As secretary of commerce for the Chickasaw Nation, Dan Boren ’97 leads 7,000 employees who work in virtually every industry to generate revenue for the Native Americans in south-central Oklahoma.   

“We’re engaged in over 60 different business lines, including gaming and hospitality, banking, government contracting and other diversified businesses,” Boren said. “We even have a chocolate factory.” 

Boren’s work for the nation is informed by his years in the banking industry, diplomacy forged in his four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and a willingness to push limits. Chickasaw Gov. Bill Anoatubby, the nation’s highest ranking official, appointed Boren to his position in June 2022.  

“Dan Boren is a valued member of our leadership team whose education, experience and wisdom have played an important role in our highly successful economic development, business diversification and community engagement initiatives,” said Anoatubby, who has led the nation since 1987. 

Dan Boren drove the Chickasaw Nation to become the primary investor in Good Springs Capital, a private investment firm that focuses on investing in entrepreneur-led companies with high potential for growth. Courtesy of Jarrod Presley, David Riffle and the Chickasaw Nation

After Congress passed the Indian Removal Act on May 28, 1830, Chickasaw ancestors and other Southeastern Native Americans were forcibly removed from their ancestral homelands. With more than 77,000 citizens, the Chickasaw Nation today is a democratic republic with executive, legislative and judicial departments that are run by officials elected by its citizens.  

The treaty territory of the tribe includes 7,648 square miles of south-central Oklahoma and encompasses all or parts of 13 Oklahoma counties. The Chickasaw Nation contributes more than $5.5 billion to the Oklahoma economy each year. Under Boren’s leadership, business revenue provides most of the funding for more than 200 tribal programs and services, such as health care, housing and education for Chickasaw citizens and other Native Americans. 

Legacy of Public Service 

Boren, who majored in economics at TCU, credits Jim Wright, the famed Texas politician turned TCU political science professor, with inspiring him to pursue a career in politics. Wright’s congressional connections — he served in Congress for 34 years, including two years as speaker of the house — gave his students access to regular guest speakers.  

“He really motivated me to want to get involved in public service,” Boren said. “He was a great friend.” 

Boren comes from a well-known political family. David Boren, his father, is a former U.S. senator, Oklahoma governor and president of the University of Oklahoma. Lyle Boren, his grandfather, worked as a teacher in Oklahoma and represented the state for 10 years in the U.S. House of Representatives. 

Dan Boren’s own public service started in November 2002, when he was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives. He became the first freshman state lawmaker ever to be elected as caucus chairman. 

After two years in that role, Boren was elected to represent Oklahoma’s 2nd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives for four terms. He retired in 2013.  

While in Congress, Boren introduced legislation to help Native Americans; H.R. 5862 sought to protect resources for members of the Quapaw Tribe of Oklahoma, and H.R. 4154, the SAVE Native Women Act, would have closed a jurisdiction gap to hold offenders accountable for their crimes against Native women. While serving as the ranking member of the House Natural Resources Committee’s Subcommittee on Indian Affairs, Boren helped pass the Native American Heritage Day Act of 2008.  

In response to the 2008 national recession, Boren helped shape key national economic recovery policies as a member of the House Financial Services Committee. He helped pass H.R. 1424 into law, which amended the Internal Revenue Code to provide incentives for energy production and conservation and provided individual income tax relief. 

Dan Boren is in his second stint with the Chickasaw Nation, returning in 2022 after working as chief banking officer and president of First United Bank in Oklahoma. Courtesy of Jarrod Presley, David Riffle and the Chickasaw Nation

Life After Washington 

Boren’s work in Congress made an impression on Anoatubby and other leaders. The Chickasaw Nation hired him as president of corporate development in the Department of Commerce in 2013. 

“I spent a large part of my time in Congress working with tribes, tribal governments, not only in my home state of Oklahoma, but also across the country. It was very natural for me to be here,” Boren said. “And, of course, the Chickasaw Nation was within my congressional district.” 

The six years Boren spent as president of corporate development taught him the value of diversifying investments for the Chickasaw people. He served on numerous boards within the nation, spanning the technology, health, financial services and energy sectors. 

The position also allowed Boren to form strong partnerships with the business community, which ultimately led to his move in January 2020 to become the chief banking officer and president of First United Bank in Oklahoma. 

Boren returned to work for the Chickasaw Nation in 2022, this time as secretary of commerce. His focus is on diversifying investments for the Chickasaw Nation to provide long-term financial stability while still growing their largest property, WinStar World Casino and Resort. 

Last year the Chickasaw Nation unveiled a multimillion-dollar expansion of the resort located near the Texas-Oklahoma border off Interstate 35. Its new 6,500-seat venue has already attracted such acts as country music star Brad Paisley and R&B group Boyz II Men.

“I spent a large part of my time in Congress working with tribes, tribal governments, not only in my home state of Oklahoma, but also across the country. It was very natural for me to be here.”
Dan Boren

In June 2023, Boren led the Chickasaw Nation in signing a deal to become the primary investor in Good Springs Capital, a private investment firm named for the area where the nation began to rebuild in the mid-1800s.  

The new firm focuses on investing in entrepreneur-led companies with high potential for growth. Boren said the move is a progression in the Chickasaw Nation’s history of developing gaming, hospitality and health care business enterprises.

Connecting with People 

Colleagues who know Boren best compliment both his business knowledge and people skills. 

“Dan has consistently demonstrated impeccable character and strong leadership skills throughout his career,” Anoatubby said. “He continues working relentlessly to ensure that our mission to enhance the quality of life of the Chickasaw people also enhances the quality of life of our neighbors.” 

Greg Massey, CEO of First United Bank, said Boren’s core talent is “his ability to see potential in others and draw it out, connect with others no matter their background, and his high emotional intelligence.” 

Recently, Massey traveled with Boren to Washington, D.C., to lobby for the Chickasaw Nation and talk with the chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. “It was incredible to witness Dan interacting and connecting with the group,” Massey said. “Within 15 minutes, he had built trust with the entire room and had everyone feeling comfortable and relaxed.” 

Boren credits his lifelong inquisitiveness for his willingness to take business risks. Calculated risks fall in line with the career advice he often gives others.   

“Try as many things as you can, especially while you’re young,” Boren said. “Go through every door open, as you never know where your path may lead. Don’t limit yourself.”