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David Stewart, Cherokee Nation Industries, CEO

STILWELL, OKLAHOMA - Cherokee Nation Industries, Inc.’s board of directors named David Stewart president and chief executive officer at its October monthly board meeting.

Stewart, who has filled the president and CEO positions on an interim basis since August 1, has more than 20 years of executive management experience, most recently serving as president and chief operating officer for Tulsa-based Sunbelt Fire Protection, Inc.

"I appreciate the confidence CNI’s board of directors has in me", Stewart said. While he was serving in the interim-president’s position, CNI reached a $6.5 million agreement with Tulsa-based defense contractor Westwood/MCII to manufacture Tactically Quiet Generator’s, (TQG’s) for military use, and the company received HUBZone status. During the first 60 days of his tenure as interim president, CNI’s workforce grew by 2.2 percent generating an overall impact of $1 million to the nation’s economy.

"We are proud to be expanding our workforce in light of so many recently announced layoffs", Stewart said. "This is great news for the Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma and our country."

Stewart's vision for CNI is to be the premier supplier to all of its customers. "Our customers' products are built with the integrity that comes from the heart of The Cherokee Nation: The Cherokee People", he said. "Leaders in the defense contracting industry such as Boeing, NASA and Lockheed Martin have used CNI products for the Stealth F-117 Fighter, the International Space Station, AWACS aircraft, MLRS rocket systems and Boeing 747 and 757 aircraft. I see CNI becoming their premier wire harness, cable assembly and electronic component assembly supplier."

"We are also looking at ways we can grow our existing telecommunications business with Southwestern Bell and WorldCom", said Stewart.

In addition to increasing the company's current manufacturing capabilities, Stewart envisions CNI taking a leadership role to help clean up the environment. "We are currently looking to expand into environmental services and products", he said. "Our 'green' operations will begin within the 14-county Cherokee Nation area in northeast Oklahoma, but will have global expansion capability."

David Stewart is a certified public accountant and earned his Masters of Science degree in Business form Oklahoma State University. Stewart is married with two children and is a Cherokee Nation tribal member.

Cherokee Nation Cherokee Nation Industries, Inc., a tribally owned corporation of the Cherokee Nation, OK headquartered in Stilwell, Oklahoma, is comprised of a distribution, medical services and telecommunications divisions and a cable and wire harness manufacturing facility. CNI was incorporated in 1969 to serve as the economic and workforce development arm for the tribe. The company has 365 employees worldwide and over 30 years contracting and distribution experience in the aerospace, defense and telecommunication industries.