Women We Admire is pleased to announce The Top 50 Women Leaders of New Mexico for 2024. Known for its stunning landscapes and rich history, New Mexico is also home to a thriving and diverse economy. This growth is fueled by the state government’s effective tax credits and other incentives, which attract innovative companies and foster job creation.
A few key industries in The Land of Enchantment include agriculture, green energy, natural resources, science, engineering, information technology, intelligent manufacturing, cybersecurity, and defense.
First, we honor Dawn Garcia-Nuñez, Lead and Site Director at Raytheon Engineering for Systems Integration and Test in the Mission Capability Verification Center. With a team of over 175 engineers, her leadership focuses on the execution of complex, integrated field tests and provides expert operational support to a variety of US government missile and radar programs.
Next, we acknowledge Julia Bernal, Executive Director of Pueblo Action Alliance, a climate justice and community-driven organization. Bernal and her team work to promote cultural sustainability by addressing environmental and social impacts within indigenous communities.
We also congratulate Tobie Webb, Director of Strategic Talent Management of Sandia National Labs, the nation’s premier DOE science and engineering lab for national security and technology innovation. Through multiple promotions, Webb has been a key part of growing the impressive team at Sandia National Labs for nearly 13 years.
Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of The Top 50 Women Leaders of New Mexico for 2024.
1. Delfinia Salazar
Chief Financial Officer, Sandia National Laboratories
Delfinia Salazar is the Chief Financial Officer of Sandia National Laboratories, a government-owned and contractor-operated facility that develops science-based technologies to support national security in areas that include nuclear weapons, nonproliferation and materials control, emerging threats, and energy and critical infrastructure.
Salazar started at Sandia National Laboratories in 2003 as an auditor and has been promoted through the ranks. Her first promotion was to program manager in 2009. From there, she was appointed the manager of supply chain risk management and then to small business program manager. In 2018, she landed her first senior management role in supply chain management and then as senior business manager in 2020 and senior manager and budget officer in 2021. In 2022, Salazar reached the director level at Sandia National Laboratories with a promotion to the director of integrated business management. She joined the C-suite in her current position in 2024.
Salazar is a Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Internal Auditor, a Certified Government Auditing professional through the Institute of Internal Auditors, and a Certified Fraud Examiner through the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.
2. Cinnamon Blair
Chief Marketing & Communications Officer, University of New Mexico
Cinnamon Blair is the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer of the University of New Mexico. She first joined the team in 2006 as director of university marketing. Founded in 1889 as New Mexico’s flagship institution, the University of New Mexico now occupies nearly 800 acres near old Route 66 in the heart of Albuquerque.
In her current role, Blair directs and manages the strategic marketing and communications functions of the university, including branding, strategic planning, social media strategies, media and public relations, and critical event strategies. She integrates the university's communications, media relations, and marketing programs into a cohesive effort that conveys a consistent message in support of its mission, strategic goals, and objectives. As a member of the president's senior leadership team, she serves as the university's senior strategic advisor for communications, media and public relations, and marketing initiatives.
Previously, Blair was a director of marketing for the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center. Before that, she was a director of marketing at the New Mexico Economic Development Department. Earlier in her career, she worked with the Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department of New Mexico (NM State Parks) as a marketing and public relations coordinator. Blair earned a Master of Science in Health Education from The University of New Mexico and an undergraduate degree in English and political science from Emory University.
3. Charlotte Lindsey
Chief Operating Officer, Los Alamos National Laboratory
Charlotte Lindsey is the Chief Operating Officer of Los Alamos National Laboratory. Los Alamos National Laboratory's mission is to solve national security challenges through excellence. They focus on integrating research and development solutions to achieve the maximum impact on strategic priorities.
Lindsey has 46 years of experience. She is a business executive with extensive experience as a chief operating officer, chief information officer, and deputy chief information officer, with a demonstrated history of working in the research industry. She is a strong information technology professional, skilled in analytical skills, Perl, computer science, system administration, and Linux. Before joining Los Alamos National Laboratory, Lindsey was a systems analyst at Cordero Coal Mine. Earlier in her career, she worked with the State of New Mexico as a systems analyst.
Lindsey graduated from UNM Anderson School of Management with an MBA and from New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology with an undergraduate degree in mathematics.
4. Sandra Mann
VP & Associate General Counsel, Ardent Health Services
Sandra Mann began her professional career 23 years ago. Today, she is the Vice President and an Associate General Counsel for Ardent Health Services. Ardent Health Services, LLC, provides healthcare services, offering a network of acute care hospitals, rehabilitation, multi-specialty physician groups, health plans, and retail pharmacies.
Before joining the team at Ardent Health Services, Mann was an associate general counsel for the Elliot Health System for over four-and-a-half years. During the previous five years, she served as counsel for Devine Millimet & Branch. Earlier in her career, she was the director of healthcare policy at Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Mann graduated from the University of New Hampshire School of Law with a JD, from Russell Sage College with a Master of Science in Public Administration, and from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh with an undergraduate degree in education.
5. Melanie Morais
Vice President, Brown & Brown Insurance
Melanie Morais is the Vice President of Brown & Brown Insurance. She first joined the company in 2017. Brown & Brown Insurance delivers risk management solutions to help protect and preserve what their customers value most.
Previously, Morais was a director of sales and marketing at TrueCoverage, a one-stop insurance shop that negotiates the best rates from all the leading carriers. She held this position for over two years. Before that, she was the director of sales and marketing for the Northern New Mexico operations of Kokopelli Property Management for one-and-a-half years.
Earlier in her career, Morais served Daniels Insurance Inc. as a senior risk management consultant and insurance producer from 2008 to 2013. From 2004 to 2008, she was a sales director for Aon Risk Services.
6. Wendy Christofferson
Vice President, Jacobs
Wendy Christofferson is the Vice President of Jacobs. She first joined the company in 1999. Jacobs delivers impactful global solutions to create a more connected, sustainable world, providing services in intelligence, infrastructure, cybersecurity, and space exploration.
Christofferson has been with Jacobs for over 25 years. She is an expert in her field and has made educational presentations on subjects like construction and demonstration testing, as well as drilling and installations of piping, well pumps, and controls. Christofferson earned a degree in civil engineering from New Mexico State University in 1999. She is based in Albuquerque.
7. Hope Romero
Area President NM, iHeartMedia
Hope Romero is the Area President for NM at iHeartMedia. iHeartRadio, iHeartMedia’s digital radio platform, is the fastest-growing digital audio service in the US, available on over 260 platforms and over 2,000 devices. With over 1.7 billion downloads, iHeartRadio reached 110 million registered users faster than any other radio or digital music service.
