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More than 200 attend Oneida Indian Nation business conference at Turning Stone

Robert Simpson (left), president and CEO of CenterState CEO and Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente, Jr. (right) listen as Ray Halbritter, Oneida Nation Representative and Nation Enterprises CEO addresses the gathering at the second annual “Doing Business with the Oneida Indian Nation” conference. The event was held Oct. 4 at Turning Stone Resort Casino. (PHOTO CREDIT: ONEIDA INDIAN NATION)

VERONA — More than 200 local business representatives gathered at Turning Stone Resort Casino for the second annual “Doing Business with the Oneida Indian Nation” conference on Oct. 4. Hosted by the Oneida Indian Nation’s Office of Economic Development, the half-day networking event welcomed small businesses from across Central New York interested in partnering with […]

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VERONA — More than 200 local business representatives gathered at Turning Stone Resort Casino for the second annual “Doing Business with the Oneida Indian Nation” conference on Oct. 4.

Hosted by the Oneida Indian Nation’s Office of Economic Development, the half-day networking event welcomed small businesses from across Central New York interested in partnering with the Oneida Nation on vendor and business-development opportunities.

Over the course of five moderated panel discussions, attendees heard from Oneida Indian Nation leadership, long-time vendors, and key decision makers in the region’s economic development, according to an Oct. 8 news release.

Attendees also had the chance to network directly with Oneida Nation representatives during a procurement fair, where they could learn more about partnership opportunities in food and beverage, hospitality, trades, human resources, sales, IT, and additional departments.

The “importance of relationship building” was a central theme throughout the day.

“We couldn’t have done any of this by ourselves,” said Ray Halbritter, in conversation with Robert Simpson, president and CEO of CenterState CEO and Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente, Jr. “Our collaborations and our team have made it all possible. Relationships are critical to our success.”

The Oneida Indian Nation in 2018 paid $99 million to more than 1,000 vendors in Oneida, Madison, and Onondaga counties, and added several new ventures.

Eric Reinhardt