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2024 has brought us a year of growth and excitement, from our new and existing projects to continuing to work with new producers and expanding our community. We are very proud to announce three new employees that have joined the Vision Maker Media family! Please give a warm welcome to Pat, Walt, Tony, Kris and Leala! 

pat o'meara: cultural education director

Pat O’Meara is Cultural Education Director and organizes the learning opportunities for K-12 students with a focus on Native cultural perspectives and context. His responsibilities include the development and implementation of cultural education plans and programs for virtual platforms on YouTube for Kids and PBS Learning Media. Pat plays the bass in a band and loves to talk about his family!

Walt Pourier: Chief Marketing Officer

Walt Pourier is Chief Marketing Officer. Having been on the VMM Board of Directors for four years, two of which he served as the Vice Chair, Walt is very familiar with VMM’s vision and mission, as he helped to develop it. With his decades of experience in advertising, design, brand identity and marketing, as well as his lifelong commitment to Native country through community outreach and client work. Walt has inspired to create a single voice messaging to collective voice branding campaign for Vision Maker Media. If you’ve met Walt you know he possesses the gift of gab and will talk your ear off on anything and everything!

Tony PéRez-Soto : Chief Project Officer

Anthony (Tony) Pérez-Soto is Chief Project Officer. With years of experience as an environmental activist and community organizer, Tony has led climate adaptation projects in over 22 countries, focusing on supporting Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities. Fluent in four languages and rooted in his Indigenous heritage, Tony is passionate about amplifying Native voices, advancing climate justice, and empowering youth. When Tony isn’t leading projects, you can find him exploring new hiking trails or sharing stories about his travels around the world.

Kris Stanely: Program Coordinator

Kris Stanley rejoins Vision Maker Media as Program Coordinator. After working with VMM in the past, Kris is excited to return and bring his wealth of experience to the team. With over a decade of experience in New York City’s production industry, Kris has worked on various projects, including editing for the Food Network, art direction for comedy tours, and set decoration for award-winning films like The Neighbor’s Window. A Nebraska native, Kris is thrilled to be back home, where he enjoys gardening, rescuing turtles, and documenting oral histories. He’s looking forward to supporting VMM’s mission by amplifying underrepresented voices.

leala pourier: digital marketing specialist

Leala Pourier is Digital Marketing Specialist. She works with VMM on communications and outreach through different digital platforms and direct work within the community. With years of experience in the environmental activism field, Leala has travelled across the world to educate and advocate for the Indigenous perspective and further devlope a passion for platforming Native voices. Leala aims to show the world how important Native stories are to our developing society. She is our resident “Master of Words” and is a dedicated bookworm!

Walt Pourier

Vice Chair

Walt is Oglala Lakota and created the logo for Urban Rez. He is Creative Director, owner of Nakota Designs Advertising Designs and Graphics. Executive Director of the Stronghold Society nonprofit dedicated to instilling hope and supporting youth movements through Live Life Call To Action Campaigns.

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lynn palmanteer-holder

Lynn Palmanteer-Holder, an Indigenous plateau woman of North Central Washington and member of eight of twelve Tribes of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. Lynn recently retired as inaugural Director of Tribal Government Affairs for Washington State Board of Community and Technical Colleges, the state’s oversight agency of 34 CTCs.  She is a highly accomplished professional that spans over 40 years. She is an experienced educator that has a demonstrated history across K12, post-secondary & higher education as a teacher, school counselor, superintendent, researcher, and professor. Also, she has diverse experience as an entrepreneur, Tribal leader and administrator. She is skilled in curriculum and program development, facilitating government to government relationships that led to formal partnerships between state institutions and Tribes developing custom programs. Lynn has served on many boards and has been recognized for various statewide, and national awards. She has several scholarly publications and has done various conference presentations and speaking engagements, at the local, national and international level. Lynn holds a Ph.C. (ABD) in Social Welfare Policy from University of Washington. She earned her M.Ed., with a concentration in counseling psychology from Washington State University and B.Ed., in K12 Education from Eastern Washington University. Lynn is a wife of 49 years, a mother of three adult professional children, granny of 10 and great granny to two. Lynn and her husband are high school sweethearts, and together enjoy time with their 15+ two-legged blessings.