The NMCIC Team
Beth Beloff
Chief Executive Officer
Beth Beloff is founder and CEO of the New Mexico Climate Investment Center. Beth has been actively engaged in the sustainability field for more than 30 years. She has founded and directed a number of important organizations dedicated to implementing sustainable development. This includes having served as Founder and President of the non-profit think tank, BRIDGES to Sustainability Founder and Director of the Institute for Corporate Environmental Management (ICEM) in the business school at the University of Houston, and Project Lead for the Global Commons project of the National Academy of Sciences and Houston Advanced Research Center.
From 2015 through 2018, Beth served as Chair of the Santa Fe Sustainability Commission (SSFC), tasked with development of a 25-year sustainability and carbon neutral plan for Santa Fe, adopted in 2018. She also served on Governor Lujan Grisham-elect’s Transition Team for the Environment, and she also served on Mayor Webber’s Advancing Sustainability Working Group. She served on the Santa Fe Climate Action Task Force and the Water Conservation Committee.
Following a principal strategy recommendation of the SSFC, in 2019 Beth established and became the Executive Director of the Coalition of Sustainable Communities New Mexico (CSCNM), where the vision for NMCIC was developed, incubated, and realized. The Coalition’s purpose is to align local governments’ elected leaders in New Mexico around statewide legislative and regulatory advocacy of sustainability and climate-related policies as well as in the development of practical solutions to climate change, social equity and sustainability. Beth continues her work at CSCNM today and currently serves on the Board.
Other engagements include: leading the delegation to COP26 in Glasgow. She served on the Santa Fe Community Foundation board and as its chair. She was appointed by DOE to the Northern New Mexico Citizens Advisory Board regarding LANL nuclear and chemical waste cleanup activities. She was a delegate to the 2017 Bilateral Climate Summit of Mayors in Beijing representing Santa Fe, and to the 2018 Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco representing Santa Fe. She was awarded the Community Solar Champion Award by Coalition for Community Solar Access after the Community Solar Act passed the NM Legislature, for her work developing the statute in NM. Beth’s publications include “Transforming Sustainability Strategy into Action,” Wiley-Interscience, 2005, Beloff principal editor/author.
Beth has a BA from University of California, Berkeley, a Master of Architecture degree from UCLA, and an MBA from the University of Houston with emphasis on strategic planning.
Michael Athens
Chief Operating Officer
Mike Athens’ career in banking spans thirty-three years in administrative and executive management leadership, where he has established himself as a figurehead in New Mexico’s financial industry with special expertise in loan administration. Mike comes to NMICIC with a demonstrated track record of success in leading teams through system and cultural change necessary to improve performance, efficiencies, and service levels. Most recently, Mike served as President and CEO of the Rio Grande Credit Union (from 2018-2023), where he successfully led the company through pandemic crisis and financial market fluctuations and increased assets from $330 million to over $615 million. Prior to his tenure as CEO, Mike served the Rio Grande Credit Union as Vice President of Operations for close to a decade, where he oversaw the departments of Information Technology, Compliance/Risk Management, Consumer Loan Processing, Collections, and Operations. He has held a number of other notable leadership positions such as Vice President of Association Services at the Credit Union Association of New Mexico, Senior Vice President and Loan Administrator at the Bank of Belen, and Vice President of Government Lending Products at Bank of America, to name a few. Mike holds a BA in Chemistry and Math from the University of New Mexico and an MBA from the University of Phoenix. Mike also serves on the board of a number of nonprofits, including NM Ramp Project, Prosperity Works and the Albuquerque Women’s Housing Coalition.
