Staff

Demis Foster, Executive Director

A veteran conservationist, Demis Foster has more than two decades of experience as a grassroots organizer, environmental advocate and consultant. Demis grew up on a four-generation family ranch in southern Idaho. She spent her childhood exploring the high desert by horseback where she developed a lifelong love for wildlife and nature. In the shrub steppe desert that unfolds next to the Boise National Forest, she nurtured a deep appreciation for the land and water that sustained all the families in her rural farming community.
 
An avid outdoor adventurer, Demis moved to New Mexico in 2010 to explore some of the last wild and remote public lands remaining in the West. She was drawn not only to the unique natural landscape, but also to the culturally rich communities of people that have been rooted to these lands for generations. A passionate advocate for protecting her high desert home, Demis has worked hard to ensure protection for places such as Chaco Canyon and our newly designated Rio Grande del Norte National Monument near Taos.

While earning a bachelor of arts in English and creative writing from Boise State University, she worked for the Wolf Recovery Foundation—the first organization in Idaho dedicated to the restoration of wolves in the Rockies. After graduating with honors, she moved to the Pacific Northwest where she spent the next 18 years working on environmental issues while exploring the backcountry of the Olympic and Cascade mountains. In 2004, Demis was awarded the National Leadership Award for outstanding leadership in protecting public lands for her work as the Director of the Ancient Forest Roadshow—a year-long outreach tour with two teams traveling across the nation with a 1,000-lb. crosscut section from an old-growth Douglas Fir tree.

Leanne Leith, Political and Programs Director

Leanne Leith serves as our Political and Programs Director.  Leanne has worked in a variety of advocacy roles in different issue areas, but has dedicated most of her professional work to environmental advocacy.  Most recently, she served as the Environmental Program Advocate for New Mexico Public Interest Research Group (NMPIRG), where she led successful issue campaigns on water conservation and transfers of development rights for preservation of open space.  She has also worked collaboratively with other constituencies on issue campaigns for regulation of domestic wells, protection and restoration of the Rio Grande, and planned growth in Albuquerque.  Prior to coming to New Mexico in 2002, Leanne established a diverse coalition in support of watershed restoration efforts in a large urban/rural fringe community outside of Vancouver, British Columbia.  She also developed a successful pilot project for a municipal wildlife habitat strategy for urban/rural areas, working with federal and provincial government agencies, local governments, First Nations, and grassroots and community-based groups and individuals.  She graduated from the University of British Columbia with a B.A. in Political Science/International Relations, before pursuing graduate studies in Forestry and Conservation Biology at the University of Toronto.

Thomas Lawley, Business Administrator

Thomas is our Business Administrator. Previously, he was the Executive Director of the Carbondale (CO) Council on Arts & Humanities (CCAH), as well as being the Director of the Carbondale Mountain Fair, a 3-day extravaganza of arts/crafts/music & international food. During his tenure of 17 years CCAH received the prestigious Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts and the Carbondale Mountain Fair was selected as one of the top 200 Arts & Crafts Fairs in the U.S. Thomas has actively confronted and defeated proposals to build huge power lines and an enormous coal-fired power plant in Colorado. He also successfully worked to rein in the local electric cooperative’s plans to expand unneeded facilities in Delta County, CO.

Molly Brook, Program Manager

Molly Brook is our Program Manager. Previously, she was the Global Warming Program Associate for Environment New Mexico, where she worked to mobilize public and grasstops support for clean and renewable energy in New Mexico. During her time there, she also worked with local groups on urban sprawl issues, and directed a canvassing operation during the 2008 Presidential Election. Prior to coming to New Mexico in 2008, Molly received her Bachelors degree from the University of Minnesota in Geography with a concentration in Environmental Systems, and Sustainability. During her undergraduate studies, she also collaborated with several professors, organizations, and the City of Minneapolis conducting research on the public's attitudes and perceptions of environmental action to help shape the city's growing sustainability program. In her spare time, Molly enjoys camping, hiking and skiing.

Allison Fabara, Development Director

Allison came on board as CVNM’s Development Director in June 2010. Prior to joining CVNM, she worked in non-profit fundraising for eight years in Washington D.C. Most recently, she served as a senior member of the development department at NARAL Pro-Choice America, planning major donor fundraising events across the country. After traveling to the Land of Enchantment several times for work and vacation, Allison fell in love with its natural beauty and unique culture. She is passionate about protecting the place she now calls home. Allison earned her B.A. at Villanova University in liberal arts with a concentration in social sciences. She grew up in the Philadelphia area and enjoys running, yoga, and traveling.

