Joshua Baca
SBA Business Opportunity Specialist
Small Business Administration, New Mexico District Office
Joshua Baca is a Business Opportunity Specialist for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) New Mexico District Office. Mr. Baca joined the SBA in November of 2012. His primary responsibility with the SBA is to provide business development assistance and guidance for small businesses certified in the 8(a) Business Development Program.
Wendy Baca
Program Integration Division Director
PanTeXas Deterrence, LLC
Wendy Baca serves as Program Integration director for PanTeXas Deterrence, LLC, the management and operating contractor of the Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas. She joined Pantex in 2024.
In this role, Baca manages all aspects of Program Integration.
Baca started her career in 1987 with the U.S. Department of Energy in what was then known as the Albuquerque Operations Office. She was hired to fill the W87-1 Small
Inter-continental Ballistic Missile Program engineer role, and she continued to work in numerous federal program manager roles for the next 25 years.
The majority of Baca’s work focused on ICBM programs where she was also the director of the ICBM division for the DOE, and later for the National Nuclear Security Administration, a position she held for 9 years. During that time, her primary focus was the First Production Unit through completion of the W87 Alt 342, which was also referred to as the W87 Life Extension Program. Baca’s other federal program manager positions included the Pantex Stage Right Program, the AT-400A Pit Container, the DOE/NNSA Dismantlement Program, Plutonium Sustainment, and the Modernization Programs.
After retiring from the DOE/NNSA in 2012, Baca worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory as an executive advisor in the Principal Associate Directorate for the Weapons Program. In 2015, Baca became the director of the Integrated Program Management Office in the Plutonium Science and Manufacturing Division where she focused on the ongoing LANL production agency efforts—to include plutonium pits.
Baca worked at Sandia National Laboratories from 2017 to 2022 in a number of roles, including a position in the Military Liaison Department as the W80-1/W84 field engineer.
In 2021, Baca joined the Weapons Knowledge Preservation and Transfer Program at TechSource, Inc., where she worked with the team to develop and deliver instructional modules for new and mid-career employees across the Nuclear Security Enterprise.
Baca earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Arizona and a Master of Science from New Mexico State University, both in Industrial Engineering.
Julianna Barbee
SBDC Director NNMC, New Mexico
Small Business Development Center
Julianna Barbee is helping people live their passion, create a business legacy and unleash their creative spirit. She is a center Director for New Mexico Small Business Development Center Network, a certified Business Consultant, National Stephan Covey Trainer and Business owner.
Julianna is helping businesses to reimagine, repurpose, reinvent and reignite their business. She is assisting in job creation and business development and is a certified national trainer. Working for SBDC is her third career.
Prior to joining the New Mexico SBDC Julianna worked for ABC-TV in Denver Colorado and also worked in TV in Phoenix, Arizona. Julianna had a 25-year career in Broadcast Television and Marketing and Video Production. Julianna and her husband started their careers in the Television industry as anchors and reporters; Julianna also produced TV Commercials, was a Marketing Director, Account Executive and worked with National Advertising Agencies. Together with her husband they have also owned their own training business and worked with small and large companies and present at conferences across the nation.
Julianna has served on the National America’s SBDC Marketing Committee for 20 years, and participates on several local, state and national boards and councils. Julianna has extensive experience in the following areas: Video Production, Multi-Media Advertising, TV/Radio Broadcast, Public Relations, Public Speaker, Graphic Design, Websites, Photography, Legislative Outreach, Economic Development, 7 Habits for Small Business Managers Covey Trainer, and Fitness and Nutrition. She has been awarded the National SBDC Star Awards, Job Creator of the Year Awards, SBDC Center of the Year Awards, Legislative Award and Sales Increase Award.
She is involved with the following industries; artists, performing artists, musicians, film & media, eco-tourism, outdoor tourism, eco -building, eco- agriculture, traditional foods, creative cultural entrepreneurship, natural healing, fitness and nutrition and student mentorship.
Julianna loves spending time with her family and furry family and hosting theme parties. Together with her husband they enjoy road and mountain biking, traveling and anything outdoors.
Randy Crawford
Small Business Program Manager
PanTeXas Deterrence, LLC
Randy is the Small Business Program Manager for Pantexas Deterrence at the Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas. He joined Pantex in 2018 as an Infrastructure Project Manager, and previously served in his current role with Consolidated Nuclear Security at the Pantex Plant.