Zachary Chavez
Director of Market Development
Zachary is a financier turned entrepreneur with over 13 years of capital markets experience. Before venturing into entrepreneurship, Zachary held various roles within the financial services industry, including operations, collateral management, trading, and opportunity zone private equity. Throughout his career, he has maintained a strong passion for social impact investing, firmly believing that financial literacy and education are pivotal in addressing poverty issues, particularly in New Mexico. Most recently Zachary was Head of Finance and Development for Somos Solar, a local renewable energy solutions developer. Prior to that, he worked as a Vice President with Virtua Partners, leading their internal opportunity zone initiative, and was a Capital Markets Trader at The Vanguard Group. In his more recent work with Somos Solar Inc. and elsewhere, he has been able to leverage his experience in finance to drive the development of financial structures for smart city and renewable energy development projects. In addition to his professional accomplishments, Zachary previously served on the Board of Directors for the New Mexico Climate Investment Center. He holds a BA in Political Science from Northwestern University, where he also studied abroad in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He previously held FINRA Series 7, 63, and 57 licenses. His dedication to combining financial expertise with social impact continues to drive his mission and vision in the industry.
Zachary stepped down from the NMCIC Board of Directors in December 2024 to serve as Director of Market Development.
Emily Leveille
Chief Investment Officer
Prior to NMCIC, Emily was with Thornburg Investment Management for four years, where she was portfolio manager for international and global growth strategies, focusing on fundamental research of publicly listed companies globally to make investment decisions for the fund. Before Thornburg, Emily spent a decade investing in emerging market equities at Nordea in Copenhagen, Denmark and Ashmore EMM in Washington, DC. Emily is a co-founder of the Canyon Road Summer Walk in Santa Fe, and she sits on the development committee of the Santa Fe Farmers Market Institute. While living in DC, Emily was the Chair of the Junior Board and a board member for an education non-profit New Futures. Emily holds a BA in Politics from New York University and is a CFA Charterholder. She has two children and lives in Santa Fe, NM where she loves to hike, ski, and backpack.
Janet Pacheco-Morton
CPA, CGFM, Morton Accounting, LLC, NMCIC Outsource CFO and Accountant
Morton Accounting, LLC (MAS) is a full-service, New Mexico-owned Certified Public Accounting firm. The MAS team has been helping organizations create, maintain and improve financial and operational systems for over 25 years, providing accounting, assurance and financial reporting solutions that create opportunities for organizations to grow, achieve sound financial management and comply with complex regulatory requirements. The key MAS team members, consisting of Janet Pacheco-Morton, CPA, CGFM, managing principal and Kim Keahbone, senior manager, will be managing the day-to-day financial activities of NMCIC. Janet has 25+ years experience in the public accounting industry, auditing and providing accounting services for state and local government, as well as nonprofit organizations. Kim is retired from the State of New Mexico, having served as Chief Financial Officer for New Mexico Department of Health and New Mexico Energy, Minerals & Natural Resource Department.
NMCIC Board of Director Biographies
Kelly O’Donnell
Chair of the Board
Chief Research and Policy Officer at Homewise
Kelly O’Donnell has over 25 years of experience in New Mexico public finance, having served as a state government official, a UNM research professor, Chief of Research and Policy for a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and as a current member of the New Mexico State Investment Council. Founder and President of O’Donnell Economics and Strategy LLC, O’Donnell has also provided economic consulting services to governments, institutions and non-profits in New Mexico and nationwide for the last 15 years. Alongside public finance, O’Donnell’s career has been defined by a commitment to sustainable economic development, having served as Deputy Cabinet Secretary for the State Economic Development Department and Research Director for New Mexico Voices for Children and as Superintendent of the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing department, where she was instrumental in the adoption of the state’s first green building codes. Today she carries that commitment forward as Chief Research and Policy Officer for Homewise. O’Donnell holds a doctorate in economics from UNM.
Steve Grey
Vice Chair
Executive Committee Member of Four Corners Economic Development, and Founder/President of Grey LLC, a Navajo owned consulting firm
Originally from Kayenta, Navajo Nation, Arizona, Steve Grey is an Executive Committee Member of Four Corners Economic Development, and Founder and President of Grey LLC, a Navajo owned consulting firm focused on energy, telecommunications, engineering and education based out of Farmington, New Mexico where he currently resides. Previously, Grey served as Governmental and External Affairs Director of the Navajo Transitional Energy Company and was Program Manager within the Science and Technology Directorate at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, a National Laboratory of the Department of Energy where, among other things, he participated in analysis of business development opportunities in energy projects across tribal lands. Grey also served on the Secretary of Energy staff for three years as Department of Energy Director for Indian Affairs in Washington, DC.