Sarah Cottrell Propst, President

Sarah Cottrell Propst is the Executive Director of the Interwest Energy Alliance, a non-profit trade association that represents the nation’s leading companies in the renewable energy industry, bringing them together with nongovernmental organizations in the West (Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming). Prior to joining Interwest, she founded Propst Consulting, LLC, a firm specializing in energy and environmental policy. She has recently served as the Deputy Cabinet Secretary of the New Mexico Environment Department. She served as the Energy & Environmental Policy Advisor to New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson from July 2006 until March 2010. She joined the Governor’s team after earning a Master of Public Affairs from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public & International Affairs with a concentration in Science, Technology & Environmental Policy. Before entering graduate school, she worked as a Research Fellow for the Pew Center on Global Climate Change in Arlington, VA. She graduated magna cum laude with Honors in Political Science from Davidson College.

Princeton University, Woodrow Wilson School of Public Affairs, MPA, 2006, Davidson College, AB, 2001

Jennifer Marshall, Secretary

Jennifer Marshall is President of The Marshall Plan, a leading marketing and communications firm in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She has worked on environmental and social justice issues throughout her 20 year career. In the 1990s she worked at the Smithsonian Institution for Dr. Thomas Lovejoy, a tropical biologist who helped shed light on deforestation in the Amazon and who initiated the debt-for-nature swap program. From 1999 to 2005, Marshall worked at the Department of Cultural Affairs creating the branding and marketing strategies for the New Mexico Museum of Art, Museum of International Folk Art, Palace of the Governors, Museum of Indian Arts & Culture and the State Monuments. She was the Director of Marketing and Public Relations at the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum from 2005 to 2007.

The Marshall Plan has effectively represented many organizations on communications and marketing strategies including the New Mexico Environmental Law Center, Multicultural Alliance for a Safe Environment, Trust for Public Land, Forest Guild, Keep Santa Fe Beautiful, New Energy Economy and the Nature Conservancy. Her front-line experience with the press has resulted in features in top media outlets including USA Today, Associated Press, Forbes, New York Times, “O” The Oprah Magazine, Town & Country, Dallas Morning News, Houston Chronicle, Los Angeles Times, Denver Post, CNN and ABC. Jennifer Marshall was raised in Florence, Italy, and completed her secondary education at The Emma Willard School in Troy, New York. She received her BA at Boston University and her MA at Georgetown University. www.jmarshallplan.com

John Wertheim, Treasurer

John Wertheim, former Chairman of the Democratic Party of New Mexico, has served on the Executive Committees of the Democratic National Committee and the Association of State Democratic Chairs. He has served as the NM Director of the Clinton for President campaign in 1992, Campaign Manager for Bruce King for Governor in 1994 and President of the Young Democrats of New Mexico from 1994 to 1996. He was the Democratic nominee for the United States House of Representatives in 1996 in the 1st Congressional District-NM.

John is a practicing trial lawyer specializing in complex civil litigation including consumer protection, finance, securities and antitrust. Before becoming a lawyer,. Mr. Wertheim and a partner won the 1990 World Debating Championship at the University of Glasgow, Scotland. He has been a guest political commentator for KANW Public Radio, guest lecturer in ethics and politics at the University of New Mexico (Anderson School of Business and Department of Political Science) and the College of Santa Fe. He is a member of the State Bar of New Mexico, The Association of Trial Lawyers of America, the New Mexico Trial Lawyers Association, Sierra Club, the World Wildlife Federation and the League of Conservation Voters.

Jennifer Biedscheid, Director

Jennifer Biedscheid is an environmental scientist with 15 years of experience in consulting for private corporations in the areas of regulatory compliance; hazardous site cleanup; and waste management, transportation, characterization, and disposition.  She currently is an advisory engineer for the management and operating contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, managing the cleanup of small quantities of radioactive waste at numerous sites across the U.S. Jennifer is an active participant in national and international technical forums and has served as technical program chair, program committee member, peer reviewer, and associate editor for conferences and journals.  She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and a Master of Science degree in environmental technology management.  Jennifer lives in Santa Fe, where she and her husband have renovated two historic adobe homes, and pursues interests such as hiking, gardening, running, and practicing yoga. Jennifer has strong personal core beliefs in the importance of environmental protection, education and appreciation. It is with these convictions that she aims to fulfill her commitment to CVNM.

Michael B. Casaus, Director

A native of Silver City, New Mexico, Michael has been an environmental advocate, community organizer and scientific researcher for over two decades. He studied Biology and Anthropology at New Mexico State University and Cornell University, where his graduate research in Mexico and Venezuela investigated the current state of traditional botanical and medical knowledge in a globalized world. While at Cornell, Michael was a Gates Foundation Millennium Scholar, served on the Graduate School Minority Council and was President of the Latino/a Graduate Student Coalition. He has received numerous awards including the prestigious Anne Chatham Fellowship in Medicinal Botany. He has a strong commitment to public service and currently serves as Co-chair of the Recuerda a César Chávez Committee and Board member of the New Mexico Environmental Law Center and Conservation Voters New Mexico. Michael has held key positions on several political campaigns and is the former Senior Field Organizing Manager with the Sierra Club. Michael is currently the New Mexico State Director for The Wilderness Society and resides in Albuquerque. On his spare time, he enjoys camping, backpacking, fishing and playing soccer.

