The National Center of American Indian Enterprise Development launches website at Phoenix Premium Outlets

Kyle Knox

Gila River Indian News

Native Edge is the latest effort to come out from the National Center of American Indian Enterprise Development. Native Edge is an online portal that will provide business development, training, and serves as a hub for numerous employment opportunities for Native American professionals. 

On April 18, The National Center launched the online portal at the Nike Factory Store at the Phoenix Premium Outlets located near Wild Horse Pass. 

You may wonder, why launch at Nike factory store? Well, that it’s because Nike is one the newest employer partners to join Native Edge. To help solidify the partnership Nike’s N7 General Manager and Co-Chair of Nike’s Native American Employment Network Sam McCracken was in attendance. Also in attendance was Gila River’s Governor Stephen Roe Lewis and the National Centers President and CEO Chris James.

All parties involved felt the marriage of organizations, companies, and location as near perfect. Particularly noteworthy due to Phoenix Premium Outlets being the only Native owned establishment with a Nike Factory Store. With numerous laptops set up, anyone in attendance was given the opportunity to sign up and create a profile there. A gentle stream of job seekers arrived to sign up throughout the afternoon including a few of GRIC’s own Community members.  

Sam McCracken felt that it was a special day and location for the launch of Native Edge. With numerous Native American employees from Nike in attendance at the Nike Factory Outlet, McCracken wants, “to help grow the footprint of our Native American employee base at Nike whether it be here at the Chandler store or up in Beaverton, Ore.” 

McCracken’s statement is important since Native Edge will provide an additional pathway for all of Native country to find potential employment at noteworthy companies locally and nationally. What’s also remarkable is that all the employer partners on Native Edge are actively seeking out Native American applicants to join their companies. This is key in distinguishing Native Edge from other mainstream job search engines.

On this occasion Governor Lewis was “Proud and excited the launch was here in the Gila River Indian Community, at our [Nike] store, at our Wild Horse Pass where this was created by leaders before me by those decision makers for economic development opportunities that would strengthen our economy, provide jobs for our Community members, and provide resources for all the important areas we need to invest in.” Governor Lewis recognizes the importance of Native Edge and feels confident that it will support our community members which is, as he said, part of the initial vision for the development of entities like Wild Horse Pass and Phoenix Premium Outlets.

Looking forward at success and benchmarks for Native Edge Chris James hopes to enable professionals the opportunity of working at large notable companies. Those opportunities weren’t given to him so he is thrilled at what Native Edge can provide for young professionals.   

So, if you or someone you know is looking for work you should consider nativeedge.com. The service is free of cost and can open new doors you may have never thought possible.