"the People's Paths!" Cherokee News Path - Cherokee Nation's TERO Program

"Larry Ketcher, director of Employment/Jobs Programs for the CN, accepts congratulations from Chief Chad Smith on behalf of the TERO staff, for receiving "TERO Program
of the Year Award".

TAHLEQUAH, OK - The Cherokee Nation’s Tribal Employment Rights Program (TERO) was recently awarded the “TERO Program of the Year Award” at the 30th Annual TERO Conference in New York.

“The Cherokee Nation is very proud of our TERO Program and the work that they do for our government and the businesses that we work with,” said Chad Smith Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. “It is wonderful to see this department recognized for their hard work and dedication.”

The Cherokee Nation TERO staff works to ensure compliance of Indian Preference requirements by contractors, sub-contractors, vendors, suppliers and other individuals doing business with the Cherokee Nation.

The TERO staff monitors projects of the Cherokee Nation, the Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation, Cherokee Nation Enterprises (CNE) and Cherokee Nation Industries (CNI). TERO staff members attend weekly bid meetings, bid openings, and bid pre-activity for projects on the Cherokee Nation and Cherokee Nation businesses to ensure contractors bidding on the assignments are TERO certified. They provide assistance in filling job vacancies with Native Americans for contractors to assist with Indian Preference requirements which result in direct placements of employment for local Native Americans.

“The TERO Program helps to establish the financial success of businesses owned by Native Americans,” said Smith. “This is a wonderful tool to ensure the financial stability among our Cherokee citizens and other individuals of Native American decent. I congratulate the TERO Program for their achievement.”