Karen S. Mendenhall, Director

Karen Mendenhall is an attorney in private practice. Her practice includes class action litigation, employment matters, mediation, and litigating business disputes. She is also proud to work as a cooperating attorney for the New Mexico ACLU. She moved to New Mexico in 1997, after time in Austin and El Paso, Texas. Prior to her tenure in Texas, she lived in Washington, D.C., for 25 years, which probably goes a long way to explaining her keen interest in politics. Since 1998 she has been very involved in voter protection efforts, including developing a training program for poll watchers and challengers. Karen’s other prior non-profit efforts include grassroots organizing for Planned Parenthood and serving on the Board of the Rape Crisis Center of Central New Mexico. In addition to her law degree from the University of Texas, Karen earned a Master of Arts degree in communication. She lives in Albuquerque, where she looks after a small flock of urban chickens, a cat and a dog.

Joe Maestas, Director

Joseph is a registered professional engineer in the State of New Mexico and a civil engineer with the Bureau of Reclamation. Joseph has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of New Mexico and a master’s degree in civil engineering from Arizona State University. He has over 26 years of engineering experience with the Federal Government and 10 years of experience as a local elected official. As the former Mayor of Española, Joseph has executive experience in leading and managing an administration in one of the most challenging and complex political environments in the country. He has held leadership positions at the national, statewide, regional, and community levels. Most notably, Joseph served as the President of the New Mexico Municipal League and Hispanic Local Elected Officials, the Hispanic constituency group of the National League of Cities.

Joseph lead a historic, political movement in Española whereby all governing body positions on the ballots of the 2004, 2006, and 2008 municipal elections were swept by reform candidates. His key accomplishments as Mayor of Española include election and ethics reform; unprecedented investment in public safety and infrastructure; regionalization of public housing and transportation services; and comprehensive budget and organizational reform. As a former Española city councilman, he understands the full realm of public policy development and implementation as well as community and legislative affairs. He established a reputation as a bold and pragmatic reformer.

Joseph is married and the proud father of his son, Joseph Fabian.

Molly Schmidt Nowara, Director

Loyda Martinez, Director

Loyda Martinez is retired from the Los Alamos National Laboratory and has a long history of advocacy regarding salary parity and discriminatory practices at LANL. She is a National Hispana Leaders Institute Alumni. Only twenty women are selected every year for NHLI from across the nation. The NHLI fellows mission is to develop Latinas as ethical leaders through training, professional development, relationship building and community activism and Martinez embodies that mission. Loyda is a member of the New Mexico Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts and Common Cause New Mexico board. She was appointed to the Commission on the Status of Women and Human Rights Commission by the Governor of New Mexico. Loyda has also served on various citizens’ advisory committees and boards related to LANL.

She is a graduate from the College of Santa Fe with a Master’s of Business Administration and Management Information Systems and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Mathematics. Loyda is life-long resident of Northern New Mexico with family roots going back eight generations and lives in Chimayo.

Max O. Trujillo II, Director

Max Trujillo is a lifelong northern New Mexican. Born and raised in Las Vegas, NM, Max is one of eleven children from a family with a long history of public service and political involvement. Max is the current owner of two businesses, Max Trujillo Insurance and Trujillo Real Estate which he co-manages with his wife Beth.

Max also holds a Sportsmen Coordinator position with the New Mexico Wildlife Federation and has been very active in some substantial public lands protection campaigns including Rio Grande del Norte National Conservation Area/ National Monument and Columbine Hondo Wilderness Area. Max is an active member of Sportsmen for Responsible Energy Development (SFRED).

Max has worked alongside coalitions members ranging from environmentalists to conservationists, land grant interests, grazing interests, acequia parciantes and sportsmen groups. He also played a large part in the White Peak battle making sure that it remain in the hands of the public. Max is a passionate advocate for the rights of public hunters and anglers and understands the importance of protecting our land, water, and air. As an advocate for conservation, Max has worked well with our State Legislators as well as our delegation and their staff in Washington D. C.

Julia Catron, Director

Julia Catron is from Santa Fe, New Mexico and is enjoying her return to Santa Fe where she can participate in local politics and enjoy all the benefits of living in the beautiful state of New Mexico. As the daughter of a biology teacher and an avid backpacker, Julia truly has an appreciation for the importance of conservation efforts in New Mexico and a love for the land. Her interest in the state’s environmental and conservation issues have been further peaked by her time working as a law student at the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty where she researched and worked with people living in some of the state’s colonias and was able to see firsthand the tension between environmental regulation and social policy and the effect that the interaction of the two have on certain New Mexico communities.

Julia is an associate at the law firm of Catron, Catron, Pottow & Glassman. Her areas of practice include property law, immigration law, and employment law with specific emphasis on probate, landlord/tenant disputes, citizenship, family-based, and humanitarian immigration relief. Julia earned her B.A. at Boston University, and attended law school at the University of New Mexico. She is owned by her dog, Gus, whom she loves dearly.