• Introduction
• One Paragraph Explanation
• One Page Explanation
• Mission
• Vision

• Themes
• Timeline
• Organization
• New American Highway Productions, Inc.

• Board of Advisors
• Team Members
• Special Acknowledgments
• Our Logo
• Correspondents

We must also ask where America finds herself now, some 500 years after the clash of civilizations that history has styled as the Conquista. As we seek these answers, it is incumbent upon us to look to the future, to ask where America might be going in light of her unique past. Thus our central question is really three questions:

What is America?
1) Where did America come from?
2) Where is America now?
3) Where is America going?

President & CEO, Michael Meurer
Michael's executive background is in both corporate and cause related marketing. In the mid-1990's, Michael founded Meurer Group, a communications firm serving a wide range of entertainment and non-profit clients ranging from Pipeline Music, Inc. to the Center for Law in the Public Interest, People for Parks, Environmental Defense, and many others. He has served in corporate management positions with Teledyne Corp., Kent Electronics, Inc. and GE and was President and co-founder of Automated Product Development, Inc., a highly successful hi-tech start up company.

After the 2000 U.S. election, Michael entered electoral politics full time. He was a co-founder of the Campaign for California's Future and of his own political consulting firm, Meurer Chen & Associates, in 2004. He has served as chair or co-chair of numerous fundraising events that have raised significant funding for both political and charitable causes over the past 10 years.

Driven by his growing sense that politics (whether left or right) offers few enduring solutions to our common problems, Michael founded New American Highway Productions, Inc. in 2006 to develop the Pan American Dreams project to explore the mystery and grandeur of the American story.

Michael graduated from the University of Montana in Missoula with a BA in liberal arts focused on history, philosophy and literature. He studied Latin American history and politics under Dr. Leo Lott, the noted Venezuela scholar, and is a lifelong student of both.

Nancy has traveled widely throughout the world, including a two week fact finding mission to Japan in 2007, where she studied urban planning, earthquake preparedness and public transit. She has corresponded with president Cristina Kirchner of Argentina to explore areas of cooperation between Buenos Aires and Beverly Hills.

She is married to Beverly Hills attorney James Krasne and has two sons, David and Kevin.

Armando Urioste, Director Emeritus, National Cinema Commission, La Paz, Bolivia
Prior to becoming the Director of Bolivia's National Cinema Commission (Consejo de Cine), Armando was the Vice Minister of the National Ministry for the Development of Culture. In this capacity, he developed a broad knowledge of Latin American cultures and histories, a perspective he carried with him during his long and successful tenure at the Consejo de Cine until leaving in June, 2009.

Armando lives and works in La Paz but travels widely throughout Latin America as a featured speaker on Bolivian culture at numerous conferences and symposia.

Armando is helping Pan American Dreams partner with Bolvian artists in a variety of areas to provide a fully developed picture of Bolivian culture and its special place in the history and current events of America today.

Adrian Belic, Academy Award nominated Producer and Director, Wadi Rum Productions, Los Angeles, CA
Adrian is a graduate of the University of Southern California film school who was born in America of Czechoslovakian and Yugoslavian parents. Adrian grew up in Chicago, but spent many summers behind the "Iron Curtain"? in Eastern Europe with family and friends. Listening late into the night to captivating stories from remarkable people both in the States and overseas drew him into the art of storytelling.

Adrian and his brother, Roko, formed Wadi Rum Productions in 1995 and embarked on their first production, Genghis Blues, winner of the 1999 Sundance Audience Award and a 2000 Academy Award Nomination for Best Feature Documentary. His latest film is Beyond the Call, which has won over 20 awards at film festivals worldwide.

Adrian has traveled extensively throughout America from Alaska to Brazil as a speaker or judge in dozens of film festivals and has a deep appreciation for America's profusion of diverse cultures.

Roko Belic, Academy Award nominated Producer and Director, Wadi Rum Productions, Los Angeles, CA
Roko Belic started his filmmaking life in third grade with his brother, Adrian, when their friend Christopher Nolan borrowed a super-8 movie camera from his parents. Heavily influenced by Star Wars, the young team experimented with special effects and the surreality of film. Later, because his mother used a wrench to lock their TV to the local PBS channel, Roko became enchanted with programs through which he could explore the world.

Roko attended the University of California at Santa Barbara, where he studied studio arts and languages. He took a one and one half year hiatus to travel around the world, including North and South America.

The Academy Award nominated GENGHIS BLUES was Roko's first professional directorial effort.

Sergio Carciofi, Attorney and Senior Partner, ASTYL, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Sergio Fabio Carciofi received his law degree from the University of Buenos Aires (UBA), Argentina, with a minor in history. After initially practicing as an advisor in business law, Sergio created the firm ASTYL in Buenos Aires, focused on telecommunications law and technical rights issues. In his practice at ASTYL, Sergio manages an interdisciplinary team of lawyers, architects, engineers and environmental professionals.

