2023-24 Fellows

A lifelong New Mexican (born and raised in Corrales, NM), Emily believes that we all do better when we all do better. She and her husband are raising their three boys just down the street from where she grew up and she is passionate about sharing the amazing things her state has to offer. Emily is a recent graduate of Leadership New Mexico’s Core Class of 2023, a Vistage member, a Trustee for the Albuquerque Community Foundation, and she also serves on the board for WESST (The Women's Economic Self-Sufficiency Team).

Emily is the chief financial officer and a principal at Dekker Perich Sabatini (DPS). She first earned her BA in Interior Design and worked on many project types over the years, focusing on education and workplace design. Fueled by an interest in all things business and numbers, she earned a Master in Business Administration, which, along with her design expertise, set a strong foundation for her current role, where Emily focuses on firm-wide strategy and operations. Emily is NCIDQ® certified and is a LEED AP®.

David Ams has lived in Albuquerque for about 5 years, though his wife is an Albuquerque native. Both David and his wife have graduate degrees in the sciences. Their work is related to the national labs in New Mexico and around the country. David’s children currently attend private school but he and his wife are committed to make a positive change in public schools. Theybelieve all the benefits of a private school should be available to public school children.

Victoria Archuleta is a seventh generation native New Mexican and the granddaughter of Mexican immigrants. She was born and raised in Albuquerque and is a graduate of Albuquerque High School. Victoria received her Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of New Mexico and is now completing her Executive MBA. She is the first in her family to graduate from a four-year university. After college, she worked for corporations like Hewlett-Packard (HP) and Hilton Hotels where she specialized in sales, marketing, public relations, and business development before moving into roles in local government & nonprofit sectors.

Victoria lived several years in northern New Mexico where she specialized in statewide advocacy and outreach as the state director for Consumer Energy Alliance. She later became the program director for the Colfax County’s DWI Prevention Program where she oversaw substance abuse prevention and treatment programs across northeast New Mexico. Victoria moved back to Albuquerque in 2021, after accepting the role of program director at Leadership New Mexico.

She recently began a new role as the senior economic developer for the Village of Los Lunas. She hopes that through the Changemakers program, she can become a force for change in her community and across New Mexico.

Abenicio E. Baldonado is a native New Mexican who has dedicated his career to public service. Abenicio grew up in Las Vegas, New Mexico, where he is a proud graduate of Robertson High School. He earned a BA in political science and a Master of Public Affairs from Highlands University.

Prior to becoming the associate director of community engagement for the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association, Abenicio was the education reform director for Think New Mexico, was an educator who taught government, economics, and history at Tierra Encantada Charter School, and later chaired the governance board of that school. Additionally, he has served as an ethics officer for the New Mexico Secretary of State, Policy Director for former Lieutenant Governor, John Sanchez, and as legislative liaison and policy analyst for the Public Education Department. Abenicio also spends his time as a realtor for eXp Realty.

Through his diverse background and experiences in the public and private sector, Abenicio has learned the importance of building and maintaining relationships through transparency, communication, open-mindedness, integrity and trust to develop and implement sound public policy.

Xochitl Campos Biggs serves the people of the Third Congressional District as the district director for Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez. She has served in this role since January 2021.

Xochitl is a Licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW) and is currently working on her clinical licensure. Prior to her current position she worked for the CABQ's Department of Family and Community Services, but primarily worked with the Albuquerque Police Department on community outreach projects. She was part of a multi-disciplinary public safety initiative – including a social worker, firefighter and police officers – designed to connect community members who have experienced trauma to resources to support their healing.

Xochitl is from Santa Fe. She is grateful for the opportunity to serve her state and bring her social service background to promote healthy and thriving communities. She lives in Tijeras with her husband and their young son.

Dominique De Armond currently serves as the managing director of development for KIPP NYC Public Schools. Dominique joined KIPP NYC as senior director of the growth campaign in 2021 and transitioned to managing director of development in 2022. Prior to KIPP NYC, she worked at the KIPP Foundation for five years as a major gift officer and senior director of development. She began her career as a Teach For America corps member in Philadelphia, where she taught science in the School District of Philadelphia for four years. She also worked at Teach For America Greater Philadelphia on staff and at the University of Pennsylvania, as well as consulting for various K-12 education and other youth-serving nonprofits across the country. Dominique graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a B.A. in Communications. As an undergraduate student, Dominique founded Community Schools and Student Partnerships (formerly Sayre Beacon), a student-run organization committed to educational equity through staffing out-of-school-time programs in West Philadelphia with volunteer and work-study students from Penn. Having grown up and attended K-12 schooling in southern New Mexico, she is thrilled to be back in the Land of Enchantment with her family.

Megan DeLaRosa is a co-founder and principal at Crude Intelligence Group, LLC. Megan started her career working in the New Mexico House of Representatives. She served as a regional political director on the re-election campaign for Governor Susana Martinez, going on to serve in an official capacity as executive assistant as well as briefing and advance coordinator.

Megan serves as the public affairs director for Governor Martinez, the executive director for the Kirtland Partnership Committee and advises startup companies. Megan’s time in state government has positioned her to work with and maneuver many industries and levels of government.

Megan has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice/sociology, is a New Mexico Amigo and has been recognized by the New Mexico State Legislature for her accomplishments. Her recognition and respect from both sides of the aisle have provided her with extensive business contacts throughout the state and nation. She frequently consults as a political strategist for state legislative caucuses, contributing to the passing of significant legislation.

Amy Douglas grew up in California but now calls New Mexico home. After studying political science and dance at California State University Long Beach, she worked as a project director managing clinical research studies in women’s health and contraception. Amy moved to New Mexico in 2007 and graduated from the University of New Mexico School of Law in 2010. For the past decade, Amy has been raising two energetic boys, while volunteering at their school, and building community with and for her family. When she is not shuttling her boys between swimming and ninja warrior, she spends time doing barre, ballet, pilates, running in the bosque and asking her boys to “please stand still so she can take their picture.”

Kelcy Flanagan is the asset and development associate for Maestas Development Group and serves as the COO for Flanagan Investment Real Estate. Prior to her role with Maestas Development Group and Flanagan Investment Real Estate, she served as CEO of the New Mexico Society of CPAs.

In the community, Kelcy serves on the United Way of North Central New Mexico’s board of directors. She co-chaired the United Way’s Tocqueville Society campaign in 2019 and in 2020. Additionally, Kelcy serves as secretary on the board of directors for the Albuquerque Community Foundation’s Future Fund. Kelcy is also serving as secretary for Cuidando Los Ninos. In 2018, Kelcy joined the Women’s Circle of Wishes at the Make-A-Wish Foundation, working towards granting wishes to children and spreading awareness of the organization and she continues to serve as a founding member of the circle. She previously served as a board member for NDI New Mexico and co-chaired their Gala Committee.

Kelcy received her Bachelor’s of Business Administration, from Florida International University.

In 2011, Kelcy moved to Albuquerque from Miami, where she was born and raised. Kelcy and her husband, Cole, are excited to raise their one-year-old son in this community.

Gabe Gallegos is a seasoned media and communications strategist based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He currently heads up strategy and partnerships for SUNNY505, a full-service communications and marketing firm in Albuquerque. Previously, he was an integrated media planner and digital media specialist at Basis Technologies, an advertising technology company based in Chicago, where he advised national cause-based organizations on digital marketing strategies. He began his career at SUNNY505, working his way up to serve as media director - leading paid media initiatives for clients such as New Mexico Census, New Mexico Secretary of State, and The Education Trust Board of Mexico.

A native of Southern New Mexico, Gabe continues to invest in the community through board service on the Voz Collegiate Preparatory Charter School and Young Professionals of Albuquerque. He also supports community activism and political action through his work on the Young Democrats of New Mexico board, and has contributed to the growth of the local marketing ecosystem through his service to the American Advertising Federation. He has contributed to the program content and operations of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund Media & Entertainment Summit, where he has been able to mentor emerging Latino professionals in media.

Gabe currently resides in Albuquerque with his partner of 6 years, and enjoys competitive road cycling, podcasts, and spending time with loved ones.

