Joshua Baca
SBA Business Opportunity Specialist
Small Business Administration, New Mexico District Office
Joshua Baca is a Lead 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. Prior to being hired at the SBA, Mr. Baca worked as a Veteran Business Development Specialist for the New Mexico Department of Veteran Service’s Veteran Business Outreach Center (VBOC). Mr. Baca was enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve and served in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Mr. Baca earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of New Mexico, Anderson School of Management and his Master of Business Administration from Champlain College.
Julianna Barbee
Director
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.
Dr. Kelly Beierschmitt
Deputy Laboratory Director
Triad National Security (Los Alamos National Laboratory)
Dr. Kelly Beierschmitt serves as the Deputy Laboratory Director for Operations at Los Alamos National Laboratory. 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 approximately $2.7 billion, roughly 12,000 employees, and a nearly 40-square-mile site featuring some of the most specialized scientific equipment and supporting infrastructure in the world.
Kelly has worked more than 30 years in the service of critical DOE missions. Most recently, he was the Deputy Laboratory Director for Science and Technology and Chief Research Officer for Idaho National Laboratory (INL) where he had responsibility for setting the scientific and engineering agenda and overseeing the research, development, demonstration and deployment of the critical missions for the laboratory.
Prior to joining INL, Kelly worked at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) for 13 years where he served as Associate Laboratory Director for both the Neutron Sciences and the Nuclear Science and Technology Directorates. He also served as ORNL’s Director of Environment, Safety, Health and Quality. Kelly moved to Oak Ridge from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory where he held several roles both in the sciences and support functions.
Kelly began his career at the Pantex Plant, where he served as a nuclear explosives engineer, developed some of the earliest Safety Analysis Reports, retooled high explosives operations and developed one of the earliest Master Safeguards and Security Agreements. Kelly’s entire career has emphasized the synergistic integration of science, technology and engineering with operational excellence to ensure effective mission delivery in a wide array of research and development environments – ranging from forefront experimental research in physical sciences to developmental engineering requiring hazardous nuclear operations.
Kelly has a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering (Risk, Reliability Engineering) from Texas Tech University and a BSc in Engineering Mathematics from West Texas A&M University. He is a registered Professional Engineer, Certified Safety Professional in Comprehensive Practice, and a member of the American Nuclear Society, Materials Research Society, and other professional societies.
Randy Crawford
Small Business Program Manager
Consolidated Nuclear Security (CNS), LLC / Pantex
Randy Crawford is the Small Business Program Manager for Consolidated Nuclear Security at the Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas. He joined CNS Pantex in 2018 as an Infrastructure Project Manager.
Prior to his current position with CNS, Randy held positions in Facilities Management in the banking industry and was a small business practitioner in the Commercial Real Estate business in Texas.
Rexann Dunn
Small Business Program Manager
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
In her position managing small business partnerships at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Rexann Dunn oversees many of the lab’s outreach activities with the small business community, both locally and across the nation. In this capacity, she attends trade fairs, conferences, and other events to educate and assist small and minority-owned business owners and managers, and facilitates their efforts to explore business opportunities with NREL.
In addition to her work with the small business community, Rexann manages NREL’s Mentor-Protégé program, in which she works with small businesses to enhance their performance capabilities so they could successfully subcontract with NREL, the Department of Energy (DOE), and other federal agencies. In 2015, Rexann was selected by DOE as it’s Facility Management Contractor Small Business Program Manager of the year.
On behalf of NREL, Rexann works with:
- The Opportunity Council – Board of Directors member
- The Mountain Plains Minority Supplier Development Council
- Presidents and directors of local small business councils
- Local Chambers of Commerce
- Small business and diversity program managers of large businesses and other federal laboratories and agencies
- Minority and small business community leaders
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. Ms. Francis has nearly 30 years of experience in building relationships with key stakeholders and partners. She leads small business outreach for the lab and regularly participates in events to promote its mission and share opportunities for small business to engage the lab. Ms. Francis’ depth of experience in marketing local small business and communicating with a variety of internal and external audiences has fostered a successful Small Business Program at INL. Ms. Francis received the Department of Energy Secretarial Award for Facility Management Contractor Small Business Program Manager of the Year for fiscal year 2015. INL received of the Laboratory Director’s Award for fiscal year 2017.
