Andy Abeita

Dynamic leader with extensive experience in international trade and policy writing, notably as President of the National Indian Arts and Crafts Association. Proven track record in community development and partnership building, facilitating workshops that empower artists and small business owners to meet their business goals. Passionate advocate for indigenous arts and crafts and minority business development initiatives.

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Innovative founder with background in launching successful startups across diverse sectors. Demonstrated strengths include strategic planning, team leadership, and problem-solving. Notable for creating significant impact in previous work through innovative product development and business growth strategies.

Skilled at fostering partnerships, securing funding, and driving operational efficiency. Entrepreneurial professional offering progressive experience in operations leadership. Skilled at identifying and implementing process improvements to drive efficiency and productivity. Motivating leader with proven success managing cross-functional teams.

• Age: 62
• Marital Status: Married

Dear Sir/Madame

I am writing this letter in support of Mr. Andy Abeita. I have known Andy for 20 years, as an artist, administrator and committed advocate for the protection and preservation of Native American and International aboriginal artisan creations.

Andy often serves as a key panel member for plenary national and international conferences on Cultural preservation issues as well as business development in this same regards. He is an international leader expert on Arts and Culture as well as a talented business strategist…

I support and organize Intellectual and Cultural Property Rights forums. Events held throughout the world, via UNITC and the World Bank. As a history anthropologist and social Scientist.

Andy speaks eloquently and has been the voice of reason on many international forums held around the world on “Pressing concerns for the future of authentic arts and crafts and cultural preservation”. He is a champion for indigenous cultural preservation, small businessmen development for third world causes and women in the arts and crafts sector from tribal societies all over the world.

For over two decades, I have watched Andy work tirelessly with several government agencies on these issues at the national and international levels for many years.

He has also served as a senior trade consultant to the US Department of the Interior (this is where we met), as he supported their involvement in Native American cultural preservation as an international trade specialist.

Andy and his expertise spearheaded our United States / United Nations project's relationship with the World Trade Organization, in this capacity for over 2 decades he has helped many Aboriginal communities develop business skills in the craft sector all around the world.

Further, Andy and I have also collaborated with projects at the local level utilizing his extensive experience serving as a consultant on economic development planning for several Native American tribes and First Nations in Canada.

His vast experience in tribal communities in economic development has transformed many high-risk community investments into viable profitable investments in the arts and crafts and small business sector, due to his leadership. I would say he is a people person, who knows how to communicate at multiple levels, he does so with integrity and exerts respect and honor.

I would say he has skills in communication with people to a degree which is rare on many levels.

As a former president of the National Indian Arts and Crafts Association, and founder of The Council for Indigenous Arts and Culture, Andy is an articulate spokesperson before world governments and industry leaders, a man who lays bare the consequences of the escalation in loss of cultural dichotomies and what this may result in as society evolves.

But he is also a business visionary, who elevates hope where hope seems bleak for indigenous populations around the world.

I was present at Andy’s testimony in May 2000, to the US Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Oversight Hearings in regard to strategic planning for Native American Cultural Preservation. With the fluidity of detail in his presentation he captured the attention of the world.

I know for a fact this presentation changed the course of US interior dept. and the US Dept. of Commerce’s wasteful policy spending and further refocused the direction the World Bank and the direction UNITC would pursue cultural / minority investment projects into the future.

Andy’s impressive resume, demonstrating his extensive experience with numerous government and international agencies, on cultural and economic challenges facing Indigenous Peoples today, speaks to his outstanding abilities.

I wholeheartedly support his training programs, I have reviewed these training programs and they are impressive, comprehensive, and a very relevant program.

His resume demonstrates broad expertise in working with various agencies and organizations at several levels of government and private industry. I feel that Andy has the requisite skills, intellectual capabilities, dedication, and ethics to teach his business programs, manage these programs, and to his greatest credit create measurables that are invaluable tools in the process.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you need further information.

Sincerely,

Kathy M’Closkey, PhD

Adjunct Associate Professor

Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminology

University of Windsor

401 Sunset Avenue

Windsor, ON N9B 3P4

(519) 253-3000 ex. 4073

mcloskey@uwindsor.ca

Dear Sir/Madame,

Please consider my endorsement of Andy as provided below.

