Chamber Connect 2014 Newsletter - American Indian Chamber of

WINTER 2014
CHAMBERCONNECT
AMERICAN INDIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF WISCONSIN l FIRST AMERICAN CAPITAL CORPORATION
AICCW Lawsuit Against The City of Milwaukee’s
Contract Participation Program, Chapter 370,
Succeeds in Leveling the Playing Field for
American Indian owned Businesses
in this issue
By Craig Anderson,
AICCW President
GOLF TOURNAMENT page 2
“If we won’t defend or challenge all inequality against our own
Native community - who will?”
“The AICCW, its present Board, and our President
took the initiative to challenge the City of
Milwaukee Diversity Study, and Chapter 370, that
was approved by Common Council and current
Mayor of Milwaukee. Our Chamber decided
to seek legal counsel to support our findings
that showed the study was inaccurate – and
unconstitutional - specifically towards exclusion
of current and future Native businesses.”
In January 2012 the City of Milwaukee
enacted Chapter 370 – the Minority/
Women/Business Enterprise Program which provided race-based and genderbased preferences in City contracts to
some minority-owned and womenowned businesses but not others. This
ordinance was based upon the findings
the recommendations of the 2010 City
of Milwaukee Disparity Study which
used historic contract participation and
other data to establish individual contract
participation goals by racial groups and
gender.
Based upon this
study, Chapter
370 – which
replaced the
Chapter 360
EBE Program
– eliminated
Native American and Hispanic-owned
construction businesses from the contract
participation goal process for The City
of Milwaukee projects. Further, those
businesses located outside the four-county
Milwaukee metropolitan area were no
longer eligible for ‘Minority/Woman/Small
Business Enterprise’ certifications.
A group of American Indian business
owners associated with the American
Indian Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin
(AICCW) immediately began meeting with
AICCW staff to research The Disparity Study
and Chapter 370 so to be informed about
impacts and possible challenges to this new
ordinance. The AICCW 370 Working Group
soon discovered significant errors and
flaws in the City of Milwaukee Disparity
Study and subsequent 370 Ordnance
which misrepresented the ethnicity of
some Native-owned businesses, and
actual contracting history with the City of
Milwaukee – which were factors used in
mathematical formulas to eliminate
Native-owned business from contract
participation goals.
ANNUAL AICCW AWARDS page 3
MIXER & NEW MEMBERS page 4
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT page 5 & 6
MEMBER ACCOLADES! pages 7 & 8
FACTORS TO SUCCESS page 11
continued on page 12
370 CONTINUED page 12
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18th Annual AICCW Scholarship Fund Golf Tournament - Everybody Wins!
SAVE THE DATE
AICCW SCHOLARSHIP FUND
GOLF TOURNAMENT
May 24, 2013 marked the 18th Annual
Golf Outing, held at the StockbridgeMunsee Pine Hills Golf Course, near
Gresham, Wisconsin. 80 golfers
enjoying friendly competition on the
links, fundraising challenge games
(putting contests, closest to the pin,
driving the green) – with proceeds
contributing to the AICCW American
Indian College Student Scholarship
Program. The generosity of golf
participants generated more than
$6,000 at this event.
Also with all of the hole sponsors,
volunteers and participants that made
it possible to have a successful event–
thanks to all!
Major sponsor was Forest County
Potawatomi, tournament sponsors
included Stockbridge-Munsee,
Wisconsin Business Development
(WBD), Pro Electric and Bay Bank.
This golf tournament provides majority
funding for the AICCW Scholarship
Fund. To learn more about the Native
students who received scholarships last
year, read page 3 or visit us online.
The generosity of golf
participants generated
more than $6,000
at this event.
TENTATIVE DATE: MAY 23, 2014
PLEASE STAY TUNED!
PLEASE CONTACT [email protected]
OR (414) 604-2044 FOR:
SPONSORSHIP
OPPORTUNITIES
DOOR PRIZE DONATIONS
GOODY BAG DONATIONS
AICCW SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
DONATIONS
REGISTRATION TO PLAY GOLF
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AICCW Awards Recognize Achievements in Wisconsin’s Indian Country
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August 21, 2013 was the 20th annual awards luncheon with 80 AICCW
members and guests to help recognize and honor the AICCW American
Indian Business of the Year, and 6 student recipients of $14,000 in 2013
AICCW College Scholarship Awards!