Ms. Francis has a BS in Journalism, Mass Communications from Kansas State University.
Deborah Frincke
Associate Laboratories Director for National Security Programs
Sandia National Laboratories
As the National Security Programs Associate Labs Director for Sandia National Laboratories, Deborah Frincke manages Strategic Partnership projects for the U.S. Department of Defense and other federal departments and agencies, Strategic Intelligence Partnership Projects for the U.S. Intelligence Community, and programs for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Intelligence and Counterintelligence.
Deborah served at the National Security Agency from 2011 to 2020 in three capacities, most recently Director of Research, NSA Science Advisor, and Member of the Board of Directors. Deborah also served as Associate Laboratory Director at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) for National Security Science (2020-2021), chief scientist of cybersecurity research at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory from 2004 to 2011, cofounder of TriGeo Network Security, and was a full professor at the University of Idaho.
Deborah currently serves on the U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) Strategic Advisor Group and was appointed by President Biden as a member of the National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee.
Her awards include the NSA’s Distinguished Civilian Service Medal, the NSA Research Leadership Excellence in Intelligence Award, and both the Meritorious and Distinguished U.S. Presidential Rank Award, as well as numerous others for teaching and outreach. Deborah is an Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Fellow, holds a PhD in Computer Science/Security from the University of California, Davis and has published more than 200 articles and technical reports.
George Garcia
Small Business Manager
Salado Isolation Mining Contractors (SIMCO)
Mr. Garcia is a native New Mexican. Born and raised in Carlsbad then attended New Mexico State University and obtained his undergraduate work in Finance and Marketing and his graduate work in Business.
Mr. Garcia obtained his first professional post with Department of Labor as a compliance analyst and was stationed in Dallas, TX. Upon realization that he was not best situated for that position he moved to Los Angeles, California and worked as a finance analyst for a large corporate acquisitions team in Century City.
Real estate has always been his passion so he decided to try his luck at commercial and residential real estate sales and flourished. He started Garcia Group RE Enterprises and sold LA real estate for over 27 years.
He then decided to move back to NM during the COVID crisis to be closer to his family and is now employed as the small business manager for SIMCO.
He attributes his years of sales experience with helping him to look at this position as a sales team leader and educating and supplying SIMCO’s procurement team with the best choices for purchases.
John M. Garcia
District Director
U.S. Small Business Administration, New Mexico District Office
John M. Garcia is the District Director of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) New Mexico District Office. Garcia is responsible for the statewide delivery of SBA programs and services to the 33 counties in the state. He supports business owners in starting and growing their businesses, creating jobs and developing local economies throughout New Mexico.
Garcia is both an experienced small business owner and public servant and has earned high acclaim for his achievements as a veteran advocate and small business champion at the city, state, and national levels. As past president and owner of Garcia and Associates, a service-disabled veteran owned consulting company, he advised both public and private sector senior leaders in strategic planning, tactical marketing, and business development with a special emphasis on veteran wellness and entrepreneurial development. As the White House appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Garcia oversaw the agency’s Intergovernmental, Tribal Government, International and Consumer Affairs programs. In this role, he worked with mayors, governors, tribal leaders, and international governments to the benefit of our country’s veterans, including the VA National Veteran Business Outreach efforts. He has served as a strong advocate for veteran small business owners through appointments to the National SBA Veteran Business Advisory Board, the U.S. Association of Veterans in Business, and the White House Task Force on Veteran Business Development.
In addition to being a national champion for small business and veterans, Garcia has been integral to veteran’s advocacy and economic development in his home state of New Mexico. Garcia served honorably in the U.S. Army in Vietnam with the 4th Infantry Division and upon returning home, he began what is now a rich legacy of service to veterans and their families.
