Cherokee Federal Names Katherine Lefler Vice President of Human Resources

HR executive brings more than two decades of talent management, organizational development and workforce strategy expertise

TULSA, Okla. (June 18, 2026) – Cherokee Federal, the federal contracting division of Cherokee Nation Businesses, today announced the appointment of Katherine "Katie" Lefler as Vice President of Human Resources, bringing more than 20 years of experience leading people, culture and workforce strategy initiatives across complex public and private sector organizations. 

Lefler’s background spans talent acquisition, organizational development, employee relations, leadership development, compensation strategy and workforce planning, with a focus on aligning people strategies to business growth and organizational performance.

“Katie’s combination of strategic vision, operational expertise and people-first leadership makes her a strong addition to Cherokee Federal,” said Clint Bickett, President of Cherokee Federal. “As we continue strengthening our organization and investing in our employees, her experience developing leaders, building high-performing teams and fostering strong workplace cultures will help drive our continued success.”

Lefler has held senior leadership roles at People Engineers, Vital Energy and Energy Transfer, where she led talent, organizational development and workforce strategy initiatives supporting large, complex organizations.

“Cherokee Federal has built a strong reputation for supporting critical federal missions while creating meaningful opportunities for its employees,” said Lefler. “I am excited to join an organization where mission success and employee success go hand in hand.”

Lefler earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering and Management from Oklahoma State University and holds the Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) designation.

For more information on Cherokee Federal and current career opportunities, visit cherokee-federal.com.

About Cherokee Federal

Cherokee Federal is the federal contracting division of Cherokee Nation Businesses — the economic engine of Cherokee Nation, the largest Native American tribe in the U.S. The mission of Cherokee Federal is to build a talented team that provides innovative solutions that solve America’s greatest challenges and serves the Cherokee Nation with strong conviction and heart. For more information, please visit cherokee-federal.com or follow Cherokee Federal on LinkedIn, Facebook, X and YouTube.