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Common Ground
APS conference impacts state's array of Native American communities
The history of Native Americans in Arizona dates back thousands of years, and even today the state contains the second largest Native American population in the country.
So it only makes sense that APS invests in the future of the more than 20 tribes and communities within the state. For the past three years, APS has partnered with the Native American communities of Arizona to present the Native American Women's Conference.
Each year the conference has grown and in 2007 the two-day event brought together more than 250 women from 28 tribes not only from Arizona, but also Washington D.C., Texas and California. Since its inception, the event has attracted participants from around the country including Alaska, Colorado and New Mexico.
APS helped develop the event as a means for Native American women to experience personal growth as well as provide the opportunity for them to gain new resources to take back to and improve their communities.
"In Arizona, the many Native American communities represent both some of our key customers as well as our vital partners in supporting the well-being of the state," said Maria Rivadeneyra, APS Community Development research analyst. She is also a member of the Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo community. "The prosperity and success of these communities is important to us as a business and as a corporate citizen. Our growth depends upon theirs."
Many of the attendees of these conferences are the professionals, researchers and attorneys who serve on tribal governments and have great influence in their communities.
 In addition to APS and the Gila River Indian Community, event partners have included the Ak'Chin Indian Community, the Yavapai Prescott Indian Tribe and the Cocopah Tribe to name a few.
"Tribal leaders approached us at APS and asked if we could help educate their businesswomen on how to succeed and do business outside of the reservation - that alone is a great honor for APS," Rivadeneyra said. "They wanted us to teach them business ethics and skills. Also by doing this we not only enhance our relationship with these Native American communities, but APS creates a foundation for these communities to grow."
Conference breakout sessions have addressed everything from being a better supervisor and acclimating to differences in culture in the workplace to improving information management and communication skills, especially when dealing with large organizations outside of Native American communities.
The conference also showcases keynote speakers like Mary Kim Titla, a member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe who ran for the District 1 U.S. Congress seat for Arizona; Jennifer Allison-Ray, current Lt. Governor of the Gila River Indian Community; and former member of the various tribal councils.
FAST FACT
Over the last 10 years, APS and Pinnacle West have spent nearly $458 million on products and services procured from minority and women-owned suppliers and vendors. Supplier diversity is a proactive business practice that seeks to provide all suppliers equal access to purchasing opportunities. Helping small business develop is good for the economy and good for APS. |
"We have many Native Americans who live in poverty, many who don't have plumbing or electricity, and that tells me we have to work harder to help our people succeed," said Titla, who is also a former Phoenix-area television news reporter. "My purpose in being a part of the Native American Women's Conference is to lift Native American women up and let them know if I can do it, they can do it, too."
Titla's words also describe the overall impact of each conference. Participants have come to let us know the value of our efforts.
"I commend APS for these conferences and APS at the Four Corners plant too," said GloJean Todacheene, who was the first Navajo woman elected to the San Juan County Commission in New Mexico. "In Shiprock, APS also does the Community Leaders Day and you can tell they really value us."
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