Learning/Action Lab Participants
Little Earth of United Tribes, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Irene Peralez
Interim President and CEO
Irene.Peralez@learth.org
Irene Peralez is the Interim President and CEO of Little Earth of United Tribes. She has been the Regional Housing Director at Little Earth for 10 years and displays a track record of strong leadership and deep housing knowledge. While housing and real estate is a passion, Irene has been a businesswoman for 35 years, spending many of that in the catering industry with Marriot Corporation. She is dedicated to growing a robust family of organizations to support the community in a holistic way through stable housing and innovative, relevant programming. Combined with her institutional tenure and mission-driven orientation she is uniquely qualified to successfully guide Little Earth in this next stage of its development. Irene has two sons, and seven grandchildren. She is married to Dr. Ralph Peralez who is retired and has worked with Little Earth for 20 years providing counseling and human services.
Interim President and CEO
Irene.Peralez@learth.org
Irene Peralez is the Interim President and CEO of Little Earth of United Tribes. She has been the Regional Housing Director at Little Earth for 10 years and displays a track record of strong leadership and deep housing knowledge. While housing and real estate is a passion, Irene has been a businesswoman for 35 years, spending many of that in the catering industry with Marriot Corporation. She is dedicated to growing a robust family of organizations to support the community in a holistic way through stable housing and innovative, relevant programming. Combined with her institutional tenure and mission-driven orientation she is uniquely qualified to successfully guide Little Earth in this next stage of its development. Irene has two sons, and seven grandchildren. She is married to Dr. Ralph Peralez who is retired and has worked with Little Earth for 20 years providing counseling and human services.
Native American Natural Foods, Pine ridge reservation, oglala lakota nation
Kevin V. Fraser
Customer Service Representative
kfraser@tankabar.com
Duties: Placing orders, answering phones, customer care, troubleshooting, attending local demos,
Personal: Kevin is single with no children.
Free time: In his free time Kevin enjoys tending to his 1972 Lincoln Continental and his 1989 Chevy Camaro. He also enjoys cooking for his family, visiting with his grandmother, and also loves living life to the fullest and enjoying its everyday experiences.
Customer Service Representative
kfraser@tankabar.com
Duties: Placing orders, answering phones, customer care, troubleshooting, attending local demos,
Personal: Kevin is single with no children.
Free time: In his free time Kevin enjoys tending to his 1972 Lincoln Continental and his 1989 Chevy Camaro. He also enjoys cooking for his family, visiting with his grandmother, and also loves living life to the fullest and enjoying its everyday experiences.
Karlene Hunter
CEO
khunter@tankabar.com
Karlene Hunter is CEO and co-founder of Native American Natural Foods. A member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, Ms. Hunter has more than 25 years of experience working on educational and economic development on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, where Native American Natural Foods is based. The Kyle, S.D., company, founded with her longtime business partner Mark Tilsen, is the second business Ms. Hunter has started on the reservation. In 1996, Ms. Hunter and Mr. Tilsen created Lakota Express, a direct marketing and customer care management company. Focused primarily on fund-raising for non-profit organizations, Ms. Hunter has led the direct marketing campaign for Oglala Lakota College for more than 21 years. More than million has been raised under Ms. Hunter's leadership, including raising the funds for the establishment of the first library on the reservation and the creation of new college centers in each of the nine districts on Pine Ridge.
CEO
khunter@tankabar.com
Karlene Hunter is CEO and co-founder of Native American Natural Foods. A member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, Ms. Hunter has more than 25 years of experience working on educational and economic development on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, where Native American Natural Foods is based. The Kyle, S.D., company, founded with her longtime business partner Mark Tilsen, is the second business Ms. Hunter has started on the reservation. In 1996, Ms. Hunter and Mr. Tilsen created Lakota Express, a direct marketing and customer care management company. Focused primarily on fund-raising for non-profit organizations, Ms. Hunter has led the direct marketing campaign for Oglala Lakota College for more than 21 years. More than million has been raised under Ms. Hunter's leadership, including raising the funds for the establishment of the first library on the reservation and the creation of new college centers in each of the nine districts on Pine Ridge.