Romero has 21 years of experience. She started at iHeartMedia in 2011 as a marketing manager. After a successful tenure in that role, she was promoted to the C-suite, serving as senior vice president of sales starting in 2013. She added the responsibilities of her current position in 2018. Before joining iHeartMedia, Romero owned Kathryn Hope Romero Advertising and Public Relations Consulting. She graduated from The University of New Mexico.
8. Lynnita Ellis
Vice President, Dynamic Air Consulting
Lynnita Ellis is the Vice President of Dynamic Air Consulting. Dynamic Air Corporation is committed to becoming New England’s best manufacturer representative of HVAC-related products. It is their mission to provide their customers with high-quality, energy-efficient products at competitive pricing while achieving a reasonable profit.
Ellis has 23 years of experience in updating and maintaining websites, creating fresh news bytes, editing submitted stories, and selecting and formatting photos and PDFs. For 13 years, she served as a board member, directing communications. She also has 10 years of experience as an organization founder and event planner. Ellis is an award-winning professional, recognized by ASBPE for excellence in news writing and APEX for excellence in design. She possesses strong skills as a creative individual, a quick learner, a highly adaptable professional, and an effective problem solver.
Ellis started her career in 2000 as a staff writer at Trade Show Week, Inc. From there, she went on to The Church at Rocky Peak, before eventually rising to vice president and treasurer at So Cal Air Dynamics, her most recent position before joining Dynamic Air Consulting. Ellis graduated from The Film Actors Lab with a degree in film and television.
9. Laurie Donovan
Senior Vice President, Commercial Banking Leader, and Manager, Wells Fargo
Laurie Donovan is the Senior Vice President, Commercial Banking Leader, and Manager of Wells Fargo. She first joined the company in 1997. Wells Fargo & Company is an American multinational financial services company with a significant global presence.
Donovan is an experienced senior vice president and commercial banking leader with Wells Fargo's Wholesale Banking division. She has a demonstrated history of working in the financial services industry, with expertise in portfolio management, commercial lending, customer service, banking, and credit analysis. Donovan earned a Master of Business Administration with a focus on E-commerce and Electronic Commerce from the University of Phoenix, where she studied from 1998 to 2000.
10. Kristi Gibbs
Vice President & New Mexico State Manager, Old Republic Title
Kristi Gibbs is the Vice President and New Mexico State Manager of Old Republic Title. Old Republic Title is one of the largest title insurance groups in the United States. They operate through a national network of company-owned offices, affiliates, authorized agents, and approved attorneys, which allows them to service their customers in both large and small markets across the country.
A long-time resident of Albuquerque, Gibbs has 38 years of experience in the title insurance industry. She began her career as an escrow assistant for a local title company. Over time, she advanced to her current role at Old Republic National Title Insurance Company, including responsibilities as division manager for the Albuquerque area, where she manages over 70 Old Republic Title employees in four branch locations.
Gibbs also sits on the executive board of directors for the New Mexico Chapter of NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association, and Albuquerque Economic Development.
11. Brandy Zuniga
Vice President, Amwins
Brandy Zuniga is the Vice President of Amwins, the largest wholesale distributor of specialty insurance products and services in the US. The Amwins team has expertise across a diversified mix of property, casualty, group benefits, and reinsurance products and offers value-added services to support these products, including product development, underwriting, premium and claims administration, and actuarial services.
Zuniga started her career in 2009 as a commercial producer at Farmers Insurance. After over five years in this role, she moved to Leavitt Group Southwest Inc., serving as a commercial producer, and then, she went to Leavitt Group Southwest Inc. to work as a commercial lines underwriter. She started her first C-suite role in 2019 as a vice president of Amwins Group. For about seven months, she served as the underwriting superintendent at The Cincinnati Specialty Underwriters Insurance Company before starting her current position in October 2013.
Zuniga graduated from The University of New Mexico with an undergraduate degree in business administration and management.
12. Yu-Feng Lee
Head of Department, New Mexico State University
Serving as a Department Head at New Mexico State University (NMSU), Yu-Feng Lee is a professor of economics for the Department of Economics, Applied Statistics, and International Business (EASIB), the director of the Doctor of Economic Development (DED) Program, and a senior fellow of the Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative (DFEI; by the Bill Daniels Foundation), College of Business. She also holds the Stan Fulton Endowed Chair in Business and the Distinguished Professor of Bank of America (BoA) at NMSU.
Earning her PhD in Economics from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (SIUC), Lee joined NMSU in August 2004. An award-winning instructor in undergraduate and graduate classes, she regularly teaches courses while maintaining her research interests in international business, East-Asian business management and ethics, international economics, regional growth and development, and Asia-Pacific economic integration. Her recent publications can be found in multiple prestigious journals, including the Global Journal of Entrepreneurship, the Journal of Management Theory and Practices Research, the Journal of Social Economics Research, the Asian Journal of Business Research, and the Journal of Economics and Development Studies.
Lee oversees four graduate programs at NMSU (Master of Economics; Master of Applied Statistics; Doctor of Economics Development (DED); and PhD in Applied Statistics). As the DFEI senior fellow, she promotes ethics education and awareness by visiting schools and classes at different levels in the academic, professional, and local/regional communities. In addition to her administrative, program-managing, and professorship duties, she also directed various Faculty-led International Programs (FLiP), leading NMSU student summer study abroad in Europe and Asia since 2011.
13. Kimberly Rumford
Chief Budget Officer, New Mexico State University
Kimberly Rumford is the Chief Budget Officer of New Mexico State University (NMSU) in the Finance and Business Services. She has been with NMSU for over 25 years, holding various roles in accounting, systems, budgeting, and business.
Rumford first joined NMSU in 1996 as an assistant director for university accounts receivable. She was quickly promoted to the assistant financial systems administrator and then to the director of accounting and financial reporting. After 10 years of service, she was appointed the assistant VP of budget planning and student success. Less than four years later, she became the assistant VP of academic budget management. She accepted her current position in August 2018.
Before joining NMSU, Rumford worked in public accounting. She was an assistant and senior auditor at KPMG US. Her educational background includes a PhD in Education, a Master’s in Business Administration, and Bachelor’s degrees in Accounting and Business Administration with a focus on Business Computer Systems, all from NMSU.
