President, ICC Indian Enterprises and member of the Chickasaw tribe, retired from the Federal Government in August 1995. Lela has over 30 years of Federal, State, County, and private sector experience in Human Resources, Administrative Services, Personnel, Contracting, Procurement, Budget, Computer Operations, and Realty.
Lela grew up in Pontotoc, Oklahoma in a small home with four brothers and a sister. In earlier years her grandparents were also living there. The little two room house did not have running water. She grew up speaking Chickasaw.