New Mexico Board of Directors
The Boards of Directors with their combined diverse experiences are critical to assisting with strategic planning and fundraising to support the Chapters' humanitarian mission and services.
John Caldwell
What inspires you to serve on the Red Cross Board? My desire to help people, and my joy in building high performing teams. The Red Cross accomplishes so much good work, helping in times of severe need, like single family house fires locally and hurricanes and flooding outside of where I live. My mother and sister saved my uncle when he had a heart attack using CPR, and I want to give back. The American Red Cross provides me a way to give back, get the training I need and enjoy the strong fellowship amongst the staff and board.
What's your favorite Red Cross function, activity, or event? Celebrating the amazing volunteer contributions with the annual Volunteer Recognition events.
Where can we find you during your leisure time or on the weekend? Spending time with family, working in the yard, running, or watching the History channel.
A fun fact: I enjoy training and running marathons, spending time in meditation during long runs and enjoying the outdoors.
Joan Archibeque
What inspires you to serve on the Red Cross Board? My desire to help people especially when they are hit by an unexpected catastrophe. The American Red Cross mission to prevent and alleviate human suffering facing a crisis is where I find the structure, opportunity and training to do just that.
What's your favorite Red Cross function, activity, or event? Installing smoke alarms throughout the community I serve.
Where can we find you during your leisure time or on the weekend? Spending time with family, walking my dog, or binging on old TV crime shows.
A fun fact: When I was younger, I obtained my blackbelt in Karate and did a few kickboxing competitions.
Monica Chavez
What inspires you to serve on the Red Cross Board? The organization helps me identity the needs of people. Really tuning in to where I can best utilize my knowledge and give back where I can help benefit the community the most.
What's your favorite Red Cross function, activity, or event? Any activity where I am able to meet people, whether it be working to help the community or people who are in need of the RC help!
Where can we find you during your leisure time or on the weekend? With my family, going to the gym, playing softball and in church!
A fun fact: I love to dance, sing and travel! I’m a major goofball that also loves to laugh! My goal in life is to help people in the world not expecting a thing in return!
Victor Brian D’Andrea
What inspires you to serve on the Red Cross Board? I feel the mission is valuable, vital, and now!
What's your favorite Red Cross function, activity, or event? Watching Red Cross respond.
Where can we find you during your leisure time or on the weekend? On a good weekend I’m at Abiquiu Lake enjoying being unplugged and the SW landscape; other times with family do family things.
A fun fact: Started my professional life in Naval Aviation, carrier-based operations.
Yvonne Encinias
What inspires you to serve on the Red Cross Board? My deep commitment to helping those in need, whether it’s supporting disaster relief efforts, assisting veterans, or aiding vulnerable populations. My passion for service, combined with my experience in organizing charitable initiatives, drives me to contribute my skills and leadership to an organization that provides critical humanitarian aid.
What's your favorite Red Cross function, activity, or event? My favorite initiatives are sound the alarm and the pillow project. Helping families understand the importance of being proactive and educated about home fires.
Where can we find you during your leisure time or on the weekend? You can find me in the mountains any chance I can.
A fun fact: A fun fact about me is I am an avid hunter and love hunting with my kids and family.
Ruben Griego
What inspires you to serve on the Red Cross Board? I enjoy giving back to the community that has given so much to me. Helping others to succeed in life and in times of crisis is very important to me, trying to improve our community one person at a time.
What's your favorite Red Cross function, activity, or event? Telethons
Where can we find you during your leisure time or on the weekend? Coaching professional and amateur boxing and golfing.
Chad Krukowski
Trevor Reed
I was named Trevor at birth and my last name is Reed. I have been a lifelong New Mexico resident and feel a need to give back to our community.
What inspires you to serve on the Red Cross Board? The Red Cross is not recognized as much as it should be in the USA as a provider to folks who have fallen to natural disasters, natural and otherwise. I was drawn to the organization for this reason. The American Red Cross is like a little FEMA, but faster.
Where can we find you during your leisure time or on the weekend? I love watching the Lobo teams play live and am an avid reader.
A fun fact: about me is when I was young, we lived in Amalia, New Mexico. This was in the early Seventies and the home we lived in clearly had no indoor plumbing or electricity. I weighed less than my brother but had better upper body strength than my sister so I was the usually the one lowered in a bucket to chop the ice off the well so we could have water.
Donna Sanchez Zubia
What inspires you to serve on the Red Cross Board? The thing that inspired me to join the Red Cross Board was my desire to help those in my community when they need it the most.
What's your favorite Red Cross function, activity, or event? My favorite event is the volunteer appreciation luncheon. I love hearing the stories our volunteers have from their involvement with the Red Cross and to be able to thank them for giving their time so selflessly to help our community members during devastating times.
Where can we find you during your leisure time or on the weekend? You can find me wherever my kids are. I love taking them to explore the outdoors and showing them places I went as a kid.
A fun fact: I love listening to supernatural podcasts.
Karen Thompson
What inspires you to serve on the Red Cross Board? The Red Cross has a comprehensive program that is available during time of Disaster and the goal is to provide safety and assistance to those who have nowhere else to turn. My goal is to educate people on what the Red Cross is
What's your favorite Red Cross function, activity, or event? To work with the board members in developing ways to discuss and define the role of Red Cross
Where can we find you during your leisure time? I train my 2 border collies in agility. I also belong to a group, and we go on a hike weekly around here in the East Mountains. I attempt to spend time with my grandkids, 2 in Iowa and 4 in Florida
A fun fact: Started in ballet at the age of 3 and danced off and on till after I had my first child, who by the way was a girl and was destined to dance!!!!
Bernice Varela
What inspires you to serve on the Red Cross Board? Being able to support the community in a meaningful way.
What's your favorite Red Cross function, activity, or event? I am still new and have not attended many events apart from a couple.
Where can we find you during your leisure time or on the weekend? In my leisure time, you can catch me at the gym, out in nature, or reading a book. I also spend a lot of time in church, serving on the ministry team, and volunteering on another board.
A fun fact: I can draw but don’t I show my art to anyone.