Marshall Pierite
Chairman
Marshall Pierite is the proud Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, whose reservation is located in Marksville, Louisiana. With more than three decades of service to his Tribal Nation, he has held several elected positions on the Tunica-Biloxi Tribal Council, including Secretary-Treasurer, Vice Chairman, and Chairman. Throughout his career, Chairman Pierite has remained deeply committed to advancing the sovereignty, economic strength, and long-term prosperity of his people.
A native Louisianan, Chairman Pierite began his career by proudly serving in the United States Marine Corps with a military occupational specialty in administration. Following his military service, he returned home and began working for the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe as a medical clerk. Through dedication and strong leadership, he advanced within the Tribe’s Health Department and was ultimately promoted to Director of the Social Services Department.
During his time on the Tribal Council, Chairman Pierite has played a key role in strengthening government operations and expanding opportunities for Tribal citizens. His work has included oversight of government administration, budgeting, infrastructure development, economic development initiatives, community development programs, and tax policy. Through these efforts, he has developed extensive expertise in Tribal governance, federal regulatory systems, government-to-government negotiations, and building strategic partnerships between Tribal governments, federal agencies, and private industry. Now serving his second full term as Chairman, he continues to foster unity and shared purpose within the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe while advancing initiatives that create jobs, expand economic opportunity, and strengthen transparency and accountability in Tribal government.
In addition to his public service, Chairman Pierite has demonstrated significant leadership in corporate governance and economic enterprise. He previously served as Chief Executive Officer of MobiLoans, a financial services corporation owned and operated by the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe. Under his leadership, MobiLoans grew from a small startup into a multi-million-dollar national financial institution. As CEO, he oversaw the company’s expanding portfolio while creating workforce development and employment opportunities for citizens of Louisiana. In recognition of his leadership and service, he was later named Chairman of the Board of Directors of MobiLoans, a position he currently holds.
Beyond his work within the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe, Chairman Pierite has served in numerous leadership roles across Tribal, nonprofit, and private-sector organizations. His service has included roles as Chairman and Co-Chairman of the Carcieri Task Force Board; Board Member of the United States Chamber of Commerce Native American Enterprise Initiative; Board Member of United South and Eastern Tribes (USET); Board Member of the National Online Lending Alliance; Liaison Officer to the Tunica-Biloxi Economic Development Corporation; Mentor to the Tunica-Biloxi Youth Council; and Committee Member of the USET Social Services Program.
He currently serves as Chairman of the Inter-Tribal Council of Louisiana and the Institute for Indian Development; Chairman of the Tunica-Biloxi Economic Development Authority; Board Member of the Southern Partners Fund; Founding Member of the Gulf States American Indian Chamber of Commerce; 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 at Lafayette Foundation; 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.
In recognition of his leadership and contributions to Indian Country, Chairman Pierite was named Tribal Leader of the Year in 2022 by the Native American Finance Officers Association and received the 2024 George Nolan Award from the National American Indian Housing Council for his extraordinary service and dedication to advancing American Indian housing. He also served on the first Tribal Intergovernmental Advisory Committee created by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development to strengthen nation-to-nation collaboration between HUD and Tribal Nations. Additionally, he served as Vice Chairman of the Intergovernmental Advisory Council for the Federal Communications Commission.
Chairman Pierite has also worked to elevate the national voice of Tribal Nations through advocacy and policy leadership. In both 2019 and 2023, he ran for President of the National Congress of American Indians, the nation’s largest and oldest organization representing Tribal governments. His campaign emphasized strengthening Tribal sovereignty, supporting Tribal women and youth, protecting Tribal lands and waterways, and ensuring that all Tribal Nations have a strong voice in national policy discussions.
Most recently, Chairman Pierite has expanded his leadership to the national stage through efforts focused on advancing Tribal economic sovereignty and strengthening collaboration between Tribal Nations, federal policymakers, and private-sector leaders. He authored a forward-looking white paper positioning Indian Country as a solution to many of the nation’s greatest challenges, including economic revitalization, workforce development, and domestic manufacturing growth. The paper generated significant interest at the federal level and helped open new dialogue between Tribal leaders and policymakers.
Building on that momentum, Chairman Pierite began hosting a series of government-to-government roundtables that brought together Tribal leaders, federal agencies, and industry partners to explore economic development opportunities and policy solutions for Indian Country. The success of these convenings ultimately led to the creation of the Native American Coalition for Economic Prosperity (NACEP), a national initiative founded by Chairman Pierite to unite Tribal Nations, federal policymakers, and private-sector partners around shared economic priorities. He currently serves as the coalition’s President, working to advance economic development, workforce growth, infrastructure investment, and strategic public-private partnerships that position Indian Country as a central driver of America’s future economic prosperity.
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.
Shelbie Lyn Sampson
Secretary-Treasurer
Newly elected Secretary-Treasurer Shelbie Lyn Sampson, a native of Marksville, Louisiana, is the youngest
woman in the Tribe’s history to serve as Secretary/Treasurer. A Valedictorian graduate of Marksville High
School, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Louisiana State University and completed the
Tribal Leaders Program at Harvard Business School. She is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority,
Incorporated and has served the organization in various capacities. Sampson’s professional experience
includes roles with Louisiana State University, Smoothie King Headquarters and the George W. Bush
Presidential Center.
In her current position, she brings strong expertise in financial management,
operations and strategic planning, with a leadership approach grounded in ethical standards, transparency
and accountability. She is committed to fostering partnerships and supporting sustainable growth while
upholding the values of her community.
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.
Harold Pierite
Council Member
Harold Pierite, Sr., a native of Avoyelles Parish, has served as Chief of Police for the Tunica-Biloxi Police
Department for over 20 years and has held multiple law enforcement roles since 1991. Appointed in 2017
to the Louisiana State Police Commission, he also serves on several boards and has been a long-time
member of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribal Council, last serving in 2022. Known for his disciplined, by-the-book
leadership, Pierite was inducted into the Louisiana Justice Hall of Fame in 2022 – the organization’s highest
honor.
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.