Team

Meet Pivotal New Mexico’s board of directors, staff, and partners. Our team has decades of experience working as funders, grant writers, legislators, and advocacy staff. We are ready to help your team thrive.

Terry Brunner

Chief Executive Officer

M.A. in Latin American Studies from UNM, BA in Latin American Studies from UNM

Professional Background:
I’ve always worked in some sort of public service: government, politics, and non-profit.

What do you love about New Mexico?
I love the great expanse and visiting every corner of it.

What about Pivotal NM's work or mission is meaningful to you?
I like being a part of an effort to make New Mexico better and see our state succeed.

Shana Siegel Baker

Program Manager

J.D. from UNM School of Law, B.A. in Sociology from Smith College

Professional Background:
Shana is an attorney who has worked in private practice, as well as in the public sector. Her nonprofit work has been primarily as a founding board member of Albuquerque Involved.

What do you love about New Mexico?
New Mexico has been my home for over 20 years. I love the weather, of course, but my favorite thing about New Mexico is the love and pride that our people have for our state. I love seeing native New Mexicans and transplants to our state committed to creating well resourced communities that make New Mexico a desirable place to live.

What about Pivotal NM's work or mission is meaningful to you?

Pivotal contributes to the improvement of New Mexico communities by helping organizations find funding to fulfill their missions and even expand their visions.

Ryan Marie Decker

Special Projects

Contracted through Impact Catalyst LLC

Degree in International Studies and Business from University of Pennsylvania; Executive Education in Impact Investing from Said Business School at the University of Oxford.

Professional Background:
I draw on my background in finance to support investments with positive social and environmental impact.

What do you love about New Mexico?
The beautiful landscapes and diverse people.

What about Pivotal NM's work or mission is meaningful to you?
Working with local communities throughout the state and engaging public and private sector partners.

Meredith Dixon

Program Coordinator

M.A. in International Political Economy from the University of Pittsburgh School of Public and International Affairs, B.A. in Global Policy Studies from Chatham College

Professional background:

Meredith Dixon is a consultant with extensive experience in fundraising and donor cultivation. In addition, she has over a decade of political and public policy experience having worked for Senator Tom Udall and NM House Speaker Brian Egolf. She has served on the board of directors for several Albuquerque area and national nonprofit organizations.

What do you love about New Mexico?
One of the unique aspects of New Mexico that I love the most is how everyone is connected to each other. I also love how New Mexicans work together to lift each other up.

What about Pivotal NM's work or mission is meaningful to you?
That is exactly what inspires me about the work that Pivotal does - working together to lift up all New Mexico nonprofits and people.

Jenny Jackson

Program Coordinator

Contracted through Jackson Writing & Research

BA in English/History of Arts from Johns Hopkins University; MA in Latin American Studies and MBA from University of New Mexico

Professional background:
I’ve been primarily a grant writer for almost nine years, but I’ve been a writer in some form or another since high school—including as a journalist, technical writer, and poet.

What do you love about New Mexico?
The weather, cultural diversity, and natural beauty.

What about Pivotal NM's work or mission is meaningful to you?
It’s validating to support an organization that helps nonprofits to get the funding they need. I did a stint as a textbook editor a long time ago, and that was the job that made me realize that I need to be doing work that directly supports New Mexico so that it is a better place for everyone to live.

Linda Lardner

Program Manager - Las Cruces

BA in Government from New Mexico State University

Professional Background:
My background consists of connecting organizations and communities along the Southern NM border to the resources they may need.

What do you love about New Mexico?
I love the smell of rain in New Mexico, our food, and all of the things that make us unique! Where else can you visit White Sands National Park, go to the Albuquerque Intl. Balloon Fiesta, or enjoy the Great American Duck Race?

What about Pivotal NM's work or mission is meaningful to you?
New Mexico’s local organizations work hard to serve their communities, and it means so much to be able to support their missions.

Raffaele Moore

Program Intern

BA Candidate in International and Public Affairs and History At Brown University

Professional background:
Raffaele has worked in public service in New Mexico for the past several years, most recently with Santa Fe think tank, Think New Mexico.

What do you love about New Mexico?
The mountains that provide adventure throughout our state and the people who make it the most welcoming place I have ever been.

What about Pivotal NM's work or mission is meaningful to you?
I am proud to be part of an organization dedicated to ensuring prosperity for New Mexicans in the present and the future.