Rachel Hunter
Fulfillment Manager
rhunter@tankabar.com
Duties: Rachel's duties include shipping orders, inventory management, troubleshooting customer service questions, and keeping shipping procedures up to date with the latest trends.
Personal: Rachel has two children.
Free time: In her spare time, Rachel enjoys spending time with her family.
Fulfillment Manager
rhunter@tankabar.com
Duties: Rachel's duties include shipping orders, inventory management, troubleshooting customer service questions, and keeping shipping procedures up to date with the latest trends.
Personal: Rachel has two children.
Free time: In her spare time, Rachel enjoys spending time with her family.
Dawn Sherman
Business Manager
dawnsherman@tankabar.com
Dawn Sherman manages the financial and business office for Native American Natural Foods and is a tribally enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. She has worked more than 12 years in the automotive industry in a variety of roles -- most recently in the accounting department. Ms. Sherman made the Dean's List and President's List while studying applied science applied management at National American University in Rapid City, SD. In her career in the automotive industry, she increased dealership portfolios as well as assisted in developing policies and procedures to stream line sales and finance efficiency. Her skills in customer service, marketing and financial analysis bring an array of expertise to the company.
Business Manager
dawnsherman@tankabar.com
Dawn Sherman manages the financial and business office for Native American Natural Foods and is a tribally enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. She has worked more than 12 years in the automotive industry in a variety of roles -- most recently in the accounting department. Ms. Sherman made the Dean's List and President's List while studying applied science applied management at National American University in Rapid City, SD. In her career in the automotive industry, she increased dealership portfolios as well as assisted in developing policies and procedures to stream line sales and finance efficiency. Her skills in customer service, marketing and financial analysis bring an array of expertise to the company.
Mark A. Tilsen
President
mtilsen@tankabar.com
Mark Tilsen is President of Native American Natural Foods and a longtime business partner
with Karlene Hunter in Lakota Express, Inc., a direct marketing and customer care management company. Mr. Tilsen has more than 25 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, marketing community development, and 18 years in special events marketing and productions. A recipient of numerous marketing awards, most recently Mr. Tilsen received the 2011 Social Venture Network Innovation Award for his efforts with Native American Natural Foods. A lifelong supporter of Native American causes, Mr. Tilsen began working as a volunteer in 1973 for the Wounded Knee Defense Offense Committee, which his parents co-founded. Since that time, he has honed his skills coordinating award-winning, database-driven direct marketing campaigns that have raised more than million for Native American educational and environmental organizations.
President
mtilsen@tankabar.com
Mark Tilsen is President of Native American Natural Foods and a longtime business partner
with Karlene Hunter in Lakota Express, Inc., a direct marketing and customer care management company. Mr. Tilsen has more than 25 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, marketing community development, and 18 years in special events marketing and productions. A recipient of numerous marketing awards, most recently Mr. Tilsen received the 2011 Social Venture Network Innovation Award for his efforts with Native American Natural Foods. A lifelong supporter of Native American causes, Mr. Tilsen began working as a volunteer in 1973 for the Wounded Knee Defense Offense Committee, which his parents co-founded. Since that time, he has honed his skills coordinating award-winning, database-driven direct marketing campaigns that have raised more than million for Native American educational and environmental organizations.
Native American Youth and Family Center, Portland, Oregon
Paul Lumley
Executive Director
PaulL@nayapdx.org
Paul Lumley is the Executive Director for the Native American Youth and Family Center and is a citizen of the Yakama Nation. He recently came to NAYA Family Center after being the Executive Director of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC). He worked there from 1987-2004 under several capacities. He returned to CRITFC after 5 years in Washington DC to begin his tenure as executive director in 2009. Mr. Lumley has an extensive history working with Northwest Tribes on salmon issues, particularly in the Columbia River Basin.
