LAS VEGAS, March 11, 2024 –  Akiak Technology LLC President Sharon Hamer accepted the award at the 38th Annual National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development’s (The National Center) annual Reservation Economic Summit (RES) in Las Vegas, NV. The Native Woman Business Owner of the Year award honors outstanding indigenous women business owners for their contributions to economic parity and the betterment of Indian communities.  

Hamer is Yup’ik and an enrolled Tribal member of the Akiak Native Community, a federally recognized Tribe in southwest Alaska. “It is an honor and privilege to receive recognition from such a prestigious organization,” said Hamer. Her award is in recognition of outstanding leadership, management, quality performance and commitment to excellence as a successful Native American woman business owner.  

Recently retired after 30 years of federal service, Hamer’s federal IT contracting knowledge was a huge lift when she launched a family of Tribal owned businesses providing IT and other services to Government.  In 2019, Hamer co-founded her first two companies, Akiak Holdings, LLC and Akiak Technology, LLC as Tribal owned businesses to increase economic development and strengthen financial sovereignty for Sharon’s native village of Akiak. 

 “I know government from the inside. I understand how powerful a tool the SBA’s Native 8(a) contracting program can be for Tribes as a path toward economic independence and self-sufficiency”, said Hamer. Akiak Technology provides Information Technology management services to federal, State, Tribal governments and commercial customers through offices in Bethel, AK and Alexandria, VA.    

Between 2022 and 2023 Hamer achieved incredible revenue growth through Akiak Technology’s Tribal 8(a) HUBZone program participation. She expanded Akiak Technology’s federal contracting opportunities in 2023 by starting an SBA Tribal 8(a) Mentor Protege Joint Venture, Akiak NS, LLC. Together, Akiak Technology and Akiak NS booked $127M in federal contracts in 2023.  

To learn more about the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development, visit www.NCAIED.org. 

Sharon Hamer (Yup’ik)

Co-Founder / President, Akiak Technology, LLC