Bill Lance, Jr. – The Chickasaw Nation

Bill G. Lance, Jr. is the Secretary of State for the Chickasaw Nation.  In his role Bill represents the Chickasaw Nation in numerous civic, business, and governance capacities, while supporting the strategic goals of the Chickasaw Nation

Bill previously served as the Secretary of Commerce for more than thirteen years where he was responsible for the management of all commercial business enterprises of the Chickasaw Nation.  The Chickasaw Nation Department of Commerce has approximately 7,000 employees and is comprised of more than 60 gaming, hospitality, retail, media, manufacturing, and tourism related businesses.

In addition to his role as Secretary of State, Bill also serves on the board of directors for several businesses owned by the Chickasaw Nation, including; Sovereign Native Holdco, LLC (SNH) and related subsidiaries; and Chickasaw Nation Industries, Inc. (CNI).  GGS operates Remington Park in Oklahoma City, Lone Star Park in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex, and provides consulting and management services in the tribal and commercial gaming industries.  SNH is a holding company that includes a wide range of investments in residential and commercial real estate, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, energy and mineral holdings, and other industries.  CNI is a holding company that includes subsidiaries focused on government contracting, industrial filtration, network services, research and development, testing and evaluation.  CNI has offices and operations in twelve states across the United States.

Bill serves as a Chickasaw Nation delegate on the Executive Committee of the American Gaming Association (AGA), National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA), Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association (OIGA), and the Inter-Tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes (ITC).  He also serves on BancFirst Board of Directors, the Chickasaw Foundation, and the OU Medicine Board of Directors.  Bill has served as member of the Board of Trustees for the University of Oklahoma Foundation, the Oklahoma Department of Commerce Advisory Council, and as a regent for the University of Arts and Sciences of Oklahoma through June 2020.

Prior to his appointment to the Department of Commerce, Bill served as Administrator of the Chickasaw Nation Health System, where he oversaw the historic construction of a 370,000 square foot Chickasaw Nation Medical Center, located in Ada, Oklahoma.

Bill received a Master of Public Health degree from the University of Oklahoma, College of Public Health, Bachelor of Science degree from East Central University, and a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives. He is also a graduate of Leadership Oklahoma class XXV.

Bill currently holds licenses in good standing with the Chickasaw Nation Gaming Commission, Oklahoma Horse Racing Commission, and Texas Racing Commission.

Bill is a fifth generation Oklahoman and a proud member of the Chickasaw Nation.

Bill makes his home in Sulphur, Oklahoma where he enjoys spending time with his wife Sherri, their daughter, two sons, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren.