[CircleUp] Press Release: Prestigious Native American Tourism Speakers at 9th Annual Wind River Business Conference, April 7 & 8, 2009 in Riverton

[Lisa Wagner]

For immediate release:
 
Press Release: March 23, 2009

Contact information:
Lisa Wagner, Wind River Development Fund
307-335-7330
lwagner at wrdf.org
http://www.wrdf.org

Prestigious Native American Tourism Speakers at 9th Annual Wind River
Business Conference April 7 & 8, 2009 in Riverton

Ft. Washakie, WY - The 9th Annual Wind River Business Conference has
attracted prestigious tourism speakers from the Gila River Indian Community,
the Navajo Nation, Standing Rock Sioux and the Pueblo of Acoma to present
their success stories, challenges and solutions for tourism development on
the Wind River Indian Reservation.
The 9th Annual Wind River Business Conference (formerly known as the Native
American Business Expo) will be held on April 7 & 8, 2009, at Central
Wyoming College, Riverton. The conference will focus on how two aspects of
the local economy, tourism and energy, both affect the Wind River Indian
Reservation and the surrounding area. The tourism portion of the conference
will be held Tuesday, April 7, from 1:00 to 5:15 p.m. Governor Freudenthal
will give opening remarks after the Tribal Chairman's Welcome. A Reception
with traditional Native American entertainment and refreshments will follow
at 5:15-7:00 p.m. The energy portion of the conference includes the Tuesday
Reception, and holds its program on Wednesday, April 8 from 8:00 a.m. to
12:15 p.m. The business community, elected officials, agencies and the
public is encouraged to attend to learn about business opportunities
surrounding the Reservation.

The Tourism Program begins with Keynote Speaker Robin Fohrenkam, President,
Arizona American Indian Tourism Association. Then two tracks of tourism
sessions will be offered. "How to Create a Winning Tour Package" which will
cover what the visitor is looking for in a Reservation and cultural heritage
experience. Panelists include: John Largo, Navajo Nation Division of
Economic Development and Former Tour Company owner on the Navajo
Reservation; James Scoon, Travel Trade Program Manager, Wyoming Travel &
Tourism; and Rita Green-Bellardo, Manager, Travel Trade Marketing, Wyoming
Travel & Tourism.

The second session, "Developing Tourism Infrastructure" includes a panel
discussion on how other tribes have created a solid tourism infrastructure
for building a tourism economy. Panelists include: LaDonna Brave Bull
Allard, Director, Standing Rock Sioux Tourism Office; Mary Tenorio, Pueblo
of Acoma, Inductee to the New Mexico Tourism Hall of Fame, Sky City Cultural
Center and Haak'u Cultural Center; and Verginia Yazzie, Scenic Byway
Coordinator, Navajo Nation. 

The final program will focus on "Successes and Opportunities" of real
tourism projects and opportunities happening on the Wind River Reservation.
Panelists include: John Smith, Director, Joint Transportation Programs and
Wind River Scenic Byway Coordinator; Ren Freeman, Director, Eastern Shoshone
Museum and Heritage Center; Jonathan Barela, Northern Arapaho Tribe, Public
Relations Assistant Director and Northern Arapaho Tourism and Information
Committee Chairman; Tony Mele, General Manager, Shoshone Rose Casino; and
Jim Conrad, CEO, Wind River Casino.

Official Platinum and Gold Sponsors for the Wind River Business Conference
are:
Wind River Casino, Wyoming Travel and Tourism, Haselden Wyoming
Constructors, Tribal Employment Rights Office, Shoshone Rose Casino, Wyoming
Business Council, Northern Arapaho Public Relations Office, Wind River
Visitors Council, Encana, Central Bank & Trust, and Wells Fargo Bank.

The partners hosting the conference are the Wind River Development Fund, the
U.S. Small Business Administration, the Wyoming Small Business Development
Center, Central Wyoming College, Wind River Visitors Council, GRO-Biz,
Northern Arapaho Public Relations, Eastern Shoshone Museum & Heritage
Center, and Wind River Casino.

For more information or to register for this conference, please call
307-335-7330 or visit http://www.wrdf.org/index.php?id=106.
-end-
 
--
 
Lisa Wagner
Wind River Development Fund
P.O. Box 661
Fort Washakie, WY 82514
T: 307-335-7330
F: 307-335-7332
lwagner at wrdf.org
www.wrdf.org  
Providing financial opportunities on the Wind River Indian Reservation
 
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