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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2002

The National Summit on Emerging Tribal Economies is profiling successful Indian businesses, including a roofing business in Arizona owned by two women.

Jean Grubbs, president of Roofing Specialists, started the business with Mary Ann Garcia-Myers when she was 64. She said they immediately ran into stereotypes about Native women.

"They think the Native American woman are stupid," Grubbs told The Arizona Republic. "We were told under no circumstance would anybody bond two minority females in construction."

Last year, the company was named Roofing Contractor of the Year by the Arizona Roofing Contractors Association.

Stereotypes aren't the only obstacle, according to tribal leaders. In an Associated Press article, Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, says that "lack of vision" can hinder success. A Tohono O'odham business manager said: "Providing capital is probably the No. 1 barrier."

Get the Story:
Indian summit goal: Job creation (The Arizona Republic 9/17)
Indian Leaders to Address Unemployment (AP 9/17)

Today on Indianz.Com:
Norton and McCaleb launch summit (9/17)

Relevant Links:
National Summit on Emerging Tribal Economies - http://www.lakotamall.com/nationalsummit

Related Stories:
BIA economic summit kicks off in Ariz. (9/16)
Indian economic summit has lofty goals (8/6)