Mike Kerr was born in Jay, Oklahoma and grew up in Grove, Oklahoma surrounded by four sisters. Mike brings energy to everyone he engages with and we are grateful he has chosen to remain a member of our Grove community. 

Mike’s step-father, Johnnie Spicer, is a member of Seneca-Cayuga Nation, he was primarily raised by his grandparents Marion and Mary Spicer.  The nephew of his grandparents was Seneca-Cayuga Chief Paul Spicer. Mike himself isn’t a tribal member but has played an ongoing and important role within the community.  

Mike started working for the tribe at Grand Lake Casino in 2002. His first position was on the pull-count team assisting with the financial operations of the property and continued to work across other departments, including table games and marketing. Casino General Manager, Dusty Logan, shared about Mike; “I am thankful for Mike’s contributions to the team at Grand Lake Casino, he could always be counted on to bring energy and innovation to every conversation. As a tribal member, I am glad that Mike made the choice to continue his career in-service to the members of our Nation as our Wellness Director.”  

In 2018, Mike accepted the role of Wellness Director for the Seneca-Cayuga Nation. Mike’s purpose is to advance the wellbeing of all Seneca-Cayuga people by helping them build healthier lifestyles. He shared his passion and commitment to health: “It doesn’t matter how much money or possessions you have, if you don’t have good health, not much else matters.” As the Wellness Director for our tribe, Mike is committed to delivering the following wellness initiatives to members of the Seneca-Cayuga Nation:  

-Nutritional advice

-Workout plans

-Health and wellness fairs

-AOA meal distribution

-Transportation to health and medical appointments

-Children and elder exercise programs 

Mike is diabetic and continues to preventatively manage his diabetes, a battle that strengthens his resolve and fuels his desire to help other people. “Upwards of 60% of Native Americans experience some type of diabetes,” Kerr emphasized, “I want to see the work we are doing at the wellness center directly impact that number.” 

Mike’s journey has been ripe with challenges and his ability to overcome them all speaks to the power of positive potential that lives in each of us. “We grew up poor and experienced a great deal of adversity. I loved sports and grew to be 6’5”. I was a good athlete who never got to play the sports I wanted. I limited my own ability by getting involved with the wrong group of friends  at a young age. When I live life on my terms, things just never ended up okay.” Kerr shared that he didn’t grow up religious, but his grandmother was a woman of faith, always pushing him  to do the right thing. 

Kerr explained: “I drank way too much when I was growing up, I grew up in a family that dealt with alcohol, and I ended up following their example. I went to college, but only for about 2 years before I stopped. I was involved with the wrong crowd, plain and simple. I felt trapped in a cycle of drugs and drinking that went on from when I was 15-26 years old.” 

In 2012, he got a second chance when he met his now mentor, a business leader in Grove, Oklahoma and owner of multiple companies. He began to hire Kerr for opportunities on various projects while openly offering life advice. “He mentored me and began to listen to my heart and the different issues I was going through. Then one day he told me to come to his lake house, there were people from his local church who  wanted a chance to pray for me and the difficult spot I was in, specifically with being an alcoholic.”

They shared their faith with Kerr, a faith that reminded him of his grandmothers’.
“I wish I could tell you what changed after that prayer, but all I could say is life felt different, full of hope. I didn’t crave alcohol any longer, and good things began happening in my life.” 

The next night, he dumped out his last 6 cans of beer, and prayed: “I want the life you have for me, whatever that is.”  Since that time, Mike explained he has experienced a peace, freedom and serenity that hasn’t left him. Kerr shared one of the greatest decisions he’s made  was accepting God into his life and knowing He has a plan.

Mike does not believe his past is his identity and believes everyone deserves a second chance at life. He now seeks to help youth and elders find health, hope, wellness and peace in their own lives through the work he is doing in the nation.

Those who know him know he carries a significant amount of joy and energy to those he works with and takes care of.

When asked what his specific vision is for the Seneca-Cayuga Nation, he shared: “I would love to see our tribe become even stronger. Becoming, mentally, physically and spiritually healthier. I want to see our nation as a whole become healthier, stronger and a thriving community.”