He is also co-director of the Estudio Jurádico Iturbe y Asociados law firm in Buenos Aires, specializing in business and civil law.

Sergio is a member of the Carlos Casares Community Center in Buenos Aires province, a non-profit organization that works closely with the Argentine Ministry of Social Development. He is a member of Action for the Community Foundation and writes articles for the magazine Comunidad y Desarrollo (Community and Development), a publication that is distributed at all levels of Argentine government.

He is co-founder of the political group PUNTAL (Project for National Unity and Argentine-Latin American Transformation). Sergio also teaches Philosophy of Law and Social Sciences at UBA.

Sergio, his wife Carina and their two daughters, Maria and Malena, live in Buenos Aires

Andrew Henderson, Vice President & General Counsel, BIASC, Los Angeles,CA

Andrew is Vice President and General Cousel for the Builders Industry Association of Southern California (BIASC). He holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of Santa Clara and a Master's degree from the University of Southern California. He earned his law degree with honors from the University of North Carolina, where he also was a member of the North Carolina Law Review.

Prior to joining BIASC, Andrew served as Director of Government and Public Affairs and Corporate Counsel for KB Homes at their Los Angeles corporate headquarters.

Andrew was a partner in public interest litigation and client counseling at Hall & Henderson LLP in Los Angeles. He argued before the U.S. Supreme Court in 2001 and has served as counsel in many significant cases involving CEQA compliance, development and environmental issues. Andrew is an expert on affordable housing and urban land use.

Andrew is also actively involved in the community. He was appointed to the City of Los Angeles Charter Reform Commission and was a founding director and chairman of Break the Cycle, a Los Angeles-based charity aimed at domestic violence prevention, education, legal services and legislative advocacy.

Andrew and his wife Kristen live with their teenage son in Los Angeles.

Varínia Taboada, Professor of Architecture & Urban Planning, Paris, France
Varínia is a professor of Architecture and Urban Planning at Ecole d'Architecture La Villette in Paris, France. With professor Christian Pedelahore, she heads a long term research project centered on El Alto in La Paz, Bolivia.

Varínia was born in Bolivia and earned her degree in architecture at the University of Buenos Aires in Argentina. She has been a professor at the Ecole since 1992.

Varínia's study of El Alto, the barrio situated on the rim of the valley above La Paz, is a long term, multi-phased effort combining the perspectives of architecture, anthropology, urban design and sociology to understand the results when historical and modern urban morphologies intereact, even collide, in the crucible of rapid urban expansion as in El Alto.

Varínia travels widely in South America, interacting regularly with people as diverse as the residents of at risk barrios, municipal authorities, university faculty and staff, and government ministers. She brings a unique perspective to our Board because of her broad experience and ongoing research in both Europe and Latin America.

Profesora Claudia Oxman, President & CEO, Voces del Sur, Buenos Aires
Claudia Oxman is the founder and director of Libreria and Ediciones Voces del Sur, the only South American-based bookstore and publishing house devoted to Spanish as a foreign language. She's also the director of TicketEdu - Experiencias culturales en SudAmérica, an organization that manages customized educational programs for universities and colleges worldwide.

Claudia is a linguist who has worked extensively teaching foreign languages (French and English) and as a translator. She has studied anthropological linguistics, French language and literature, and qualitative research methods at University of Buenos Aires and has served as a professor for US Universities located in Argentina.

She is the author and editor of a wide range of academic articles and textbooks on her fields of interest. Her textbooks are considered to be a primary reference source for South American Spanish language learning.

Dr. Ramon Portales, DDS, Fresno, California
Ramon "Ray" Portales was born in Mexico City following a whirl wind romance of his father and mother by an Alcaguete, (a Mexican matchmaker). He is the first born of six children. His father was a prominent medical doctor who practiced throughout the United States. His siblings include a Lawyer, a Medical Doctor, an IT Specialist, a Businessman and an RN. His mother is still the Greatest Mother in the World.

By third grade, Ray had visited Thomas Jefferson's Monticello and the University of Virginia, an experience that inspired him from the earliest age to be a professional. He earned his Doctorate of Dentistry from Ohio State University in 1985. His undergraduate degree in Biology was earned at the University of Kentucky. He also served in the United States Air Force from 1973-1977.

His interests and hobbies include scuba diving, bicycling, reading, computers, photography, making stained glass, sailing, kayaking and hiking. He is a member of the Kiwanis International service club. He has been a part of the K family since high school.