14. Monica Torres
President, Doña Ana Community College
Monica Torres is the President of Doña Ana Community College (DACC), a public community college with several campuses in Doña Ana County, NM. It was established in 1973 to provide vocational and technical education opportunities to the citizens of Doña Ana County.
In 2018, Torres was appointed the interim president at DACC, and the position was soon made permanent. From 2013 to 2018, she served the college as the vice president of academic affairs, where she led five academic divisions offering credit instruction and three units providing non-credit instruction, as well as advising and serving the library and career services. She supervised vice presidents, division deans, directors, and support staff.
Torres previously served as an assistant professor, associate professor, and department head at NMSU’s Department of English. She has a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s degree in English from NMSU, and she earned a PhD in American Studies with an emphasis in Cultural Studies from the University of New Mexico.
15. Erin Rackers
VP of Offer & Matriculation, Teach For America
Erin Rackers is the Vice President of Offer and Matriculation at Teach For America, the national corps of outstanding recent college graduates, graduate students, and professionals of all academic majors and career backgrounds who commit two years to teaching in urban and rural public schools.
Rackers is a senior leader in admissions responsible for the multi-year strategic implementation across three business units, including assigning corps members to regions, providing financial experience and support, and overseeing the participant experience from the offer stage to teaching. She integrates strategy across multiple teams and partners with the broader organization to ensure a clear and cohesive experience for participants. Rackers is an educator, designer, and coach who is passionate about providing equitable opportunities for every child in every school. She is skilled in coaching, curriculum design, adult learning and facilitation, grant writing, and data analysis.
Rackers started her career in 2009 as a co-president at UNC Campus Y, and she served in Baltimore City Public Schools. She graduated from Johns Hopkins University School of Education with a Master of Science in Urban Education and Leadership and from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with an undergraduate degree in psychology.
16. Tina Thatcher
VP of Finance & Chief Financial Officer, Idaho Milk Products
Tina Thatcher serves as the Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer at Idaho Milk Products. She joined the team in 2019. Idaho Milk Products is a dedicated team of scientists, technicians, production specialists, and business professionals.
Thatcher is an Idaho-licensed Certified Public Accountant with over 20 years of experience in the dairy industry. She manages banking relationships, board reporting, and risk management, as well as core financial responsibilities. She came to Idaho Milk Products from Glanbia Nutritionals, where she served as the VP of operations. During that time, she partnered with the COO to drive efficiency and effectiveness in manufacturing and logistical operations across Europe, Asia, and the US. She also held the position of chief financial officer of Southwest Cheese, a joint venture between Glanbia and DFA/Select Milk. Before her work at Southwest Cheese, she was financial controller for Glanbia Foods in Idaho and has also worked with Koch Feed Products as an accountant.
Thatcher holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Oregon State University and an MBA in Accounting from Kennedy-Western University. She continued her education by completing the Strategic Financial Leadership Program at Dartmouth College.
17. Barbara Rothweiler
Owner & Vice President, Nothing Bundt Cakes Albuquerque
Barbara Rothweiler is the Vice President of Nothing Bundt Cakes Albuquerque. Nothing Bundt Cakes was founded in Las Vegas in 1997. Since then, more than 500 corporate and franchised bakeries have opened in 40 US states and Canada.
The Nothing Bundt Cakes franchise opened in Albuquerque in August 2011. At that time, Rothweiler took on the responsibilities of the vice president. The bakery offers customers a range of cake selections, from “Bundtlets” (single serving cakes), to the larger “Bundts” that serve up to 18 people. The tiered cakes serve up to 26.
Rothweiler is dedicated to continuing the Nothing Bundt Cakes mission of bringing joy every day. She currently resides in Albuquerque, where she served the community by providing tasty cakes.
18. Samantha Sengel
Chief Administrative Officer, City of Albuquerque
Today, Samantha Sengel is the Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Albuquerque, the municipal government of the largest city in the state of New Mexico. The city's over 6,000 employees serve Albuquerque's 559,000 residents through 26 departments.
Sengel came to the city with over two decades of experience in management and executive leadership at one of the state’s largest higher education institutions. She brings vast relevant experience to the role, as well as long-standing existing relationships with the city, county, and state leaders. She is a consummate administrative leader, blending collaboration and skillful management of large bureaucracy with energy and professionalism to drive results. Sengel started her career in 1995 as a development associate at the University of New Mexico. From there, she went on to UNM Hospitals, before eventually rising to vice president at Central New Mexico Community College, her most recent position before joining the City of Albuquerque.
Sengel graduated from The University of New Mexico with an EdD in Educational Leadership. She has an MBA in Business Administration and Management from The University of New Mexico, as well as an undergraduate degree in international business.
19. Amy Blasing
Chief Executive Officer, Lovelace Health System
Amy Blasing is the Chief Executive Officer of Lovelace Health System. She first joined the company in 2017. Lovelace Health System is a provider of health insurance and a medical care facility in the United States. The company consists of a network of acute care hospitals, a rehabilitation hospital, the Lovelace Health Plan, medical laboratories, retail pharmacy locations, Lovelace Medical Group, and healthcare centers.
Blasing is a registered nurse who holds a Master's in Nursing and Health Care Administration from Excelsior College in Albany, New York. With more than 25 years in healthcare, she most recently served as CEO of Lovelace Westside Hospital. Under her leadership, Lovelace Westside received an “A” Leapfrog Patient Safety grade from 2017 to 2019, in addition to earning four stars from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. During that time, Lovelace Westside also received recognition from the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association for improving stroke care and prevention.
Before coming to Lovelace, Blasing held leadership positions with Summerlin Hospital Medical Center in Las Vegas, NV, as the associate chief nursing officer and the administrative director of clinical operations. She was also the director of emergency services for the Rockford Health System in Rockford, IL. Most recently, she served as the hospital administrator for Presbyterian Hospital.
20. Sheila Mendez
VP & Chief Information Officer, PNM Resources
Sheila Mendez is Vice President and Chief Information Officer for PNM Resources, the parent company of PNM and TNMP. PNM Resources Inc (PNMR) is an energy holding company that operates through its energy utilities, Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) and Texas-New Mexico Power Company (TNMP). The company generates, transmits, and distributes electricity; and transports natural gas.
With over 33 years of experience in technology and 25 years in the utility industry, Mendez oversees the management and development of all business technology and cyber and physical security for PNM Resources, PNM, and TNMP. She is also responsible for federal reliability standards compliance, critical infrastructure protection, and crisis management. She joined the PNM Resources team in May 1999.
Mendez graduated from The University of New Mexico with an executive MBA in Business Administration, Management, and Operations and from UNM Anderson School of Management with an undergraduate degree in business computer systems.
21. Amanda Kocon
Chief Strategy Officer, Edmentum
Today, Amanda Kocon is the Chief Strategy Officer of Edmentum. Edmentum, Inc. is committed to making it easier for educators to individualize learning for every student through simple technology, high-quality content, and actionable data. In this newly created executive leadership role, Kocon helps realize Edmentum’s vision by bridging the organization’s long-term objectives and strong market position with its history of positive growth and forward momentum.
Kocon brings over 25 years of experience in senior leadership positions at major educational nonprofit and financial services institutions. Her extensive knowledge of setting strategy, leading complex change management within diverse organizations, growing and diversifying revenue across markets, and developing teams are essential elements of this newly created executive leadership position at Edmentum. Kocon’s history of successful strategic planning and execution, servant-based leadership approaches, and passion for education and positively impacting student outcomes is an invaluable addition to the Edmentum team.
Kocon most recently served as chief strategy officer at The New Teachers Project (TNTP) and has also previously held senior leadership positions at JP Morgan Chase, including chief operations officer of global futures and options. Kocon graduated from Scripps College with an undergraduate degree in international relations.
22. Didi Bethurum
Chief Communications Officer, Meow Wolf
With 20 years of marketing experience at Fortune 100s, media agencies, and startups, Didi Bethurum is a marketing executive with a proven success record in designing and delivering global enterprise marketing solutions. She is the Chief Communications Officer at Meow Wolf, a US-based innovative arts and entertainment company that creates mind-bending experiences through immersive and interactive storytelling.
Before this, Bethurum was the head of marketing at Gogoro, a Taiwan-based high-performance electric vehicle and battery technology company. She has served as the partnerships manager for dozens of WPP media agencies at influencer marketing giant Fullscreen in New York City. She has also built digital campaigns for global brands, such as Unilever, AT&T, NBCU, Intel, ABI, and Nestlé, managed enterprise social media campaigns and social good initiatives, and globally launched dozens of products during her seven years at Microsoft.
Additionally, Bethurum enjoys consulting one-on-one as a professional development coach in the US and Asia, teaching global digital marketing workshops through the general assembly, and serving as a strategic advisor to startups and social causes. Bethurum earned an undergraduate degree in electronic marketing from the University of Washington.
23. Steph Sherrodd
President & CEO, Sandia Laboratory Federal Credit Union
Steph Sherrodd is the President and CEO of Sandia Laboratory Federal Credit Union, joining the organization in January 2022. With 25 years in the credit union industry, she joins SLFCU from Houston, TX, where she served as president and CEO for Texas Dow Employees Credit Union from 2012 to 2021, helping to grow the organization to assets of over $4 billion with 345,000 members. Her credit union journey began as a marketing intern with Warren Federal Credit Union (now Blue Federal Credit Union) in Cheyenne, WY, eventually becoming the chief operating officer.
Sherrodd was born and raised in Green River, Wyoming. She is a proud graduate of the University of Wyoming, receiving her Bachelor of Science in Marketing, as well as a Masters in Business Administration. She is currently serving as a board member for Origence.
Sherrodd was named to the Credit Union Executive Society (CUES) Hall of Fame in 2019 after serving as a CUES board member and former board chair. In addition, she served as a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Community Depository Institution Advisory Council. She was recognized by Texas Diversity Magazine with the Houston Power 50 Award and was named a Greater Houston Women’s Chamber Breakthrough Woman.
24. Molly Saiz
Chief Financial Officer, New Mexico Office of the Superintendent of Insurance
Molly Saiz is the Chief Financial Officer of the New Mexico Office of the Superintendent of Insurance (OSI). OSI is New Mexico's agency for oversight and regulation of insurance, overseeing private health and life insurance, auto insurance, business insurance, home insurance, and title insurance.
With over two decades of experience, Saiz has extensive experience working with clients that operate using governmental accounting and fund accounting. She has worked with governmental entities and nonprofits. Before joining the OSI, Saiz was a budget and finance manager at the Public Regulation Commission. Before that, she was an accounting and financial reporting manager for Santa Fe County.
Earlier in her career, Saiz worked with Neff + Ricci, an accounting firm. Saiz graduated from New Mexico Highlands University with an undergraduate degree in accounting.
25. Amy Nigrelli
Chief Marketing Officer, Nusenda Credit Union
Amy Nigrelli is the Chief Marketing Officer of Credit Union, a growing, not-for-profit, member-owned employer with 19 strategic locations across New Mexico. They offer all the same services as a big bank without the big bank attitude, serving more than 180,000 members as their trusted financial resource.
Nigrelli is a senior marketing leader known for her high energy and creative influence, thriving in organizations with great missions, vibrant cultures, and ambitious goals. As a future-minded strategist and growth catalyst, she has a proven history of delivering visionary leadership and innovative strategies and solutions, particularly in new, complex, or challenging situations. She is passionate about people and has earned a reputation for empowering happy, high-performing teams. Her keen negotiation skills, combined with superb strategic communication, relationship-building, and management abilities, further enhance her effectiveness.
Nigrelli started her career in 1994 as an office assistant at Clifford Chance. From there, she went on to the American Russian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, before eventually rising to chief marketing and digital officer at Credit Union National Association, her most recent position before joining Credit Union. Nigrelli graduated from Wisconsin School of Business with an executive MBA and from Wake Forest University with an undergraduate degree in physics and Russian.
26. Karina Sinclair
Chief Customer Officer, SambaSafety
Karina Sinclair, Chief Customer Officer at SambaSafety, is a diversely capable and talented executive with a passion for customer experience, process optimization, team building, cross-functional leadership, and fostering positive, engaged company cultures. SambaSafety is a recognized innovator and leading provider of cloud-based risk management solutions for over 15,000 organizations with automotive mobility exposure. In her time at SambaSafety, Sinclair has utilized her extensive knowledge of customer experience and C-suite partnership to drive revenue growth, execute strategic plans and functions, and catalyze employee development through professional coaching and mentorship. Known as a valuable and trusted partner, she is guided by the belief that equal investment in the customer and her team members leads to long-lasting, collective success.