Prior to his current role at Pantex, Randy held positions in Facilities Management in the banking industry and was a small business practitioner in the Commercial Real Estate business in Texas.
Brittany Decker
Acquisition Services (Procurement) Director
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
Brittany Decker, Acquisition Services (Procurement) Director has more 18 years of experience in procurement, 10 years at NREL. Brittany graduated with her undergraduate degree from the University of Texas, Austin and received her master’s degree from Texas State University.
Before coming to NREL, Brittany worked on contracting for the State of Texas and the City of Orlando, supporting human services related contracts as well as construction and design-build projects as well as CMGC projects. Since joining NREL, Brittany has worked on much of NREL’s design-build & construction portfolio since joining NREL in 2014, as well as purchasing NREL’s 2nd High-Performance Computer, Lab-wide Staff Augmentation Services, NREL’s Alliance Partner University Program contracts, Enterprise System Implementation Services and more.
Stacey Francis
Small Business Program Manager
Idaho National Laboratory (INL)
Stacey Francis is the Small Business Program Manager at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) located in Idaho Falls, Idaho. She is responsible to target, shape and retain small businesses in support of the diverse mission areas of the laboratory. INL is one of the DOE’s 10 multiprogram national laboratories. The lab provides national leadership in the areas of nuclear energy, national security and sustainable energy research. Mrs. Francis has over 30 years of experience in building relationships with key stakeholders and partners. This experience has fostered a successful Small Business Program at INL.
Mrs. Francis has a BS in Journalism, Mass Communications from Kansas State University. In her spare time, you can find her behind her camera or looking for the next big fish.
Bobby Gaffney
Supply Chain & MCP Procurement Manager
Salado Isolation Mining Contractors, LLC (SIMCO)
Supply Chain and Minor Construction Projects Procurement Manager. My ten year anniversary working at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant is in May 2025. Raised in the booming metropolis of Cloudcroft NM and a graduate of New Mexico State University.
George Garcia
Small Business Manager
Salado Isolation Mining Contractors, LLC (SIMCO)
George Garcia was born and raised in Carlsbad, N.M. Graduated for Carlsbad High School, thereafter, attended New Mexico State University where he obtained degrees in Finance and Marketing. During his first year of Graduate school, Mr. Garcia internship with the Department of Labor and was certified as a DOL auditor.
Upon completion of his education, Mr. Garcia moved to Los Angeles where he accepted a position as a real estate acquisition analyst. After a couple of years of working in the corporate world, he decided that environment was not for him so he acquired his real estate license and sold commercial and residential real estate for the next 30 years.
In May of 2022, He accepted the position of Small Business Manager for WIPP and has utilized his skill sets from past careers to implement a new approach to the position.
Scott Kennedy
Modernization & Infrastructure Division Director
PanTeXas Deterrence, LLC
Scott Kennedy serves as the Modernization and Infrastructure director for PanTeXas Deterrence, LLC, the management and operating contractor of the Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas. He returned to Pantex in 2024.
In this role, Kennedy directs the management systems supporting site Infrastructure and Modernization, including Project Management and execution, Maintenance, and Construction.
Kennedy held numerous technical and leadership positions in facility and infrastructure management across his 30-year career at Pantex, as well as serving as deputy general manager for the site for three years.
Between his time at Pantex, Kennedy worked at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant as operations and readiness manager for four years before transitioning to Los Alamos National Laboratory as chief operating officer for Infrastructure and Capital Projects functions.
Kennedy earned a Master of Engineering in Engineering Management from the University of Colorado and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University.
Deb Lewis
Senior Director of Infrastructure Program and Planning Office
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL)
Deb Lewis is the senior director for the Infrastructure Program and Planning Office (IPPO). This office is responsible for project funding and initiation, as well as the LANL Campus Master Plan. Lewis holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the College of Santa Fe and a master’s project management certification from George Washington University. Lewis began her Lab career in 1993 as a project control engineer in Waste Management.
U.S. Senator Ben Ray Lujan
United States Senate
Ben Ray Luján has represented New Mexico in the United States Senate since January 2021. He previously served as U.S. Representative for New Mexico’s Third Congressional District and House Assistant Speaker in the 116th Congress.
Senator Luján sits on the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation; the Committee on Finance; the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; the Committee on Indian Affairs; and the Committee on the Budget.