2013 BUSINESS OF THE YEAR AWARDS
Menominee Tribal Enterprise (MTE), Large Business
The Quest Co., Small Business
School Year 2013-14 AICCW Scholarship Recipients
and Scholarship Sponsors
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Katie Bowman, Stockbridge-Munsee – Johnson Controls Foundation
Mariah Cooper, LCO Ojibwe – Johnson Controls Foundation
Acacia Crow, LCO Ojibwe – Forest County Potawatomi Foundation
Jeanne Wolfe, LDF Forest County Potawatomi Foundation
Peter Stevens - Oneida, The Quest Company
Judith Sheche, Zuni Pueblo - AICCW (Shari Denning Award)
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Seyoum Mengasha with Wisconsin Economic Development Corp
(WEDC) was in attendance and recognized by Jeff Bowman, President
of First American Capital Corp., for the RLF Grant that FACC received
this year in the amount of $200,000.00 for lending to small businesses.
Ronnie Preston, Champion Grass Dancer was this year’s entertainment
and gave a fantastic show. Thank you Ronnie!
The AICCW honored and in memory of Shari Denning, co-founder and
past board member in all her accomplishments and vision, and what
this organization meant to her. We lost Shari this year and she will be
deeply missed by many.
PHOTO CAPTIONS (left to right)  Peter Stevens (student) and Tom Skenadore of The Quest Co.
 Mariah Cooper (student), Mary Dowell of Johnson Controls, and Katie Bowman (student)
 Craig Anderson, President of AICCW and Judith Sheche (student)  Jeff Bowman of FACC
videotapes Ronnie Preston’s grass dance performance  Honoree, Seyoum Mengesha of WEDC
with Jeff Bowman of FACC Jeff Bowman of FACC, Kimberly Latender of MTE and Larry Waukau
of MTE accept Menominee Tribal Enterprise’s Award for 2013 Large Business of the Year Tom
Skenandore of The Quest Co., accepts his company’s award for 2013 Small Business of the Year
Tribute to Shari Denning Champion grass dancer, Ronnie Preston put on a great show
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FACC Partners with
NiiCaP to Develop
Native Entrepreneur
Workshop Program
AICCW Annual Member Mixer/Family
Reception at Indian Summer Festival
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AICCW hosted the Annual Member
Family Reception Saturday September
7, 2013, at the Miller Oasis VIP area.
This traditional annual event serves
as our informal gathering to enjoy
the company of members, family,
and guests while celebrating and
supporting the Indian Summer Festival.
Our members and guests enjoyed
Brule performing on the Miller stage.
Thank you to Indian Summer Festival
in allowing us to hold our event and
for your friendly staff working the
event to help make it an enjoyable and
successful reception.
Food was catered by Burrito Express,
Robert Montemayor, owner which was
excellent, Thank you Robert!
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PHOTO CAPTIONS: 1. Kelly Jackson, ISMA Nominee, performs
at the 10th Anniversary Indian Summer Music Awards
2 . Brule performance on the Miller Stage
Thank you to our generous event
sponsors who made the AICCW
Annual Reception possible:
Wisconsin Business Development
Corporation – Major Sponsor
The Quest Co.
Dr. Gerald & Georgianne Ignace
Big Horn Trucking
Arrowhead Trucking
Heartland Information Research
Art Olszewski, American Family
Insurance
Mike Noonan
Thank you members and sponsors for
this outstanding event!
WELCOME NEW AICCW MEMBERS!
Go-Green Painting, LLC
Greenfire Management Services, LLC
Integrity Grading & Excavating, Inc.
Laughing Waters, LLC
LDM, LLC
Monte Enterprises
Peter Stevens
PNC
Totem Contracting, LLC
Valentine Coffee
Warrington Construction Services, LLC
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When looking for services,
please look to our members
first. We encourage you to
support our membership
and each other!
The First American Capital Corporation
(FACC) and NiiJii Capital Partners, Inc.
(NiiCaP) – both Native Community
Development Financial Institutions in
Wisconsin, entered into a cooperative
agreement entitled the: Tribal College
- Community Development Financial
Institution Collaboration Project. This
project is funded by the First Nations
Development Institute and coordinated
by the College of Menominee Nation
(CMN).