Previously, Sinclair consecutively served as the chief operations officer, the VP of customer experience, and the VP of customer care at SambaSafety, where she demonstrated her commitment to the customer experience. For a seven-year tenure before SambaSafety, Sinclair worked as the COO at G2 Web Services, where she led company operations to drive success in new areas of business management through the mobilization of resources and organizational restructuring. Before her time at G2 Web Services, Sinclair was the director of corporate performance management and strategic projects at B-Line, LLC. The throughlines of her career are the central tenet that success is not defined as notoriety or advancement for herself, but rather the fulfillment and progress of her team, her customers, and the organization at large.
Sinclair holds a BBA in Business Administration from the University of Washington and an MBA in Business Administration and Management from Seattle University. She moved from the Seattle area to Albuquerque for her role at SambaSafety. She’s an avid reader, especially anything related to leadership development, and has a mild obsession with Walla Walla wine.
27. Erin Gentry
Chief Operating Officer, Invariant
Erin Gentry is the Chief Operating Officer of Invariant, a bipartisan government relations and communications firm providing strategic advice to companies, trade associations, nonprofits, and individuals on how to make Washington work for them. They provide clients with sophisticated advocacy, threat assessment, legislative and regulatory analysis, coalition building, crisis management, and communications counsel.
Gentry’s career journey has been driven by a passion for making connections, building trust, and solving problems. She has managed crisis communications in high-stakes situations, contributed to the original content marketing agency with a journalism-driven perspective, and overseen the growth and performance of the North American region and the global client portfolio at Group SJR. She has consistently embraced new challenges and opportunities to learn and grow. She believes that honesty, humility, and hard work are the foundations of all positive relationships at work and in life. Her goal is to empower and enable her team, clients, and partners to achieve their full potential and create lasting value.
Before joining Invariant, Gentry was a chief operating officer at Acronym. Before that, she was the president of North America and the chief client officer at Group SJR. Earlier in her career, she worked with Stevens Reed Curcio & Potholm as an account manager. Gentry graduated from George Washington University with a Master's degree in Political Management and from James Madison University with an undergraduate degree.
28. Fran Maier
CEO & Founder, BabyQuip
Fran Maier is a highly successful serial entrepreneur, investor, and fundraiser with an impressive track record of launching and scaling five business ventures, such as Match.com and TRUSTe (now @TrustArc). Throughout her career, Maier has pioneered game-changing solutions that have disrupted industries, built trusted brands, and driven growth and valuation.
Currently, as the Founder and CEO of BabyQuip, the leading global baby gear rental marketplace, Maier has taken the company's reach to over 1500 markets worldwide. Her leadership has resulted in the recruitment of thousands of gig economy entrepreneurs to provide services, as well as valuable partnerships with brands, such as VRBO, Wyndham, Destination Hotels by Hyatt, and Guesty. Maier’s impressive set of skills include change management, business expansion, brand and product development, government relations, and international outreach. She has also demonstrated her dedication to giving back to the community as a commercial and nonprofit board member for organizations, such as GE Capital Bank, Children's Council of San Francisco, Stanford Women on Boards, and Girls in Tech. Moreover, Maier is an advisor to several startups, including Portfolio, Women's Start-up Lab, Sign-up.com, and Kango.
As a thought leader in entrepreneurship, women in business, and family travel, Maier is a sought-after keynote speaker and media personality. She has been featured in major media outlets, such as Forbes, CNBC, and ABC's Shark Tank, and has hosted a popular radio show. Maier also regularly appears as a guest on podcasts and contributes articles to publications, such as The Washington Post. Maier holds a BA and MBA from Stanford University and has been recognized with numerous honors and awards. She is passionate about supporting female founders and promoting Latinx leadership and Latina entrepreneurs, in honor of her Hispanic heritage.
29. Amy Deatherage
Chief Financial Officer, Westech International
Amy Deatherage's work experience includes serving as the Chief Financial Officer at Westech International, Inc. since August 2021. Westech International, Inc. is a government services firm specializing in test evaluation and range operations, missile and space technology, and mission support logistics.
Deatherage is also the founder and CEO of The Jessica and Lily Foundation. Previously, she was the principal and owner of Deatherage Consulting. She has also held multiple leadership roles, such as controller at Skorpios Technologies, Inc., senior consultant at Moss Adams, chief financial officer at Fiore Industries Inc. and Stolar Research Corporation, and director of finance at ABQ Health Partners/Lovelace Medical Group. She began her career in finance at Honeywell in 1985. For her education, Deatherage studied accounting at the University of Phoenix. She currently resides in Albuquerque.
30. Stormy Jackson
Chief Financial Officer, Mesilla Valley Hospital
Stormy Jackson is the Chief Financial Officer of Mesilla Valley Hospital, a 117-bed facility that provides access to quality behavioral healthcare and substance abuse treatment to residents of New Mexico, West Texas, and Arizona.
Jackson has 25 years of experience. She is a business professional with solid experience in leadership roles, including controller, financial specialist, customer service, human resources, and office management. With her experience and ongoing educational background in business and accounting, she is well-equipped to handle various business functions and drive organizational success.
Before joining Mesilla Valley Hospital, Jackson was a chief financial officer at Kindred Healthcare. Before that, she was an accountant at EBSCO. Earlier in her career, she worked with Peach State Nursing Agency as an accounting professional. Jackson graduated from the University of Phoenix with a DBA in Business Administration and an MBA in Business Administration and Accounting and from Georgia College & State University with an undergraduate degree in biology.
31. Maribel Armendariz
Chief Support Officer, Hidalgo Medical Services
Maribel Armendariz began her professional career 28 years ago. Today, she is the Chief Support Officer of Hidalgo Medical Services (HMS), a nonprofit healthcare organization providing comprehensive medical, dental, mental health, and family support services at multiple sites to more than 16,000 patients a year. HMS serves as the only Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in both Hidalgo and Grant counties.
At HMS, Armendariz manages the Family Support Services, Senior Services, and Credentialing departments. She oversees more than 40 employees and dedicates much of her time to establishing, managing, and executing projects aimed at growing services. Additionally, she manages budgets and works to achieve established goals. Armendariz started her career in 1996 as a mortgage loan officer at Fidelity State Bank. From there, she went on to Bank of America, before eventually rising to assistant vice president of lending services at Golden Plains Credit Union, her most recent position before joining Hidalgo Medical Services.
Armendariz graduated from the University of Phoenix with an MBA in Human Resources Management and Personnel Administration and from Fort Hays State University with an undergraduate degree in marketing.