Dominic Garcia was born and raised in New Mexico with strong family ties in Northern New Mexico as well as Albuquerque. He left New Mexico in 2004 and moved to Phoenix, Arizona where he completed a degree in Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts. In 2013 he moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where he accepted the position as a brand manager for a national retailer.

During this time, he made the move back to Albuquerque and over the next several years, he traveled around the country training associates and implementing company policy to help individuals succeed in their career. Over time, while working closely with individuals he developed his passion in assisting others and watching them be successful. In 2018 he took the leap and decided to pursue a degree in Psychology as well as continuing to help our community and individuals. In his current role,Dominic serves as the scholarship and grants senior associate at Albuquerque Community Foundation where he manages over 25 donor-funded scholarship programs for New Mexico graduating high school seniors and current college students.

In his free time Dominic enjoys travel and exploring the world. He still has a passion for cooking and baking and likes to continue to develop his skills in the kitchen.

Joseph Garcia was born and raised in Albuquerque, NM. He received his BA in foreign languages from the University of New Mexico and his MBA from the Anderson School of Management. After spending nearly a decade as a financial literacy educator and credit counselor he made the transition to healthcare. He has worked on the hospital side and is currently the director of delegated care coordination at Presbyterian Health Plan. He comes from a family of educators and hears about what is happening in schools in real-time from his wife who is a Spanish and social studies teacher at Albuquerque Public Schools. He is passionate about public education and is interested in learning about ways local organizations can contribute to the success of the school system.

Nick Gordon is the vice-president and co-owner of Sklar Capital Advisors; and is an embedded member of our community being born and raised in New Mexico. He attended the University of New Mexico, graduating with a Bachelors of Business Administration in 2011 and a Master of Business Administration in 2013. Nick was awarded the Certified Financial Planner® designation in 2015.

Nick is dedicated to helping people gain confidence in their financial health. He believes that providing proper advice to help people make smart financial decisions will create a more prosperous community.

Nick has volunteered with Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Mexico and is a current board member of Altura Preparatory School. He believes that education is imperative for the advancement of New Mexico.

Kristin Grassham is first and foremost, a mother to two wonderful children. Kristin was raised in Albuquerque and earned her undergraduate degrees at NMSU where she met her husband, Adam. After college, she relocated to Arlington, Virginia, where she earned a Master’s of Business Administration. at George Washington University and began her corporate finance career at Lockheed Martin. She left Lockheed Martin after seven years to backpack across South America for six months. Upon returning to Virginia, Kristin began working at a software cybersecurity technology company in financial planning and analysis. Kristin currently works for a supply chain software company based in Virginia as a senior finance manager, leading the company's budgeting, forecasting, and cash deployment. She enjoys traveling, trying new food, hanging out with my family, and Pilates in her spare time.

William (Billy) Gupton is a Senior Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch with LGHA and associates, focusing on working with Native American organizations, local and national nonprofits and institutions. An Albuquerque native, Billy received his B.A. in Political Science from the University of New Mexico in 2006. In 2020, Billy helped organize and raise over $200,000 to help local nonprofits partner with local restaurants to help feed those most in need during Covid. Billy currently serves on the board of Junior Achievement of New Mexico and the community impact council with United Way of Central NM. In his spare time, he enjoys being involved in the community and raising money for the UNM Cancer Center. Billy was recognized by in 2023 by Barron’s as “Top 100 Institutional Consulting Teams'', Forbes in 2023 as “Best-in-State Wealth Advisors, won the global volunteer award from Bank of America in 2021, received the 2015 YNPN outstanding young board member by the association of fundraising professionals, was named 2013 LLS Man of the Year and was 40 under 40 in 2013 by Albuquerque Business First.

Monique Jacobson was born and raised in New Mexico. After graduating with honors from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, Monique spent 11 years at PepsiCo. During this time, she led innovation for Gatorade, and was the General Manager of the $1.8B Quaker Breakfast portfolio.

In 2011, Monique was appointed by the Governor of New Mexico, serving first as the Cabinet Secretary for the New Mexico Tourism Department and subsequently as the Cabinet Secretary for the Children Youth and Families Department (CYFD). As the head of the Tourism Department, Monique engineered and executed the launch of the iconic New Mexico True campaign, which led to a turnaround of the industry and a record-breaking number of tourists and dollars coming into the state.

