Caddo Nation Economic Development Authority (CNEDA)
ABOUT CNEDA
The Caddo Nation Economic Development Authority (CNEDA) was created by the Tribal Council in late 2022 to help grow the Nation’s economy by building the foundation for long-term growth. CNEDA began operation in 2023. After several planning meetings, tribal leaders realized that lasting economic progress would require building strong businesses through planning rather than focusing on short-term gains and identified areas that would have an easy on-ramp for its enterprise development and could service growing needs of the Caddo Nation itself first and foremost. In just 2.5 years, CNEDA has built a portfolio of companies that are poised for growth.
CNEDA was set up as a tribal instrumentality and chartered by the tribal Council under tribal law—this means it is wholly owned by the Nation, but operates like a modern business holding company. CNEDA has a five-member boardand includes the Tribal Chairman and Kelly Factor serves as the ex-officio member of board to bring representation of the Tribal Council. The Board’s role is to support and oversee a group of tribally owned businesses, called subsidiaries, and is support by CNEDA Chief Operations Officer Roberta Carson.
Each Business Under CNEDA:
- Is created under tribal law and operated pursuant to Articles of Operation
- Has its own management, bank account, and tax ID number
- Manager-Managed similar to state-registered LLC
- Wholly owned by CNEDA, its parent company.
- All benefits flow to the Caddo Nation
One of these businesses is a start-up Shared Services Company called Wistsi Shared Services, which will handle back-office tasks—like accounting, HR, and payroll—for all the others, so they can focus on growing.
The purpose of CNEDA is not quick profit. It’s about building the foundation for long-term economic success. This includes:
- Supporting the Nation’s taxation programs
- Developing energy and infrastructure projects for the nation
- Keeping more of the Nation’s dollars circulating in Caddo hands
- Helping implement the Caddo Nation Resiliency Plan
CNEDA, and its subsidiaries, are set up to conform to the best practices in Indian Country for economic development, separating enterprise from tribal politics and functioning like private businesses and emphasizing sustainable and culturally appropriate strategies. This includes a diversified portfolio.
CNEDA is led by experts in tribal government, finance, energy, and Indian law. Together, they are working to build a stronger future for the Caddo people—one that honors our sovereignty and supports generations to come.
To get these start-ups off the ground, Tribal Chairmen Bobby Gonzalez and Vice-chairmen Zackeree Kelin stepped up to fill the role of initial managers for the companies.
Within just 2.5 years of starting operations, CNEDA has also built an impressive portfolio of grant opportunities to study and plan for energy sovereignty. These are highlighted below.
This also allowed to focus on the local economy and through the purchasing and operation of the tribe’s retail division—George’s, Mckees, and C-stores. CNEDA has been enlisted to help grow revenues from those endeavors.
WHY CNEDA?
The Caddo Nation is a proud and strong tribal nation with a long history. Like any community, the Caddo people want good jobs, better homes, strong businesses, and more opportunities for the future. That’s where the Caddo Nation Economic Development Authority, or CNEDA, comes in.
Think of CNEDA like the business team for the Caddo Nation.
In just 2.5 years since beginning operations in 2023, the Caddo Nation Economic Development Authority (CNEDA) has transformed from concept to a growing business holding company with multiple successful enterprises, millions in grant funding, and groundbreaking energy sovereignty initiatives. Despite starting with limited resources and no federal contracts, CNEDA has built a diversified portfolio that serves the Nation first while creating sustainable revenue streams.
Why Does CNEDA Matter?
1. It Helps Grow Tribal Businesses
CNEDA helps the Caddo Nation build and run businesses—like stores, construction companies, and solar energy projects. These businesses create jobs and bring in money that helps the tribe.
2. It Moves Quickly and Stays Focused
While the Tribal Council takes care of many things (like health, housing, and elders), CNEDA focuses only on building the economy. That way, business decisions can happen faster and with help from experts.
3. It Brings in Experts
CNEDA works with business leaders, lawyers, engineers, and financial experts who help the tribe build big projects the right way—like child care centers, roads, and community spaces.