32. Rachel Biggs
Chief Strategy Officer, Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless
Rachel Biggs is the Chief Strategy Officer of Albuquerque Health Care for the Homeless (AHCH). She first joined the team in 2015 as a development officer. For over three decades, AHCH has served its community as the only healthcare organization in Central New Mexico dedicated exclusively to providing services to homeless people.
Biggs has 15 years of experience working with health and human rights organizations, focusing on advocacy, community organizing, training, and facilitation. Her expertise in international human rights includes diverse fieldwork in advocacy and policy.
Previously, Biggs was a finance and operations officer for the United Nations Development Programme. Before that, she was a project manager at Grassroots Jerusalem. Earlier in her career, she worked with ICF International as a research assistant. Biggs earned an MA in International Human Rights from the University of Denver and an undergraduate degree in international relations from the University of South Carolina-Columbia.
33. Stacy Martinez
Chief Executive Officer, Santa Fe Recovery Center
Stacy Martinez is the Chief Executive Officer of Santa Fe Recovery Center, a nonprofit organization that has been providing compassionate treatment to support people throughout their full journey of recovery from addiction, substance use, and related mental illness since 2005.
With over 15 years of experience leading nonprofit organizations, Martinez brings dynamic executive leadership to international and national healthcare, human services, and policy/advocacy sectors. She excels in fostering opportunity and growth across all social determinants of health. Adept at building ground-up frameworks, driving culture change, diversifying teams, attracting top talent, and enhancing efficiencies, Martinez leads organizations to achieve double-bottom-line outcomes, and as a skilled budget and finance leader, she has managed operating budgets of approximately $60 million and overseen more than 500 dispersed staff across over 25 locations.
Before joining Santa Fe Recovery Center, Martinez was the president and CEO of Lutheran Social Services of Central Ohio and for the Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska, Inc. Earlier in her career, she worked with Kansas Public Schools as a secondary educator. Martinez graduated from Eastern University with an MBA in Business Administration and Management and from Sterling College with an undergraduate degree in English and secondary education.
34. Sandi Hazlett
Chief Development Officer, UnityBPO
Sandi Hazlett is the Chief Development Officer of UnityBPO. She currently leads the Human Resources, Contract Management, and Business Development functions for Unity. UnityBPO specializes in providing clinical, managed, professional, and telehealth services to hospitals, physician practices, private networks, Care Delivery Organizations (CDOs), clinics, as well as home health, hospice, and skilled nursing providers.
Hazlett has more than 25 years of successful, progressively responsible experience in management, communications, contracts, and business development within the IT systems and services arena. She is proficient in strategic planning and execution, analyzing problems, identifying solutions, integrating efforts, and generating desired outcomes. Her strong leadership and communication skills foster capable teams that share ideas and deliver significant value to the company.
Hazlett started her career in 1987 as a manager at TRW (Northrop Grumman). From there, she went on to Tier Technologies, before eventually rising to vice president at Kemtah, her most recent position before joining UnityBPO. Hazlett graduated from The University of New Mexico with an MA in English and from New Mexico State University with an undergraduate degree in English.
35. Jess Griego
Chief Operating Officer, Bosque Brewing
Jess Griego is the Chief Operating Officer of Bosque Brewing, a microbrewery based in New Mexico with taprooms in Albuquerque and Las Cruces. The company produces beers inspired by American and European-style traditions that are distributed throughout the state of New Mexico.
Griego has been with Bosque Brewing Co. since the first day they opened their doors in October of 2012. She began her journey with the company as a server, and as Bosque has evolved, she has evolved, along with it, including becoming a part-owner in 2019. She has led multiple expansions alongside the executive team and has developed beer training, brewery tours, and other educational programs for her co-workers. She manages a variety of responsibilities while ensuring that Bosque’s core values and reputation for world-class products and experiences are alive and well on the daily.
Griego sits on the board of directors for the Brewers Association, and she is the chapter co-lead of the New Mexico Pink Boots Society. She is a Certified Cicerone, and she received her Masters in Business Administration from the University of Illinois in 2023.
36. Julia Bernal
Executive Director, Pueblo Action Alliance
Julia Bernal is an Executive Director of a grassroots climate justice organization called Pueblo Action Alliance (PAA), which is a community-driven organization that promotes cultural sustainability by addressing environmental and social impacts in indigenous communities. The organization is Indigenous women, femme, and 2-spirit-led organizing engaged in grassroots organizing efforts and public education for Pueblo community members and beyond.
Bernal is an enrolled tribal member at Sandia Pueblo but also has lineage to Taos Pueblo and the Yuchi people in Oklahoma. She earned an undergraduate degree in English and literature from the University of Redlands. Currently, she is working towards her dual Master's in Water Resources and Community and Regional Planning at the University of New Mexico.
In 2014, Bernal obtained a Water Resources Technician Certification from the BIA through the Native American Water Corps. She was awarded an AmeriCorp Internship at the Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge educating youth on watersheds and water quality.
37. Genevieve Tarnow
Executive Director, Oncology Services, CHRISTUS St. Vincent
Genevieve Tarnow is a seasoned healthcare administrator with over 12 years of distinguished experience with CHRISTUS St. Vincent Regional Medical Center. She is currently the Executive Director for Oncology Services, which includes all aspects of medical and radiation oncology, clinical research, surgical breast oncology, integrative medicine, and palliative care.
Known for exceptional leadership and strategic vision, Tarnow has consistently driven organizational excellence. Throughout her career, she has successfully navigated complex healthcare landscapes, implementing innovative solutions to provide exceptional care. With a strong commitment to health equity, Tarnow continues to contribute as a board member for the Villa Therese Catholic Clinic, the only free clinic in New Mexico. Tarnow has a BS in Business administration and Management and an MS in Health Care Administration, both from Trinity University.
38. Susan Kirst-Millspaugh
Regional Vice President, Waterstone Mortgage
Susan Kirst-Millspaugh began her professional career 39 years ago. Today, she is the Regional Vice President of Waterstone Mortgage. Waterstone Mortgage Corporation has maintained a reputation as an elite mortgage lender since their inception in 2000. Since then, they’ve grown to one of the largest mortgage lenders in the country with over 600 employees, branch locations throughout the United States, and the ability to lend in 48 states.
Early in her career, Kirst-Millspaugh served as a VP of merchant sales at Discover Card, starting in 1985. After 12 years of service, she moved to Faneuil Inc. as the senior vice president of marketing and sales and then to APAC Customer Services in the same role. In 2005, she was made the SVP of marketing and mortgage production at Charter Bank. From there, she held leadership roles at the Bank of Albuquerque and First Mortgage Company before starting at Waterstone Mortgage in 2018.
