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Chapter Leadership |
Dec 2025 Update: Thank you to our 2025 Board Members for their faithful service this past year! We extend heartfelt gratitude to our outgoing board members, Laura Suazo, VP of Membership; James Kaminski, VP of Finance for their hard work and passion to grow our Talent Development community in New Mexico.
All other 2025 Board Members will be returning in 2026 with the addition of three new members, Damien Sánchez as our new VP of Professional Development, Seretha Crider as our new VP of Events, and Beth McLeod who is a former board member but now serving in the new role, VP of Media.
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Nicole Smith | President With over 13 years of experience in talent development, Nicole has worked in multiple industries such as banking, education, and nonprofit, but always in her little slice of professional paradise where she can champion employee learning & growth. In her current role as the Learning & Development (L&D) Director at the National Wildlife Federation, she oversees the L&D function and leads talent development initiatives for the organization. Nicole earned her Master’s of Education in Training & Development from Pennsylvania State University, is a Prosci Certified Practicioner, DiSC Certified Trainer, and ELI Certified Instructor of Civil Treatment. Born into a Marine Corps family that moved constantly while she was growing up, Nicole is actually from “everywhere but nowhere in particular.” Moving to Hawaiʻi after grad school, she called the islands home for 13 years before moving to New Mexico in April of 2022. Due to her experience, she is a big believer in supporting professionals on their career journey and has served on the ATD NM Board since 2023. She also served on the ATD Hawai’i Board in 2016-2017. When not working, you can find her trail running in the Sandia Mountains or hopping on a plane to Hawai’i to sneak in some SUP surfing! |
| VP of Finance James Kaminski is a dedicated professional with a passion for understanding and improving human well-being. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Human Sexuality and a Master’s degree in Counseling, building on a strong foundation of expertise in public health and administration. James holds a Master’s in Public Health (MPH) and a Master’s in Health Administration (MHA), demonstrating his commitment to addressing complex health challenges through research, education, and leadership. Professionally, James serves as a Program Analyst for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), where he contributes to initiatives that enhance public health and safety. His work integrates policy analysis, program evaluation, risk management, budget formulation and strategic planning to support the FDA’s mission of protecting and promoting health. Based in Cedar Crest, New Mexico, James combines his academic and professional pursuits with a focus on personal growth and community engagement. With a deep interest in the intersections of health, sexuality, and counseling, he strives to foster environments that promote inclusivity, understanding, and positive change. In his free time, James enjoys exploring new experiences and connecting with others, reflecting his belief in the importance of lifelong learning and meaningful relationships. |
James Kaminski
Kyle Duncan | VP of Technology Kyle is a muti-talented learning professional with more that 20 years of training and facilitation experience. He graduated in 2015 from University of Phoenix with a Masters in Adult Education and Training. He is currently a Sr. Learning Consultant for Marathon Petroleum where he specialized in LMS Management and e-Learning development.
In his free time, Kyle is the media director at Victory Outreach Church of Albuquerque, and is a licensed Pastor. He also enjoys graphic design and video editing. He became a member of ATD and ATD NM in 2007. Kyle began serving on the board in 2022. |
Laura Suazo | VP of Membership Laura Suazo is the Learning and Development Coordinator for Bohannan Huston, consulting engineers with offices in New Mexico and Colorado. With over 30 years of experience in consulting engineering consulting, CAD management, and technology support, Laura is a champion of organizational learning, leadership development and team performance. A graduate of UNM with degrees in Computer Aided Drafting, and Organizational Training and Instructional Technology, with a minor in Communication, Laura is also a certified 5 Voices Guide, in the GiANT Worldwide leadership development system for transforming team communication. Laura is passionate about adult learning and building healthy workforce cultures, and she enjoys online teaching, facilitating team performance, and leadership workshops. For ATD New Mexico she is committed to foster a space for talent development professionals to share resources and expertise, to learn and grow together, and to network and build relationships that elevate our profession across the New Mexico community! |
 Jessica Ellison | VP of Communications Jessica Ellison is new to the talent development industry but has hit the ground running as a Learning Experience Designer at Bohannan Huston, an engineering consulting firm based in Albuquerque. She graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 2022 with a degree in Film and Animation, juggling work as a 3D animator and motion graphics artist within the university’s Marketing and Communications department. Originally starting at Bohannan Huston in 2023 as a video editor and graphic designer, she quickly took to the field of L&D and became a Learning Experience Designer just a year later. At Bohannan Huston, Jessica Ellison crafts educational material by combining graphic design, instructional design, audio/visual technology, and motion graphics/animation to enhance employee knowledge on a range of subjects from technical training to compliance and safety. She has a particular interest in accessible learning and is a member of the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP). She is currently exploring master’s program options in the world of instructional design and technology. |
NEW 2026 Board Members
Damien M. Sánchez | VP of Professional Development Damien M. Sánchez earned his doctorate from the Organization, Information, and Learning Sciences (OILS) program at the University of New Mexico (UNM). He leverages his expertise to produce engaging learning experiences, detailed research, and thorough evaluations for his clients. As the owner of Puerta Abierta Performance Consulting, he conducts evaluations and develops online learning modules for clients like the New Mexico Department of Health. He is a Certified Return on Investment Professional and Associate with the Return on Investment (ROI) Institute where he facilitates face-to-face and online workshops on program evaluation and ROI. He taught Instructional Systems Design as an Adjunct Professor in the Organization, Information, and Learning Sciences (OILS) Program at UNM. Prior to completing his Ph.D., Damien worked as a Senior Instructional Designer producing online and face-to-face learning solutions for the U.S. government. He has received awards for academic excellence, contributions to the Latino community, and citizenship. |
Seretha Crider |
VP of Events
Variety is the spice of life! And variety in Seretha's professional life propels her forward. With experience in fashion merchandising, retail management, education, and ministry to women and children, Seretha currently finds her past experiences combining to create new staff and emerging leader development for Sagebrush Church. Seretha is new to TD and eager to learn. She has a BS in Fashion Merchandising and Business from the University of North Texas. She is DiSC certified and is looking forward to completing ATD and Working Genius certifications next. Seretha's passion for helping people enjoy all areas of life extends to her community involvement with historical interpreting for El Rancho de Las Golondrinas and volunteering with Visit ABQ. |
 Beth McLeod | VP of Media Bio coming soon! |