Silver Bullet Productions

Leadership

Silver Bullet Productions

Leadership
The volunteer Board of Directors offers guidance to the organization in specific areas of expertise for which each is uniquely qualified. Each Director selects his or her own committee to assist in setting committee goals. The Chair and Co-Chair of the Board communicate with the officers and Board members. As the leaders of the Board of Directors, they are responsible for participating on the Executive Committee, challenging the policy, focus, and outcome to protect adherence to the Mission Statement, goals, and values.

Silver Bullet Productions Officers

 Pamela Pierce, JD. CEO

Pamela Pierce, JD. CEO

Pam Pierce (CEO and President) is an attorney (licensed in Tennessee, South Carolina, and the United States Supreme Court), a teacher, and child advocate, and is the founding partner and CEO of Silver Bullet Productions, a nonprofit education film company in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Pam is the producer of Silver Bullet Productions’ award winning documentaries (Canes of Power; Ancient Pathways: Modern Leaders; A Thousand Voices; Defending the Fire), effectively combining careers in education and law in film production of educational documentaries. Pam has produced or taught over 50 educational film projects that encourage the growth of film industry through relevant learning in New Mexico’s tribal and rural communities. In production now is a documentary to protect tribal lands, Power of Place.  Pam is serving her second term as a Commissioner on the Mayor’s Commission on Film and Digital Media having served at the request of two Mayors of Santa Fe. She serves on the Education Committee of the Rocky Mountain Regional Emmy’s. Silver Bullet Productions was awarded the prestigious Governor’s Award by the Rocky Mountain Regional Emmys for their body of work. Pam lives with her husband in Santa Fe, New Mexico. 

Robert W. Pierce CFO

Robert W. Pierce CFO

Robert is a seasoned CFO with comprehensive experience in senior financial management of publicly owned, multinational consumer products companies. Bob has experience in all aspects of corporate financial management, including the development of financial organization and reporting processes, direction of internal and external financial reporting, management of debt and equity financings, and formulation of strategic direction. He was formerly Executive Vice President and CFO of Carson, Inc., Executive Vice President and CFO of Maybelline, Inc., and Senior Vice President, Administration and Finance and CFO of Noxell Corporation. He was also Audit Manager of Arthur Young & Company.

Matthew J. Martinez, Ph.D  COO

Matthew J. Martinez, Ph.D COO

Matthew earned his Ph.D. in American Studies and American Indian Studies at the University of Minnesota. He is currently the Deputy Director at the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture. Previously he served as First Lieutenant Governor of Ohkay Owingeh and faculty of Pueblo Indian Studies at Northern New Mexico College. Matthew has published in the areas of Pueblo history and has served as an Advisor and Associate Producer on Silver Bullet Productions. 

Board of Directors

Jhane Myers, President

Jhane Myers, President

Jhane, a Comanche and Blackfeet American Indian is known for her dedication to producing, Native language, Native cultural advising, acting and award-winning fine art. Most recently, she was named a Sundance/Time Warner Producer Fellow for her work on the documentary N. Scott Momaday: Words from a Bear (2018) for the American Masters Series.

Jhane has served her Comanche people as a two term vice chair of the Comanche National Museum board. She is also the project manager for the Native Cinema Showcase of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) and Class X, the film competition of the Southwestern Association of American Indian Art (SWAIA).

Maura Dhu Studi, Vice President

Maura Dhu Studi, Vice President

Television, film and stage actress, film acting teacher, screenwriter, narrator for documentary films, director, singer in NY, Los Angeles, Santa Fe, Nashville, and third generation entertainer, the daughter of Academy Award winner, Jack Albertson, wife of Wes Studi, and proud mother of fourth generation actor Kholan Studi.

Board photographs above are the generous gift of Ward Russell Photography, Santa Fe.

