Bryan Small named as 2015 Native American “40 Under 40” award recipient

MESA, Arizona – The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED) is pleased to announce its 2015 class of “Native American 40 Under 40” award recipients. This prestigious award is bestowed upon individuals under the age of 40, nominated by members of their communities, who have demonstrated leadership, initiative, and dedication and made significant contributions in business and their community. Bryan Small, a member of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas and a resident of The Woodlands, TX is among the 40 under 40 award winners that were honored during the 40th Annual Indian Progress in Business Awards (INPRO) Gala last week at the Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casino in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The awards were a part of the leading economic development event in Indian Country – the Reservation Economic Summit (RES).

“The 40 Under 40 award recipients are a diverse group of young men and women from across Indian Country who have all made invaluable contributions to their communities,” said Derrick Watchman, Chairman of the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development. “We are proud to honor this extraordinary group of leaders, and I am excited to see what the future holds for them.”

Bryan is the CEO of ACT Holdings – the economic development arm of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe. He is also the CEO of Ochana Industries, an assembly and kitting business wholly-owned by ACT Holdings and focused on federal and industrial opportunities, which he helped establish. Bryan holds a B.A. from the University of Richmond, a MPP from Pepperdine University, and a MBA from the University of Houston.

“If we are to expand economic opportunity in Indian Country, we need innovative and entrepreneurial Native American leaders,” said Gary Davis, President and CEO of the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development. “The 40 Under 40 recipients have all demonstrated their dedication to moving their communities forward, and I want to congratulate them on their achievements. This is a very deserving group.”

For more information about RES and the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development, please visit http://res.ncaied.org.

About NCAIED: The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. With over 40 years of assisting American Indian Tribes and their enterprises with business and economic development – we have evolved into the largest national Indian specific business organization in the nation. Our motto is: “We Mean Business For Indian Country” as we are 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.