This two year project is designed
to develop a Native Entrepreneur
workshop curriculum to help program
participants launch a new business or
expand an existing businesses as well
as qualify as loan ready when the need
for financing arises through FACC or
NiiCaP. Classes are being offered at
several Wisconsin reservations and
tribal college sites – the most recent
“Business Start-up Series” presented
by Jeff Bowman, FACC President at
the CMN Green Bay campus in
February 2014.
For more information on this initiative
or on FACC Indian Country business
loan products and services contact
Craig Anderson, Executive Director at
[email protected] / 414.604.2044.
For a directory of all AICCW
members, visit us online at
www.aiccw.org.
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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT:
Architect - Karl Lusis of Standing Stone Design
AICCW member, Karl Lusis (Oneida) owner
of Standing Stone Design, became the State
of Wisconsin’s first licensed Native American
architect and promptly formed Standing Stone
Design (SSD), the State’s first Native American
architectural firm. Karl created SSD to
address the gap occurring in Native American
communities where architectural firms did
not understand the culture and sensitivity of
the Native people.
Karl’s talent and hard work, combined
with support from AICTA (American Indian
Construction & Trades — the construction
arm of AICCW), SSD was awarded the Lake
Butte des Morts bridge and recreational trail
project along Highway 41. This beautiful
bridge (completed in June 2013) is now a
permanent part of the Tribal Heritage Crossing
of the Wiouwash State Trail near Oshkosh.
The Tribal Heritage Crossing isn’t just for
walking. It’s also a place where visitors
can learn about the historical connections
Wisconsin’s 11 federally recognized tribes
have to the area. Each tribe has informational
kiosks along the trail, and SSD incorporated
beautifully designed elements that depict
their tribal culture and heritage.
Other completed architectural projects that
SSD has successfully completed include:
“We were hired to represent the
11 Federally recognized tribes
in Wisconsin with a cohesive
design respectful of all tribal
history. Our concept was to use
these elements of earth, fire and
water which are prominent in
many of our stories as Native
people. A series of “nodes”
along the Riverwalk provide an
opportunity for each tribe to
inform visitors of a funny tale,
learning opportunity or general
interest about their nation.”
Oneida Resident Centered Care Community
An $18 million dollar skilled/assisted care
facility for Oneida.
Pine Ridge Justice Center
Justice Center for the Oglala Sioux coming
along nicely. Bid packs should be coming
out soon and opportunity for the Oglala
businesses and people!
Ho-Chunk Dells Dam Community Center
A 4,000 square foot Community Center
for the Dells Dam community to celebrate
and gather. Facilities will offer food service
and educational opportunities with a
flexible gathering space for a broad range of
community functions.
— Karl Lusis, Oneida Tribal
Member and owner of Standing
Stone Design, LLC
www.standingstonedesign.com
Congratulations Karl on your success — we
look forward to seeing new projects in 2014!
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PHOTO CAPTIONS:  Butte des Morts Bridge - EARTH - design by Karl Lusis / SSD
. Butte des Morts Bridge - FIRE - designed by Karl Lusis / SSD  Butte des Morts Bridge WATER - designed by Karl Lusis / SSD  Oneida Cultural Center and Museum - designed by
Karl Lusis / SSD  Karl Lusis explaining architectural design to elementary school children
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 Grand Opening Ceremony of the Tribal Heritage Crossing of the Wiouwash State Trail and
Butte des Morts Bridge Lac du Flambeau Historic Dormitory Rehabilitation - design by Karl
Lusis / SSD Karl Lusis receiving Tribal Transportation of Wisconsin Award for his architectural design on the Tribal Heritage Crossing of the Wiouwash State Trail
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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT:
Entrepenuer - Tom Skenandore of The Quest Co.
Here’s a fun fact: Tom Skenandore,
AICCW member and Oneida tribal
member, was the first recipient of
AICCW’s new revolving loan fund back in
2002. Fast forward to 2014, Tom’s small
business startup is now part of a robust
industry with $7 million in gross sales!
This inspirational true life story was
made possible by years of hard work,
determination, an entrepreneurial spirit,
and because Tom smartly utilized the
resources available to him through the
Chamber.
His success has been duly noted! Tom has
been the recipient of numerous awards as
his business continues to grow.
