Albuquerque-Santa Fe Metropolitan Area
I build and lead healthcare organizations that deliver real results for the communities they serve. Over the past 25+ years, I've founded organizations, turned around programs, and led teams of up to 200 across behavioral health, public and community health, and Tribal health systems. My work sits at the intersection of operational rigor and cultural responsiveness — I know how to build something sustainable while keeping it grounded in the people it's meant to help. A few things I'm known for: • Building from the ground up. I co-founded TribeAID, Inc. and serve as Interim CEO, defining the mission, governance, and revenue model from scratch — including Medicaid third-party billing, IHS 638 contracting, and 501(c)(3) readiness. • Securing funding. I've written and won more than $7M in grants, including a $5M Title V award, a $1.5M Department of Education grant, and federal CDC and IHS awards. • Achieving accreditation. I've led organizations to multi-year CARF accreditation and built Joint Commission–ready policies, procedures, and compliance systems. • Leading people. From a 40-person health & human services division at the Pueblo of Acoma to ~200 faculty and staff in higher education, I lead with clarity, develop talent, and build cultures people want to be part of. My background is unusual in the best way: a Ph.D. researcher's discipline with the practical instincts of someone who has run budgets, negotiated government contracts, and sat across the table from Tribal leaders, funders, and state and federal agencies. I'm currently based in New Mexico but am wanting to return to my roots by relocating to the Denver area. I'm open to executive and senior leadership roles in healthcare, behavioral health, public health, and mission-driven nonprofits. Let's connect — I'm always glad to talk about building healthier systems and stronger communities.
Co-founded a Tribal health nonprofit organization and lead all strategy, operations, and growth. *Defined the mission, strategic vision, and operational framework to advance Tribal health system development and long-term sustainability. *Lead program implementation across Behavioral Health, Community Health Representative (CHR) programs, Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT), and Medicaid third-party billing. *Built sustainable revenue streams through Medicaid reimbursement models and government/Tribal contracts. *Established governance structures, compliance systems, and policy infrastructure for 501(c)(3) and IHS 638 readiness. *Recruit and lead multidisciplinary teams and negotiate partnerships with Tribal governments and federal/state agencies to deliver culturally responsive, sovereignty-aligned solutions. Skills: Executive Leadership · Healthcare Management · Medicaid · Nonprofit Governance · Strategic Planning
Directed a six-department health and human services division serving the community. *Led all operations across Behavioral Health, Social Services, Community Health & Wellness, Senior Center, and Food Distribution — managing a team of 40 staff. *Owned strategic planning, budgeting, and grants management; negotiated IHS Title I contracts and secured competitive funding to strengthen the financial infrastructure. *Implemented performance management systems to improve organizational efficiency. *Built partnerships with government agencies and community organizations and served as primary spokesperson at public events, conferences, and media engagements. Skills: Operations Management · Public Health · Budget Management · Grant Administration · Government Relations
Directed a substance-use residential treatment center to accreditation and growth. *Led 5 program coordinators and 50+ support staff. *Authored program policies and procedures that earned a 3-year CARF accreditation — the highest available term. *Built and managed program budgets and applied data-driven decision-making, risk mitigation, and community partnerships to expand reach and impact. Skills: Behavioral Health · CARF Accreditation · Substance Use Treatment · Program Development · Compliance
Progressive academic leadership roles over nearly three decades. As Interim Chief Academic Officer, oversaw all academic and vocational programs, supervised ~200 faculty and staff, and managed all academic budgets. Co-authored a $5M Title V grant; established a bachelor-completion program and Early Childhood Education programs delivered on the Acoma and Laguna Pueblos. Served as primary liaison to Native American communities and as tenured professor teaching psychology, linguistics, education, and sociology. Skills: Academic Leadership · Grant Writing · Higher Education · Curriculum Development
Advised healthcare organizations on building integrated behavioral health programs. Conducted gap analyses for CARF accreditation readiness. Designed and delivered staff training across clinical and operational topics; led EHR forms development and strategic planning engagements. Skills: Consulting · Accreditation Readiness · Training & Development · Strategic Planning