In Memory of Leanne Kaʻiulani Ferrer​

Executive Director of Pacific Islanders in Communications​

Leanne Kaʻiulani Ferrer

PIC Executive Director, visionary, advocate

“The greatest loss we experience is when someone so dear, so kind, and so good to so many goes before their time.

All of us at Vision Maker Media are heartbroken and stunned by the loss of beloved Leanne Kaʻiulani Ferrer, Executive Director of Pacific Islanders in Communications. She was an admirable leader, a farseeing visionary and a respected elder in her community and nationwide.

We will greatly miss Leanne. As we honor her legacy, guided by her work, supporting her projects and her team, we can only hope that can do as well as she would have.”

Francene Blythe-Lewis Executive Director, Vision Maker Media (Dine, Sisseton-Wahpeton, Eastern Band Cherokee)
Leanne Kaʻiulani Ferrer, Executive Director of Pacific Islanders in Communications
Leanne Kaʻiulani Ferrer, Executive Director of Pacific Islanders in Communications

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.

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.