The Quest Co. also funded a new
scholarship for Native American students
MATERIALS FOR
NANCE
BUILDING MAINTE
AND PACKAGING NEEDSY
PAN
THE QUEST COM
KESHA, WI
Originally a $500 startup company,
The Quest Co. began as an advertising
specialty products business, before Tom
took it to the next level as a wholesale
distribution industry specializing in
janitorial, shipping and packaging
supplies. Today, The Quest Co. moves
1,700 semi truckloads of chemicals per
year throughout the US and Canada,
and has added major accounts including
Enterprise Car and Truck Rental, Veolia
Water, and Proctor and Gamble.
AICCW President Craig Anderson, who
was there for that first business loan
commented, “Tom has proven his ability
to lead and transform a small startup into
a full-fledged business that is well-poised
for the future. Tom’s story and that of
The Quest Co., is one of our most recent
and proudest success stories here in
Wisconsin’s Indian Country.”
Now celebrating its 10 year anniversary,
The Quest Co. received numerous
awards and for the past two years,
nominated for awards through the
Small Business Association (SBA) and
Marketplace: The Governor’s Conference
on Minority Business Development.
We expect to see this list of accolades
grow as Tom continues his “quest” for
continued success! We’re all inspired —
congratulations Tom!
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THE QUEST CO IS A PROUD
pursuing higher education called the
“Quest 2 Soar Scholarship.” Now in its
second year, the annual scholarship has
awarded $2000 per student each year.
“Our success is the result of the combined
efforts of a great team here at Quest. Our
employees give 110% and its that kind of
effort that has propelled us forward. We
love what we do and are committed to
being the best out there.”
— Tom Skenandore, Oneida tribal
member and owner of The Quest Co.
www.quest2soar.com
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DISTRIBUTOR OF
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PHOTO CAPTIONS: 1. Tradeshow banner featuring products and services 2. Paper products and dispensers are among the
many janitorial supplies The Quest Co. distributes 3. Jeff Bowman, FACC board director with Tom Skenandore and his wife
at Marketplace 2013 4. Craig Anderson, President of AICCW and Tom Skenandore, holding the award for “AICCW Small
Business of the Year” 5. Full page color print advertisement featuring products lines The Quest Co. handles
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Marketplace 2013 – AICCW Members Recognized
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Governors conference on Minority
Business Development was held on
October 15 & 16, 2013 at Potawatomi
Casino, Milwaukee. The Wisconsin
Economic Development Corporation
(WEDC) recognized minority, womenowned, and service disabled-veterans for
their achievements at this year’s event.
Belonger Corp.,West Bend, received
the minority-owned Outstanding Small
Business Award. Founded in 2000 with
one employee and four customers
this Native American Indian-owned
enterprise is a mechanical, plumbing
and wastewater specialty trades
company with customers in 23 states.
Native Businesses that were awarded
at the event were:
First runner up was The Quest Co.,
Waukesha and second runner up was
Big Horn Trucking, LLC in Oneida.
Menominee Tribal Enterprises (MTE),
Neopit, received the minority-owned
Outstanding Large Business Award.
The company, owned and operated by
the Menominee Tribe of Wisconsin,
manufactures cabinets, furniture and
millwork, and employs 150 people
from local communities.
All of these Native companies are
AICCW members and we are very
proud of them all. Congrats!
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PHOTO CAPTIONS (left to right)
2013 Govenors Marketplace Awards were presented by:
Eugene Shawano, Jr., Tribal Administrator Forest County
Potawatomi Community, Ryan Murray, Chief Operating Officer
and Deputy Secretary of the Wisconsin Economic Development
Corporation (WEDC), and Lee Swindall, Vice President of
Business & Industry Development for the Wisconsin Economic
Development Corporation (WEDC).
 MTE won top honors as Outstanding Large Business of
the Year  Norman Shawanokasic, President, MTE is
congratulated by the president of Superior Support Resources,
first runner up for this category.  Jean Marie Thiel,
President of Belonger Corporation, is presented with the
Outstanding Small Business of the Year Award.  Norman
Shawanokasic, President, MTE accepting the Outstanding
Large Business Award  Leida Wesolaski, co-owner of
Big Horn Trucking holds her company’s award. Native
businesses nominated for Outstanding Small Business Awards
include: Big Horn Trucking, Belonger Corp. and The Quest
Co. Tom Skenandore, President of The Quest Co.,
accepts his company’s award.
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Annual WisDOT Tribal Transportation / Golden Shovel Awards
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The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT),
along with the College of the Menominee Nation, hosted
the annual Wisconsin Tribal Transportation Conference on
December 17-19 at the Ho-Chunk Casino and Convention
Center in Baraboo, with the theme “New Horizons:
Enhancing Partnerships & Creating Opportunities.”
ABOUT THE AWARDS: Tribal Excellence Awards are
presented annually during the WisDOT Tribal Transportation
Conferences. Award recipients are recognized for providing
exemplary contributions and services to building and
enhancing partnerships with WisDOT and Wisconsin Tribal
communities. Award nominations are submitted in the areas
of Achievement, commitment, and performance and service.
Now in its 7th year, the conference brings together state,
tribal, federal and transportation construction professionals
to increase their understanding of governmental and
transportation initiatives of the 11 tribes of Wisconsin and
WisDOT. Also included were pre-conference networking
events (coordinated by AICCW), TTC Planning Committee
and an AICTA Meeting.
PHOTO CAPTIONS: 1. Group shot with all award recipients, Statewide Liaisons and Aggo Akyea
2. Jamie House, Arrowhead Trucking, LLC (Performance/Service) 3. Craig Clements, Pro
Electric, Inc. 4. Wayne Wilber, Ken Klemmens, - Menominee Tribal Community Development ,
Sandy Stankevich, Paul Weigandt - WisDOT North Central Region, Bruce Gerland - AECOM
5. Craig Dretzka, UPI, LLC 6. Ruth Geier, Integrity Grading & Excavating, Inc., J. “Brooks”
Big John, Lac du Flambeau TERO Director 7. Bart Cornelius, Bighorn Trucking, LLC
8. Tina Neuman, Mathy Family of Companies 9. Bruce Gerland - AECOM
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OTIE Shares Factors for Creating a Successful Business
Oneida Total Integrated Enterprises (OTIE) has often been referred to
“as the model of success” in the small business community. While
the company still has a long way to go to become a large business,
OTIE continues to advance its technical expertise and sharpen its
corporate infrastructure and administrative systems.
Due to this successful image, OTIE is often asked questions about
what factors help create success. For example: How does a small
business compete to win a federal contract? How does a small
business build its technical expertise and create a sophisticated
infrastructure and administrative support system? How can small
business sustain itself when competing with other small or larger
businesses? How does a small business become certified as an 8(a)
business?
Some of these questions are beyond the scope of this article, but
the following suggestions are offered based on company experience
over the course of 25 years in federal government contracting. In
this sector, being a successful small business is more than just
being certified as an 8(a) business by the U.S. Small Business
Administration. What is important to keep in mind is that it is basic
business operations that contribute to success, and not the status of
being identified as an “8(a) business.”
The following elements should be considered when starting a
business:
1.What type of business?
• Manufacturing – identify the items to be produced, what
equipment, techniques, and the skilled labor needed to produce
the product.
• Supply, sale or resale – identify the goods to be supplied or sold.
• Services – identify the expertise to provide the services
demanded by the market or certain clients.
• Other business – consider the same basic factors as above.
2.Understand and analyze the business market, the competition
and the clients in that market. The objective is to generate
revenues that will pay the expenses, which is the core of a business
operation.
3.Determine the balance of having the best quality of goods or
services at the lowest cost to be profitable, competitive and meet
client expectations.
4.Identify the regulations of the business market, and then obtain
the required licensing, permitting, or registrations needed to operate
the business.
5.Financial obligations, such as paying required taxes or fees to
local, state, federal, or any other different agencies as part of doing
business.
6.How risk will be managed and minimized, while maximizing
profits to reinvest in the company for growth.
A federal, state or local government provides many businesses
privileges to be identified as minority, disadvantaged, or 8(a)
certified business. Those privileges are excellent for any qualified
company to use and take advantage of to build business, but should
never be a final goal for any business.
Most 8(a), minority or disadvantage business status designations
have revenue size limits or limited periods of participation. As a
result, if a business does not fully utilize these privileged programs
to extend their business and become competitive in their own
industry within those revenue or time limits, eventually the business
will have diminished or stagnated and always remain an emergent
small business.
As an example, the U.S., Small Business Administration (SBA) has
established the 8(a) program for companies who are qualified under
the SBA regulations. For the individually-owned company who is a
minority, woman or other economically and socially disadvantaged
group by SBA’s criteria, that company can apply for 8(a) status after
they can prove they have operated for 2 years with operational
records and tax returns. Tribally-owned companies have different
criteria to be qualified as an 8(a) business.
Based on criteria in the regulations, the SBA can approve or not
approve the company to have certified 8(a) status, which will
depend on the information provided. For those businesses that are
approved and certified as an 8(a) small business, they submit annual
reports to update current business information for that reporting
year.
Once a business is certified as an 8(a) program participant, the SBA
can provide information and assistance to a small business, such
as obtaining a loan or bonding capacity if qualified, or training in
the basic skills of operating a business. These SBA resources are
valuable to those persons without business backgrounds who are
in the startup phase, and particularly for those businesses with few
or no employees in the beginning. SBA can also be very helpful
in providing information to be involved in the federal contracting
market. However, SBA does not offer contracts to any businesses,
including small or 8(a) businesses.
In order to get federal contracts, a company needs to market itself,
talk to potential clients, compete in the bidding process, and win
a contract on its own. An 8(a) status on its own will not result in a
contract award. Participating in the 8(a) program is a very effective
way for a small company to become involved in the federal market
if the services or goods are demanded by the federal agencies that
award the contracts through the federal procurement process.
Being in the 8(a) program means that a small business can compete
in a smaller limited pool of competitors that will bring more
opportunity to win federal contracts and generate extra revenue.
Therefore, the goal is to fully use the 8(a) program to build the
company’s strength, technical capabilities if it is a service company,
or improve the quality and lower the price of goods or products if a
supplier or manufacturer.
With or without the 8(a) status, certain company qualities help to
sustain business growth: 1) the determination and persistence to
sustain business under any market conditions, 2) the commitment
to existing and potential clients who are the source of revenues
and future growth, 3) the commitment to employees who have the
skills, experience and loyalty that will help the company grow, 4)
the commitment to reinvest in the company which builds reputation
and image that leads to industry confidence in the company, and
5) an open mind with broad vision that continually maximizes
business opportunities and profits while balancing risk.
No matter what type of business, keep in mind the principal goal
is to generate revenue and pay the expenses in order to sustain the
business. There will be ups and downs in the market, and there will
always be competitors for potential clients. Use all available tools,
such as the 8(a) status advantage, to build competitiveness and stay
in business for the long haul.
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AICCW Lawsuit Against The City of Milwaukee’s Contract Participation Program, Chapter 370,
Succeeds in Leveling the Playing Field for American Indian owned Businesses
continued from page one
Representatives of the AICCW 370 Working Group reached
out to other ethically diverse Chambers of Commerce, City
program staff and elected officials during in 2011 and 2012 to
discuss our findings of errors and flaws in both The Disparity
Study and 370. The City of Milwaukee’s response to our
findings was that they had judicial justification to implement
370 and ignored our findings and concerns.
This response prompted AICCW to seek legal interpretation
and guidance from lawyers at Godfrey & Kahn, SC. Godfrey
& Kahn, specifically Attorney Brian Pierson have recognized
expertise and experience in working with tribal nations and
individual Native-owned businesses in Wisconsin. After a
series of meetings and investigations, Mr. Pierson proposed
representing AICCW and its members in legal actions
against the City of Milwaukee based upon the challenge that
Ordinance 370, which became effective on or around January
2012, is unconstitutional as a race based and gender-based
program under the United States Constitution and Wisconsin
Constitution, because it denies certain businesses and their
owners the equal protection of the laws.
In April 2012 the AICCW Board of Directors approved
the proposal by Godfrey & Kahn represent AICCW and its
members in legal action against the City of Milwaukee.
On May 1, 2012 the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
of Wisconsin independently filled action against the
City of Milwaukee with their legal team to challenge the
constitutionality of 370. Later in May 2012 the AICCW joined
the HCCW as Plaintiff-Intervenor with the rationale that
AICCW intervene in this action to address the substantial harm
to its own members that results from the continued use and
implementation of Ordinance 370.
