Marshall Pierite
Chairman
Marshall Pierite is the proud Chairman and CEO of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana whose reservation is located in Marksville, Louisiana. For more than 30 years, he has held several elected positions on the Tribal Council including Secretary-Treasurer, Vice-Chairman, and Chairman of the Tribe. A Native Louisianan, Chairman Pierite began his career by serving in the United States Marine Corps with a military occupational specialty in administration. Following his military service, he worked for the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana as a medical clerk. After receiving progression promotions within the Tribe’s Health Department, he was promoted to Director of the Social Services Department.
Over the course of his time on the Tribal Council, Chairman Pierite worked on government operations, budgeting, infrastructure development, economic development, community development, and tax policy development. Chairman Pierite became well-versed in government operations throughout Indian Country, federal regulations, government-to-government negotiations, and relationship building between governmental organizations and private entities. Chairman Pierite is currently serving in his second full term as Chairman of Tunica-Biloxi and through this position he has been able to establish unity and purpose throughout the Tribe, create wealth and jobs, and provide accessibility and accountability.
Concurrent with Chairman Pierite’s service in Tribal Government, he also excelled in several positions in corporate governance. He served as the Chief Executive Officer of MobiLoans, a financial services corporation. Under his leadership, MobiLoans grew from a small start-up company to a multi-million-dollar national financial service institution. As CEO, he oversaw the multi-million-dollar portfolio all while creating workforce development opportunities for the citizens of Louisiana. Due to his outstanding service, he was named Chairman of the Board of Directors of MobiLoans, a position he currently holds. Chairman Pierite is also the founder and owner of The Pierite Group, LLC, a Louisiana-based company that provides business advisory services. He is also the co-founder and co-owner of Tribal Solutions Medical, a company dedicated to providing medical resources to underserved communities. He is also a founding member of Tribal Communications, a company created to connect the digital divide through technology and innovation in Indian Country and rural America.
Chairman Pierite has also served in key positions on several boards and committees with private, tribal, and non-profit organizations. He has served as Chairman and co-chairman of the Board of Carcieri Task Force; Board Member of the United States Chamber of Commerce/NAEI; Board Member of the United South and Eastern Tribes (USET); Board Member of the National Online Lending Alliance Board; Liaison Officer to the Tunica-Biloxi Economic Development Corporation; Mentor to the Tunica-Biloxi Youth Council; and Committee Member of the United South and Eastern Tribes (USET) Social Services Program. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Inter-Tribal Council of Louisiana; Committee Member of Southern Partners Fund; Founding Member of the Gulf States American Indian Chamber of Commerce; Board Member of the Tunica-Biloxi Economic Development Authority; Board Member of the Family Justice Center of Central Louisiana; Board Member of United Way of Central Louisiana; Board Member of the University of Louisiana-Lafayette Foundation Board; Board Member of the American 250 Louisiana State Commission; and Committee Member of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Governor’s Task Force.
Recently, Chairman Pierite was selected as the 2022 Tribal Leader of the Year by the Native American Finance Officers Association (NAFOA). He was also selected to serve on the first-ever Tribal Intergovernmental Advisory Committee through the Housing Urban and Development (HUD) agency which was created to strengthen nation-to-nation relationship building between HUD and Tribal Nations. Chairman Pierite’s tenure as the leader of Tunica-Biloxi is marked by his exceptional ability to secure substantial grants, totaling over $70 million. His advocacy for the interests of Indian Country led to his involvement in the historic signing of the Inflation Reduction Act in Washington D.C.
Chairman Pierite is currently running for the President of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), the organization that serves as a voice for over 570 Tribal nations across the country. His campaign focuses on prioritizing the needs and voices of all Tribal nations, with a focus on supporting Tribal women and youth, protecting Tribal lands and waterways, and upholding treaty rights.
Marshall Ray Sampson, Sr.