Executive Director
PaulL@nayapdx.org
Paul Lumley is the Executive Director for the Native American Youth and Family Center and is a citizen of the Yakama Nation. He recently came to NAYA Family Center after being the Executive Director of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC). He worked there from 1987-2004 under several capacities. He returned to CRITFC after 5 years in Washington DC to begin his tenure as executive director in 2009. Mr. Lumley has an extensive history working with Northwest Tribes on salmon issues, particularly in the Columbia River Basin.
Oscar Arana
Director of Community Development
OscarA@nayapdx.org
Oscar Arana has 10 years of experience working in Portland’s premier, culturally-specific nonprofit organizations overseeing education and economic development programs, as well as
raising restricted and unrestricted funds. He was previously the
Development and Communications Director and Education
Manager at the Native American Youth and Family Center
(NAYA). He also worked for Oregon’s Senior US Senator Ron Wyden as his Multnomah County Field Director, and as the President of the Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber. Prior to joining the nonprofit sector, Oscar was a television news producer in Central Washington and a print reporter for the Associated Press in Mexico City. He is a graduate of the University of Oregon’s Executive MBA program and Journalism School. Oscar is a member of the UO Alumni Association Board and was appointed by Governor Kate Brown to serve on the Oregon Health Policy Board. As NAYA’s Director of Community Development, Oscar oversees small business technical assistance, community engagement, leadership development, housing, and other asset building and community advocacy programs.
Director of Community Development
OscarA@nayapdx.org
Oscar Arana has 10 years of experience working in Portland’s premier, culturally-specific nonprofit organizations overseeing education and economic development programs, as well as
raising restricted and unrestricted funds. He was previously the
Development and Communications Director and Education
Manager at the Native American Youth and Family Center
(NAYA). He also worked for Oregon’s Senior US Senator Ron Wyden as his Multnomah County Field Director, and as the President of the Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber. Prior to joining the nonprofit sector, Oscar was a television news producer in Central Washington and a print reporter for the Associated Press in Mexico City. He is a graduate of the University of Oregon’s Executive MBA program and Journalism School. Oscar is a member of the UO Alumni Association Board and was appointed by Governor Kate Brown to serve on the Oregon Health Policy Board. As NAYA’s Director of Community Development, Oscar oversees small business technical assistance, community engagement, leadership development, housing, and other asset building and community advocacy programs.
Eddie Sherman
NAYA Board Member and Principal, Against the Current Consulting
Ep.sherman@gmail.com
Mr. Edmund “Eddie” Sherman is a member of the Navajo and
Omaha Nations and he grew up on the Navajo Nation
Reservation. Throughout his youth, Eddie watched his Cheíí
(Navajo for Grandfather) embrace and practice the traditional
ways of life, which included everything from daily prayers to
herding sheep to ceremony. He has many memories of growing
up in a hogan, participating in ceremonies, and riding horses in
the wide open and beautiful lands on the reservation.
Throughout his career, Eddie has committed his efforts to social justice, serving Indian Country,
and improving the quality of life of American Indian and Alaska Native people. He currently
serves the community in a variety of capacities including; board member of the Energy Trust of
Oregon, founding board member of Color PAC, chairman of the Native American Youth and
Family Center’s board of directors, as well as leading his own consulting firm – Against the
Current Consulting Group. Prior to leading his own consulting firm, Eddie worked with the
Oregon Native American Chamber, ONABEN, and the National Indian Child Welfare Association
(NICWA).
Tawna Sanchez
Director of Family Services
tawnas@nayapdx.org
Tawna Sanchez was honored in 2006 as a Buffett Award finalist for her steadfast commitment to help Native women and children lead lives free of violence and abuse. She has also worked on peace and social justice issues on an international level. Sanchez is currently the Family Services Director at the Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA Family Center) coordinating services in domestic violence, rape prevention education, foster care services for youth and their families, and services to Native American elders. As the Family Services Director of NAYA Family Center, Sanchez has worked to both provide and improve services to Native women who have experienced domestic violence, developing programs to serve Native American Elders and most importantly programs that serve the disproportionate numbers of Native American children in the child welfare system. Ms. Sanchez earned a Master’s of Social Work from Portland State University.
