CNI: Native American Minority Empowerment Program (NAMEP)

Beginning nearly three years ago, CNI’s corporate leadership foresaw the need to institute a CNI strategic relations program that would bring federal agencies, majority firms, and other 8(a) businesses together to fulfill a variety of economic development, strategic and business community objectives.

The program developed by CNI is Native American Minority Empowerment Program (NAMEP). At its core, the NAMEP Program is an innovative plan with CNI facilitating the utilization and empowerment of other small, disadvantaged, and minority firms as subcontractors and partners on federal contracts with CNI acting as the prime contractor, or on work CNI develops with majority Fortune firms.

NAMEP relationships may take a variety of forms, including both mentor and protégé actions, teaming agreements, or joint marketing arrangements. With CNI acting as a team leader, local and national firms considered include those that are Tribal and Native American, African-American, Hispanic, Veteran-owned, Women-owned and Asian-American.

The vision of the NAMEP Program is multifaceted:

To help Tribal and minority firms develop their business skills and realize opportunities not otherwise available to them
To create a capable network of tribal and minority firms that federal agencies and Fortune companies can work with to achieve their own diversity goals
To honor and support the provisions of the federal 8(a) program that CNI has employed to realize its successful development

Federal contracting provisions provide Tribal and Alaska Native Corporations with incentives and advantages, some of which have recently been challenged in proposed legislation on Capitol Hill. While one goal of the NAMEP Program is to respond to the detractors of the advantages of Tribal 8(a) firms, another is for CNI to help empower a variety of disadvantaged firms and create complementary capabilities and opportunities for all through its unique Tribal status.

The NAMEP program is being championed and coordinated by CNI’s Director of Strategic Relations and Minority Business Development, Geoffrey Blackwell. Genuine opportunities will exist for CNI employees to share their expertise and experience with NAMEP partners. CNI and its clients will benefit from the increased diversity, not just skills and knowledge, but also an increased diversity of historical backgrounds and perspectives. While ultimately predicated upon profitability, the NAMEP Program establishes CNI as a responsible corporate citizen partner, looking into the future for mutually beneficial economic opportunities.