NC
• Isabel Yasana Hawley (Klamath Tribe) – Nike, Consumer Direct Value Brand Manager, Tigard, OR