The Honorable Bill Richardson,
Governor of New Mexico,
ex officio

Javier M. Gonzales, Chairman

PO Box 1088
Santa Fe, NM 87504
505-989-7441
Fax 505-989-7607

Mr. Gonzales has extensive experience as a leader in a broad range of projects in the private and public arenas, having been instrumental in organizing numerous successful joint ventures between private interests, leading the business development efforts of a global 500 management consulting company as well as leading the largest organization that represents more then 3,000 counties across the country.

Mr. Gonzales’ previous tenure as a nationally-recognized elected county official brings unique expertise coordinating complex public approvals, from appropriate zoning, utility and building code approvals, to managing the regulatory environment of the business industry.  He also has proven experience in mitigating complex issues, as well as overcoming complex challenges in the local government sector.

Mr. Gonzales is a highly experienced public speaker, published industry writer and interviewee, noted for his engaging presentations to audiences across the country.

Professional Experience

Javier Gonzales founded IronStone Consulting in 2003 to help companies address the complicated challenges of working with Local Governments.

Mr. Gonzales was an executive with the global management consulting company Accenture.  Mr. Gonzales led the Global company’s business development efforts in the US Local Government Market.  His primary responsibility was to develop a national strategy for Accenture to grow their market share in the local government sector.   In addition, Mr. Gonzales worked to develop public-private partnerships between Accenture and National Organizations.

As a Former Santa Fe County (N.M.) Commissioner, Javier M. Gonzales was elected President of the National Association of Counties (NACo) at the organization's 66th Annual Conference in Philadelphia County (Philadelphia), P.A., on July 17, 2001.  Mr. Gonzales was the youngest NACo President ever as well as the first Hispanic to serve in that organizations’ 66 year history.

As President of NACo, a 3,000 member county organization representing over 80% of the nation’s population base, Mr. Gonzales supervised all business of the association including property, funds, and business affairs.  He also served as chief representative for NACo before Congress, the White House and the Administration, and served as expert witness to US Senate and the White House on Homeland Security.

Mr. Gonzales’ tenure as President was recognized for remarkable progress in forging coalitions with public and private sectors to advance the goals of the association and America’s counties.

Serving the Santa Fe County Board for eight years and serving NACo's leadership team for four years, Mr. Gonzales became deeply committed to helping local governments address the common challenges associated with pressing issues like security and public safety, economic development and health care.

As a businessman, he has taken many of his everyday lessons and experiences and applied them to his public service. In the early 1990's, Mr. Gonzales successfully co-founded La Voz Broadcasting, Inc., which is New Mexico's largest privately-owned Spanish language radio station. He served as the corporation's Chief Financial Officer.   He has continued to serve his family as a principal owner in their telecommunication and real estate ventures.  He also serves on the Board of Directors of Century Bank in Santa Fe.

Mr. Gonzales was appointed by Governor Richardson to serve as Chairman of New Mexico Highlands University, one of New Mexico’s oldest and most historic universities.  Mr. Gonzales is leading the transformation of the university to deliver a quality education to many of New Mexico’s most underserved students.

A lifelong resident of Santa Fe County, NM, Mr. Gonzales’ commitment and dedication to public service is a family tradition. His father, George Gonzales, also served as a Santa Fe County Commissioner and later was elected mayor of the City of Santa Fe in the 1960's.

Mr. Gonzales and his wife Consuelo Gonzales have two daughters, Cameron and Cadence Gonzales.

Education

Mr. Gonzales earned his B.A. in Accounting from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico in 1989.

Activities

• Board Chairman, New Mexico Highlands University Board of Regents
• Board Member, National Hispanic Cultural Center Foundation
• Board Member, New Mexico Heart Gallery Foundation
• Board Member, New Mexico Student Loan Commission
• Board Director, Century Bank New Mexico
• Member, National Park Service Advisory Board
• Member, New America Alliance, Hispanic Executive Business Group
• Young American Political Leaders participant
• Member, New Mexico Children’s Foundation
• Alumni, American-Swiss Foundation

Robert Benavides, Member

Pueblo of Isleta
PO Box 1270
Isleta, NM  87022
505-869-3111
505-869-4236

J. Robert Benavides is the current Governor of the Pueblo of Isleta, having been elected to his second two-year term by the general membership of the Pueblo of Isleta in November 2006.  He represents the Pueblo of Isleta in various organizations including the National Congress of American Indians, the National Indian Gaming Association, the New Mexico Indian Gaming Association, and the Middle Rio Grande Council of Governments.  He is also a member of the All Indian Pueblo Council and the Southern Pueblos Governors Council.