Ray is a lifelong student of American history and politics and has traveled and studied extensively ithroughout the southern U.s. and in Mexico and Central America. He currently lives in Fresno, California with his wife Claudia, two stepchildren Reyes and Macui, along with his cat Shamus and two turtles, Speedy and Greedy.

Ray is Chair of a sub-committee of our Board charged with defining and creating a non-profit program to provide free dental education and dental care to children in every nation to which Pan American Dreams travels.

Nicolas Bachmann, Director
Nicolas was born in Montevideo, Uruguay. At two years his family settled in Buenos Aires, where he has lived since. Nicolas discovered his passion for filmmaking during a seven month trip to Switzerland, the home of his father, after high school graduation. Back in Buenos Aires, Nicolas began his cinema studies at Eliseo Subiela school and continued at the University of Cinema in San Telmo, where he directed and participated in a variety of projects. He has worked for the Mar del Plata Film Festival in capacities ranging from assistant juror to international coordinator of lectures and production coordinator.

In 2006, Nicholas took an advanced professional course in image editing and sound at the Image Campus, furthering his development as a Director. In early 2007, he founded his own audiovisual production company with two partners, Kine Films.

In addition to being Senior Partner at Kine, Nicolas is the Director of Production, managing and producing video projects on a weekly basis for La Nación and many of Argentina's leading movie production companies. He was the director for the award winning documentary short, The Last Gaucho, filmed in Patagonia in 2008. Nicolas also became lead director for Pan American Dreams in 2008, filming our Norte y La Puna and La Comida Aborigen projects.

As a director, Nicholas looks for projects that explore the limits of humanity's search for spiritual truth in ways that reveal new perspectives on current social, political and environmental events.

Tricia Stewart, Director of Marketing
Tricia, a native of Jamaica, moved to the United States at four years. Growing up with three older brothers helped her develop a tough exterior and an independent spirit. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing, with a Spanish minor from Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts. During her junior year, she studied abroad at La Universidad de Las Americas in Puebla, Mexico. She credits the experience with changing her life.

She followed that experience with a business and cultural study tour of Tokyo, Japan and returned after graduation to serve as an assistant English teacher through the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) program for the next 3 1/2 years.

After leaving Japan, Tricia embarked on an around the world cruise with the non-profit organization, Peace Boat. Four months and 13 countries later, Tricia had developed a great appreciation for the cultures of Africa, Asia, North and South America. She has since traveled frequently to Mexico and Central America, where she spent time with the Garafundi of Guatemala studying their music and culture.

Tricia has worked for Wells Fargo as a banker and licensed investment consultant, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. as a regional case manager, and the University of Phoenix as an enrollment counselor. She is currently finishing her MBA.

Tricia has worked as a core team member on Pan American Dreams since 2007 and is currently finalizing our initial marketing plan.

Lilian Ivachow, Director, Pablo y Virginia van a Luján
Lilian was awarded a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Buenos Aires in 1997. She studied film at the Film School in Buenos Aires and was mentored in particular by the directors José Martínez Suárez, Miguel Pérez and Raúl Perrone. Lilian directed her first film project in 1998.

Lilian's filmography includes: Noche cautiva, short fiction, super VHS. 1998. Director. Modiglinai, video clip-based images of the Italian painter. 1999. Director. ¨A gallery of mirrors, a documentary about film director David Argentine Jose Kohon, Betacam, 2000. '59, co-directed with Ferando Martello. A kiss, short fiction. Mini Dv Digital, 2006. Director. Pablo y Virginia van a Luján, feature film, DVD digital, Director, produced with Pan American Dreams.

In addition to her directing and producing activities, Lilian is a film critic and reviewer with El Amante, Argentina's most highly regarded journal of film, since 2003. She has published reviews and film commentary in Spain, Denmark and Argentina.

In addition to continuing to develop new projects in partnership with Pan American Dreams, Lilian will be contributing ongoing analysis and perspective in our online Journal on the myriad ways in which films answer the question, What is America?

Tammy Carrasco, Director of Visual Design
Tammy was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She attended Colegio Labardón and Chaltel College, both bilingual schools, and has studied business at University of Buenos Aires (UBA). Fluent in English and French, Tammy has completed language programs for IGCSE (International Certificate of Secondary Education) in English and with Lâ Alliance Francaise in French. She is currently finishing an advanced degree in Graphic Design at UBA and running her own graphic design firm.

From a very early age, Tammy had a great passion for art and travel. Her intense interest in learning from different cultures led her to the visual arts, which she believes is a universal form of communication harking back to the cave drawings at Lascaux. Tammy has traveled widely, throughout South America, including the ancient ruins of Peru, and across the United States and Europe.