Kirst-Millspaugh graduated from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management with an MBA in Marketing and from Northwestern University with an undergraduate degree in business.
39. Jennifer Patton
Senior Director of Commercial, North America, Thermo Fisher Scientific
Jennifer Patton is the Senior Director of Commercial for North America at Thermo Fisher Scientific, the world leader in serving science with an annual revenue of approximately $40 billion.
Patton’s ability to lead and contribute to strategy development and execution is rooted in a career in healthcare and a broad body of experience. Innovative thinking and a strategic mindset fuel her capacity to introduce new ideas in a cross-functional team environment. Prioritizing the customer and focusing on solutions are central to her approach. By inspiring others to adopt this mindset, she elevates results.
Before joining Thermo Fisher Scientific, Patton was a vice president of sales at BD. Before that, she was a vice president of sales in the Healthcare Business Group and Medical Solutions Division at 3M. Earlier in her career, she worked with Cardinal Health as a senior manager in business development. Patton graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with an undergraduate degree in business administration, marketing, and science.
40. Dawn Garcia-Nunez
Lead & Site Director, Raytheon
Dawn Garcia-Nuñez is the Raytheon, Engineering, Systems Integration & Test, Mission Capability Verification Center (MCVC) Lead and Site Director at White Sands Missile Range (WSMR). Her leadership focuses on the execution of complex, integrated field tests and resulting expert operational support to a variety of US government missile and radar programs. She leads a team of over 175 engineers who support on-site, daily events, in close collaboration with customers. Her team has sustained a successful accomplishment record of over 100 critical test events year after year spanning multiple platforms. The influence and impact of her leadership are measured globally in humble appreciation of their customers.
Garcia-Nuñez is a senior engineering leader with nearly 40 years of knowledge and industry experience across the US in research and development, design and development, integration and test, and manufacturing and production for the aerospace and defense sector and commercial markets. She is recognized across the engineering industry as a proven leader of various, simultaneous, cross-functional teams as they navigate all program life cycles. Garcia-Nuñez maintains an emphasis on diversifying, growing, and motivating multi-disciplined groups through the execution of advanced programs and projects, continuous improvement activities, capital investments, organizational development, and industry partnerships. She drives innovative mindsets across her team as she demonstrates firsthand by possessing multiple invention disclosures, as well as a US Patent.
Garcia-Nuñez holds an AA in Laser Electro-Optics, a BS in Optical Engineering, and an MS in Business Organizational Management.
41. Susana Olivares
Director of Customer Experience, Aura
Susana Olivares is the Director of Customer Experience at Aura, a mission-driven technology company dedicated to creating a safer internet for everyone. They believe that people should be able to live with the peace of mind that their identity, online accounts, and devices will remain safe, private, and protected, no matter where they go.
Olivares has 32 years of experience. She started at Aura in October 2008, taking on the responsibilities of the head of her department, and she added the responsibilities of her current position in November 2022.
Before joining Aura, Olivares was a sales and marketing specialist at American General Media. Earlier in her career, she worked with Univision Communications Inc. as a journalist. Olivares graduated from SUNY New Paltz with an undergraduate degree in fine and studio arts.
42. Marian Lucero-Garcia
Site Director, LQ Digital
Marian Lucero-Garcia is the Site Director of LQ Digital. She first joined the company in 2021. At LQ, they create and promote an inclusive culture, where they strongly embrace all forms of diversity within their workplace.
Lucero-Garcia comes to LQ Digital from Concentrix in Las Cruces, NM, where she recently served as the site director. There, she led 15 team leaders and three operation managers to guide over 350 employees around multiple programs and strategies that supported clients in the hospitality, telecommunications, and healthcare industries. Focusing on employee growth and development, she launched a healthcare open enrollment program for full-time employees in brick-and-mortar sites and an additional 20 work-at-home (WAH) locations in Texas. The program was ranked number one in the nation through the length of the season. The success of the program led to permanent positions for the agents in the client’s WAH platform after the site sunset. She also redeveloped a customer service and sales channel of over 200 agents. In under two years, Lucero-Garcia and her team were able to revamp the existing program by driving culture and development to change the direction of the site. This focus led to an increase in performance restored the faith of a major client in the telecommunications space and increased headcount by 25 seats to the business.
Before Concentrix, Lucero-Garcia served as senior operations manager at Convergys Corporation in Rio Rancho, NM, where she was instrumental in developing multiple new digital lines of business, working with over 230 agents and 11 team leaders to provide technical support and customer service in the social media space. She was able to transition 85 voice agents to launch a digital chat platform, which grew to over 200 FTE in less than a year and was ranked number one in the nation over the clients’ internal sites for over two years. She also transitioned 65 chat agents and launched the social media platform to support Facebook and Twitter. Lucero-Garcia earned an undergraduate degree in business administration and management from the University of Arizona.
43. Jennifer Beck-Herrera
Sales Director - AZ, CA, NM, NV, EMC Insurance Companies
Jennifer Beck-Herrera, AAI, ACM, AIAM is a Sales Director at EMC Insurance, bringing nearly thirty years of industry experience to the table. Known for her dedication to fostering genuine and authentic relationships, Jennifer excels in building strong connections both internally within her team and externally with industry colleagues and agency partners. Her commitment to integrity and excellence has been a cornerstone of her successful career in the insurance industry.
44. Mandy Leatherwood Guss
Communications Director, City of Las Cruces
As Communications Director, Mandy Leatherwood Guss leads a team of talented, skilled, and creative individuals who make up the City of Las Cruces Communications Office. They are a multi-media department responsible for sharing information about all of the programs of the city through news releases, the website, social media, advertising, and the local government access TV channel. The team has been recognized for their stellar work with multiple regional and national awards. Guss has worked at the City of Las Cruces since March 2016, starting as marketing coordinator for Community and Cultural Services. She also worked as a business development administrator, where she oversaw business attraction and retention and downtown development when the Economic Development Department was created in January 2017. She was promoted to her current role in September 2020.
As a former Girl Scout, Guss has taken to heart the goal to make the world a better place, starting in her community. She is currently the chair of the Junior Leadership Las Cruces program through the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce. She has served on the boards of the Las Cruces Rio Grande Rotary Club and Community Foundation of Southern New Mexico and volunteered as a Big Sister with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. She has been recognized as Young Professional of the Month by the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce, a Woman of Distinction by the Girl Scouts of the Desert Southwest, and as New Rotarian of the Year with the Las Cruces Rio Grande Rotary.