4. It Keeps the Tribe Safe
If something goes wrong in a business project, CNEDA—not the whole tribe—takes the risk. That protects tribal programs like housing, education, and health care.
5. It Builds the Future
Every time CNEDA helps launch a new project or company, it's investing in the future of the Caddo people. That means more jobs, more income, and more opportunities for young Caddo citizens—maybe even you someday.
CNEDA's Porfolio of Companies
How the Caddo Nation Is Building Its Future
Just a few years ago, the Caddo Nation faced a big question: How do we create jobs, businesses, and a stronger economy without a big pile of money to start with?
The answer came through something powerful—but quiet. It wasn’t a huge construction project or a big announcement. It was a plan. A smart one. One that would turn limited dollars, especially from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), into something much bigger.
That plan became the Caddo Nation Economic Development Authority, or CNEDA.
A New Path Forward
CNEDA started in 2023 with a simple idea: instead of chasing quick wins, let’s build a real future. That meant creating businesses not just to make money fast—but to last. CNEDA’s job? To run and grow companies that serve the tribe first, create jobs for Caddo people, and build up local business power that stays in Caddo hands.
From Small Seeds to Strong Roots
Even with limited funding, CNEDA made those early ARPA dollars count. The money didn’t go to waste—it went to work. It helped launch things like:
- Arrowood Kakinah Enterprise - a Tribally-owned general contracting firm specializing in tribal and government infrastructure, commercial project management, and workforce development.
- Wistsi Shared Services – A company that handles back-office jobs like accounting and payroll, so other Caddo-owned businesses can focus on growth.
- Caddo Industries Enterprise – A supplier working to win government contracts.
- CIFS (Clean Energy Power) – A company helping the tribe explore energy and land opportunities.
- SAKU - A renewable energy company, providing solar and wind energy feasibility studies to project development implementation and installations.
These were not just ideas—they were real businesses with their own bank accounts, leaders, and missions. Each one is 100% owned by CNEDA, and everything they earn goes back to help the Caddo Nation.
Building Today for A Better Tomorrow
Arrowood Kakinah Enterprise (AKE) is a Tribally-owned general contracting firm specializing in tribal and government infrastructure, commercial project management, and workforce development. With a deep understanding of the unique needs of tribal governments, AKE delivers culturally relevant, sustainable infrastructure solutions while empowering local communities through job creation and skill development.
Mission
"Building Today for A Better Tomorrow” captures Arrowood Kakinah Enterprise’s dedication to innovation and community empowerment through superior construction and strategic planning.Our mission is to strengthen communities by providing high-quality construction services. This mission emphasizes our focus on safety, efficiency, and dynamic project execution.We tackle critical construction challenges by promoting collaborative methods tailored to our markets to deliver projects on time and within budget. We are committed to aligning ourselves to the stakeholders’ vision while improving communities and growing revenue and capacity.
To Build Something Strong
Arrowood Kakinah Enterprise was established in April 2023 to meet the increasing demand for dependable, high-quality construction services supporting the growth of the Caddo Nation and other tribal governments. The word “Kakinah”means“to build something strong,” reflectingthe company’s mission and guiding philosophy.
Caddo Nation Childcare Center
Since its founding, the company has achieved several significant milestones. In May 2023, it secured acontract to build the Caddo Nation Child Care Center. By August, it was awarded a $3.4 million contract for a significant Caddo County road project. The following month, it successfully completed an Anadarko restoration project, demonstrating its ability to deliver on time and within scope. Most recently, Arrowood Kakinah Enterprise secured a contract to develop a tribal fusion center, a critical infrastructure initiative. These accomplishments underscore the company’s strategic focus on forging strong partnerships and delivering high-impact projects that meet the evolving needs of tribal and local communities.
Cummins Road Project
One of the most significant achievementsin Arrowood's young history is the Cummins Road project, a $3.4 million endeavor that highlights the power of inter-tribal cooperation and effective government-to-government relations. Cummins Road, while a county road, falls withintribal jurisdiction. The Caddo Nation, recognizing its importance, especially given the planned construction of the Child Care Community Center nearby, prioritized its renovation. "We were able to work with the county commissioners and make that a priority," Gonzales explains.
