Colleen Echohawk, chief executive officer of Eighth Generation, a Native-owned lifestyle brand, has been appointed by Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration, to serve on the agency’s regulatory fairness board.
“I feel profoundly honored for the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the small business community,” said Echohawk. “My goal is to bring both my enthusiasm and experience in fostering generational wealth-building and entrepreneurship to this position.”
The all-volunteer board advises the SBA’s Office of Ombudsman on matters of federal regulatory concern to small businesses. The Office of Ombudsman works with small businesses to assist them with excessive federal regulatory issues.
As CEO of Eighth Generation, a lifestyle brand with an e-commerce business and flagship store in downtown Seattle, Echohawk is using her connections and business acumen to take this small business global. The artist-centric brand sells authentic, native-designed home goods. Echohawk has also served as executive director of the Chief Seattle Club, leading an effort to create nearly $100 million in new affordable housing in Seattle.
Echohawk has called Seattle home for more than 20 years. She is an enrolled member of the Kithehaki Band of the Pawnee Nation and a member of the Upper Athabascan people of Mentasta Lake. She’s received many awards including King County Martin Luther King Jr. Medal of Distinguished Service. She was also recognized as one of Seattle’s most influential people by Seattle Magazine and Seattle Met Magazine.
“Colleen has been a strong advocate for small businesses, Indigenous people and the community in general for years,” said Beto Yarce, SBA regional administrator for Region 10 serving the Pacific Northwest. “Her life experiences, understanding of people and commitment to being of service to others will ensure that the voices of Pacific Northwest small businesspeople are heard.
