SHAWNEE, Okla. (OBV) — Citizen Potawatomi Nation Vice-Chairman Linda Capps is retiring after 36 years of service to the Tribe and a lifetime of work in education, community service, and economic development.
Capps became an elected official for Citizen Potawatomi Nation in 1987 and vice-chairman in 1990. At the time, the Tribe employed fewer than 500 people. Today, CPN employs more than 2,300 people and serves nearly 40,000 Tribal members.
During her tenure, CPN expanded departments, services, workforce programs, social services, and other community supports. Tribal employees described Capps’ leadership as steady, compassionate, and focused on helping people grow.
“Vice-Chairman Linda Capps has been a steady and valued supporter of The State Chamber’s work for many years,” said Stephanie Snyder, vice president of membership development for The State Chamber of Oklahoma. “She has consistently helped keep the Citizen Potawatomi Nation engaged in important conversations about Oklahoma’s business community, economic development, and long-term growth. We are grateful for her leadership, her service, and her support, and we wish her the very best in retirement.”
Capps’ career began in education. She taught business at the high school level, served as Title IV Indian coordinator at Tecumseh Public Schools, taught basic education to adult Native Americans at Gordon Cooper Technology Center, and coordinated the Bid Assistance Program at GCTC. She also worked in real estate, purchasing and credit at OG&E, business ownership, and land management.
Capps served on numerous boards and professional organizations, including the Community Advisory Council of the Kansas City Federal Reserve, the Federal Reserve Bank Branch of Oklahoma City, Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma, the GCTC Foundation Board, and the Board of Directors for Sovereign Bank, which is owned by CPN.
Her honors include Oklahoma Citizen of the Year, the Small Business Administration’s Oklahoma Minority Advocate of the Year, the Shawnee Chamber’s Gordon Richards Achievement Award, the Kate Barnard Award, the Don Bodard Friend of Youth Award, Tecumseh Citizen of the Year, Pottawatomie County Most Powerful Woman, and the Journal Record’s Native American Leaders in Business recognition.
Capps also was inducted into the GCTC Hall of Fame and received an honorary doctorate in humanities from Oklahoma Baptist University.
Several CPN employees said Capps’ lasting impact will be measured by her personal leadership and the care she showed employees, Tribal members, and the broader community.
“She’s helped me grow,” said Workforce and Social Services Director Margaret Zientek, who has worked under Capps for 29 years. “If I can lead with half the grace that Capps does, then I feel good.”
“She lives and serves with her heart,” said Workforce Manager Melinda Duin, who has worked for the Tribe for 26 years. “I aspire to be like her.”
Administrative Assistant Dennette Summerlin, who has worked as Capps’ assistant since 2003, said Capps’ leadership stood out because of her focus on people.
“She is compassion and love, and that is something a lot of people leave out as leaders because they are so focused on policy and process,” Summerlin said.