The project became even more impactful when the Wichita Affiliated Tribes approached the Caddo Nation about cost-sharing. "We share the road together," Chairmen Gonzales notes. "The idea was to cost-share the road. So the Caddo Nation, through federal highways, was able to capture 50%of the money that went toward the road, and the Wichita captured 50% of the money." This collaborative approach not only made the project financially feasible but also strengthened inter-tribal relations.
The road improvement will benefit both tribes, supporting the Caddo Nation's new childcare center and critical infrastructure of Wichita tribe, including its planned hotel and housing developments. Arrowood was able to secure the necessary bond, secure the project through Caddo County’s competitive bid process, and engage and collaborate with all stakeholders to deliver this critical infrastructure.
Notable Projects:
- $10.5M Tribal Sole Source Award (May 2023)
- $3.4M Caddo County Road Contract (August 2023)
- Caddo Nation Child Care Center construction
- Award-winning design collaboration with MASS Design
Focus
Government and private sector contracting
Status
Pursuing 8(a) certification for federal contract opportunities. Caddo Industries Enterprise is set up to provide supplies to govenerment and private sector.
Strategy
Building on tribal contracting advantages to compete for federal awards
Mission
(CIFS) Leading the tribe's energy resource development scoping and land development
Activities
- Energy grid mapping and analysis
- Solar project development and implementation
- Oil and gas monitoring and compliance
- Tribal Utility Authority feasibility studies
Strategy
Building on tribal contracting advantages to compete for federal awards
A New Path Forward
CNEDA started in 2023 with a simple idea: instead of chasing quick wins, let’s build a real future. That meant creating businesses not just to make money fast—but to last. CNEDA’s job? To run and grow companies that serve the tribe first, create jobs for Caddo people, and build up local business power that stays in Caddo hands.
Smart Growth, Not Fast Growth
CNEDA didn’t try to do everything at once. Instead, they built a foundation. That foundation includes smart energy planning, better control over tribal lands, and new rules to tax and track what happens on Caddo land.
They even helped pass new laws like a Severance Tax Code and an Orphan Well Act—policies that protect the land and bring in new money from oil and gas companies.
One major focus? Energy Sovereignty. That means making sure the Caddo Nation can control and benefit from the energy that flows through its land—whether that’s oil, gas, wind, or solar.
Making Big Ideas Real
Because of CNEDA’s planning, the Caddo Nation has been able to:
- Launch rooftop solar projects at the Caddo Childcare Center and Caddo Travel Plaza
- Begin plugging dangerous old oil wells that were left abandoned
- Hold meetings with other tribes and energy experts at OU, right on ancestral lands
- Map the energy grid and start planning a Tribal Utility Authority that could one day power Caddo homes and businesses
The Warrior Theater
Formerly known as the Redskin Theater in Anadarko, OK
Most recently, the Caddo Nation acquired an icon. The historic Redskin Theater located in Anadarko, Oklahoma is now under Caddo Nation ownership. It is currently undergoing architectural assement and then will be renovated and re-opened with new branding as the Warrior Theater to shed the skin of a sterotypical name and to align with the local school mascots and reflect instead the strong presence of Native nations in the Anadarko area.
Retail Division
McKee's Indian Store
George's Department Store
George's Department Store
George's Department Store
George's Department Store
George's Department Store
Binger Caddo Travel Plaza
Gracemont Caddo Travel Plaza
Gracemont Caddo Travel Plaza
Gracemont Caddo Travel Plaza
Gracemont Caddo Travel Plaza
Gracemont Caddo Travel Plaza
Making Big Ideas Real
Because of CNEDA’s planning, the Caddo Nation has been able to:
- Launch rooftop solar projects at the Caddo Childcare Center and Caddo Travel Plaza
- Begin plugging dangerous old oil wells that were left abandoned
- Hold meetings with other tribes and energy experts at OU, right on ancestral lands
- Map the energy grid and start planning a Tribal Utility Authority that could one day power Caddo homes and businesses
Smart Growth, Not Fast Growth
CNEDA didn’t try to do everything at once. Instead, they built a foundation. That foundation includes smart energy planning, better control over tribal lands, and new rules to tax and track what happens on Caddo land.