To Whom It May Concern,

For more than 20 years, I have worked with Andy on various projects involving Native and non-Native communities.  In these projects, Andy demonstrated expertise in leadership, organizational skills and system analysis to the degree of experts and senior advisors far more experienced and educated then himself.

He has an uncanny ability to get to the root of problem-solving and is a master of communication resolve. As an example, in a particular $2.5 million business development project with the Zuni Pueblo Indian Tribe, Andy solicited input, formulated a strategy, and delegated tasks to meet goals.  When issues arose, Andy took responsibility to lead us through these issues to keep the project on track.

In another project where we collaborated on training for the UNITC, before 37 represented countries, Andy set forth an incredible international strategic plan to promote awareness of the ties between intellectual property rights, counterfeiting, and economic development in the commercial trade industry.

The response from this effort created several international initiatives for LDC (Less Developed Countries) economic development in the craft sector. And the development of several now very successful artisan and farming cooperatives in many third-world countries. For this project, I participated in lectures and workshops with Andy where he always demonstrated the utmost professionalism and respect for others. Andy demonstrates with regularity his ability to communicate with people at all levels and he possesses an innate ability to bridge communication barriers extraordinarily. A real gift.

I am a practicing attorney, licensed in New Mexico, California, and the District of Columbia, who serves US and foreign legal offices of three publicly traded multinational corporations having a combined market capitalization of over $200 billion.  I am also a former board member and board president of a regional international trade association.  In my practice and community involvement, I have benefited from my experiences and relationship with Andy, particularly in understanding diversity and its benefits.

Where a job, a task, or a project involves people, I must give my highest recommendation to Andy.  He is a people person who leads and delivers.

Please do not hesitate to contact me via email or phone if you may have any questions.

Sincerely,

Brian Pangrle, JD, PhD 1-818-395-4194

Licensed Attorney New Mexico, California and DC

Admitted the Supreme Court of the United States

Registered US Patent & Trademark Office

Pangrle Patent, Brand + Design Law, P.C.

3500 W Olive Ave, 3rd Floor

Burbank, California 91505

brian@ppbdlaw.com

Dear Sir/ Madame,

This letter of reference is intended to present past experience and professional associations with Mr. Andy Abeita. My personal background includes thirty two years owning and operating two Native American Arts galleries under the name Skystone N’ Silver in Indiana and Michigan. I served on the Board of Directors of the National Indian Arts and Crafts Association from 1982 through 1998 and was Board President in 1995, and Market Chair from 1992 through 1995. I was a co-founder of the Council for Indigenous Arts and Culture formed as a nonprofit educational organization in 1998 and currently serve as Treasurer of that organization.

Mr. Abeita served as Market Chair, Board member, and was the first Native American Board President of the National Indian Arts and Crafts Association in 1996 and 1997. During his tenure as Board President, he created and initiated multiple workshops for Native Artists to assist them in developing the skills needed in the business side of the arts to succeed. Mr. Abeita was also a co-founder in 1998 of the Council for Indigenous Arts and Culture serving as Board President for five years.

During our tenure together with the IACA he was appointed Project Director by the United Nations to develop international trade laws specifically designed to protect authentic indigenous handcrafts from commercial fraud in the world market and further to develop international trade requirements to give all handmade indigenous arts a specific line item on the Harmonized Tariff Schedule.

His vast expertise provides educational services for various law enforcement agencies responsible for the protection of Native arts through state and federal laws. Through the CIAC Mr. Abeita developed a program to help American and Canadian tribes initiate a tribal hallmark program to identify and protect Native artist's work. Soon after he was appointed by UNESCO to represent US interests in the commercial crafts sector in international commerce.

In our tenure further, it was requested by the World Craft Council for Mr. Abeita to create, organize, and manage an International Conference on Women’s Social and Cultural Welfare. An event that eventually created World Bank investments for this cause in over 15 countries.

He was also appointed by the government of Puerto Rico to organize and manage a World Trade Organization conference on cultural preservation and intellectual property rights. At this conference, Mr. Abeita taught a program he developed that provided training for retail stores in marketing and staff development at the request of the United Nations International Trade Centre.

