Board of Directors – Executive Committee
Mary Anne Larsen, Board Chair~Santa Fe, NM
Retired owner of women’s clothing stores. Four time chair of Futures for Children Moveable Feast Committee. Chair of numerous galas for New Mexico Museum of Art. Past Vice Presidents of the St. Vincent Hospital Foundation Board in Santa Fe. Past chair of the Friends of Indian Art for MIAC and past chair of the Wheelwright Museum auction. President, Sante Fe Festival Ballet and President of the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet Board in Santa Fe. Graduate of Russell Sage College with a BA in History. Futures for Children donor and mentor.
Tracy Stanhoff, Treasurer and Finance Chair~Huntington Beach, CA
Tribal Affiliation: Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation
President and Creative Director, AD PRO, an advertising and graphic design firm, founded in 1988. Former Tribal Chair, Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation in Mayette, KS. President of the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of California. Co-Founder and Board of Directors of the American Indian National Chamber of Commerce. BA from California State University, Long Beach, CA. Has served on numerous leadership and community service organizations in California. Recognized in 1998 as Native American Entrepreneur of the Year by Minorities in Business Magazine. Former world-class swimmer and avid golfer.
Michael E. Godwin, Secretary~Albuquerque, NM
President of Ernest Thompson & Co., Inc., Albuquerque, NM since 1990, and contributed furniture, doors, and a sign for the Futures for Children building. Ernest Thompson Furniture and Cabinets manufactures high end furniture and custom cabinetry, and also has a showroom in Scottsdale, AZ. Prior to 1990, served as Senior Vice President and manager of the retail municipal bond department for Shearson Lehman Hutton in New York City. Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas A&M; University. Past Futures for Children Board Member and served on the Executive Committee. Former chair of the Board of the Albuquerque Museum Foundation. Futures for Children donor.
Joyce Chelberg, Governance Chair~Chicago, IL
Retired teacher. Served as a member of the Board, Executive Committee, Vice President, and Governing Board of the Japan America Society of Chicago. Long time supporter of Futures for Children. Suppporter of numerous cultural arts organizations in Chicago and Graduate Study Programs in Madagascar. Served on numerous fund raising committees. Early supporter of Crow Canyon Archaeological Center in Cortez, CO. Supporter of Mitchell Indian Museum and NAES College mentor for many years. Bachelor of Arts from University of Illinois in the teaching of Biological Sciences. Futures for Children donor and mentor.
Alicia Smith, Member at Large and Development Chair~Santa Fe, NM
Lawyer by training, having spent a career in public policy, working first for the Sate of Florida and then at the national level as Staff Director of Human Resources at the Governors’ Association. In 1993, started a small health care consulting firm and in 2000 founded Alicia Smith and Associates. The company specialized in the Medicaid program and over the course of its “life” assisted dozens of states, hospital associations and Medicaid managed care plans in the design and implementation of more effective strategies for delivering health care to the poor, the disabled, and the elderly. Currently a partner in the government consulting practice at Mercer.
Teresa C. Gomez, President and CEO~Albuquerque, NM
Tribal Affiliation: Isleta Pueblo
Has been instrumental in building and strengthening Tribal-State relations and collaboration, and has played a key role in major policy initiatives including the NM Tribal Infrastructure Act, State-Tribal Collaboration Act, and the Indian Education Act. Has been an active community member having served on numerous boards and commissions including the Governor’s Women’s Health Commission, NM Behavioral Health Purchasing Collaborative, and the Continuum of Care Review Committee. Additionally, served as the Vice-President and Secretary of the YWCA of the Middle Rio Grande, is a graduate of the 2008 Core class of Leadership New Mexico, and was an advisory member of the Robert Wood Johnson – Ladder to Leadership Initiative. Recently appointed to serve on the Board of the NM Medical Insurance Pool. Lifetime member of AISES. In 2006, was appointed by Governor Bill Richardson to serve as the Deputy Cabinet Secretary for the New Mexico Indian Affairs Department, and was the first Pueblo woman to hold this post. Also served as the Deputy Cabinet Secretary for the NM Department of Workforce Solutions and as the Deputy CEO for the NM Behavioral Health Purchasing Collaborative. Was Acting Executive Director and Deputy Director of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES). In her various capacities at AISES, advocated for policies relating to Indian education, diversity, and equity. Master’s Degree in Political Science from the University of New Mexico, focusing on Race and Ethnic Politics with an emphasis on American Indian Politics. Co-authored “American Indian Women Leaders: Public Policy and the Importance of Gender and Ethnic Identity” which appeared in the journal – Women & Politics.