As Cabinet Secretary of CYFD, Monique was responsible for: Child Welfare, Juvenile Justice, Early Childhood Services and Children’s Behavioral Health. She established vocational education programs at facilities for incarcerated youth, worked with the legislature to secure nearly $100 million in increased funding for the agency, and created the first ever Child Wellness Center in the state.

Monique is currently the founder of Monique & Associates, a consulting and coaching company focused on igniting meaningful change in our community.

Rebecca Latham is the CEO of Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails, one of 111 independent Girl Scouts organizations in the USA and overseas. Rebecca began her career as an on-air radio personality in Tampa, Florida. She relocated to Albuquerque in 2003 and fell in love with the Southwest, later moving to the mountains of New Mexico to pursue her passion for destination marketing. In 2013 Rebecca was named New Mexico’s Tourism Professional of the Year, and in January 2015 she was appointed the Cabinet Secretary of Tourism by Governor Susana Martinez. In 2017, American Mothers, Inc., the national nonprofit organization known for honoring the contributions of mothers who make a positive impact in the world, named Rebecca National Mother of the Year®. She began her service to the organization as a member of the Board of Directors and was named Chief Executive Officer in January 2019. Rebecca later became the CEO at Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails in March 2020. She lives with her husband and two children, both who are actively involved in sports, scouting, and the youth group at their church.

Becca Myers currently works for an oil and gas operator, Coterra Energy, as their external affairs specialist for the Permian Basin which includes the communities in West Texas and Southeast New Mexico. Becca has experience working with school systems in her previous role as a strategic coordinator for the Education Partnership of the Permian Basin. She has worked in studying every school system from cradle to career, most recently completing a childcare landscape analysis to determine the need for more high-quality seats. In her current role with Coterra, she works to align the community with the oil and gas industry, specifically focusing on our main pillars of investment: community, agriculture, veterans/first responders, and education. Becca is from a small west Texas town (Sweetwater) and she has lived in Odessa for most of her professional career after moving there for graduate school at UT Permian Basin.

Martín Olea is a versatile education and policy expert celebrated for his unwavering commitment and diverse educational journey. He currently serves as a legislative liaison and policy analyst at Central New Mexico Community College (CNM), where he actively shapes educational policies and government relationships. Martín's dedication extends to areas such as career technical education, entrepreneurial education, international education, and education for complexity. Martín's commitment to education is exemplified by his teaching and leadership roles in various K-12 and higher education settings, including the Zuni Public Schools, Gallup McKinley County Schools, Albuquerque Public Schools, and UNM-Gallup. As a former Fulbright Fellow at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, Martín conducted research on innovative education models and strategies, particularly focusing on the complexities associated with decarbonization, technological change, and their societal impacts. Martín's educational background includes a Bachelor's Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from Columbia University's Teachers College. He also holds teacher certification from the University of New Mexico.

Sal Perdomo works for Titan Development, one of the premier real estate developers in the southwest United States, and is responsible for the company's land acquisitions and new market expansions. He also manages and assists on industrial build-to-suit and speculative development projects. Sal's background in economic development, city planning, and commercial real estate brokerage allow him to bring a comprehensive knowledge of the commercial real estate world and handle complex projects.

Prior to Titan, he worked for CBRE, a Fortune 500 Company, as a commercial real estate broker specializing in office and healthcare leasing and sale transactions. Sal also has professional experience in urban planning and land entitlement. Sal holds two Bachelor’s degrees in Urban Studies and Business Administration-Finance from Trinity University in San Antonio, TX. He is a current NAIOP New Mexico board member and is a licensed New Mexico real estate broker. In 2021, Sal was awarded a 40 Under Forty Award by the Albuquerque Business First.

Marta Pereira is the deputy of client services at Enlace Comunitario where she is responsible for directing all intervention program activities and supervising program staff. Having been with EC for over 12 years, Marta has served in multiple positions, including five years as a case manager, and nearly a year as interim co-executive director. Marta has extensive subject matter expertise in all areas of domestic violence, with a specialization in providing services to immigrants. She is responsible for the coordination and programmatic reporting for over 12 local, state, and federal grants. In 2014, Marta was recognized by the NM Crime Victims Reparation Commission as “Advocate of the Year.”

