Cherokee Nation Distributors recognized as a top supplier.

Staff reports

STILWELL, Okla. – Cherokee Nation Industries’ distribution arm, Cherokee Nation Distributors, has been named the top minority supplier by one of the nation’s largest manufacturing companies, United Technologies Corp.

”Out of more than 1,000 minority suppliers, UTC picked us as their one-and-only minority supplier of the year,” said Bryan Collins, CEO of CNI. ”That’s an amazing testimony to the quality of work we do right here in Stilwell, Oklahoma.”

CND is working on a contract for UTC business unit Sikorsky, a world leader in helicopter manufacturing. In September 2006, CND was awarded a $22 million, six-year contract for materials management, fabrication and testing of helicopter harnesses in support of Sikorsky’s Naval Hawk program. CND manufactures complex interconnection wire harnesses that provide electrical power to the control signals and most of a helicopter’s electronics. CND’s products have to meet high standards because they are key parts of MH-60S military helicopters, which are widely used by the U.S. Navy.

”Our employees understand that lives are on the line when our products go out in the field, and that is reflected in the quality of their work,” Collins said. ”Earning this award confirms the dedication of our employees to producing high-quality products.”

UTC honored CND at UTC’s Minority Business Exchange, where more than 300 suppliers and UTC buyers gathered to discuss partnering opportunities, saying that CND’s work ”represents a significant cost savings to Sikorsky and is the most successful wire harness outsource to date,” said Anand Stanley, the host of UTC’s Minority Business Exchange.

”We are so pleased to be recognized as Minority Supplier of the Year by a company like UTC,” Collins said. ”UTC earns more than $50 billion in revenue and they are spending more than $300 million with minority businesses, such as CND.”

UTC, based in Hartford, Conn., is a diversified company that provides a broad range of high technology products and support services to the building systems and aerospace industries. For more information, visit www.utc.com.

CNI and its affiliated companies are wholly-owned by the Cherokee Nation. CNI was established in 1969 to serve as the economic and workforce arm for the Cherokee Nation. This tribal corporation specializes in aerospace and defense manufacturing, telecommunications, construction, distribution and personnel services. For more information on Cherokee Nation Industries, visit www.cherokee-corp.com.