The episodes in this series have been created to highlight collaborative efforts and the leaders who coordinate them in New Mexico. These episodes are being released leading up to the 4th Annual NMCEWL Summit on April 21st, 2021 at 10:00am MST. Be sure to listen to the podcasts ahead of the Summit to participate in our conversations around collaboration and coalition building around working lands in the state of New Mexico.

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Where to LIsten to the Podcast

Apple Podcasts

Google Play

Amazon Music

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Ep. 6 Dr. Valerie Small and Sebastian Africano and Trees, Water & People

Join co-host Arielle Quintana for a conversation with Sebastian Africano and Dr. Valerie Small about the work that the organization Trees, Water & People is doing in New Mexico! 

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Ep. 5 Patricia Dowd of Western Landowners Association

Steph Marie von Ancken speaks to Patricia on bringing diverse interests together to achieve a common goal: the conservation, restoration and protection of lands, water and wildlife. She is the Policy Associate at the Western Landowners Association.

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EP. 4 Gabaccia Moreno, and More Deep and Inclusive Public LAnds

Gabaccia Moreno
Nuestra Tierra
Gabaccia is a first-generation Mexican-American multi-disciplinary creator, consultant, and passionate outdoor advocate #ExploringResponsibly wherever life takes her. Having grown up in Veracruz, Mexico to a family of hunters and ranchers gave her an appreciation for the land and its wildlife at an early age, one that prevails today. Her works, whether artistic, creative, or entrepreneurial, have always intersected with the social and environmental issues that surround her.

​Gabaccia Moreno is passionate about creating spaces to talk about what it means to explore responsibility. In both her freelance work and in her spare time, Gabaccia works on projects to help expand the conversation around conservation and public lands to be more inclusive and to tell a deeper story of what it means to recreate in them.

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EP. 3 Lilly Irvin-Vitela and New Mexico First

Lilly Irvin-Vitella
President and Executive Director, New Mexico First
Lilly Irvin-Vitela was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Part of her family has been in New Mexico since prior to statehood and others came in the 1940s. She has over 25 years of experience working for private and public community-based and state level organizations dedicated to improving the well-being of individuals, families, and communities. She formerly served as the president of her private consulting practice, and executive director of the Wisconsin Head Start Association, Supporting Families Together Association, and New Mexico Center for Dispute Resolution. Lilly attended the University of New Mexico as a Presidential Scholar and graduated with honors with a B.A. in philosophy and political science. Lilly also earned a Masters in Community and Regional Planning from the University of New Mexico. Lilly now lives in Peralta, NM with her family and is the mother of two adult children. She enjoys spending time outdoors with friends and family, playing with her pygmy goats, chickens, dog, and cats.

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EP. 2 Judy Torres, Realtors, and Acequias

Judy Torres
Executive Director, Taos Valley Acequia Association (TVAA) 
Judy has been the Executive Director of the Taos Valley Acequia Association (TVAA) for twelve years. The TVAA is one of the oldest and largest regional acequia associations in New Mexico, established in 1989. They educate and inform people on water rights, water banking, water transfers etc. Presently they are working with a number of other local organizations to create a program that informs realtors and new home owners about the history and culture around acequias and the necessity of acequia management. Having grown up in Taos, Judy has a personal connection with the land and water systems she works to manage. 

NOTE: Another great podcast interview with Judy.

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Ep. 1 The Leopold Conservation Award

On this premier of the NMCEWL Summit Podcast, New Mexico Collaborations, David Bailey and Lance Irving of the Sand County Foundation's Leopold Conservation Award® Program, talk about what it means to engage diverse stakeholders in collaboratively honoring NM landowners who go above and beyond to care for the land, water, and resources in our state.

David Bailey
Western Director, Leopold Conservation Award® Program
David manages the Sand County Foundation’s Leopold Conservation Award Program in western states. His upbringing on a Utah dairy farm developed his love for agriculture. His professional service to agriculture included a 13-year career with the Utah Farm Bureau, overseeing its Young Farmer and Rancher program as Vice President of Organization. David, who once operated his own woodworking business, has also worked as a professional hunting guide and as a farm manager. Prior to joining Sand County's team in 2019 he worked in commercial and agricultural banking. David remains an active partner in his family's elk, horse and hay farm. He and his wife, Sharleen, and their six children reside in rural Utah.

​Lance Irving
Director, Leopold Conservation Award® Program
Lance took the helm of Sand County Foundation’s Leopold Conservation Award Program in 2016 after more than 15 years of experience in the outdoor sporting goods industry, and prior to that as a professional wilderness hunting and fishing guide. As chief sales and marketing officer at two outdoor manufacturing companies, Lance became a recognized leader in the industry for successfully identifying market needs and expanding the customer base by focusing on clearly defining a brand message and forming strategic partnerships. His work has been profiled in trade publications and television programs, and he has been honored with several high profile sales and marketing awards.

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