Board Members
Olivia Redhorse, Program Chair~Las Cruces, NM
Tribal Affiliation: Navajo
Systems Analyst for Jacobs Technology at the NASA Johnson Space Center, White Sands Test Facility. Training to become an Open VMS System Manager. Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, with emphasis on Business Computer Systems, from New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM. Futures for Children mentored student and affiliate for over 20 years.
Brenda Walsworth, Audit Chair~Santa Fe, NM
Recently moved from Dallas, Texas. An independent consultant focusing on change management, business process improvement and application of technology. Key clients have included Target, JCPenney, Kohls, Neiman Marcus, Zales, Michaels, American Greetings, HSN (Home Shopping Network), QVC, Coles Myer (Australia), Ripley’s (China), Central Retail (Thailand). Along with husband, Mike, has been mentoring for over 10 years; presently mentoring five students. Currently working with the Spanish Colonial Arts Museum and is heading the revitalization of the gardens, works with the summer children’s education program and the Spanish Colonial Market. Was involved with Pink Soles in Motion, an organization that raises funds for Susan G. Komen Foundation.
Denise Joe~Kirtland, NM
Tribal Affiliation: Navajo
Originally from Chinle, Arizona. Currently a Social Studies teacher at Navajo Preparatory School (a college-prep campus with the preparation of Native American students for post-secondary education as a primary emphasis) in Farmington, NM. Graduate of Arizona State University with a B.A.E. in Secondary Education. Master’s Degree in Bilingual/Multicultural Education from Northern Arizona University. Taught in Chinle for almost 10 years. Class Sponsor and Chair of the Navajo Language and Culture Committee. Project Coach for Futures for Children Youth Leadership Program.
Pam Misener~Santa Fe, NM
Moved with her husband from Virginia to Santa Fe in 2008. Has had a successful career in retail banking management, brokerage, mortgage and consumer lending industries. She was a consumer banking manager, Vice President at First Union Bank/Wachovia Bank, McLean, Virginia and then became a Principal/Private Banker. Was a Financial Advisor at Wells Fargo and is currently a Financial Advisor with Waddell Reed in New Mexico. Presently serves as a member of Futures DreamMaker Advisory Committee. Futures for Children mentor for nineteen years.
Michael W. DeGenring~Santa Fe, NM
Spent most of his working career with ARCO, primarily in financial positions. Ultimately moved into a general management role, serving as President of ARCO’S US coal business, and subsequently, acting President of ARCO’s coal division. Eventually retired as Executive Vice President, Finance and Administration, and CFO of Potlatch Corporation. Received his BA from Dartmouth College in Math and MBA from Harvard Business School. Was a Board Member and Treasurer of the Denver Young Artists Orchestra, and Board Member and member of the Audit Committee of a privately held franchise restaurant chain. Is a current Board Member and Treasurer of The Foundation for the Santa Fe Symphony. Futures for Children mentor.
John Lewis~Albuquerque, NM
Tribal Affiliation: Zuni and Navajo
Has worked with a few tribes in the development of projects in the economic and community development arenas. Worked for various Native organizations including the Pueblo Insurance Agency, and the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of New Mexico, where he served as the Executive Director. Also served as Chairman of the Board of the Storehouse, New Mexico’s largest food pantry. Has served on the boards of the Native American Human Resources Association, The Native American Professional Parent Resources Organization, the San Ildefonso Pueblo Enterprise Corporation and the Zuni Pueblo Mainstreet as Chair. Holds a Human Resources, SPHR Certification from UNM Anderson School of Business.
Hank McCabe~Window Rock, AZ
Tribal Affiliation: Navajo
Currently General Mine Manager at McKinley Mine, Chevron Mining Inc. near Window Rock, AZ and Gallup, NM. Has worked at the mine in various positions since 1976. Past member of the Board of Directors, past Vice President and current President – New Mexico Mining Association. Past member of the Board of Directors as the Arizona/New Mexico/Texas Regional Director and currently a member in good standing with Rocky Mountain Coal Mining Institute. Attended Brigham Young University where he received an Associate of Arts degree.