Felicia Ortiz
Courtesy Photo
Las Vegas, N.M. – Felicia Ortiz, a New Mexico Highlands alumna and successful businesswoman who serves on the Nevada State Board of Education, will speak at the Highlands University main campus commencement ceremony May 11, 2019.
Ortiz is a Las Vegas, Nevada, entrepreneur who earned her B.A in business administration and accounting cum laude from Highlands in 2001. She completed her MBA in 2006 at the Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University. In 2012, the Latin Chamber of Commerce in Las Vegas, Nevada, honored her as one of the top 10 Latino Power Brokers.
Ortiz, who was named a Highlands distinguished young alumna in 2012, is the president and CEO of PM Solutions Consulting, a project management firm she established in 2014 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“At my business we are experts in implementing Oracle Unifier, a software used for managing construction projects and portfolios,” Ortiz said. “My company has worked with corporations and organizations across the U.S. and globally.”
Ortiz’ primary expertise is in controls management and change management to improve business performance. She held a number of management positions with Las Vegas, Nevada, businesses such as Tishman Construction and Consolidated Resorts, Inc. Ortiz founded Foresee Consulting in 2011 and led the fast-growing organization for three years as chief operating officer.
Ortiz is a leader in education advocacy organizations like the Nevada State College Advisory Board and the Roseman Medical School Community Advisory Board. She is the only Latino member of the Nevada State Board of Education, an elected position she has held since 2016.
“My number one priority for the Nevada State Board of Education is representing the Latino voice. I also bring a business perspective to the board including educating our children for future jobs. Another key value I bring to the board is an unapologetic passion for equity for all students,” Ortiz said.
Ortiz has also been a leader in organizations such as the Latino Leadership Council and the Latino Leadership Network of Southern Nevada.
Ortiz said that the invitation to be the commencement speaker at Highlands is a huge honor.
“As a student at Highlands, I was blessed to have amazing professors and mentors and have developed lasting friendships. Having the opportunity to come back and help another group of graduates start their lifelong journey and share my lessons is a dream come true,” Ortiz said.
Ortiz said she plans to share some of the life lessons she has utilized throughout her career, many of which she learned while at Highlands.
“I also plan to talk about the importance of always remembering where you came from and giving back to help future generations achieve,” Ortiz said.
In 2018, Ortiz became a member of the Highlands University Foundation board of directors.
“Being a member of the Highlands Foundation board has been very fulfilling. Highlands was an instrumental part of the foundation for my career and success in life, so giving back seems like the natural thing to do. It is rewarding to be part of making the opportunity to attend Highlands a possibility for deserving students,” Ortiz said.
Ortiz, who was raised in the small ranching community of Rociada, north of Las Vegas, New Mexico, likes to tell people in Las Vegas, Nevada, that she’s from the original Las Vegas.
“I wouldn’t be where I am today without the quality education I received at Highlands as well as my Las Vegas City Schools education and the loving support of my parents,” Ortiz said.