Staff
Sherrie Bowman
Administrative Coordinator
Sherrie Bowman is a tribal member from the Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico. She comes to AIANTA with over 18 years experience in the hospitality and tourism industry. Starting off at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in 1985 she worked as a sales associate in the gift shop and was later promoted to work as the facilities coordinator where she handled the rental and coordination of meeting rooms which included banquets, luncheons, conference off site functions, and weddings. Later she was promoted to the special events coordinator/public relations representative.
As special events coordinator she was responsible for all special events at the center some of which included arts and crafts shows, American Indian Week activities, America Japan Week co-sponsored by the sister city of Albuquerque, Veteran’s Day celebration, Multi-Cultural Festival, Senior Citizen’s Day and many other events throughout the year. After 13 years she left and went to work for the New Mexico Indian Tourism Association (NMITA) as the administrative assistant. At that time NMITA hosted and coordinated the first annual American Indian Tourism Conference (AITC).
She also assisted with the development of Indian Tourism Interviews with New Mexico Tribal Governments. In 2000, she left to become the marketing coordinator for the Pueblo of Laguna’s Dancing Eagle Casino. She supervised a casino host team, the Player’s Club, and sales promotions where she assisted with the development and creation of a player tracking program, department policies & procedures and adherence to Internal Controls; communicated and implemented programs with the Director of Marketing; worked with the Gaming Control Board in adhering to all policies and procedures for all promotions in obtaining their approval; responsible gaming representative for the Responsible Gaming Association of New Mexico; and trade show coordination.
Prior to coming to work for AIANTA, Sherrie worked for the Pueblo of Sandia for six years as an administrative coordinator for a grant funded program. Sherrie has an associate of applied science degree is hospitality & tourism and an associate degree in liberal arts. Sherrie is a proud mother of three children, Helen, Ryan, and Jontel and is “Nana” to her two granddaughters, Dakota and Daisha.
You can reach Sherrie by email at sbowman@aianta.org
Staci Eagle Elk
Public Affairs Specialist
Staci Eagle Elk comes to us from the Osage Nation in Pawhuska, Oklahoma where she gained a multitude of experience beginning in ’95 in Social Services to her most recent position of Tourism Director from 2003 until 2007. During her tenure as Tourism Director, she became acquainted with AIANTA as a member and eventually served as a Plains Representative Board Member. In 2008 when AIANTA established an office in Albuquerque, Staci took the position of Marketing Director, has served as the Interim Operations Manager before moving into the position of Public Affairs Specialist for AIANTA.
She has a B.A. in Journalism Public Relations/Advertising from the University of Central Oklahoma, and is currently pursuing a Masters degree in Rural Sociology, specializing in Native Community Development from South Dakota State University. During her tenure as the Osage Nation Tourism Director, Staci had the honor of representing the Osage Nation as the Osage Representative for the Circle of Tribal Advisors Lewis & Clark Bicentennial, Standing Bear Memorial, and Board of Directors for the Pawhuska Chamber of Commerce and represented the tribe in other various capacities.
Staci is the proud mother of two children, Coleman & Lily Eagle Elk, and the only daughter of the late Sherri & Robert Sellers both of Pawhuska. She is a member of the Buffalo Bull clan of the WAH-XA-KO-LIN (Pawhuska) district and believes that Osage In-Lon-Shka is on one of the most beautiful and healing sites on this earth.
Staci’s hobbies include beadwork, powwows, reading, and attending her children’s sporting events. She and her children love to travel and have experienced many tribal cultures across Indian country attending various powwows and cultural events.
You can reach Staci by email at stacieagleelk@aianta.org
Leslie Kedelty
Executive Director
Leslie serves as the Executive Director of the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association and is responsible for managing the daily operations, programs and personnel of the national association. Leslie has been in the travel and tourism industry for almost 18 years graduating with her Master’s Degree from New Mexico State University in Tourism Planning and Management. Coincidently, her master’s thesis topic was on the development and framework of a national Indian tourism association.
Leslie has worked in both the tribal and state tourism arenas. She has worked for the Wyoming Office of Tourism, the Navajo Nation Tourism Development Department, the New Mexico Department of Tourism, and in her free time, has provided consulting services to tribal entities. Her expertise lies in community based tourism planning and development, destination marketing education initiatives, visitor services, and building collaboration and partnerships.
Leslie is Diné from Crystal, New Mexico and enjoys spending time with family, assisting with ranch work and livestock, baking, and the proud owner of two, rambunctious rez dogs.
You can reach Leslie by email at lkedelty@aianta.org
