WINNEBAGO, Neb. -- After one of its strongest years ever, Ho-Chunk, Inc., is using its diversity and unique position in the marketplace to continue to build future success for the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska.
The $150 million company started three new subsidiaries in the past year, seeking to take advantage of its knowledge and expertise working with federal agencies.
Ho-Chunk President and CEO Lance Morgan said the Ho-Chunk, Inc.'s best performers in 2009 were All Native Systems, a computer and technology company, and HCI Distribution, which markets tobacco products and sells gasoline blended on the Winnebago reservation.
He said retail businesses on the reservation, as well as Heritage Express gas stations, also did well in the past year.
The most visible signs of progress are at the Ho-Chunk Village, a 40-acre residential and commercial development along Highway 77 in Winnebago, Neb.
People are also reading…
What was once a farm field and plans on paper now has several completed houses, businesses, a statue garden and housing projects under construction.
Created in 1994, Ho-Chunk, Inc., serves as the economic development arm of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. It started with only one employee, Morgan, but has grown to 700 to 1,000 employees.
Winnebago Tribal Chairman John Blackhawk said Ho-Chunk, Inc.'s original goal was to have the tribe self-sufficient in 10 years. Although that hasn't happened yet, officials say they've made great progress and are still striving toward that goal.
"Being a tribe and in business was always very difficult, but the Winnebago Tribe has cracked that code a long time ago when they set up a corporation and separated the political aspects of it from the business," Morgan said.
He said tribal businesses have an advantage when applying for government contracts, although they still have to deliver competitive and quality services, and are well-positioned to sell to other tribes.
This was one way Dynamic Homes, a home-building business HCI bought in 2000, was able to hold its own last year. Morgan said the Detroit Lakes, Minn.-based company broke even and never stopped production in a climate that shuttered many of its competitors.
“We sell to other tribes and what’s kept (Dynamic Homes) in business, frankly, is selling from one tribe to another,” Morgan said. “Without that, if we were not a tribal business, we probably would have suffered much more in the economic downturn. But who we are, in this instance, has made all the difference in the world.”
Many of the company's subsidiaries are designed to make the most out of that advantage, including the three newest added to the fold in 2008-09: HCI Management Services, All Native, Inc., and All Native Managed Services.
Spokeswoman Janice Jessen said HCI Management Services was created because company officials saw a need in the janitorial, maintenance and groundskeeping industries targeted at government agencies.
All Native, Inc., and All Native Managed Services are designed to expand HCI's services in the information technology and communications for federal government customers, Jessen said.
"Each company has special expertise in certain categories and that allows them to work with a variety of industrial and government customers," she said.
The company now operates 16 subsidiaries in the United States, Mexico, Iraq and Afghanistan.
However, despite some local misconceptions, officials say none of those subsidiaries are gaming or gambling-related companies.
The company was initially funded by WinnaVegas proceeds and rents space to a gaming operation in it's Winnebago convenience store, but Morgan said it does not own or operate any gaming businesses.
Breakout
HCI SUBSIDIARIES:
-- Allnative.com – an e-commerce and retail merchandising company that markets Native American products such as home décor, gifts, clothing, jewelry and tobacco.
Launched: 1998
Location: Winnebago, Neb.
-- Indianz.com – a national Native American news and information web site. Launched: 2000
Location: Winnebago, Neb., New Mexico and Washington, D.C.
-- All Native, Inc., -- Provides managed services in information technology, voice and data communications solutions, professional services, training, operations and management services.
Launched: 2008
Location: Based in Winnebago with an office in Bellevue, Neb.
-- All Native Services – Provides network services and managed information technology services for commercial and federal government markets domestically and internationally in Mexico and Iraq.
Launched: 2005
Location: Based in Winnebago with offices in Bellevue, Neb., and in Mexico City.
-- All Native Managed Services -- Information technology and communications services for federal government customers
Launched: 2009
-- All Native Systems -- Started as a computer hardware manufacturer, but expanded to include voice and data solutions, managed information and technology services, operations and maintenance, program management, public affairs, government services and program-specific staffing services. Honored in 2007 by U.S. State Department as the Small Business Prime Contractor of the Year.
Launched: 1999
Location: Based in Winnebago with domestic offices in Bellevue, Neb., Washington, D.C., Florida, California, Georgia, Indiana and Wisconsin. International offices in Mexico, Afghanistan and Iraq.
-- All Native Solutions – Comprehensive business products provider.
Launched: 2003
Location: Winnebago, Neb., and Omaha.
-- Blue Earth Marketing – full-service marketing and advertising agency.
Launched: 2004
Location: Winnebago, Neb.
-- HCI Distribution – Markets tobacco products to tribal businesses throughout the United States. Also sells gasoline products, which are blended on the Winnebago Indian Reservation, to regional tribes.
Launched: 1998
Location: Winnebago, Neb.
-- HCI Management Services -- Provides janitorial, maintenance and groundskeeping services targeted at government agencies
Launched: 2010
Location: Winnebago, Neb.
-- Dynamic Homes – Manufactures system-built homes for builders/dealers in the Upper Midwest. Several of the completed homes are located on the Ho-Chunk Village project in Winnebago, Neb.
Acquired: 2000
Location: Detroit Lakes, Minn.
-- HCI Construction – General contractor and design/builder.
Launched: 2001
Location: Based in Winnebago, Neb., with offices in South Sioux City and Bellevue, Neb.
-- Ho-Chunk Builders – Excavation and site-development company for commercial, institutional and government clients. Primary partner for HCI Construction.
Launched: 2005
Location: Based in Winnebago, Neb., with office in South Sioux City.
-- Winnavegas Inn – Hotel near the tribal-owned WinnaVegas Casino
Launched: 1995
Location: Sloan, Iowa.
-- Heritage Express – Several gas stations in the Sioux City and Winnebago, Neb., areas.
Launched: 1996
Locations: Winnebago, Neb., Emerson, Neb., Sioux City, South Sioux City and Sloan.
-- Rez Cars – Used-car dealership, detailing center, and wind turbine distributor.
Launched: 2003
Location: Winnebago, Neb.
