BOARD
Ray Trejo, President
Ray Trejo is a lifelong Deming sportsman and educator who has been an avid outdoorsman since his youth, taught by his parents, grandparents and family. His passions are backcountry bow hunting and upland bird hunting, and he was recently introduced to fly-fishing. As an administrator with Deming Public Schools who has worked with several conservation organizations, Ray is interested in getting kids outdoors while taking a proactive role in engaging stakeholders of this great state in conservation efforts that will ensure wildlife and quality habitat for future generations. As president of NMWF, Ray is also the New Mexico representative to the National Wildlife Federation.
Garrett VeneKlasen, Vice president
Garrett VeneKlasen was born and raised in Santa Fe but now lives in Taos Canyon with his family. VeneKlasen spent his childhood hunting and fishing with his father throughout New Mexico. He founded the New Mexico chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and is currently the Public Lands Coordinator for Trout Unlimited. Fluent in Spanish and Portuguese, he owns an international hunting and angling travel/outfitting business and is a former fishing and big-game hunting guide in New Mexico and Colorado, as well as accomplished outdoor writer and photographer.
Brandon Wynn, Treasurer
Brandon Wynn of Albuquerque is an avid hunter, bowhunter and fisherman whose family has been in New Mexico for five generations. A strong advocate for public hunting opportunity for all New Mexicans, Wynn said introducing children to the outdoors is critical for the preservation and conservation of wildlife resources. Wynn has worked in real estate, oil and gas exploration and development, as a ranch manager, water resource specialist and as a hydrogeology consultant. He currently owns a small business in Albuquerque.
MIchael Murphy, Secretary
Michael Murphy of Roswell was raised in the Southwest and has spent his life hunting, fishing, shooting competitively and otherwise enjoying the outdoors. He is a member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the NRA and Ducks Unlimited and believes in sportsmen and women’s responsibility for wildlife and habitat. He has bachelors and juris doctor degrees from UNM. With his wife and Chesapeake Bay retriever, he backpacks, forages, fishes and hunts, and they particularly enjoy decoying ducks on the Rio Grande. They recently moved from Albuquerque to Roswell.
Jason Amaro, Director at large
Jason Amaro of Silver City is an avid outdoorsman who grew up in Las Cruces, attended college in Socorro and Las Vegas, N.M., and has degrees in mathematics, theoretical physics and secondary education. He has taught in the public school system and spent summers guiding fly fishermen in northern New Mexico. He believes that access to outdoor experiences should be shared by all, regardless of socioeconomic status. Amaro operates the popular blog www.TheNewMexicoSportsman.com and is currently a project manager in the healthcare industry.
John Crenshaw, Director at large
John Crenshaw of Santa Fe was raised on cattle ranches around Las Vegas, N.M., where his dad schooled him in mule deer hunting and trout fishing. A journalism major at New Mexico Highlands University, he worked as a reporter, then associate editor of New Mexico Magazine before joining the Department of Game and Fish in 1974. He dedicated the next 23-plus years to the state’s wildlife, learning about game and fisheries management and elk and antelope hunting. He is now retired but has helped lobby on behalf of sportsmen before the state Legislature.
Richard Martinez, Director at large
Richard Martinez of Albuquerque was raised in central New Mexico and has hunted and fished the state for 40 years. Having witnessed public lands being lost or heavily restricted, he said involvement in sportsmen’s rights and issues is vitally important. He believes that children are important in maintaining favorable sportsmen’s rights and regularly takes kids hunting and fishing to instill good sportsmanship and hunting ethics. Martinez has worked for United Parcel Service for 19 years and is on the Executive Board of Teamsters Local 492 of New Mexico.
Kent Salazar, Director at large
Kent Salazar is a lifelong resident of New Mexico, avid hunter and outdoorsman. His family roots are in northern New Mexico, but he lives in Albuquerque and operates an environmental consulting business, as well as farms in Lucero and Peralta. A graduate of the University of New Mexico, he is retired from the Albuquerque Environmental Health Department. Salazar served on the State Game Commission and is a regional board member of the National Wildlife Federation, advocating for issues related to conservation, sportsmen and the environment with state and congressional representatives.
Ashley Twitty, Director at large
Ashley Twitty of Albuquerque grew up in northern New Mexico. She spent her childhood hunting and fishing along the Rio Grande rim, the Wheeler Peak Wilderness and surrounding areas. She is committed to sustaining these areas and others like them to preserve our hunting heritage for future generations. Twitty enjoys horseback riding, deer and turkey hunting and writing short stories about her experiences in the field. She has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of New Mexico and currently works as director at Baby Farm Infant Development Center in Albuquerque.
Blair Wolf, Director at large
Blair Wolf is a hunter, shooter and outdoorsman who has lived in Albuquerque for the last 11 years. Having lived in the West for most of his life, Wolf is interested in conserving public lands, hunting culture and wildlife for his children and future generations through wise management. He believes hunting and fishing are important recreational activities and that the state of New Mexico needs to ensure all residents can enjoy these opportunities. He has degrees from San Jose State University and Arizona State University, and is currently a professor of biology at the University of New Mexico.