Team-Template

Sherry L. Rupert
Chief Executive Officer
505-724-3592; info@aianta.org

• Leads relationship with Governor, Legislature, Tourism Commission and state agencies
• Leads relationship with national tourism policy and strategy, administration and Congress
• Oversees agency strategic direction and performance
• Oversees agency administration, resource allocation, vision and culture

Favorite Indigenous Tourism Activity:

Activity: Fly fishing any number of incredible spots in Oregon

Sherry L. Rupert
Chief Executive Officer
505-724-3592; info@aianta.org

• Leads relationship with Governor, Legislature, Tourism Commission and state agencies
• Leads relationship with national tourism policy and strategy, administration and Congress
• Oversees agency strategic direction and performance
• Oversees agency administration, resource allocation, vision and culture

Favorite Indigenous Tourism Activity:

Activity: Fly fishing any number of incredible spots in Oregon

Ariel Richardson
Office Manager

Ariel Richardson, a tribal member of the Walker River Paiute Tribe from Schurz, Nevada, is AIANTA’s Office Manager. With a goal of assisting tribal members to opening Native-owned businesses in order to stimulate self-sustainability and economic development on the reservation, Ariel is especially excited to work for a non-profit agency with similar goals. Ariel’s creative background includes art direction, photography and videography and she has a degree in Applied Science for Natural Resources Management and has also studied Business Administration and Accounting.

505-724-3592; arichardson@aianta.org

Bianca Mitchell
Education Manager

Bianca Mitchell (Pueblo of Acoma) joins AIANTA as the organization’s Education Manager. With an extensive background in events management, donor development, communications and marketing, Bianca brings years of experience to AIANTA. In her role as the Education Manager, she will identify, develop, implement, market and promote technical assistance and training programs, webinars and certificate programming. Bianca’s goal is to assist in growing and enhancing the program model for and with AIANTA.

505-433-2120; bmitchell@aianta.org

Sherrie L. Bowman
Education Support Specialist

Monica Poling
Marketing & Public Relations Manager

After having spent more than a decade as a journalist with one of the leading travel trade news websites, Monica Poling turned in her daily byline in order to manage AIANTA’s marketing, public relations and content development efforts. In her role as Marketing & Public Relations Manager for AIANTA, she works to bring awareness of Indian Country tourism. 

Prior to her career in journalism, Monica spent five years promoting international tourism to Korea as the Marketing Manager for the Korea Tourism Organization and also managed member outreach for the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board.

505-724-3578; mpoling@aianta.org

Jacqueline Robledo
Content & Social Media Coordinator

Jacqueline Robledo is AIANTA’s Content and Social Media Coordinator. Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Jacqueline spent the last four years studying journalism and mass communication at Arizona State University. While at ASU, she spent time reporting on the health team for PBS affiliate, Cronkite News where she wrote about health disparities in the Southwest. Jacqueline also reported for Times Media Group, contributing to multiple news publications in the Phoenix Area.

Jacqueline is excited to be working for a non-profit, like AIANTA and hopes she can use her writing skills to help spread the word about Native tourism.

Gail E. Chehak
Tribal Relations & Outreach Manager

Gail E. Chehak, a Klamath Tribal citizen, serves as Tribal Relations & Outreach Manager. She works to cultivate partnerships to support AIANTA’s programs, including AIANTA members, as well as tribal travel, tourism and recreation staff and tourism and recreation industry leaders. Gail has worked with tribal arts, tourism, economic development and environmental protection for the National Congress of American Indians, Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission and the Indian Arts & Crafts Association. While Arts & Tourism Coordinator for the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians, Gail co-authored Native Peoples of the NW: A Traveler’s Guide to Land, Art & Culture. She has written numerous grant proposals and served on grant review panels for the Administration for Native Americans; AmeriCorps; National Parks Service Historic Preservation Fund; Department of Education, Library Services Special Programs to Indian Tribes; and Indian Health Service Scholarships.

505-243-3633; gchehak@aianta.org

Bruce Rettig
Travel Writer/Photographer

Bruce is the Travel Writer and Photographer for AIANTA’s Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail project. Bruce is an award-winning author. His published works and biography can be found at BruceRettig.com. As a founding member of Tahoe Writers Works, he served ten years as publisher of their literary journal, EDGE. He served as president of Charter Advertising/Design, Inc. for over thirty-two years. During that time, his duties included copy writing for brochures, magazine ads and websites. Most of his projects featured his photography. With a degree in Fine Arts from the University of Colorado, and an emphasis in photography, he has captured strong images for his clients. He has worked with the Duck Valley Shoshone Paiute Tribe, Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, Ely Shoshone Tribe, Washoe Tribe of California & Nevada, Stewart Indian School, Nevada Indian Commission and Nevada’s Indian Territory.

530-577-2005; brettig@aianta.org

Lorraine Gala Lewis
Research and Data Specialist

Lorraine is the Researcher for AIANTA’s Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail project. Lorraine  is a member of Laguna/Taos/Hopi. She attended both the Institute of American Indian Arts and College of Santa Fe. Her professional experience includes working in economic development and the non-profit sector with the SBA 504 Loan Program; she is familiar with SBA lending, loan programs and resource partnering. Lorraine has also worked with tribal government as well as native organizations and enterprises. Working for Laguna Development Corporation allowed her to interact directly with the tribe, its business partners and enterprises. Higher education has been a vital part of her life. Having worked for the Santa Fe Indian School, she saw the value and impact of a strong foundation for the future of  young native students. She currently serves on the Institute of American Indian Arts Foundation Board. She is active with student Scholarship Fundraising efforts as well as supporting the student’s needs to continue their college education. 

Supporting the Indigenous Arts and Culture is my livelihood. I’ve been working with clay since high school and have established a viable career in art. Through my work, I am affiliated with museums throughout the county, art programs, foundations and galleries. .

505-724-3592; llewis@aianta.org

Amy Meak
Research Clerk

Amy Meak (Dine) is an enrolled tribal member of the Navajo Nation from Gallup, New Mexico. She began working with AIANTA as an intern through the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (SIPI). She has been hired as the Data and Research Specialist for the ANZA Trail Project. In her role as the Data and Research Specialist, Amy works closely with the Membership and Outreach Coordinator to showcase the tribes along the ANZA Trail and their historic and present-day lands and enterprises through this unique project. She is currently completing her studies in Business Administration at SIPI and has been recognized as a member of the 2020 All State Academic Team. Amy also serves as the president of Phi Theta Kappa.

505-243-6399; ameak@aianta.org