HPS Council Highlights for Hispanic Heritage Month 2023
National Hispanic Heritage Month is annually celebrated from September 15 to October 15 in the United States! We observe National Hispanic Heritage Month by celebrating the histories, cultures, and positive contributions of people from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America. Join HPS as we celebrate and honor Hispanic Heritage and local Hispanic leaders and HPS members throughout Hispanic Heritage Month!
Why is Hispanic Heritage Month so important?
Latinas and Latinos have always held significant roles throughout our country’s history, dating all the way back to the American Revolution. Hispanic Heritage Month is important because it provides an opportunity to celebrate the integral part the Hispanic/Latino community has had in growing and strengthening our democracy.
Representation matters. Latinos and Latinas continue to shape our nation as business owners, activists, artists, public servants, and more. From serving in the U.S. military to being champions in the fight for civil rights, Latinas and Latinos remain strong leaders and changemakers.
Meet HPS Council Member, Alma Gonzales-Edwards!
Born and raised in Albuquerque, NM, Alma Flor Gonzalez-Edwards, MBA, is a Center Business Administrator for Sandia National Laboratories managing various financial portfolios in excess of 200M. Alma has been with Sandia Labs collectively for 13+ years. She spent 4 years in industry working for Lovelace Rehab Hospital as a Project Coordinator, which enabled her to work with patients in the Albuquerque community and worked directly under the Director of Risk Management, helping manage grievances and working with two psychologists on staff.
Alma has participated in various community programs through Sandia’s Community Outreach Program. She mentored a high school Latina through the Hermanitas Program, served as a middle school mentor in impoverished communities, volunteered at Cuidando Los Ninos, and participated in fundraising activities for numerous events.
Alma received her Master of Business Administration from Webster University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish with a minor in Psychology from the University of New Mexico. She enjoys traveling, experiencing differing cuisines, and spending time with her family, friends, and her husband Zhabiz.
Meet HPS Council Member, Ana Trujillo!
Ana is the Senior Vice President of Support Services at Nusenda Credit Union, the largest credit union in New Mexico. She has worked in the credit union industry for more than 25 years, most of which in several leadership roles. She has extensive experience in credit union operations, lending, member service, and administration. Ana leads multiple teams and is responsible for the credit union’s card and deposit services, processing and records, quality assurance and special accounts. Prior to her current position, she served as Nusenda’s vice president of support administration.
Ana brings a rich perspective that benefits the organization and the more than 225,000 New Mexicans it serves. She helps connect strategy to people and process, developing effective teams and systems that drive outstanding member experiences. Ana has led a number of complex, high-impact initiatives for the organization. She is recognized for her collaborative, cross functional work in project management, product development, process improvement and other areas.
A dynamic leader, she is a respected mentor and advocate for learning and career development. Ana leverages her more than twenty years of leading teams to coach and train staff to meet their fullest potential.
Starting her career as a teller at Sandia Area Federal Credit Union, Ana moved quickly up the ranks to become a branch manager there before joining New Mexico Educators Federal Credit Union (now Nusenda). She is a summa cum laude graduate of National American University.
Ana is passionate about New Mexico and helping its communities thrive. She is involved in numerous civic organizations including Joy Junction Homeless Shelter, Westside Winter Homeless Shelter, the Special Olympics, Road Runner Food Bank and the Veterans Memorial.
She lives in Rio Rancho with her husband and two sons.
Meet HPS Council Member, Roberta Rivera!
Currently, Roberta is a Community Relations Specialist in the Community Involvement Organization at Sandia National Laboratories. In this role, Roberta leads the annual Sandia Gives United Way Campaign which raises over $4.5M per year from employee pledges, benefiting non-profits located across the United States. She also manages Sandia’s $1.4M Corporate Contributions Program, the annual Kids Day at the Lab, the annual Holiday Gift Drive supporting children in Bernalillo County foster care, as well as several other initiatives.
Prior to her current role, Roberta’s career spanned 24 years in all areas of Human Resources, including serving as a Human Resources Business Partner, Team Leader for Recruiting, and Team Leader for the Student Internship Programs. Collectively, she spent 11 years with the internship programs, an area she is most passionate about.
Roberta’s career at Sandia began as a student intern where she supported Human Resources, Corporate Training and Education, and Student Internships.
Roberta is passionate about diversity, serving as the Chair for Sandia’s Hispanic Outreach for Leadership and Awareness (HOLA) Employee Resource Group. Roberta has participated in the Hispanic Engineering National Achievement Awards Conference (HENAAC) for 23 consecutive years as a recruiter and eventually, as the coordinator of Sandia’s participation. Roberta serves on the United Way of Central New Mexico (UWCNM) Corporate Investment Council and as a Council Member for the UWCNM Hispano Philanthropic Society.
A native of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Roberta received a BBA in Human Resources Management/Organizational Behavior from The University of New Mexico, an MBA in Human Resources Management from The College of Santa Fe and an MA in Security Management from Webster University. Roberta and her husband James have two sons. Roberta is an avid crafter, a collector of handbags, and may or may not have a high dependency on Starbucks Pink Drink.
Meet HPS Council Member and former HPS Council Chair, Gabriel Castro!
Hear directly from Gabriel Castro, as he describes his personal and professional life:
Born and raised in Northern New Mexico the importance of “community” was inculcated in me by my family and community elders. It has shaped my aspirations and my drive to make an impact larger than myself.
I serve as a Director at Presbyterian Healthcare Services. I have worked in healthcare for 24 years and hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Radiology Management and a Master’s degree in Business Administration. I’m a 2022 Building Better Boards with People of Color Graduate, 2021 Leadership Albuquerque Graduate, and an Albuquerque Business First 2018, 40 under Forty honoree.
I recognize the importance of community involvement and the potential I have to engage in our community to nurture the positive change I wish to see. Currently I serve with local nonprofits: United Way of North Central New Mexico: Board of Directors, Co-Chair Community Investment Council, Past Chair Hispano Philanthropic Society Council, Council member for DEI Advisory Council for Presbyterian Healthcare Services, President of the board for Casa Esperanza, Chair of the board for Paws & Stripes, Board Member 516 ARTS.
Through these experiences, I have been able to perceive first-hand the impact each of us has on those around us and understand that I have a responsibility to the community in which I live.
Meet our HPS Council Chair, Beverlie Frazier!
Beverlie is the Business Development Director at KRQE Media Group, the largest media company in New Mexico. She has over twenty-five years of experience in marketing, advertising, and business development. She has worked as VP of Marketing at two advertising agencies, National Sales Manager at Comcast, and now, Business Development Director for Nexstar, a major broadcast corporation.
Beverlie has a collaborative spirit, positive attitude, values relationships, and believes in helping others prosper. She is passionate about her work in the community and currently serves as the Chair of the Hispano Philanthropic Society with over eight years on the council. In addition, she serves on the National Hispanic Cultural Center Foundation Board of Trustees.
Beverlie received a BA in Communications at the University of New Mexico and an MA in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix.
She is a proud wife of retired Deputy Chief of Albuquerque Fire & Rescue, mom to twin daughters who attend college at UNM and PLNU, and mom to three fur babies. She enjoys spending time with friends and family, skiing, and traveling.
