James Neil Segotta is the current City Manager and a lifelong resident of Raton, New Mexico. He has served on the Raton City Commission since 2011 and is the former Mayor, a position associated with District 5. His term as mayor ended in 2025.

Lori Chatterley was elected to the Raton City Commission in 2018 and currently serves as the Mayor. She also serves as a board member for the New Mexico Municipal League (NMML), the Ports to Plains/I-27 Alliance, the North Central New Mexico Economic Development District, and the Raton Public Service Board. She holds the title of Certified Municipal Official as a graduate of the NMML Municipal Officials Leadership Institute. One of her priorities is expanding Raton’s Outdoor Recreation economy. Lori earned a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Missouri—Columbia, graduating summa cum laude. She and her husband Jared have enjoyed raising their three children in Raton.

Dr. Chip Espinoza is the co-author of Managing the Millennials: Discover the Core Competencies for Managing Today’s Workforce, Millennials Who Manage: How To Overcome Workplace Perceptions and Become A Great Leader, and The 7 Skills Every Twenty-Something Needs to Overcome Roadblocks and Achieve Greatness at Work. His books have been translated into Spanish, Chinese, Polish, Indonesian, and various other languages. He serves as Dean of Strategy and Innovation at Vanguard University and is an instructor at UCLA.

As a leading global expert on generational diversity in the workplace, Chip delivers keynotes nationally and internationally on how to create environments that foster the success and growth of young professionals. He consults in the civic, corporate, and non-profit sectors. His client list features Microsoft, The Boeing Company, SAS, Schneider Electric, Special Olympics, The US Department of Defense, Sandia National Labs, and many others.

Chip is the go-to expert for news agencies on integrating younger workers into organizations. He is a content expert for CNN and Fox News and has been featured on CBS Radio and in the Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, Inc., and numerous other publications. Chip was named a Top 15 Global Thought Leader on the Future of Work by the Economic Times. 

He serves on the Board of Governors at Antioch University and as an Advisory Board Member for the Jesse Miranda Center for Hispanic Leadership at Vanguard University.

Greggory D. Hull has been a New Mexico resident for over 40 years, before entering public service, Hull opened and operated two successful businesses. These ventures provided invaluable experience which has influenced his approach to fostering a thriving economy in Rio Rancho.

Hull's commitment to public service led him to run for mayor, first elected in 2014. His leadership and vision for the city have been reaffirmed by voters, with his re-election in 2018 and again in 2022, making him Rio Rancho's longest-serving mayor.

Mayor Hull has focused on Public Safety, Infrastructure Improvement & Economic Development. Earning Rio Rancho numerous national recognitions. Including in 2024 Best Places to Live in the Southwest, safest place to live and most affordable place to live. Recently adding Livability.com’s best places to live in 2025.

Now, he wants to do the same for ALL New Mexicans. 

Stephanie Garcia Richard is a teacher, former legislator, and the first woman and Latina elected as New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands. Since taking office in 2018, she has delivered historic results for the state's public schools, raising over $16 billion for education and increasing renewable energy production on state trust lands by more than 600%. Additionally, she has spearheaded affordable housing initiatives to address the state's housing crisis. Born in Tucumcari, raised in Silver City, and rooted in Northern New Mexico, she currently lives there with her husband, Eric.

Si Trujillo is a lifelong New Mexican, entrepreneur, and public servant committed to the people and communities of Colfax County. Born and raised in Raton, Si became the first Millennial elected to the Colfax County Board of Commissioners in 2022, representing District 1. His public service focuses on responsible governance, economic development, transparency, and regional collaboration.

As Founder and Managing Partner of Sangre de Cristo Holdings, LLC, Si oversees businesses and investments spanning real estate, rangeland, insurance, vending, business consulting, and mineral rights. He previously spent more than a decade in the oil and gas industry, working across several major producing basins. His experience in drilling, production, safety, and environmental management provides him with a distinctive combination of business, operational, and technical expertise.

Si also serves on the North Central New Mexico Economic Development District, the Governing Council of Pecos Cyber Academy, and the Board of Directors of Raton Public Service Company. Through these roles, he advocates for stronger infrastructure, regional partnerships, and improved connections between rural communities and economic opportunities.

Si and his wife, Mia, are raising their two young sons in Raton and are deeply invested in the future of Northeastern New Mexico.

Mo Moabed serves as Deputy Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Transportation, where he began his career as an engineering intern and has accumulated 14 years of service. His extensive career also includes leadership positions with the Texas Department of Transportation, where he served as an area engineer, director of operations, and deputy district engineer. He has held engineering roles with the cities of Roswell, New Mexico, and Cathedral City, California, and served as county engineer for Doña Ana County.

