Valerie Red-Horse facts for kids

Valerie Red-Horse Mohl was born in 1959. She is an American expert in finance, a business owner, and a filmmaker. She used to be the leader (CEO) of two companies that help people buy and sell stocks. These companies were called Native Nations Securities and Red-Horse Securities. Many believe she was the first Native American woman to own such companies.

Valerie Red-Horse Mohl: Early Life and Career

Starting Out: Education and First Jobs

In 1981, Valerie Red-Horse Mohl graduated with honors from UCLA. She studied Theater Arts there. She also learned more about acting at the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute. Even before finishing college, she started working at a company called Drexel Burnham Lambert in 1978. She was an office manager until 1985.

Valerie is married to Curt Mohl. They met at UCLA when she was a cheerleader and he played football. They have three children. She is also a member of the Mount Tabor Indian Community, a group with Native American heritage in Texas.

Red-Horse Native Productions: Making Movies and More

Valerie Red-Horse Mohl started her own company called Red-Horse Native Productions, Inc. This company makes movies and TV shows. It also creates Native American herbal skincare and hair care products.

Her company made the movie Naturally Native in 1998. Valerie was the writer, producer, co-director, and main actress in this film. The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation helped pay for the movie using money from their Foxwoods Casino. Naturally Native was first shown at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival. It won awards at other festivals too. In 2007, Red-Horse Native Productions released the movie across the country in Wal-Mart stores.

Valerie then produced a documentary for PBS/ITVS called “True Whispers: The Story of The Navajo Code Talkers.” She worked with Gale Anne Hurd on this project. She also produced and directed a follow-up film, again with Hurd, called Choctaw Code Talkers. This film was about the Code Talkers who helped in World War I.

From 2014 to 2016, Valerie helped organize a big event. It was a 100-year look back at Native American films. This event was sponsored by the UCLA Film and Archive and toured across the United States.

Native Nations and Red-Horse Financial Group: Helping Tribal Nations

In 1998, Valerie Red-Horse started a financial company in New Jersey called Native Nations Securities. This company was licensed by FINRA, which oversees financial firms. It is believed to be the first investment bank owned by a Native American. This company offered financial help especially for tribal nations. It focused on tribal finance, helping tribes grow their economies, and training young people.

In 2004, Valerie moved her office to California. She then started her own advisory company, Red-Horse Financial Group, Inc. This company helps tribal clients with their money matters. Since 2004, Red-Horse Financial Group has helped many tribal clients with their finances. Valerie Red-Horse Mohl is now a top expert in tribal finance. Throughout her career, she has helped American Indian Tribal Nations get or manage over $3 billion in money.