Terry A. Sloan, Secretary

Terry A. Sloan, Secretary

Terry A. Sloan is a Dine’/Navajo and Hopi Native American from Tuba City, Arizona born in Shiprock, New Mexico, born of the Kinyaa’áanii – Towering House Clan and born for the Tó’aheedlíinii – Water-Flows-Together Clan, currently living in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Mr. Sloan is the Director of his NGO Southwest Native Cultures where he an accredited member of the United Nations since May 2011. He has actively participated in United Nations sessions and meetings since May 2013. Of particular focus is the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, Indigenous Peoples rights, Climate Change, Human Rights and Environmental Justice Issues.  Mr. Sloan has worked with the Obama administration White House, U.S. State Department, the NM U.S. Congressional Delegation, State of NM legislators and various Tribal/Indigenous Leaders.    

Mr. Sloan is the City of Albuquerque/Mayor Tim Keller’s Intergovernmental Tribal Liaison.  Charged with working with the 23 Tribes of New Mexico and directly with the five surrounding Albuquerque Tribes, the Pueblos of Isleta, Laguna, Santa Ana, Sandia and the To’Hajiilee’ Navajo Chapter. In addition, working for the 60,000 Native American residents of the Albuquerque representing 400+ Tribes.

Mr. Sloan a manager accountant/auditor by Profession with Sloan and Company for over 25 years. He has extensive experience with Tribal enterprises, Tribal governments, nonprofit organizations, for-profit organizations, and a variety of small businesses. In addition to auditing experience, he has management advisory experience in the areas of operational planning, business computer system design and implementation, business and individual income tax, and accounting systems and procedures development.

Mr. Sloan is a Board member with the national environmental organization Interfaith Power and Light–NM, Board member with Silver Bullet Productions of Santa Fe, Board member with the national organization the Green Amendments for the Generations, Board Treasurer with the United Nations Association–Albuquerque, the NGO Indigenous Women’s Knowledge, and Board of Directors/Treasurer with the Jemez Community Development Corporation.  And a member of the Hopi NGO Black Mesa Trust of Kykotsmovi, Arizona as a Circle of Advisors member.

And Mr. Sloan is a member of the Sierra Club, National Parks Conservation Association, American Civil Liberties Union, The Wilderness Society, Earthjustice, Amnesty International, Greenpeace, the Environmental Defense Fund, the Albuquerque Bio-Methane and Climate Change Coalitions, and the Greater Chaco Coalition.

MaryEllen Collins

MaryEllen Collins

MaryEllen Collins grew up in the press box booth at Milwaukee County Stadium while her father announced for Milwaukee’s national baseball teams. She developed a love for sports and to this day loves the sound of the crack of the bat and the taste of brats and beer. 
 
With a Bachelor Degree in Psychology and a Masters in Marketing, MaryEllen has been in the advertising and marketing world for over 45 years. Well versed in the marketing and promotions arena, she returns to  Silver Bullet Productions spearheading events, promotions and social media. 
Karl Duncan

Karl Duncan

Karl Duncan, Arikara, Hidatsa, Mandan, San Carlos Apache, is Executive Director for the Poeh Cultural Center at the Pueblo of Pojoaque. Karl is a graduate of the Institute of American Indian Arts, where he received a BA in Museum Studies. Karl has worked as the Curator for the Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino Art Collection. He serves as Vice-President of the Continuous Pathways Foundation and board member of the Buffalo Thunder Incorporated board in Pojoaque. Since his arrival at the Poeh, Karl facilitated the return of a historic collection of 100 pieces of Tewa Pueblo pottery on long-term loan from the Smithsonian Institute’s National Museum of the American Indian. Additional development at the Poeh includes the creation of an Arts & Culture District, construction of the Tewa Learning Center to house the Poeh Collections & Archives and development of a community Park.