Mo has also worked as a bridge inspection team leader and spent 10 years with HollyFrontier Corporation as a marketing representative. He earned his civil engineering degree from New Mexico State University in 1980 and is a registered professional engineer in New Mexico, Texas, and California.

Lauren Garduño has served as the President and CEO of the Ports-to-Plains Alliance since September 2022 after 35 years with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). Lauren’s experience with TxDOT included over 20 years in executive management running district operations in Odessa and Abilene before completing the last five years in the department’s administration in Austin. Assignments for administration involved restructuring five of the departments’ divisions including fleet and Professional Engineering Procurement. Lauren’s final assignment included serving as the department’s Director of Planning and Project Development during a time of significant increases in the statewide Unified Transportation Program.

Lauren holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Texas Tech University, and advanced degrees in Management and Civil Engineering from Abilene Christian University, and Texas A&M University. In his spare time, Lauren and his wife, Ketta, manage a purebred Charolais operation in Happy Valley, Texas.

Rob Frei is currently the Regional Planning and Environmental Manager (RPEM) for Region 2 at the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT).  During his first 10 years he worked as an environmental consultant for various firms.  Projects that he worked on ranged from field work collecting noise impacts on California Bighorn Sheep from military overflights to Project Managing multiple Environmental Assessments and contributing to multi-state Environmental Impact Statements.  He began his tenure at CDOT in 2007 as an environmental project manager and biologist, reviewing and clearing hundreds of Categorical Exclusions for transportation improvement projects.  In 2015, Rob became the RPEM for the Region and now oversees planning, program management and reporting, and the environmental unit.  When he’s not working, he and his wife are busy with their three teenagers and their activities.   Occasionally, he finds time to recreate outdoors by camping, hunting and fly fishing.

Mr. Jaden K. Welch, PMP, City of Raton Community Director of Engineering, will serve as Project Director. Mr. Welch manages procurement and grant identification for Raton, reviews and approves engineering plans and specifications, and prepares site plans and project requirements. In addition to providing technical support to Raton’s Water and Power departments, he helps manage public works and all facilities departments. With over a decade of experience managing design, development, and optimization of radiation-hardened power supplies, Mr. Welch will leverage his technical and management experience to ensure project success.

LinkedIn profile https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaden-welch-1409b242

Donna Maestas-De Vries joined Housing New Mexico in March 2020 as the chief housing officer. She oversees Housing New Mexico’s Asset Management, Community Development, and Marketing Departments. Before coming to Housing New Mexico, she was appointed director of the property tax division at the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department. Prior to that, Maestas-De Vries worked at the NM Department of Finance and Administration as acting director and deputy director of the state board of finance. She worked for more than two decades in residential and commercial real estate and lending in California before coming to New Mexico.

Felicity Fonseca serves as the Community Development Director for the North Central New Mexico Economic Development District (NCNMEDD), where she leads efforts to strengthen local economies through planning, technical assistance, and intergovernmental collaboration. In her role, Felicity works closely with municipalities, counties, and tribal governments across the region to advance infrastructure development, housing strategies, and access to federal and state funding.

She plays a key role in coordinating the region’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), helping align local priorities with broader economic goals. With a background in grassroots, non-profit, community, and economic development, Felicity is known for her practical, data-informed approach and her commitment to building capacity in rural and underserved communities throughout Northern New Mexico.

Mr. Enrico Gradi’s work experience prior to YES was primarily with the Bernalillo County Office where he started as a Planning Intern and worked his way up to Deputy County Manager over the course of 25 years. Enrico’s education began at The University of Granada where he studied Spanish Language and Culture. He then received a BA from the University of New Mexico in Political Science and a Master’s in Community and Regional Planning. Enrico will be assisting YES with our community planning – what amenities will make sense with certain developments and helping YES integrate commercial development in other communities.

She plays a key role in coordinating the region’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), helping align local priorities with broader economic goals. With a background in grassroots, non-profit, community, and economic development, Felicity is known for her practical, data-informed approach and her commitment to building capacity in rural and underserved communities throughout Northern New Mexico.

Mrs. Den Bleyker’s experience in affordable housing finance and development throughout the Southwest goes back over 33 years. Michelle has a Bachelor’s Degree in Geography / Urban Studies from Macalester College and a Master’s Degree in City and Regional Planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her expertise ranges from new construction and acquisition and rehabilitation of affordable housing developments and finance, Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), senior housing, real estate development, and asset, property, and construction management. She oversees YES’ residential development activities, from pre-development, funding applications, financing and closing, and monitors YES’ developments through construction completion.

Synthia Laura Molina, MBA, BSc, is best known for increasing the efficiency, effectiveness, and earnings of mission-driven leaders, managers, and professionals with impact-accountable side hustles, startups, small-to-midsized businesses (SMBs), multinational corporations (MNCs), nonprofit organizations (NPOs), government agencies, and public-private collaboratives.  She delivers transdisciplinary, cross-functional, and digital-tech support that boosts top-line, bottom-line, and competitive performance. A founder, co-founder, and principal in a series of highly successful social-benefit enterprises with press-worthy exits—and a crisis manager for organizations as large as AmerisourceBergen, Baxter International, and the American Red Cross—Molina typically steps in as an advisory board member, interim chief officer, or strategic program director to enable individual, organizational, or community jumpstarts, turnarounds, and transformations. Molina studied and worked with management guru and Presidential Medal of Honor winner, Peter F. Drucker; has supported the Drucker School of Management for 30+ years as a member of the Industry Advisory Board; and currently serves as the Acting Director of Organizational, Community, and Economic Development for the City of Raton in Northern New Mexico. She is passionate about solving the Wicked Problem of rural American blight—and views AI as a mission-critical enabling technology.  

Matthew Ashby, AICP, serves as Vice President of Development Services at Ayres Associates, where he helps communities move from vision to implementation through strategic planning, redevelopment, infrastructure investment, brownfield revitalization, and economic development initiatives. Before joining Ayres, Ashby served in local government, gaining firsthand experience with the challenges and opportunities communities face as they balance growth, investment, and long-term sustainability. Throughout his 25+ year career, he has worked alongside local governments, economic development organizations, and private-sector partners to transform underutilized assets into opportunities that strengthen communities, attract investment, and improve quality of life. Today, he leads a multidisciplinary team of nearly 40 professionals dedicated to creating meaningful and lasting change for communities across the country.

Known for his innovative and forward-thinking approach, Matt continually explores new tools and strategies that help his team at Ayres work smarter and deliver greater value to clients and communities. He encourages staff to leverage artificial intelligence for routine research, quality control, content updates, and other repetitive tasks, while relying on experienced professionals to provide oversight, context, and critical thinking. Matt believes AI is most effective when it serves as a tool, not a replacement for expertise. By streamlining routine work, AI creates more capacity for strategic planning, community engagement, creative problem-solving, and identifying opportunities others might overlook.

A passionate advocate for community and economic development, Matt is driven by the belief that successful communities do not simply react to change, they anticipate it. He enjoys helping clients and colleagues embrace innovation, challenge conventional thinking, and turn ambitious ideas into practical, measurable results that create lasting community impact.

Andrew Woltje is Director of Strategic Growth for Magnum Companies — the Las Vegas, New Mexico family of companies that includes Magnum Welding & Construction, Magnum Aggregates, Magnum Concrete, Magnum Asphalt, and Magnum Real Estate. He represents Magnum wherever decisions get made about this region: federal and state agencies, city and county governments, offices in Washington, D.C., and community tables closer to home.

 Andrew came up through disaster response, working in 57 countries delivering presentations and training on emergency response and community integration. He served as a delegated Planning Section Chief on the BP Deepwater Horizon spill and helped write BP's global emergency and subsea response manuals. Closer to home, he ran more than $500 million in FEMA recovery after Calf Canyon and stood up the San Miguel County Emergency Operations Center. He trained at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi's National Spill Control School.

Jason Strickland works on systems governance at the Center for Rural AI, helping the team turn big ideas into clear maps, practical workflows, and durable foundations.

Jason brings experience leading complex systems, data, governance, and technology transformation work. He has helped build business intelligence functions, guide ERP governance, support direct-to-consumer system integrations, and reduce infrastructure costs through practical vendor and systems strategy. More recently, his work has focused on digital transformation, product data governance, and agentic AI operating systems — multi-agent workflows, knowledge bases, planning gates, and safety protocols that turn AI from a tool into a repeatable operating layer.

Joze Petrich is a business developer, strategist, and entrepreneur working at the intersection of rural economic development, technology, innovation, and community building.

He is the Executive Director of Emergent Campus Trinidad in Southern Colorado, where he works to connect startups, businesses, workforce initiatives, and emerging technologies with rural communities across the region.

Before coming to the United States, Joze spent a decade in the Netherlands, where he built a consulting practice working with startups, scale-ups, and larger companies, and created the Game of Values, a facilitation tool focused on better conversations and decision-making.

He is also the author of Designing Thriving Communities: A Rural Pattern Language, a practical framework for helping rural communities identify challenges, build on their strengths, and turn ideas into action.

Tim Hagaman works for the New Mexico Economic Development Department and has served as a Tribal Liaison. Tim has lived in New Mexico since 1984, after earning a BA in Mass Communications from Western Illinois University and attending the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma. He is an economic development specialist, public speaker, and board member of the Wild West History Association. He and his wife reside in an 1880 adobe home by the Mora River and spend time at their Casita on the Sea of Cortez.

Karina Armijo is Director of the New Mexico Economic Development Department’s Outdoor Recreation Division, where she leads a team focused on growing the state’s outdoor recreation economy through strategic investments in infrastructure, community programs, and outdoor recreation businesses.

With nearly 30 years of experience in economic development, tourism, marketing, and communications, Karina brings both local and statewide perspectives to her role. Before joining the state, she served for eight years as the Town of Taos’ first Director of Marketing and Tourism.

Under her leadership, the Outdoor Recreation Division has expanded its statewide impact through initiatives including the Outdoor Recreation Trails+ Grant, Outdoor Equity Fund, and business development programs. Together, these efforts help rural, Tribal, and underserved communities leverage local assets, strengthen economies, and expand access to the outdoors.

Erin Ortigoza serves as the Food, Hunger, and Agriculture Program Manager at the New Mexico Economic Development Department, where she leads initiatives that strengthen New Mexico’s food and agricultural economy while increasing access to healthy food for communities across the state. Her work focuses on developing food value-chain infrastructure, supporting agricultural entrepreneurs, and advancing programs such as the Healthy Food Financing Fund to expand food production, processing, aggregation, distribution, and retail capacity in New Mexico.

Ortigoza brings more than fifteen years of experience in food system development, economic development, and community planning. Prior to joining the state, she served as a senior planner for Santa Fe County, where she led the development of the county’s Agriculture and Ranching Implementation Plan and coordinated agricultural demonstration projects and the AgriGate of Santa Fe County information network.

She has also worked nationally in entrepreneurial ecosystem development as the Rio Grande Local Director for Forward Cities’ ESHIP Communities initiative, helping strengthen networks that support food and agriculture entrepreneurs across the region. Earlier in her career, Ortigoza co-owned and operated Ancient Waters Farm in La Madera, New Mexico.

In recognition of her leadership in strengthening rural food economies and supporting agricultural entrepreneurs, Ortigoza received the 2025 Rural Economic Development Award from the New Mexico IDEA.

Camille has over 8 years of experience in community and economic development, working on programs and projects focused on public health, New Mexico food systems, and supporting local entrepreneurship. She is a first-generation, native Northern New Mexican from Tecolote, a small rural village outside Las Vegas. Camille’s commitment to social equity, improving health outcomes, and grassroots community development has been deeply informed by her background and roots. She holds a B.A. in Spanish with a minor in Chicano/a Studies from the University of NM and an A.A.S. in Nursing from Central New Mexico Community College.

Camille began her career in nonprofit community development while in nursing school. She has been with New Mexico MainStreet, a program of the Economic Development Department, for 1 year as the Community Economic Development Specialist. Her role emphasizes collaboration and empowerment - helping communities access capital outlay resources, manage public infrastructure processes, and connect with partners who can advance their long-term vision for a vibrant, resilient, and equitable community.

She believes empowered people empower communities. Her approach to empowering communities is listening to their needs and fostering environments that promote self-sufficiency for community and economic resilience and equity.

Lucas brings a strong background in socio-economic research, community economic development, metropolitan redevelopment, and housing policy to the New Mexico MainStreet program. He previously served as the Economic Development Manager for the City of Albuquerque—where he helped establish the Small Business Office—and as Program Manager and Director for Barelas MainStreet, and he now has worked with NMMS for the past 6 years. With additional experience across public policy research, marketing, and private-sector finance, Lucas is thrilled to be working at New Mexico MainStreet to support local communities in achieving their revitalization goals. 

Jared has a Bachelor’s Degree in Recreation Management from Brigham Young University.  Since 1997, he has worked in the outdoor recreation industry in both the public and private sectors from Canada to Florida. He is president of the New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Business Alliance and sits on the Advisory Board for the State of Colorado's Office of Outdoor Recreation. He is the founder and race director of the Master of the Mountains Adventure Relay and created and developed the Climax Canyon National Recreation Trail.  He lives with his wife and 3 children in Raton, NM.