His advocacy on behalf of veterans and their families includes an appointment as the first Cabinet Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Veterans Services under then Governor Bill Richardson. He established the New Mexico Veterans Business Outreach Center under his tenure. He also served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Cabinet Secretary for Economic Development under Governor Bruce King’s administration, where he oversaw international trade and economic development throughout the state.
Garcia has been recognized for his outstanding contributions to veterans, small businesses, and economic development through numerous recognitions. Most recent awards include the Profile of Courage Award from the Vietnam Veterans of New Mexico, the New Mexico Veteran Small Business Advocate of the Year from the SBA and the Iron Mike Award from the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs for his leadership as president.
Throughout his career, Garcia has demonstrated cultural sensitivity, planning and project management skills and a strong tactical understanding of the needs and concerns of small business owners, veterans, their families, and members of the military. Garcia brings his solid background and a wealth of experience in service to the small business owners and veterans of our state.
Senator Leo Jaramillo
New Mexico Senate, District 5
Elected in November 2020, State Senator Leo Jaramillo represents New Mexico Senate District 5, which includes Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Sandoval and Santa Fe Counties. Senator Jaramillo currently serves as the Vice Chairman of the Rules Committee and serves as a member of the Corporations and Transportation Committee in the New Mexico Senate.
Senator Jaramillo is a native son of the Española Valley and a proud alumnus of Española Valley High School. A sense of dedication to public service was instilled in him at a young age by his family. His passion for advocating for his community led him to an elected position on the Rio Arriba County Commission where he served as chairman of the board prior to being elected to the New Mexico State Senate. Senator Jaramillo champions Northern New Mexico’s children, seniors, farmers, ranchers, and individuals suffering from drug and alcohol addiction on and off the senate floor.
A few of Senator Jaramillo’s legislative priorities which made it to the Governor’s desk in 2023 included providing free nutritious breakfast and lunch for students K-12; providing free menstrual hygiene products in elementary, middle and high school restrooms, increasing the law enforcement fund distribution by $100M for the recruitment and retention of police officers across the state, and election administration changes which modernizes election security and administration in New Mexico by making updates to the Election Code.
Recently, Senator Jaramillo was appointed as the Vice Chairman of Media and Culture by the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL). The NHCSL serves and represents the interests of Hispanic legislators from all states, commonwealths, and territories of the United States. In 2023, Senator Jaramillo was named as one of the top 55 first term legislators from across the United States. He participated in the State Legislative Leaders Foundation at the University of Virginia with other top legislators who have demonstrated the skills and aptitude to attain positions of greater political responsibility.
Senator Jaramillo earned his bachelor’s degree in mass communication and journalism from the University of New Mexico and went on to earn his master’s degree in Curriculum Design and Instructional Leadership from The College of Santa Fe. Senator Jaramillo is currently the Staff Operations Manager for the Associate Laboratory Director of Facilities and Operations at Los Alamos National Laboratory.
Kenneth Johnson
Small Business Program Manager
U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Environmental Management
Ken Johnson is the Small Business Program Manager for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Environmental Management (DOE-EM). DOE-EM is the world’s largest environmental cleanup program, responsible for cleaning up the Cold War nuclear weapons production legacy at sites across the nation. As Small Business Program Manager, Ken engages with contractors and advises on policy and procurement matters to sustain and increase small businesses’ participation in DOE-EM’s vital mission. Ken earned his bachelor’s degree from Berea College and his law degree from the University of Kentucky College of Law. He was previously a Contracting Officer for the Department of Energy and maintains an active contracting warrant. Ken’s prior federal service includes roles at the Department of Defense, Department of State, and U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky.
Richard Kaselow
Program Manager
Infrastructure Program and Planning Office
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Richard Kaselow is the Team Leader for Project Initiation within the Infrastructure Program and Planning Office led by Deb Lewis. Project development starts here! Richard is a licensed architect in New Mexico and Texas. Within his 45 years of professional experience, he has performed as an architect, general contractor, planner, and owner. Richard is proud to call New Mexico home for the past 33 years.