 Lisa Lucas

Lisa Lucas

Lisa Lucas is a professional writer/producer/actor. She graduated from Bowdoin College with a degree in French Literature and Theater Arts. For the last 24 years, Lisa has produced, written and developed over 36 TV series which include the popular ABC series The BachelorWork of Art on Bravo and the Emmy winning My 1st Time on NBC.  She is an Executive Producer and principal partner in the Santa Fe based production company, LikeMinds, LLC with Sarah Gartner, where they develop/write/produce scripted and docu-series for TV as well as independent films, shorts and documentary features. Lisa was an adjunct professor at the Santa Fe University of Art & Design Film School for 5 years where she taught Advanced Production and Finance, Indie Film 101 (screenwriting & producing) as well as Women in Cinema courses.  Lisa co-hosts a life-during-pandemic cooking series, @coronakitchen on facebook live & youtube with actor/writer/producer Debrianna Mansini and has co-authored the cookbook “That Time We Ate Our Feelings” to be published by Apollo Publishers in September, 2021. Current film projects include the short film, The Holy Word, the television special Brand New Day for PBS and the independent feature Married at Fourteen (WT) with co-writerTerry Borst. LikeMinds is also in development on the TV docu-series Trans New York (WT) and Valerie Plame’s COVERT (WT).

 JoAnn Melchor

JoAnn Melchor

JoAnn Melchor is from Santo Domingo Pueblo, New Mexico. JoAnn is the President and CEO of New Mexico Foundation. The Foundation’s mission is to steward community resources, build partnerships, and create opportunities that transform lives throughout the state. JoAnn has extensive experience working with youth, parents and communities throughout New Mexico, the U.S., and Latin America. JoAnn has worked with several non-profit organizations including Futures for Children, American Indian Graduate Center, Southwest Youth Services, and the Keres Children’s Learning Center (KCLC). JoAnn also worked as the Director of the 21st Century Community Learning Center program at Santo Domingo School, coordinating the Afterschool program and Summer Academy for students from Santo Domingo and Cochiti Pueblos. JoAnn is a lifelong volunteer and advocate for programs and initiatives that promote the well-being of children and positive development of communities. Career Highlights include establishing partnerships with local and national funders, and the Corporation for National and Community Service AmeriCorps VISTA Program. JoAnn has also served on several committees, task forces and boards that impact the well-being of children. JoAnn currently serves on several local boards and is on the Education Committee of SBP.

Porter Swentzell

Porter Swentzell

Porter Swentzell, Ph.D, Pueblo of Santa Clara, is an Assistant Professor of Indigenous Liberal Studies at Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, NM. Porter has a Doctor of Philosophy, Justice Studies, a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies; he is a Regent at Northern New Mexico College, and serves on several non profit and community Boards for leadership In Nation American culture and education. Porter has researched and presented on “Indigenous place-based education and traditional arts”; “Place-based Education and Sovereignty: “Tewa Based History” and dozens more, including “The Pueblo Revolt of 1680” and “Pueblos of the Rio Grande”. Porter was an essential Advisor and participant in Silver Bullet Productios “Defending the Fire” documentary.

Advisors

Conroy Chino

A former television reporter and news anchor in Albuquerque and Los Angeles, Conroy Chino helped establish the Advocates for Business and Community Development LLC in 2009, a New Mexico company whose primary purpose is to provide tribes with technical assistance and consulting services in the area of business and economic development.

George Rivera

Past Governor of Pojoaque Pueblo, world renowned artist with work displayed at the National Museum of the American Indian. Visionary for Poeh Cultural Center and Museum and the Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casino. Advocate for Native American arts, language, culture, and economic development.

Veronica Tiller

Noted historian, Dr. Veronica E. Velarde Tiller is a member of the Jicarilla Apache Nation and widely regarded as the contemporary authority on the modern-day economic life of Native American tribes. She is also an educator, lecturer, business owner, and publisher.

Brian D. Vallo

Brian serves as Director of the Indian Arts Research Center at the School for Advanced Research in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Governor of Pueblo of Acoma, Director of Historic Preservation, and Founding Director of the Sky City Cultural Center & Haakú Museum.

Honorary Board of Directors

Wes Studi

A Cherokee actor, artist, and activist, star of The Last of the Mohicans, Dances with Wolves, and of the Hillerman films bringing Joe Leaphorn to life.

Thank you for your interest in cultural education. By supporting Silver Bullet Productions, you become part of the solution for educational challenges.