Our Leadership

Katrina Hotrum-Lopez served as the director of behavioral health services at Bernalillo County from 2016 to 2019 and previously served as the director of the county’s substance abuse programs. From 2007 to 2010, Hotrum-Lopez was deputy Cabinet secretary of the state Department of Health, one of several roles she held there.  

Jeff M. Witte currently is President of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, a past president of the Western United States Agriculture Trade Association and on the board and past president of the Western Association of State Departments of Agriculture.

Alisha Tafoya Lucero has nearly two decades of experience in the New Mexico Corrections Department, beginning in 2001 as a classification officer and serving as Deputy Warden and Interim Warden of the Penitentiary of New Mexico and Interim Warden of Springer Correctional Facility.

Debra Garcia y Griego was previously the director of the city of Santa Fe Arts Commission, a position she held since 2012, during which time she led the city’s efforts to support arts and cultural affairs. She is also a member of the Executive Committee of Americans for the Arts, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education.

Alicia Keyes was previously the film liaison for the city of Albuquerque, a role in which she initiated and oversaw the $1 billion agreement with Netflix to establish a landmark studio. She established a workforce training program with both the University of New Mexico and Central New Mexico Community College and was responsible for all film permitting and recruiting.

Sarah Cottrell Propst previously served as the Executive Director of the Interwest Energy Alliance, a non-profit trade association that represents the nation’s leading companies in the renewable energy industry, from 2012 to 2018, bringing them together with non-governmental organizations in the West (Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming).

Debbie Romero is a dedicated public servant with nearly 40 years of experience in state government. In addition to having worked in budgeting and finance across a wide variety of fields relating to public government, Romero most recently served as the Director of the State Budget Division at DFA.

Ken Ortiz was previously the administrator of business services in the Secretary of State’s Office, where he served from 2011 through 2018. As administrator, he was directly responsible for the Business Services Division, which includes business-related filings for corporations, LLCs, partnerships and more.

Bianca Ortiz Wertheim has over twenty years of experience working in policy and government organizations. She previously served as chief of staff for U.S. Senator Tom Udall, only the second Latina in such a position in the U.S. Senate.

Lynn A. Trujillo brings two decades of experience working in partnership with native communities. She previously worked with Native American tribes and organizations throughout New Mexico as the Native American Coordinator for USDA Rural Development programs, bringing resources to communities across the state.

John Salazar brings more than 25 years of experience in the information technology and management field to the role of State CIO, having served as a longtime chief information officer with specialized experience leading information technology organizations, including the information technology divisions of several New Mexico state government agencies.

Amy Whitfield has served New Mexico in various nonprofit roles for nearly 20 years, working in anti-violence, substance abuse treatment, teen pregnancy and parenting, leadership mentoring, community organizing and non-profit program development. She previously served as the Special Projects Coordinator for the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department.

Ryan Stewart is an educator with diverse classroom and leadership experience in public education and education reform. He previously served as executive director of the Partners in School Innovation mid-Atlantic region and as executive director of the Office of School Improvement and Innovation at the School District of Philadelphia, the eighth-largest school district in the country.

Linda Trujillo began her career in state government fifteen years ago at the Regulation and Licensing Department. A trained attorney, Trujillo previously served in the New Mexico House of Representatives and worked in private practice.

Stephanie Schardin Clarke has over fifteen years of experience working in New Mexico state and local government administration. She served as Deputy Secretary for the Department of Finance and Administration, where she oversaw the agency’s internal administration and was a member of several State policymaking boards and councils.

Michael Sandoval has spent more than 20 years at the New Mexico Department of Transportation, most recently serving as executive manager of modal divisions, a role in which he oversaw 300 contracts and 12 ports of entry and major programs such as the Railrunner, commercial vehicle permitting and traffic safety.

Sonya L. Smith is a veteran and health care professional who served in the Gulf War. She previously served as the clinical compliance manager at the University of New Mexico Truman Health Services clinic and most recently worked at the New Mexico Department of Health as a special projects coordinator.