The University of Tulsa’s Cherokee Women’s AcceleratHER Fellowship empowered by the ayana Foundation is designed to accelerate the growth of venture-scalable businesses led by Cherokee women. This is the second year for the program, which started earlier in the fall and concludes in December with a showcase event on campus.
The 10 women selected for the fellowship each receive a $10,000 seed grant provided by the Cherokee Nation and have been given access to business coaching, networking opportunities, and community resources, without ceding any control, ownership, or capital.
“Native American women often face unique challenges within the business community, including systemic disparities and lack of resources. We stand ready to change that statistic by providing a supportive platform for these talented entrepreneurs,” said Kathy Taylor, program sponsor and retired dean of UTulsa’s Collins College of Business.
“Native American women represent the lowest rates of business entrepreneurship across all groups,” said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. “This fellowship is an excellent means of beginning to address such an unacceptable statistic, while also pursuing the longtime mission of the tribe and its businesses of investing in the success of every Cherokee citizen.”
Lesley Robinson (B.A. ’06), director of education at the ayana Foundation, said that by nurturing a diverse community of talented entrepreneurs, meaningful impact and innovation can occur. “The TU Cherokee Women’s AcceleratHER Fellowship is a testament to the commitment to fostering growth and success so that women founders can flourish,” she added.
Here are stories of three of the Cherokee women and their businesses chosen for the fellowship:
Palmer Construction & Marine Co.
Kayla Palmer started Palmer Construction & Marine during her senior year of college.
“My original intent was for this to merely be an investment as I was seeking a different career path in law,” she said. “However, the hardships that I’ve faced in this industry, especially as a minority woman, motivated me to focus more on my technical competence in the industry and eventually allowed me to quit my full-time job as a litigation paralegal and expand my involvement in the company.”
Palmer Construction & Marine serves federal, state, tribal, and private markets with expertise in road and bridge construction, heavy civil projects, barge/push boatbuilding, and crane operations.
“My dramatic shift in careers was solely based on my moral values,” she said. “I lost sight of what was important to me, and I realized it was not a happy lifestyle. Therefore, I found a career where I can work alongside my husband and family by helping make an impactful difference in my community. My purpose for my career has not changed, but I still want to make a difference by being an advocate for justice, helping others find their purpose again, and improving my family’s life.”
Palmer said through the AcceleratHER program, she has gained insights into effective business strategies, enhanced her leadership skills, and connected with a community of like-minded women.
“AcceleratHER has created an atmosphere of positive encouragement, surrounding me with people who face similar obstacles and challenges,” she said. “This supportive environment has uplifted me, motivating me to keep pushing forward, stay resilient, and maintain a positive outlook.”
Common Tart
Alexandra Coppinger started Common Tart pie shop to bring specialty desserts to Tulsa.
“Dessert is a luxury,” she said. “Our goal is to make sure that that luxury is spent on good ingredients and made completely from scratch. Our space is small but inviting, so come in for a slice and a cup of tea and hang out for a while.”
Coppinger said the pies are baked in small batches to maintain a high-quality product, and the crusts are made one at a time, using only butter.
She said the AcceleratHER program has surrounded her with hard-working, quality women.
“I am truly impressed by how supportive everyone has been to each other,” Coppinger said. “This is not a group where people are trying to show off. We are there to lift each other up. That may be through words of affirmation or encouragement, or sharing their own tips, or connections. We can all succeed together.”
Prime Craftsmanship
Amanda Thompson hopes to change the face of construction while also delivering solutions to the country’s affordable housing crisis.
Thompson owns Prime Craftsmanship, which aims to provide affordable housing solutions, particularly focusing on Native Americans, veterans, and homeless individuals.
She said it’s important to change the face of construction because historically it’s been a male-dominated industry. The severity of the national housing crisis should be addressed by anyone who has the ability to help solve the problem regardless of gender.
To that end, Prime Craftsmanship is constructing a pod of nine homes for Eden Village in Tulsa, a place where people experiencing homelessness will reside in tiny homes.
“We operate out of the old John Zink building in Skiatook, Oklahoma,” she said. “We build homes ranging from 400 square feet to over 2,000 square feet in a climate-controlled environment to ensure quality building practices. They are built exactly like any other home, just smaller and more affordable because we don’t have delays due to weather conditions and can keep all materials on hand for a quicker build. We have the ability to build a home every three days when given a month’s notice.”