We’re pleased to introduce the Fellows of the 2025 Albuquerque Workforce Leadership Academy! The Academy launched in partnership by the City of Albuquerque Economic Development Department, Central New Mexico Community College, and the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program — brings leaders from across the Albuquerque workforce ecosystem together for a year-long series of retreats, workshops, and action learning projects. The Academy provides a forum for local leaders to work collaboratively to identify local and regional systems-based challenges and create shared solutions for economic opportunity for all. Fellows work with leading practitioners throughout the country as they deepen networks; strengthen systems leadership skills; apply race, equity, and systems change frameworks to their work; and increase understanding of effective strategies and programs.

The Albuquerque Workforce Leadership Academy is one of three new local academies launched in 2024. Alumni of the Academy become part of the Aspen Institute’s Economic Opportunity Fellows Network, joining more than 370 alumni from 22 previous Academies in 17 cities in the US and Canada.

Fellows

Rosabelle Arellano

Guest Experience Manager
Indian Pueblo Cultural Center

Rosabelle Arellano R.D.A, an Española native, boasts 20 years of experience in the Medical field and higher education, focusing on Dentistry. With a diverse background in telecommunications, marketing, and cross-cultural missions, acquired through internships with Honor Academy, Teen Mania Ministries, Acquire the Fire Youth Conventions, and Global Expeditions, she offers a unique perspective in her role as Guest Experience Manager at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. Leading a dedicated team of four employees, ninety volunteers, and seven hundred members, Rosabelle is fervent about showcasing New Mexico culture, encompassing the 19 Pueblos and their rich history. Her unwavering dedication to continuous learning and community support radiates through all her endeavors. Married with five children, Rosabelle remains a pillar of strength and inspiration in her professional and personal life.

Thomas Chynoweth

X3 Community & Business Internship Manager
Future Focused Education

Thomas Chynoweth was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and is passionate about supporting the communities he grew up around. Going to school at Boise State University in Idaho, Thomas graduated with a Secondary Education degree in History and Health. After graduating he worked the front desk of the Boise Mayor’s Office, where he focused on providing access to residents and connection to City employees.

Now in his role with Future Focused Eduction, Thomas combines his experience working within different systems to support both interns and business partners. Thomas is focused on bridging current strategies of workforce development in New Mexico with the education of young people and the opportunities they can have to find economic stability in our state.

Alexandra Delgadillo

HR Assistant
Sceye Inc

My name is Alexandra Delgadillo, and I am the Human Resources Assistant at Sceye. I’m new to both the aerospace industry and the startup world, and it’s been exciting to be part of such fast-paced growth. Before this, I spent several years in the construction industry, where I cross-trained across many roles and truly launched my career. At Sceye, I’ve been able to grow into a true HR presence. My leadership style is open-minded and supportive, helping others find their true potential. With an associate degree and hands-on experience, I’m proud to show that success goes beyond formal education. I’m thrilled to join the Workforce Leadership Academy to strengthen my leadership skills and build new relationships. In my downtime, I love riding motorcycles and spending time outdoors with my pups.

Tera Frank

Field Office Manager
Native Professional Advancement Center/NIYC

Hello! My name is Tera Frank. I am Diné (Navajo) from Arizona and was born and raised on the Navajo reservation. I’m a proud mother of one son, a dedicated student-athlete who continues to inspire me every day.
After graduating from high school, I relocated to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where I’ve lived since 2000. I hold an Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts from the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, a Bachelor of Science in Family and Child Studies with a minor in Psychology from the University of New Mexico, and I am currently pursuing a Master’s in Public Administration with an emphasis in Nonprofit Organizations.
Professionally, I serve as the Albuquerque Field Office Manager for the Native Professional Advancement Center (NPAC), powered by the National Indian Youth Council, Inc. (NIYC). I have proudly worked with the organization for nearly 12 years, supporting workforce development and community empowerment initiatives.

Amy Greene

Director
UNM Health Sciences Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Amy K. Greene is a Sr. Program Manager with UNM Health Sciences Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (UNM HSC DEI) specializing in community partnerships, experiential education, service-learning, and supporting diverse populations with workforce development initiatives. Her 20+ years of government, non-profit and higher education programmatic and leadership experience inform her community-engaged and student-focused approach. Her educational background includes a B.S. in Marine Biology, an M.P.A. in Non-Profit Management, and certification as a Project Management Professional. At UNM HSC DEI, she currently serves as Director of the state-wide Communities to Careers healthcare career pathway programs which aim to grow NM’s diverse health care workforce and provides project management for the NM Workforce Diversity Center of Excellence.

Miriam Hicks

Director of Housing Development
Sol Housing

Miriam Hicks is the Director of Housing Development at Sol Housing, a local nonprofit fostering housing stability through inclusive and regenerative multifamily houding development. With over 20 years as a project architect and manager at Dekker, Miriam transitioned to affordable housing development in 2018 to pursue her passion for housing advocacy.

At Sol Housing, she applies her expertise in design and construction to deliver award-winning, affordable, and innovative housing that promotes dignity for Albuquerque residents. Miriam oversees site selection, aligning projects with funding and stakeholder needs, while ensuring adherence to Sol Housing’s standards for exceptional design.
Miriam returned to New Mexico after earning her Bachelor of Architecture from Virginia Tech. She enjoys gardening, reading, and spending time with her family.

Valerie Ingram

Chief Impact Officer
United Way of Central New Mexico

Valerie Ingram, Chief Impact Officer at United Way North Central New Mexico, oversees direct services (211 Helpline, Tax Help NM, Family Advocacy Center), Community Investments and Community Outreach. Her team implements the Rising Together initiative to strengthen communities through education and family resiliency supports. Currently, United Way, in partnership with Albuquerque Public Schools, is engaged in standing up the Academies for Albuquerque in APS high schools. This program adapts teaching and curricula through the lens of students’ chosen career pathways.
Born in New Mexico, a graduate of Santa Fe High School, with a Master of Philanthropy and Development degree and a career in NM’s nonprofit sector, Valerie believes in the collective power we have to inspire systems change and improved conditions for New Mexico’s people.

Louis Jeantete

Executive Director
The Encantado Foundation

Louis Jeantete stewards The Encantado Foundation, a charitable foundation with a mission to “stimulate the development of a hire-ready workforce in cybersecurity, application development and management, and/or IT operations” in Central and Northern New Mexico. As Executive Director, he oversees the organization’s administration, grant programming, and community relations activities. Louis is committed to advancing and uplifting the STEM-related workforce in New Mexico. He holds an interdisciplinary, Master of Science degree in Nonprofit/NGO Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy & Practice and a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and English from the University of New Mexico. As a volunteer, Louis serves on Taos Pueblo Foundation’s Board of Directors.

Sesha Lee

Chief Services Officer
Goodwill Industries of New Mexico (GINM)

Sesha holds a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology with a minor in Psychology from the University of New Mexico. With over nine years of program supervisory experience, including five years in senior leadership, Sesha currently serves as the Chief Services Officer at Goodwill Industries of New Mexico. In this role, she oversees program development, contract management, and strategic planning. Having spent her entire career in the non-profit sector, Sesha is passionate about serving the community and creating opportunities for people to succeed and improve their quality of life. She has been instrumental in launching and expanding youth and reentry programs, achieving significant outcomes in employment and retention. Her work emphasizes collaboration with community partners, securing funding, and enhancing service delivery to meet community needs.