Caitlin Moreno

Operations Manager

Professional Background: MBA from UNM, BA in Religion from Drury University

Professional Background: I have a passion for nonprofit work and enjoy supporting my team in their daily tasks to help Pivotal NM continue to run smoothly.

What do you love about New Mexico?

I love the wide open spaces, the big blue sky, and the (almost) endless sunshine.

What about Pivotal NM's work or mission is meaningful to you?

Pivotal NM cares about the people that live and work in communities across our state. It's inspiring to work with colleagues and partners who support organizations that boost the quality of life for New Mexicans.

Robert B. Nelson

Program Manager

Aly Sanchez

Lead Educator

Executive MBA from UNM, BA in Psychology from UNM

Professional background:

I enjoy the research, problem solving, and creative planning that grant writing involves, and I Iove demystifying those processes through teaching.

What do you love about New Mexico? There are so many wonderful aspects to New Mexico, but when it comes to what I really love, it is all about roots. I grew up under cottonwoods, trees that have deep taproots connecting them from our blue skies to water hidden under the land. New Mexico is about those deep, sustaining connections of family, friends, traditions, and home.

What about Pivotal NM's work or mission is meaningful to you?

I believe deeply in the need to draw outside investment into New Mexico and that we can do that by scaling high-performance proposal writing and funding cultivation.

Phil Schiliro

Senior Advisor

Linda Serrato

Cooperative Network Manager

Contracted through SerratoYbarra Communications

BA in Public Policy from Stanford University

Professional background:
Linda has dedicated her career to leading advocacy and activism teams.

What do you love about New Mexico?
Getting outside in New Mexico can mean so many different things depending on the time of year, time of day, and part of the state. It's an outdoor paradise.

What about Pivotal NM's work or mission is meaningful to you?
We work with some incredible organizations to bring resources to great projects. I'm proud to be a small part of that support.

Kira Small

Program Intern

Our board

Jennifer Brower

Board Secretary

Company website: 2540group.com

What do you love about New Mexico? Everything. Our sunsets are hard to beat.

What about Pivotal NM's work or mission is meaningful to you?

Helping New Mexicans envision a bright future.

More Info: Jennifer has extensive experience in marketing, digital strategy, creative services and public relations. A two-time University of New Mexico graduate, she holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and political science, and a master’s degree in business administration. She is the current Board President for Albuquerque Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners Collaborative, an organization dedicated to assisting survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. Jennifer also serves on the board of UNM’s Anderson School of Management Alumni Council.

Robin Brulé

Board Member

What do you love about New Mexico?
The expansive sky and beautiful sunrise and sunsets.

What about Pivotal NM's work or mission is meaningful to you?

Complex challenges demand multifaceted solutions – Pivotal NM’s work leverages important resources to tackle some of our greatest challenges to improve the lives of New Mexicans.

More Info:

Robin has been recognized as an Annie E. Casey Children & Families Fellow, Junior Achievement New Mexico Business Hall of Fame Laureate, a New Mexico Power Broker, a Woman of Influence, a Presidio Cross Sector Leadership Fellow, an Opportunity Finance Network Fellow, and was awarded the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce Leadership Award.

Tara Gohr

Co-Founder & Ex-Officio Member

The Grant Plant, President

Company website: www.thegrantplantnm.com

What do you love about New Mexico?
I love New Mexico for its great weather, local food and art destinations, abundant open land, multicultural richness, resiliency, and its sense of community.

What about Pivotal NM's work or mission is meaningful to you?

Pivotal is literally the turning point for New Mexico’s smart, resourceful, creative agencies to go from the “what” of their every day work to the “so what” of their organizations, which changes their trajectory. I’m so proud to be part of an organization that is committed to helping New Mexico compete for resources that have bypassed the state for too long.

More Info:
Tara holds a BA from New Mexico State University and a master’s-level certificate in resource development from Regis University in Denver. She is a graduate of Leadership Albuquerque (2009) and has been recognized as a Top-Performing CEO (2011), a Forty Under 40 Leader (2014), and a Woman of Influence (2017) by the New Mexico Business First.

Joanie Griffin

Board Member

Alexander Heubeck

Board Treasurer

Bank of the West, Senior Relationship Manager in NM Business Banking

Company website: www.bankofthewest.com/commercial-banking.html

What do you love about New Mexico?
The People and the Weather.