Toby Velasquez is the Director of the New Mexico State Parks Division, serving the agency for over 27 

years. A native of Mora, New Mexico, he began his journey as a seasonal high school ranger before 

climbing the ranks as a State Park Ranger, Park Superintendent, Regional Manager, Chief of Law 

Enforcement, and Deputy Director. A recognized leader in maritime and outdoor recreation, Velasquez 

was the youngest, first Hispanic, and first New Mexican elected President of the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA). He also served two terms as President of the Western States Boating Administrators Association. In 2015, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson appointed him to the National Boating Safety Advisory Council, where his service earned three Public Service Commendations. Dedicated to community and conservation, Velasquez serves on the Rio Grande Trail Commission, the Water Quality Control Commission, and is a three-term local school board member. An avid outdoorsman, he spends his free time with family and friends ranching, hiking, fishing, and hunting

Shelley O'Neill is Director of Business Operations at Philmont Scout Ranch, a 140,000-acre high-adventure destination in Colfax County that welcomes over 20,000 participants and guests each year. As one of the region's largest employers, Philmont supports jobs across ranching, hospitality, retail, and program staff, and its purchasing and payroll flow directly into the local economy. Shelley oversees the ranch's accounting, purchasing, budgets, IT, and marketing, along with the Tooth of Time Traders outdoor gear store and the Philmont Training Center.

Shelley first came to Philmont as a seasonal employee in 1989 and returned every summer while earning her political science degree at the University of Michigan. She took a full-time job running the Tooth of Time Traders in 1996 and managed the store for 22 years. Under her leadership, it was named Outdoor Retailer of the Year in 2011 and 2012 and was recognized as one of the top specialty outdoor stores in the country. She joined the Outdoor Industry Association in the 1990’s and helped connect Scouting America with the outdoor industry. She became Director of Business Operations in 2018.

Shelley has lived and worked in Cimarron for 30 years. She is a past president of the Cimarron Kiwanis Club, serves on the board of the Cimarron Chamber of Commerce, chaired the Cimarron Strategic Plan Committee, and serves on the board of the North Central New Mexico Economic Development District. She and her husband, Tim, have two Eagle Scout sons and spend as much time outdoors as they can, skiing and hiking.

Nate Brown joined the team at NRA Whittington Center at the end of March 2026 as the Center’s Advancement Officer.  He is working closely with the Board of Trustees, Director Becky Fish, the staff, and volunteers of the Center to build new revenue streams and perform as the Center’s primary fundraiser. As a lifelong resident of the western region, passionate firearms and shooting sports advocate, former NRA Field Representative, and non-profit fundraiser, Nate brings proven leadership in nonprofit growth, fundraising, stakeholder engagement, operational management, and mission-driven program delivery–skills that are critical to the future of the Center. With deep roots in the outdoor recreation and conservation communities of the Rocky Mountain West, he’s committed to preserving and advancing the heritage of freedom through exceptional shooting sports experiences, hunting opportunities, training, youth programs, and facilities on this premier 33,300-acre property. 

Nate's years as a professional backcountry camp manager, licensed wilderness hunting and fishing guide, energy-sector superintendent, and lifelong firearms enthusiast and supporter of shooting sports culture, he understands the community the Whittington Center serves. These experiences directly honed his ability to expand participation, increase membership support, and generate revenue in a competitive nonprofit environment–mirroring the strategic leadership, donor cultivation, and membership growth essential for implementing Board-directed vision and ensuring the financial sustainability of the NRA Whittington Center. Nate’s skills uniquely fit the broad vision of the Center, which includes such programs as the Outdoor Adventure Camp, Women’s Wilderness Escape, Hunting and Outdoor Recreation, coupled with the extensive Shooting and Training opportunities available at the Center. His goal is to grow and expand the footprint and increase the nationwide reach of the Center to grow the next generation of 2nd Amendment advocates by strategically placing them with the best instructors and 2A advocates in our country

Gus Holm is the General Manager at Vermejo Park Ranch; the Ranch spans 559,000 acres in northeast New Mexico and southern Colorado encompassing 6 ecoregions from short grass prairie to alpine tundra. Vermejo offers fishing, hunting, and nature tourism through its guest operations. Ranch operations include bison production, sustainable forestry operation, coal bed natural gas development, wildlife management and endangered species restoration. Gus is responsible for managing this diverse operation and supporting the Turner Ranch’s mission to “To manage Turner Lands in an economically sustainable and ecologically sensitive manner while promoting the conservation of native species.

