2010 Española Fiesta Board Members
Manny Martinez -- President, Co-Chair for Party and Events, Co-Chair for Music and Entertainment
I was born and raised in Española. My parents are Mel and Jeri Martinez. I have four wonderful children, Sofia, Claudia, Rebecca and Isaiah. I am employed with Jemez Mountain Electric Co-op where I have worked for 20+ years.
My passion is music! I play for all occasion events and parties. I specialize in Country music, original music, soft rock and oldies. I am currently working on my second CD. Music is as much a part of me as my soul. I will continue to make music and enjoy the gift God has given me.
I enjoy helping my community by providing entertainment, providing sound for events, organize events and festivals and I’m asked to emcee for several events. More.
Brian Martinez -- Co-Vice President and Co-Chair for Entertainment and Music
I have been a life-long resident of the beautiful Española Valley where I live with my beautiful wife, Danette, and our three wonderful children, Alyssa, Daynee and Brian Elijah-Jude. I spent the majority of my career working at Los Alamos National Laboratory where I am currently an Information Technology Manager. I am also the owner of Enchanted Music Productions, a full production music studio. I am an established musician and recording Artist with three CDs released on the independent market. My latest was released this May with my 9 year-old son. It is a Christian-based CD titled "Gracias Dios".
I have been part of the Fiestas for 3 years. I joined to help "bring back" the Fiesta tradition to our Valley and to help showcase the musical talent of Northern New Mexico. The Española area is blessed with some of the best musicians in the state. More.
LyAnn Vigil -- Co-Vice President, Co-Chair Party and Events
Hi. I’m LyAnn N. Vigil. I have been on the Fiesta Council for three years. I am the Classified Manager for the Rio Grande SUN. I grew up in the beautiful Española Valley but currently reside with my husband and two children in the heart of Chimayo.
I joined the Fiesta Council three years ago because I wanted to bring back the culture in our community. With my passion in marketing, I felt my knowledge could be useful for the Fiesta Council. I have enjoyed making this annual event a success and hope that with great help from the community the Española Fiesta continues to be successful.
Judy Salazar-Martinez -- Treasurer, Co-Chair for Parade
I was born and raised in the two northern New Mexico communities of Youngsville and Cañones. The youngest of sixteen siblings, I am a firm believer in the values of faith, family and traditions. I am an educator in the Pojoaque Valley School District. The children are our most treasured jewel!!! Encenienlos a jugar y juegan, encenienlos a gritar y gritan, encenienlos los libros y se desarollaran con su educación. Su educación es lo unico que nadien les puede quitar!
Andrew Herrera -- Chair for Booth Rental
I was born and raised in the Española Valley, graduated in 1992 from Española Valley High School, pursued a degree in Organizational Management and currently work at the Plaza de Española as Director.
My first experience with the Fiestas in Española dates back to when I was young and enjoyed the carnival and food booths. Last year was the first year that I was really involved with the great celebration and decided I would get more involved with the 2010 Española Fiesta.
Julianna Martinez Barbee -- Co-Chair for Promotions and Publicity
I grew up in Española and left the state to pursue my TV broadcast career. My first career consisted of 25 years of broadcast television and marketing business (TV reporter, TV anchor, commercial producer, national advertising). I am a business owner of Barbee Training Nationwide. My husband, Greg, and I present training seminars nationwide. I am also the Director of the Small Business Development Center at NNMC where I assist businesses, entrepreneurs and artists in the areas of Broadcast Media, Marketing and Internet. I am a Certified National Stephen Covey Trainer in the "7 Habits for Small Business Managers". I have BA Degrees in Advertising/PR and Broadcast Journalism and TV Production. As a past fiesta queen, being involved with the fiestas is like walking in the footsteps of the past and present. Through time our cultures have become united by faith and family; time has brought me back to the place I call "home". More.
Greg Barbee -- Co-Chair for Promotions and Publicity
I grew up west of Denver, Colorado, skiing and bicycling. I received my BA in Mass Communication and Broadcast Journalism from NMSU and went out of state to work in radio and television as a reporter, anchor and news director. I am currently a Training Manager (Group Leader) at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) responsible for leading and managing three teams. I have 20 years experience in training and organizational development. I am a business owner of Barbee Training and Consulting Nationwide, together with my beautiful wife, Julianna. We team train and customize business training for businesses and conferences nationwide. Volunteering my time with the Fiesta Council is a rewarding experience because I love the small-town celebration of the community’s history. The event brings out the values of the community; the value of family and friends having an opportunity to come together and have fun. More.
Chayo Garcia -- Co-Chair for Promotions and Publicity
I was born in Las Cruces, NM. Moved to Española with Manuel (my husband) and raised my two boys here. They have moved away and my husband and I have stayed here to run the family business. I am currently a City Councilor of Española, that is when I became involved with the Fiesta de Española.
I love working on the Fiesta council because I have met the nicest people from Northern New Mexico. This is when I figured why they call this state "The Land Of Enchantment".
Camilla Romero -- Seargent-of-Arms, Chair for La Reina Committee
I am a native of Española. I attended Española High School and am a graduate of New Mexico State University where I receives two Bachelors of Science degrees in Agriculture Education and Horticulture. I am currently employed by the State of New Mexico.