Ward Hendon
Treasurer
Co-Founder and General Partner of Dangerous Ventures a New Mexico Based Climate Tech Venture Capital Fund
Ward Hendon is the Co-Founder and General Partner of Dangerous Ventures. Backed by the State Investment Council (SIC), Dangerous Ventures is a New Mexico-based climate technology investment fund dedicated to backing companies in our state to build a more resilient future for people and the planet. Prior to his work with Dangerous Ventures, Hendon was a founding team member at Axiom Law, a first-of-its-kind tech-enabled legal services firm that is today an industry-leading player in legal services worldwide. Previously, Hendon served on the Board of Directors of Sierra Nevada Journeys (SNJ), a Nevada-based nonprofit delivering innovative outdoor, science-based education programs for youth, and is currently on the Board of Mount Tamalpais College, a nonprofit organization providing liberal arts education to incarcerated students. Hendon is also a Lecturer at UCLA Anderson School of Business where he teaches entrepreneurship and impact investing from his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Duane Duffy
Secretary
Vice-President of the Mescalero Apache Tribe and CEO of Red Warrior Consulting, LLC
Duane Duffy is the Vice-President of the Mescalero Apache Tribe in South Central New Mexico, where he has been a community leader throughout his adult life. Through various roles with the Mescalero Apache Tribe, Duffy has led efforts with economic development, renewable energy planning and development, and diversifying tribal finances. He has successfully built and fostered relationships with the Governor’s office, New Mexico Legislators, the US Department of Energy, the DOE LPO, Bureau of Indian Affairs, US Department of Transportation, and the White House. Alongside his work for the Tribe, Mr. Duffy is CEO of Red Warrior Consulting, LLC, where he provides professional services to native-led organizations across multiple sectors, including business, politics, and healthcare. Previously, Mr. Duffy was Deputy Cabinet Secretary for the State of New Mexico’s Indian Affairs Department.
Anne Haines
President, CEO, and Principal Founder of DreamSpring
Anne Haines is the President/CEO and Founder of DreamSpring, a community development organization that provides financing and support to under-represented and undercapitalized entrepreneurs across 27 states. Since launching DreamSpring in Albuquerque in 1994, Haines has led the organization to become one of the highest- performing nonprofit microfinance organizations in the United States. She also serves as a member of the national Community Advisory Committee of U.S. Bank, the Microfinance Impact Collaborative of the Aspen Institute, and the Ambassadors of CTEK, an organization devoted to breaking down barriers to entrepreneurship worldwide. Previously, Haines served for six years on the Board of Directors of the Denver Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. Haines has been recognized locally and nationally for her vision and impact and is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the 2023 PNM Award for Individual Excellence in Ethical Business Practice, in Honor of John Ackerman, from the New Mexico Ethics in Business Awards presented by CNM.
Carter Bundy
New Mexico Political and Legislative Director for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
Carter Bundy has been the New Mexico Political and Legislative Director for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) International since 2002. In this capacity, Bundy has been an integral player in significant legislative wins, which includes passing a permanent Public Employee Bargaining Act in 2003, passing state minimum wage law for New Mexicans as lead lobbyist and expert in 2007, securing collective bargaining legislation for home-based child care providers, and achieving bipartisan support to pass “return to work” legislation for New Mexico’s governmental employees in 2024, to name just a few major accomplishments. A lawyer by training, Bundy was also the New Mexico Director of AFL-CIO Election Protection in 2008, and the director of America Coming Together’s New Mexico Voter Protection Program in 2004. Bundy recently served on the State of New Mexico’s Retirement Income Security Task Force and is a current board member of New Mexico Work and Save and serves on the America Votes Steering Committee.
Melia Heimbuck
President and CEO of Credit Union Association of New Mexico
Melia Heimbuck began leading the Credit Union Association of New Mexico as its President & CEO in May 2023. Before taking on this role, Melia led the Association’s legislative, political and regulatory advocacy efforts, assisted member credit unions with all aspects of compliance and risk management, directed education and training programs, and guided governance activities within the Association. Prior to her work with the New Mexico Association, she was the Principal of Risk Management Solutions and Strategic Advisor for CU Solutions Group (CUSG). Previously, Melia spent over 18 years supporting credit unions in Arizona, Colorado, and Wyoming through the Mountain West Credit Union Association (MWCUA). Heimbuck is a licensed attorney in the state of New Mexico.