After a long drawn out and expensive legal process, the City of
Milwaukee, HCCW and AICCW settled out of court in 2013
when the City agreed to repeal the race-conscious elements
of 370 and basically re-level the City ‘disadvantaged’ business
contracting program field in a fashion similar to the 360 EBE
Program.
On November 22, 2013 the Chapter 370 ‘Small Business
Enterprise Program’ substitute ordinance repealing the raceconscious minimum levels of participation of minority and
woman business enterprises in city contracts went into effect –
copy of Substitute 370 Ordinance available upon request.
This substitute Chapter 370 ordinance also eliminated
the requirement that businesses shall have a physical
business address located within the limits of the Milwaukee
metropolitan area for at least one year prior to certification
– which re-opens the door to obtaining a Small Business
Enterprise certification by any Native-owned business
interested in competing for City of Milwaukee contract
opportunities regardless of their business location.
The AICCW went to bat for members to overcome injustices
against American Indian owned businesses and prevailed - but
at great expense. We need your donations to help pay down
our legal fees, so if you are inclined please send any amount
(e.g. $50, $100, $1,000…) to the AICCW - memo AICCW 370
Legal Defense Fund.
The following are some quotes from AICCW members
who have already contributed to the AICCW 370 Legal
Defense Fund:
“All individuals, business owners, and future entrepreneurs
should be compelled to not only defend, but also advance the
issues that surround our Native communities.”
“Even though Chapter 370 did not cause my company a direct
loss of sales, we helped in the support of the legal expenses
associated. This legal action was extremely necessary, so
policy & law makers (both now and in the future) do not
deliberately attempt to eliminate us.”
“Through the deliberate legal actions – it was possible to
maintain our separate and distinct social status, as Native
entrepreneurs and business owners. Also, we were not
eliminated from the procurement regulations – a positive
outcome resulted, which is one of inclusion not exclusion.”
“This truly benefits all members of our community going
forward. We must come together in many ways & methods to
ensure as a group we are not ignored.”
“We as Native people and business owners are stakeholders
within every community we walk. We humbly ask, for your
support of our Chamber with a donation to offset our legal,
monetary responsibility – and please consider joining AICCW
today. We thank you in advance for your help.”
For more information on the 370 Substitute Ordinance,
questions, to contribute to the AICCW 370 Legal Defense
Fund, and/or to join AICCW please contact Craig Anderson,
AICCW President – [email protected] / 414.604.2044.
12
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C HAM B ER CONNEC T
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AMERI C AN I NDI AN C HAM B E R OF COM M E R C E OF W IS CON S IN
N3522 Cottage Avenue Neopit, WI 54150
PO Box 10 Neopit, WI 54150
Telephone: 715-756-2311
l WINTER 2014
Fax: 715-756-2378
website: www.mtewood.com
Menominee Tribal Enterprises is committed to excellence in the sustainable management of our forest,
and the manufacturing of our lumber and forest products providing a consistently superior product while
serving the needs of our forest, employees, wood products customers, tribal community, and future
generations.
Cabinets
Case & Base Molding
Chair rails
Door & Window Molding
Furniture
Doors
Caskets
Lumber
Veneer
Value–added
Sawlogs
Boltwoods
Pulpwood
By-products
Millworks Sales Specialist
Kim Zafiroff
[email protected]
Ext. 1142 Cell. 715-853-2078
Lumber Sales Representative
Joe Besaw
[email protected]
Ext. 1163
Lumber Sales Manager
Jim Kaquatosh
[email protected]
Ext. 1121
Lumber Sales
Diane Shooter
[email protected]
Ext. 1122
C HAM B ER CONNEC T
l
AMERI C AN I NDI AN C HAM B E R OF COM M E R C E OF W IS CON S IN
Eagle
AMERICAN
INDIAN CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE
OF WISCONSIN
10809 W. Lincoln Ave.
Suite 102
West Allis, WI 53227
www.aiccw.org
THE AMERICAN
INDIAN CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE
OF WISCONSIN
Black Bear
RECOGNIZES OUR
SPONSORS WHOSE
GENEROUS SUPPORT
ALLOWS US TO
PROVIDE OPTIMUM
OPPORTUNITIES
FOR ALL OF
OUR MEMBERS.
Eagle Feather
l WINTER 2014
Turtle