Guss has a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication and Communication Studies from NMSU. She also earned her Master of Business Administration at NMSU. Earlier in her career, she worked as a community liaison for Ambercare Home Health and as the marketing director for the Memorial Medical Center.
45. Beth Sanchez-Gurule
Director of Operations, Concentrix
Beth Sanchez-Gurule is the Director of Operations of Concentrix. Concentrix provides services to clients in 10 industry verticals, including automotive; banking and financial services; insurance; healthcare; technology; consumer electronics; media and communications; retail and e-commerce; travel and transportation; energy, and the public sector.
Sanchez-Gurule is a successful leader in managing daily processes, workflows, budgeting, and resource allocation. She is results-oriented, developing and implementing strategic and tactical business plans that align with employee, client, and company objectives. She handles budgetary responsibilities, including revenue and forecast planning, as well as profit and loss management, and she coaches and develops high-performance teams, fostering employee engagement and a positive culture. Sanchez-Gurule is adept at delivering cost savings and streamlining operations by implementing processes that reduce redundancy.
Before joining Concentrix, Sanchez-Gurule was a senior operations manager at Convergys. Earlier in her career, she worked with West Coast Beauty Supply as an assistant manager. Sanchez-Gurule graduated from Pima Community College.
46. Brittnye Lamb
Director, Segment Finance, Sodexo
Brittnye Lamb is the Director of Segment Finance at Sodexo. Founded in Marseille in 1966, Sodexo is the global leader in sustainable food. Its portfolio of activities includes Sodexo Food and Facilities Management Services and Pluxee Employee Benefit Solutions.
Lamb is an experienced finance manager with a demonstrated history in the consumer services industry. She is skilled in budgeting, Microsoft Excel, management, analytical skills, and customer service. She started her career in 2011 as a bookkeeper at Bank of the Southwest and joined Sodexo in 2013. She served in multiple roles, including unit controller II, unit controller III, controller-multi-account, and senior finance manager, before being promoted to her current position.
Lamb graduated from Eastern New Mexico University with an MBA in Accounting and Finance and from The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business with an undergraduate degree in finance.
47. April Puckett
Human Resources Director, Eastern New Mexico Medical Center
April Puckett has been serving as the Director of Human Resources at Eastern New Mexico Medical Center (ENMMC) since 2021. ENMMC is the largest regional medical center in Southeastern New Mexico.
Bringing to the table 15 years of combined experience in employment law and as an HR Professional, April is a member of the executive team at ENMMC as the Director of Human Resources. Puckett has a full spectrum of HR professional experience, as well as specialized legal expertise in employment, medical malpractice, nursing home neglect, personal injury, and wrongful death; all of which are invaluable assets for the organization. Throughout her career, she has worked in every aspect of HR. Puckett started her career in the legal sector and is a dual licensed paralegal on the state level with the State Bar of New Mexico and on the national level with the American Alliance of Paralegals Inc., her extensive legal background is a major asset when it comes to her role as an HR professional leader.
A native of Michigan and a graduate of Freed Hardeman University in Tennessee, Puckett has now called Roswell, NM, home for over 15 years. She is an advocate for community service, having participated in and headed groups to participate in events, fundraising, and awareness for multiple nonprofits and local needs for the Red Cross, Walk for Hope, and several food pantries. She has been married for 15 years and has two wonderful sons; being someone who has experienced and survived cancer twice, Puckett is aware of the importance of being present in professional and home environments.
48. Zadora Morin
Area Director of Revenue Management, Hilton
Zadora Morin is the Area Director of Revenue Management at Hilton. She first joined the company in 2020 as director of revenue management. Hilton is a leading global hospitality company with a portfolio of 24 world-class brands comprising more than 7,600 properties and nearly 1.2 million rooms, in 126 countries and territories.
Morin is an experienced finance manager with a demonstrated history of working in the consumer services industry. She is skilled in budgeting, Microsoft Excel, management, analytical skills, and customer service. She first joined the Hilton team in 2012 as the director of revenue management and then as the director of taskforce revenue management. After a brief time as the general manager at Griffin Hotel Management, she returned to Hilton in 2020 as the director of revenue management. She was appointed to her current position in 2024.
Before joining Hilton, Morin was a director of guest services at multiple hotels. Earlier in her career, she worked with Edgewater Resort as a guest service manager. Morin graduated from the University of Minnesota Duluth.
49. Patty Winckler
Director of Strategy & Planning SMG, Intel Corporation
Patty Winckler began her professional career 34 years ago. Today, she is the Director of Strategy and Planning SMG of Intel Corporation. Intel’s mission is to shape the future of technology to help create a better future for the entire world.
Winckler is a strategic leader who delivers transformative results by building high-performing teams, developing effective strategies, and executing focused operational plans. A versatile leader, she is skilled in partnering across organizations, inspiring a shared vision, and bringing creativity to elevate organizational performance and solve complex problems. Her experience includes leadership roles in supply chain management, business operations, strategic planning, program management, and environment, safety, and health.
Winckler started her career in 1990 as a management information systems lead at Accenture. From there, she worked for Intel Corporation for over eight years and was self-employed for over a decade. After about four years as a strategic initiatives lead and executive strategy professional for Sandia National Laboratories, she returned to Intel Corporation. Winckler graduated from The University of New Mexico with an MBA in Marketing and from Santa Clara University with an undergraduate degree in decision and information science.
50. Tobie Webb
Director of Strategic Talent Management, Sandia National Labs
Tobie Webb is the Director of Strategic Talent Management of Sandia National Labs, the nation’s premier DOE science and engineering lab for national security and technology innovation. Their team of scientists, engineers, researchers, and business specialists apply their knowledge and skills toward delivering cutting-edge technology in an array of areas.
Webb has been a key member of growing the skilled team at Sandia National Labs for nearly 13 years. She started at the company in 2011 as the manager of the human resources business partners, where she managed five HR business partners and two associate-level HR professionals for two large business units. After a decade of service, she was promoted to senior manager in the department and then to senior HR manager. She was appointed to her present position in 2023.
Before joining Sandia National Labs, Webb was an associate vice president of human resources at UNM Foundation. Before that, she was a benefits specialist at the University of New Mexico. Earlier in her career, she worked with Robert Half as a branch manager. Webb graduated from The University of New Mexico with an undergraduate degree.