They even helped pass new laws like a Severance Tax Code and an Orphan Well Act—policies that protect the land and bring in new money from oil and gas companies.
One major focus? Energy Sovereignty. That means making sure the Caddo Nation can control and benefit from the energy that flows through its land—whether that’s oil, gas, wind, or solar.
What's Next
Today, the Caddo Nation is just getting started. But the pieces are in place. CNEDA has helped the Nation:
- Launch a retail division (McKee’s, George’s, and Caddo C-Stores)
- Start a workforce plan (477 Plan) that includes energy jobs
- Bring in millions in grant funding for projects that protect the land and power the Nation
All of it began with a vision—and some well-managed ARPA dollars.
A Story Still Being Written
What makes CNEDA special isn’t just the projects. It’s the idea that economic sovereignty—owning and shaping your own economy—is possible, even with modest resources, if you plan carefully, build smart, and keep your values at the center.
And now, with companies growing, projects advancing, and partnerships strengthening, the Caddo Nation is poised for a new chapter—one where its people are the builders, the owners, and the future.
Milestones and Success:
What makes CNEDA special isn’t just the projects. It’s the idea that economic sovereignty—owning and shaping your own economy—is possible, even with modest resources, if you plan carefully, build smart, and keep your values at the center.
And now, with companies growing, projects advancing, and partnerships strengthening, the Caddo Nation is poised for a new chapter—one where its people are the builders, the owners, and the future.
Industry Recognition and Awards
Arrowood Kakinah Enterprise Recognition
Arrowood Kakinah Enterprise Recognition
Arrowood Kakinah Enterprise Recognition
- Architect Magazine: "How Architecture Can Learn from Native America" (2024)
- AIA Santa Fe: Concept Innovation Award 2023
- AIA New Mexico: Unbuilt Design Award 2023
Mia General Contracting Achievements
Arrowood Kakinah Enterprise Recognition
Arrowood Kakinah Enterprise Recognition
- SBA Certifications: 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, ISBEE certified
- Bonding Capacity: $25M single project, $40M aggregate
- Awards: 2022 Client of the Year, 2017 Rising Star Firm
CNEDA Leadership Recognition
Arrowood Kakinah Enterprise Recognition
CNEDA Leadership Recognition
- Chairman Bobby Gonzalez: Department of Energy Fossil Energy and Carbon Management Tribal Working Group appointment
- Vice Chairman Zackeree Kelin: Native American "40 under 40" award recipient
- Joel Smith: Native American "40 under 40" award recipient
Milestones and Success
2nd Annual Native Energy Symposium
2nd Annual Native Energy Symposium. The symposium, hosted by the Caddo Nation, SAKU, and the University of Oklahoma's RANGE project team, ICAST, and Native Nations Center brought together 36 tribal nations from Oklahoma and surrounding states. This important relationship with the University of Oklahoma is opening opportunities for the tribe, leading to engagement with funders and change makers in Indian Country, and is a community service. As you may or may not know, the University sits on the lands of our ancestors, is a vital educational pipeline for our people, and close to one of the largest Caddo population centers. Being visible in this space is a critical local involvement, an exercise of our sovereign power to convene, and is a critical component developing our energy sovereignty. The second annual symposium will be held October 2 and 3rd at the Sam Noble Museum. Last year’s attendees and speakers included representatives and tribal leaders from tribes all over the state, the Department of Energy, significant industry participation, and leading researchers from OU in the energy space. We expect another great symposium this year.
By passing and implementing the 2024 Oil & Gas Severance Tax Code, the Nation has collected well over a $1 million from operators on our lands. After helping draft the Code, with the leadership and expertise of Chairmen Gonzalez, the tribal attorney, Tax Administrator, energy experts, myself and others, a reliable regime to notify, monitor, verify, and collect from producers producing on our lands in which we hold an interest. We have also monitored production opportunities for members, which is reflected in the recent lease sale that generated millions of dollars in bonuses for the Caddo Allottees and bonus opportunities for the tribe itself. Taxing, monitoring, and evaluating production on our lands is yet another example of energy sovereignty in action producing results for our membership and the tribe.
