TULSA, Okla. – Cherokee Federal, the federal contracting division of Cherokee Nation Businesses, today announced the hiring of Chad Kleist as Vice President of Human Resources, reinforcing the company’s commitment to building high-performing teams and scaling its workforce to support continued growth.
A seasoned HR executive with extensive experience leading global teams through transformation and expansion, Kleist brings a proven ability to align talent strategies with business goals while fostering people-first cultures in dynamic, high-growth environments.
“Chad’s deep expertise in human capital strategy and organizational development will be a key asset as we continue growing our business and investing in the success of our people,” said Lindsey Sage, Chief Performance Officer at Cherokee Federal.
Kleist most recently played a pivotal role at Berry Global in navigating a complex global merger, ensuring a smooth integration. His background includes significant experience in talent management, HR technology, and workforce optimization at Fortune 500 companies.
“Cherokee Federal’s mission-driven growth, strong leadership, and commitment to its people make it an exciting organization to be part of,” said Kleist. “I’m honored to join the team and contribute to its continued success.”
Kleist holds a Ph.D. in Global Ethics and Cross-Cultural Communication from Marquette University and has completed executive education programs in business analytics and compliance leadership. His career spans leadership roles at Berry Global and Oshkosh Corporation, with increasing responsibility across Human Resources, Strategy Deployment, and Legal.
For more information on Cherokee Federal and current career opportunities, visit Cherokee-Federal.com.