Wednesday, April 12, 2023
Media Contact:
Bailey Stacy | Communications Coordinator, Marketing & Communications | 405-744-2700 | [email protected]
The Center for Legal Studies and Business Ethics (CLSBE) at Oklahoma State University’s
Spears School of Business and OSU’s Center for Sovereign Nations (CSN) will cohost
“Conversations on Ethical Leadership” at the Student Union Theater at 3 p.m., April
25, on the Stillwater campus.
Chuck Garrett, CEO of Cherokee Nation Businesses; Robyn Elliott, secretary of communications
and community development at the Chickasaw Nation; and Teresa Jackson, senior executive
officer of Choctaw Nation Tribal Services, will be the featured speakers. They will
be joined by Dr. Marc Tower, assistant dean for innovative education and growth in
the Spears School of Business, in a discussion about what it means to be a leader.
The event is free and students and the public are invited to attend.
“The Center for Legal Studies and Business Ethics is pleased to combine our center’s
Conversations on Ethical Leadership speaker’s series with the CSN’s Sovereignty Speaks
series,” said Laurie Lucas, director of the CLSBE. “The conversations series was designed
to provide Spears students with the opportunity to engage in conversation with business
leaders in our state about the importance of business ethics and this dovetails perfectly
with the CSN’s mission to provide opportunities for students to learn from government
leaders, given that our panelists each hold key leadership positions in their respective
tribal nations. We were excited when the CSN agreed to cohost this event with the
CLSBE and leverage our strengths for the benefit of all OSU students.”
Garrett has more than 25 years of experience in the legal, gaming and commercial real
estate industries, holding senior management roles at several large corporations.
In 2013, he joined Cherokee Nation Business and was promoted to executive vice president
in 2015. As Cherokee Nation Businesses’ chief executive officer, Garrett works with
the board of directors to set the vision, direction and strategy for the company.
Elliott, through her role as the secretary of communications and community development,
strives to promote cultural pride among Chickasaw people by sharing timely and important
information with the world through various media outlets.
Jackson oversees member and health services programs, which ranges from membership
and social services to health clinics and wellness centers at the Choctaw Nation Tribal
Services.
“Aligned with President Shrum’s vision of OSU as the premier land-grant university,
the OSU Center for Sovereign Nations is blessed to come together as a community with
these esteemed leaders,” said Elizabeth Payne, founding director of the CSN. “The
CSN was founded in 2015 with tribal government input and investment. This event, held
in conjunction with the CLSBE, marks the center’s 47th Sovereignty Speaks Leadership
Address.”
Launched in 2019, the Center for Legal Studies and Business Ethics promotes business
and professional ethics and regulatory compliance through research exploring the intersections
between law and business.
“I look forward to this discussion and Q&A on ethical leadership with these three
Native American leaders,” Tower said. “I have learned so much in our recent experience
working with tribal leaders from across the state on workforce and economic development.
Their commitment to developing their communities and businesses at the same time is
an excellent example and demonstrates the economic and social benefits of leading
with a holistic view and purpose. This should be a rich conversation.”
Visit https://business.okstate.edu/clsbe/ to learn more about the CLSBE and https://sovnationcenter.okstate.edu/ to learn more about CSN.