• Formal and Biweekly meetings with Anadarko Agency, Division of Energy Mineral Development (DEMD), and Indian Energy Service Center: A great deal of complexity has been created around Nation’s reality holdings due to our shared history with the Wichita and Delaware tribes, with an extra dose of complexity resulting from extensive fractionation of our lands through allotment and probate and the lack of monitoring by previous Caddo administrations. Chairmen Gonzalez, along with CNEDA and our strategic partners, and Tax Administrator, have now established productive relationships with these federal partners by continuous engagements and worked methodically, cooperatively, and directly to obtain the Tribe’s land and encumbrance data. In turn, this has allowed us to start mapping the energy infrastructure and opportunities across our lands, and we have begun to digitize our realty records. These efforts are an on-going, critical step in exercising energy sovereignty, and laying a foundation to bring the realty functions in-house. The partnership and hard work with DEMD and the local agency is a strong example critical relationship and capacity building, and DEMD is holding Caddo up as an example for other tribes pursuing energy sovereignty. This is in addition to all the work leadership is doing on intertribal, state, and national levels to protect and expand our funding opportunities in the energy space.
• Oil and Gas Well Plugging, Remediation, and Reclamation Act:
The Caddo Nation’s Indian country jurisdiction is the location of numerous idled, abandoned, and orphaned oil and gas wells, as well as injection wells and water disposal wells. These wells potentially pose a threat to Tribal lands and natural resources, as well as to the public health and safety, if they are not plugged, and if the sites are not reclaimed and remediated, in accordance with recognized standards. This problem has been present in Caddo Indian Country but unaddressed essentially since production began in the Anadarko basin. We do not know of any previous efforts by any previous Caddo administrations to tackle this, until now.
This legislation was therefore necessary to ensure that abandoned and orphaned wells are plugged in compliance with established standards and health and safety regulations so as to protect Tribal lands and resources, to ensure financial responsibility for lease site remediation while allowing for flexibility with operators who demonstrate responsible environmental practices, to ensure transparency and accountability, and to establish reasonable consequences for non‐compliance. This legislation is the result of the Orphan Well Development Grant and was created through CNEDA’s efforts and collaboration with the tribal attorney and leadership with the support and engagement of tribal leadership and staff.
The HEARTH Act Leasing Code, which allows for the agricultural, business, residential, wind and solar resource (WSR), or wind energy evaluation leases (WEEL) as well as public, religious, cultural, educational, and recreational leasing by the Caddo Nation of its own lands without secretarial approval and is critical step in self-determination and building capacity within the tribe. The Code will next go through the BIA approval process, but it too is an important expression of sovereignty, particularly energy sovereignty, being implemented with the support of tribal leadership and CNEDA.
• The Caddo Nation 477 Plan: A Tribal 477 Plan is a federally authorized framework that allows tribal governments to consolidate funding from multiple federal programs related to employment, training, education, and childcare into a single, integrated plan. Authorized under Public Law 102-477, this approach gives tribes greater flexibility to design and administer services in a way that aligns with local priorities, streamlines reporting requirements, allows for waivers of grant limitations, reduces administrative burdens, and promotes holistic support for Caddo individuals and families. It further allows us to get out of a grant models based on reimbursement and draw down funds at the award date, which in turn allows us to reinvest the interest into the program.
At the direction of Chairmen Gonzalez, CNEDA along with Tribal Administrator Travis Threlkeld, and Grants Manager (she wears other hats too) Polly Edwards obtained a planning grant from the BIA to draft the 477 plan. The initial draft has been created and will be submitted to various funding agencies once finalized. It represents yet another meaningful and wonderful example of “policy or infrastructure changes have been made at the local level to reflect energy sovereignty priorities.”
The Caddo Nation will be among the first tribes, if not the first, to include energy-related grants and energy sovereignty in such a plan. This groundbreaking plan is designed to reduce red tape while promoting employment and training opportunities. It is an expression of our sovereignty generally, and our energy sovereignty specifically. It is a historic step for the tribe, which should be celebrated.
