Osage Nation LLC exceeds its 2009 goals and expectations

The Osage Nation Limited Liability Company ended 2009 on a high note by surpassing that year’s goals of setting up its office operations and making passive investments in an effort to increase the Nation’s revenue that’s independent of gaming income.

“We’ve exceeded all of our goals and (the LLC) board’s expectations,” said LLC CEO Carol Leese. The LLC planned on making three passive investments in 2009, but approved four by December, he said.

This year, the LLC is moving toward developments with businesses in an effort to establish partnerships and create more jobs for the Nation. The LLC has entered into its first partnership involving Osage Data and MasterLink Corp., an information technology firm based in Menomonee Falls, Wis.

MasterLink Corp. provides consulting on IT infrastructure as well as employee mentoring and training, its Web site states.

“It’s our goal to create new opportunities for tribal members,” said Steve Eckley, development director for MasterLink Corp. “We couldn’t be happier or prouder to offer a quick way for Osage Data to come to the basketball court with players of technology organizations,” he said of potential work opportunities.

Eckley will meet with Osage Data staff over the next month to determine a plan of action for the workers that’s also “based on what the market is looking for.” MasterLink Corp. could help entities such as Osage Data obtain jobs which focus on data processing, help desk inquiries, and call center duties, he said.

Leese said the intent of the partnership is to help Osage Data employees obtain work with Fortune 100 companies and government contracts. There are now five Data employees, but the number could grow with time and opportunities, he said.

LLC makes four passive investments before 2009’s end.

The LLC focused on getting established in 2009 after its five-member board was confirmed by the Osage Nation Congress and Leese was hired in the spring, which included setting up its downtown Tulsa office operations and making at least three passive investments. The two most recent passive investments (bringing the 2009 total to four) were made with a retail development project and an Arizona-based market chain.

The LLC has partnered with Tulsa-based Walman Commercial Real Estate Services, LLC, which is building a 20,000 square-foot strip-mall in Jenks that is expected to open later this year. Walman Commercial owns over 40 shopping centers totaling 3.5 million square-feet and 800,000 square-feet of retail development in the Tulsa area, according to the company Web site.

The strip mall, called Elm Street Village is at the corner of the Creek Turnpike and Elm Street and could open in August or September, Leese said.

“There is demand for retail in this area,” Leese said of the vicinity south of Tulsa’s city limits which has seen population growth in recent years. “In our current economy, you would think retail wouldn’t be in demand, but it could be a good investment because no one is doing anything right now (building and development-wise).”

Leese said Walman Commercial officials are aiming to close on the property by March 1 and have been able to pre-lease to tenants, but the company is not ready to identify potential strip mall occupants.

In December, the LLC approved a passive investment with Phoenix-based Sprouts Farmers Market, which specializes in selling fresh farm produce purchased from local growers when possible, as well as all-natural meats and organic grocery items.

“They have a unique approach to a grocery store business in making profit margins off of private label items,” Leese said. The Sprouts chain also sells over 1,500 gluten-free products and alternative choices for those with certain food sensitivities.

Founded in 2002, Sprouts has 43 stores in the states of California, Arizona, Colorado and Texas, its Web site states. The nearest current locations are in the Denver and Dallas metropolitan areas.

Sprouts is planning to open 12 new stores this year and Leese said the company is planning to open at least one in the Tulsa area.

The LLC Board meets via conference calls every two weeks and meets in-person four times a year, Leese said. The next in-person meeting will be Jan. 21-22 in Tulsa.