Funder Panel

Marsie Silvestro brings four decades of expertise to her roles as an intuitive and dynamic Executive Director, Board and Staff Trainer, Group Retreat Facilitator and Mentor. Her leadership experience spans work on both the local and national levels. She is proficient in the Appreciative Inquiry Strategic Model which focuses on identifying an organization's strengths through individual and group interviewing progresses that honors what has been done, creates transformative collective dreaming and creating effective solution based and accomplishable work plans that will move an agency toward growth and a new pathways toward a successful mission.

Marsie believes that no matter what someone’s position is in an agency or the community, all are needed to steer towards a future that elevates the voices and needs of those they serve, as well as ensures that staff and board members feel heard, listened to, included, and appreciated as a thread in the web of service and safety.

Ross Chaney is a seasoned nonprofit and business consultant who specializes in strategic planning, writing, executive coaching, and applications of AI for nonprofits and small organizations. He has 20 years of experience in northern New Mexico nonprofit and public service, working across different leadership roles and diverse sectors. Ross’ experience includes:

1. Coaching for ED’s and program staff for leadership development
2. Governance, organizational development, operations and strategy
3. Policy issues, program/operations expansion or reduction
4. Budgeting and finance coaching
5. Reviewing grant proposals, reports, and other documents
6. Exploring the potential of AI for your organization
7. Extensive knowledge of Native American and NM culture

Sylvan Argo joined the LANL Foundation in 2019 as Grants Manager to oversee the expansion of the funding program and build community connection. She brings more than 20 years of experience researching, creating, piloting, implementing, and evaluating programs in government, nonprofit, and school settings, both nationally and internationally, with focus on youth, environment, governmental and community relations, public and behavioral health, and education. Born in Botswana, Africa, and raised primarily overseas in variouscountries spanning Africa and the Middle East, Sylvan has strong family roots in Northern New Mexico that have brought her here throughout her lifetime. As a Third Culture Kid, she appreciates and celebrates New Mexico’s richly diverse,multicultural environment.Sylvan is a dedicated advocate for social equity and youth voice and achievement. Most recently, she spent 10 years working with The Family YMCA in Los Alamos, the last five of which were spent serving as Director of the Los Alamos Teen Center. The LATC works with youth from surrounding communities, both on and off the hill, connecting them to enrichment programs, activities, events, and trainings that strengthen self-efficacy and resiliency. Sylvan holds an MSc in Human Ecology from the University of Strathclydein Glasgow, Scotland. Her dissertation focused on youth-driven leadership and ecological literacy in a youth environmental program. Sylvan has a BA in Psychology from Whitman College in Walla Walla, WA. Her honors thesis explored community health and behavior prevention in Botswana. As a mother of a rambunctious kiddo, Sylvan appreciates the daily reminders to play, learn, and explore the magic in every moment. She loves spending time immersed in art, music, and nature.

Linda Candelaria-Dodd assumed the role of Executive Director of Con Alma Health Foundation in January 2024. Raised in rural New Mexico, Linda has spent her life living and working in small communities in New Mexico and Arizona including the Navajo Nation in Northwestern NM and the White Mountain Apache Reservation in Cibeque, AZ. Linda previously served as a Resource Development Manager for a substance abuse/mental health facility and as Executive Director of United Way of Eddy County. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Eastern NM University. While residing in Carlsbad, NM she is focused on serving the entire state to build health equity for everyone living in New Mexico.

Diane Hamamoto is the Director of Grants & Community Impact at the Santa Fe Community Foundation. In this position, there are two primary goals: deploying money to nonprofits as quickly and efficiently as possible through our grants processes (donor-advised, competitive, emergency grants),and building strong relationships with our area nonprofits by listening, learning, and sharing information.

Prior to joining the community foundation in 2010, Diane worked for 27 years mainly in the corporate legal area, and law firm administration. She attended the University of Michigan’s School of Natural Resources in the early ‘80s – hence the decision to move to Boston and work in the much more lucrative legal field.  

 Outside of the office, you will find Diane playing in the kitchen or outside in the garden, growing and learning the medicinal qualities of plants.

Elsa Lopez is originally from a small farming community in Chihuahua, Mexico and has lived in New Mexico for 25 years. She has a BA in Finance and Marketing from UNM. Elsa has spent over 20 years spearheading racial and economic justice campaigns in New Mexico and nationally to build power and advocate for immigrants and low wage workers. Her commitment to racial and economic justice is rooted in her own experience as an immigrant student. She continues to be inspired by the tenacity, resiliency, and courage of her community who dare to reimagine and create a more just and equitable future for our familias. Elsa loves food, hiking, gardening, and photography.

Carla Romero (she/her/ella) is the Executive Director at the McCune Charitable Foundation. She has worked in the non-profit sector for close to 30 years and has worked at the McCune Charitable Foundation in Santa Fe, New Mexico since January 2012 (as Administrative Director, Interim Executive Director and now as ED).  Carla is interested in fostering a collaborative and equitable culture for her lean team and the communities they serve. Her passion to create more access to opportunities and remove barriers, especially for students of color, was fueled by her first job in student development as part of the University of New Mexico’s NASA Training Project and deepened in her role as Director of the Academic Center for Engineers at the University of Texas at El Paso (a center run by students for students). She came to the McCune Foundation from the Computing Research Association where she served as the Director of Programs, working toward increasing the number of women and people of color in the field of computing research. Carla works with the McCune Board and leadership team to advance the Foundation’s mission and strategic plan as well as manage the Foundation’s resources and operations. Carla is a first-generation college graduate, and holds an undergraduate degree from UNM and a Masters of Public Administration from UTEP. She enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, cooking and exploring paths by her home along the acequias of the semi-rural Village of Los Ranchos.

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