Prior to serving as Governor, Benavides worked for the Pueblo of Isleta as the Lead Compliance Inspector for the Pueblo’s Gaming Regulatory Agency.  In 1994, he retired from the Bureau of Indian Affairs Law Enforcement, where he served as Captain of Police and as the Acting Branch Chief for Law Enforcement during the BIA’s law enforcement reorganization.  Earlier in his career, he worked for the United States Forest Service and with the California Department of Corrections.

Governor Benavides is devoted to Indian Education and was instrumental in the construction of the Isleta Elementary School, which opened for learning in December 2006. 

He and his wife, Judy, who have been married 40 years, have three sons, two daughters, and thirteen grandchildren.  He is dedicated to the advancement of child foster care and adoption agendas, having adopted and raised his son, Freddy, who has developmental disabilities.

Benavides is active in the Pueblo of Isleta’s Cultural and Traditional practices and is an avid outdoorsman, enjoying hiking, fishing, hunting, camping, and exploring.  

Sherry Salas, Member

PO Box 9000
Las Vegas, NM 87701
Office 505-454-3488
505-425-3316

Sherry Salas is completing her master’s degree in computer science at New Mexico Highlands University. As an undergraduate earning a double major in computer science and media arts, Salas was active with a range of campus and community programs, including the Highlands University Student Affairs Committee, where she served as chairwoman, and the Highlands University Association for Computing Machinery, where she served as vice president. She also served as a Highlands University student senator and lab manager for the Computer Science Department.

A native of Las Vegas, Salas graduated from West Las Vegas High School, where she returned in 2006 as an assistant volleyball coach. During her undergraduate studies at Highlands University, she also coached the West Las Vegas Middle School track team.

Gov. Bill Richardson appointed Salas to Highlands University’s Board of Regents in 2007.

Jesus L. Lopez, Member

P O Box 2115
2429 Hot Springs Blvd.
Las Vegas, New Mexico 87701
505-425-3730
Fax: 505 -425-0805

Jesus L. Lopez was born in Las Vegas, New Mexico, and has resided here his entire life. He is a 1972 graduate of New Mexico Highlands University, majoring in Spanish and Political Science. He received his Juris Doctorate from the University of New Mexico School of Law, and has been a Las Vegas attorney for 30 years. Lopez has served as counsel to two presidents of Highlands University, and is a former District Attorney. He also served 14 years as chairman of the West Las Vegas Board of Education. Always active in civil and political affairs, Lopez also served as chairman of the San Miguel County Democratic Party for more than a decade.

Regent Lopez has been married to Caroline (Garduno) for 37 years, and they are the parents of Jesus Lopez III, and grandparents of Jesus Lopez IV. Caroline is a 1971 graduate of Highlands, and retired from the West Las Vegas School District after a teaching career of 34 years. Caroline serves as an elected member of the West Las Vegas Board of Education. Regent Lopez is the son of the late Lucy “Mama Lucy” Lopez, the renowned restauranteur who fed hundreds of Highlands students at her restaurant in the 1950's and 1960's, and was to many their mother-away-from-home. Lopez’s interest in Highlands began as a young boy when he interacted with these Highlands students while helping at his mother’s restaurant.

Through the years, Lopez’ law practice has been diverse, with a strong emphasis in land litigation. He is the San Miguel County attorney, a position he has held for the last 16 years. He has also served as attorney for Luna Community College and the West Las Vegas School District. He is proud to call himself nothing more than “a country lawyer.”

Lopez has a rich and keen knowledge of Highlands, its history and development. He hopes to utilize that insight while dutifully discharging his duties as a Regent. He served as the community representative on the Presidential Search Committee, which recommended Dr. James Fries to be President of Highlands. Lopez was appointed to the Board of Regents in January by Governor Bill Richardson.

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