http://native8aworks.com/articles Native 8(a) Works for America Mon, 30 Jan 2012 19:17:52 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Source: San Mateo County Daily Journal By Kristina Woolston U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier’s statements in the Jan. 6, 2012 article in the San Mateo Daily Journal, “Speier to focus on military spending,” falsely describes Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs) and their participation in government contracting. Rep. Speier, D-San Mateo, believes ANCs are a ... http://native8aworks.com/articles/2012/01/op-ed-telling-the-story-of-alaska-native-corporations/ Alaska Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Mark Begich, along with the support of Congressman Don Young, passed a resolution recognizing the 40th anniversary of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.  The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) was enacted Dec. 18, 1971 to settle longstanding issues of the Alaska Native aboriginal ... http://native8aworks.com/articles/2012/01/delegation-recognizes-40th-anniversary-of-ancsa/ President Barack Obama is elevating the Small Business Administration (SBA) to a Cabinet-level agency as part of an effort to reorganize and streamline the federal government. The president wants to make it easier for America’s small businesses – which are America’s job creators – to compete, export and grow. Currently, there are ... http://native8aworks.com/articles/2012/01/sba-moving-to-cabinet-status/ Native 8(a) contracting will continue to face challenges in Congress, says Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s (R-Alaska) legislative assistant for rural and Native affairs – but there are steps supporters can take to help protect the program. Fairbanks-born Kristi Williams joined Murkowski’s staff last year to serve as an advisor on issues affecting ... http://native8aworks.com/articles/2012/01/murkowski-staffer-keeping-an-eye-on-8a/ [caption id="attachment_402" align="alignright" width="211" caption="NANA shareholders Sheila Hill and Lucy Boyd hold their Dartmouth diplomas after completing an intensive weeklong business course at the Ivy League college’s Tuck School of Business."][/caption] From Alaska to the Ivy League – that’s been the journey for NANA employees Lucy Boyd and Sheila Hill. Hill, NANA ... http://native8aworks.com/articles/2012/01/nana-employees-earn-ivy-league-diplomas/ [caption id="attachment_415" align="alignright" width="400" caption="Afognak and five other ANCs teamed up to offer leadership training to future Native business leaders."][/caption] Afognak Native Corporation teamed with five other Alaska Native corporations (ANCs) involved in 8(a) contracting to train 21 apprentices and interns to become future business leaders. The participants learned the difference between ... http://native8aworks.com/articles/2012/01/ancs-train-next-generation-of-leaders/ Jim Gray, executive director of the Native American Contractors Association, (NACA) has resigned to accept the position of Director of Communications/Government Relations to support the newly elected Chief of the Cherokee Nation, Bill Baker.  As noted earlier in this publication, NACA has appointed Sarah Lukin as the interim executive director. Lukin ... http://native8aworks.com/articles/2011/11/leadership-changes-at-naca/ [caption id="attachment_381" align="alignleft" width="65" caption="National 8(a) Association President Ron Perry"][/caption]The National 8(a) Association has received a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Small Business Teaming Pilot Program grant to help foster growth, education and opportunities for small businesses. Funded by the Small Business Jobs Act, which President Obama signed into law ... http://native8aworks.com/articles/2011/11/national-8a-association-receives-sba-pilot-program-grant/ [caption id="attachment_380" align="alignright" width="200" caption="TKC Global, a Qivliq company, is managing a worldwide consolidation of electronic communications for the U.S. Air Force, including building new servers at all 418 Air Force bases around the globe."][/caption] The U.S. Air Force (USAF) is undertaking a massive streamlining of its electronic communications with the ... http://native8aworks.com/articles/2011/11/tkc-global-executes-worlds-largest-it-server-consolidation-for-the-u-s-air-force/ [caption id="attachment_382" align="alignright" width="200" caption="Sarah Lukin"][/caption] Sarah Lukin, Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Afognak Native Corporation, addressed “all things Native 8(a)” at an October Fishnet Gathering in Anchorage. Fishnet Gatherings are informational meetings and webinars hosted by the Alaska Native Village CEO Association. As the former – and now Interim - ... http://native8aworks.com/articles/2011/11/lukin-we-are-always-going-to-be-a-target/