Dr. Sally Hoger has a background in pharmaceutical research and clinical microbiology and currently teaches laboratory and public health courses. She serves on several health-related boards, is a member of the Raton Education Committee, and is a Commissioner for the City of Raton. 

Dr. Dustin Eicke is President of Trinidad State College (TSC), serving southern Colorado through campuses in Trinidad and Alamosa. A statistician and criminologist by training, he holds a PhD from Texas Tech University and has spent his career in higher education leadership with a focus on institutional strategy, data integration, workforce development, student success, and strengthening the role of community colleges in regional economic development.

Before joining TSC, Dr. Eicke served as Vice President for Performance & Planning at Laramie County Community College in Wyoming. He is a U.S. Navy veteran, a first-generation college graduate, and worked in the skilled trades prior to entering higher education. His work at TSC is focused on expanding workforce and educational opportunities, building stronger partnerships with employers and communities, and positioning the college as an active contributor to the economic vitality of southern Colorado and northern New Mexico.

Dr. Carol Linder serves as the President of Luna Community College in Las Vegas, New Mexico. A dedicated educator, scientist, and leader, Dr. Linder is committed to expanding access to higher education and strengthening workforce development opportunities for the students and communities of northeastern New Mexico.

With a distinguished career in academia, Dr. Linder has spent decades in higher education as a professor, researcher, and administrator. Before joining Luna, she was a faculty member in the biological sciences, where she championed student success, collaborative learning, and hands-on research opportunities. Her experience in leadership roles has focused on institutional growth, student-centered initiatives, and fostering strong partnerships with local businesses, government agencies, and community organizations.

Under her leadership, Luna Community College continues to build on its legacy of resilience, innovation, and service. Dr. Linder is committed to ensuring that Luna remains an accessible, affordable, and high-quality institution that meets the evolving needs of students and the regional workforce.

A proud advocate for education, Dr. Linder believes in the power of collaboration and is dedicated to breaking down barriers to student success. She looks forward to working with legislators, community members, and stakeholders to secure a strong future for higher education in New Mexico.

 Karen Torres is a dynamic educational leader currently serving as the Director of Career and Technical Education (CTE) & Workforce Development at Luna Community College. A champion for rural economic advancement, Karen specializes in bridging the gap between education, local industry, and regional high school partners. She recently designed and implemented innovative workforce skills bootcamps at Luna, developing custom curricula tailored to meet immediate regional labor needs. Karen remains dedicated to expanding dual-credit pathways, cultivating strategic partnerships, and empowering Northern New Mexico communities through targeted workforce training. 

Kristie Medina is a dedicated educational leader and Superintendent of Raton Public Schools, committed to creating a school district where every student feels valued, supported, and empowered to succeed.

With a passion for student achievement, strong school culture, and community engagement, Kristie leads with a student-centered approach that emphasizes academic excellence, meaningful relationships, and opportunities for all learners. She believes that great schools are built through collaboration, high expectations, and a shared commitment to doing what is best for students.

As Superintendent, Kristie is focused on strengthening instructional practices, supporting educators, expanding career and technical education opportunities, and fostering a positive and inclusive environment throughout the district. She is passionate about building partnerships with families and the community while preparing students for success beyond graduation.

A native of Raton, and in education for the last 29 years, Kristie takes pride in serving the community she calls home. Her leadership is grounded in the belief that every child deserves an exceptional education and that lasting change begins with strong relationships, trust, and a collective vision for the future.

Kevin Davies serves as CFO at Miller Timber Services, Inc., where he oversees the company’s financial operations, develops and implements strategic financial planning, manages budgeting, forecasting, cash flow, and risk mitigation, ensures regulatory compliance including tax planning, leads the finance and accounting team, identifies operational efficiencies and cost savings opportunities, prepares timely financial reporting for executive leadership and stakeholders, and monitors internal controls to safeguard assets and support long-term fiscal stability.  With over 15 years of experience in financial leadership and accounting Kevin holds a Bachelor’s Accounting a Master’s in Business Administration and a CPA license, bringing expertise in financial performance and strategic decision-making to support Miller Timber’s growth initiatives.