Over the past twenty-five years, Mr. Abeita has developed workshops and seminars relating to economic opportunities for tribal entities around the world as well as educational workshops for Native artists and individuals regarding communication skills, incorporating spiritual beliefs in artwork, and building a strong cultural approach to careers and consumer relations. This approach reinforces confidence, self-esteem, and a pride in heritage that contributes to personal development and promotes a positive attitude in business and personal relationships. Mr. Abeita has a strong commitment to any project he is involved with and a strong work ethic delivering the product in a timely matter.

There is no one I would recommend more highly for the type of education needed for the development of Native American business and or Native American self-development training.

With warmest regards , Pam Phillips

Herewith I formally and respectfully submit this letter of recommendation and support in behalf of Mr. Andy Abeita.

Firstly I have known Andy (20+) years both personally and professionally.

As "traditional practitioners" of our indigenous life-ways we have utmost regard and respect for each other. He is a beacon among our people and the young folk aspire to be like him in many ways.

A man of integrity, of trust in his word and a leader in his actions. An old soul sacred in his ways with many young and old on the red road who seek him out for his knowledge of the old ways.

Secondly, he and I have been engaged as presenters delivering keynote addresses and workshop trainings at various local, regional, national and international conferences. We both have been invited to present at the same conferences.

Andy's "western education" and experiences have breadth and depth.

Andy is of the highest moral aptitude. His character and dignity is above reproach. His global experiences and professionalism are invaluable. His personal and professional experiences working and living on indigenous lands ( He speaks 6 different Native Languages), and his international business experiences and relationships with indigenous community development in the US and internationally are further assets in his relations with the people he shares his knowledge with.

His leadership experiences are home-grown, if you will "grassroots" based, but cultured with his corporate and international/global experiences and yet he is a man of integrity and humbles himself in the highest regard to hear what others have to say. If there is a need for problem solving in life and or of the human intellect Andy is a translator whose opinion we should all cherish… His humble manner, faith and forward thinking has been rewarded in trust and respect by many, including our mutual friends and confidant Senator John Mcain as well as his highness the Dali Llama…

Herewith is attached a short bio of SAD Enterprises, my business, which I have operated for 25+ years. I have collaborated with Andy in our business and community development efforts for many years and have learned far more from him than I imagine he has received from me.

Currently, I serve as Chairperson of the Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission, an element of the UN Human Rights Initiative. I have multiple years of community and professional service boards experience, running the gamut from the City of Flagstaff Housing Authority Board, Navajo Way, Inc.(United Way affiliate), Coconino County Private Industry Council, Flagstaff School's Academic Curriculum Development Committee,  Member of the Flagstaff City Council, and Magistrate Pro-tempore  Flagstaff Municipal Courts, Adjunct faculty-Dine' College.

I served as Executive Director for various local and national organizations/programs both privately and federally funded, in the 33+years I worked as an employee. I have held numerous other leadership positions as well. Note this listing is not all inclusive

Respectfully, Steven A. Darden, Owner, SAD Enterprises

Letter of Reference

I have worked with Andy Abeita since January of 2014. We have worked together at times seven days a week; completing hundreds of hours together in person, by telephone, by fax, over the internet, e-mails, texting. He has consistently impressed me with his knowledge and personal character.

His understanding of management and leadership is grounded in “best practices” and years of training experience. He utilizes his ancient cultural practices in teaching and training methods as analogies, analogies in life and business which create practical and viable solutions in the creation of sound principles. I am in awe of his abilities.

Andy Abeita is one of the most honorable and truthful people I have ever worked with over my 39 year career. He is positive, hard-working, professional, and personable. He has a very special way of relating to others which has made him and outstanding corporate trainer.

He is faithful and a religious man, with a variety of honorable character traits:

ü Dependable

ü Responsive

ü Loyal

ü Kind-hearted

ü Intelligent

ü Perceptive

It is a pleasure and honor to work and collaborate on important projects with Prof. Andy Abeita.

I recommend him with full confidence that he is the best person and most appropriate person to train, business executives / managers / employee training candidates.

Respectfully,

Steven R. Isham M.A., L.B.S.W.

University of Phoenix - Professor

South Mountain Community College - Professor

Glendale Community College - Professor

Rio Salado College - Professor

Christian & Isham LLC – Owner/CEO