Karlene Hunter, president and chief executive officer of Lakota Express of Kyle, has been named the 2007 Minority Small Business Person of the Year for South Dakota, according to the U.S. Small Business Association.

The award is part of the 25th National Minority Enterprise Development Week celebrated yearly in Washington, D.C., to highlight the contributions minority small businesses make to the nation's economy.

Lakota Express is a Native American-owned company founded in 1996. The call center has contracts with groups such as Oglala Lakota College and the Lakota Fund on the Pine Ridge Reservation. This past year, Hunter traveled to China to market the call center's services and acquire international accounts.

In addition, Hunter and her partner, Mark Tilsen, earlier this year started Native American Natural Foods, creators of Tanka Bars, a natural food health bar. Hunter will receive her award in Kyle on Monday.