Our team is made up of professionals all dedicated to protecting New Mexico’s wildlife, water, and landscapes for our children’s future.
Staff
Jesse Deubel
Executive Director
A native New Mexican, Jesse Deubel spent his early years growing up in the Village of La Puebla near Espanola, New Mexico. His earliest memories include following his Dad through knee-deep, snow in the Carson National Forest in search of mule deer when he was 6. By age 12 Jesse had experienced his first, “true” backcountry hunt for wild turkey 8 miles deep into the Aldo Leopold Wilderness in SW New Mexico. At 15 Jesse harvested his first elk with a bow and arrow miles into the Gila Wilderness. Meanwhile his Dad nervously waited in camp well into the dark until his exhausted young teenager finally stumbled into the light of the fire.
As a teenager Jesse was very active and involved with the Sandia Crest Bowhunter’s Association. During his early adult years he juggled work, studies at the University of New Mexico and his passionate dedication to serving on the Albuquerque Committee of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. His love and support of the RMEF continues today. In 2010 Jesse worked with other committed bowhunters to found the United Bowhunters of New Mexico. He has led the UBNM as their President since their formation. In addition to fighting for NM Sportsmen through the UBNM, Jesse has been intricately involved with Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and recently worked with BHA in Washington, DC to fight for the permanent re-authorization and full funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
Staff Members
Susan Calt
Susan Calt serves as the Office Manager for the New Mexico Wildlife Federation at its Albuquerque office. In her role, she supports the successful implementation of the NYCALC program and ensures the smooth day-to-day operations of the Federation. Having grown up in New Mexico after relocating with her Air Force family, Susan developed a deep appreciation for the state’s landscapes and outdoor opportunities. She finds peace in hiking and camping with her family and looks forward to new adventures exploring the natural world. An avid nature photographer, Susan also enjoys spending time with her family and caring for her group of box turtles. In her role, she supports the successful implementation of the NYCALC program and ensures the smooth day-to-day operations of the Federation.
Office Manager
Wendy Jaramillo
As a proud native New Mexican, Wendy combines a deep commitment to her community with a passion for the outdoors. She brings extensive operational and project management expertise to her work, having supported Tribes and Tribal enterprises in successfully implementing business plans that foster sustainable growth. Her experience includes partnering with multiple New Mexico Pueblos as well as numerous Tribal communities nationwide to develop and revitalize agricultural programs, transforming these culturally significant initiatives into viable economic development opportunities for Tribal members. She has also contributed to the advancement of renewable energy projects—including solar, wind, and geothermal—helping communities diversify and strengthen their energy resources. In addition, Wendy founded what has grown into the largest Native American Business Incubator in the country. She currently resides in Edgewood, where she and her family raise dairy goats.
Development Director
Ray Trejo
Southern New Mexico Outreach CoordinatorRay Trejo, an avid sportsman and lifelong educator, is southern New Mexico outreach coordinator for the federation. Trejo is a past federation president and grew up hunting and fishing in southwestern New Mexico. Trejo spent the last 26 years of his career as a public-school educator, 16 of those as an administrator. Trejo attended Western New Mexico University in Silver City where he earned a bachelor’s degree in education, a master’s degree in teaching and a second master’s in educational leadership. Trejo has worked with several statewide sportsmen’s groups to promote public access, equitable tag reform and sound wildlife management practices. He was instrumental in helping to create the Organ Mountains Desert Peaks National Monument.
Ben Neary grew up in New Mexico and is an avid hunter and fisherman. He graduated from the University of New Mexico. He worked at newspapers in the state for 20 years, covering state and local government agencies and conservation issues. Most recently, Neary covered state government and courts for The Associated Press in Wyoming. He was happy to give up the Wyoming winters and return to familiar hunting and fishing grounds in New Mexico. He lives in Albuquerque with his wife Susie and their son, Stanley.
Conservation DirectorBen Neary
Laura began her conservation work through an AmeriCorps program with the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps, contributing to projects like trail building, fire reduction, and community outreach. Since then, she has continued her dedication to community efforts, working with nonprofits, schools, and educational programming. Now, as Director of Programs, Laura focuses on developing impactful educational programs and community outreach. She believes nature offers countless lessons and insights, and her goal is to create opportunities for people of all ages to forge their own connections with the world around us.
Director of ProgramsLaura Lewis-Vigil
Board of Directors
Jason Kerkmans
President
A graduate of University of New Mexico School of Law, Jason is a native New Mexican and avid fly fisherman who grew up casting in New Mexico streams – a journalist-turned-attorney and adult-onset archery hunter. He currently volunteers with the NM Supreme Court’s Rules of Evidence Committee, serves on the UNM Law Alumni Association board of directors and is a member of the Governor’s Brain Injury Advisory Council. Fly fishing shaped Jason’s interest in conservation and inspired him as a UNM law student to initiate research into the status and legal history of public access to New Mexico streams; his findings ultimately reshaped
enforcement of the state’s water laws. He joined the NMWF board to become a more active participant in the conservation community and is specifically interested in “contributing to NMWF’s continued track record of protecting, improving and increasing access to public waters and lands in New Mexico.”
Board Members
Suzanne Wieser
Suzy Wieser believes it’s important for everyone who cares about the environment and the outdoors to step up and do their part.
Like many anglers, Wieser started out fishing with spinners but made the move to fly tackle. These days, her favorite river is the San Juan, where she says her two dogs like to accompany her on the water.
“With fly fishing, I like that it’s much more technical. I’m sure spinner fishing may not say that,” Wieser said. “I’m really having to focus on my own skills. But for me, it’s really just being out in nature, and seeing wildlife, and having that calmness of it.”
Wieser got involved with the NMWF because of her commitment to conserving and protecting wildlife and the environment. “We just have faced so many challenges, especially in the last few years, and the only way we’re going to protect it is for each and and everyone of use to step in and do something, and it,” she said.
When she’s not fishing, Wieser works at Bank of America. She graduated from the University of New Mexico and also holds an associate’s degree in veterinary technology.
Vice President
Cornell “Corey” Torivio was born in San Bernardino, CA. He is Native American from the Pueblo of Acoma, NM. Corey has a BA in Culinary Arts and a passion for the outdoors, particularly wilderness and desert areas, and has devoted his life to giving Native youth an opportunity to be successful in the ever-changing world. The founder of Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps, he has built a strong foundation that, to this day, continues to change the lives of Native youth. Corey has been in the preservation and conservation field for more than 20 years. Having worked with Acoma’s Historic Preservation Office, he received the Heritage Preservation Award from former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson for his outstanding work on the San Estevan Del Rey Mission at Old Acoma. He also has devoted his time to working with the National Park Service in the preservation of Native and Non-Native Historic and prehistoric sites in the El Malpais/El Morro conservation area and monument, Petrified Forest National Park, and Aztec Ruins National Monument.
Member-At-LargeCornell "Corey" Torivio
Carlos Martinez del Rio
Carlos Martinez del Rio worked for decades as a professor in zoology and physiology at the University of Wyoming before settling in Silver City. He has a special fondness for hummingbirds and other pollinators. Martinez del Rio grew up on a cattle ranch in northern Mexico. His first job after finishing his doctoral degree was as a professor at Princeton University. He soon left for Wyoming after finding that New Jersey doesn’t offer much wilderness. “The land I love is the weird edge between the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts and the Colorado Plateau, which is southwestern New Mexico,” Martinez del Rio said. “Just think about it: I live in Silver City, at the edge of the world’s first established wilderness area, which is the Gila, surrounded by 2.5 million acres of national forest and two of the largest wilderness areas in the United States. I have six species of hummingbirds at the feeders and nectar-feeding bats coming in September. It’s a magnificent place to be a biologist and a hunter.” Martinez del Rio looks forward to bringing a scientific approach to analyzing wildlife management decisions in New Mexico and intends to be active in NMWF education programs.
Member-At-Large
Bryan grew up in the Midwest, and discovered a love for the outdoors while exploring the rivers and trails in Arkansas’ Ozark Mountains. Despite his suburban upbringing, he felt at home the first time he visited the Rocky Mountain West and now resides in Santa Fe with his wife Sarah, their dog Tater, 3 horses, 5 chickens, 3 goats and a cat. After graduating from Elon University, he’s worked in television and digital media for the last 15 years, and has been running Mountain Standard Creative, a video production company specializing in outdoor video, since 2017. Before that, he ran Outside Magazine's video channel, and continues to write and produce video content for Outside and other outdoor media outlets today. He got involved with NMWF in an effort to help conserve and protect the public land and wildlife he loves. You can usually find him outside, mountain biking, skiing, fly fishing or bowhunting.
Member-At-LargeByran Rogala
Julian Gonzales
Julian was born and raised in Santa Fe. He is married to Peggy and has three children. He is an avid hunter, angler, and all-around sportsman who enjoys recreating on public lands. He served 27 years in the military and is a decorated combat veteran, serving as 1SG in the New Mexico Army National Guard. He has shifted his energy and is now a passionate advocate for wildlife and public lands. If you get him talking, he may tell you a story or two from catching a hybrid bass in a pond at Saddam Hussein's palace to catching wild, attacking javelina bare-handed. He carries a remarkable wealth of knowledge on mountain and Spanish traditions. Passing this knowledge is one of Julian's passions. He is a firearms expert, bowhunter education instructor, HE instructor, NM land navigation instructor, survival instructor, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish northeast chair for the habitat stamp program and livestock rancher. As Northern NM Grassroots Organizer, Julian uses his local knowledge to unite individuals and communities for the protection of public lands with an emphasis on our Caja del Rio campaign.
Member-At-Large
Daniel is a lifelong New Mexican, from growing up in rural northeastern New Mexico, to attending UNM for both undergraduate and law school, to practicing law in Albuquerque now. He has hunted big game in New Mexico every year since getting his hunter’s safety card in childhood and now pursues various species across the state as often as possible. He also enjoys fishing, backpacking, and camping with his wife and young kids. Daniel cares deeply about the wildlife, habitat, and public access that make our state great, and joined the NMWF Board to contribute to the protection and enhancement of those animals, places, and opportunities.
Member-At-LargeDaniel AlSup
John Crenshaw studied journalism at New Mexico Highlands University and went on to work as a reporter, then associate editor, at the Santa Fe New Mexican before joining the Department of Game and Fish in 1974. He dedicated the next 23-plus years to the state’s wildlife and sportsmen, learning about game and fisheries management. Now retired, he got into the politics of wildlife management in 2011 to fight bills that would have eliminated the State Game Commission and open the door to partisan political hiring in the game department. He subsequently joined the NMWF board and has actively lobbied the Legislature on behalf of wildlife and sportsmen ever since.
President Emeritus, Board Advisor