Tammy first began working with Pan American Dreams as we were planning our El Norte y La Puna project in early 2008. As our Director of Visual Design, Tammy brings a perfect perspective to this huge and complex project. Her breadth of experience and travel throughout America, combined with her ability to distill complex ideas and information into simple, highly communicative visual forms is key to our success in weaving the beautiful multi-hued tapestry that is America.

Michael Dermen, Production Manager, El Norte y La Puna
Michael Dermen's involvement in film began in his early teens while pursuing his dream of becoming a stuntman. In his early twenties he was accepted into Argentina's prestigious National Film School where he began studying Film Production until he got offered a scholarship to study in the United States. After earning his Bachelor's Degree in Illinois, he moved to Los Angeles, where he worked his way up from production assistant to Line producer through his involvement with a wide a variety of film and television projects.

Michael returned to Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2006 and rapidly realized the need to adapt Argentine production services to the demands of the global market. In response, Michael founded Challenging Films and has since served as International Advisor for Bender Cine, has been the Producer for the behind the scenes DVD of The Police during the Argentine segment of their World Tour in Buenos Aires, and is currently the Line Producer for 4 Single Fathers, an Italian/American TV series in development.

Michael is moved by projects that reflect his own passion for producing thought-provoking material that opens new ways of understanding the possible spiritual dimension of important social issues.  This passion has taken Michael from being an adventure guide in the Andes Mountains to producing his current Re-Discovering Argentina film project and to his involvement as a production manager with Pan American Dreams on our El Norte y La Puna project.

Lucas M. Gordon, Director, A Patagonia Tale, co-Director, La Comida Aborigen, Lead Editor

Alex Sly, Senior Advisor, Correspondent, Cinematographer, Editor
Alex Sly studied photography at the Argentine School of Photography (Escuela Argentina de Fotografia and at the Andy Goldstein Photography School (Escuela de Fotografia Creativa). He has worked at the Mar del Plata International Film Festival as part of the production team for the last three editions (Guest Department Assistant and Jury Coordinator). In December 2007 he graduated as Director of Photography at the Film University (Universidad del Cine) and as International Chef at the Ott Institute.

In 2007 and 2008, Alex and Ine Kracht made a 10 month journey through America from Argentina to Mexico as part of their Rodando Cine project. Rodando is a featured project of Pan American Dreams. Alex is currently working with our production team in Buenos Aires transferring and editing film footage from Rodando Cine.

Ine Kracht, Senior Advisor, Writer, Editor
Ine Kracht took her degree in Political Science at the Buenos Aires University (Universidad de Buenos Aires) in December 2006. During February and March of 2007 she worked in Sao Paulo (Brazil) for a NGO called Instituto Ã?gora em Defensa do Eleitor e da Democracia. In December 2007 she obtained her degree in Journalism at TEA (Taller Escuela Agencia).

Ine was co-founder of Rodando Cine. She is currently assisting our production team in Buenos Aires transferring and editing film footage from Rodando Cine while working as a Political Consultant.

Ayelén Anahí Gallegos Gibaja, Special Youth Advisor & Correspondent
Ayelén was born in the city of Salta in northern Argentina and has been studying the ancient cultures of the Andes her entire life. Her first name comes from the word ayele in the ancient Mapuche language and means “abundance of joy in the home.â€? Her middle name Anahí is of Guarani origin, and her Mother spoke quechua in their home.

Ayelén first visited Machpicchu in Peru with her family at age three, experiencing joy at being able to walk in the homes of our ancient Incan ancestors. As a child, she traveled widely in Peru, Chile and Bolivia, including Lake Titicaca, which made a lasting impression upon her. She also spent many hours in National Public Radio studios in Salta, where her mother hosted a program called Echoes of the Grand Family about the linguistic and cultural linkages among ancient Andean societies.

Ayelén has developed a strong environmental sensibility from her immersion in Ancient Andean culture. She has coordinated interprovincial workshops in northern Argentina for Global Network for Water and Youth, and she pioneered a program at her high school that continues today to convert household trash into biogas.

She is currently studying for her Bachelor of Science in communications at National University of Salta. With her broad and diverse socialization from her earliest years, Ayelén brings a unique and very special perspective to Pan American Dreams that we believe will help us enormously in our exploration of America.

Dave has done brand design and strategy for Warner Brothers Films, 20th Century Fox and many others, working on brand and aftermarket identity for projects ranging from the Harry Potter movies to the Simpsons.

Dave was kind enough to donate his time and creative insight in the early development stages of Pan American Dreams. His use of the "golden ratio" in our spiral artwork perfectly captures the spirit of mystery and discovery that lie at the heart of Pan American Dreams. This spiral, this "golden ratio," is ubiquitous in ancient American art and design. We have encountered it everywhere we have traveled in South America and fully expect to see it again in Alaska this summer.

More information on the "golden ratio" and its role in human history can be found here.