TAOS LAND TRUST BOARD OF DIRECTORS


Left to right: Del Dubois, Tony Benson, Chris Smith, Linda Yardley, Erminio Martinez, Diane Enright,
Jeffrey Cohen (former board member), Crestina Trujillo Armstrong, John Mockovciak
(Not Pictured: Julia Armstrong, Teresa Pisaño, Ann Ellen Tuomey)

Crestina Trujillo Armstrong, Community Relations Committee Chair
A fourth generation Taoseña and active rancher and farmer, Crestina and her brother dedicated a conservation easement to TLT on their family’s ranch in 1999. She joined the TLT Board in January 2000. She is also on the Board of Directors of the Northern New Mexico Stockman’s Association, Chair of the New Mexico Farm Bureau Women’s Committee, a member of the New Mexico BLM Resource Advisory Committee, and active in numerous other community and agricultural groups.

Julia Armstrong, Member
Julia is a Partner at Armstrong & Armstrong, P.C., a local law firm. She has Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science degrees from the University of Michigan, and took her law degree in 1984 from the University of Texas School of Law. Since moving to New Mexico, Mrs. Armstrong has concentrated on real estate transactions, title issues, and related litigation. She is also active in land use and planning, frequently representing neighborhood groups in matters before the Town and County zoning authorities.

Anthony Benson, Ph.D., Member
Tony is a retired geologist, formerly Vice-President of Exploration for Amoco. He has a Ph.D. in geology from Ohio State University and is currently an Adjunct Professor at UNM-Taos teaching geology, soils, and groundwater. Tony has been ranching and restoring rangeland on his Wolf Springs Ranch since the early 90s and has permanently protected almost 2,900 acres of his land with conservation easements. He is on the Board of Supervisors of the Taos Soil & Water Conservation District.

Delafield DuBois, Secretary
Del has spent a lifetime exploring the wilds by foot, ski, and boat. He has floated over 30,000 river miles, including over 20 years as a commercial guide and co-owner of Los Rios River Runners. Growing up in the woods less than a mile from Walden Pond, then living on the edge of the mind-boggling sprawl of Southern California, he understands the importance of land conservation. With a degree in anthropology and Latin American history, he has worked as an archeologist for the Carson National Forest and a River Ranger for the Bureau of Land Management. He has also served on the Boards of Taos Search and Rescue and the Albuquerque Mountain Rescue Council.

Diane Enright, Fundraising Committee Chair
Diane has been a Taos resident for 35 years and has worked in real estate the past 20. She has two grown children, enjoys cooking, reading, and travel. When she’s not working, you’ll often find her involved in community events like the Taos High School Scholarship Fund, the local Chamber of Commerce, and Community Against Violence. Diane is also President of the Holy Cross Hospital Foundation. She is always awed by the views of the Rio Grande Gorge and Taos Mountain and feels downright lucky to be able to call Taos home and work with Taos Land Trust to help protect that landscape.

Erminio Martinez, Land Committee Chair
Born, raised, and educated in Taos County, Erminio’s family had a ranching operation that kept him close to nature and agriculture. This is where he learned his love and appreciation for Mother Nature and its resources found a deep passion for environmental justice. Erminio is a military veteran and attended Highlands University and the National Judicial College in Reno. He is also educated in the practices and principles of real estate, and helped to complete the water adjudication of the acequias of northern New Mexico. After retiring as a Magistrate Judge, he worked for the Taos tribal government, the Pojoaque tribal government, and now spends his time with his horses.

John Mockovciak, Treasurer/Finance Committee Chair
John has over 30 years’ experience as a financial advisor and is currently Managing Director with the Dallas office of Robert W. Baird. John’s disciplined approach to managing risk and commitment to his clients’ needs have led to long-lasting relationships and recognition as a national leader in the field. He served as a volunteer arbitrator for the Better Business Bureau of Dallas and has contributed his expertise to numerous nonprofits. John was instrumental in obtaining the first public municipal bond financing for a Texas charter school and currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Dallas Foundation and the Board of the Combined Prehistoric Expedition.

Teresa Pisaño, Member
Teresa, native born-and-raised San Diegan, was awed and smitten with Taos in 1990. Retiring from a 30 year airline career, she moved here in 1999. Her volunteer and work experiences in Taos have included Casa de Corazon, Taos Ski Valley’s Children’s Ski School, Society of the Muse of the Southwest youth mentor, Taos Historic Museums, Equine Spirit Sanctuary, and Ouray Meyers gallery associate. Due to her appreciation of open and unobstructed vistas around Taos, including the view of Taos Pueblo land from her home, she has been an active volunteer with Taos Land Trust for many years.

Christopher M. Smith, President
Chris is general manager for the Taos Inn, a local historic fixture and favorite gathering spot. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, he was exposed to the issues of industrial pollution and reclamation early in life. Chris earned a BA in Economics at Colby College, has worked for the Chewonki Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to environmental education and sustainability, and in tax accounting, construction, retail sales, and management. Chris is involved with the Mankind Project of New Mexico. While not taking care of the Inn, Chris is most at home in the forests of the Camino Real or his vegetable garden in Ranchos de Taos, where he finds solace, connection, and gratitude.

Ann Ellen Tuomey, Member
Drawn by the area's natural beauty, culture, and relaxed pace, Ann Ellen and her husband moved to Taos in 1999. With a background in teaching and accounting and commitments to conservation, education, and community service, Ann Ellen has found many opportunities for volunteer activity. She has been a kitchen worker at The Shared Table, a board member of her neighborhood association, and a Discovery Program tutor in The Taos Public Schools. A long-time volunteer at both The Wildlife Center in Española and Taos Land Trust, she works as a bird handler and wildlife educator at the Center and is involved in everything from stuffing envelopes to field work at the land trust.

Linda Yardley, Vice President
A Native of Taos Pueblo, Linda is a believer in volunteerism and committed to land conservation for the future of our children and grandchildren. She is the Vice-Chair of the Taos Pueblo-Picuris Health Board and Chair of Precinct 13 of the Taos Democratic Party. Linda is Regional Coordinator of the National Tribal Development Association, whose goal is to increase economic development opportunities in farming and ranching for Indian tribes and individuals. She is a graduate of Taos High School and attended the University of New Mexico and University of Colorado. She is a trained mediator and worked for the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center for many years.