Employee Contact List

Internal Audit contact information

Employee Bios

Marisa C. Vargas, City Auditor

Marisa brings more than 21 years of internal auditing experience, specializing in assurance, risk management, governance, and performance improvement within the nonprofit, federal, and local government sectors. She began her auditing career at New Mexico Student Loans, conducting compliance and performance audits, before joining Sandia National Laboratories. During her decade at Sandia, she held progressively responsible roles as Contract Auditor, Internal Auditor, and Audit Supervisor, leading audit teams and overseeing a broad portfolio of assurance and advisory engagements.

Marisa has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to advancing the internal audit profession. She currently serves as President of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) Albuquerque Chapter, having previously served six years as Chapter President, as well as in several other Board leadership roles. She also serves on the Executive Committee of the Southwest Intergovernmental Audit Forum (SWIAF), an organization affiliated with the U.S. Government Accountability Office's National Intergovernmental Audit Forum, where she collaborates with government audit leaders across the Southwest to advance public-sector auditing and professional development. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance with a minor in Economics and a Master of Accounting from the University of New Mexico.

Marisa is an Internal Audit Practitioner (IAP), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), Certified Internal Controls Auditor (CICA), Certified Internal Controls Specialist (CICS), Certified Responsible Government Auditor (CRGA), Certified Quality Assessor, and Certified Peer Reviewer under Government Auditing Standards. She joined the City of Albuquerque in 2020 as a Contract Auditor and was subsequently promoted to Internal Audit Manager before being appointed City Auditor by the Albuquerque City Council in June 2025.

As City Auditor, Marisa provides independent oversight to promote accountability, transparency, and effective stewardship of public resources. She is committed to strengthening governance, improving City operations, and ensuring the Office of Internal Audit delivers high-quality, risk-based assurance services that build public trust.

Vanessa Meske, Lead Auditor

Vanessa possesses over ten years of specialized experience in auditing and investigations, combining her academic background with practical expertise. While pursuing her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and her master’s in business administration, Vanessa gained valuable experience working at a tribal casino, where she honed her skills in surveillance, risk management, and auditing over a four-year period.

Her career progressed as she joined MGM Resorts International as an Internal Auditor, where she conducted Title 31 compliance audits across 15 MGM properties, ensuring adherence to regulatory standards in a high-stakes environment.

Vanessa’s commitment to the auditing profession is reflected in her role as Vice President of Programs on the IIA Albuquerque Chapter Board and her attainment of the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) credential and Certified Internal Controls Auditor (CICA). She was initially hired as a Principal Auditor with the Office of Internal Audit, where her strong performance led to her promotion to Lead Auditor.

Connie Barros-Montoya, Principal Auditor 

Connie is a seasoned audit and financial professional with more than 30 years of experience spanning both the private and public sectors. She spent 24 years in the private sector, building expertise in financial services, lending, customer service, and collections. She later joined the State of New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department, where she served for six years as an auditor for the International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA), International Registration Plan (IRP), and Weight Distance Tax (WDT) programs.

In 2019, Connie joined the City of Albuquerque as a Staff Auditor and currently serves as a Principal Auditor in the Office of Internal Audit. In this role, she leads performance audits, advisory engagements, and internal control assessments that promote accountability, transparency, and effective stewardship of public resources.

Connie holds a Bachelor of Science in Business with a minor in Accounting from the University of Phoenix. She is committed to continuous professional development and has earned certifications in IT General Controls (May 2023), Internal Controls Auditing (September 2023), Internal Audit Practitioner (May 2024), and Responsible Government Auditing (September 2024).

Leslie Rendon, Executive Operations Coordinator

Leslie Rendon has served the City of Albuquerque for over 15 years in a variety of roles across multiple departments, including Cultural Services, the Albuquerque Police Department, Planning, and Municipal Development. She joined the Office of Internal Audit in 2020 as the Administrative Coordinator, was promoted to Staff Auditor, and in May 2025 was appointed Executive Operations Coordinator. In her current hybrid role, she provides strategic and operational support to the Office of Internal Audit, the Office of Inspector General, the Accountability in Government Oversight Committee, and the Citizens' Independent Salary Commission, while also conducting audit engagements that promote accountability, transparency, and effective governance.

Leslie earned an IT General Controls Certificate in 2023 and obtained her Certified Responsible Government Auditor (CRGA) designation in 2024. She brings extensive experience in executive operations, audit administration, governance support, procurement, budgeting, strategic coordination, and performance auditing, helping ensure the effective and efficient operation of the City's independent oversight functions. Leslie is committed to advancing accountability, transparency, and excellence in public service.

Stacy Martin, Staff Auditor

Stacy brings more than 25 years of diverse private-sector experience in finance, lending, loan servicing, fraud detection, collections, mortgage services, and customer service. She leverages her extensive financial and operational background to support risk-based audits, evaluate internal controls, and promote accountability, transparency, and operational effectiveness across City departments.

Stacy joined the City of Albuquerque's Office of Internal Audit as a Staff Auditor in October 2021.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Financial Management, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Accounting, and a dual Master of Management (MM) degree from National American University. In May 2023, she earned an IT General Controls (ITGC) Certificate, further strengthening her expertise in information technology controls and audit practices.

In addition to her professional responsibilities, Stacy has served as Treasurer of the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) Albuquerque Chapter since 2025, reflecting her commitment to the internal audit profession and ongoing professional development.

Kayla Martinez, Staff Auditor

Kayla brings a diverse background with experience in data management, compliance, and client support, including roles that involved coordinating processes, analyzing information, and supporting organizational operations. She has experience working with data and processes that require accuracy and attention to detail. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Community Health Education from the University of New Mexico and an MBA from Eastern New Mexico University. Her educational background and experience provide a strong foundation in her role. Kayla joined the City as an Intern in April 2025 and progressed to a Staff Auditor role in February 2026, where she contributes to the completion of audit work and supports the effort of the department.