LAS VEGAS - Diversifying tribal enterprises outside of gaming captured the spirit of the National Center for American Indian Enterprise and Development;s Reservation Economic Summit and American Indian Business Trade Fair at the Las Vegas Hilton March 3 - 6.

Under the umbrella theme of ''Partnering to Expand Business Opportunity and Success in Indian Country,'' discussion on diversification was the buzz. Entrepreneurs, tribal leaders and financial experts briefly weighed in on the variety of topics centered on the theme and often shared their stories of success.

Over the course of the conference period, three general sessions seemed to draw hundreds to the ballroom out of the nearly 3,000 in attendance. Two days of the conference were dedicated to 26 breakout sessions, where conference-goers scattered to focus on topics important to expanding their business acumen.

The first general session, named for this year's theme, presented a powerhouse of business leaders in Indian country. Panelists shared their views on how tribes interested in economic diversification need to keep diversifying in a global marketplace.

Margo Gray-Proctor, Osage and president of Horizon Engineering and a member of the NCAIED board of directors, said during the session that some tribes are ''not business-friendly,'' making it difficult for financial growth in a marketplace where tribes ''have the opportunities to go global.''

Numerous tribes have found their niche in gaming within the past couple of decades and many have already spread their wings in the corporate world.

For instance, Lance Morgan, president/CEO of Ho-Chunk Inc., said that tribes could become multibillion-dollar industries if they looked outside their front door. ''In the corporate world, there are no limitations,'' he said.

Ho-Chunk Inc. was created in 1994 to diversify the Winnebagos' interests away from gaming to other investment areas. The tribe holds interests in home manufacturing, retail, distribution, construction, hotels, apartments and Internet companies, including indianz.com and AllNative.com.

Lori Nalley, Muscogee, president of Tiger Natural Gas, shared how she started her business. In 1991, bolstered by some familiarity with natural resources from her years of working for a gas company, she mustered up the courage to ask for the help of an investor to start her own company. She said that taking initiative and having the fortitude to ask for help was the key to her startup. In the past few years, she has reached a comfortable cruising altitude. Tiger's operating revenue reached $153 million last year.

She credits the simple factor of friendly service for the bulk of Tiger's success. ''We are consistent in what we do and we treat our customers like they are family,'' she said.

Another general session focused on how business-savvy tribes are beginning to expand relationships with federal government departments to overcome bureaucratic hurdles for services needed on their reservations. But with continued cuts in federal dollars and programs, speakers emphasized that tribes need to shift their focus from federal reliance to self-reliance.

''It is going to be more and more difficult for tribes to rely on federal government dollars,'' said Bill Largent, Ojibwa and assistant administrator for the office of Native American Affairs and a board member of the Native American Business Alliance. ''Let's identify opportunities that are good and based on tribal culture and vision.''

Speakers also addressed the success with which SBA 8(a)-certified Native-owned corporations have tapped contracts and grants with the federal government in a $415 billion market. But despite the progress, there is always room for more businesses to tap these dollars.

Theresa Alvillar-Speake, director of the Office of Economic Impact and Diversity for the U.S. Department of Energy, said her office has about $100 million in grants available for small businesses under its Small Business Innovation Research program. ''We don't see many tribal enterprises or Indian owned businesses applying for those,'' she said.

On the breakout-level session, speakers focused on topics where their experience have garnered success, and in many cases, success for their tribe. In the ''Development and Refinement of a Tribal Enterprise'' breakout session, speakers shared their experience on diversifying business on sovereign soil and abroad.

Jerald ''Jerry'' Smith, president/CEO of Laguna Development Corp., shared his story on how the Pueblo of Laguna has created jobs from its numerous tribal enterprises on village land.

To date, LDC manages the Dancing Eagle, Laguna Xpress and Route 66 casinos. Outside of gaming, they manage two travel center/truck stops, a supermarket, RV park, two convenience stores and the Mount Taylor Ranch executive resort.

Smith said there are challenges in keeping the LDC separate from tribal government, but the lines need to be drawn to keep politics and nepotism at bay. ''Maintaining separation from tribal government and business is a delicate balance,'' he said.

He also noted that tribes interested in operating a development corporation must develop a judicial process. Revenues from 2007 are expected to be in excess of $200 million, of which more than 50 percent will come from non-gaming profits.

As more and more tribal and Native-owned businesses enter the corporate arena, the need to protect their intellectual property was addressed at the ''Look for the Native Label'' breakout session.

The session began by addressing the use of Native warriors on non-Native labels, such as Crazy Horse Malt Liquor, a now-defunct beer brand label.

Susan Anthony, attorney/adviser for the Native American Liaison Affairs, Office of Intellectual Property Policy and Enforcement in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, said that a trademark purchased in the states holds no water in a different country.

''Trademarks and patents are territorial and need to be protected on a country-by-country basis,'' she said.

Terry Williams and Preston Hardison, representatives of the Tulalip Tribes of Washington, shared their experience on how they are protecting the tribe's natural resources, such as shellfish and salmon, in addition to intellectual property.

After the educational sessions came to a close, the tradeshow portion of the event kicked off on the evening of March 5 and ended the next afternoon. More then 350 tradeshow exhibitors set up booths, hoping to network with other businesses from across the country. The positive impact of the tradeshow may take months to surface.

NCAIED was founded in 1969 with the sole purpose of helping to develop small Native-owned businesses and tribal developments. It also provides consulting services and technical assistance, and works with federal government agencies, foundations and corporations to help develop business with Native enterprises.

Next year's RES, scheduled to take place at the Las Vegas Hilton March 9 - 12, 2009, plans to shift the focus to the global marketplace. NCAIED headquarters is in Mesa, Ariz., with 11 offices nationwide to serve the interests of Native-owned businesses. For more information, call (800) 4NCAIED or visit www.ncaied.org.