National Center Board Chairman Derrick Watchman to Testify at Senate Indian Affairs Committee Hearing

WASHINGTON – The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development’s (National Center) Chairman Derrick Watchman will testify at a June 17th Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearing. The hearing will take place during the upcoming Reservation Economic Summit DC (RES DC), occurring at the Omni Shoreham Hotel from June 15th-18th. Mr. Watchman, who serves as President and CEO of the Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise, will use his expertise in banking and finance to discuss the challenges tribes and Native American business owners face, and how they can overcome barriers to capital. The hearing will be streamed lived to RES DC participants.

“The National Center is pleased Chairman Watchman will be able to shed light on the challenges Native businesses face to the people who craft national policy,” said National Center President and CEO Gary Davis. “The hearing is one of many informative events that will take place during RES DC, and another great way to make sure our voices are heard in the nation’s capital. Leaders like Chairman Watchman are invaluable for ensuring that we enter a new day for economic development in Indian Country.”

Prior to his current position, Mr. Watchman served as Vice President and Senior Relationship Manager at JP Morgan Chase Bank’s Native American Banking Group. He provided tribal financial and banking services, including structuring over $500 million in tribal credit transactions and treasury services. He also worked at Wells Fargo Bank handling Native American banking and financing and with Prudential Capital Corporation as a private placement banker.

The hearing is just one of several Capitol Hill events that will take place during RES DC. On Tuesday, June 16th, the National Center will host a New Day Now (NDN) rally in front of the Capitol, designed to affirm and advance economic development in Indian Country. Following the rally, the National Center will take part in two separate Congressional breakout sessions on the Hill. These include a Listening Session on the implementation of the Buy Indian Act and Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, as well as a legislative update from several Members of Congress of both parties (full list available on latest RES agenda). The National Center will also host a reception in the Hart Senate Office Building.

These Capitol Hill events are in addition to the informative sessions and events occurring all week at RES DC. These include networking opportunities with high-level government officials, tribal government and business leaders, corporations both large and small, exciting and informative sessions on a wide variety of topics, and much more. RES DC will also feature an Interactive Access to Capital Fair and the Buy Native Procurement Expo, and an opening day session to overview the new Native Edge online business development platform and give conference users a chance to sign up for the innovative online platform.

For an up-to-date agenda, please click here.

– About the National Center: The National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. With over 40 years of assisting American Indian Tribes and their enterprises with business and economic development – we have evolved into the largest national Indian specific business organization in the nation. Our motto is: “We Mean Business For Indian Country” as we are actively engaged in helping Tribal Nations and Native business people realize their business goals and are dedicated to putting the whole of Indian Country to work to better the lives of American Indian people- both now… and for generations to come.