Senator Luján grew up in Nambé, a small farming community north of Santa Fe, bordered by the Nambé and Pojoaque Pueblos. It was there that he learned New Mexico values, including hard work, dedication, and perseverance, from his family and community.
Since being elected to Congress in 2008, Senator Luján has championed efforts to create good-paying jobs in New Mexico, expand quality health care and protect patients with pre-existing conditions, preserve our natural resources and sacred sites, build a clean energy economy, and uplift the middle-class.
Senator Luján has focused on spurring local economic growth through a number of legislative initiatives. His bill to make it easier for local entrepreneurs to bring their ideas to the marketplace was signed into law, and he has written legislation that would leverage New Mexico’s labs to drive job creation while addressing tomorrow’s energy challenges.
Recognizing that action on the climate crisis cannot wait another generation, Senator Luján has been a leading voice in the fight against climate change. He has developed bold, comprehensive legislation to put the United States on a path to net zero carbon emissions to combat the climate crisis and grow the economy. This visionary plan has earned praise from climate experts, environmental advocates, and labor groups.
He has also been a fierce advocate for environmental protection in New Mexico. Luján helped lead an effort during the Obama administration to establish national monument designations for the Rio Grande del Norte National Conservation Area and the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks, preserving some of New Mexico’s greatest treasures and tourism drivers. In addition, he helped lead the House effort to protect the greater Chaco Canyon region from harmful oil and gas drilling and dangerous methane emissions.
Luján is a long-time advocate for New Mexico’s acequias and traditional lands. He continually works to ensure funding for these cultural assets. He also supports rural farming and ranching by advancing legislation to help food-producing communities advance entrepreneurship.
Throughout his time in Congress, Luján has fought to increase New Mexicans’ access to quality health care, no matter where they live or how much money they make. He has had legislation signed into law to bolster the Children’s Health Insurance Program and strengthen Medicaid and Medicare. Senator Luján has also worked in a bipartisan manner to secure millions in funding to combat the opioid crisis in New Mexico and increase access to treatment and recovery services.
Senator Luján has been a champion for New Mexico working families. He’s fought to raise the minimum wage, close the gender pay gap, and bridge the digital divide for rural communities. He has been an unwavering supporter of women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and continues to advance causes important to New Mexico families.
Before his election to Congress, Senator Luján served as the Chairman of the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission. As a Commissioner, he worked with his colleagues to develop a renewable portfolio standard to increase clean energy production by New Mexico utilities. He also advocated for first responders, working to overhaul the New Mexico Fire Fund so that all distributions from the fund would go to improving fire services in New Mexico.
Prior to his service on the Public Regulation Commission, Luján was the New Mexico Cultural Affairs Department’s director of administrative services and chief financial officer.
Senator Luján earned his Bachelor’s degree from New Mexico Highlands University in Business Administration.
Dr. Thom Mason
Director
Triad National Security (Los Alamos National Laboratory)
Dr. Thom Mason became the 12th Director of Los Alamos National Laboratory and President of Triad National Security, LLC in November 2018.
The Laboratory is a principal contributor to the U.S. Department of Energy mission to maintain the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile. Los Alamos uses innovative science and technology to enhance global nuclear security and protect the world. Los Alamos has an annual operating budget of $4 billion, 15,000 workers, and a 40-square-mile site featuring some of the most specialized scientific equipment and supporting infrastructure in the world.
For the past 30 years, Thom has been involved in the design and construction of scientific instrumentation and facilities and the application of nuclear, computing, and materials sciences to solve important challenges in energy and national security. Most recently Thom was the Senior Vice President for Global Laboratory Operations at Battelle where he had responsibility for governance and strategy across the six National Laboratories that Battelle manages or co-manages. Prior to joining Battelle, Thom worked at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) for 19 years, including 10 years as the Laboratory Director. Under his leadership, ORNL saw significant growth in programs, new facilities, and hiring while achieving record low safety incident rates. Before becoming Laboratory Director, he was Associate Laboratory Director (ALD) for Neutron Sciences, ALD for the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS), and Director of the Experimental Facilities Division.
Thom was active in the community during his time in Oak Ridge, serving as chair of the Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation and of Innovation Valley, the Knoxville‐Oak Ridge area regional economic development organization. He moved to ORNL from the University of Toronto, where he was a faculty member in the Department of Physics. Thom previously worked as a senior scientist at Risø National Laboratory and a postdoctoral researcher at AT&T Bell Laboratories.