I have been involved in Fiestas since I was a Page at the age of two and a half. I was also Fiesta Queen in 1997. My parents and I have been involved with the Española Fiestas Council for more than 30 years. My mother, Mary Ann, has made both Oñate’s and La Reina’s outfits for many years. My father, Nick, has been in charge of the Religious and Torch run committee for many years as well. I have been the Queen’s Court Chairperson since 2008.
Tania Sanchez -- Co-Chair for Oñate Committee
I am a native of Espanola and graduated from EVHS in 1994. I attended NMSU where I obtained a B.S. in Human Nutrition and then, in 2002, an MBA in Finance from the College of Santa Fe. I am a Business Manager at Los Alamos National Laboratory where I have worked for the past 8 years. I specialize in international contracting and finance/budget. I am married to Joseph Sanchez who portrayed Juan de Onate in 2009, and together we have two children; Mia is 6 years old and Andres is 3 years old. I became involved with the Fiesta Council in 2008. Aside from spending time with her family and friends, I enjoy running, snowboarding, camping and traveling.
Fiesta is important to me because it’s our tradition each year to remember Juan de Oñate and the legacy he brought to our beautiful Española Valley. By being involved with the council and the Reina and Oñate courts, I have gained a new appreciation for our history, culture, and way of living here in Española.
Nikki Bustos -- Chair for Fiesta Poster
I am a native of Española Valley, and have been involved with the Española Fiesta Council for two years now. I decided I wanted to be an active member of my community and came to the conclusion that the Fiestas would be a great way for me to not only be active in Española, but in my neighboring communities as well. I resurrected the "Official Fiesta Poster" contest in 2009 and will continue the tradition for the 2010 Fiestas.
When not tending to my Fiesta Council duties, I am busy in my art career. I obtained my degree in Fine Art in 2007. I started my art career working as an art consultant in downtown Santa Fe, for galleries such as "The Chuck Jones Gallery" and "Ortegas on the Plaza". Being surrounded by art daily in Santa Fe, I decided my passion was not to sell art, but to create and teach it. My love for art led me to wanting to teach it to the youth and my dream came true when I was awarded the Fine Arts Director position at the Pueblo of Pojoaque where I am currently employed. I also works for the Española School District with the "Arts in the School" program where I work as an instructor. When not teaching art to my students, I enjoys spending a large amount of my free time creating art. My medium of choice is black and white photography, but retablos, bultos, tinwork, glass fusion, painting and pottery are all mediums I enjoy to create with as well.
My future plans include staying active in the Española Fiestas for years to come as well as pursue my career in art. I love New Mexico and all it has to offer, the beauty, weather, food, culture, and traditions. But the Española Valley is always going to be where I call home.
Ron Gallegos -- Co-Chair for Religious Committee
I am a 7th grade teacher at Carlos F. Vigil School in Española. I also volunteer my time as a coach for the Española Softball League. I coach T-ball and softball for kids ages 3 to 18. I believe in our youth and have a passion to work with them not only by helping them learn but by teaching lifelong lessons. Kids of all ages have so much potential, I just try to help them find it. I listen to kids and we have talks about experiences in life. I feel good when kids grow up and they come back and tell me about the "life lesson" they took with them and they still remember.
Volunteering for the Española Fiesta Council is important to me because it’s a way to also give back to our youth and get them involved in our ancestors, our traditions and our culture. I believe in the 5 Ws; I always ask who, what, where, when and why so they can understand the importance of our culture and so that they will be able to pass on these traditions from generation to generation.
Carmen Espinoza-Quintana -- Co-Chair for Religious Committee
I am a native of Española and I am married to Steve. I have one son, Derick, and one granddaughter, Keanna Camille. I am a licensed cosmetologist and spend a lot of time volunteering my time at McCurdy School where my granddaughter is a student. My hobbies include sewing and embroidery. I am participating in this year’s fiesta because I want my granddaughter to learn and appreciate her heritage.
Anna and Mike Rael -- Co-Chairs for Senior Dance
We are both very active in our community and volunteer and help with several different groups and organizations. We are board members of the concerned citizens of Northern New Mexico, and "Put a Smile on a Child’s Face". We also volunteer at the San Martin De Porres Soup kitchen. Mike is a member of the Española Valley Knights of Columbus council and is the Deputy Grand Knight. We both help with all the fundraisers and are very active with all the Knights initiatives which include helping the needy in our area. The Espanola Knights of Columbus just hosted the State Convention for the Knights of Columbus in Española and over 450 Knights and their families enjoyed 3 days in our beautiful Española Valley.
Anna is employed by the department of Health at Northern New Mexico Quality Care agency as a family living provider for people with special needs. We were elected king and queen of the Beatrice Martinez Senior Center and belong to santa Cruz De La Cañada Parish.
Leroy Martinez -- Member
I was born and raised in Chimayo where my family roots run deep. I am married to Judy Salazar-Martinez and we have two daughters, Melissa and Camille, who have been involved in the Fiesta’s Royal Court for several years. By getting involved in the Fiesta Council, I am ensuring that the traditions and culture of the Española Valley are preserved for our children and grandchildren’s generation.
Derick Quintana -- Member
I am a native of Española and I am a single parent of one daughter, Keanna. I am a graduate of Pojoaque High School and a veteran of the United States Army. I have been employed by Jemez Mountain Electric Cooperative for 10 years. I enjoy the outdoors and being involved with my daughter’s activities and school. I joined the fiesta council to help instill the values of culture and tradition in our children.
