William L. Payne

About William L. Payne

I am profoundly honored to serve as the Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel to…

Experience

1. William L Payne, Jd, Mba, Llm, Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel

   Cayuse Holdings

   Jul 2023 — Present · Pendleton, OR, US

   Fortunately, my 35-year career began during a transformative era when technology was rapidly integrating into the legal and business sectors, perfectly aligning with my deepest professional passions. This remarkable convergence enabled me to cultivate - through a relentless work ethic - an exceptionally diverse and multifaceted skill set that combines expertise in law, business, and technology. It has been my privilege to seize opportunities and construct a uniquely comprehensive foundation of knowledge and adaptability.An even greater privilege is to use that foundation to serve as the General Counsel and Chief Operating Officer of Cayuse Holdings and to contribute to a bold and inspiring vision led by its founder, Randall Willis. His vision is profoundly rooted in empowering Native Americans by creating meaningful career opportunities in technology and business services, all while ensuring they remain deeply connected to their cultural heritage and communities.As a Native American leader with a distinguished 37-year career at Accenture—where he drove large-scale business and technology transformations across five continents—Randy brought unparalleled expertise paired with an unwavering commitment to addressing critical challenges through innovation.In 2005, Randy partnered with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) to establish Cayuse Technologies, a company offering low-cost, onshore outsourcing solutions. What began as a small, dedicated team has flourished into a robust, multi-subsidiary enterprise that provides services to government, commercial, and tribal markets. Today, Cayuse generates annual revenues exceeding $125 million while remaining steadfast in its mission.The company’s overarching aspiration is to become the leading American Indian-owned contractor, serving the commercial, government, and tribal sectors. I am honored to be a small part of this meaningful story.

Education

• University of Houston

  Bachelor of Business Administration

• University of Richmond

  Doctor of Jurisprudence

  1991

• University of Houston

  Master of Laws in Intellectual Property

• University of Richmond

  Master of Business Administration

  1991