Director of Family Services
tawnas@nayapdx.org
Tawna Sanchez was honored in 2006 as a Buffett Award finalist for her steadfast commitment to help Native women and children lead lives free of violence and abuse. She has also worked on peace and social justice issues on an international level. Sanchez is currently the Family Services Director at the Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA Family Center) coordinating services in domestic violence, rape prevention education, foster care services for youth and their families, and services to Native American elders. As the Family Services Director of NAYA Family Center, Sanchez has worked to both provide and improve services to Native women who have experienced domestic violence, developing programs to serve Native American Elders and most importantly programs that serve the disproportionate numbers of Native American children in the child welfare system. Ms. Sanchez earned a Master’s of Social Work from Portland State University.
Laura Young
NAYA Project Manager
lauray@nayapdx.org
Laura Young serves as Project Liaison for the NAYA Family Center on the Generations Project, an inter-generational housing, early learning center and Long House cultural resource center and Neighborhood Prosperity Initiative, a neighborhood scale urban renewal area, District Manager. A native Portlander, Laura has witnessed decades of housing inequity, forced displacement and disinvestment from low income neighborhoods and as a result has long been an advocate for neighborhood scale public transit, transportation infrastructure and housing equity for lower income communities of Portland. Laura comes to community economic development and transportation systems development work from a more than a decade of global logistics program management and systems analysis in Portland’s industrial and manufacturing sectors. Laura received her Master’s degree in Business Administration from Portland State University where she co-authored a business case for a monolithic extruded structure that she and her partners successfully patented in February 2012.
NAYA Project Manager
lauray@nayapdx.org
Laura Young serves as Project Liaison for the NAYA Family Center on the Generations Project, an inter-generational housing, early learning center and Long House cultural resource center and Neighborhood Prosperity Initiative, a neighborhood scale urban renewal area, District Manager. A native Portlander, Laura has witnessed decades of housing inequity, forced displacement and disinvestment from low income neighborhoods and as a result has long been an advocate for neighborhood scale public transit, transportation infrastructure and housing equity for lower income communities of Portland. Laura comes to community economic development and transportation systems development work from a more than a decade of global logistics program management and systems analysis in Portland’s industrial and manufacturing sectors. Laura received her Master’s degree in Business Administration from Portland State University where she co-authored a business case for a monolithic extruded structure that she and her partners successfully patented in February 2012.
Spokane Tribal Network, Spokane Nation, Wellpinit, Washington
Maria Cullooyah
Planning Manager, Spokane Tribe of Indians
mariac@spokanetribe.com
Maria Cullooyah, Planning Manager with the Spokane Tribe Of Indians in Wellpinit, WA on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Maria is a Spokane Tribal member who was born and raised on the reservation who completed her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with the University of Phoenix and now almost in full completion of her dual in Management. Maria is actively engaged in improving life on the Spokane Indian Reservation. She sits on the board of directors for the Spokane Tribal Network which involves several different groups within the community. As Planning Manager, she works at the forefront of project management and influencing positive results. She is very interested in assisting the Spokane Tribe and her community in creating a healthy stable way of life through the many channels of sustainability, and economic growth.
Planning Manager, Spokane Tribe of Indians
mariac@spokanetribe.com
Maria Cullooyah, Planning Manager with the Spokane Tribe Of Indians in Wellpinit, WA on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Maria is a Spokane Tribal member who was born and raised on the reservation who completed her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with the University of Phoenix and now almost in full completion of her dual in Management. Maria is actively engaged in improving life on the Spokane Indian Reservation. She sits on the board of directors for the Spokane Tribal Network which involves several different groups within the community. As Planning Manager, she works at the forefront of project management and influencing positive results. She is very interested in assisting the Spokane Tribe and her community in creating a healthy stable way of life through the many channels of sustainability, and economic growth.
