Staff
Rebecca S. Martinez
Executive Director
Rebecca S. Martinez was named Executive Director of the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA). Martinez, most recently with the New Mexico Indian Affairs Department, joined the AIANTA staff full-time beginning May 3, 2010. As Executive Director, she will lead day-to-day operations, oversee fundraising, manage and grow the long-standing successful annual American Indian Tourism Conference held every September, and coordinate new initiatives and partnerships for the national organization.
As Capital Outlay Manager for the New Mexico Indian Affairs Department (IAD) since 2004, she oversaw the agency’s administration of over 600 capital outlay projects, special projects and special appropriations. She also provided technical assistance and training to New Mexico’s 22 tribal communities in the areas of community infrastructure planning, implementation of capital outlay projects, and initiating legislative priorities.
Martinez, of Hispanic heritage from Antonito, Colorado, was raised in northern Utah and has lived in New Mexico for more than 22 years. A graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder, she received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing.
Prior to coming to the Indian Affairs Department, she worked for the Pueblo of Jemez from 1993 to 2004 in various capacities including Assistant Tribal Administrator, Grant Writer and Director of Tourism. Martinez gained extensive experience in the area of fund raising, fund development and special event organization when she worked for the Institute of American Indian Arts as Development Associate (1992 -1993) and the Southwestern Association on Indian Arts as Administrator for Development (1989-1991).
The University of Colorado, Graduate School of Business, also provided extensive experience in the area of organizing large conferences when Martinez worked as a Conference Coordinator and Managing Editor (Apr. 1987 – Oct. 1988). Prior to this, she worked for the Native American Rights Fund in Boulder Colorado in various capacities including Management Consultant, Office Manager, Research Assistant and Legal Secretary (Jan. 1977 – Feb. 1987).
Hobbies include beadworking, quiltmaking, sewing, reading, swimming, and hiking. Rebecca enjoys traveling with her 18 year-old daughter, Shayna Rose Grandbois, during here leisurely time.
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.
Sherrie Bowman
Administrative Assistant
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.
