2025 Governing Board Election Candidates

Occupation

Adult educator/trainer, management consultant, and business owner

Business/Community Activities

• Small Business Committee Chair, Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce
• Leadership Albuquerque Training Committee, Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce
• Registered Lobbyist, NM Commission on the Status of Women - TEAMWORKS
• Division Chair and Loaned Executive, United Way
• Board Member, Albuquerque Business Education Compact
• Board Member, New Futures School
• Training Committee, NM First
• Leadership Albuquerque Graduate
• Awarded YWCA Women on the Move

*Please note, all activities are past

Previous involvement with Technical Vocational Institute (TVI) or CNM

• Designed/Facilitated 5 day Leadership Retreat for staff and faculty for 2 consecutive years
• Designed/Facilitated first Student Leadership Program
• Facilitated strategic planning and conducted operational analysis resulting in streamlining processes for Student Services Department
• Facilitated strategic planning for Placement Department
• Taught an Early Childhood Development course for 2 trimesters

Why are you a candidate for the Governing Board?

The unique role CNM fulfills in the higher education landscape here in NM is invaluable. My vision includes establishing more educational and career opportunities for westside high school students in District 1. Ensure that all campuses continue to provide a safe learning environment. To expand partnerships with our community and businesses throughout NM enhancing the placement of CNM graduates and increasing engagement with CNM Ingenuity Programs. To utilize my expertise in operational analysis to streamline processes and strengthen CNM’s capacity to support students, staff, and faculty.

I will bring a heart-felt passion to achieve the diverse goals of this institution. I was born, raised, educated and grew my family here in New Mexico. Helping people grow through education has always been at the core of my life’s work.

An example of a few my achievements include:

• Created and implemented the 1st Welfare to Work program in NM, generating a 75% placement rate for 5 consecutive years
• Human Resources, Strategic Planning and Executive Coaching services for multi-state Utility merger/acquisition on the east coast comprising 5 states

*Leadership and Team Development Workshops for Public/Private Sectors and Higher Education Institutions

*Outplacement Services for PNM and GE

Occupation

Consultant for NM Juvenile Justice and for AMIKids, a nonprofit organization that provides a continuum of services for at-risk youth.

Business/Community Activities

Over his career, Tom was elected to the following offices: Mayor of Rio Rancho (1994-1998; 2008-2010; and 2010-2014), and State Representative (2002-2008.) He retired from Bernalillo County as Deputy County Manager, which included serving as Director of the Bernalillo County Youth Services Center.

Since 2022, Tom has been serving as Governor's Lujan-Grisham's appointee to the New Mexico Juvenile Justice Advisory Council, where he is Chair. Before semi-retiring, he served on the board of Mid Rio Grande Council of Governments and was a member of the Italian American Club, Kiwanis Club, and Elks Club.

Previous involvement with Technical Vocational Institute (TVI) or CNM

Tom was first elected to the CNM Board in 2015 and served as Vice-Chair for three years. In 2018, he was elected Chair of the Board, a position he currently holds. His first priority as incoming Chair was to update governance policies, communication protocols, and the evaluation process for the President of CNM. He spent hours and hours talking with fellow board members and the HR Director to revamp the President’s evaluation to align with the Board’s new three year strategic plan, resulting in a more transparent and accurate evaluation that measures the President’s skill sets and deliverables against the CNM’s strategic plan. In 2019, Tom served on the Search Committee for a new President in 2019 and was a vocal advocate for choosing the current President due to her deep understanding of New Mexico's diverse culture and the policy and political environments of our state. He continues to work with the President and the Board to elevate CNM on the national stage. As a result, in the 2017-2018 Fact Book, CNM reported it led the nation in the number of associate degrees and certificates awarded to Hispanic and Native American students, and was two overall in those awards. In 2018, CNM was also awarded "Innovator of the Year" by the Higher Education Dive Awards for using block chain technology to issue digital diplomas. CNM earned re-accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission in 2024, and most important, is currently ranked number 534 out of 2,217 community colleges across the nation. Tom continues to serve on the Board’s Planning Committee, Capital Outlay Committee, and chairs the Executive Committee.

Why are you a candidate for the Governing Board? 

Tom is a candidate for the Governing Board because he is passionate about continuing to boost New Mexico's future workforce. For example, he helped build a partnership between CNM and Rio Rancho Public Schools to establish RioTECH, a new career technical high school where teens in grades 10-12, along with adult learners, may learn skills in trade fields like carpentry, plumbing, automotive, welding, and cyber security. Today, close to 100 high school students and 100 adult learners are enrolled at the school, whose enrollment and offerings will continue to expand in 2026.

Another passion of Tom's is to improve the lives of New Mexico's most vulnerable students. To this end, he is helping to lead a statewide partnership between CNM and the University of New Mexico Hospital, Presbyterian Hospital, Youth Development Inc., AMIKIDS, Department of Children, Youth and Families, and the NM Health Authority to create a seamless system of services for youth in the juvenile justice and foster care systems.

