Bailey Walker (2022-2024)
President
Susan Dean (2022-2024)
Vice President
Susan Dean is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation Tribe. She has vast experience as a minority small business owner. She holds firsthand knowledge in acquiring, managing and fulfilling government contracts. Susan is also familiar with the process and challenges associated with applying for and obtaining crucial certifications from a business owner perspective, which will be beneficial to clients seeking long-term results in the federal contracting market.
Program manager offering guidance to help minority-owned businesses earn minority certifications, including 8(a) and HUBZone, through the US Small Business Administration. Overseeing the Oklahoma MBDA Business Center operated by REI Oklahoma. Through the MBDA Business Center, Susan is focusing on creating opportunities for minority-owned companies to achieve new growth and pursue government-related contracting opportunities.
Kendra Bennett (2022-2024)
State Board Secretary
Kendra Bennett is a proud citizen of the Cherokee Nation. She was raised in Muldrow and now resides in Edmond, Oklahoma.
While in college she developed skill sets that are valuable to the land industry as well as customer service. She is the Leasing Manager for Reagan Smith, Inc. She is actively involved with oil and gas leasing, transactions and regulatory with the Western Tribes and the Five Civilized Tribes. As a Native American herself and a patriot in the oil and gas industry, she loves to be a liaison between both worlds.
Bennett holds a degree from Oklahoma State University in Agricultural Leadership and a Master of Science in Energy Legal Studies from Oklahoma City University. She has been accepted into AICCO’s Leadership Native Oklahoma and is looking forward to being a 2022 graduate.
The FFA motto was heavily engrained in Bennett, especially “Living to Serve.” She is excited to server her tribal community previously as AICCO’s OKC Chapter Secretary (2022), and now as AICCO’s State Board Secretary (2022-2024).
Dusty Schuler (2022-2024)
Treasurer
Dusty Schuler is both Muscogee Creek and Cherokee Indian, as a registered Muscogee Creek citizen, He lives within his tribal reservation along with his wife Jessica and four sons, where he raises longhorn cattle, just as his family has done since the American Indian Removal Act of 1830. Dusty is an Architectural Consultant for Burgess Company. Dusty‘s journey in Architectural Consulting began in 2010 when he retired as a Professional Bull Rider and joined the United Brotherhood of Carpenters. As a union carpenter he attended school where he gained a vast amount of construction knowledge, he also attended Mt. Hood C.C. where he learned and sharpened his construction management skills. He owned and operated multiple companies including a construction company in Kalama WA. His experience includes helping with the early design of Intel D1X, numerous buildings for Microsoft, Seattle Convention Center, Gilcrease Museum, and Bixby High School.
Dusty firmly believes in the power of collaboration and knowledge sharing. He is confident that if he can unite Native American business owners to engage in supporting each other’s businesses through B2B sales and mentorship as other nationalities do, we will see a dynamic growth and empowerment in Indian Country and for the next American Indian generation.