High Tech

By Jim Sluss, Ph.D., interim president, University of Oklahoma – Tulsa

The nature of work is changing as new technologies and automation are continually introduced into the workplace, necessitating an educated workforce that has the skills, training and adaptability for learning to meet the needs of high-tech job creators. With significant foresight, leaders from the business, government, nonprofit and higher education communities joined forces many years ago to respond and, as a result, regional access to higher education, particularly in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs, has never been better. The Tulsa Regional STEM Alliance works to grow the pipeline of preK-12 students that are academically ready to pursue higher education, whether at the college level or with a focus toward a skilled high-tech trade. High school graduates living in Tulsa County are eligible to receive 100% funding for tuition and fees to attend Tulsa Community College (TCC) through the Tulsa Achieves scholarship program, making TCC an ideal starting point for collegebound students. The Tulsa Higher Education Consortium, with generous support from the Schusterman Family Philanthropies, brings TCC together with six area universities to improve transfer student success for those moving on to pursue bachelor’s degrees. Coupled with a broad offering of STEM-focused master’s and doctoral research degree programs, this nextgeneration workforce can meet the needs of current and future job creators. To retain this talent, the Tulsa Regional Chamber, the City of Tulsa and the George Kaiser Family Foundation (GKFF) have launched Campus Tulsa, a new initiative to encourage college graduates to begin their careers in the Tulsa region and create diverse and inclusive work environments in which they can thrive. Tulsa’s research community is growing, fostered by leading-edge investigations into focus areas such as cybersecurity, aerospace and defense, health and biosciences, advanced materials, energy technology and data analytics. This research is being conducted within our comprehensive universities in partnership with industry, government and nonprofit organizations. For example, as a founding partner, GKFF recently committed an initial $50 million to establish Tulsa Innovation Labs (TIL) to bring strategic focus to Tulsa’s economic development activities in the hightech domain. The University of Tulsa (TU), which has long been at the forefront of research and education in cyber security, recently partnered with TIL to establish the Cyber Innovation Institute at the TU School of Cyber Studies. To create a pipeline of qualified students, TIL partnered with TCC to establish the Cyber Analytics and Skills Center. Oklahoma State University-Tulsa has a robust materials science and engineering program developing advanced materials for energy, medical, electronics, aerospace and defense technologies. The University of Oklahoma-Tulsa is a leader in self-organizing and 5G cellular networks incorporating artificial intelligence, machine learning and big data analytics, as well as testing the susceptibility of medical devices to interference from wireless networks. The 21st century innovation environment is exemplified by disruption, the acceleration of technology development, and easy access to information on a global scale. Tulsa is prepared for this environment and tomorrow’s high-tech researchers and innovators — engineers, scientists, technologists and health care professionals — can be found today in the classrooms and laboratories of Tulsa’s comprehensive research universities, regional universities, community colleges, technology centers, and primary and secondary schools.

Jennifer Hankins works for Tulsa Innovation Labs, an organization to bring strategic focus to Tulsa’s economic development activities in the high-tech domain.

Tulsa and the Cherokee Nation have been neighbors since the day the city was founded, and a prosperous relationship has grown across historical boundaries. Tulsans never have to travel far to see the $2.16 billion economic impact of the Cherokee Nation on Oklahoma. From Head Start centers and health care facilities — including the only tribally affiliated medical school, the OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine at the Cherokee Nation, ever built on tribally owned land — to new water lines and road improvements, Cherokee Nation constantly works to create opportunities for families and communities in Tulsa and northeast Oklahoma.

The economic engine driving those opportunities is one of Tulsa’s largest employers: Cherokee Nation Businesses (CNB). We have more than 2,000 CNB employees who live and work in the Tulsa metro area, comprising more than one-third of our company’s worldwide workforce.