Michelle Lindholm

HR Manager
Southwest Glass & Glazing

Born and raised in California, I moved to Albuquerque at 21 years old. I married my husband, and we raised 3 children. I stayed home with them, and we home educated all three through high school. I acquired a job outside of the home when they finished homeschooling. I eased into the workforce part time and quickly became comfortable with working again.
I am the HR manager at a construction subcontractor with 150 employees. I love my job, and I love my people.
I also spend time golfing, visiting family, and traveling with my husband. I am a cancer survivor so I don’t put off until tomorrow what I can do today. The calendar is full, and I never say no to an opportunity to experience something new.

David Martinez

Recruiting Manager
Sandia National Laboratories

David is the Recruiting Manager at Sandia National Laboratories. Prior to Sandia, David worked for Intel Corporation and spent the first part of his career in Finance as the Capital Finance Manager and Factory Finance Manager for F11X Factory. He was the UT-Austin MBA Talent Liaison and NM Site Recruiting Manager. David then transitioned into Intel Human Resources and held roles as Talent Acquisition-Global Account Manager, and in HR Organizational Development. David completed the GE Financial Leadership Program and worked in the USA and Mexico. David holds an MBA – Peter F. Drucker & Masatoshi Graduate School, Claremont Colleges, CA. David has served on several non-profit boards (United Way-Hispanic Philanthropic Society, Hispanic Scholarship Fund, Cathedral St. John-Board of Directors, and CLN Kids Board of Directors).

Mason Martinez

Director of Operations
BlueHalo

Mason currently serves as the Director of Operations for BlueHalo, an industry-leading provider of advanced solutions in the areas of Space, Counter-UAS, Electronic Warfare, and Cyber. BlueHalo has nearly 2,400 employees across 11 states including more than 400 employees in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where 3 facilities encompass over 150k sqft of manufacturing operations for Space and Counter-UAS capabilities.

Prior to BlueHalo, Mason served as the lead for Sandia National Laboratories Center for Collaboration and Commercialization where he led partnerships and strategy to increase technology transfer from the Labs 16k+ employees to partners. Before Sandia, Mason founded an advertising firm in 2018 and grew it to 7 figure revenue.

Mason holds an MBA in Finance and a bachelor’s in political science from the UNM. Beyond his current work at BlueHalo, he’s the Vice Chair for the New Mexico Technology Council and is a Board Member for Goodwill Industries of New Mexico.

Sebastian Martinez

Director of Business Development
CNM Ingenuity, Inc.

Sebastian Martinez is an accomplished business leader with more than a decade of experience in workforce training, marketing, economic development, and strategic partnerships. As Director of Business Development at CNM Ingenuity, he has led initiatives such as the Structural Trades Apprenticeship with Sandia National Laboratories and large-scale manufacturing training for companies including General Mills. Recognized as one of Albuquerque’s 40 Under 40, Sebastian is committed to advancing education, workforce innovation, and community empowerment across New Mexico. Raised in rural New Mexico, he holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and an MBA from Colorado State University. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and children, as well as fly fishing, hunting, and farming.

Sarah McKinney

Director of Brillante Early Learning Center
Brillante Early Learning Center at Explora

Sarah has a Bachelor’s degree from UNM, a Master’s from George Washington University in Early Childhood Special Education, and a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Education Leadership and Policy Analysis. She has worked in the public schools and community-based early childhood programs and spent time as a work-at-home parent with her own three children. At Explora she was the founding director of the Coalition for Science Learning in Early Childhood and Brillante Early Learning Center. Brillante is a full-time childcare and early learning center serving working and student families with high-quality care and resources and supporting the early childhood workforce through a partnership with Central New Mexico Community College. Sarah is passionate about building systems that give all families access to joyful, high-quality early learning, care, and support. Sarah enjoys powerlifting, gardening, working on house projects, and watercolor painting.

