Governor Susana Martinez Announces Appointments to Boards and Commissions

SANTA FE, N.M., April 19 -- Gov. Susana Martinez, R-N.M., issued the following news release:

Governor Susana Martinez announced today that she has made appointments to the Insurance Nominating Committee, Board of Pharmacy, State Game Commission, New Mexico Medical Board, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, New Mexico Arts Commission, Counseling and Therapy Practices Board, Family Infant Toddler - Interagency Coordinating Council, Board of Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum, Board of Funeral Services, New Mexico State Library Commission, Martin Luther King Jr. Commission, Board of Nursing Home Administrators, Board of Optometry, and State Parks Advisory Board.

Gabriel Parra of Albuquerque has been appointed to the Insurance Nominating Committee. Parra is currently an attorney at Presbyterian Healthcare Services in Albuquerque. Parra is responsible for providing legal services to Presbyterian Healthcare Services and its affiliates. Parra holds a J.D. from the University of New Mexico School of Law and a B.B.A. in Accounting from the University of New Mexico Anderson School of Management.

Zach Cook of Ruidoso has been appointed to the Insurance Nominating Committee. Cook is a practicing lawyer in Ruidoso and has served in the New Mexico House of Representatives since 2009, where he sits on the House Judiciary Committee, the House Rules Committee, and the House Agriculture and Water Resources Committee. Previously, he worked for a financial services company in Madrid, Spain. Cook graduated from the University of New Mexico with a degree in English and Spanish. He received an MBA from the Thunderbird Graduate School of International Management and a law degree from the University of New Mexico School of Law.

Norman Beckerof Los Ranchos has been appointed to the Insurance Nominating Committee. Becker is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer of New Mexico Mutual in Albuquerque. Becker is responsible for overseeing New Mexico's largest workers' compensation insurer by implementing strategic, operational and financial facets of the company. Becker holds a Master's Degree in Health Administration from the University of Colorado and a Bachelor's Degree in Finance from the University of Oregon.

Dr. Babette Saenz of Albuquerque has been appointed to the Insurance Nominating Committee. Dr. Saenz is currently the Academic Dean at Southwest Acupuncture College in Albuquerque. Dr. Saenz works with faculty and students to offer an accredited professional degree program leading to a Master of Science in Acupuncture or a Master of Science in Oriental Medicine. Dr. Saenz holds a Master of Science Degree in Oriental Medicine form Southwest Acupuncture College, a Master of Arts in Public Administration from the University of New Mexico and a Bachelor of Arts in Romance Languages from New Mexico State University.

Chris Woodul, RPh of Ruidoso has been appointed to the Board of Pharmacy. Dr. Woodul is currently a registered pharmacist and owner of Sierra Blanca Pharmacy in Ruidoso. Dr. Woodul has over 23 years of experience as a licensed pharmacist. Woodul holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of New Mexico School of Pharmacy.

Ralph Ramos of Las Cruces has been appointed to the State Game Commission. Ramos is currently the Principal at Camino Real Middle School in Las Cruces. Ramos is also the quality control manager at F&A Dairy Products Inc. He is an avid hunter and hunting guide, who has enjoyed hunting with archery equipment for over 25 years. Ramos holds a Master of Arts degree in Agriculture and Extension Education and a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture and Extension Education from New Mexico State University.

Ricky Wallace of Farmington has been appointed to the New Mexico Medical Board. Wallace is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer for the San Juan Regional Medical Center in Farmington. Wallace has over thirty years of leadership experience in for-profit and non-for-profit hospital operations and government agencies. Wallace holds an M.B.A. in Business from Webster University, an M.A. in Counseling from Ball State University, and a B.S. in Psychology from Middle Tennessee State University.

Jennifer Anderson of Albuquerque has been appointed to the New Mexico Medical Board. Anderson is currently an Attorney and Shareholder at Modrall, Sperling, Roehl, Harris & Sisk, P.A. in Albuquerque. Anderson works closely with corporate clients on commercial litigation, product liability, mass tort, employment, and insurance coverage matters. Anderson holds a J.D. from the University of Michigan School of Law and a B.S. in Political Science from Santa Clara University.