LANL’s missions are consequential, challenging, and exciting. In a time of great global uncertainty, now more than ever is a great time to be at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Richard is honored to be a contributor to LANL’s ambitious missions and leading a team that will develop projects for facilities, roads and utilities for the next 8-12 years.
Michael Kilroy
Senior Planner
Infrastructure Program and Planning Office
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Michael grew up in Northern New Mexico, a small community at the base of the Nacimiento Mountains. Since a young age, he has had a passion to understand and explore the interaction between the natural and built environment which led to a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agriculture from New Mexico State University, followed by a Master of Landscape Architecture from the University of New Mexico.
Currently, entering his 12th year as a professional planner in Northern NM. Michael has been part of the LANL Campus Master Planning team for the past 5 years and focuses on stakeholder engagement and siting of future mission critical facilities for Los Alamos National Laboratory who is experiencing unprecedented growth to support national security programs. He is passionate about identifying and applying creative planning solutions needed to support future infrastructure.
Ron Lovato
CEO, TSAY Corporation & Pueblo Alliance, LLC
Ron is a lifelong resident and member of Ohkay Owingeh a Pueblo Tribe located in Northern New Mexico.
Since 2003 Ron has been the CEO of Tsay Corporation a Tribally owned company wholly owned by Ohkay Owingeh. Under Ron’s leadership Tsay restructured its debt and embarked upon a mission to diversify their business holdings. The result was the birth of Tsay Construction & Services, LLC. (“TC&S”), a construction and maintenance company focused on providing services to Los Alamos National Laboratory. Today TC&S is but one of a family of companies called Tsay Federal Contracting Group (“TFCG”). A group of Tribally owned companies and joint ventures providing an array of services in the federal contracting industry.
With a renewed emphasis back to Los Alamos National Laboratory, Tsay has re-defined their relationship with a long-standing partner San Ildefonso Services and created the Pueblo Alliance, LLC. A Joint venture company between two sister Pueblo companies and in collaboration with TRIAD National Security, Pueblo Alliance is poised to expand and bring economic development to Northern New Mexico on a scale that has never been achieved in 75 years of LANL. More significantly it is the goal of Pueblo Alliance to facilitate opportunities for other Northern New Mexico companies, including other Pueblo companies.
Ron is married to his wife of 30 years, Diana Lovato and has 4 sons.
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 6 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 10 years is a local elementary school teacher, and they enjoy spending time with their two sons; Theo (6) and Frankie (5). 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. Chelsea acted as an unlimited warrant Contracting Officer for over a decade awarding, 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 a position as the NNSA Small Business Program Manager in July 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.
Kelly Neel
Senior Procurement Specialist
Salado Isolation Mining Contractors (SIMCO)
Grew up in New Mexico, veteran of the US Navy (1988-1994). Graduated from NMSU with a degree in Accounting. Specialized in Marketing, economics and Six Sigma for Energy companies for many years. Served as a Buyer for mining operations in New Mexico at both Intrepid and Mosaic. Extensive experience in Service & commodity procurement and currently serve as Senior Procurement Specialist for SIMCO. Volunteer with local charities and high school football / baseball. Lived in California, Florida, Texas, Nevada and New Mexico.
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.
Alan Webber
Mayor, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Alan Webber is Santa Fe’s 43rd Mayor and the City’s first full-time executive. He was elected in March 2018 and again in January 2022.
As Mayor, he is focused on making Santa Fe the most user-friendly, eco-friendly, and family-friendly city in the country.
Alan has been married to Frances Diemoz for over forty years. They have two children, Adam and Amanda.
Before running for Mayor, Alan built a career in business and journalism, most notably as the Editorial Director of the Harvard Business Review and Co-Founder and Co-Editor-in-Chief of Fast Company Magazine.