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News & Events
October 14th, 2009
CNI Celebrates 40 Years of Business
It was 1969 in Adair County. Jobs were scarce and most families relied on seasonal employment. The economic outlook was bleak for the area, heavily populated with Cherokees. A group of business leaders, government officials and citizens set out to change the conditions in Adair County, and began discussing ways to bring economic prosperity and meaningful jobs into Stilwell.
“In the 1960’s, there weren’t many jobs to be had in Adair County, and former Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation W.W. Keeler and many others recognized the need for good jobs in Indian Country,” said Principal Chief Chad Smith. “Their vision has been realized through the creation and legacy of Cherokee Nation Industries, which now employs nearly 400 people in Adair County.”
A Vision
It was with this vision and ambition that Cherokee Nation Industries became the fulfillment of what was once only a dream. Four decades later, CNI has sustained the vision of its founders due to the expertise and strength of its leaders and the extraordinary commitment from its employees. With hard work, passion and tenacity, CNI creates jobs and contributes to economic growth in Adair County and beyond, positively impacting the State of Oklahoma and the Cherokee Nation.
“Cherokee Nation Industries is more than a business. It is more than just a brick building in Stilwell,” said Bryan Collins, CEO of Cherokee Nation Industries. “What CNI has become is proof that with opportunity, progress can be made even under the most dire circumstances,” said Collins.
Providing Jobs
For many residents of Stilwell, CNI represents more than a job. It is a community partner and an opportunity for meaningful employment. Employees can put in a full day’s work and still make it to the high school basketball game with family. Employment with CNI has enabled generations of Cherokee citizens to stay in Stilwell and provided them the means to support their families.
Lizzie DuVall, an employee for all of the company’s 40 years, chose to work at CNI for precisely that reason.
“By working at CNI, I could work close to home and be around for my family. My boys always had something going on and I couldn’t have been there for them if I worked somewhere else,” said DuVall.
CNI has empowered families with steady employment and professional growth. Within CNI, employees have the opportunity for upward mobility; many have gone from the assembly line to management.
“CNI has given me the opportunity to learn and grow,” said Betty Sue Scott, training manager, CNI. “I might have never been a manager at another company that didn’t care so much about its employees.”
Growth and Prosperity
CNI started operations in 1969 with a contract to manufacture components for Bell Telephone systems. From phone parts to the International Space Station, CNI has diversified its contracts. In 2009, NASA called on CNI when astronauts needed to repair the Hubble Telescope. As the work has evolved, so has the demand for skilled employees. CNI has grown from 13 employees in 1969 to more than 800 employees in 2009.
“In the past 40 years I have seen the type of production at CNI go from the old rotary switch telephones to cables for NASA,” said Felix Ross JR, production team leader, CNI.
The growth and prosperity of CNI is due, in large part, to the dedication and pride of the people who work there. DuVall’s devotion to her job dates back to that very first project. She says she remembers Western Electric showing a film to workers instructing them how to build the components for the Bell Telephone system. Over the years she has worked on many projects, but, for her, they are all equally significant.
“It’s important to do a good job because we all depend on each other,” said Duvall. “I have pride in my job. A lot of our work has been on parts for the military, and someone is depending on us to do the work right.”
That spirit of excellence is what has helped make CNI a nationally recognized manufacturer.
Building a Community
The rapid growth and remarkable success of CNI has helped fulfill the Cherokee Nation’s vision of building prosperous and financially independent communities. Stilwell is an example of the benefits of having a vision, working hard and using teamwork to achieve community goals. Like many Cherokees, DuVall recognizes the benefits of creating a sense of community in the workplace and beyond.
That sense of camaraderie among the employees at CNI has helped DuVall and her co-workers come to feel more like family than colleagues.
“We work together, laugh together and pray together. These people are my family. This is my home,” said Duvall.
CNI has provided many Cherokee families the option to stay together by providing quality jobs for several generations.
“Stilwell is our home. Our family is here. CNI provides us with a good job and we get to be near each other and our mother,” said brothers Brian Cheromiah and Brad Cheromiah, production associates, CNI.
CNI’s success is the direct result of cooperation, tireless effort and a desire for progress of its employees.
“Cherokee Nation Industries is something all Cherokees can be proud of. CNI has been dedicated to providing employment for local Cherokees since before we landed on the moon, and now we build parts for the space station. And we do it all locally, providing local jobs, helping Cherokee communities stay strong,” said Chad Smith.
Today, as CNI celebrates its fortieth anniversary, both employees and community members can celebrate these achievements on behalf of their families, future generations, the Cherokee Nation and the State of Oklahoma.
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