Thom holds a PhD in Experimental Condensed Matter Physics from McMaster University and a BSc in Physics from Dalhousie University.
Elythia McAnarney
Advisor
New Mexico Apex Accelerator
Greater than 25 years of hands-on experience in Government Contracting, “Cradle to grave” contract and Subcontract administration of government and commercial contracts. Knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation (DFAR) requirements. Managed Multi-million-dollar contracts for DoD, DoE, NASA and GSA. Solicited, negotiated, awarded, and managed subcontracts including Terms and Conditions and government flow-downs. Prepared cost and the business volumes for major government solicitations.
As an APEX Procurement Advisor, she has developed and delivered extensive cybersecurity compliance training modules for small businesses throughout the state of NM.
Zach Mikelson
Small Business Program Manager
Sandia National Laboratories
Zach Mikelson has been at Sandia National Labs for the past 7 years and is currently serving as Sandia’s Small Business Program Manager. Zach was born in Albuquerque and has a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of New Mexico. His wife of 12 years is a local elementary school teacher, and they enjoy spending time with their two sons; Theo (7) and Frankie (6). Zach serves on the board of directors of Lexiam Heart Foundation, a local non-profit that provides assistance to children and families diagnosed with congenital heart disease. Zach also serves on the UNM School of Public Administration advisory board. In the very little spare time he has, Zach enjoys playing golf and traveling with his family.
Chelsea Murphy
DOE/NNSA Small Business Program Manager
Office of Partnership and Acquisition Services (NA-PAS-1.2)
Chelsea began her career with the Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) in 2009 after completing her MBA in Finance from the University of New Mexico. Chelsea acted as an unlimited warrant Contracting Officer for over a decade, and administering many of NNSA’s most complex and high value contracts, including her last project for an M&O Competition awarded at $28 Billion. Most recently, she accepted her role as the NNSA Small Business Program Manager in July of 2022 as the new face of NNSA Small Business outreach.
Kala Naranjo
Procurement Center Representative
Small Business Administration, New Mexico District Office
Kala Naranjo is a Procurement Center Representative for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Area V – New Mexico. Ms. Naranjo joined the SBA in September 2021. Her primary responsibilities are to advocate on behalf of Small Businesses, work closely with contracting staff at federal buying offices, communicate with federal agencies on upcoming requirements, review agency acquisitions and solicitations, and interact with a variety of customers on multiple levels in support of compliance and advocacy. Prior to being hired with the SBA Ms. Naranjo worked with the Department of Defense, Air Force, for 13 years where she served as a Small Business Specialist, Contract Specialist, Contracting Officer, and Deputy Chief of Contracting. Ms. Naranjo holds a Bachelor of Science in Applied Art and Sciences from San Diego State University, and a Master of Arts in Management and Leadership from Webster University. Ms. Naranjo is a proud New Mexican and happy to be supporting Small Businesses in the state where she was born and raised.
Josh Parsons
Associate Labs Director, Mission Services
National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC (Sandia National Laboratories)
Josh Parsons is the Associate Labs Director (ALD) of Mission Services at National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC (NTESS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International, Inc. NTESS manages and operates Sandia National Laboratories, a $5.2 billion, 16,000-member workforce, multi-mission R&D national security laboratory.
As ALD of Mission Services, Josh is responsible for overseeing essential business functions that support the Labs’ operations, including procurement, supply chain management, project management and finance. He oversees the workforce that ensures that every mission at Sandia has the necessary resources and support to succeed.
Prior to his current role, Josh served as director of HR Operations, where he was responsible for aligning HR strategies and operations to Sandia’s objectives to ensure the workforce is mission-ready, connected and thriving.
Josh served as Sandia’s chief financial officer for five years, overseeing the Labs’ financial operations. Since joining Sandia in 2004, Josh has held a variety of leadership roles, including director of business excellence where he led the design and deployment of the Lab Operating System, acting director of Mission Support and Corporate Governance, senior manager and chief of staff for Mission Support as well as various management positions in financial and business operations.
Josh received his Master of Business Administration in corporate finance from the University of Notre Dame and Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing management from the University of New Mexico. He is also a Certified Public Accountant.
He serves as chair elect of the board of directors for the Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance. He was previously on the Vision Council for United Way of Central New Mexico and a board member for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central New Mexico, Samaritan Counseling Center of Albuquerque and the New Mexico Ethics Alliance. He also served on the Board of Examiners for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Malcom Baldrige National Quality Award.