Erica Richards

Chief Strategy & Partnership Officer
University of New Mexico

Erica Richards, DNP, MBA, RN, is the inaugural Chief Strategy and Partnership Officer for the University of New Mexico. A seasoned executive with decades of leadership experience, Erica advances institutional growth through strategic planning, partnership development, and workforce initiatives. She brings deep expertise in healthcare system leadership, including operational oversight, hospital development, and strategic planning, and is expanding her focus to include education, workforce, and broader community collaboration. Her background spans clinical operations, strategy, business development, and entrepreneurship, giving her a unique perspective on building sustainable, mission-driven initiatives. Erica holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Executive and Organizational Leadership and a Master of Business Administration.

Sonora Rodriguez

Program Manager
Workforce Connection of Central NM

Sonora Rodriguez is a program manager with the Workforce Connection of Central New Mexico, the local workforce development board. She is leading a Department of Labor Infrastructure grant focused on increasing the workforce in broadband, renewable energy and transportation. She has worked in public service for over 5 years including as a Community Planner for Santa Fe County and the City of Albuquerque’s Planning Department. Her role in those positions focused on community engagement and public participation in long-term and rural planning. She received her Master’s from Cornell University in City and Regional Planning in 2019 and will be starting her PhD in Organizational and Information Learning Sciences at the University of New Mexico in Fall 2025.

Monica Sandoval-Johnson

Co-Founder & CEO
STEM Boomerang

Monica Sandoval-Johnson, PhD is a workforce development consultant and CEO of STEM Boomerang. As a fifth generation New Mexican, she is dedicated to lifting up the community by developing strategic programming around workforce training and mentorship. At STEM Boomerang, she is bridging the gap between education and workforce by reducing the barriers to entry and creating more opportunities for connecting New Mexico students and professionals with effective training and great jobs in our state. She holds a bachelor’s degree from UNM, a PhD in Toxicology from the University of Colorado, and completed postdoctoral studies at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill in drug delivery and formulation for fighting cancer and infection diseases.

Daniel Schmuck

Sr. Economic Developer
City of Albuquerque – Economic Development Department

Daniel Schmuck is a Senior Economic Developer with the City of Albuquerque’s Economic Development Department, focusing on business attraction, retention, expansion, and site readiness. He also serves as the Department’s point of contact for the outdoor recreation industry. Previously, Daniel spent over three years with the Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance, where he led research and strategic initiatives to promote regional competitiveness.

Originally from Germany, he holds degrees from the University of Siegen and the University of Bonn and was a Fulbright Scholar at the University of New Mexico. His background spans public affairs, economic policy, and international relations across Germany, Poland, and the U.S. Passionate about the outdoors, Daniel is a certified Wilderness First Responder and enjoys exploring New Mexico’s wild places.

Kathy Steen

Innovation Program Manager
NewSpace Nexus

Kathy Steen is the Innovation Program Manager for the Pathways to the Stars program at NewSpace Nexus and serves as New Mexico’s primary workforce development liaison for high-tech employers. She is responsible for the strategic execution of industry-driven solutions that address the state’s skilled labor shortage in the technology sector.
With extensive experience in business ownership, startup incubation, and workforce initiatives, Kathy has played a key role in supporting AFRL NM Tech Engagement programs, including the Hyperspace Challenge and AFRL Scholars. Her leadership drives impactful workforce solutions, fostering innovation and talent growth within New Mexico’s tech ecosystem.

Chanel Wiese-Carl

Manager, Career Center
Presbyterian Healthcare Services

Chanel Wiese-Carl is a native New Mexican whose community leadership and strategic influence have stretched across several key organizations and sectors, with a focus on making her home state a better place for all. Prior to her current role building a workforce development hub, “The Career Center” at Presbyterian Healthcare Services – she served as the founding Executive Director of the Somos Unidos Foundation, affiliated nonprofit of pro soccer team New Mexico United.

Wiese-Carl was honored as an Albuquerque Business First Woman of Influence in 2021, and has been recognized with Impact Awards from the United Soccer League and Women in Soccer. Chanel loves spending NFL Sunday with her husband and dogs and is a loyal member of Team Red Chile.