Taralee Montgomery

Taralee Montgomery started her career with Cherokee Nation in 2017 and in 2019 transitioned into her first role with the Office of the Principal Chief under Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr.’s first term in office.

Throughout her time in the Chief’s Office she has held several titles, including serving her tribe in a sub-cabinet role as Deputy Secretary of State. She has served as the lead liaison for other branches of tribal government including authoring and assisting with legislative initiatives, most notably the tribe’s ARPA Respond, Rebuild and Recover initiatives and has championed countless internal initiatives related to employee compensation, gender equity and mental wellness for employees.

Throughout her career Taralee has been named to various tribal task forces under Chief Hoskin’s leadership, most notably the Upward Mobility Task Force, the Early Childhood Education Task Force and the Task Force on a Family Centered Workplace. As a result, she has had the good fortune to assist with groundbreaking initiatives. Taralee’s career with Cherokee Nation has focused on progressive policies that are centered around gender equality, children and family issues and government service which are some of the areas most important to her. 

Additionally, alongside her husband, Taralee is also proud to be an active long-term care center operator and a part of a second-generation family of owners. 

Taralee currently resides in her hometown of Gore, Oklahoma with her husband and her two daughters. She serves on the Gore Elementary PTA and several other boards and commissions.