TULSA, Okla. — Five new companies are about to be under the Osage LLC umbrella.
As part of an emergency meeting April 15, the Osage LLC board of directors unanimously approved resolutions to establish Summit Global Support LLC, Summit Global Security LLC, Summit Telecom LLC, Summit Operations Support LLC and Summit Innovation Technology LLC.
Pending approval of the companies’ articles of incorporation by the Osage Nation’s Secretary of State, at least two of the new entities will participate in the Small Business Administration’s 8a loan and government contracting program.
“We received a recommendation from the SBA people to make the businesses names as non-descript and not have any references to the tribe,” Chairwoman Kay Bills said. “It’s sad, but I have to agree. The summit is the top of the line, which is where we want to be, hence the name.”
As part of its efforts to seek out government contracts and sub-contracts, the board also approved new procurement policies and announced the elimination of company credit cards. Instead, any purchases made by Osage LLC will be done using purchase cards, similar to government agencies.
“We are getting leaner and cleaner every day,” Bills said.
The emergency meeting was called on the heels of the Osage Congress’ Land, Gaming and Commerce Committee decision on April 12 to table current board member Mark Goad’s nomination to a three-year term. Goad’s nomination was not addressed before the Hun-Kah Session concluded on April 23. The emergency session was deemed necessary to push business through while a quorum was still guaranteed.
A native of Fairfax, Goad was seated on an interim basis in November after the resignation of former board member Patsy Stuke. Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear said he has already spoken with the new potential appointee and will announce him after he accepts the appointment.
Along with the formal approval of the five new companies, the board also greenlit moving Osage LLC’s finances from Bank of Oklahoma to Bank 2, a Chickasaw Nation-owned entity based out of Oklahoma City. The decision was made after Bank of Oklahoma representatives declined to work with Osage LLC to restructure the company’s account to better suit its needs and income level.
“BOK just would not work with us,” Osage LLC Executive Vice President Gina Gray said.
By
Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton
Original Publish Date: 2019-04-25 00:00:00