Patricia Sullivan Ph.D. of Las Cruces has been reappointed to the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. Dr. Sullivan is a career university management professional with over 29 years' experience working with colleges, research universities and non-profit entities and has made recognized contributions to the effectiveness of these organizations. Dr. Sullivan holds a Ph.D., Master of Arts and a Bachelor of Science from New Mexico State University.

Mark Moores of Albuquerque has been appointed to the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. Moores has been the executive director of New Mexico Dental Association for the past 7 years and serves in the New Mexico State Senate representing Senate District 21 in Bernalillo County. Senator Moores holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of New Mexico.

Cynthia Chavez Lamar of Santa Fe has been reappointed to the New Mexico Arts Commission. Dr. Lamar is currently the Indian Arts Research Center Director at the School for Advanced Research in Santa Fe. Dr. Lamar has worked in the arts and museum field for over 13 years. Lamar holds a Ph.D. in American Studies from the University of New Mexico, a Master of Arts in American Indian Studies from the University of California and a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Arts from Colorado College.

Roxroy Reid of Edgewood has been appointed to the Counseling and Therapy Practices Board. Reid is currently a Medical Social Worker at the University of New Mexico Hospitals and Clinics in Albuquerque. Reid provides, oversees and administers a wide range of psychosocial evaluations and assessments in a high-intensity clinical environment. Reid holds a Master of Social Work and a Bachelor of Social Work from Arizona State University.

Ida Tewa of San Juan Pueblo has been reappointed to the Family Infant Toddler - Interagency Coordinating Council. Tewa has worked for over 7 years as the 619 Preschool Coordinator and Education Administrator at the New Mexico Public Education Department Special Education Bureau. Tewa holds a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of New Mexico.

Sharon Niederman of Raton has been appointed to the Board of Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum. Niederman is an award-winning southwestern author, journalist and photographer. Niederman's work has appeared in virtually every regional and numerous national publications. Niederman specializes in cuisine, travel, history, culture, and women of the West. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from George Washington University and a Master's Degree from the University of Colorado.

Michelle Aurelius, M.D. of Albuquerque has been appointed to the Board of Funeral Services. Dr. Aurelius is the Assistant Chief Medical Investigator at the Office of the Medical Investigator, an Associate Professor of Pathology at the University of New Mexico Hospital and is also the Hospital Autopsy Director. Dr. Aurelius has been working in these three departments for the past 8 years. Dr. Aurelius holds an M.D. from Oregon Health Sciences University of School of Medicine and a B.S. in General Science from the University of Oregon.

Dean Smith of Albuquerque has been appointed to the New Mexico State Library Commission. Smith is the Director of the Albuquerque and Bernalillo County Library. Smith is in charge of 17-branch county/city library serving a population of over 660,000. Smith has been working in the Library business for over 25 years. Smith holds a Master's Degree in Library and Information Science from Indiana University and a Bachelor's Degree in Education in School Media Services from Ball State University.

Colonel Raphael Warren of Albuquerque has been appointed to the Martin Luther King Jr. Commission. Warren is currently the Director of Joint Programs for the New Mexico National Guard. He holds a Master of Science in Computer Information Systems from the University of Phoenix and a Bachelor of Science in Professional Aeronautics from Embry Riddle University.

David Stewart of Lovington has been appointed to the Board of Nursing Home Administrators. Stewart is currently an administrator at Good Samaritan Long Term Care Facility in Lovington, where he has worked for over 22 years. Stewart holds a B.A. from the Southwest Bible Institute.

Craig Clantanoff, O.D. of Rio Rancho has been appointed to the Board of Optometry. Clantanoff is currently the President of Rio Eyecare PC. Clantanoff has over 27 years of experience as a licensed optometrist. Clantanoff holds a Doctor of Optometry from The Ohio State University.

Terry Riley of Santa Fe has been appointed to the State Parks Advisory Board. Dr. Riley is now a retired consultant whose career focused on providing security and health programs for travelers and developing service programs for employees of travel and hospitality businesses. Dr. Riley holds a Ph.D. and a Master's Degree in Cognitive Psychology from Iowa State University and a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from California State University at Fullerton.

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