Representative Joseph Sanchez
State Representative, District 40, New Mexico
Joseph Sanchez is a New Mexico State Representative who represents district 40. He is currently the electric utility engineering manager for Los Alamos National Laboratory, and was formally the CEO of Jemez Mountains Electric. Joseph has a MS and BS in electrical engineering from the University of New Mexico and an MBA from New Mexico State University.
Charles Smith
State Representative, District 40, New Mexico
Charlie is the Director of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization (OSDBU). As OSDBU Director he is responsible for maximizing contracting opportunities for small businesses at DOE sites and National Laboratories and for promoting the use of small businesses to drive innovation, increase efficiency, and champion socio-economic diversity in meeting agency missions.
This marks Charlie’s second tenure in the federal Senior Executive Service, having previously served as DOE OSDBU Director from 2017–2021. During his time at DOE he has also served as a member of the DOE’s Executive Resources Board, the Technology Transitions Board, and the National Laboratory Operations Board; as well as serving as representative on the federal Small Business Procurement Advisory Council.
Previously, Charlie was the Managing Partner of GovCon Advisors, a business consulting firm. His clients included the National Veteran Small Business Coalition where he served as a Strategic Advisor. Additionally, Charlie served on the Board of Directors for the non-profit Global Energy Transitions.
Earlier in his career, Charlie worked as an Executive Director at the investment bank at JP Morgan Chase and held senior roles in state and federal government, including serving as the U.S. Secretary of Education’s Deputy Regional Representative for Region II, New Jersey’s Deputy Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs for the New Jersey Office of the Governor.
A proud veteran, Charlie served in the Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer. He earned his B.A. in Political Science from Princeton University.
Alan Webber
Mayor, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Alan Webber is Santa Fe’s 43rd mayor, and the City’s first full-time executive. He is currently in the third year of his second term, having been reelected in 2021with 55% of the vote.
As Mayor he has made affordable and workforce housing his highest priority. Last November, City voters overwhelmingly approved a 3% excise tax on the sale of homes over $1 million, with the funds dedicated to the City’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund. The housing agenda also includes participating in Community Solutions’ “Built for Zero” initiative, designed to bring chronic homelessness in Santa Fe to functional zero. Other elements of the Mayor’s agenda include a wide-spread commitment to sustainability. In the last 6 years, through a variety of investments in electric vehicles, LED streetlights, solar panels on City buildings, and flexible work arrangements, the City has reduced its overall municipal emissions by 39%.
Finally, the Mayor has championed a set of initiatives to address the needs of children, youth and families, including participating in the Mayors for a Guaranteed Income project, providing a $400 per month stipend to qualifying families where a parent is enrolled in a certificate or degree program at the Santa Fe Community College. The City is partnering with the Santa Fe Public Schools on a paid intern program that pays Santa Fe youth to try out a job with a local employer, gaining important job experience, skills, and income.
Prior to his election as Mayor, Webber had a career in journalism, publishing and government outside of New Mexico. He was special assistant to the Secretary of Transportation in the Carter administration; editorial director of the Harvard Business Review; and co-founder and co-editor of Fast Company magazine.
He is the author or co-author of several books, including Changing Alliances—The US Auto Industry in Global Competition; Rules of Thumb—How to Stay Productive and Inspired Even in the Most Turbulent Times; and Life Reimagined. He was named a fellow of the US-Japan Society of New York and the German Marshall Fund.
He and Frances Diemoz have been married for 45 years and have two children, Adam and Amanda.
Carolyn Zerkle
Principal Deputy Director
Carolyn Zerkle is the principal deputy director of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and vice president of Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS), LLC. Zerkle participates in the day-to-day management of the Laboratory and works closely with the Livermore Field Office (LFO), the LLNS Board of Governors, the Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA), other national laboratories, industry and the local community.
Zerkle oversees key institutional priorities, including safe and successful operations and vital infrastructure to support program deliverables; recruitment and retention of a quality operations workforce; and efficient business and operational approaches.
Previously, Zerkle was senior director for Project Execution in the Plutonium Infrastructure Directorate in Los Alamos National Laboratory’s (LANL) Weapons Program, overseeing an $8 billion portfolio of nuclear construction and equipment installation in support of LANL’s pit manufacturing mission.
Zerkle earned an undergraduate degree in architecture and civil engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and graduate degrees in architecture and business, focusing on nuclear construction project management, from the University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign.