OFE Advisory Board
Aja Nicole Brooks is a native New Mexican, born in Hobbs. She serves as the President of the State Bar of New Mexico and as a past President of the New Mexico Black Lawyers Association and State Bar of New Mexico Foundation. Aja graduated from Wake Forest University with her Bachelor of Arts in 2005 and received her jurisdoctorate in 2008 from the University of New Mexico School of Law. She is a proud member of the Iota Xi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Aja enjoys exploring and traveling near and far with her husband, John, and her son, Emerson.
Karla Kern Causey was born, raised, and educated in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Upon graduation from the University of New Mexico, she was recruited by the FBI and Sandia National Laboratories to work on its mission of the security and protection of the United States of America. As President and Chief Executive Officer of the Black Chamber of Commerce of New Mexico, she has expanded the resources offered to under engaged, underserved, and under-resourced businesses throughout the State of New Mexico. Karla is co-instructor for an Entrepreneurship course for the University of New Mexico’s Student Success Department; serves as treasurer on the Central NM Workforce Connection Board of Directors; and is member of the City of Albuquerque’s ASCEND ABQ Tiger Team amongst many other initiatives. She three successful adult sons and loves to travel and support mission trips, particularly in Africa.
A native New Mexican, Claire Dudley Chavez serves as the Director of Policy in the office of Speaker Javier Martinez. In this position, she leads all of the Speaker’s policy initiatives which are centered on leading with conviction, centered in community and standing up for working families. For over twenty years, Claire has had the privilege of working for elected officials at the state and local level and with a number of non-profit organizations, with a focus on recognizing, celebrating and supporting the strengths of New Mexico's children and families. Active in her community, Claire has volunteered on many non-profit boards. Claire was recognized as a Forty Under Forty by Albuquerque Business First and nominated for a YWCA of Central New
Mexico Woman on the Move award. She received her Bachelors of Arts degree in American Studies from Franklin and Marshall College and received a Masters of Public Affairs from the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, where her research focused on child and family policy.
Del Esparza is the Chief Executive Officer of Esparza Digital + Advertising. A native of Albuquerque, Del acquired his marketing expertise in a range of fields, from high tech to healthcare. He began his career at IBM, and later advanced to a marketing position with DuPont and Conoco Oil Corporation in Houston, Texas. Transferring his talents to the health arena, Del has worked for many regional and national health care providers before starting Esparza Advertising, a New Mexico based business that provides strategic marketing, advertising, and business solutions to a broad range of national public and private clients. Since its founding, Esparza has grown to one of the largest Advertising Agency in the State of NM, supporting countless companies in New Mexico to grow their respective businesses and has been recognized nationally and internationally for industry best work. Del also serve as chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City’s Denver Branch, serving as Colorado, northern New Mexico and Wyoming's connection to the nation's central bank through relationships with local staff who have insight into regional needs, economies and challenges.
Malisa Garcia serves as Marketing Director for PHP Agency, whose mission is to provide financial education to the underserved communities in American and help protect their families’ legacies through life insurance products. She is a member of Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce and Chair of its Women in Business Committee. Through these initiatives, Malisa promotes economic development, enhances economic opportunities, and provides business and workforce education with an emphasis on the Hispanic and Small Business Community in Albuquerque and New Mexico.
Dr. Ann Lyn Hall serves as the CEO for Prosperity Works and is responsible for the strategic leadership of their programs and initiatives. She supports statewide advocacynetwork to build capacity in organizations and advocates for policies that generate economic prosperity. Hall developed a holistic, student support model at a local community college to support first generation students and student parents to achieve their academic and career goals. Ann Lyn is a national leader in financial coaching, asset building, and helping adults improve access for educational, employment, and financial outcomes. She has educated professionals regarding financial coaching, using data for program improvement, the impact of poverty on education, college student resiliency factors, and asset development.
Sara Keller is the Senior Vice President of Community Engagement at Nusenda Credit Union and the Executive Director of the Nusenda Foundation, where she oversees community development needs for the underbanked and underserved, philanthropic investment strategies, financial capabilities education, employee volunteerism efforts, and business development at Nusenda Credit Union. Sara focuses on developing strategic partnerships, supporting regional change, and creating systems to provide access to capital for marginalized communities. Deeply committed to her community, she serves on various boards and was recognized as one of Albuquerque Business First's 40 under 40 award recipients in 2021. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Bowling Green State University, is Credit Union Development Education certified, and is a Community Development Financial Institution Practitioner through the University of New Hampshire. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and exploring New Mexico and the Southwest with her husband and daughter.
Dr. Kim Lanoy-Sandoval is a proud New Mexican with over 20 years of experience in education. At Future Focused Education, she co-designs educational systems with local expertise to ensure a more equitable, relevant, and engaging learning experience for youth. Dr. Lanoy-Sandoval serves on New Mexico’s Indian Education Advisory Board and the Professional Practices Standards Committee. She is a lifelong learner and enjoys collaborating with schools in every part of the state, partnering and co-teaching with hundreds of educators across New Mexico. Kim is passionate about creating educational landscapes that value and affirm students’ identities, experiences, and learning well beyond standardized scores. She earned her master’s in special education from the University of New Mexico and a doctorate’s degree in educational leadership from Gonzaga University. Kim is a mom, educator, and a member of the Navajo Nation.
Simon Lopez is the New Mexico Asset Funders Network (AFN) Program Officer. In that role, he engages statewide and regional area funders, financial institutions, and community stakeholders to facilitate learning and develop responsive policies and programming that advance equitable wealth building and economic mobility for all communities. Simon is also the Founder and current Principal of Blue Yucca Advisors, a consulting firm that supports statewide NM worker equity coalitions, strategic planning for equity-centered organizations and collaboratives in NM and provides technical assistance to a range of financial security initiatives. He has over 30 years of experience designing local and national economic mobility programs and policies through leadership positions with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation New Mexico team, Workforce and Leadership Development at the National Council of La Raza (now UnidosUS), Goodwill of Southern California, and Youth Development, Inc. Simon holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of New Mexico. He lives in Albuquerque, NM with his 17-year-old son, Maximiliano.
Rodney Prunty is a passionate, dedicated community servant with 36 years of experience in the nonprofit sector. He holds a Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership and a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services. Rodney’s nonprofit experience includes 16 years with United Way, where he has held roles as resource development manager, vice president of United Way of Rock River Valley (Rockford, IL), and President & Chief Professional Officer of United Way of Racine County Wisconsin. He currently serves as President & CEO of United Way of Central New Mexico (UWCNM). Rodney is unwavering in his in his focus to create long-term, positive community change at scale.
Dr. Nireata Seals has led a distinguished career as a transformational leader serving students for over 28 years. She currently serves as the Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Success at Central New Mexico Community College. Previous to that position, Dr. Seals served as Vice President of Student Affairs and Associate Provost at LaGuardia Community College, for The City University of New York. She is an advocate for education and serves on the Comprehensive Youth Development Board, offering youth a second chance obtaining their high school education. Dr. Seals earned her Doctor of Education in Executive Leadership from St. John Fisher College in Rochester, NY; her Master’s degree in Student Personnel Administration from New York University; and her Bachelor’s in Behavioral Science/Social Work from Concordia University in Irvine, Calif. She has served as an executive mentor to doctoral, masters, and bachelor’s degree students.
Darius Lee Smith’s clans are Hashk’ąą Hadzohi (Yucca Fruit Strung Out on a Line), and he is born to Nahiłii Dine’é (Black/African American). He is the Executive Director of the Native Professional Advancement Center, a New Mexico-based nonprofit committed to empowering Indigenous People to exercise self-determination and self-sufficiency for community well-being. Darius serves on the U.S. Department of Labor’s Native American Employment & Training Council (Region IV) and the Board of Directors of Vision Maker Media. He is also the Chair of the Native Leadership Collective of Albuquerque and holds a Master of Nonprofit Management (MNM) from Regis University in Denver, CO