Before joining Carbogenics to stand up its first U.S. CreChar production facility in Raton, James Dietz spent more than two decades as a plant operations, maintenance, and reliability leader across manufacturing, energy, and heavy-equipment industries. A United States Navy veteran, he served as a Fire Controlman Second Class (FC2, E-5) Non-Commissioned Officer, built his technical foundation in advanced shipboard weapons, fire-control, and radar systems, served aboard ship, and carried the American flag through more than a dozen countries — including Italy (including Sicily), Spain, France, Portugal, Greece, Turkey, Israel, Egypt, Colombia, Panama, Puerto Rico, and Curaçao — an experience that shaped his instinct for working with people of every background and getting a mission done far from home. 

In the years since, Dietz has led plant startups, commissioning campaigns, preventive maintenance and reliability programs, and continuous-improvement initiatives inside heavily regulated production environments, translating engineered designs into safe, well-documented, day-to-day operations. A hands-on operator who came up through the shop floor, he is widely regarded for his ability to read a facility the way a mechanic reads an engine — diagnosing hazards, dependencies, and decision gates early, then converting them into phased operating programs, controlled documents, and trained crews that hold up under audit and under pressure. He has served as the on-site owner of safety, quality, electrical, and process-safety documentation for industrial operations, and brings deep working knowledge of OSHA, EPA, NFPA, and state-level compliance frameworks along with the discipline of a Navy Non-Commissioned Officer: standards enforced, watch stations manned, and the crew trained before the first shift runs. Dietz's career has moved him through combustible-dust and process-hazard environments, through startup, commissioning, and steady-state production, and through the kind of workforce-development work that turns local hires into skilled operators. 

At Carbogenics he serves as the primary operational lead for the Raton expansion, with scope over plant operations, equipment installation and commissioning, production management, workforce development, safety, and every controlled document produced for the site. He is proud to build this facility in Raton — a community whose railroad, ranching, and coal-country heritage produced exactly the kind of skilled, hard-working people this operation needs — and is committed to hiring and training locally, sourcing from northern New Mexico and southern Colorado vendors, and working shoulder-to-shoulder with the City of Raton, the Fire Department, and Colfax County permitting authorities to run the plant as a transparent, accountable, good-neighbor member of the community. After a career that took him around the world in service to his country, Dietz takes particular satisfaction in the part of the job the paperwork doesn't capture: standing in a running facility at the end of startup with a trained crew, a clean binder, and a safety culture that will outlast him.

Dan is the Sector Partnership Manager with WIN Construction Trades. Dan has a degree in Behavioral Psychology with extensive experience in Leadership and Organization Development facilitation, consulting, coaching, and training.  He has worked with government, for-profit and not-for-profit organizations in the US, Europe, and the Far East, leading strategic planning, productivity improvement programs, and system change efforts.  

As part of the Workforce Integration Network federal grant, he currently facilitates meetings among Construction Trades employers, education providers, support service agencies and community leaders among the 7 counties in North Central NM to promote Skilled Trades careers, work with schools to align training with industry needs, and help employers find qualified applicants. 

My name is Chicky Lee Gomez. I am a fourth-Generation resident of Raton. I am employed with New Mexico Workforce Connection as an Employment Business Specialist. I take lots of pride and Joy in our community. I am eager to help the residents and businesses in our community with their employment needs. I have lots of Professional and personal connections within the community. The services offered through New Mexico Workforce Connection range from assisting with Unemployment claims and Pre-Apprenticeship Opportunities to creating resumes and assisting employers and job seekers with job placement. My ongoing dedication and connection to our community provide a service-based experience that helps our community thrive and grow.

Ruthie E. Mares serves as Program Monitor and Quality Assurance Specialist for the Northern Area Local Workforce Development Board, supporting a workforce system serving ten counties across northern New Mexico. In this role, she reviews program operations, participant records, fiscal documentation, performance data, and service-provider practices to help ensure compliance with the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and other applicable federal, state, and local requirements. She collaborates with staff and service providers to identify potential risks, strengthen internal controls, address documentation and performance gaps, and promote the responsible stewardship of public funds. She views monitoring not simply as a process for identifying deficiencies, but as a collaborative tool to strengthen program integrity and support the consistent delivery of high-quality workforce services.

Her goal is to foster a culture of continuous improvement in which monitoring results, data analysis, and technical assistance translate into practical, sustainable changes that improve accountability, service delivery, and participant outcomes. With more than 15 years of experience in finance, compliance, and operations, she connects regulatory requirements with effective day-to-day systems and workable solutions. Ruthie was born in Las Vegas, New Mexico, and currently resides in Mora. Her connection to northern New Mexico’s rural communities shapes her commitment to equitable access, responsible stewardship, and expanding workforce opportunities that reflect the distinct needs of every community she serves.

Concha Cordova is a Vice President at Youth Development, Inc. (YDI), one of New Mexico’s largest and most impactful social service nonprofits. She oversees YDI’s Education, Employment & Training Division, managing 12 programs across Central and Northern New Mexico with an average annual budget of approximately $6 million.

With more than 26 years of experience in direct service and senior leadership, Concha has developed and managed innovative programs spanning workforce development, dropout prevention, alternative education, mentoring, reentry, and violence intervention. Having begun her career in direct services at YDI, she brings a deep, firsthand understanding of the challenges facing youth and families as they navigate education, employment, and other pathways to self-sufficiency. Her leadership is grounded in developing responsive, evidence-based programs that create meaningful opportunities for young people and strengthen communities.

Concha has served on numerous advisory councils and community coalitions, including the New Mexico Teen Pregnancy Coalition, NCLR Workforce Advisory Committee, and New Mexico State ABE Advisory Council. She was selected as a 2023 Changemakers Fellow and is a graduate of Leadership New Mexico’s 30th Core Program.

A native New Mexican, Concha was raised in a small rural community in southeastern New Mexico. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology, with a minor in Psychology, from the University of New Mexico.

Matthew Whitley serves as an Apprenticeship Training Representative for the New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions (NMDWS), a role he has held since June 2025. In this capacity, he provides leadership and technical support in the advancement of registered apprenticeship opportunities, working collaboratively with employers, industry partners, workforce professionals, and community stakeholders to strengthen and expand career pathways.

His responsibilities include promoting apprenticeship and workforce development opportunities through job and career fairs, workforce conferences, and community outreach initiatives. He also provides oversight and technical assistance to existing apprenticeship programs, supporting sponsors in meeting compliance requirements and maintaining high-quality program standards. Additionally, he works directly with employers and prospective sponsors to develop and establish new registered apprenticeship programs tailored to industry needs and workforce demands. 

Prior to assuming his current position, Matthew served as an Unemployment Claims Adjudicator with NMDWS beginning in 2019. Through this role, he developed extensive experience in workforce programs, employment services, regulatory requirements, and assisting individuals navigating the workforce system.

Throughout his career, Matthew has demonstrated a commitment to strengthening workforce development initiatives and expanding access to meaningful career opportunities. Outside of his professional responsibilities, he enjoys spending time with his daughter and pursuing his passion for music. 

Nina Valdez serves as the One-Stop Operator for the Northern Region of America's Job Centers. She brings more than 15 years of experience in business ownership, management, event coordination, marketing, customer service, and community engagement. Throughout her career, she has managed multiple businesses, supervised employees, coordinated large-scale events, developed partnerships, managed budgets and schedules, and built strong relationships with clients, vendors, organizations, and community members.

As a member of Ohkay Owingeh who was born and raised in Northern New Mexico, Nina has a deep understanding of the communities she serves. Her professional background has taught her the importance of collaboration, clear communication, creative problem-solving, and bringing people together around a shared goal. She now brings those skills to her position as One-Stop Operator, where she works to strengthen coordination among America's Job Center partners, employers, workforce programs, educational institutions, government agencies, and community organizations.

Nina’s goal is to help expand the visibility, accessibility, and impact of American Job Centers throughout the Northern Region. She hopes to develop new partnerships, increase outreach, support innovative workforce initiatives, and create more opportunities for job seekers and employers. She is especially committed to ensuring that rural and underserved communities understand the resources available to them and have meaningful access to employment, training, supportive services, and career-development opportunities.

Nina looks forward to continuing to strengthen communication among partners, identifying new ways to share resources, and creating opportunities that respond to the unique needs of each community. Through collaboration, consistency, and thinking outside the box, she hopes to help the Northern Region American Job Centers grow into an even stronger and more connected workforce system that supports individuals, families, businesses, and communities across Northern New Mexico.

Ericka Van Eckhoutte is the Executive Director for Career Team in Northern New Mexico, overseeing the WIOA Adult and Dislocated Worker workforce development services across a 10-county region. With nearly 10 years of experience in workforce development, Ericka has led initiatives focused on connecting job seekers to meaningful career pathways while helping employers build and strengthen their workforce.

Ericka is passionate about creating partnerships that bring workforce and economic development together. Her work includes developing regional training initiatives, expanding employer-driven training opportunities, and building partnerships among employers, educational institutions, workforce programs, local governments, and community organizations.

Ericka's approach centers on ensuring workforce programs respond to the real needs of both businesses and communities by creating accessible pathways to training, sustainable employment, and economic opportunity throughout New Mexico.