Horacio Trujiillo
Applied Political Economist and Strategic Advisor
Horacio Trujillo, from Taos, is an international political economist with more than two decades of advising senior leadership of philanthropies, businesses, governments and social purpose organizations around the world on strategy, long-range planning and learning practices. He has previously been a senior executive in the philanthropic sector, on the policy staff of members of Congress representing New Mexico, and a university professor with published research on various issues of global public policy, including climate change. Of particular value to his service to the CIC, Trujillo has advised various environmental research and policy organizations, including C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, RMI (formerly the Rocky Mountain Institute) and the Environmental Defense Fund, and worked on environmental efforts with yet other organizations, including the World Bank and the RAND Corporation. Among his support to efforts here at home in New Mexico, Trujillo’s service has ranged from being a co-founder of the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps to more recently being an advisor to New Mexico Counts 2020, the Thornburg Foundation’s good government efforts, and the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission in its co-leadership of the Water Policy and Infrastructure Task Force and implementation of the Water Security Planning Act.
NMCIC Partners
Christian Casillas
Executive Director, Coalition of Sustainable Communities New Mexico
Christian was born and raised in Santa Fe and has worked as a consultant on energy policy, renewable energy engineering, sustainable development, and education for close to two decades. Christian has designed and implemented workshops on renewable energy and energy efficiency in the U.S., Nicaragua, India, and multiple countries in Africa. Christian has designed and led community participatory workshops on aspects of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and economic development. He has been the lead author for peer-reviewed papers focusing on energy-access to under-served communities in Science, Climate Policy, and Energy Policy as well as published on community-based participatory processes. His work in New Mexico has included curriculum development for Santa Fe Community College’s smart grid and microgrid training program, designing and teaching energy-related workshops in Santa Fe’s public schools, collaborating on the design of public outreach and engagement for Santa Fe’s 25 Year Sustainability Plan, and he has played an active role advocating for low-income benefits throughout the legislative and rulemaking processes for community solar. Christian was the project manager for Santa Fe’s Solarize campaign to increase access to rooftop solar and energy efficiency, as well as the lead supporting efforts for education and outreach in New Mexico’s nascent community solar program. Christian has a PhD and MS in Energy and Resources from UC Berkeley, an MS in Applied Mathematics from Johns Hopkins, and a BA in Environmental Engineering from Harvard.
Rachel Rosenfelt
Director of Operations and Partnerships, Coalition of Sustainable Communities New Mexico
An Albuquerque native, Rachel is an experienced leader and educator with an extensive background in political organization development, media innovation, and communications strategy. She has led strategic communications work with an expertise in audience development and data-backed results for diverse clients in the non-profit and for-profit world. Previously, Rachel was Creative Director for Verso Books, Executive Producer for Gawker Media, and Publisher and Vice President of the New Republic. Additionally, Rachel was the co-founder, core faculty, and associate director of the first ever graduate-level journalism degree program at the New School For Social Research, Creative Publishing and Critical Journalism (CPCJ), where she taught and developed the program for 6 years. Rachel holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from Barnard College, Columbia University.
Paul Scharfenberger
Executive Director, CCEF and NMCIC Green Bank Business Advisor
As CEO, Paul is responsible for developing and overseeing the Colorado Collaborative Energy Fund’s strategic vision and day-to-day tactical operations. Paul combines a unique and extensive background in traditional finance, operations management, and project management that spans more than 20 years. Paul began his career in investment banking before consciously transitioning to the energy field where he was able to combine his financial acumen with his passion for energy management and sustainability. Since transitioning into the clean energy sector, Paul has developed various public private partnerships that have deployed >$350M towards clean energy projects across the State of Colorado. In addition to a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Finance from Fairfield University in Connecticut, Paul holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a focus in Finance and a Master of Science (MS) with a focus in energy policy, markets, and technologies from the University of Colorado at Boulder.