OUR MISSION
To create or acquire profitable and sustainable businesses and investments that provide substantial opportunities for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
KITUWAH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BOARD
With over ten advanced degrees in law, economics, business management, operations, accounting, and investments, combined with a collective 100 plus years of experience in gaming, tribal economic development, Indian law, accounting, ethics and justice, hospitality, real estate development, and operations, the Board is well rounded with a variety of skill sets and experiences.
Chrissy Arch. Chrissy is an EBCI tribal member, will serve a term ending on Sept. 30, 2027. Since April 2012, she has served as the chief operating officer for the Cherokee Indian Hospital. Previously, she ran her own business, Plan Ahead Events, and served as the chief financial officer for the hospital from January 2005 to April 2012 and worked as an accounting manager for the Tribe from May 1996 to June 2002. Arch holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, Accounting from Western Carolina University.
Adam West. Adam is an EBCI tribal member, will serve a term ending on Sept. 30, 2023. Having worked at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort since it opened in 1997, he is currently the vice president of operations. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Law and a Master of Business Administration degree from Western Carolina University.
Samuel T. Owl Jr. Sam is an EBCI tribal member, will serve a term ending on Sept. 30, 2026. A Certified Public Accountant (CPA), he served as the chief financial officer of the National Congress of American Indians from May 2009 to August 2017. In addition to being a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA), he holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a Master of Accountancy, Accounting and Business Management degree, both from the University of Tennessee – Knoxville.
Stacy Leeds. Stacy is a Cherokee Nation citizen, will serve a term ending on Sept. 30, 2025. Stacy was employed with the University of Arkansas from 2011 to 2022 where she served as the dean and professor of law and interim vice chancellor for economic development. She now serves as the Dean at the Sandra Day O'Conner College of Law at Arizona State University. Highly educated, Leeds holds the following degrees: Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Washington University, a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from the University of Tulsa College of Law, a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Tennessee – Knoxville, and a Master of Laws (LLM) degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School.
Lance Morgan Lance, a member of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska, will serve a term ending on Sept. 30, 2024. For the past 23 years, he has served as president and chief executive officer of Ho-Chunk, Inc. Also, for the past 12 years, he has served as an adjunct professor of law at Arizona State University. Morgan received a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln in 1990 and then graduated from Harvard Law School in 1993.
OUR TRIBE
Cherokee is a sovereign nation, meaning it has its own laws, elections, government, institutions, and the like. Though it certainly has relationships with the United States federal government and the North Carolina state government that are vitally important, students and the general population may be interested to know that the Cherokees are self-governed and autonomous
Learn more about EBCI: HERE