Committees

The NMHBA has five main committees:  Membership & Member Services, Education & Mentorship, Advocacy, Fundraising & Banquets, and Budget, Policies & Compliance.  A brief description of the work each committee does, as well as the Chair of each committee are listed below.  All members are encouraged to join a committee to achieve the full benefit of their membership in the NMHBA and to help accomplish the organization's mission.  To join a committee, simply email or call the listed Chair or Chairs.

Membership & Member Services: This committee plans and holds our popular Meet & Greets throughout the State, as well as coordinates all member retention and recruitment efforts.  This committee also houses our CLE Sub-Committee (lead by Daniel Sanchez) and our Legal Professionals Subdivision (led by Nicole Larranaga).  The Chair of the Membership & Member Services Committee is Stefan Chacon.

Education & Mentorship: This committee works on high school, undergraduate and graduate education and mentoring through the Atrisco Heritage Academy in Albuquerque’s South Valley, our law student mentorship program with MALSA (lead by Jorge Alvarado), our ever-popular Law Camp for middle-school aged children from across the State (lead by Carlos Pacheco), and our law school scholarship work (lead by Denise Chanez).  The Chair of the Education & Mentorship Committee is Jorge Alvarado.

Advocacy: This committee advocates on behalf of the NMHBA in our community, including through judicial endorsements, resolutions, law clinics and other involvement in community initiatives.  This committee also houses our new Hispanic Leadership Council (chaired by Rebecca Avitia).  The Co-Chairs of the Advocacy & Community Justice Committee are Elaine Lujan and Jessica Terrazas.

Fundraising:  This committee executes our annual holiday fundraiser and our bi-annual Fall awards banquet, as well as all other fundraising initiatives.  The Chair of the Fundraising Committee is Yolanda Gallegos.

Budget, Policies & Compliance: This committee prepares our annual budget, reviews and modifies policies for the NMHBA as necessary, and works to ensure the NMHBA’s compliance with all existing laws. The Chair is Damian Lara.