Our Board
Our board represents a cross-section of the communities we serve and has a passion for being the voice for vulnerable youth in both Sandoval and Valencia Counties. Our members work diligently to ensure long-term sustainability and financial stability of the organization.
STEVEN SANCHEZ, Ph.D. PRESIDENT
Dr. Steven Sanchez, a retired educator, joined the CASA Partners 4NMKIDS board of directors on July 31, 2020. In addition to his teaching and administrative experience, Dr. Sánchez has served as a policy analyst for the NM Senate Education Committee, was an active contributor to a NM Public Education Department task force on early literacy and has served on numerous non-profit boards. Steven graduated from the University of New Mexico with a B.S. in elementary education, Pittsburg State University with a M.S. in Community College Teaching, and New Mexico State University with a Ph.D. in Education Administration.
HAZEL MARTINEZ, VICE-PRESIDENT
Hazel Martinez, a retired Corporate Security Director and Human Resources Manager for a private defense contractor, served as a CASA Volunteer in Valencia County from March 2015 to April 2019. This involvement gave her the opportunity to experience, firsthand, the issues and concerns that CASA volunteers are confronted with in their efforts to be the voice of the children they represent. Hazel’s desire to do whatever she can to help educate Valencia County in better understanding the CASA program has carried over to her role as a member of the CASA Partners 4NMKids Board of Directors where she began serving in May 2019.
KAREN BROWN, SECRETARY
Karen served on both local and national-level boards of NCMS, a Society of Industrial Security Professionals, for approximately 14 years. NCMS is a non-profit organization. At the local level, Karen is once again the Chapter Chair, having previously served in the position for four years. She has also served as Secretary and Treasurer for a combined seven years. At the national level, Karen has been a Subcommittee Chair for the last six years. Success in these positions is a demonstration of her leadership and organizational abilities, as well as the fundraising events she has been a part of over the years. A majority of Karen's professional career has been in the security field. The skill set required to protect our nation's war-fighters can easily be applied to protecting the children in the child welfare system who desperately need an organization such as CASA Partners 4NMKids. Karen is passionate about protecting and assisting those who are vulnerable, particularly children who are unable to be their own advocates.
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RON MOOREHEAD, TREASURER
Ron Moorehead is a graduate of the UNM Anderson School of Management. He is currently President and CEO of First Financial Credit Union in Albuquerque. With a grown child and experience serving the community on other philanthropic boards and volunteer organizations, Ron expresses his desire to work to improve outcomes for children in foster care in Sandoval and Valencia Counties.
SARAH SMAGACZ, BOARD MEMBER
Sarah is a northern New Mexico native and law student at the University of New Mexico. She's provided direct care for over a dozen foster children in a shelter setting. Sarah says developing relationships with foster youth has been the most impactful experience of her life thus far. Sarah’s work with foster youth and mentally ill adults has helped her understand the challenges faced by both youth and families involved with the child welfare system. During her time on the board, she hopes to provide meaningful support to CASA volunteers and the staff that make the program viable. In her free time, she can be found trail running, playing with her dog, or spending time with one of the many on-campus groups in which she is involved. Sarah enjoys serving the CASA program because it combines her passions of law and foster care advocacy.
Elizabeth M. Ortega-Ethelbah, BOARD MEMBER
Elizabeth M. Ortega-Ethelbah is currently retired and joined the CASA Board of Directors in September, 2024. Ms. Ethelbah had been actively involved with children as a teacher and indirectly as an education consultant, education lobbyist, and co-owner of a tutoring company for Title 1 students.
Ms. Ethelbah graduated from The University of New Mexico with a degree in Secondary Education and Communicative Arts. She received her Masters from Highland University in Secondary Education and also earned an Administrative license.
Dana Squires, BOARD MEMBER
Dana Squires has been a CASA Volunteer since 2019 after retiring to New Mexico. She spent 35 years in the trucking industry and retired from UPS after holding a variety of Executive Level roles.
During her career, she created an environment of community involvement among her employees and colleagues who volunteered with her at Habitat for Humanity, The Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, National Adoption Day and various Homeless Missions, across the US. She continues to be involved in working with the Homeless in Albuquerque at Father Robert’s kitchen. She served on the Board of The Women’s Business Council Southwest from 2009-2022 in Dallas and chaired the Certification Appeals Committee from 2019-2022.
She currently serves on the Board of Focolare Media and Holy Cross Family Ministries where she serves on the finance committees. She and her husband live in Placitas where she serves as President of their HOA. They have a grown son who lives in Ft Worth. Dana believes that showing concrete acts of love, compassion, and kindness to others can change lives.
Bill Stanage Jr, BOARD MEMBER
Bill Stanage Jr., born in 1959 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is a distinguished leader
and philanthropist. Graduating from Highland High School in 1977, he pursued a
welding program at TVI, now CNM, where he earned recognition as the youngest
student and later as CNM Alumni of the Year in 2007.
His college years at Rutgers University and the University of New Mexico were marked by active involvement in civic programs and membership in the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. After college, he excelled in the family welding supply business, eventually becoming President of Valley Welders Supply Company in 1997. Bill successfully sold Valley Welders Supply Company to Airgas in 2000.
In 2000, Bill ventured into finance, achieving remarkable success as a Registered
Representative with Financial Network Investment Corporation. His expertise earned
him prestigious accolades like the Top of the Table” status in the Million Dollar Round
Table and designations such as AIF® and CPFA. After 23 years, Bill sold his practice to
Raymond James.
Bill took on a temporary role as Investor Relations for CubCrafters, an airplane
manufacturer in Yakima Washington. He successfully initiated and directed a
$50,000,000 capital campaign to expand the manufacturing capabilities for the
company.
Bill is currently the Partnership Development Lead for Albuquerque The Magazine,
responsible for generating new strategic partnerships in markets that the magazine has not been in before.
A dedicated community servant, Bill has held leadership positions in organizations like Sertoma International and the Executives Association of Greater Albuquerque. Currently, he serves as President of the Rio Rancho Education Foundation and as Executive Director of the “League of Exceptional Gentlemen.” Bill and his wife, Tiffani’s daughter Lauren, is currently attending the University of Texas in her pursuit to be a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. Both Bill and Tiffani share a passion for travel, sports, and supporting their daughter Lauren’s educational journey at the University of Texas.