Warrior Woman Spirit
Maria RAgonese
BOARD CHAIRPERSON – Maria is the director of operations and project management for the Indigenous nonprofit PAZA Tree of Life. She began her career in Corporate America as an administrative assistant in the financial district of New York City. After the attacks of September 11, 2001, where Maria lost two family members, she became an advocate for the rights of many 9-11 families including her own. This radically reshaped her life. Throughout the years, Maria has been certified through organizations such as VNA Hospice, Crisis Text Line, and Stephen Ministries to counsel and guide people through life’s difficult journeys. Maria’s deep appreciation and respect for Native American History and Culture began when she was a child. She always felt that someday it would have a significant place in her life. Today, she is an adopted member of the Sans Arc Band of the Lakota Souix. Her native name is Wichapi Waziya Wyan which means North Star Woman.
Shawna N. Fitzpatrick-Harris
BOARD SECRETARY, PROGRAM DIRECTOR – Shawna has been a production assistant, graphic designer for Broken Hand Productions, LLC and the online store manager for Spirit Wind Films, LLC for over four years. She created the Humanity Shines logo for this nonprofit company and the logo for the Moon Drake children’s series. Shawna also created the red feather logo for Sacajawea and all associated programs. Since 2006 Shawna has been an entrepreneur working in fashion, textile design and graphic arts and design. She is the Costume Assistant for the Sacajawea, The Windcatcher film. Costume design and her knowledge of fashion (considering historical time periods and genre) and her unique art are utilized in all her works. Shawna and her husband, Marc, own a retail store, Rock & Roll Prospecting and Jewelry. Through Spirit Wind Films, LLC, she created the illustrations for the children’s books The Grass Maiden, Sacajawea, and Petunia the Pink Tyrannosaurus Rex (in production) and the chapter artwork for the pre-teen book Crabtree: Lost Kids of Borealonon, soon to be published.
Susan K. Funk
Susan is from the Confederated Salish/ Kootenai tribes, Flathead Reservation. She has worked in film for over 30 years – first in front of the camera then moving behind and working her way up through the ranks from casting to craft services and catering, from PA to assistant director, and eventually into production management and producing. Susan has worked on a wide range of projects throughout her career including Men of Honor, The Postman, Bandits, and Cabin Fever (reboot). She has brought her production management and assistant directing skills to multiple award-winning short films, features, and music videos. In addition, her casting skills have secured extras in The Kill Hole, Bad Samaritan, The Librarians, and Wonder Woman 84. She is co-producer/casting associate for the Sacajawea, The Windcatcher production and casting producer for the Moon Drake children’sseries. Susan has also been line producer and production manager on the features, Something Like Summer, Deet n’ Bax, Save the World, Red Handed, and The Dark Place, among others.
Tanille Yow Ulm
Tanille is a co-owner, producer, writer and casting director for Temple Gate Films LLC. In the beginning of her film career, Warner Brothers Studio provided Tanille an all-expense paid trip to their set in Georgia. There she became intrigued with the behind-the-scenes movie-making action. She went back to be in John Goodman’s movie Captive State in Chicago and began to get small roles in Chicago PD, Chicago Med, Chicago Fire and Empire. These smaller roles led to her being a PA for Christakis’ and Scorsese’s First String and Crux Jinx movie The Irish Goodbye. She is co-producer/casting associate for the Sacajawea, The Windcatcher film, casting director for the Moon Drake children’s series and is currently casting for We Bleed Blue and Wilkes County Line. With her Native American ancestry, Tanille also brings a caring heart for indigenous people.
Michele Derose MacShane
Michele is an actress, singer/songwriter, and writer. A proud member of SAG/AFTRA/ACTORS EQUITY/ASCAP, she has been actively involved in the entertainment industry since the age of five under the direction of her late father, Bert DeRose. A graduate of the University at Albany, SUNY, Michele has performed in numerous regional and award-winning Off/Broadway productions in NYC, as well as roles in TV, commercials and award-winning films at The Woodstock Film Festival and Action on Film International Film Festival in Monrovia, CA. One of her biggest highlights was being cast by Director/Filmmaker/Actor Spike Lee in a NYC voting elections’ commercial in 2009. Michele’s latest accomplishment is with her comedic character role Gertie Beard, having a TV segment on The Critter Cuzzins Ozark Music & Comedy Show, and as hippie Raven Rainbow on Kelly James & The Folk Review TV show both now streaming on ROKU TV. Michele is casting assistant for the Moon Drake children’s series.
Humanity Shines Organization 