Board of Directors | Las Cruces Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

LCHCC 2020 Board of Directors

Lorenzo Alba, Chairman

Lorenzo Alba, Jr. is the Executive Director of Casa de Peregrinos Emergency Food Program in Las Cruces and Doña Ana County, since 2011. He was the former publisher and editor of the Lordsburg Liberal (newspaper). He is married to Michelle B. Alba also of Las Cruces. In 2017 he was awarded the J. Paul Taylor Community Social Justice Award and NMSU College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Community Partner in 2018. He has served in various leadership roles in the community including as President of the Mesilla Valley Rotary Club, Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus of the Basilica de San Albino, current vice-chair of the Doña Ana County Emergency Food and Shelter Program, Board member of Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance, Leadership Las Cruces alumni (2012), former Executive Director of the storied Las Cruces PAL Program and Sammy Burke Boxing Club and is now the Chair of the Las Cruces Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Belia Alvarez, Vice-Chair

Belia Alvarez is a native of Las Cruces, NM. She has had a successful 23-year career in the Hospitality & Tourism Industry serving for many of those as a General Manager, Regional General Manager, and was recently promoted to Corporate Director of Community Relations and Executive Director for the NM Multi-Cultural Foundation for Heritage Hotels & Resorts. As Corporate Director of Community Relations, Alvarez is responsible for preserving and cultivating cultural partnerships and recognition, managing community relationships and advocating for collaborative opportunities to bring cultural and tourism awareness to New Mexico. Alvarez remains passionate and committed to the long term success of her community and state. She continues to serve and lead as an active member of numerous leadership organizations including Vice-Chair for the LCHCC Board, New Mexico Commissioner of Tourism, Past Board Member for the NM Hospitality Association, NMSU-HRTM Advisory Board, Spaceport Ambassador, Board Member for Visit Las Cruces, and past Chair for the Las Cruces Convention & Visitors Bureau (Visit Las Cruces) Board.

Rick Supple, Immediate Past-Chair

Rick Supple is Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager of the Washington Federal Branch since September 2010. He primarily works on Residential Housing Mortgage Loans with an emphasis on the Single Close Construction Loan offered by Washington Federal. All told, Supple has 15 years experience in the Mortgage Lending industry. He holds a Bachelors Degree from The University of Arizona, Tucson and also graduated from Albuquerque Academy High School. Rick has held positions of Chairmen of the Board and Treasurer for the Las Cruces Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and has been a member of the Hispanic Chamber since 2011. He was also the previous Chair of the Southern NM Mortgage Lenders Association. He has served as well on the Dona Ana County Legislative Coalition. Rick has also served on the United Way Funding Committee and is proud of the relationship between Washington Federal and our local United Way. Rick and his team at Washington Federal participate in Financial Literacy programs throughout the Mesilla Valley including presentations for Money Smart Week, Mesilla Valley Habitat for Humanity, Mesilla Valley Public Housing Authority, and Save at School programs for Mercer Academy and Desert Springs Christian Academy of Las Cruces.

Richard Aguilar, Past-Chair

Richard Aguilar is currently the Director of Accounting of Families & Youth, Inc. and President of Aguilar Accounting Inc. Aguilar has over twenty-four years of combined experience in Management, Accounting, Administration, Manufacturing, Training, and Non-Profit environments. Since his initial involvement with the Las Cruces Hispanic Chamber of Commerce board in 2011, he has served as board member, Treasurer, Chairman of the board and Past Chair. He has also served on the Mesilla Valley Economic Development Alliance (MVEDA) board, The Bridge of Southern NM board, the Southwest Spanish Baptist Association board, Spanish Baptist Convention of New Mexico board, Success Partnership, Doña Ana County Legislative Coalition (DACLC) and has been involved in numerous community events and has sponsored local sport events and youth conferences.

Wendy Zuñiga Beasley, Treasurer

Wendy Zuñiga Beasley works at the Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine at New Mexico State University. Wendy is the Clerkship Coordinator and is responsible for recruiting physicians, analyzing administrative workflow, and scheduling student clerkship rotations with hospitals and clinics throughout the region. Wendy served as the Secretary of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Board from 2016-2018 and was an Amigo Representative. Prior to serving on the board, Wendy was the Co-Chair of the Los Amigos Executive Committee and Division Director of the Marketing Committee. Ms. Zuniga Beasley is the past chair for the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce Las Cruces Young Professionals Club. She has been inspired by the Las Cruces Hispanic Chamber since she received the Middle School Recognition Program Award. Wendy served on the Las Cruces Timbers Soccer board as the director of Tournaments & Camps. Wendy was also part of the committee for the Latinas in Leadership and is the Chair of Las Cruces Timbers kids with special needs camp. Wendy is passionate about her family and helping others, and has the ability to inspire people around her into action. She donates her time at several charitable organizations and is currently the head coach for the Las Cruces Thorns youth soccer team.

Rosa Bañuelos, Secretary

Rosa Bañuelos is the Project Specialist at Alamogordo Public Schools. In 2011, she received her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing and Foreign Languages, concentrating in Spanish from New Mexico State University.

In her current position, Rosa serves as a core member of the Community School Launch Pad Academy. She is also responsible for branding and marketing recruitment programs for the APS district.

Rosa has been a board member of the Las Cruces Hispanic Chamber of Commerce since 2016. She currently serves as the Secretary and Marketing Committee Liaison.

Miriam Alcala, Board Director

Miriam Alcala has been an active Realtor in the Las Cruces area for 5 years and has recently join KT Homes as a New Home Specialist. She is a graduate of Eastern Arizona College and completed her Bachelor’s Degree at NMSU in Communication Studies. Mrs. Alcala also served as the secretary on the board of directors of Mesilla Valley CASA, an organization that advocated for Dona Ana County’s Foster children. Prior to getting her real estate license, Miriam owned a local marketing company and was the publisher and editor of Nuestra Vida, a lifestyle Spanish magazine. Throughout the years she has interacted with local business owners and has been inspired by them. Alcala is passionate about small business and its economic vitality.

Jeffrey Silva, Board Director

Jeffrey Silva is the Past Board Chair of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and current Board Chair of Cuidandos Los Ninos. Jeffrey is also a Board Member of Children Harvest Home which is a Christian Orphanage in Cameroon Africa. He is the past Board Chair of March of Dimes and creator of Team Zane Celebrity Waiter giving back nearly $400,000 to non-profits in the Community. Jeffrey is the Business Banking Relationship Manager for BBVA Bank. In the word of Jeffrey, “I am committed to the community and strive every day to make it a better place for the citizens of Southern New Mexico and the future of our Children"

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