Vice Chairman
Marshall Ray Sampson, Sr. has served on the Tribal Council as a Council Member-at-Large since the spring of 1997 and most recently, as Vice-Chairman. Over the years he has worked on budgeting, educational development, political development and community development and has experience in marketing, operations, budgeting, employee training, business development, community relations and expense control. Sampson has more than 27 years of experience in Tribal government operations, gaming operations, information systems, marketing and hospitality administration. An employee of the Paragon Casino Resort since 1995, Sampson now holds the position of General Manager.
Beverly Chapman-Rachal
Secretary-Treasurer
Beverly Chapman-Rachal was currently re-elected to serve as the secretary and treasurer of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana. Prior to her role with the Tunica-Biloxi tribal council, Rachal worked at Paragon Casino Resort as the Hospitality Manager. She currently works for the Inter-Tribal Council of LA as a State Manager.
A native of Houston, Texas, Rachal lived on the Tunica-Biloxi reservation in Marksville where she attended and graduated from Marksville High School. Balancing an active lifestyle of work and family, Rachal currently resides in Marksville, La. with her husband Byron Rachal. She has two daughters, Nikki Lemoine and Lauren Abadie, and five grandchildren.
James Craig, III
Council Member
James Craig, III, from Chicago, IL, serves as a council member of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana. Before Craig was elected, he was a Relationship Manager at Bank of America, where he helped low-income and high-income clients by educating them on day-to-day personal finances, establishing new relationships with high clientele, and creating business relationships with business owners. Craig holds the rank of Staff Sergeant in the Illinois National Guard. His Military Occupation Specialty is Interrogation Operations Sergeant, where he oversees a special team of soldiers that conducts interrogations for international matters. During his tenure with the military, he has deployed two times to Iraq and once to Afghanistan, leading soldiers at the front lines. He has previously worked for MB Financial, Fifth Third Bank, and Harley Davidson.
Bobby Pierite
Council Member
Bobby Pierite, Sr. is an Associate Commissioner for the Tunica-Biloxi Tribal Gaming Commission. He has served aboard the Commission for over 24 years and presides over the Licensing, Inspector General, and Investigation Divisions. He is Vice President of the Tunica-Biloxi Housing Committee. A Marksville native, Pierite graduated from Marksville High School and attended Louisiana State University at Alexandria. Pierite attends Holy Ghost Church and serves as a Grand Knight for the Knights of Peter Claver.
Paulette Voiselle
Council Member
Paulette Gonzales Voiselle serves as a council member of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana. Voiselle works as a Tribal Liaison for the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe and is also a member of the Economic Development Board. She currently represents the tribe on the Human Services Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee (STAC), an Education Board Member for United Southern and Eastern Tribes (USET), and a Tribal Technical Advisory Committee (TTAC) member for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Before her role at the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe, she worked for 24 years with Paragon Casino Resort as Human Resources Director.
A native of Avoyelles Parish, Voiselle currently resides in Simmesport with her husband, Todd of 32 years. They have 3 children, Amber, Tyler, and Jacob, and 5 grandchildren Annalane, Greyson, Trace, Tatum and Jessie. She is an active member of Christ The King Catholic Church, serving as a Eucharist minister.
Dr. Julie Zahn
Council Member
Dr. Julie Zahn is the Director of the American Indian Center of Houston. Before her position with the TBED, she worked at various levels of public education. She has been a teacher, coordinator, and interventionist. Zahn holds several educator certifications and has completed numerous trainings.
Zahn completed her doctorate in Curriculum & Instruction/Special Education. She conducted her research on the educational system in underserved Native American communities. In addition to her doctorate, Zahn holds an Educational Specialist Degree, a Master of Education Degree, a Bachelor of Science Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies, and an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Human Services with a certificate in Basic Chemical Dependency. In addition, she has completed a graduate-level Dyslexia program. She recently earned her Board Certification in Special Education and Certification as a Community Health Worker.
During her studies, Zahn completed a counseling internship at one of Texas’s largest substance-use treatment centers for women. She has volunteered at several agencies that help women and children who are victims of domestic violence.