What about Pivotal NM's work or mission is meaningful to you?
Helping organizations find and win resources and funds to support their own missions.

More Info:
Alexander is a native German who found his way to Albuquerque, NM, completing his Masters in Finance at the University of New Mexico. He has worked for a Fortune 250 company and managed supply-chains/logistics for national corporations. Having a passion for finance and for working with local business owners, Alex joined the Business Banking Group at Bank of the West as a Business Banking Relationship Officer, where he works with local SMEs to help them grow their businesses through providing financing options and cash management services.

Erin Hielkema

Co-Founder & Ex-Officio Member

The Grant Plant, Vice President

Company website: www.thegrantplantnm.com

What do you love about New Mexico?
I love the weather, hiking, camping and skiing, cultural diversity, sightseeing, iconic events like the Balloon Fiesta, and of course, the food!

What about Pivotal NM's work or mission is meaningful to you?
Pivotal NM amplifies the work that our nonprofit community does — so when you support Pivotal, you support education, health care, social services, the arts, community development, and more. Pivotal helps New Mexico nonprofits gain the funding and technical resources to best fulfill their missions, and that means a better New Mexico for all of us.

More Info:
Erin holds a master’s degree from UNM and a BA in Business Administration from NMSU. Prior to founding The Grant Plant in 2003, she worked in the education and government sectors. Erin is an active member of the national Grant Professionals Association and was recognized as a C-Suite honoree for her role as Chief Operating Officer with The Grant Plant in 2017 by New Mexico Business First.

Brett Johnson

Board Member

City of Albuquerque, Albuquerque Police Dept. Systems Analyst

Company website: www.cabq.gov/police

What do you love about New Mexico?
Natural beauty and dynamic people.

What about Pivotal NM's work or mission is meaningful to you?
People helping people succeed at their own goals.

More Info:

In addition to being a systems analyst, Brett is also Co-Owner and Vice President of Data-Scribe, a business and technology consulting company he co-founded with his wife in 2003. Brett is proud to have provided solutions to over 100 small and large organizations in the private, government, and nonprofit sectors. Brett has volunteered as a trainer with the Center for Nonprofit Excellence and as an advisor and consultant with SCORE. Although originally from Denver, Brett has grown roots here and enjoys calling New Mexico home along with his wife and two daughters.

Cindy Padilla

Board Member

Travis L. Suazo

Board Chair

Public Service Company of NM (PNM) Tribal Government Relations Manager, Sr.

Company website: www.pnm.com

What do you love about New Mexico?

As a Pueblo person, I love the fact that my ancestors have lived on this land since time immemorial. Pueblo culture and traditions are deeply connected to “place” which is an important part of our family and for future generations.

What about Pivotal NM's work or mission is meaningful to you?

Bringing non-profits together, for the purpose of capacity building, is critical to the communities and individuals throughout NM. I’m thankful for the opportunity to lend an Indigenous perspective to the board and continue to provide important connections into New Mexico’s tribal communities and organizations.

More Info:

Travis’ career has afforded him great opportunities to work with tribes locally and nationally and to advocate and engage with them on many different levels. Being from three Pueblos; Laguna, Acoma and Taos, Travis brings an important perspective into our work. Prior to PNM, Travis worked for the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in various capacities, including Executive Director and Cultural and Community Engagement Officer. Travis also served as the Indian Tourism Program Manager and Tourism Development Director in the NM Tourism Department and as Deputy Cabinet Secretary with the Indian Affairs Department.

Kyle Ward

Board Member

Justin Zoladz

Vice-Chair

HUB New Mexico, Vice President

Company website: www.hubinternational.com/offices/us/new-mexico/albuquerque/

What do you love about New Mexico?
I love the people in New Mexico and it’s the people that make doing business so great! A great perk to New Mexico is the outdoors, the activities, the views, the beauty of our State.

What about Pivotal NM's work or mission is meaningful to you?
What I love about this organization and the work they do is seeing and hearing about all of the positive things that are happening in the state and that Pivotal NM is a resource helping all these different organizations make a difference. I am honored to be involved and a part of what they do.

More Info:

Justin also serves as a board member for the Road Runner Little League and was previously Chairman of the Board for the Boys and Girls Club of Central NM. He is also a charter member of Rotary Club of Albuquerque Metro, an Immanuel Lutheran School Board Member, and an Albuquerque Speech, Language and Hearing board member.