CNB started in manufacturing, and like many successful Native-owned companies, we expanded to gaming and hospitality. To bring more opportunity home to Oklahoma, we diversified to do business around the world. Today, CNB earns annual revenue of more than $1 billion. But more importantly, we’re a company that always will remember the communities that helped us get to where we are today. In Tulsa, CNB’s Community Impact Teams consistently find new opportunities to serve those in need. The team has performed thousands of hours of volunteer work at respected organizations like Iron Gate, Junior Achievement and the Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma. Our businesses focus on three core areas: gaming and hospitality, federal contracting and tourism and economic development.

Gaming and Hospitality

CNB helped pioneer Oklahoma’s gaming industry. Through more than three decades in gaming operations, we have achieved success by doing business the right way — by honoring partnerships, thoughtful planning and following through with our commitments.

Our first gaming facility opened in Roland, Oklahoma, on Nov. 9, 1990. Starting with 64 employees, it has since grown to more than 500, and from 18,000 square feet to more than 320,000. Our hospitality division now operates 10 gaming properties in Oklahoma, including Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa, and is expanding into the national gaming market with Legends Resort & Casino Arkansas.

Each property demonstrates our commitment to the guest experience. We offer something for everyone at our award-winning concert venues, golf courses, fine dining, modern amenities, iconic music memorabilia and fun table and e-games. We partner with leading brands to create memorable experiences for more than 7 million guests who walk through our casino doors each year. Behind the scenes, you will find state-of-the-art surveillance and security to protect the safety of all who walk through our doors.

Federal Contracting

Cherokee Federal, the federal contracting division of CNB, is a team of more than 30 tribally owned business entities with expertise across dozens of industries. We manage nearly 2,000 projects and support more than 60 federal agencies — from health science and humanitarian efforts to information technology and mission support.

Our employees have the technical skills and drive to build next-generation technologies, solve complex challenges, and serve federal clients around the globe. Since 2012, Cherokee Federal has been awarded more than $8 billion in government contracts and completed nearly 6,000 federal missions.

So, how do these contracts help our country?

In short, we provide rapid response support to our federal customers — helping them solve some of the nation’s most difficult challenges in recent history. The U.S. military counts on us for facility support, logistics and security. Through our state-of-the-art clinical research, we help protect soldiers’ health against infectious diseases, such as Zika, malaria, dengue fever and COVID-19. We build base infrastructure that can thwart bombings and other terrorist attacks, and we facilitate American diplomacy through support services and staffing at consulates and embassies. Whatever the project, you will find Cherokee Federal’s commitment to performance and service at its core.

Cultural and Economic Development

The importance of preserving local culture and developing local economies simply cannot be overstated. That’s why CNB actively promotes cultural and economic development through a variety of programs and initiatives in each community we serve.

Our tourism organization, Visit Cherokee Nation, provides visitors with opportunities to enjoy the many cultural touchstones and historically significant places of our tribe. We operate the Cherokee National History Museum in Tahlequah, featuring a collection of Smithsonian-quality artifacts, as well as five other museums. Our website, visitcherokeenation.com, shares excellent resources with guests who want to plan their next trip. The Cherokee Nation Film Office is increasing the presence of Native Americans in every level of the film and television industries. Our Emmy-award winning TV show, “Osiyo: Voices of the Cherokee People,” is now in its seventh season and has shared more than 250 short documentaries on the Cherokee Nation and its citizens. You can watch this show free of charge at osiyo.tv, RSU-TV and OETA.

CNB has a proven track record when it comes to attracting economic development to the area. We provided financial incentives and administrative support to help Macy’s build a $170 million fulfillment center in Owasso. We also helped bring Italian paper company Sofidel to Inola, generating 300 jobs. Such partnerships highlight our ability to ignite positive cultural and economic change through effective communication and recruitment.

Looking to the Future

Tulsa’s diverse and skilled workforce has played a major role in the success of Cherokee Nation Businesses. On our current trajectory of growth, we know we will be hiring in Tulsa for years to come. CNB is proud of this city for its many successes over the past decade, and we look forward to doing our part to help Tulsans achieve their vision in 2022.