Native American Energy in Transition: Old Problems and New Challenges in Indian Country
A Tribal Nation Symposium on Tribal Energy Projects, Opportunities, and Research hosted by the Caddo Nation, SAKU, CNEDA, OU Native Nations Center, ICAST, NSF RANGE Project at the Sam Noble Museum of Natural History, Norman, Oklahoma on October 2-3, 2025.
Energy Sovereignty
A talented team with Industry Expertise
Our energy grants are being overseen, managed, and implemented by a team of qualified individuals, with CNEDA, our tribal enterprises and strategic partners as contractors with specialized expertise. In addition to incorporating some existing tribal programs and leadership (e.g., tribal THPO), our team includes:
Zackeree Kelin
is the TEDC tribal project manager and is the Vice President of the Caddo Nation Economic Development Authority (CNEDA). I has experience in managing projects efficiently and cost-effectively, and by credentials include a Juris Doctorate with litigation experience in environmental and energy law and rights-of-way in Indian Country.
J.C. Whorton
is a faculty member at the University of Colorado School of Business and CEO of the Empire Petroleum Corporation. He has over 45 years of experience in natural resource development, financial and enterprise risk management that he will bring to the projects.
Helen El Mallakh
has thirty years of experience in energy, sustainability and clean tech, economic development, and political risk management. She has worked in the external affairs groups of major energy companies including ConocoPhillips, Shell, and Aramco. Ms. El Mallakh also serves as the Managing Director and Co-Chair of an energy consulting and research non-profit (ICEED) and is the Managing Editor of The Journal of Energy and Development. Her areas of expertise are project finance, risk assessment, communications, and stakeholder engagement.
Jim Clancy
He has over 40 years of experience in regulated utilities, independent power producers, midstream gas and international power sectors. Jim has focused on corporate financial planning, mergers and acquisitions, investment analysis and asset management. Jim has primarily worked on development of gas generation, hydroelectric power and wind generation projects.
M. Sean Murphy
is a director of EnDev Resources which focuses on developing sustainable and innovative energy solutions with an emphasis on serving Native American Tribal 11
stakeholders. He has extensive experience as an investment banker, fund manager, and energy executive.
Joel Laubenstein
Principal with Baker Tilly US, LLP’s Development & Community Advisory (DCA) team, has been with the firm since 2008. Prior to joining Baker Tilly, Joel served as a Project Manager for a privately held renewable energy project developer, where he was responsible for technology transfer, site selection, contract negotiation, and capital structuring and acquisition.
Joel specializes in the management of client renewable energy initiatives and serves as the firm’s tribal services practice leader. He provides support in technology due diligence, project feasibility analysis, financial modeling, contract structuring and negotiation, and debt and equity procurement.
Benjamin Tracy
has more than 10 years of experience in the energy and infrastructure field, with a demonstrated history of working internationally and domestically including in the not-for-profit industry. As a senior analyst, he understands federal, state and local policy and regulatory issues. He implements effective strategies to uncover development funding and new market business opportunities. In addition to creating databases, his project management skills enable him to efficiently analyze geospatial data and develop mapping products for clients
Mark Warnick
Senior consultant with Baker Tilly and has extensive experience working with renewable energy systems and not-for-profit and small business clients. Prior to working at Baker Tilly, Mark worked at an employee-owned bookkeeping firm where he performed tax and bookkeeping services for not-for-profit entities and individuals. He has also served as a site assessor, mentor, and instructor for a renewable energy association.
Magan Beglar
Holds a degree in finance and Energy Business and Finance with expertise in energy commodity production computations, oil and gas revenue cycle, project management, upstream, midstream, and downstream flow, and has special expertise in Caddo Nation land holdings.
James “Jim” Yockey
Consultant with broad experience and expertise in the energy industry, IT industry, and financial markets. He brings to his clients a combination of incisive research and analytical skills with a high aptitude for innovative problem solving and process improvement in diverse cultural contexts. Jim has proven success in project development, project finance, infrastructure development and software and systems development.
Note: Baker Tilly has an impressive roster of other good folks that are also participating both in substance and compliance work.