Frank Metlow
Planning Manager, Planning & Economic Development Department, Spokane Tribe of Indians
frankm@spokanetribe.com
Frank Metlow is a proud member of the Spokane Tribe of Indians. He grew up in Valley, Washington just north of the Spokane Reservation located in Eastern Washington State. He currently lives in Clayton, Washington with his wife Cindy. Frank retired from the U.S. Navy in February 2011 where he served as a Naval Aircrewman for 20 years. He served in almost all the major conflicts in the past 20 years to include Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom where he earned an Air Medal for combat missions flown over Iraq and Afghanistan. While in the military Frank earned a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Business Management from the University of Phoenix. He has over 20 years of experience in the areas of project management, leadership, long range planning, entrepreneurship program development, business plan development and economic development. He is currently a Planning Manager for the Spokane Tribe’s Planning and Economic Development Department, President of the Spokane Tribal Enterprise’s Board of Directors, a member of the Northeast Washington’s Tri-County Economic Development District’s Board of Directors and a member of the Western Rural Development Center’s Board of Directors.
Planning Manager, Planning & Economic Development Department, Spokane Tribe of Indians
frankm@spokanetribe.com
Frank Metlow is a proud member of the Spokane Tribe of Indians. He grew up in Valley, Washington just north of the Spokane Reservation located in Eastern Washington State. He currently lives in Clayton, Washington with his wife Cindy. Frank retired from the U.S. Navy in February 2011 where he served as a Naval Aircrewman for 20 years. He served in almost all the major conflicts in the past 20 years to include Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom where he earned an Air Medal for combat missions flown over Iraq and Afghanistan. While in the military Frank earned a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Business Management from the University of Phoenix. He has over 20 years of experience in the areas of project management, leadership, long range planning, entrepreneurship program development, business plan development and economic development. He is currently a Planning Manager for the Spokane Tribe’s Planning and Economic Development Department, President of the Spokane Tribal Enterprise’s Board of Directors, a member of the Northeast Washington’s Tri-County Economic Development District’s Board of Directors and a member of the Western Rural Development Center’s Board of Directors.
Mike Tedesco
Planning & Economic Development Director, Spokane Tribe of Indians
tedesco@spokanetribe.com
Mike Tedesco is the Planning and Economic Development Director for the Spokane Tribe of Indians. In 2005, he earned his Master’s in Urban Planning and has since spent the bulk of his career in economic development. In his spare time, he’s published two books on the subject and presently writes a blog called "SpokanePlanner."
Planning & Economic Development Director, Spokane Tribe of Indians
tedesco@spokanetribe.com
Mike Tedesco is the Planning and Economic Development Director for the Spokane Tribe of Indians. In 2005, he earned his Master’s in Urban Planning and has since spent the bulk of his career in economic development. In his spare time, he’s published two books on the subject and presently writes a blog called "SpokanePlanner."
Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation, Pine ridge reservation, oglala lakota nation
Rae Tall
Social Enterprise Program Assistant
rae@thundervalley.org
Rae Tall joined TVCDC in 2016 performing administrative functions and was quickly promoted Social Enterprise Program Assistant. Rae is a Rosebud Sioux Tribal citizen and was raised both on the Rosebud Reservation and the Pine Ridge Reservation. After completing high school in Rapid City, Rae attended Sinte Gleska University, where she focused on Human Studies. Rae's drive to help people and participate in the positive change she wants for her community has brought her to TVCDC. She brings a wealth of experience in both retail and customer service to the Social Enterprise Program and has already begun to focus on building out the Program's capacity around the concrete steps necessary to form businesses, by taking the lead on the formation of Thunder Valley Farms, Inc.
Social Enterprise Program Assistant
rae@thundervalley.org
Rae Tall joined TVCDC in 2016 performing administrative functions and was quickly promoted Social Enterprise Program Assistant. Rae is a Rosebud Sioux Tribal citizen and was raised both on the Rosebud Reservation and the Pine Ridge Reservation. After completing high school in Rapid City, Rae attended Sinte Gleska University, where she focused on Human Studies. Rae's drive to help people and participate in the positive change she wants for her community has brought her to TVCDC. She brings a wealth of experience in both retail and customer service to the Social Enterprise Program and has already begun to focus on building out the Program's capacity around the concrete steps necessary to form businesses, by taking the lead on the formation of Thunder Valley Farms, Inc.
Nick Tilsen
Executive Director
nick@thundervalley.org
Tilsen is a fourth generation organizer who has been active in many organizing efforts - from human rights to environmental justice and community economic development, Nick founded Lakota Action Network, a youth organization working to protect sacred sites while promoting sustainable alternatives in renewable energy. Nick served as the Executive Director for Lakota Action Network for four years. In the fall of 2006 Nick founded the Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation, an organization dedicated to empowering Lakota youth & families through cultural and spiritual awareness. Thunder Valley built on a foundation of spirituality now is engaging sustainable community development. Thunder Valley is planning to build a green sustainable community on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation which has sites for homes, a place to incubate businesses, youth shelter, community fitness center, community training facility and other facilities needed to create opportunity for the Oglala Lakota Nation. Nick has served his people for 10 years doing community work, organizing, volunteering, training, community building, and work collaboratively with many families, organizations, schools and businesses on the Reservation.
Executive Director
nick@thundervalley.org
Tilsen is a fourth generation organizer who has been active in many organizing efforts - from human rights to environmental justice and community economic development, Nick founded Lakota Action Network, a youth organization working to protect sacred sites while promoting sustainable alternatives in renewable energy. Nick served as the Executive Director for Lakota Action Network for four years. In the fall of 2006 Nick founded the Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation, an organization dedicated to empowering Lakota youth & families through cultural and spiritual awareness. Thunder Valley built on a foundation of spirituality now is engaging sustainable community development. Thunder Valley is planning to build a green sustainable community on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation which has sites for homes, a place to incubate businesses, youth shelter, community fitness center, community training facility and other facilities needed to create opportunity for the Oglala Lakota Nation. Nick has served his people for 10 years doing community work, organizing, volunteering, training, community building, and work collaboratively with many families, organizations, schools and businesses on the Reservation.
Liz Welch
Director of Development
liz@thundervalley.org
Liz has dedicated the last four years of her career working with non-profits, particularly in Native American Communities. She recently graduated with a Masters of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Southern California, concentrating on Community Organizing, Planning, and Administration. Prior to obtaining her MSW, Liz served as a Red Cloud Indian School volunteer for three years. During her time as an undergraduate student at Marquette University, where she obtained her Bachelors in Sociology and Social Welfare and Justice in 2010, she gained valuable outreach experience through volunteer work on community development projects in Milwaukee. She also participated in, organized, and led Marquette student volunteer trips to New Orleans to work in the Lower Ninth Ward with Common Ground Relief. She assisted local residents in a wide variety of capacities, from building homes to assisting people in becoming homeowners. In addition to her volunteer work in the United States, Liz has served as a group counselor and job skills trainer at St. Anne’s Home domestic violence shelter for women in Cape Town, South Africa. Liz is committed to grassroots community development and enjoys traveling.
Director of Development
liz@thundervalley.org
Liz has dedicated the last four years of her career working with non-profits, particularly in Native American Communities. She recently graduated with a Masters of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Southern California, concentrating on Community Organizing, Planning, and Administration. Prior to obtaining her MSW, Liz served as a Red Cloud Indian School volunteer for three years. During her time as an undergraduate student at Marquette University, where she obtained her Bachelors in Sociology and Social Welfare and Justice in 2010, she gained valuable outreach experience through volunteer work on community development projects in Milwaukee. She also participated in, organized, and led Marquette student volunteer trips to New Orleans to work in the Lower Ninth Ward with Common Ground Relief. She assisted local residents in a wide variety of capacities, from building homes to assisting people in becoming homeowners. In addition to her volunteer work in the United States, Liz has served as a group counselor and job skills trainer at St. Anne’s Home domestic violence shelter for women in Cape Town, South Africa. Liz is committed to grassroots community development and enjoys traveling.