Marta holds a BA in Psychology and Spanish from the University of New Mexico and has completed an intensive Advanced Leadership Training with the Regional Institute for Health and Environmental Leadership (RIHEL).

Tom Quirk is a research and development manager and professional engineer at Sandia National Laboratories. He became his laboratory’s first Fellow of the World Nuclear University at Oxford University. Building on this experience, Tom took a leave of absence to work for the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Organization in Vienna, Austria. He is a 2020 French American Foundation Young Leader, 2021 Australian American Leadership Dialogue Fellow, and 2023 American Council on Germany Young Leader furthering his passion for building strategic relationships by exploring multilateral solutions. He holds a Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering from the University of New Mexico as a National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellow. Staying true to the mantra of thinking globally and acting locally, Tom serves on the Albuquerque Energy Council and the UNM Reactor Safety Advisory Council. He is a 2020 graduate of Leadership Albuquerque and is the new director of Math Kangaroo.

Nathan is vice president of water and wastewater systems at Bohannan Huston. As a professional engineer he enjoys solving problems and enjoys working with people across the state to meet their needs in ways that facilitate utility operations and maintenance – particularly transmission lines, booster stations, and storage tanks.

He has a knack for understanding the big picture and goals of a community while being able to dive into the details to make that vision a reality project by project. Some projects he is currently working on include the Utility Master Plan at Mesa del Sol including design and construction support of recommended infrastructure, the complete re-design of Lincoln, NM’s water system, and he is wrapping up the construction of the newest storage tank on Albuquerque’s Westside.

He is a graduate of Albuquerque Public Schools as well as the University of New Mexico. Nathan’s wife Kelli graduated from parochial school and received her Juris Doctor from the University of New Mexico School of Law. Together they are homeschooling their growing brood.

Destiny Rojo is the program officer at the PY Foundation where she manages a diverse portfolio of projects and grants, ensuring that each initiative contributes effectively to the betterment of Artesia, Eddy County, and beyond. Through strategic collaboration and planning, she aims to maximize the positive outcomes of the foundation’s grants, creating a lasting impact on the lives of the citizens in Artesia and Southeast New Mexico.

A lifelong New Mexican, Destiny has a passion for rural philanthropy and the various ways it impacts a community. She enjoys projects that address education, the arts, healthcare, and community development. She serves as a board member of the Artesia MainStreet organization and has worked on various projects to boost the entrepreneurial spirit in Artesia as well as engage the community in public art initiatives.

Destiny also believes in all levels of education, from pre-k programs to continuing education opportunities for nonprofits, she sees the value that education has on the whole community and believes people are meant to be lifelong learners. She believes that by fostering a culture of continuous learning and knowledge sharing, we strive to create a network of capable and resilient organizations that can drive positive change in Artesia and Southeast New Mexico.

Isaac Romero serves as the budget officer for Sandia National Laboratories where he is responsible for lifecycle stewardship of the laboratories’ $4.5B budget functions through oversight of all indirect, direct and Strategic Partnership Program institutional processes. Prior to this role, Isaac served as a senior manager supporting the energy, homeland security, and nuclear deterrence programs.

Isaac first began his leadership journey as Sandia’s executive operations manager in 2011, where he provided business and operations support to Sandia’s director and president and two executive vice presidents. From 2006 to 2011, Isaac was a member of professional staff providing finance and operations support to numerous activities. Isaac has been with Sandia since 2003, starting as an undergraduate business intern, and prior to that was a student intern at Los Alamos National Laboratory in 2000.

Isaac is a 3rd generation National Laboratory employee with a Bachelor’s in Finance, a Master’s in Organizational Leadership and Human Resources from the University of New Mexico, and holds a Project Management Professional (PM) certification.

Isaac is active in the community and volunteers his time to numerous local organizations focused on improving educational outcomes. In his spare time, he loves spending time with his wife and son traveling and eating good food.

