John Lewis was born in Tuba City, Arizona on the Navajo reservation, and was raised in Flagstaff with four brothers and three sisters. His mother is a member of the Navajo Nation, and his father that was a member of Zuni Pueblo. John studied electronics and robotics at ITT Tech in Phoenix back in the early 1980’s. After leaving Arizona, he moved to Santa Fe to pursue an apprenticeship in sculptural arts under the tutelage of Ernest (Cloud Eagle) Mirabal of Nambe Pueblo. While in Santa Fe, he met his wife, had a daughter, and soon thereafter moved to Albuquerque. Much of his free time is spent with his two grandsons, Mateo and Balam.

John spent 25 years in the printing industry in Albuquerque while devoting much of his time to volunteering with various nonprofits including the American Indian Chamber of Commerce and the Native American Professional Parent Resources. He eventually started his own business, and worked closely with the Navajo Nation and with other tribes and organizations. He has also sat on tribal economic development boards and liaised for business development. John professional development adds a long list of contacts and relationships that will benefit the mission of the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber Convention and Tourism Department in promoting Albuquerque’s unique cultural heritage as a destination site.