Occupation

Self-Employed

Business/Community Activities

• Volunteer at Animal Humane New Mexico 2009-2020 and Foster care volunteer 2022 to present
• Emerge New Mexico graduate (2010)
• Past member of Albuquerque Museum Foundation Board
• Past membership New Mexico Women’s Chorus 2016-2020
• Past president of the New Mexico Apple Council

Previous involvement with Technical Vocational Institute (TVI) or CNM

• Currently Chair of the CNM Governing Board Capital Outlay Committee
• Previously Chair for the CNM Governing Board Audit Committee
• Previously Chair for the CNM Governing Board Planning Committee
• CNM Governing Board Finance Committee Member
• CNM Presidential Search Committee - including selection of community volunteers to interview and make recommendations on candidates
• CNM Governing Board representative CNM Governing Board Real Estate working group - the work of the group is to diversify revenue, support community vibrancy, and increase economic development
• Governing Board representative on the CNM Art in Public Places Committee - this committee collaborates in the selection of local and regional art for display on all campuses
• Association of Community College Trustees Impact and Success Committee member 2024 to present
• Western Region Nominating Committee chair for the ACCT membership selection 2024 to present
• Member National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials 2017-2023

Why are you a candidate for the Governing Board?

I am honored to seek re-election to represent District 5 on the CNM Governing Board. For more than nine years, I’ve worked with my colleagues to strengthen CNM and our community through collaboration and a commitment to student success.

During this time, CNM has navigated changes in leadership, endured a pandemic, and adapted to a rapidly changing educational landscape. Through it all, I continue to see the hope and determination of every learner who walks through our doors or logs in online.

My work is driven by that hope. I want to continue to safeguard access to education at every stage of life, support innovation and business partnerships, and keep expanding training opportunities that prepare learners for today’s workforce. Whether learners are starting a first career, advancing to a new one, or refining their skills, CNM should always be a place where their confidence and opportunity grow.

CNM is more than a college—it’s a cornerstone of our community. It is where innovation, motivation, and achievement thrive. I am proud of what we have accomplished together, and I am ready to continue this work. I respectfully ask for your support to serve another term on the CNM Governing Board.

Occupation

Principal Technical Director - Radiological Programs

Business/Community Activities

Business Activities:

1. Participating as an active member of the CNM Commercial Real Estate Working Group to establish procedures for handling the college's real estate holdings so they may provide best-use financial support to the college. The Working Group activities include selecting real estate professionals to solicit and develop business opportunities for individual properties located around the colleges campuses, establishing procedures for ethical interactions with those professionals and proper evaluation of opportunities as they arise, and informing the Governing Boards of CNM and CNM/Ingenuity of plans and progress with those properties.
2. Participating as a passive partner in an LLC that constructed, owns, and operates a self storage business in Albuquerque.
3. Active partner in an LLC that owns a fully leased commercial property in Albuquerque. Activities include reviewing leases, evaluating tenants, reviewing property conditions with business partners, summarizing annual property expenses for reimbursement by tenants under NNN lease, and filing beneficial ownership information documents with the U.S. Department of Treasury.
4. Providing part-time technical support for radiological programs at an environmental engineering firm that serves federal, state, local, and industrial clients across the U.S.

Community Activities:

1. Fulfilling the role of Governing Board Member, District 7 for the CNM Community College since I was elected in November 2021. As a member of the Governing Board I actively participate monthly in one or more public Board meetings, and one or more work study sessions to prepare for Board meetings and discuss CNM's plans and operational business. I am also on the Board's Audit Committee and Capital Outlay Committee for which I review materials in advance of the monthly meetings that I attend. I also attend professional development meetings annually to advance/maintain my knowledge and understanding of community college activities and issues affecting trustees at other colleges across the U.S.
2. Prior to my involvement with CNM I lead a neighborhood association group that applied for traffic safety improvements in the NE heights to standardize posted speed limits and reduce accidents on residential roads. I participated in meetings with City traffic managers, met with neighborhood residents, and organized neighborhood outreach activities to obtain input from residents on the proposed improvements. Changes were approved and implemented.
3. Coached community youth sports for girls and boys in AYSO and Mile High Little League. Coached high school sports (boys' soccer and girls' softball).

Previous involvement with Technical Vocational Institute (TVI) or CNM

My current involvement with CNM is described as a Community Activity, above. I had no specific prior involvement with the college.

Why are you a candidate for the Governing Board?

I first joined the CNM Governing Board in 2021 with the intent to serve my community through the mission of the college. Since then, I have leveraged my leadership skills and technical background from my own professional career to further the efforts of the Board and the vision of the institution.

I am incredibly proud of the diverse leaders that comprise the Governing Board. Collectively we bring different backgrounds, perspectives, opinions, and expertise as we work collaboratively to meet the needs of the community and its residents. The mission of the college to create an inclusive environment for all learners, change lives, and build community is at the forefront of the Board’s strategic planning and decision making and I do not take that responsibility lightly.

I am committed to supporting our community partners like Explora when it comes to early childhood education, our partners in APS and Rio Rancho schools for the expansion of career and technical education programs for high school students, and our City and State as we advance the Media Arts Collective at the Railyards.

My goal is to continue serving the college and the community with the highest degree of integrity and a focus on the success of our students.