Coffee Creek MFG, Chahtapreneur of the Year
Coffee Creek MFG named Chahtapreneur of the Year
DURANT, Okla. (July 13, 2026)- The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma recognized 12 small businesses at its annual Chahtapreneur Awards Dinner.
Each year, the Choctaw Nation presents Chahtapreneur Awards to one Choctaw-owned business from each of the reservation’s 12 districts and names one overall Chahtapreneur of the Year. This year’s highest honor was awarded to Coffee Creek MFG of Antlers.
Coffee Creek MFG is a trailer manufacturing business owned and operated by Jett Gardner. The company offers a variety of trailers, including utility trailers, car haulers, goosenecks, and dump trailers.
Below is a complete list of Chahtapreneur Award winners by district:
District 1: Jennifer Watson, Watson M&M Food (Idabel)
District 2: Leona Rivers, Beads by Bears Lariat (Broken Bow)
District 3: Emi Wright, Wright’s Glass (Talihina)
District 4: Matthew Coopers, Cooper’s Furs and 6th Day Creations (Bokoshe)
District 5: Tammy Jackson, Garland Drilling (Stigler)
District 6: Charisse Gragg, Small Town Talk (Quinton)
District 7: Jett Gardner, Coffee Creek MFG (Antlers)
District 8: Amanda Milner, Red Bear Construction (Soper)
District 9: Don Hyde, Jr., Pearl Snap Limo Services (Calera)
District 10: Deidre Elrod, Stringtown General Store (Stringtown)
District 11: Justin Few, Platinum Appraisals (McAlester)
District 12: LaTildra Fortenberry, Kreative Kidz Learning Academy (Ada)
“The Chahtapreneur Awards give us an opportunity to recognize small businesses that are working to improve the customer experience, expand their offerings and give back to the communities they serve,” said Gary Johnson, director of Choctaw Nation Small Business Development. “We are proud to shine a spotlight on these businesses and encourage them to continue making an impact within the Choctaw Nation.”
Choctaw Nation Small Business Development focuses on delivering technical assistance, one-on-one business coaching, training programs and access to capital to entrepreneurs, helping build successful, job-creating Choctaw-owned companies within the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. For more information about Choctaw Nation Small Business Development, click here.
About The Choctaw Nation
The Choctaw Nation is the third-largest Indian Nation in the United States with more than 230,000 tribal members and 13,000-plus associates. This ancient people has an oral tradition dating back over 14,000 years. The first tribe over the Trail of Tears, its historic reservation boundaries are in the southeast corner of Oklahoma, covering 10,923 square miles. The Choctaw Nation’s vision, “Living out the Chahta Spirit of faith, family and culture,” is evident as it continues to focus on providing opportunities for growth and prosperity. For more information about the Choctaw Nation, its culture, heritage and traditions, please go to www.choctawnation.com.
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