Louis C. Salazar serves as external affairs director with ConocoPhillips Company. He brings over 20 years of experience in public education, strategic planning, and team building. His current responsibilities involve community outreach and education and strategy development with a strong focus in building authentic relationships with community leaders, local governments, and state regulatory agencies.

Prior to joining ConocoPhillips in late 2010, Louis worked in education. His tenure in education included roles as a middle school science teacher, high school athletic director and high school principal.

Stephanie Santillanes is the corporate engagement manager at United Way of North Central New Mexico. Her passion for cultivating relationships has empowered countless corporations to form deep and meaningful connections with their communities. She has spearheaded UWNCNM's Shared Purpose program since 2021. This platform empowers corporate partners to clarify and act on their roles in social responsibility. Due to these achievements, the CEO & President of UWNCNM, Rodney Prunty, selected Stephanie to participate in the United Way Worldwide Fellowship Leadership program in 2022.

She has earned a BA ('13) in Health Promotion and Wellness, with a minor in Women's Studies, followed by an MA ('14) in Exercise Sport Science and an MBA ('18) in Marketing, all from New Mexico Highlands University.

Outside of her professional life, she cherishes moments spent with her family in northern New Mexico and exploring new adventures with her husband, Marcus, and their dog, Bradley.

Justin Schroer was born in Indiana but raised in New Mexico. He graduated from Cibola High School and started his college career at Eastern New Mexico University before graduating from the University of New Mexico. He began his professional career in the media business followed by college athletics working at UNM and Fresno State. Justin shifted careers at that point finding a passion for working in the nonprofit sector. For the past 11 years, Justin has worked for three foundations, UNM Foundation, UC Davis Development & Alumni Relations and currently with the Presbyterian Healthcare Foundation. Justin specializes in major and planned giving with each of these organizations.

Justin completed his MBA in 2017 at UNM Anderson School of Management. He credits his experience in this program with helping transform his thinking both professionally and personally.

Justin enjoys staying active in the community serving on boards and committees for both professional and personal purposes. He is currently president of the Santa Fe Estate Planning Council. Justin also likes to stay active by hiking, playing tennis and pickleball and picked up a new hobby during the pandemic, guitar. Justin also spends a lot of time with his wife Jen and two kids, Ryker and Aviva who are a full time job in and of itself. (they are five and three years old!).

Jay Shah received his Master’s in Business Administration from the University of New Mexico in 2018 and has been with Dreamstyle Remodeling for more than 8 years, currently as their director of marketing. Throughout his career, Jay has gained national industry recognition including speaking engagements at Professional Remodeler Magazine’s Pinnacle Experience 2023 & Extreme Lead Gen Summit 2022, as well as being a featured guest on the Rock Stars of Remodeling podcast.

In addition to managing Dreamstyle’s direct-response marketing strategy, Jay spends a considerable amount of his time volunteering with various local nonprofits. He is the president of Young Professionals of Albuquerque (YPA), a founding board member for the Asian Business Collaborative (ABC), a board member on the UNM Anderson Alumni Council (AAC), and published 'Financial Literacy for Immigrants & Refugees', a book co-authored and edited with a group of professionals for the Refugee and Immigrant Well-being Project.

In February 2022, Jay was featured in Albuquerque Business First's 'New Mexicans to Know' as a local leader. He was also named a Forty Under 40 Winner of 2022 by Pro Remodeler, a nationally distributed publication for the professional remodeling industry. In December 2022, Jay was the keynote speaker at UNM Anderson's Fall 2022 graduation ceremony.

Christian Slough is the business development lead at Build With Robots, where he trains and manages distribution partners throughout the country. Prior to Build With Robots, Christian served as an AmeriCorps VISTA in Mayor Keller's Civic Engagement Office, where he focused on community engagement programs that brought together nonprofits and for-profit enterprises to promote shared-value partnerships and social impact.

Christian is a born and raised in New Mexican, as well as a graduate of the University of New Mexico. He is passionate about corporate social responsibility and is involved with UNM Anderson's Business for Good initiative.

Outside of work, Christian is a soccerhead who enjoys New Mexico outdoor access and brewery community.